Food Rotation for Dogs and Cats

Food Rotation, in my opinion, is an important part of a healthy pet diet. (Human too, I would think) For Raw Feeders or Commercially fed companions, rotating the protein source from time to time more closely mimics the natural diet, and helps prevent food allergies.

It is easy for Raw Feeders to rotate by simply buying different meats when making their mix. For those who purchase their pets food, a bit more work is involved. Just because a bag of food says it's "Beef", doesn't mean that is the only protein source used. Look on the label of other meats, such as chicken, chicken broth etc. Many dog food manufacturers throw in whatever is cheap to fill out their food.

The dog and cat food I offer to my clients, Evo, has a chicken and turkey blend, or a red meat blend. The red meat blend has 4 different red meats in it. So I suggest to those who purchase from me that they shift every 2 or 3 bags over to the other protein source. Then stay on that one for at least 1 bag, maybe 2. I feel this really gives the companion's body a chance to rest from the other protein.

I discovered this for myself from experience with my own highly sensitive schnauzer who has food allergy. If I left him on a "safe" protein for too long, the allergy would start to return. So I fumbled onto the rotation system and I worked perfectly. After that I discovered many other people follow the same routine. I makes sense to me.

Keep a close eye on the canned foods as well, and make sure it only contains the protein you want.

I also recommend rotating any other foods you add. For example, if you use pumpkin in the raw feeding, switch to sweet potato for awhile. Just keep it different and interesting.

For commercial feeders, some same is suggested. Most of you know I strongly recommend NO grains for dogs and cats. However, if you choose a grain-based food, make sure you rotate the grain source as well. That may even be more important the rotating the protein because our companions can be very sensitive to grains.

Here is a link to Evo by Natura. Their site explains some of the details about species appropriate diets.

My website also has a growing body of info.

Whole Food or Ground Food, Which is better?

You're face to face with your tiny 4 pound Yorkie. You've heard the Species Appropriate Diet is just what natured ordered. You hack a wing off the raw chicken and look down at the sweet face at your feet. You try to drop the raw wing to the plate, but you hesitate. They say it may add years to your little Yorkie's life. But the fear may take years off of yours! Maybe you've read of other tiny dogs ripping through a nice raw piece of chicken, bones and all. Yet still your hand will not drop that wing. You hear the voice of your grandmother saying dogs choke on chicken bones and die.

Perhaps you are a candidate for food grinding.

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You have a pug. He's 14 years old. You read that a diet of Raw bones and meat may revitalize him, help with the stiff joints, and put a glow back in his fur, and prevent future visits for dental work. At his age the anesthesia is not a good idea, but his teeth are important. You pick up a pack of chicken legs at the market, making sure you purchase fresh, organic meat. Your pug watches with keen interest as you let him sniff the package. His breathing becomes louder, he snorts a couple of times and smiles. You ram a fork into the drumstick. You don't want to touch it with your hand. Damn all those people who say a splinter will break off in his throat and kill him, he's going to get this drumstick. You recall the day he choked on a tiny piece of dry cat food at your sisters house. You wonder if the Raw Feeders considered pugs when they said this was good for dogs. After all, pugs are not normal dogs. They're noses, their throats, they're not shaped the same as other dogs. He spins and snorts as if to say, pass the drumstick. You notice your hand is trembling and return the drumstick to the tray.

Perhaps you are a candidate for food grinding.

When I recommend grinding raw food, it is often more for the human than for the dog. Occasionally I feel it is better for the dog as well, but usually it's the human. Whatever it takes to get truly wholesome food into the meal plan is good with me.

Some say the dental advantage to raw bones absent if the food is ground. I don't see that as fully accurate. The absence of decay-causing grains is a major benefit to dental health. Plus the mouths of dogs on ground food are fresh and clean smelling, as sure sign of dental health.

Then there is Sheriff Tom. He eats most of his raw food ground. This is because of two things. First, he once had a throat abscess that left his throat scarred and somewhat sensitive. Second, he often pants at night when he's had whole chicken pieces. When he pants like that, I know he is working extra hard on digestion. He doesn't pant when the food is ground because part of the digestive process has been done for him by the grinder. He's our special boy and we don't mind grinding for him.

When you grind, you must grind the entire piece of meat including bones, tendons, skin and all. Look for my blog entry on grinding meat.

For the record, I know of many tiny dogs who eat unground, raw diets who do just fine on smaller boned meat sources such as rabbits and chicken wings. Their owners say they thoroughly enjoy the chewing and crunching process.

Just do what you feel is best for you dog. And you know your dog better than anyone.