Why Your Dog and Cat Want a Holistic Pet Food

Can you really see any difference in your pet’s health when you feed a holistic dog or cat food vs. a traditional commercial pet food such as an Iams or a Science Diet?

OH MY YES.

The following comments come from those made on this blog and an internal forum for a particular holistic brand in which I participate.  If your pet has digestive problems such as sensitive stomach, diarrhea, constipation, runny stool, you’ll want to see this.  Skin problems, allergies, arthritis, general sluggish health… you must see this.

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Wanted to share this with you all. I have a neighbor with an 7 month old mini Schnauzer. The poor babe has been itching, scratching, chewing himself, vomiting daily, has patches of lost coat and has had a strong odor since he was 10 wks old. His Mom refused to switch from Iams Puppy because they have a friend who is a VP in Sales for Iams.

She has taken the pup to two Vets, who said he had “allergies” and put him on antibiotics. That did not improve the situation in any way shape or form. I have seen this pup every day for months. I gave her a bottle of Soothing Mist, and that helped until it ran out. She just wanted to rely on the Vet and the Iams Sales VP.

I was able to finally convince Mom to try [holistic pet food] - after her husband protested loudly about all the Vet bills. It’s been less than two weeks and the pup has stopped scratching, stopped vomiting, his body odor has decreased significantly - and YES, his Mom says his poop does not smell as bad! Imagine that!

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The subject of Crohn’s disease has hit close to home in my canine family.  One of my dogs has IBD which according to my holistic vet can lead to full blown Crohn’s/and-or is a close relative of Crohn’s. 

I was lucky enough to correspond with [a holistic pet food formulator] who made several suggestions, one of which was to replace the pet’s usual diet with [holistic pet food] because of the probiotics as well as the proper fiber i.e. beet pulp.  His stool is no longer diarrhea, the gas is significantly reduced and he isn’t drooling like a faucet.  (This pet has had to take antibiotics a lot in his life …he is currently on Clavamox 375mgx2 twice a day…laceration under the eye due to being bitten by another dog)  He also has had “bloat” in the past due to his sensitive digestive system…

I  give him extra live probiotic cultures found in the refrigerator section of the health food store, with his diet.  I pump up the amount of acidophilus whenever antibiotics are used for my canine and human family members.

My pet does not have Crohn’s but just wanted to share [how well this worked].

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First, I must tell you that, even though [my dog] was diagnosed by three different veterinaries, at two different hospitals, as having IBS/IBD, I believe that she had something that mimicked it. My reason for feeling this way is that IBS/IBD is lifelong, and the last two tests at the vet indicate she does not have it any longer. [Holistic pet food is not a cure but it does
make you wonder if IBS/IBD are dramatically influenced by good food!]

I tried all of the wonderful chicken and rice and physician’s dog food that you all suggested, and it all helped, yet she did not get better.she did not get worse, she just did not thrive..possibly it’s my cooking. Linsay was always hungry, and one day started eating our tubby Newfoundland’s diet food, and the rest appears to be history. Apparently the balance of [large breed holistic pet food] was what her system needed at the time…along with medication, of course.

She no longer takes Prednisone, and are in the fourth day of not taking Metronidizole, and she is thriving, blitzing and appears to be her old self. There are no stomach rumblings or diarrhea so far, and she has gotten into things.hard dog bones and rawhide chews, with no ill effects so far. Of course, we watch her like a hawk, so whatever she gets is minimal..In hindsight, I believe she had not felt well in awhile, her illness came on slowly, and the family made so many life changes that we did not catch the slight nuances to her behavior earlier.

She is now on [another holistic pet food] which, strangely enough, has a similar composition to huge dog diet food.only the pellets are much smaller and easier to eat.

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I work with another breeder of bengals- basically if it wasn’t for her I would not be in the fancy- she is wonderful. Amazing, ethical and really smart.The only thing we
do not agree on is feed.Two things have happened over the past few weeks. I took home one of her boys- a Supreme Grand Champion male that she had neutered and I am now showing as an alter. She told me he may have loose stools- that he usually does -not diarrhea but not great.She sent feeding instructions- science diet kitten and canned food. Well, I did neither. I offered [holistic pet food] - he ate it- and he has had nothing but normal poops since he got here. No stress at the show either- all fine.Second. She was unable to come to the show this past weekend. So I showed her little 5 month old kitten for her- an exotic short hair. Last show he had terrible diarrhea - he as been on medication…he is healthy except for his stools being loose. Same instructions- same instructions ignored- and he is doing great on [holistic pet food].Nice tiny normal poops. I spoke with her last night- she said- wow ok send me a bag of [holistic pet food]!!!* * *Her health has completely turned around since being on the food……we have especially noticed that her coat has become extremely soft and full . She’s 11 yrs old and her energy level now is so good for her age. We almost lost her a few years ago and had to have her spleen removed. That’s how we found out about [holistic pet food]……I started researching dog foods and after looking at many brands, decided to start her on [this particular brand]. The vet wanted to put her on thyroid meds……we decided against it and she has been doing great ever since.

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I used [steroids and antibiotics] for a period of time  for my cat that has eczema but it did not help. That’s when I found [holistic pet food] and put her on the can and dry food and skin and coat supplement and the eczema is 95% gone.

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Hi everyone.  Last week I took in two cats.  They are adults approx 4 years old.  They of course were eating junk food.  Slowly I have transitioned them over to [holistic canned cat food].  They are now yelling to eat that.  Their coats have gotten absolutely beautiful in just a couple of days. They are white long haired  I think they have some Maine Coon Cat in them.  They are so soft.  Amazing what a healthy diet will do.  Too bad I don’t get that lesson for my own diet!

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I posted a while back that my shep mix of 9 years old was having some pain associated with his rear legs, hips and probably his back too.  I am not sure because I was too afraid to take him to the vet and use Rimidyl or any other harsh Rx from the vet. It was back in August that I was getting very concerned for Lucky.  August was when I received the [holistic pet food and arthritis supplement].  I gave it Lucky instead of trying to sell it. 

I was amazed what just the change in food did for Lucky.  In the beginning when Lucky was first introduced to [this food] I noticed a decrease in his pain within probably one month.  It was about one month after he was eating the food that I started Lucky on the [glucosamine supplement].  I continued to be amazed what the [supplement] did for Lucky in just a short while.  Before the food and the Supplements Lucky was to a point where he couldn’t get on or off of the bed and he cried if he was lucky enough to make it on the sofa.  The [supplement] allowed him to do all of the above and he hasn’t cried or whined since. I didn’t think Lucky could get any better but I thought to put him also on the Skin and Coat formula and Walla!  Lucky is now bounding the steps two at a time.  The way Lucky lays down now while hanging out is he lays flat on his stomach with his front legs in front of him and his back legs stretched out behind him equally with his knees bent in a position that I have not seen him do since he was a puppy.  The best is is that he totally comfortable and he is happy.

I will also add that since Lucky has been eating the food and taking the supplements his coat is wavy.  I have never seen Lucky’s coat look or feel like it does now.  He is beautiful!  All of my dogs are beautiful, I have 9 other dogs…All rescues that never got adopted.  Each one of them has changed for the better.  I have an individual testimony on each dog. * * *

If it wasn’t for the white fur on my 12 year old lab no one would believe she is that age. Her eyes are bright, her coat is so soft, she has good muscle tone, her heart, lungs, and liver are good, and she runs and jumps like a much younger dog.* * *

That’s enough for now but you get the idea!  Holistic pet food rocks!I am not a veterinarian. I am simply an animal rescuer who feeds holistic pet foods and has learned much over the years.  This article is for information only. I hope it encourages you to work with your veterinarian as you seek to improve your pet’s health through better nutrition. © Teresa Holladay 2008
The Holistic Pet Food Blog
http://holisticpetfood.wordpress.com
This article may be reproduced on your pet-related blogs with the above credits included.