Written by Veterinarian Dr David Bettio,

OLIKOS VETERINARY HOMEOPATHIC CENTER  - Parma-

On this page I want to share with you some reflections I have done and am doing on the natural nutrition of our animals, with particular reference to dogs and cats. These reflections arise from the clinical observations of more than 10 years of veterinary practice, in the light of the precious teachings of the dear Belgian friend and colleague Eric Vanden Eynde, veterinarian, homeopath and bio-nutritionist.

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A healthy and balanced diet is required . 

We hear from all doctors that well-being passes   also through nutrition.

So healthy food is the foundation of our health. Eating different foods (meat, eggs, pasta, rice, vegetables, fruit) and fresh is what we do on a daily basis.

Nobody would dream of eating prepackaged foods for life, right? Better bread and jam than a packaged snack, right? And why shouldn't that be the case for our animals too? Nutrition is a fundamental element  for the psychic and physical growth of our animals.

 The idea that there is a pet-food that can provide dogs and cats with all the nutrients they will need during the course of their existence is a myth, as is believing that there cannot be of the consequences given by such a type of diet.

Although I know that it is not easy to demonstrate analytically, I believe that eating industrially produced food is equivalent to eating the entire industrial process that produces it. And this has important consequences on the health of our animals. The efforts of the pet food industries are somewhat appreciable because they serve the need to have food that can be stored, available and convenient to use. But this type of food seems to be made more to go against our comforts, rather than the well-being and health of our dogs and cats. With this I do not want to make a crusade against dry food and canned food, but to approach nutrition and nutrition with a certain critical sense, compared to some choices that we make today almost automatically, both as veterinarians and as pet owners.

The first consideration is that food is not just a food, it represents nutrition. As Hippocrates (one of the fathers of medicine) said at the turn of 400 BC, food is closely related to our state of health. I repeat, no doctor would recommend a diet based on canned food, but everyone recommends a diet based on fresh food, food that does not contain preservatives or chemical additives and whose raw materials are as healthy as possible, such as those coming from crops or organic and biodynamic farming. As no doctor would recommend starting or continuing to smoke cigarettes, because the close correlation between smoking and lung cancer has been demonstrated.

The nutrition, therefore, contains in itself the essential elements such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fibers, micro-macro elements, vitamins etc etc,   but also some elements' thin ', elements linked to the way of eating or proposing food, to the materials from which the foods we use for our recipes derive, principles linked to the emotional sphere, of taste, of relationship.

Dogs are "opportunistic eaters" and have, therefore, developed a digestive anatomy and physiology that allow them to digest and use a wide variety of foods. The nutritional needs of dogs and cats are many and therefore a complete ration must provide:

• the energy in a quantity equal to that released by the animal organism in the form of heat, to that retained by the organism itself in its own tissues during growth or to that transferred in the production of milk or fetuses;

• proteins and any essential amino acids, mineral substances, vitamins and essential fatty acids in sufficient quantities to meet the vital needs of animals and those related to production

The quantities that must be supplied of these nutritional principles are not the same for the entire duration of the animal's life but, obviously, they also vary only considering the physiological stages (and, even more so, if pathological states occur).

Proposing and offering food to our animal is not a mere mechanical gesture of survival .  It contains many other messages: first of all, and most obvious and known, _cc781905-5cde-3194- bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ the message of consolidation of the relationship between handler and animal; second and not least, but which we have forgotten about, is the relationship between animal and environment, the relationship between food and nature, between the animal and its experience of the world through food.

This can only be done if the food is natural, healthy and fresh as it is the only one that contains the vital essence of all its elements.

I understand that implementing a homemade diet plan that is not easy for everyone. But there are tricks that can help us in this, there are small strategies in the preparation of food that can guide us towards the true well-being of our dogs and cats.

Below you will find some tips for home-cooked, healthy and fresh nutrition.

In the absence of the possibility of implementing a home diet, packaged food (wet and dry) can be used. In this case I recommend taking a packaged food whose raw materials are certified di igine biologica. Taking organic into account means understanding how food-environment-animal-man are in close and cascading relationship with the health of the citizen - therefore also of animals - and of the ecosystem. from organic and biodynamic crops and livestock has a broad significance, not only on the health impact of our animals, but also from an ecological, economic and ethical point of view.

I will list some suggestions for home diets for dogs and cats, developed together with Dr. Med. Vet. Eric Vanden Eynde, bio-nutritional veterinarian. It should be borne in mind that each animal has its own nutritional needs based on age, sex, activity and physio-pathological conditions. Consequently these suggestions are to be considered as a general indication.

The diets formulated take into account the essential needs of dogs and cats, but it must be observed that each animal must have a personalized diet because the energy requirement depends on many variables, the most common are: breed, sex, age, weight, activity, seasonality, any pathological states in progress (for which special diets must be formulated).

Energy needs are given by protein sources, fats, minerals and vitamins, carbohydrates.

Particular attention should be paid to the administration of carbohydrates in the diet, in fact “carbohydrates are widely included in the diet of pets both for reasons related to the technology of feed production and because they represent an important energy source. Despite this, there are no real specific needs for carbohydrates since the glucose supplied by them can also be obtained through the glucogenic amino acids or through the glycerol deriving from fats "(source Vetpedia_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d _ >>).

Dogs e  cats are carnivores, therefore carbohydrates have little relevance to their nutritional needs.   The cat produces 1/3 of the amylase produced by the dog, therefore a diet rich in carbohydrates, as well as causing overweight and obesity, can cause serious intestinal problems linked to intolerances to cereals.

The stomach of cats is not very suitable for the digestion of cereals. Among other things, refined and non-wholemeal organic cereals are used. The greatest damage is today provided by industrial dry food which, rich in palatable but indigestible aromas, has transformed agile carnivores into overweight, apathetic, depressed and food-hungry beasts because they are desperately looking for vitamins, mineral salts, amino acids, trace elements, which_cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ can't find in the daily bowl.

Refined cereals by introducing large quantities of glucose into the circulation, stimulate the pancreas to make large quantities of insulin available due to the surge in blood sugar, with problems of obesity. It should always be emphasized that  the metabolism of carnivores is able to obtain glucose also from proteins (glycogenesis) and also from vegetables.

 So: abolish feed rich in cereals from the diet of dogs and cats.

On the market there are organic croquettes and cans free of flour and cereals that adapt to the real biophysiological needs and the food ethogram of dogs and cats (from Natural Medicine and complementary integration of Lorena di Modugno Danesi, ed. New techniques).

The best diet is always the home diet!

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