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Sorting Natural Diet Options

Denise Flaim | Animal House

October 29, 2002

I've finally found the missing link.

If you've read this column for any length of time, you know that I'm a staunch advocate of natural, whole- food diets for dogs and cats. I am most definitely not a fan of commercial foods, which are overprocessed and loaded with additives and preservatives, not to mention questionable protein sources that range from unfit-for- human-consumption byproducts to the rendered remains of euthanized animals.

Many veterinarians are not terribly supportive of those who follow raw or even cooked diets, often out of concern that mere mortals will be incapable of providing balanced nutrition for their animals. Vets who sell bags of "prescription" kibble in their waiting rooms also have a compelling commercial interest in having their clients feed out of a bag.

In this veterinary vacuum, those who want to follow a natural diet usually choose a "guru" to follow. For the raw feeders, there's Australian vet Ian Billinghurst, author of "Give Your Dog a Bone" (Barfworld, $27.95), whose "Bones and Raw Food" diet has earned the unfortunate acronym BARF. Or Richard Pitcairn, author of "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats" (Rodale Press, $17.95), who advocates raw with the addition of grains. Or Kymythy Schultze, whose slim little book, "Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Pet Diet" (Hay House, $8.95), often gets overlooked but is chockful of information.

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Cooked diets have their devotees, too, and there are many books available on homemade diets.

But how does one choose between a cooked and raw diet, and between all these different feeding methods?

Finally, there is a doggie Virgil for all of us in nutritional purgatory: Monica Segal, whose "K9 Kitchen, Your Dogs' Diet: The Truth Behind the Hype" (Doggie Diner, $21.95), is a must-have.

Segal, who lives in Toronto and is certified by Ontario's University of Guelph in animal health care, started exploring natural diets when her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Zoey, developed severe digestive problems in early puppyhood. In her search for answers, Segal encountered rigidity and hype among so- called "holistic feeders."

"Everyone's got the solution - the perfect diet," she says. "Unfortunately, it's very much a human thing to put egos first."

What Segal found with Zoey, and what she details in "K9 Kitchen," is that individual animals are unique, and their diets should be, too.

Her book picks up where other natural-feeding books leave off: In simple, clear language, Segal explains the importance of everything from amino acids to enzymes. She offers suggestions for diet modifications based on a dog's symptoms and reactions, from diarrhea to a dull coat.

With all the talk about the nutritive value of raw, meaty bones, Segal could find no analyses - so she commissioned them herself. Raw feeders will find the detailed nutrient profiles of such staples as chicken backs and turkey necks invaluable. Ditto for Segal's discussion of how minerals and nutrients interact with one another, and factors that interfere with absorption.

"K9 Kitchen" offers a chapter about commercial dog food and challenges the idea that it is "complete and balanced." But in large part, this is a handbook for those who through common sense or sad experience are already searching for healthier diets for the animals they love. And it is especially useful for those on the fence about whether to feed raw or cooked: In a chapter entitled "Middle Ground," Segal puts forth the revolutionary idea that you can do both.

Already in its second printing after being self-published in June, "K9 Kitchen" has been getting positive feedback from holistic and conventional vets alike, says Segal. That's arguably because the book sees canine feeding in shades of gray: Every nutritional regimen has its pros and cons, its risks and rewards, and it is your responsibility to research them before embarking on a new diet for your dog. "K9 Kitchen" goes a long way toward fulfilling that requirement.

Segal's book is available at www.doggiedietician.com, and she moderates a canine- nutrition discussion e-mail group at http:// groups.yahoo .com/group/K9Kitchen/.

Her message is one of consistency and common sense: Take what you learn on the Internet with a grain of salt, and look for facts instead of accepting "truisms" at face value. Avoid extremes, what Segal describes as "one side saying, 'Oh, my God, salmonella - get out the Prednisone' and the other side saying, 'Of course there's mucous coming out - it's a healing crisis.'"

Most of all, listen to what your animal tells you.

"Take a good look at your dog, take a look at the risk factors, and then go with your gut," Segal concludes. "Nobody knows the dog like the guardian does. And your gut is very rarely wrong."