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The Raw Diet: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
2. What Is The Raw Food Diet?
The Raw Food Diet
Is Evolutionary Not Revolutionary
The diet that our carnivorous pets have evolved to eat is the best
possible diet if our pets are to maximize their optimal potential in
health, longevity, physical growth and reproduction.
The raw diet mimics the natural diet that our pets are physiologically
designed to eat. The basic physiology of cats and dogs which has
developed over millions of years, ( not hundreds of years), dictates
what foods they are meant to eat, as opposed to foods they can eat.
Evolutionary feeding balances nutrients over a period of time not at
each meal.
The Raw Diet
For DOGS
Evolution has designed the canine digestive system to deal with raw
meaty bones from the teeth right through to the anus. The canine teeth
are designed for ripping, shredding, tearing and crushing. Their teeth
are not designed to chew. In canines the saliva which lacks digestive
enzymes, is used to lubricate the food, to assist in moving the food
down the esophagus. The stomach, a small organ designed to get food in
and out in a short period of time, is not meant for storage. The
digestive system is shorter than that in humans which make for a
quicker transit time. The hydrochloric acid in the stomach, five times
stronger than in humans (PH 5), is specifically designed to break down
raw bones and fats.
Their digestive system is designed to deal with the bacteria in raw
foods. Dogs as well as being carnivores are scavengers, they not only
tolerate bacteria but also require it. Dogs naturally eat feces, soil
and buried bones, they also lick their private parts. In the raw diet,
high quality proteins, pro-biotics, vitamin B, essential fatty acids,
fiber, enzymes and anti-oxidants take the place of feces.
Raw meaty bones should make up at least 60% of the canine raw diet. To
this end, Paws and Claws Pet Pantry offer a large variety of raw meaty
bones to choose from, including chicken necks/backs, beef necks, turkey
necks and pork necks as well as a large selection of ground meaty bones.
Chicken is an ideal food as it provides nearly everything needed with a
few exceptions, which can be readily provided in eggs, muscle and organ
meats and ground vegetables.
The ground vegetables along with natural enzymes and vitamins, provides
the fiber that canines would get from the skin and hair of their
prey.
The Raw Diet
For CATS
Cats have special dietary needs, different from dogs. Cats are obligate
carnivores which means that the bulk of their diet must be from animal
sources. They do not do well on carbohydrates or dog food, as their
range of foods are narrower. The proportion of nutrients they need are
different, as well they have specific nutrient needs that differ from
dogs and humans. They have a higher need for proteins and fats than
dogs do. Their need for vegetable matter is less while the need for
offal is greater than in dogs. Cats, unlike humans, do not make vit. A
as the animals they eat have high levels of Vit. A.
Cats lack the enzymes needed to convert foods that are plant based in
origin. They do need essential amino acids and essential fatty acids.
Cats must have the amino acids argenine and taurine, which are readily
available in raw animal tissues When supplementing cats with EFA, fish
body oil should be used as they can not use flax as it is derived from
a plant source.
For optimal health and reproduction they need to eat foods of animal
origin.
Cats have simple dietary needs- they can very readily live on a diet of
mice as long as the mice are free of parasites. Cats cannot be
vegetarians.
Cat's physiology (internal workings), dictates an evolutionary diet
based on animal origins. Feral cats do well on native wild life. Cats
have few enzymes that deal with glucose. Cat’s glucose production
machinery is always on, they are always turning protein into
glucose. As a result of evolutionary history, cats need more fats
than dogs and humans. According to history cats originated in the
desert and should derive the majority of their water intake from their
foods.
The fact that cats are obligate carnivores is evident in the design of
their anatomy. The teeth in their jaws is designed for cutting and
shearing not for grinding. The teeth move up and down, no lateral
motion, thus are not designed for crunching.
They have fewer molars and pre-molars than dogs.
Cats have the face of a hunter-the ears and eyes are forward. Their
whiskers around the eyes and muzzle are sensitive and assist their
movements in confined spaces.
They have claws to hunt, capture and hold their prey.
Their body is muscular. They have patience, speed and endurance for
stalking their prey ( birds, mice) over short distances.
The raw diet for cats should be at least 90% raw meaty bones. They are
not scavengers, not vegetarians, not omnivores nor grain eaters- they
are hunters and carnivores thus raw meat eaters.
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