|
Cautions Against Raw Food Diets
PET CARE EXPERT CAUTIONS AGAINST RAW FOOD DIET FOR DOGS
An Evaluation of Raw Meat, Bones and Food in healthy dogs and cats
Lisa S. Newman, N.D., Ph.D., Azmira’s Director of Research
Lee Veith, D.V.M. Veterinary Regulatory Board
ABSTRACT
It is shown that
a long term B.A.R.F. (bones and raw foods) diet is likely to decrease the
overall health of the pet. The pet’s ability to digest the raw foods is
compromised by evolutionary changes to the digestive tracts of domesticated
pets. The difficulty in digesting raw foods combined with this evolutionary
weakness creates a systematic breakdown of immune responses, leading to a
variety of nutritionally-based symptoms. Elimination of the raw foods
protocol resulted in a reversal of the obvious symptoms reported during long
term use. When the B.A.R.F. approach was resumed, the return of symptoms
occurred within two months. Nutrients including viable proteins still
available in slightly cooked foods and some higher quality, easy-to-digest
commercial diets -- to fuel curative processes such as detoxification (blood
purification), improved organ function (to increase nutrient utilization),
and superior tissue growth -- can be utilized, long term, with vastly
improved “health responses” to substantially mitigate chronic conditions.
INTRODUCTION
The interest in
the B.A.R.F. method during the early Eighties prompted Dr. Newman to
recommend a raw foods approach, as she was already recommending Macrobiotic
diets with her animal and human clients, often with mixed results.
One of the most
frustrating conditions in both dogs and cats fed raw foods, particularly the
yeast, bone meal, muscle and gristle trim tissues and chicken parts such as
necks or backs commonly used, is that of digestive disorders and the
resulting deeper weaknesses, such as allergies, arthritis, I.B.S., liver,
kidney or thyroid imbalance, poor immune responses and other organ issues,
including diabetes and seizures. These diets prematurely age the pet,
especially when symptomatic holistic or medical suppression is also being
applied rather than addressing the digestibility of raw foods. In 1985, Dr.
Newman concluded an initial one-year study of household dogs and cats with a
history of good health and no compelling conditions who where separated into
three groups; the raw food eaters, home cooked diets and healthy commercial
diets supplemented with Dr. Newman’s recommended foundation supplements
(Mega Pet Daily, SuperC2000 and Garlic Daily Aid). These results have
recently been re-confirmed after an additional five years of nutraceutical
data and several six-week follow-ups with previous test subjects who
remained on their group’s dietary recommendations.
All of the
above-mentioned changes became even more pronounced for some pets during the
second study with the utilization of Azmira’s Animal Nutrition Formulas, not
available during the first trial. These award-winning formulas contain fresh
human-grade ingredients, rather than the less potent, basic animal grade or
rancid “human-grade inspected” (but NOT “approved”) ingredients as found in
the other “top Natural Brands” previously used in 1984-85. All dogs and cats
were healthy at the onset of this study, regardless of previous diets used
and lifestyle.
METHODS OF
RESEARCH
There was a
comparative one year study done on immune enhancing, tissue building
nutrients, in particular protein, found in fresh animal tissue and the
optimal delivery system for their assimilation. These nutrients, combined,
have been noted for their ability to address various conditions, especially
the six common conditions behind the majority of prematurely aging dogs and
cats. Although causes are numerous and often in conjunction with one
another, nutritional imbalance, poor digestion and assimilation are the
basis for the majority of chronic conditions today, including arthritis,
allergies and endocrine issues such as low thyroid levels commonly
associated with improper protein utilization.
These healthy
dogs and cats were separated into three dietary groups and one control group
which consisted of eight dogs and twelve cats left to the owner and vet’s
discretion to use allopathic methods of feeding and care; First group
contained sixteen dogs and seventeen cats who were supplemented with Dr.
Newman’s vitamin/mineral protocol while fed a high quality commercial dry
and/or canned food. The second group of twenty-two dogs and nine cats was
fed the same home cooked diet with no other supplementation than available
within the ingredients. Subject group three contained twenty-one dogs and
eighteen cats (six of which where champion Siamese cats who belonged to one
of the top breeders and staunchest advocates of raw food for pets),
following the same 75% raw meat, 25% raw vegetables recommended at the time.
To be chosen for participation, each animal was particularly healthy and
well adjusted.
With sixty-seven
mature dogs participating, ranging in age from 2 yo to 11 yo, half the dogs
were small and medium-types, mostly Cockers and Terriers plus mixes, while
the other half were full breed and mixes of Shepards, Rotties, Goldens and
Labs; the same quality ingredients free of artificial ingredients and
chemical preservatives for the three study groups was followed, while the
control group under individual and random feeding guidelines choose foods
within, as well as outside, the study parameters. All animals were given
fifteen minutes of exercise and fresh air daily to aid in detoxification and
nutrient utilization. No other digestive support or veterinary
medication was applied.
Before the
beginning, and after the end of this initial study and the follow up in
1991, an objective veterinary assessment was compiled for certain medical
parameters: all the dogs and cats were photographed, confirmed on their
weight, passed basic blood profiles, plus clinical absence of internal and
external parasitic, fungal or viral infestation (to rule out underlying
weakness) and given a behavioral assessment regarding their particular
environmental or behavioral triggers.
During the whole
period of research, subjects’ caregivers kept a daily log that recorded how
the animals acted, slept, how stable was their appetites (acceptance of
ingredients), the specific changes observed after so many days, including
the overall condition of the animals and rapidity in loosing health or
gaining wellness. Each section was scored on a “1 to 10” rating and the
score combined for the final analysis and percentages reported. Feedback
gathered was utilized, not only to explain the symptoms still present on raw
foods yet eliminated with other diets, but to help formulate Award-winning
Azmira Animal Nutrition to the best standards available in the industry,
improving commercially available natural diets.
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
By far, at 61%,
the pets in group one, fed a high quality commercial diet plus Dr. Newman’s
daily supplementation protocol faired the best, cats slightly over dogs –
with a total absence of nutrition-related symptoms; 73% of these animals
showing improvement within the first week and 92% by week six.
Subjects that
were only fed home cooked foods, with slightly steamed or broiled meats plus
cooked and raw vegetables came in a close second at 29% improvement, dogs
improving some over cats, most within the first four weeks.
The group on raw
meat, bones and vegetables, responding with a poor wellness rate of only 8%,
also had the lowest maintenance success other than the control group when
reexamined in 1991.
Initially, in
1985, the control group, fed whatever dietary protocols were individually
chosen, faired only a 2% rating on wellness maintenance. In 1991 this group
fared better with a 7% rating, although many pets from the original group
had passed prematurely, while the raw foods group only received a 5% rating,
also losing a higher number of subjects over those in the other two groups.
Significant
observations
-
Of all the
groups, 57% of these subjects were reevaluated in 1990-91, having
continued following their specific groups’ dietary guidelines. 67%
of pets in the “control group” actually got significantly worse within a
few years with noticeable premature aging; many failing to live into old
age (or past age seven). Of these, twenty-two percent required medication;
fourteen owners choose to add Dr. Newman’s supplementation protocol after
the conclusion of the initial study period with noticeable improvement and
added longevity.
-
Of the 38% in
the raw foods group who sought additional support long term (switching to
home cooked or commercial diets to reverse a symptom related to the
previous diet), 89% responded better to Azmira’s Animal Nutrition
Formulas.
-
Although
Azmira’s pet nutrition formulas have proven to be beneficial in reversing
general weakness and improve wellness to help stimulate healing, it is
with the addition of Dr. Newman’s daily supplementation that the majority
of pets have flourished long term.
-
Even when
symptoms reappeared after disregarding the home cooking or commercial food
protocol, wellness and a reversal of symptoms would be quickly
accomplished (regardless the length of time passed back onto raw foods or
other diets) by returning to the Mega Pet Daily and Azmira Animal
Nutrition.
-
Long term
subjects fed raw diets often exhibited the very symptoms, sometimes years
later, that were originally suppressed with dietary changes and ingredient
quality improvement. These conditions commonly included allergies,
arthritis, digestive issues, endocrine imbalance and premature aging.
Sensitivities to environmental toxins and dietary changes also seemed to
increase over time, well before the pets “age” should be interfering with
immunity.
-
With some
animals, owners or veterinarians chose to switch from raw foods to Azmira
Nutrition and supplement with Azmira’s Mega Pet Daily, SuperC2000 and
Garlic Daily Aid. Improvements in such conditions as mentioned above were
noticeable within a few weeks and many reversed completely after several
months.
-
Animals fed
according to Dr. Newman’s recommendation, following the Holistic Animal
Care LifeStyle, had far less chronic symptoms or acute episodes to report
and required less medical intervention than the other 1990-1991 test
groups.
|
