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More Pet Health – Dr. Myatt Adds Her Thoughts…
Written by Wellness Club on February 7, 2008 – 2:00 pm -Regarding Pet (Dog) Joint Health
Hello? Dogs don’t have joint problems because of a deficiency of Pharmaceutical drugs! And because their liver function is different that ours (human), they ar
e even less tolerant of many un-natural substances. So… all the problems associated with these drugs for human use can be expected to cause similar, and often bigger, side effects in animals. Dr. Myatt’s Bottom Line: If YOU wouldn’t use a drug as a “first line of defense” against a health problem, don’t use it as a first line of defense in your pet, either. (The picture to the right is Dr. Myatt (AKA “Big Dog Mama”) with “Big Dog” – Her faithful protection dog and friend of many years)Dogs and Joint Health.
Dogs are naturally carnivores in the wild, meaning that their bodies are designed to use raw meat almost exclusively. Oh, they’ll eat a few berries, grasses and even eggs when they find them, but meat is a dogs natural food. Not cereal-based “kibble,’ not highly cooked, canned “junk food” meat. A dog misses out on the nutrients it needs when fed these foods. Now, feed these foods for a lifetime, and is it any wonder that dogs develop joint problems that they wouldn’t have in the wild?
I’m sure Nurse Mark said it, but I’ll say it again. WE ARE NOT VETERINARIANS. We are not allowed (by law) to make recommendations for your pet. WE ARE, HOWEVER, DOG OWNERS AND DOG LOVERS. So from the standpoint of a dog-owner, I’ll tell you what we do with our dogs (none of whom have joint problems).
1.) We feed them raw meat. We get this from a local butcher — fat and scraps that aren’t “people quality.” We grind this up like hamburger, freeze it, and feed the dogs a 1/2 cup sized-meatball at least twice per week. When we’ve got more meat, we reduce their kibble (all-organic rice and lamb, not ideal, but we can’t afford pure meat, the ideal diet).
2.) We feed them raw eggs. Most dogs love eggs! Plop a raw egg into their bowl a couple of time per week, especially on a day when they don’t get meat. We put the shell in (high in calcium, and they would eat an egg shell and all in the wild). The essential fats are very healthy for joints, and will give them a beautiful coat as well.
3.) Occasional raw vegetables. Lettuce, broccoli, carrots — use the scraps (raw) from your own food.
4.) NO people food. Dogs don’t do well with most people food (foods listed above are the exception), and some are even highly toxic to dogs. Give them a small piece of raw meat for a snack or training treat.
5.) Plenty of exercise. Our dogs go for walks, runs and 30-45 minutes of high-energy Frisbee play every day. Their vet always seems amazed at what good condition they are in!
Even if your pet isn’t so active, keep their weight normal by decreasing total calories 9if needed) to make them “lean and keen.” Their joints — just like in humans — don’t do well when carrying excess weight.
6.) Supplements for joint health.
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