Use Enzymes to Improve Your Pet’s Life

Your first and best clue to poor nutrition in your pet may be the appearance of his skin and coat. There is alarming new information revealing what actually goes into pet food these days and what is missing from those foods. Many required enzymes that are only found in raw meat and vegetables can’t survive the processing techniques used in producing pet foods. Signs that your pet is suffering from enzyme malnutrition include a dull-looking coat, bald or “hot spots”, excessive scratching or licking and other visible skin problems. You can help by applying digestive enzymes (amylase, protease, peptizyme SP®, lipase, cellulase, lactase, and bromelain) on premium quality pet food.

Or you could just stop giving your pet commercially processed pet foods. How long have you been under the impression that you should not give your pet table scraps? Those warnings have been given by the same pet food manufacturers that are putting toxic scraps from the human food industry into their foods. Four of the top five major pet food companies in the U.S. are subsidiaries of major, multinational [human] food production companies. The FDA has confirmed a disturbing fact that  one source of pet food byproducts come from rendering companies who provide remains of other animals in their foods. Condemned livestock carcasses, euthanized dogs and cats picked up from veterinary offices and animals collected off highways are but a few of the things that go into your pet’s food. To make kibble and pellets more enticing, kitchen grease and other oils deemed rancid or inedible for humans are sprayed on them. Fat-blending companies collect vats of discarded grease from restaurants that have been left for weeks or months at a time and have become rancid before it is mixed with animal and vegetable fats and sold to pet food companies.

Two of the top three ingredients commonly used in pet foods are grain products, which brings to bear why are we feeding grains to our carnivore companions in the first place? Soy is often used to help fulfill protein requirements in pet foods but it appears that most forms of soybeans do not agree with a dog or cat’s digestive system and are pretty much unusable by an animal’s body. The grains that are used in pet foods are usually leftover after they have been processed for people. Moldy grain that is unfit for human consumption is also used. Some of this mold is toxic and likely deadly.

Long before your pet develops a serious problem as a consequence of malnutrition or slow poisoning from pet food, signs of ill health on the skin or coat will likely appear. Food allergy clues may include itchy face and paws, hair loss, skin infections, odor, crusting, scaling and dandruff. All of these are signs of the body trying to throw off poisons. To find out if your pet has food allergies you can have various tests performed or you can try a hypoallergenic diet. If the problems lessen or go away, food and/or digestion may have been the cause.

Enzymes, which have been called the “sparks of life,” are a group of proteins that act as catalysts for virtually everything that happens within the body. They are natural substances present in raw, uncooked foods, and are missing from all processed, commercial pet foods. Unfortunately, raw meat is not the answer because other health concerns arise from feeding raw meat, such as bacteria and parasites. Gero Vita International (www.gvi.com) has a product available called TheraZymes which can be sprinkled on your pet’s food. There is a formula available for cats as well as dogs.  

If you choose to prepare your own pet food, just make sure that it constitutes a “balanced diet”. That is, meat (for protein), dairy (such as eggs), vegetables, fiber (uncooked or cooked oatmeal), fat (vegetable oil), etc.

The information above is not intended to replace diagnosis or treatment from a veterinarian or other qualified dog professional. The Peoria Humane Society does not assume any legal responsibility for any information presented on this web site.