R-6-22

You Are What You Eat

Dallas had been abandoned by her owners and had sores all over her body. We got her
from the pound when she was only three-months-old. Weve had Dallas for nine years now. We
knew it was meant to be when we saw her because she already had the name Dallas. My moms
dog from her childhood who had recently passed away was also named Dallas. Dallas was
perfect for us. She looked so sweet and we knew we had to take her home. Her sores healed
quickly with proper care and she became a very lively and energetic puppy.
After having her for so many years, she really became a part of our family. Thats why we
started to notice when her personality changed a bit. Dallas wasnt as energetic anymore and was
starting to gain a lot of weight. Her hair was falling out leaving large bald spots and she just
wasnt the same happy dog she used to be. We knew something had to be wrong. We took her to
the vet and found out that she had a thyroid problem and would need to start taking thyroid pills
every day for the rest of her life. The pills really helped and after a short while, she started to get
better. It took a while for her to become adjusted to the medicine, but she eventually did and was
her old self again.
A few years later, unfortunately, Dallas started to have more of the same symptoms again.
We did not think too much of it and thought maybe it was more problems with her thyroid
because the symptoms were so similar. Thats why it was so shocking when the veterinarian said
she had liver problems. At this point the veterinarian recommended a biopsy to see the extent of
the damage. They cut her stomach wide open to get a look at her liver and remove a sample for
testing. When they finished they stapled it shut again. The ordeal left a ten-inch scar when it was
all said and done. The result was that our poor dog had severe Cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a disease

R-6-22
characterized by loss of cells and irreversible scaring of the liver. We were told that she was at
the end of her life. She is such an important part of our lives, like a family member more than a
companion and we were all scared of losing her.
The worst part, her problems could have been caused by some ingredients in commercial
dog food that we have been providing for her. This was extremely concerning to me. It was hard
for me to think that we could be doing this to her from the dog food we chose carefully. Could
this happen even though we always picked dog food that was organic and grain free? Can there
really be ingredients in dog food that can cause diseases? What exactly is in commercial dog
food? What types of ingredients are good to feed our dogs? Is it better if we made our own food
for them? These thoughts finally led me to the question: What are the effects of manufactured pet
food vs. homemade all natural food on our pets?
Pet owners want the best for their animals. Choosing what to feed your dog is one of the
most important things for a dogs health, just like humans. It can be hard to decide which option
to choose when there are so many kinds of dog food available. Many concerned owners decide
on costly, organic, grain free, or natural dog foods. However, according to what Susan Thixton, a
pet food safety advocate, wrote in the article Unanswerable Pet Food Questions, when
consumers are purchasing pet foods they are not told exactly what is in the food. The meat could
be sourced from a diseased or non-slaughtered animal, meat could be denatured with a chemical
or dye, fruits or vegetables may not be food grade or may be rotting surplus. It is not possible to
know the exact amounts of protein, fat, vitamins or minerals. It is very concerning how some
commercial pet foods are mislabeled and how misleading the quality of the food can be because
of this.

R-6-22
There are regulations and standards in place for pet food manufacturers, however, they
are not always enforced. The usual standard is set by the Association of American Feed Control
Officials (AAFCO) which is a voluntary membership association of local, state and federal
agencies charged by law to regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds and animal drug
remedies (Welcome to AAFCO). One would assume that quality is what sets that standard,
AAFCO, however, has no input as to the ingredients actually used in pet foods, as it has no
enforcement authority and does no analytical testing on pet food or the sources of protein, fiber,
or fats used (Pitcairn 17). Basically, testing that is done for some foods is run by the company
itself. Sometimes the company verifies the results of a contracted facility which runs the
analyses. As a result of these loose regulations, pet foods can contain slaughterhouse wastes,
toxic products from spoiled foods, non-nutritive fillers, heavy-metal contaminants, pesticides and
herbicides, drug residues, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, and bacteria and fungi
contaminants.
Some of the ingredients in commercial dog food can cause many negative effects on the
health of the dogs. As Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, states in his book Dr. Pitcairns Complete
Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, feeding slaughterhouse wastes to animals can
increase their chance of getting cancer and other degenerative diseases like Bovine spongiform
encephalopathy, more commonly known as mad cow disease. Wastes can also include moldy,
rancid, or spoiled processed meats, tissues riddled with cancer, and harmful hormones used to
fatten steer and castrate male chickens. Among these waste products found in many commercial
pet foods are other chemical additives:
As the name suggests, additive is any substance that is added to food or its ingredients in
order to modify its preservation characteristics or its organoleptic properties (that is the
properties related to food color, odor and taste). In this sense, additives are substances
extraneous to the genuine nature of food and, with the only exception of certain natural

R-6-22
additives, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, they do not have any nutritional value.
(Additives in Dog Food)
Many chemical additives such as, Propelyne glycol, Propyl gallate, Ethoxyquin, and
Butylated hydroxytoluene that are used as preservatives, have been found to cause illnesses in
dogs. These chemicals can cause dry itchy skin, hair loss, dehydration, excessive thirst, tooth and
gum problems, liver damage, major organ failure, metabolic stress, and cancer. The body uses up
nutrients and energy eliminating these toxic substances, but the body cannot detoxify all of the
substances and that is the problem. As Dr. Pitcairn, DVM, explains:
The body uses several natural mechanisms to detoxify and eliminate harmful substances.
Primarily, these processes occur in the liver (detoxification), kidneys (elimination), skin
(additional elimination, especially through deposits in the hair), and immune system
(reactions against harmful substances). Certain enzymes and their associated vitamins
assist this process. The more toxic the chemical, the harder the body must work to get rid
of itand the more these enzymes and vitamins are used up. (Pitcairn 27)
The dictionary defines enzymes as, any of numerous complex proteins that are produced by
living cells and catalyze specific biochemical reactions at body temperatures. Robert Mueller, a
registered pharmacist, describes the importance of enzymes in his book Living Enzymes: The
Worlds Best Kept Pet Food Secret, The bodys ability to function properly, repair itself when
injured, and ward off disease is directly related to the quality and quantity of enzymes in the
system (Mueller 57). Without enzymes food cannot be digested properly. Mueller also shares
that, Many health problems can be blamed on faulty digestion. Chronic fatigue, premature
aging, arthritis, skin and hair disorders, toxicity, allergies, cancer, and many more debilitating
conditions are also the result of poor digestion (Mueller 59). The important difference between
manufactured dog food and homemade, all natural food is enzymes. Enzymes come from almost
all fresh, raw, unprocessed, food, either plant or animal. However, enzymes are fragile beings.
Heat, pesticides, herbicides, food preservatives, additives, artificial colorings, and flavor

R-6-22
enhancers easily destroy them (Pet Digestive Enzymes). This means that any dog food that is
processed will not contain the enzymes that dogs need to digest food properly, but instead
contain harmful substances that can cause illnesses.
I recently interviewed my ROP Veterinary Science teacher and experienced Veterinary
Technician, Mrs. Scott. One shocking fact she shared:
I have also seen several animals who have had illnesses and even died from "designer"
foods that were produced in China - animals who were otherwise healthy had acute renal
failure after starting these new diets, some of which were promoted by pet food vendors
like Pet Food Express and others. These foods fortunately were recalled, but only after
cases of illness and death were reported. (Scott)
During the manufacturing of pet food, a variety of processes during the preparation,
storage, and preservation of food that can affect the nutritional content. In order to preserve pet
food, the food is subjected to elevated pressures, without the use of heat to kill micro-organisms.
Processes that expose foods to high levels of heat, light or oxygen cause the greatest nutrient
loss (Food Processing and Nutrition). Many nutrients, like vitamins, cannot be made in the
body and must be obtained through diet. Vitamins are important because they help regulate
chemical reactions in the body. Nutrients like protein are important because they are used to
build muscles, tissues, and make hormones. Minerals are components of foods that are involved
in many body functions. For example, calcium and magnesium are important for bone structure,
and iron is needed for our red blood cells to transport oxygen. Like vitamins, minerals are not a
source of energy and are best obtained through a varied diet rather than supplements (Six Basic
Nutrients). Dogs are not getting a lot of important nutrients when they are eating processed
foods. When dogs are on a raw dog food diet they obtain the nutrients and enzymes they need to
be healthy because nutrients are much higher in raw foods that have not been processed.

R-6-22
I didnt know any of this that day in the vet, however. Walking into the room, I did not
know what to expect. I had just spent twenty minutes with my mom and our beloved dog, Dallas,
in the waiting room. The room was not too big, just big enough for a few chairs and a front desk.
There was a slight breeze from the door opening and closing as people came and left with their
various animals. I could hear the shuffling of the nervous animals in the waiting room as we sat
with the other pet owners and their loved animals. I sat with anxiety, wondering what could be
wrong now. I felt relieved when Dallas name was called and we could finally find out.
Finding out that my dog has liver problems that could be caused by her diet led me to
research ideal meal plans for her. There is still some controversy on whether raw dog foods are
an ideal meal plan, but they are becoming more and more popular among animal enthusiasts.
Mueller states that The best safeguard you can provide for your pets is to feed them filtered
water along with a biologically appropriate raw food diet, or BARF as its known in the nutrition
business (Mueller 17). Choosing to feed your pet a raw food diet will take more work and time
but the lasting effects on their health and the money you can save by preventing illnesses is more
than worth it. There are many different opinions on what nutrients are essential is a dogs diet.
However, most agree that Many dog food recipes fall short in certain nutrients, especially iron,
copper, calcium, and zinc and that Your pet needs protein (animal meat, seafood, dairy or
eggs), fat (from meat or oil) and carbohydrates (grains or vegetables) also needs calcium (from
dairy or an ingredient such as egg shells), and essential fatty acids (from certain plant oils, egg
yolk, oatmeal and other foods) (Wait).
When I asked Mrs. Scott, she said she has seen that, many owners of patients who had
histories of allergy, gastrointestinal disease, and kidney disease would choose to make their pets'
food. Sometimes this was successful in alleviating symptoms, but some owners did have to give

R-6-22
vitamin supplements since their pet was not getting enough from their homemade diet (Scott).
She also said she thought homemade pet food would be beneficial because you know what
would be going into it. People that choose to do this first have to do some research to make sure
the diet they are making will meet all of their pets' needs in terms of calories, vitamins, and
nutrients (Scott). In another interview I did, Louisa Asseo, a DMV who will be opening her own
Veterinary Office very soon, also told me she believes there are benefits to making homemade
pet food and that finding a good brand of manufactured dog food can be very difficult with all
the brands that are available now (Asseo). There can be many benefits to making homemade pet
food however, the necessary research has to be put in to creating a raw food diet before you start
one.
One example of the benefits of a raw food diet is Barbara Benjamin-Creel. BenjaminCreel started making food for her three dogs after her German Shepherd, Scooter, was diagnosed
with cancer. She gives them yogurt and raw ground pork, turkey or beef mixed with rice. The
diet change was too late to help Scooter, but her other two eleven-year-old dogs are thriving and
more energetic than ever. Benjamin-Creel believes that they avoided a lot of issues her dogs may
have faced due to old age (Wait).
We started my dog on a raw foods diet as soon as we found out about her liver disease.
Dallas has now lived 6 months past her diagnosis of being in her Last stage of life. She is
energetic and playful. Her motivation to go for a walk or on a ride never falters. Her coat is so
shiny and thick that people are often surprised to hear she is nine years old already. We feed her
twice daily. Each meal typically contains the following ingredients: one raw egg (including the
shell); approximately one pound of raw chicken with bones; seasonal squash; yams or sweet
potatoes; carrots; apples; seasonal berries; zucchini; and greens such as spinach, kale, and chard.

R-6-22
We started by adding a little bit more and more to her kibble which we gave her less and less of
until it was all raw fresh ingredients. She loves her new food and eats it very enthusiastically.
This is just our experience, but many testimonials attest to the many benefits of a raw food diet
that has been credited for improving and even reversing or curing illness and disease in animals.
Not only can food prevent illnesses it has also been found to be effectively used as a
remedy for many health problems in cats and dogs. More and more pet owners are finding
homeopathic remedies for their animals. This is saving money for expensive vet bills and also
lengthening their animals lives and improving the quality of their life by preventing illness and
disease. The book Forget the Vet: Homeopathic Remedies for Cats and Dog, written by Pennie
Mae Cartawick, includes an extensive list of remedies. It contains recipes, foods, herbs, and what
health problems they can help treat.
Through all of this research it is clear that the effects of raw food diets are much for
positive and healthy for dogs. Manufactured dog food has been found to contain harmful
additives such as, wastes, chemicals and hormones that have lasting, negative effects on the
animals. The consumption of manufactured dog food can lead to many devastating illnesses like
cancer and organ failure. Processed food does not contain important nutrients that dogs need to
survive. It also does not have enzymes that are needed to digest food properly. The best way to
get these nutrients and enzymes is by eating raw, fresh, unprocessed fruits, vegetables and meat.
Switching dogs to raw food diets has been proven by numerous vets and pet owners with
personal experience to have lasting positive effects on the health of the dogs. More and more
people are finding nutritional diets for their pets and seeing positive results.

R-6-22
Works Cited
Books:
Cartawick, Pennie Mae. Forget the Vet: Homeopathic Remedies for Cats and Dogs. First ed. San
Bernardino: 2016. Print.
Halsey, William Darrach. Dictionary. New York: Macmillan Educational, 1986. Print.
Mueller, Robert. Living Enzymes: The World's Best Kept Pet Food Secret.
Danville, CA: BARF World, 2008. Print.
Pitcairn, Richard H., and Susan Hubble. Pitcairn. Dr. Pitcairn's Complete
Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. Emmaus, PA: Rodale,
1995. Print.
Electronic Sources:
"Additives in Dog Food - Preservation and Supplements." Professors House. Professor's House,
07 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.
Contreras, Sabrine. "How Does Your Dog Food Brand Compare?" The
Dog Food Project -. Strange World, 29 July 2008. Web. 8 Feb. 2016.
"Food Processing and Nutrition." - Better Health Channel. Deakin University, Sept. 2012. Web.
21 Mar. 2016.
"Pet Digestive Enzymes | Pet Digestive Health." Mercola.com. Dr. Joseph Mercola, Web. 20
Mar. 2016.
"Six Basic Nutrients Required for Good Health." Six Basic Nutrients Required for Good Health.
Web. 21 Mar. 2016.
Thixton, Susan. "Unanswerable Pet Food Questions." Truth about Pet Food. Truth About Pet
Food, 07 Mar. 2016. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

R-6-22
Wait, Marianne. "Homemade Dog Food: Cost, Recipe Advice, Nutrition, and Storage." WebMD.
Monsanto, Web. 8 Feb. 2016.
"Welcome to AAFCO." The Association of American Feed Control Officials Home. The
Association of American Feed Control Officials, Web. 20 Mar. 2016.
Primary Sources:
Asseo, Louisa. DVM, Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic, Pleasant Hill, CA. Personal Interview. 18
April 2016.
Scott, Melanie. ROP Veterinary Science Teacher, Northgate High School, Walnut Creek, CA.
Email Interview. 21 March 2016.

10