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Whole Food Nutrition
Choosing the best foods for our dogs and cats is one of the most important decisions we make for their health and wellbeing. I have seen a significant shift in the way pet parents feed their pets, and I love it! Nutrition is one of the most talked about and relevant topics concerning pet health.
In recent years, there has been a shift in the way we feed our pets. People are moving away from feeding their pets kibble-based, highly processed diets and toward whole food nutrition. Whole food nutrition is just as it reads – real food from its original source, unprocessed with no artificial additives, preservatives, or chemicals.
With this healthier shift in the way in which pet parents feed their pets, it is becoming increasingly easier to feed your pets whole food nutrition. Long gone are the days where people have to home cook their pets’ diets in order to introduce healthy, non-processed whole foods. Side By Side Pet sources the highest quality ingredients and prepares the food at the lowest temperature for the shortest possible time, maintaining all nutrients within the food source. This cooking method preserves vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients inherently in whole natural foods.
I believe in this brand. They go above and beyond to ensure the best, highest quality food for our pets while abiding by all safety, preparation, and ethical federal guidelines. In addition to providing the healthiest whole food nutrition for pets, they combine their food with the science of Eastern Food Therapy to assess your individual pet’s health and utilize food to treat and care for your pet.
What is Eastern Food Therapy?
Eastern Food Therapy looks at the body as a whole to observe and comprehend your pet and their health. At its core, the therapy seeks to recognize internal imbalances, so we can work to rebalance the body and mind. These principals guide us to utilize the inherent properties of whole food ingredients as tools to help our pets heal and prevent disease.
According to Eastern Food Therapy, during fall we are most susceptible to dryness, which can affect the lungs, skin, and digestion. Adding foods with moistening qualities can help keep your dog’s body in harmony.
7 Favorite Fall Foods for Pets and Their Eastern Food Therapy Benefits
1. Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are fiber rich and full of antioxidants and beta-carotene, which help with digestion, increase energy, boost the immune system, moisten joints, and loosen stiffness.
2. Black Strap Molasses
Black strap molasses contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6, and selenium, which supports bone health, boosts blood health, and fights inflammation.
Check out Side By Side Pet’s Beef Heart Jerky w/ Black Strap Molasses!
3. Cranberries
Cranberries contain Vitamin C, fiber, manganese, and other essential micronutrients that can help your pet’s vision, immunity, digestion, and oral health (prevent plaque from forming). In addition, cranberry nutrients combat bacteria from the digestive tract, which can inhibit that bacteria from entering the urinary tract, therefore preventing UTIs.
Check out Side by Side Pet's Hearty Chicken + Lamb Stew!
4. Apples
An apple a day just might keep the vet away! Apples promote secretion of body fluids, moisten the lungs, stimulate appetite, and help relieve restlessness.
5. Beets
Beets help moisten the intestines, which can improve circulation and detoxify the body. They also fight inflammation, strengthen the heart, improve vision, and cleanse the liver.
6. Ceylon Cinnamon
The anti-inflammatory properties in cinnamon can help manage joint pain and reduce swelling.
7. Pumpkin
Pumpkin contains soluble fiber, which helps slow digestion and can help manage diarrhea by absorbing water. Alternatively, pumpkin also helps with constipation due to its high fiber content. It contains high levels of Vitamins A,E, and C, beta carotene, potassium, iron, and antioxidants.
Final Thoughts
The fall season is just the beginning of the holiday season. We want nothing more than to keep your pets happy and healthy well into the new year. Hopefully these tips will help you, so your whole family can enjoy this magical time of year! Happy fall everyone!
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Dr. Alison Birken is a small animal veterinarian in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. She owns Victoria Animal Hospital, is the co-founder of Forever Freckled, wife to her amazing husband Rob, mom to her 3 greatest accomplishments Luke, Leah & Hayden and dog mom to her Saint Bernard Dory |
