Book... thoughts?

[Saje]

I just got the book "Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats the Ultimate Diet" by Kymythy R. Schultze.

Anybody read it? Any thoughts?

I've only skimmed it so far but the only thing I'm not comfortable/sure of is she recommends fasting them one day a week. I don't think I'd want to deal with the whining for starters!

Otherwise it seems quite clear and simple.

 

[Mordy]

it's a pretty good book, especially for people who are just switching to raw.

i don't agree with all the author's views (e.g. not feeding dairy products because it's not "natural"), but overall her ideas are sound.

a fasting day is good, but you don't have to do that if you don't want to. the argument is based on wild canids not eating every day either, but then i'd have to say they don't eat six days and then fast one day either.

you can just do a normal 7 day diet plan and skip the fast, or do a "bone fasting" day where you don't feed anything but a recreational bone like for example a beef knuckle bone.

 

[Saje]

I read somewhere that it's ok for dogs to fast occassionally but it's really hard on cats. Is there any truth to that?

Thanks for your thoughts on the book Mordy. I've already read most of it. It's an easy read and most of it is basically what I've learned from you, Emma, Scarlette, websites and other people I'm forgetting.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

Never heard of it until now.

I know my dogs would HATE fasting. I wouldn't want to do that to them, either.

 

[Mordy]

it's not bad for the dogs but cats can develop fatty liver syndrome (feline hepatic lipidosis) if they don't eat for a period of time. as body fat is broken down to supply nutrients, it is deposited so quickly in the liver that it can't be processed by the body. it is stored in and around the liver cells, resulting in liver failure. this applies especially to obese cats that are starved to lose weight.

the idea behind the fasting is a sound one - the body does not have to commit resources to the task of breaking down and digesting nutrients and can instead focus on cleansing and repair.

followers of mogens eliasen's theory on raw feeding even only feed their dogs 2-3 times a week, trying to emulate the dietary patterns of canids in the wild. it's pretty interesting.

 

[Saje]

That is interesting and makes some sense.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I'm not saying that fasting is a horrible thing to do, I'm saying I personally would not do it to my dogs (nor myself).