You are what you eat is a common phrase with a lot of truth behind it. Your pet is a carnivore. Dogs and cats should be eating meat-based diets. This is a common sense belief held by many who have witnessed improvements in pets who once merely survived on heat-processed, grain-based diets and then thrived when transitioned to better quality meat and even raw diets.

At the Animal Doctor we promote and stock quality, unconventional pet foods and treats which are free from by-products, artificial preservatives, corn and wheat. We can explain how these diets and whole food supplements can be used to prevent and treat many common ailments such as: Inflammatory bowel disease, Allergies, Arthritis, Diabetes, Liver Disease, Kidney Disease, and Cancer.

Dogs and cats are carnivores and digest meat protein better than plant protein. Conventional veterinarians know corn and wheat are common food allergens, which often stimulate dermatitis. Holistic veterinarians consider highly processed grain diets to be inflammatory or contribute to Damp Accumulations, from the Eastern perspective. Therefore, we are supportive of the raw meat diet or at least "natural diets", especially canned diets with less processed grain, more moisture, more meat-based, and NO artificial preservatives such as BHT, BHA, or ethoxyquin. Nature's Variety, Merrick and Wellness are considered to be among the best natural diets according to top holistic vets, herbalists, and The Whole Dog Journal. So we stock these in addition to commercial raw brands.

Regardless of what you're feeding, it is important to change diets very gradually.

Natural diets should be stored in original packaging, in a dry cool area since they have fewer preservatives. Raw diets are stored frozen and thawed in the refrigerator before feeding (may be best stored in Pyrex to prevent leakage and bacterial accumulation).

Raw meat diets are intended to mimic the "carcass concept", and therefore should contain all the nutrients required for good health. Commercial products can be very convenient and should be fed from stainless steel or ceramic bowls. Very little supplementation is necessary when feeding a complete raw diet, but supplements are necessary additions to ANY commercially heat-processed diet (kibble/dry or canned).

Additionally, since we believe...

Diet is the forefront of the holistic approach - "you are what you eat". We also believe it's important to minimize synthetic vitamin, mineral and drug use.

Herbs assist the body to heal itself! Herbs, fruits and vegetables are a whole food source of vitamins and minerals and can be quite medicinal.

The WHOLE herb is greater than the sum of its parts.

Whole herbs contain medicinal components and constituents which balance their effects. This property is what makes most Western herbal remedies and Chinese herbal formulations safer than conventional drugs. The Natural Nutrition Shoppe stocks Animal Apawthecary western herbals, Dr. Mercola's coconut oil and Cranimals antioxidants and for example.

Nutraceutical and herbal products vary greatly in quality, potency, efficacy, and safety. Therefore, guidance by an experienced practitioner can be invaluable.

The Animal Doctor physicians and staff encourage you to improve upon your pet's nutrition with home products or Natural Nutrition Shoppe stock.

Click here to read - Raw Feeding FAQ (20kb PDF)
Click here to read - Raw Meat Diet Product Comparison (12kb PDF)

The following are four nutrient categories most lacking from any heat-processed (kibble or canned) pet food:
PROBIOTICS:
"Good bacteria" i.e. Acidophilus (contained in yogurt, gels, or capsules)
Restores healthy intestinal flora, used to prevent and treat diarrhea
We stock Culturelle, Canine & Feline Dophilus and Azodyl
Present in raw foods, destroyed by heat processing
Important that it is microencapsulated or enteric coated. We can guide you when to best use one product vs. another for a given pet condition.
ENZYMES:
Aid in proper food breakdown, used as an adjunct to prevent and
treat coprophagy, flatulence, allergies and pancreatic insufficiency
Present in raw foods, destroyed by heat processing
FATTY ACIDS:
Omega 3 Source from quality fish oil - choose mercury free oils
Must provide an effective form: gel cap or liquid (refrigerate)
Important for the skin, heart and joint health
Used to treat excessive shedding, itching and arthritis
WHOLE FOOD SOURCE VITAMINS & MINERALS (not synthetic):
From whole herbs, fruits and vegetable
Should be broken down to mimic "ingesta from the gut of the prey"
In the wild, carnivores eat plants to aid digestion, stimulate the immune system and even to treat illnesses
The Native Americans observed wild animals to learn which plants to eat
Forage Formula & Organic Green Alternative are examples of quality "green" supplements
Introduce these gradually, like a "spice"
Animal Doctor is proud to stock a very complete line of Standard Process and Medi-herb whole food source supplements. These have been used by chiropractors and naturopaths for over 75 years. Now, we can tell you how to use these successfully for your pet companion!
 
QUALITY PRODUCTS WE PROMOTE & STOCK
       
 

If you are interested in a product that we do not currently carry please ask as we are happy to do special orders.

Email Lindsay at orders@animaldoctormuskego.com