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Ask Jesse — Holistic Health For Dogs and Cats

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Dogs and cats deserve a wholesome raw meat diet

Boomer Part 1: Do I Have To Add Calcium To Fish?

I give Boomer boneless raw fish occasionally for dinner with the veggies, instead of meat (today it was 'sole'. I assume it's okay to give him raw fish occasionally (he loves it as did our previous dog, Teddy), but I'm wondering if I need to give the calcium with raw fish which I know is necessary with raw meat? I have been adding the calcium with the fish.

Jesse's Answer

When it comes to any raw meat, the calcium should be added and this includes fish.

The only time the calcium does not need to be added is when the food being fed is a whole prey. An example would be if a cat catches a mouse or a bird... or if a dog catches a rabbit.

Only with whole prey are all of the nutrients naturally there, including calcium. The primary source for calcium in the meat is blood. But the meats we buy, including fish, are drained of blood. Therefore, we must add an external source of calcium.

I personally feed my cats raw fish all the time but the fish I feed is whole... brains, guts, skin, bones, blood... everything from head to tail. So with this type of fish, no calcium is needed... many people feed raw meat and bones thinking they are feeding enough calcium, but they are missing the fact that the meat has been drained of blood. So even raw meat and bones need calcium added to the meat. Only when the meat is whole prey is calcium not needed.

  1. Boomer: Part 1
  2. Boomer: Part 2
  3. Boomer: Part 3
  4. Boomer: Part 4

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I'm Totally Sold On The Raw Meat Diet

2010-01-27

I'm totally sold on the raw diet in every way — health wise, time wise, even money wise — it is less than I was spending on wellness canned food.

And if it wasn't for all your information — your book — your website — your informative emails I would feel a bit more lost, but I don't because of everything you have provided. You have made me feel more confident about everything.

Thanks again for everything and I'll keep you posted! :)

Linda

Bekkie Boo Boo Bekki Boo Boo

In Just 6 Days

2010-06-10

Here’s our story.

We have 2 rescue Chihuahuas, one is a mix, we believe, with Jack Russell Terrier. His name is Lucky and he is approximately 8 years old. We rescued him 3 years ago. Our other little guy is Chico and he is about 2-3 years old. We rescued him November, 2008 and they said he was 2 but we think he was younger, just looked older and acted older because he was undernourished. We have been feeding NutroMax and Iams dog foods, which we believed were on the better side of commercial grade pet food.

Lucky has lost some teeth and recently developed allergies with wheezing and coughing. The vet gave us 2 medicines for him to give twice a day. On Saturday, May 29, 2010, he came to his breakfast, sniffed the food, shook and shuddered and walked away. I thought that was weird!, but when he gets hungry he will eat. Saturday night he did the same thing and also Sunday morning. By now my husband, Robert, and I are getting a little concerned. Lucky is a little chunky, but not obese, so missing a few meals probably wouldn’t hurt him as long as he was drinking his water, which he was. Well I tried giving him the canned food, which he ate for a couple of meals and then did the same thing as he did with the dry. Sniffed, shuddered and walked away. Well, for a week I tried several things, canned chicken, cut up chicken (sautéed) and then on Friday, June 4, 2010, I started searching the internet for homemade pet food. Praise the Lord! I found your website. I immediately switched both dogs to raw food on Saturday morning. I happened to have thawed a chicken breast, cut it into small pieces and they both chowed down!

Saturday I bought some ground meat, turkey and some beef (lean), and have been feeding them both raw meat mixed with some chopped frozen veggies ever since. The immediate improvement (within 6 days) in both dogs has been just short of miraculous. Lucky is not wheezing and is back to his old bouncy self. He gets the bounce from the Jack Russell side of his family. He hasn’t had his meds since he quit eating because we thought they might have been part of the problem. Chico is more relaxed and not as fearful, which is a strange benefit, but I’m loving it. We believe he was quite abused in his former life and even after being with us for 1-1/2 years still acted fearful. Both their coats are smoother already and their bowel movements are much better, still firm, but not hard. Believe it or not they are even getting along better with each other. I guess just generally feeling better overall.

I am so excited about their new diet, oops, new life style change, and am telling everyone about it and giving them your web site info and a copy of the condensed version of your book.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for being there when we needed you.

God bless you and keep up the good work taking care of His creation that give us so much love. And isn’t love the key to everything?

– Hazel

My Australian Shepherd Has A Second Life – Thank You!

2008-12-16

Hello! I would like to first say Thank You for your information! My Australian Shepherd is 14 years young and was having problems walking up stairs and jumping up on the bed/couch. He was on the raw food diet for about 2 – 3 weeks when he started running up the stairs, jumping on the couch/bed. Because of his age and having such a hard time, I was preparing myself for his trip to Rainbow Bridge, feeling that it would be sooner rather than later. Now I feel the later is the best word. He is so happy, you can see it in his eyes when he is lying on the couch!! My dogs teeth have turned white! It is truly amazing! Again, Thank you!

– Jennifer