Perfect Health for Precious Pets

We love them. We take pictures of all the cute things they do. We spoil them to death by buying them all sorts of toys, beds, and other goodies. And of course they adore us.

No, we're not talking about our children here-we're talking about our beloved cats, dogs, birds, fish, and lizards. We're talking about all those cherished pets who remain our babies forever, while our children grow up and leave.

And since we love our pets so much, it's only natural that we want to get them the very best to ensure long and healthy lives for them. Why shouldn't we? Pets not only make us feel needed, they've long been known to lower our stress levels. Moreover, new research suggests that they may even save our lives. As shown on 60 Minutes, studies have found that dogs may be able to sniff out cancer on their owners, even before doctors detect it. Now if a dog can potentially save an owner's life, how could one not want to give him the best life has to offer?

That's in Pet Food?!

Here's a question to consider: Would you ever want to eat meat from 4-D sources, which Richard H. Pitcaim, D.V M., Ph.D., and Susan Hubble Pitcairn, say consist of "tissues from animals that are dead, dying, disabled or diseased when they arrive at the slaughter house?" Or, would you ever want to try moldy grains or rancid animal fats? Well, maybe you would if you decided to go on the show Fear Factor, but in most circumstances you'd probably turn green at just the thought of eating such "foods." But guess what? Your pets may be eating these things, if you're feeding them commercial pet foods. The Pitcaims, in their book Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, for example, cite a letter printed in Prevention magazine by a reader who once worked in a chicken-butchering factory in Maine. The writer of the letter stated that in the factory, where USDA inspectors were present, trimmers cut off the damaged and diseased parts of chickens, which were put into a garbage can and then sent to a pet food factory.

More than poor meat quality, many pet foods contain all sorts of chemicals and additives such as propylene glycol, which the Pitcaims say has been known to make dogs sick; ethoxyquin, which was originally developed for the production of rubber; and even artificial colors.

Now, if you're a pet lover, you definitely don't want your pets eating such things. So, if you have the time, you may want to think about preparing your pet's food at home, using whole and organic foods. The Pitcairns suggest giving your cats and dogs raw meats (yes raw, as they say that cooking kills vital nutrients), eggs, some grains, legumes, and vegetables. Speaking of vegetables, you may wonder if you should skip the meat altogether and make your pets vegetarians. Well according to Amy D. Shojai and the editors of Prevention For Pets, this may not be such a good idea, even if you are a vegetarian yourself.

While Shojai and the editors say in their book, New Choices in Natural Healing For Dogs & Cats that dogs could possibly thrive on vegetarian diets, cats must have meals containing meat.

What sources emphasize most, though, is that natural diets may promote the quality of your pets' lives. For one thing, natural diets may prevent certain illnesses. Shojai, for in stance, cites a veternarian in her book who states, " `I've seen natural diets improve digestive problems such as chronic colitis, diarrhea, and constipation. And I've seen dramatic improvements in pets with kidney disease and liver problems.'"

Besides preparing natural meals for your pets, if you're short on time, you can always turn to the natural products industry, which has an expanding pet food market. You can now purchase, all-natural, organic, and human grade dry and canned pet foods.

Be Gone, Fleas!

In addition to natural food, another way owners can improve the health of their pets is to prevent flea infestation. After all, not only do fleas absolutely torture our furry friends, if there are enough them, they even go for people. There are of course tons of flea remedies, but some sources believe that many of the commercial choices could be harmful for both pets and humans. But, there is, thank goodness, a natural remedy that can help pets get rid of those no-good fleas; it's called garlic. Yes, the legend about garlic scaring off vampires has some truth to it, at least in the case of fleas. Shojai explains that garlic actually changes the taste of your pets' blood; fleas, coincidentally, hate the new taste. She says, "dogs over 50 pounds can have as much as two teaspoons of garlic a day, and smaller dogs can have one-quarter to one-half teaspoon a day. Garlic can be a problem for cats, so don't give them too much. A safe limit is one-eighth teaspoon or less a day for up to two weeks at a time." WF

• Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health For Dogs & Cats, by Richard H. Pitcaim, D. V M., Ph.D., and Susan Hubble Pitcairn
• New Choices in Natural Healing For Dogs & Cats by Amy D. Shojai and the Editors of Prevention For Pets