At present, there are three feeding regimens that are appropriate in providing the correct nutrition in our pets; namely, raw feeding, home-cooked diets and commercial high-quality natural diets.

Raw feeding means feeding raw meat; viz, flesh, fat, skin, tendons, edible bone, liver, tongue and heart. This feeding regimen is based on the fact that raw meat is a much more natural diet for dogs and cats since this is what their close cousins are eating in the wild. Raw feeding advocates recommend 80% meat in the form of muscle, fat, skin, tendons, etc. Ten percent would be edible bone and another ten percent to consist of organ meats such as liver, tongue and heart. Your pets can be gradually weaned into this diet by feeding small edible amounts by hand. How much to feed? General starting guideline is 2-3% of ideal weight per day. A difficult thing about this regimen is the stress placed on the digestive system since the animal has to produce more enzymes and exert more effort in absorbing the nutrients from the meat. Naturopathic experts recommend supplementing the diet with digestive enzymes and nutritional supplements in order to assist digestion and lessen the burden placed on the system. Other risks involved; namely, ingestion of harmful bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, internal damage caused by ingestion of bones, feathers and other animal parts, difficulty in formulating a complete and balanced meal and time and dedication needed to adhere to such a regimen.

A home-cooked diet, on the other hand, involves preparing and cooking the food. Just like in raw feeding, owners can ensure that the food is fresh, of high quality and is appropriate for their pets. Even our companions can benefit from our own table food just as long as you give the healthy choices and not the scraps, trimmings and uneaten portions. There’s more preparation time involved with this regimen and it is also difficult to assure that the preparation is as nutritious and balanced as possible.

The third option which is commercial high-quality natural diets needs careful consideration. For one thing, I have no information yet if such a diet is available here in our country. There are several manufacturers in the States which are worth looking into. What makes their products worth considering is the use of real choice meat and other high-quality ingredients. The downside is the price since they are not using cheap ingredients. However, if they could provide the proper nutrition for your companions and save you a lot of money on future medical costs then it would be cost efficient in the long term.

How about commercial pet food? They have been in the market for years now.

The global commercial pet food industry is a huge and very profitable industry. Even some of our local business establishments have joined in. However, their financial success and monopoly of the market comes with a price.

According to an article by Celeste Yarnall in “NaturalNews.com”, entitled “The Horrors of Commercial Pet Food”,–“Conventional thinking causes us to pose the question, ‘How can we trust the feeding of our beloved companions to an industry driven by profit?’”

The pet food contamination and recall of 2007 has brought into attention the safety and quality of commercial dog food. Commercial pet food uses animal by-products. These usually consist of other animal parts and protein sources not fit for human and animal consumption. They also use rendered products in the form of animal fat and meal products. The “meat and bone meal”, “chicken meal” and others are produced using inappropriate food and waste material. To increase shelf-life and palatability, additives and preservatives are used which are unnecessary and leads to disease.

Our animal companions are more than just companions—they are family. If you are concerned about the food that you eat and your health then you must also have the same concerns for your pets.

Consult with an animal nutritionist who is well versed in all three feeding regimens mentioned. Join mailing lists and pet forums on animal nutrition to further guide you.