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Making Grains Digestible

Wheat, corn, and other widely used, inexpensive grains have so disrupted the health of America's dogs and cats that a few experts recommend avoiding grains altogether. However, some breeders who prepare their pets' food report that when they eliminated grain, they experienced breeding problems for the first time.4 Restoring grain restored the animals' reproductive health.

Pet nutritionists agree that the only grain dogs and cats can fully utilize has been predigested, such as by a prey animal's digestive organs. Cooked grains are more digestible than raw grains, but cooking does not digest grains. Microwave cooking, cooking in a pressure cooker, and the high heat and pressure used in extrusion processing (the method used to produce commercial kibble) damage the protein molecules and fragile oils in grains.

To prepare a nutrient-dense sprouted grain puree, soak 1/2 to 1 cup grain in a wide-mouth quart jar of filtered water for 10 to 12 hours or overnight. Organically grown wheat, rye, kamut, spelt, barley, millet, amaranth, quinoa, and other grains can be sprouted; rice is the only grain for which this procedure is not recommended.

To introduce sprouted grain to chow hounds with normal digestion, start with 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight every other day and gradually increase the amount as desired. For cats, use smaller amounts, such as 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon to start. For finicky dogs or cats and those with digestive problems, start with tiny amounts. The grain mash will keep, refrigerated, for two weeks or longer. If following a diet that calls for 15 to 20 percent cooked grain, consider reducing the amount of grain by half once the animal is accustomed to sprouted grain because sprouted grain is far more concentrated and nutritious than cooked grain.

Fats and Oils

Dogs and cats are designed to consume animal-source saturated fats, which are an important source of calories and nutrients, including essential fatty acids (EFAs). Some pet nutritionists recommend a lowfat diet for dogs and cats on the theory that prey animals are usually lean rather than fat, but wild felines and canines eat large amounts of fat whenever they catch animals that are about to hibernate or that naturally develop layers of insulating fat. Dogs and cats need some fat for fuel, but they need less in warm weather or during periods of inactivity. Many pet nutritionists recommend removing any thick layers of fat from raw meat and poultry before serving it, which is good advice when feeding commercially farmed animals whose fat may store antibiotics, synthetic hormones and chemical residues.

Some home-prepared diets for dogs and cats use unsaturated vegetable oils. While small amounts of organically grown, refrigerated, superior-quality flaxseed, evening primrose, or borage seed oil are likely to have a beneficial rather than detrimental effect on canine and feline health, the same cannot be said of vegetable oils sold for cooking, such as those that line America's supermarket shelves. To avoid EFA imbalances and trans fats, do not feed your dog or cat margarine, vegetable shortening, any refined vegetable oil such as corn or safflower oil, or any product containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil.

Provide essential fats and protect your pet against EFA imbalances and deficiencies by feeding a constantly changing variety of foods that contain healthful fats, including nuts, eggs, fatty fish, occasional avocados, and small amounts of raw or home-prepared butter, unrefined, organic coconut oil16,24and/or a superior-quality refrigerated flaxseed or EFA-supplement oil. Older animals and those with a history of digestive problems may benefit from the use of digestive enzyme products that contain lipase, the enzyme that digests lipids (fats and oils).

Egg Whites and Yolks

Raw eggs are a health concern because egg whites contain avidin, a protein that interferes with the body's absorption of biotin, a B-complex vitamin. Because cooking neutralizes avidin, many pet nutritionists recommend cooking eggs before serving them to animals. However, foxes, coyotes, and wild dogs and cats are fond of raiding bird nests or chicken coops and eating raw eggs, shell and all. In the study that showed avidin's adverse effect on biotin, laboratory rats were fed excessive quantities of raw egg white.5 A growing number of veterinarians and other experts recommend feeding raw egg, although opinions differ as to whether the whites should be fed. Pets with strong digestive systems can eat the whole egg and its shell; others (except for those with a serious sensitivity or allergy) can eat the yolk by itself. As Dr. Pottenger proved in his poultry feeding experiments,2 eggs from naturally raised, free-range chickens are more nutritious (and, no doubt, less allergenic) than from chickens confined to indoor coops.

The Great Milk Debate

Should dogs and cats eat dairy products? Some pet nutritionists say milk and dairy products are perfect foods, while others blame them for every canine and feline disorder from ear infections to cancer.

The truth lies somewhere in between. Raw, unpasteurized, unhomogenized milk straight from healthy, organically raised, grass-fed cows or goats is an excellent food for dogs and cats.2,3 Unfortunately, America's supermarkets stopped selling raw, whole milk long ago. Some states allow raw milk to be sold for pet use, and some allow consumers to buy raw milk directly from dairy farms. Health food stores can sometimes recommend suppliers, as can A Campaign for Real Milk.25

The most familiar cultured dairy products in North America are yogurt and kefir, which are sold in health food stores and supermarkets. However, most commercially prepared yogurt and kefir contain questionable ingredients, such as nonfat dry milk powder, and their beneficial bacteria decline during shipment and storage. Freshly prepared yogurt and kefir provide both beneficial bacteria and the lactic acid they thrive on, protecting the system against pathogens and infection while improving digestion.

Yogurt requires carefully controlled heat for its fermentation, but thanks to the many electric yogurt makers sold in kitchen supply and department stores, it is easy to make at home. For dogs and cats, freshly prepared yogurt that has fermented for 24 hours is most digestible, for prolonged fermentation is needed to break down the lactose in milk.20 Kefir ferments at room temperature and requires no special equipment. Starters for both yogurt and kefir are widely available.26, 27, 28 Once fermented, a small amount of yogurt or kefir from a previous batch is added to fresh milk, and the bacteria grow.

Centuries ago, Scandinavian farmers discovered that milk clabbered faster when their cows ate butterwort, a European herb. Piima culture from Finland29 is derived from the milk of butterwort-fed cows; it contains five strains of beneficial bacteria and is easy for pets to digest. Piima starter can be used to make piima milk, cream, butter, buttermilk, cream cheese, and whey, any of which can be added to a pet's dinner. When introducing dairy products, feed them once a week to be sure your dog or cat tolerates them well; then use as often as desired.

Fringe Benefits

Traditional food preparation techniques involve a shift of mental gears. These methods require planning, but they aren't expensive or difficult.

No matter which home-prepared diet one follows, food given to dogs and cats is more nutritious and easier to digest when traditionally prepared. Dog cleanup and cat litterbox chores are usually more pleasant when pets are on a well balanced diet of mostly raw food. Skin and coat problems, joint problems, and other chronic health conditions usually improve, and so do the animals' body odor, disposition, mental focus, and resistance to disease. Puppies weaned on raw foods are especially healthy.33 Well-nourished pets are in every way a joy to live with.

About the Author
C.J. Puotinen is the author of several books about medicinal herbs, including Natural Relief from Aches and Pains (Keats, 2001), The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care (Keats, 1999), and Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats (Keats, 2000). She and her husband live in New York with two cats and a Labrador Retriever.

Editor's note: While humans benefit from many of the same dietary principles that prove salutary for dogs and cats, it is important to remember that humans are not animals. The human species has always cooked some of its food, particularly grains, green vegetables and a portion of meat and seafood. Cooking makes some nutrients more available to humans, whose digestive tracts are smaller than those of animals and who lack the capability to neutralize many toxins that animals can handle. Even Francis Pottenger gave some cooked foods to his human patients.