SPOT SERIES: HOLISTIC HEALTH A NATURAL APPROACH TO HOLISTIC HEALTH Part 1: Nutrition is the Key to a Healthy Best Friend! You are what you eat! Learn why your pet s diet can be the key to ensure that they live a long, healthy life. Most of the common health issues (i.e. ear infections, itchy coat, flaky skin, allergies, bad breath, etc.) can typically be resolved with a simple change in diet. January 21 st, 2014
INTRODUCTIONS Jessica Ellis: Co-Owner of The Green Spot Omaha & President of Pug Partners of Nebraska Whitney Kamish Manager of The Green Spot Omaha, Pug Enthusiast & Truck Driver for The Green Spot Off the Chain
SPOT SERIES: HOLISTIC A NATURAL APPROACH TO HOLISTIC HEALTH Part 1: Nutrition is the Key to a Healthy Best Friend! Overview: Holistic Approach to your Pet s Health Nutrition is the Key to a Healthy Best Friend! Prevention of many common illnesses/diseases etc
HOLISTIC This means treating the whole pet, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than only physical symptoms We know our pets best - YOU ARE THEIR BIGGEST ADVOCATE!
EVERY DOG IS DIFFERENT
THE POWER OF NUTRITION We can use nutrition to manage: Immunity Longevity Health Behavior
DIGESTIVE ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
Digestive Tract Short digestive tract 4 meters (human = 8 9 meters) Ratio of body length to intestine: Human = 1:10 Dog = 1:6 Cat = 1:4 Stomach Low ph (increased water intake lowers ph) Pepsin (most active with ingestion of collagen) Lipase
Advantages of a Short Digestive Tract Rapid digestion and absorption of proteins and fats Very fast passage rate Microbes quickly pass Ability to eat raw diets and whole prey Low capacity for fermentation Few putrefactive compounds produced Limited ability to digest complex carbohydrates Starch needs to be cooked for use as a viable carbohydrate source!
IMMUNITY & DIGESTION IMMUNITY Diet builds the Immune System Diet is always the first line of defense! Vitamins & Minerals, Anti-Oxidants, Herbs, Supplements DIGESTION Rate of digestion In dogs, raw food takes 4-6 hours to digest - dry food takes 10-12 hours (Humans = 1-2 hours)
NUTRIENTS YOUR DOG NEEDS WATER *Most Important* PROTEINS CARBOHYDRATES FATS VITAMINS MINERALS
Water Water is the most important nutrient of all! Intercellular moisture is best Water intake varies depending on what food it eats. Pets need extra water during lactation, increased body temperature, severe bleeding, diarrhea and vomiting.
Protein Basic building blocks for cells Functions - repairs damage to cells, excess is turned into energy Most important ingredient in your pet s food Specific-named animals, not vegetable based protein Need enzymes to digest protein
Carbohydrates Types of Carbs Sugars Starches Fiber Excess carbs turn into fat Digestion of Carbs Increases fecal bulk - retains water
Fats Good Fats vs. Bad Fats Benefits Skin & Coat Anti-Inflammatory Helps Absorb Vitamins Supplies Energy Supplies essential fatty acids Too much fat = weight gain Too little fat = dull, dry coat, impaired wound healing
Vitamins & Minerals Vitamins Support Immune System Minerals Help grow strong muscles & healthy teeth Whole, natural form is best Too few vitamins = fatigue & weakness Too many vitamins = organ stress Too many minerals = risk for bladder issues
POTTENGER S CATS
DIFFERENT OPTIONS
PET FOOD MYTHS Myth #1: Vets are nutrition experts. Most veterinarians have very little nutrition education Education typically comes from pet food industry- i.e. Science Diet or Purina Myth #2: Kibble is safer than canned. Recalls typically involve kibble food Kibble does not clean a pets teeth Myth #3: "People food" is bad for dogs and cats. If you get healthy, and educate your self on foods that pets can have, why not share the love? Fresh foods are much more nutritious for pets than processed foods. Myth #4: Natural = safe, and Human Grade = superior quality Go beyond the bag s front label & read the ingredients! No legal definition for human grade Myth #5: Foods not on any recall list are good for pets. Just because a food is recalled doesn t always mean its a bad food. The pet food giants rarely have their foods undergo testing Learn the reason behind recall before dropping the food. Myth #6: "Complete and balanced" foods are complete and balanced. Most commercial foods lack essential elements Variety is key to having a complete and balanced diet Adding fresh, dehydrated and/or raw food can help to balance your pets diet Myth #7: Raw food diets are dangerous. Difference between human digestive tract and our companion pets Even if contaminated, the high acidity & other enzymes kill off microbes Raw food companies take a lot of measures to control contamination Still raw meat, is raw meat- you must clean up properly!
SAVE $$$$$ AT THE VET! An ounce of prevention goes a long way! Feed a high quality nutritious food to keep your pet in optimum health. Best shot at long-term pet health & lower vet bills High quality food can help eliminate issues like: Allergies Intestinal problems Joint soreness Skin issues And much more! Also feeding your pet the appropriate amount of food and ensuring they are at a healthy weight is very important. Overweight dogs are much more prone to developing chronic diseases.
LOW QUALITY FOOD CAUSES Ear Infections Itchy Coat Flaky Skin Allergies Bad Breath Poor Stool Quality
YOUR VET S ROLE IN HOLISTIC HEALING Chiropractic Massage Acupuncture Medicinal Supplements
Chiropractic & Massage Chiropractic care helps restore alignment to your pet's musculoskeletal system Works at the root cause of disease to help restore health, rather than simply treating symptoms Focuses on interactions in the nervous system When misalignments occur it causes bodily functions to fail Various spinal manipulations reduce misalignments and restore normal nerve function Massage helps to keep joint structures in place by relieving tension in muscles and tendons.
Acupuncture Element of Traditional Chinese Medicine All living beings have vital energy called Qi Encourages healing by correcting energy imbalances in the body It can help with: Releasing the body s own pain relieving and anti-inflammatory substance Relaxation of muscles Improves blood flow, oxygenation and removal of metabolic wastes & toxins Lacks potential adverse side effects
Medicinal Supplements Natural supplements and Chinese herbs vs. using pharmaceutical drugs Less side effects Work to address the root causes of underlying disharmonies within the pet Available in many forms, pills, chewable tablets and powders Look for the NASC (National Animal Supplement Council) Seal of Quality A few of the common ones we recommend often: Chinese Herbs are available in a variety of combinations for immune support. Medicinal Mushrooms such as Maitake, Reishi and Shiitake stimulate T-helper cells (which are integral to a strong immune response) and powerfully boost the overall immune system. Colostrum is the first milk produced by mothers. It has many immune boosting properties including factors that support T- helper cells. It may also play a role in the metabolism of essential fatty acids. Again, prevention is the best course, but should your companion fall ill, providing extra support for the immune system through nutrition, herbs, and supplements can give your pet the upper hand and aid in a speedy recovery.
FINAL TIPS Be the judge when measuring amounts Some raw is better than none! Always read ingredient labels. Don t free feed! Keep food down for 20 mins, twice a day If feeding raw, do occasional fasting Lay off the vaccine Do your research!
IN SUMMARY You are your pets biggest advocate! Rather than treat symptoms, work to create a healthy pet. Don t focus on the illness, focus on health & well-being! The easiest thing to do, of course, is to make sure that the imbalance doesn t occur to begin with. That requires a strong, clean foundation: good food, good water, adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and a safe, toxin-free environment.
WHY YOU SHOULD SHOP AT THE GREEN SPOT! Only the best of the best! Research and scrutinize each company Most companies offer continuing education In-store loyalty program Bonus Bones Tracks purchases Spend $100, get $5 off Most foods have frequent buyer programs, buy 12, get 1 FREE Free Nutrition Consultations WE CARE!!!
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RESOURCES: http://greenspotomaha.com/ Dr. Karen Becker: http://healthypets.mercola.com http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com http://www.herbsmithinc.com http://www.bravorawdiet.com http://www.primalpetfoods.com http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/knowledgebase/ KnowledgeBaseSearch.aspx
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