Bacteria

Many of our first-time customers ask us the common question, “Are you not scared of feeding your dog raw meat due to e.coli or salmonella poisoning?” My answer is a definite “NO”. After considering the carnivore’s physiology, their habits, our manufacturing practices, methods of prevention and treatment it should not be a worry for our customers either. My own dog has been consuming a raw diet for 5 years and she is in better than ever health.

A carnivore (dog or cat) has three defense mechanisms to counteract ingesting bacteria. The first defense mechanism is the dog’s saliva. A recent study (1990 University of California) illustrates a dog has the cleanest mouth possible. Saliva possesses certain anti-bacterial properties that kill bacteria. You will notice that your dog will salivate as you prepare his/her dinner. This saliva will contain many anti-bacterial agents to ward off any pathogens. The study also showed that if a dog licks your wound it will heal more quickly and cleaner. The second defense mechanism is the carnivore’s stomach itself. The Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) in a dog or cat is much stronger than a human being. The stronger HCl acts as a disinfectant and kills bacteria. To give you a better visual, bleach is made from HCl. We use bleach to disinfect and kill pathogens all the time. The final mechanism, in case the bacteria made it through the first two mechanisms, is a short straight intestinal tract. Food is not held in the intestinal tract for long periods of time. Thus, E. Coli does not have a chance to produce a toxin. In the human body, it takes a long time for food to pass through the digestive tract and is often held in pockets as it twists and turns. We, as humans, have a much greater chance of bacteria causing problems.

A healthy dog or cat can handle almost anything it is given. However, if given the right circumstances bacteria infection can cause havoc and problems. Generally, an unhealthy pet will have greater difficulty dealing with bacteria. As well, if your dog or cat has a temporary blockage in its intestinal tract the bacteria can be given an opportunity to produce toxins.

If we consider the intestinal tract’s normal residents are e.coli, salmonella, camplobacter jejuni, etc. then we must realize our carnivorous pets deal with bacteria everyday. We must be concerned when these populations increase dramatically due to illness, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, etc. There are always good bacteria (acidophilus, bifidus, etc.) in the intestinal tract but circumstances arise when the bad bacteria (e.coli, salmonella) populations overcome the good bacteria and an illness occurs. In my opinion, it is important to supplement with probiotics (good bacteria) to keep the bad bacteria numbers in check.

Our companion pets have the most embarrassing habits. It is not uncommon to see them sniffing or licking another pet’s rectum or even their own. Think of all the bacteria exposed. As well, if they have been outside romping in the garden, fishing in the bog or hunting in the woods they will no doubt have to clean their feet. While they were hunting or walking outside, perhaps they came across rabbit or bird defication and got some on their nose, which of course they licked off. Perhaps your pet drinks out of the bird bath? Have you ever watched your dog hunting and all of a sudden they have their prey in their mouth? They are, of course, beaming to show you their catch of the day. Many pets actually will bury their prey in the backyard and then several weeks later dig it back up and devour it. Now if they can handle this type of cuisine they should be able to consume a fresh bones and raw food diet.

Food preparation of a raw diet is important. We bleach all equipment, floors and walls after every manufacturing process. Every detail is scrutinized from food handling to temperature of the water. All food ingredients are passed by federal inspection. This means that only the best quality and the safest food ingredients are used in our products. The suppliers that we use are the best in their business. We spent considerable time investigating numerous suppliers. Eventually, we were satisfied by the answers given and personal inspections of their facilities to have confidence to purchase their products. If there should ever be a concern we have a proper recall in place to ensure food safety.

For bacterial infections to occur toxins must be seen in very high numbers. For example, there needs to be 107 to 109 cells per gram present to create Salmonellosis. 107 represents 10,000,000 cells. This is extreme. One final note, it appears that freezing food lowers bacterial numbers. There is evidence to prove that E. Coli, Salmonella and Camplobacter decrease in numbers once frozen. For more information see “Modern Food Microbiology by James M. Jay 1992”.
There are many ways to prevent your pet from having bacterial infections. Probiotics offer one of the easiest solutions. Granted there is a lot unknown about the benefits of probiotics. However, my experience and research have shown they are an asset to any dog or cat. Probiotics are known as good bacteria or more commonly known as acidophilus, bacillus, bifidus,
rhamonus, etc. Probiotics actually oxygenate the intestinal tract, which then oxygenates the body. No disease can survive in an oxygenated environment. As well, probiotics can make Vitamin K, which is important for blood clotting. As mentioned previously if your pet is healthy it can handle anything given. However, the majority of pets look well and internally they are a disaster waiting to happen. It is only when an illness is severe it will show externally which sometimes is too late. The holistic way believes all symptoms seen on the exterior are a result of much deeper internal problems. If this is the case most dogs and cats are not entirely healthy. It is your job to make sure your pet is as healthy as possible. Lots of exercise, good nutrition, support by your veterinarian and lots of companionship are all methods to promoting wellness. A happy pet is a healthy one.

My parent’s Great Dane had an episode where she had got into some rancid disgusting garbage. Needless to say, even though she was healthy she still got sick with diarrhea and fatigue. She eventually went off her food and became lethargic. We had to cook her Home Made 4 Life meals to tempt her to eat. We made sure lots of fresh pure water was available. We also supplemented her diet with kyolic garlic capsules, probiotics, golden seal liquid, echinacea liquid, zinc, Essentials 4 Life and Kaopectate. We gave her various treatments during the day. Within a day or two she started to improve. However, I would certainly recommend you visit your conventional or holistic veterinarian for guidance and support if this should happen to your pet. You never want your pet to become dehydrated and malnutrition to occur.

There are various research articles available to support this article. Even healthy pets can get sick but generally it is less likely. It is important to be aware of your pet’s health on a daily basis. Again, you can stress you and your pet by worrying about the “WHAT IF”. From all my experience and investigation pets can truly handle a lot of bacteria daily without incident. They are built to cope with bacteria. Perhaps now they are living the rich and famous lifestyle where they are not as exposed to as much bacteria. Their physiology and habits have not changed resulting in fewer than anticipated bacterial infections. Keep your pets as healthy as possible to ward off illness.

Article References:
1. Puotinen, C.J. 1998. "The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care". Keats Publishing Inc. New Canaan, CT
2. Jay, James M. 1991. "Modern Food Microbiology". Chapman & Hall London, England
3. "Dog Saliva: The Next Wonder Drug?" Article 1234 May 1995. Alaska Science Forum www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF12/1234.html

The above information is intended to give you more information about flower essences. If you have more questions, please consult a holistic veterinarian.