In the shadow of a shocking experience, the pet food recall in March 2007, a silver lining appears.
“After the big scare, a lot of my customers had questions about their
pet’s food and healthier alternatives. Simultaneously I saw
manufacturers drifting to a greater [natural] approach to pet food,”
recalled Virginia Byrns, co-owner of dogma for pets in Canton.
In the past, the average dog owner mainly had to decide between dry or
canned. Today, the multiplicity of alternative choices and brands can
be overwhelming as raw, grain-free and gluten-free have made a stronger
presence in the general marketplace.
The alternative deemed most natural is the increasingly popular raw
diet which mimics the predomesticated canines in-the-wild diet
primarily of uncooked meat, skin, bones, and organs toting benefits of
better skin and coat, whiter teeth, more efficient digestion and
longevity, more naturally.
“The idea of feeding raw is not a fad, it is an evolution in the way of
feeding based upon a better understanding what a dog’s dietary needs
are for optimal health,” explains Lucy Postins, co-founder and lead
nutritionist for The Honest Kitchen pet food. Pets are part of the
family nowadays. People are truly invested in feeding their dogs well.
It’s [a case of] pay now by feeding your dog quality, low-processed
food or pay later in terms of increased vet bills, as an unhealthy
consequence of a bad diet.”
An example of the difference an improved diet can make is Elphie, a
Sheltie-mix, adopted by a Baltimore couple. Elphie was 6 months old and
not house trained when adopted from the Animal Advocates of Howard
County by Scott and Sharon Vail of Federal Hill.
“In actuality she was incontinent and medication helped that, but we
also discovered she had chronic acid reflux and loose stool,”
remembered Sharon.
“Scott searched the Internet to find solutions to her other issues and
stumbled on the raw diet theory. He felt it was a match to Elphie’s
needs.”
Sharon wasn’t so sure. “I was reluctant because a raw diet sounded gimmicky and gross. Even so, we decided to go for it. ”
The changes in Elphie were almost immediate. “We noticed her stool firm
up, she stopped vomiting after her meals and she started losing her
excess weight. By the fourth week her frizzy coat appeared smoother and
shinier.”
A raw diet means a few adjustments admits the Vails. “We spend more on
her food than before, need to plan ahead to thaw out Elphie’s meals,
her food looks gross and smells icky, but we are thrilled to have a
happy, healthy dog.”
Just 10 years ago, there were a sprinkling of raw brands available to
purchase, but predominately it was a grass-roots effort, as many devout
raw followers were preparing their own pet’s meals at home. Today there
are roughly 20 raw manufacturers nationwide, three of which are located
in Maryland.
“Companies are making raw diets more convenient because it’s a rare
person who wants to grind uncooked chicken necks in their own kitchen
for their dog,” says Kevin Newton, store manager at All for the Pet in
Severna Park.
“With the raw diet, there are now a lot of choices available from
frozen to pasteurized to dehydrated. It does tend to cost more and not
everyone can afford or wants to switch 100 percent, so in some cases
our customers will mix a raw feed with a quality grain-free kibble.
Others just stay with grain-free kibble because of the extended shelf
life, ease in handling and overall convenience.”
Okay, but what does grain-free mean and what does it have to do with
raw diet dog food? Grain-free stems from the “ancestral” approach to
raw feed and the absence of cereal-type grains like oats, corn or wheat
that are used by some dog food manufacturers as essential source of
carbohydrates. It has been recognized that some dogs are actually grain
intolerant. As a result, more health conscious kibble makers are using
grain-free alternatives like potato, sweet potato or peas to supply
carbohydrates.
Dr. Sean Delaney, senior executive vice president and chief scientific
and medical officer of Natura Pet Products adds, “Grain-free foods that
are also low in carbohydrates are similar to raw diets which should
also be low in carbohydrates. Low carbohydrate foods have many
potential benefits including increased palatability, higher energy
density (meaning less volume needs to be fed and less feces need to be
cleaned up), and positive effects on coat quality and body condition.”
According to Dr. Scott Sanderson, owner of the Animal Wellness Center,
a holistic veterinary practice located in Columbia, some dogs are more
genetically prone to digestive sensitivities; therefore, breed, medical
history and age can help define whether or not the raw diet is most
suitable for your dogs needs.
“We live in a toxic world; the air we breathe, the water we drink and
the food we eat. Any living being requires the cleanest, healthiest
fuel in their body for the best possible health.”
Dr. Christina Chambreau, homeopathic veterinarian, educator and author
of the Healthy Animal Journal strongly recommends a wide variety of
fresh food. “Each dog is unique. How do you know what diet is best for
your dog? Observe your pet before and after you try different
nutritional approaches. Track their overall health and disposition as
you research feeding options that make sense for your lifestyle and are
good for your dog.”
Dr. Chambreau recommends the following resources to study more about animal nutrition and alternative diets:
The Truth About Pet Foods: Rationale for Animal Nutrition by Dr. Randy Wysong
See Spot Live Longer by Steve Brown and Beth Taylor
Eat, Drink and Wag Your Tail (video)
Buy Local
Today there are roughly 20 raw manufacturers nationwide, three of which are located in Maryland.
When his 4-year-old German Shepherd died from a condition associated
with his dog food, Bob Barrett of Baltimore and founder of K-9 Kraving
knew he had to find a better alternative for his dogs. “At the time I
owned a kennel raising German Shepherds imported from Germany and the
cost per adult dog averaged $10K. Poor hip health and bloating was
common with German Shepherds at relatively young ages and their life
cycle was averaging only 10 to 11 years. I believed a better diet could
help defy these likelihoods.” After researching several brands he
learned that the package a dog food comes in is too often worth more
than the product it contains. This made Barrett more determined to
create a product with integrity and the proof to back it.
In 1999, based on the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) values,
Barrett founded K-9 Kraving Dog Food armed with a scientific formula
geared for overall health, safety-certified ingredient sources and a
USDA inspection legend lending testimony to his product’s integrity.
Barrett adds, “The raw diet is about feeding your dog as Mother Nature
intended to maintain your pet’s optimum health, longevity and
reproductive capabilities. Our food has not been cooked, so all of the
natural enzymes remain in tact, retaining maximum values of nutrients.”
To learn more about K-9 Kraving Raw Diet Dog Food, go to: www.K-9-Kraving.com .
Ruff & Rowdy Bison Chow is the offspring of a bigger idea. Trey and
Angela Lewis of Monkton, owners of Gunpowder Bison & Trading Co.,
wanted to be farmers. They had beautiful acreage owned by Trey’s
family for over 25 years and livestock was their goal. “We decided on
bison because we admired the efforts happening by ranchers to
repopulate them in the United States and that it provided a healthier
alternative to red meat. Bison also fit the vision of what we wanted to
create in an agricultural business, to stay local in what we were
producing, leave a low carbon footprint and be able to network with
other groups who are trying to do the same,” shared Angela. In March
2006 Gunpowder Bison & Trading Co. became a reality.
“Making dog food was not part of our original plan. But after learning
more about the theory and benefits, it made sense and fit with our goal
of utilizing as much of our livestock as possible in positive ways.
Bison meat is leaner than chicken plus all of our bison are raised
naturally, without hormones, antibiotics, or feed additives.” After the
designated bison meat was quality inspected and nutritional values
analyzed, the Lewis’ were able to begin production and in early 2007,
Ruff & Rowdy Bison Chow joined the family business.
Jennifer Boniface, founder and owner of Aunt Jeni’s Home Made, reveals,
“I was driven from adolescence to young adulthood by my love for
domestic animals. I completed my bachelor’s degree in animal science,
took a few twists and turns, and became a CPA until fate eventually
found me completing a master’s degree in animal nutrition science.”
Fate stepped in once more, and for her master’s thesis, Boniface was
assigned to the National Zoo in Washington D.C., where her research
focused on dietary control of Cystinuria in maned wolves. “We
discovered that by manipulating their diet we could effectively control
the severity of the maned wolves’ health problems associated with their
genetic predisposition.”
Later, working one-on-one with pet owners as an animal nutritionist,
she often recommended a specialized homemade diet to improve their
pet’s health and was generally met with a lot of excuses. Then it all
made sense. She could help clients by making their pet’s food for them.
In 1999 Aunt Jeni’s Home Made products were launched.
Today Jennifer owns and operates her own FDA-inspected facility located
in Temple Hills. “We are dedicated 100 percent to making the highest
quality, freshest, all-natural and holistic pet food anywhere. It’s so
important for pet owners to understand that a self-regulating body will
seek its own proper pH when fed the right diet.” Boniface also offers
lectures and seminars on animal nutrition.
To learn more about Aunt Jeni’s Home Made, go to: www.auntjeni.com .
Finding the correct diet for your pet could be an exhausting effort, but for both man and dog the reward is priceless.”
Safe Handling of Raw Diet Dog Food
• Keep packaged portions frozen until use
• Thaw packaged portions in a refrigerator
• Keep unused portions refrigerated, they will remain fresh 4-5 days while refrigerated
• Use non-porous stainless steel feeding bowls to prevent harboring of harmful bacteria
• Wash working surface, service ware and hands after handling
• Refrigerate or discard leftovers
• Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Listeria monocytogenes are
three of the most harmful bacteria associated with raw foods. To
prevent bacteria, do not leave any meat, poultry, fish or unpasteurized
food items unrefrigerated
In the shadow of a shocking experience, the pet food recall in March 2007, a silver lining appears.
A raw diet means a few adjustments admits the Vails. “We spend more on
her food than before, need to plan ahead to thaw out Elphie’s meals,
her food looks gross and smells icky, but we are thrilled to have a
happy, healthy dog.”
Today there are roughly 20 raw manufacturers nationwide, three of which are located in Maryland.
Fate stepped in once more, and for her master’s thesis, Boniface was
assigned to the National Zoo in Washington D.C., where her research
focused on dietary control of Cystinuria in maned wolves. “We
discovered that by manipulating their diet we could effectively control
the severity of the maned wolves’ health problems associated with their
genetic predisposition.” 
