The Whole Pet Diet

The Number One, Most Important Feeding Rule For Dogs or Cats

Andi — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:36:36 +0000

Want to boost your pet’s immune system, slim your dogs or cats down naturally and support all of their organs to function better, by changing one simple habit?

Then don’t forget the primary feeding rule. Make sure you remove all traces of your pet’s food, as well as their dishes after 30 minutes of feeding. Pets that are allowed to eat and nibble all day long are continuously living in a digestion mode. Every time a pet just smells food – the digestive process kicks into action. During the digestive process, valuable blood and oxygen supplies rush right to the stomach, to aid digestion, but this depletes the other organs of what they need to also function properly. By taking away any excess food between meals, you are actually allowing MOTHER NATURE to take over and do “HER JOB” of rejuvenating the whole body. This process creates brief periods of fasting, and these times of rest are incredibly healthy for everybody, and also mimic how an animal would actually be eating out in the wild.

Remember that there are no animals out in nature that have tidy little dishes of food just waiting for them. They must first get hungry. Then they hunt for food. Once they find their prey, only the most skillful of creatures can catch it on the first try. They get hungrier and sharper, which creates a cycle of feasting and fasting that nature designed for the wild.

Get your pets used to eating only at meal times and feed twice a day. Allow your cats to eat all that they want for no more than 30 minutes and pick up their food and wash the dishes. Dogs should not be allowed to “graze” all day either. When an animal is allowed to nibble all day long, it creates a sluggish body, which may contribute to joint and mobility problems, slows down metabolism, challenges the lymphatic system, and taxes the immune system. I’ve found that these pets tend to also develop dandruff and dull coat.

Once you change this important feeding habit, you’ll notice that all your pets will develop better appetites at mealtimes, eliminates the “picky eater” syndrome, and they’ll be building a stronger immune system during the rest of the day. It’s likely that overweight pets will also slim down naturally too. Lots of benefits with just a small change of lifestyle.

Make Every Day A Holiday with Healthier Pets!
Xox
Andi Brown & “Doc” Holiday

Don’t forget that for the very best in health…feed the very best in food!My delicious, USDA approved, all human-grade food for dogs and cats will not only keep you out of the kitchen, so that you and your pets can enjoy spending more time playing together, and you’ll never find a healthier food for the ones you love. Check out what all of “Doc’s” friends are eating when their parents don’t have time to cook for them. They LOVE Doc’s Stew and you’ll love it too! Comes in a six can “starter” pack or you can get FREE Shipping on Full Cases!

Order some Doc’s Stew today!

Click here to find out more about Doc’s Stew for Dogs

Click here to find out more about Doc’s Stew for Cats

For more GREAT TIPS, tricks, recipes, true pet success stories…make sure you get your very own copy of The Whole Pet Diet.
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You owe it to your pets, now…don’t you?

The Low-Carb Healthier Dog and Cat– Fight Fat and Find Fitness!

Andi — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 07:32:25 +0000

A low-carb diet for pets? You’d better believe it makes sense! I mean, who really knows better than Mother Nature herself? Dogs and cats are carnivores and that means protein, made from real meat!

Pet obesity is on the rise for humans, as well as it is for our pets. According to the National Academy of Science, there are 35 million paunchy pooches. Cats too, are packing on the pounds and of the 86 million household pets, a whopping 6.4% of them have been deemed morbidly obese, as well. So who or what is to blame for the downfall of the ones we love so much?

Many types of fillers; such as corn, wheat, potatoes, and rice are the “what” in the equation. (And just because a food is labeled as “grain free” doesn’t mean that they aren’t masking their products with high calorie starches, which help to bind the food together, but also pack on the pounds).

The “who” unfortunately consists of so many of the pet food manufacturers that care more about their bottom line profits, than the bottoms of the ones we love! The overuse of grains and starches in many of those products has virtually no real nutritional value for the animals. Many of these foods amount to just a lot of empty calories and “off the charts” levels of carbohydrates. Let’s face it; has anyone ever seen a wolf pack “take down a rice paddy”?

The truth is that all those grains can add bulk to a can or a bag, which makes economic sense to the pet food makers, primarily because they’re really cheap. Good for them, but bad for your dog. All the Holistic Veterinarians that I know tell us to avoid all those poor quality grains found in most pet diets, because they have seen a direct correlation to diabetes, chronic kidney disorders, and have linked them to the growing (no pun intended) epidemic of obesity in dogs and cats today.

We know that just like humans; our pets need an abundance of high-quality proteins, (chicken, beef, turkey and fish) along with vegetables to help process them through the system. Nutrition is the single most important factor in the quality of your pet’s life. With it, good health follows. Without it, disease, degeneration and obesity may occur. I have personally seen miraculous changes take place in the lives of the thousands of pets, when their owners focus their attention on diet, (the cause) as opposed to just addressing the symptoms. This philosophy holds true for “pure” bred pets, and mixed breeds alike. The longevity of your pet isn’t inherently limited to breed, but how we care for them as they age. Focus on the entire being, and you’ll quickly understand that the outside of the body is a direct reflection of what is happening internally. Putting more emphasis on high quality food sources will undoubtedly reflect healthier coats, skin and a toned and trim body to show them off.

Know Your Foods:
You may remember a time when pet food was an unnecessary commodity and table scraps were the feast du jour. We probably all ate better back then. Unfortunately, in the case of some manufacturers, more money is spent on packaging, processing and promoting, than providing your pets with a nutritious product that supports the process of healing and fueling the body, and promote proper metabolism.

In the past, we assumed our best friends were getting everything they needed in the “store-bought” foods we fed them. We believed if the labels claimed these foods were “complete and balanced”, then they were adequate to keep our loved ones healthy. The truth is that most pet foods on the market do little more than sustain life (particularly culprit are the grocery store brands). I often liken them to a “potato chips and beer” diet. You could certainly live on it, but not very well and not very long.

So, why aren’t more people putting two and two together when it comes to the lives of their four legged friends? Unfortunately, many conventional veterinarians do not equate chronic health problems with poor quality diet either. Oh sure, there’s the occasional pet doctor that instructs the owner to actually cook chicken or beef and vegetables for a week or two, when the pet is gravely ill. Typically the animal’s health elevates during that timeframe, but afterwards, your pet is back on the commercial, grain based food that likely caused the problem to begin with. There begins the frustrating downward health cycle.

Become a great detective. Start reading labels and use products that contain lots of whole meats and vegetables at the top of the ingredient panel. (Be suspicious of meat meals, though; they’re actually just by-products). If your pets are not exhibiting great health, it’s time to choose a new food or start cooking. I have several easy recipes for fabulous foods that you can find in my book or my blog. It’s all about balance. The right food combinations can create harmony within the body and promote better health for everybody. So, check your labels, chuck the grains and feed wholesome ingredients that visibly make a difference in the ones you love! You’ll know it when you see it! – Great health makes EVERY DAY A HOLIDAY, and who doesn’t want just one yearly trip to the vet?

Don’t ever worry about not being able to feed treats to your dogs and cats. You’ll love how they love Doc Holiday’s All Meat Chicken Treats. Nothing in there but wholesome protein that the body can absorb and assimilate gracefully. White meat chicken breast in bite-sized pieces. No carbs to add weight. Keep your pets slim and trim forever, without depriving them of what they love! (photo of treats and link)

And when you don’t have time to cook, just look at how healthy Doc’s Stew is for your pets. Made in our USDA kitchen, so you know how great it really is! All “human-grade” ingredients in a can – without any fillers at all! Meat and veggies. Just like homemade…only better!

Give your pets the Healthiest Food for the Holidays!

You’re going to see the great results and your pets will love it too!

Buy Some Now – For your Best Friend’s Best Friend!!!

Make Every Day A Holiday with Healthier Pets!
Xox
Andi Brown & “Doc” Holiday

Phoebe: Turned Around in Just One Week!

Andi — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 06:44:31 +0000

Hi Andi,
My sister bought me your book, The Whole Pet Diet, sometime ago, but I never actually sat down to read it. I regret not reading your book much sooner, as we lost our two girls, Chelsie and Maggie, to kidney failure. But, hopefully, I’m on the right track with my newly adopted seven year old Shih Tzu from the Humane Society, now named Phoebe. Prior to the adoption, we knew that she suffered a lot from arthritis and after the vet visit, it was discovered that she had three different types of urinary tract infections – one being immune to an antibiotic. The vet recommended I keep her on her current diet (canned IAMS), but last week I decided to go cold turkey and made Your Chicken Stew. I also made the recipe for a beautiful coat. It hasn’t been a week yet and she has stopped scratching, her ears don’t smell anymore, but the best – she no longer wreaks. I had to bathe her once a week including her beddings because of her foul smell. She just loves the food and can’t wait to be served. She cries impatiently until I put her plate down.

Again many thanks and please keep writing.
Reggie

Check out the recipe for Andi’s Whole Pet Diet Chicken Stew.

Give your pets the Healthiest Food for the Holidays!

You’re going to see the great results and your pets will love it too!

Buy Some Now – For your Best Friend’s Best Friend!!!

Make Every Day A Holiday with Healthier Pets!
Xox
Andi Brown & “Doc” Holiday

Digestive Disorders in Dogs or Cats Become a Thing of the Past!

Andi — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 05:51:24 +0000

So many people contact me; concerned that their dogs have trouble relieving themselves, experience bouts with IBS and constipation or diarrhea. Cat owners often find themselves picking up messy fur-balls from around the house and notice their cats vomiting after they eat. While all these symptoms may have become typical, they are by no means natural! These pets all have one thing in common. They’re experiencing chronic digestive disorders and are missing out on one fundamental thing. The good news is that these symptoms are really easy to correct, the solution is inexpensive – and will leave your pets feeling and looking better than ever before!

The Dry Food Factor
Dry food is dry; it’s not a misnomer. Dry food has less than 10% moisture, and is generally coarsely ground grain or starch in the form of pellets. It may start with decent enough ingredients, but it’s cooked at very high temperatures and then dried into a hard nugget. Even natural brands bake at such high temperatures; the beneficial fats and oils (critical to the coat, skin, digestive system and overall health) break down during the process and are rendered mostly useless. Think about it: dry food in, dry skin and hair out. If it’s hard, dry and crunchy, how is it going to provide beneficial oils to the body? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand dry foods cause many hair, and coat issues, but have you ever thought of what it’s actually doing to the digestive tract? Fortunately the Holistic Veterinary community has been vigilant about recommending that people supplement their dog or cat’s diet with high quality Essential Fatty Acid Oils (EFA’s) to help them enhance not only the coat and skin, but to also remedy digestive disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrom (IBS) chronic diarrhea, constipation and vomiting.

Here’s what happens. Every time your pets eat highly processed commercial foods - it literally dries out the digestive tract. Every day your pet eats “dry, dry, dry”…it dries out the skin, the coat and causes a kind of plaque that quite literally blocks up the intestinal tract and inhibits the course of healthy assimilation and elimination. By adding high quality, wholesome and fresh human-grade oils to the diet – you can help your pet to process the food properly through the system and have healthier elimination activity. They’ll be more comfortable and you’ll notice improvement in a very short time!

NO MORE HAIR BALLS!
Hairballs don’t have to be the norm, and cats that are fed a healthy natural diet, complete with a daily dose of essential oils, will rarely have this problem. Long-haired cats that groom themselves may experience an occasional fur ball during the shedding season, but remember the shedding season should be only twice a year. Nature intended a summer coat and a winter coat to accommodate the temperature changes. If your kitty is vomiting hair balls all year round, she’s most likely exhibiting dry skin, and excessive shedding too. You should be able to run your hand over your cat’s back and come away with little to no hair either on your hand or floating in the air. If you’re coming away with a handful of hair, your cat is an ideal candidate for our essential fatty acid program.

Let’s look at the problem from the cause. Hairballs are clumps of fur that may be stuck in the digestive system. They can clog up the body and could cause blockages. Hairballs are created when kitty cleans herself and ingests loose hair. Addressing the cause is the surest way to eliminate the problem. When you add the important fats and oils back into the food, you’ll eliminate the excessive shedding and loose hair that your cat is accidentally ingesting. Don’t be tempted to just treat the symptom with petroleum based hair ball remedies or hairball formula food. Get to the cause of the problem, understand the tremendous role that dry food plays in creating this problem and make the necessary dietary changes to support the body to function more efficiently. (Everyone who knows me understands that I only recommend a homemade diet or a great, human-grade canned food).

Stay on a healthy grooming schedule. Brush regularly during season changes and give your long haired cats daily attention. Stay on the side of prevention and you will never go wrong. Diet and grooming should do the trick.

Added Benefits for Senior Pets
Like the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, senior pets need a good oiling to help with joint and heart health. So many health problems associated with EFA deficiencies are exacerbated as our pets age: susceptibility to infections, kidney degeneration, behavioral disturbances, liver diseases, arthritic conditions, heart and circulatory problems, and overall weakness. In short, it may not be the age of your pet but the lack of high quality essential oils that’s contributing to the problem.

You’re welcome to make your own Essential Fatty Acid Supplement, using a recipe from my book by clicking here. But for the ultimate supplement, I’ve formulated an incredible product called Best In Coat. This product was designed to not only eliminate digestive disorders in a very short time, but also give your dogs and cats the healthy coat and skin you’ve always wanted.

Give your pets a brand new coat for the Holidays!

You’re going to see the great results and your pets will love it too!

Buy Some Now – For your Best Friend’s Best Friend!!!

Make Every Day A Holiday with Healthier Pets!
Xox
Andi Brown & “Doc” Holiday

Safe Pet Treats: Only Two Ways to Be Certain

Andi — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 07:11:42 +0000

It seems like every week, we’re hearing about another Pet Treat Recall. What’s really scary is that even the better brands you may be using have been the topic of a lot of bad press lately. We hear about it in the pet chat forums, Facebook, and even on TV. Major Companies have been recalling their products because of Salmonella, E Coli, and even Toxic Ingredients imported from overseas. Our pets are relying on our wisdom to make them safe and yet most products on the market make me feel like the ones we love -could fall victim to the next spin of the “Recall Roulette Wheel”. The good news is that there are two things you can do to ensure that your pets enjoy their snacks and stay healthy all the time.

For nearly thirty years I have been teaching people how to make their own healthy treats at home, using high quality, wholesome, fresh ingredients for optimal health. “If I wouldn’t eat it… why would I ever give it to my pets?”. Everything I recommend is what you’d probably find in your own kitchen already and healthy choices for the two legged members of your family. Why would you want anything less?

Most people are under the assumption that the treats or foods they give their pets need to actually have a label on it that says its “formulated” for pets. Some pet owners believe that their dogs need to have a snack that’s shaped as a bone, in order for them to enjoy it. It’s time to change the way you think and start introducing whole, fresh, natural foods to your dogs and cats that are up to the same kind of standards for you’d want for your own human food needs. Regardless of the shape, your pets will enjoy all the choices on my list of quick and healthy treats that you can make yourself. (See the bottom of this post).

For years, I’ve been warning people about commercial Jerky Treats. These products have always unnerved me because they all contain such high amounts of salt (often used as a preservative), and other indiscernible flavor enhancers, which could have a direct correlation to kidney disease, rashes, digestive disorders and other ailments. Jerky treats from China have come under a lot of scrutiny in the news lately, but sadly the FDA has not pulled them from the shelves of stores yet. There have been warnings issued to the public, but no real action has been taken and literally thousands of animals have become sickened and hundreds have died! Dehydrated Sweet Potato pet treats have also been known to sicken many pets and those should be avoided at all cost. I wouldn’t blindly trust a pet product maker to provide quality ingredients to my pets, when so many companies are sourcing their ingredients outside the U.S. and don’t actually have to divulge what’s “really” in those snacks, because they only need to list what they put in their products at the time of packaging. So many of the treats you believe are healthy might just be masking ingredients that could be making your pets sick. (Or have a long term deleterious effect on them).

We already know that there’s a huge difference in what is allowed into human foods and snacks, as opposed to what’s allowed in typical pet treats. I would never give my pets any meats that were not Grade A and USDA approved for humans to eat. Pet Product Plants on the other hand are permitted to bring in just about anything they want, without scrutiny of any governing body and sanitary manufacturing practices are non-existent. The truth is that no one is monitoring the pet feed makers and all kinds of unscrupulous ingredients are becoming commingled at the pet food processing plants. The bonafide problem is that these pet feed companies and their suppliers have no real regulatory board to answer to and their manufacturing, packaging and delivery practices typically go unchallenged, and unnoticed. The main difference between a healthy, human food plant and a pet feed plant (by government definitions) rests in the rules that a USDA Facility must subscribe to Good Manufacturing Process (GMP). For all animal feeds (made in a pet food facility), there are no mandatory good manufacturing processes in place.

Pet Food Makers are allowed to procure and use the following ingredients because of their inexpensive and economical value:

1. 4-D Meats, which mean animals that arrive at the slaughterhouse; Dead, Diseased, Dying or Disabled.
2. Meat meal, chicken meal, fish meal. These are the ground up and non-specific leftovers from whatever was rejected for human consumption, such as beaks, feet, hooves, hair, eyeballs and connective tissue.
3. Road kill and even the remains of euthanized animals from hospitals or shelters.

USDA Accepted or USDA Rejected? All meats are USDA “inspected”. To be allowed in a HUMAN food facility it has to be USDA ACCEPTED. What goes into a PET FOOD plant is USDA REJECTED.

At Holiday Holistic Pets, we understand that food borne illness can cause serious legal and ethical repercussions, which is why we developed the safest snack on the planet!

“Doc” Holiday’s All Meat Chicken Treats.

These incredibly delicious, healthy, wholesome, FRESH snacks are certified USDA approved – white meat chicken snacks that your dogs and cats will love. There’s nothing safer for your pets and everyone I know goes crazy over them. “Doc’s” Chicken Treats are pure muscle meat protein, and since they don’t contain any fillers – they’ll always help to keep your pets trim and toned. These freeze-dried bite size snacks are great for any dog or cat and we guarantee that they’ll love, love, love them!

Do the right thing for the ones you love. Keep them safe by making some easy, smart snacks in your own kitchen, (Click here for some healthy suggestions) -or check out “Doc’s” All Meat Chicken Treats. They don’t need refrigeration, so they’re easy to take “on-the-go”, and they make FABULOUS HOLIDAY GIFTS for your best friend’s best friends! Keep your pets safe always. Love them with wisdom!

Make Every Day A Holiday with Healthier Pets!
Xox
Andi Brown & “Doc” Holiday

Easy, Smart Snacks: Ready to Eat Treats for Dogs and Cats

Andi — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 05:07:42 +0000

Here’s a partial list of some delicious and wholesome foods you probably have in your refrigerator already. In small proportions, you can share these happily with your pets. Don’t overdue the snacks. They should not be given more than once or twice a day. Remember that you would never give a child an entire bag of cookies. Use your judgment. In the case of treats, less is more! Bon Appetit!

For Dogs or Cats:
✤ Cantaloupe balls (two or three)
✤ One whole raw organic egg beaten together well with yogurt or cottage cheese
✤ A dollop of Organic baby food
✤ Yogurt mixed with a few frozen raspberries or blueberries thawed and drained.
✤ Sardines (fresh or frozen) serve at room temperature
✤ Organic cheese on a salt-free cracker
✤ A small slice or two of fresh, cooked turkey, chicken, beef, liver or fish

Ready to Eat Treats for Dogs:
✤ Celery sticks – (plain or with unsalted peanut butter or cottage cheese)
✤ Carrot sticks (plain or with yogurt) this is Holiday’s Favorite snack (next to his all meat treats) – and they help to keep his teeth beautiful and clean!
✤ Apple slices (with or without peanut butter)
✤ Green Beans

Healthy snacks make every day feel just like a Holiday! When you don't have time, or you're on the go...make sure you always have “Doc” Holiday’s All Meat Chicken Treats. They're everything you want in a snack: Real meat protein, wholesome, fresh and delicious! Click here to find out more about them.

“Doc” Holiday’s Treats make a great Holiday Gift that all your Friends will LOVE!

Buy Some Now – For your Best Friend’s Best Friend!!!

Safe Pet Treats You can Trust! Made in the U.S.A. All “Human-Grade”
All Natural All DELICIOUS!

Make Every Day A Holiday with Healthier Pets!
Xox
Andi Brown & “Doc” Holiday

Lip-Smacking Salmon and Veggie Patties

Andi — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 04:03:39 +0000

Wholesome snacks and mini-meals are great for any member of your family. Our Resident Holistic Chef Voyko loves to make these for Holiday and Bijoux! Lucky pup and kitty. You can make them for your “kids” too!

Salmon and Veggie Patties
¼ cup coarsely chopped Green Beans
¼ cup coarsely chopped Sweet Potatoes
¼ cup coarsely chopped Zucchini
¼ cup coarsely chopped Yellow Squash
½ cup Springwater
½ pound Wild Salmon
¼ cup Orange Juice
1 tsp Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp Plain Yogurt

1. Combine the Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, and water in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Bring to a boil, then add the Salmon.
3. Cover and steam for 5 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
4. Add the Orange Juice, Parmesan Cheese, the Yogurt and blend well.
5. Shape into patties and either serve right away or store in the refrigerator. Freeze any portions you won’t use within 2 to 3 days.

“Doc” Holiday’s Treats make a great Holiday Gift that all your Friends will LOVE!

Buy Some Now – For your Best Friend’s Best Friend!!!

Safe Pet Treats You can Trust! Made in the U.S.A. All “Human-Grade”
All Natural All DELICIOUS!

Make Every Day A Holiday with Healthier Pets!
Xox
Andi Brown & “Doc” Holiday

Keep Your Dogs and Cats Out of the Dentist’s Office

Andi — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:32:09 +0000

Keep your dogs and cats out of the dentist’s office with a simple solution that they’re absolutely going to love! To keep your dog’s teeth optimally clean and healthy, let them have a raw beef marrow bone, a knuckle bone or stew bone – once or twice weekly. They’ll enjoy gnawing on it, which will help remove tarter and film and keep them occupied for at least a half an hour.

Never allow them to have any cooked chicken, pork or beef bones, as they could splinter and cause damage in the intestinal tract. A raw, meaty bone won’t break or splinter and is safe enough for puppies too!

For cats: try offering a few raw chicken neck vertebrae. It works great, brings out the natural hunting/feeding instinct and your dental bills could be a thing of the past!

Healthy Teeth and Gums are Essential for Wellness…

“Doc” Holiday’s Dental Picks are a wonderful alternative to the raw bones above, and are a terrific choice for any dog to have.They’re way better for your dogs than rawhide, bully sticks or plastic chews which can contain chemical preservatives or artificial flavor enhancers and cause intestinal distress. Doc’s Dental Picks are completely natural and won’t stain your carpet, get slimy, goopy, sticky or mess up your house!

Help keep your dog out of the dentist’s office FOREVER! Dogs absolutely love “Doc’s” Dental Picks. Our unique antler chews are split right down the middle so your dog can easily access the marrow (the most delicious part) of the antler, so they get to enjoy them better than anything else! The more they chew, the stronger their teeth and gums become. The natural action of saliva and friction helps keep teeth clean, gums strong and breath fresh.

We have the perfect size for every dog. Check out “Doc” Holiday’s Dental Picks.

Doc’s Dental Picks make a great Holiday Gift that all your Friends will LOVE!

Buy Some Now – For your Best Friend’s Best Friend!!!

Make Every Day A Holiday with Healthier Pets!
Xox
Andi Brown & “Doc” Holiday

Don’t Let Your Pets Become A Statistic of Veterinary Care

Andi — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 01:52:48 +0000

Over $50 billion will be spent on our pets in the United States this year. Of that, $20 billion will pay for food, and over $14 billion will be spent on veterinary care. The pet insurance industry is a money-making monster; growing at a rate of 25% each year and projected to be $664 million by 2012. (In 2006, when I wrote my first book that number was only $88 million). According to my holistic veterinarian, a shocking 50% of dogs over two years old will contract cancer as well. So with all that we know, why are our pets becoming sicker each year?

Obesity is on the rise for humans as it is with pets. Of the 77 million dogs in this country, a mind blowing 35 million are considered overweight, and 6.7 million are clinically obese. Cats too, are packing on the pounds and of the 86 million household pets, a whopping 6.4% of them have been deemed morbidly obese, as well. So who or what is to blame for the downfall of the ones we love so much?

I do not believe the problem stems from overfeeding. The crisis simply begins with the quality of food we are giving them. After all, commercial pet foods all have that same common denominator; they are loaded with non-essential and inexpensive fillers like corn, wheat, potatoes, starches and rice. Coupled with that, chemical preservatives are all too often hidden behind the unscrupulous manufacturing practices of the pet food makers, and meat by-products may not be meat at all. Many of them contain high-calorie corn syrup (which cannot be synthesized by the liver), and other sugar derivatives as well as bloat-causing fatty flavor enhancers like beef tallow and even bacon grease! Without these often addictive flavor additives, most pets would never even eat their food. It is no wonder their weights are escalating in epidemic proportions, as they are for their human caregivers too. See the correlation? I have always compared a typical commercial pet food to junk food or potato chips and beer diets we have seen so many people succumb to. Sure you may be able to live on it, but not very well and not very long. If we want our pets to have glowing, great health and see the vet just one time a year, we need to feed our pets the same type of wholesome, real, natural, balanced meals we ideally want for ourselves.

Pets make us all feel better. They help lower our blood pressure, reduce stress, prevent heart disease by providing psychological stability and fight depression. So what can we do to help our pets live healthier too? For starters, my mantra for the last 25 years has been…

If I couldn’t eat it myself, I’d never give it to my pets.” – Andi Brown

Over the last two decades, it appears there have been many upgrades to the pet food industry. We have seen the emergence of the Raw Food Diets, the Holistic foods, the Natural brands, the Chubs, Grain Free; all of them canned, kibbled, baked or even freeze-dried. They all bear the label “complete and balanced”, but sadly it seems that not all that much has really changed beyond how those products are marketed. Just because a product falls under the “premium” category, or it’s labeled “all natural”, and is found in a boutique pet store, does not necessarily make it much better than its close cousin (often perceived as inferior) on the shelves of grocery stores and mass food merchandisers. I know you do not want to hear it, but the food you “love to love” might not be so healthy after all. Sadly, it seems like everyone got on the bandwagon when “holistic” came into vogue, but are all those products really what they claim to be?

Life sure pitched us some curve balls over the years. Consider the 2007 pet food nightmare: Menu Pet Foods recalled more than 100 brands including Iams, Eukanuba, Hill’s Science Diet, Purina, Mighty Dog, as well as many of the Holistic and natural brands you may even be using right now! These products were all pulled off store shelves because some of the ingredients were found to be killing our cherished dogs and cats. Thousands of pets were sickened (the FDA received more than 17,000 reports) and an estimated 20% of them died from acute renal failure caused by tainted food. Unfortunately, time makes us forget, and I know there are a lot of people affected by those awful products who have actually gone back to those very same brands because we were told it was now safe to return to the feed bag. Complacency can hurt us, and yet many still seem to turn a blind eye. As recently as last month, I received an update from my Vet’s office; warning about even more products that are still posing dangers. Let’s face it; most companies do not have the well-being of our best friends at heart, which is why it’s so important to take the path of homemade foods very seriously. We owe it to our pets to love them with wisdom.

Once you focus on the healing power of food, it's easy to understand why so many of our pets on commercial foods are still suffering with skin problems, allergies, infestations, organ failure, diabetes, obesity and cancers. We've let our guard down and have forgotten that Food is The Foundation of Life.

Don’t let your pet become a statistic of veterinary medical care. Don’t you have better things to do with your money? With wholesome, healthy, natural, balanced ingredients, we can help them achieve the greatest health care goals.

Find out how to make my Whole Pet Diet Chicken or Turkey Stews, or just buy my special USDA approved healthy, canned foods already made. It’s called Doc’s Stew, and it’s as good as if you had prepared them yourself! There’s never been a better choice for your dogs or cats. Learn more about this incredibly healthy diet and watch the video. There’s so much you can do for the life of the ones you love – right now!

Make Every Day A Holiday with Healthier Pets!
Xox
Andi Brown & “Doc” Holiday

The Remarkable Min-Pin: Chico Vetter’s True Story

Andi — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 22:33:42 +0000

My min-pin was very ill. The local vet said he would soon die even though he was only 7-years old. We took him to another city and to another vet. She gave me your book.

He was not only diabetic, but had liver and pancreas disease, and was an epileptic. He was auto-immune sensitive, and could no longer take vaccinations, so we had titers tests run each year. I cooked your recipe for him every day and he lived to be 13-years old! (he had to eat 4-small meals daily and a snack at bedtime due to his diabetes). He was a beautiful Min-Pin with the "hackney" gait that makes the Miniature Pincher "King of the Toys". He died from a prolapsed trachea so the diet did take care of his other illnesses along with meds the vet prescribed. Thank you for your wonderful recipe! – Fern Vetter

You can read Chico’s whole history here. His Mom sure loved him lots and won 3rd place nationally for her story in the “Write About Your Pet Contest”.

Make Every Day A Holiday with Healthier Pets!
Xox
Andi Brown & “Doc” Holiday