Hi Dee,
I want to preface this post with the caveat that I am responding to this
as a trained scientist, one who has been coached in analyzing data and
determining if there is a clear conclusion or a need for more information.
Like I said I *know what is in kibble. I was studying raw feeding when
raw feeding wasn't cool, back in the 70's. I am trained in scientific
research and statistics. Show me the "raw" data and I will analyze the
information. But it has to be a significant sample size from a variety
of conditions or a well controlled longitudinal study, such as those
conducted to establish dog food standards by AFCO and some kibble mfgs.
Other wise we are dealing in beliefs and anecdotal information. Which as
you will see if you wade through this tome, are not without their own
value. Anecdotal information leads us to the need for more detail and
valid comparisons.
Many of the skin issues are food allergies, often to wheat, or chicken.
Even dogs that have never been exposed to kibble, only raw feed and no
thimerosal containing vaccines have allergies.
You can not isolate food as the cause when there are so many other
environmental factors such as toxic air and water, stress, poor breeding
practices (such as inbreeding).
I have used raw to recover dogs from skin allergies and yes it worked
because I took the dog off the food she was allergic to. After I healed
her skin issues and figured out the allergy I put her on a wheat free
kibble -- she was healthy and maintained well into old age.
I don't think it is the only factor but the increase in Cancer is in
direct relation to the increase in environmental exposures to
xenoestrogens, hormone mimes some of which come from pesticides. These
hormone mimes redirect the metabolism away from healthy functioning.
Some of these can be in food including raw food sources, many are in the
air and the water. We all breathe and drink a chemical cocktail that is
unknown in its synergistic interactions. Some of us survive because we
have among other factors adequate liver function that can detox our
systems.
Do you feed only organic meat? If not you are exposing your dog to many
of the same toxins that could be present in kibble. Is your dog in a
city, if so then again it is breathing benzene from diesel exhaust, a
know carcinogen and what ever your neighbor sprays in their house and on
their lawn, there are pesticides in your electronics that outgas every
time they warm up, including your computer, TV and stereo. There are
pesticides in house paint, formaldehyde in your furniture, carpets. . .
The point is you can not isolate it to food. But I do agree you can
lower the exposure by feeding raw IF it is organic. If it is commercial
raised food then there is still significant exposures.
The incidence of shortened life span, disease and cancer has not been
tabulated in raw fed vs kibble fed dogs so we just can't conclude
anything with any assurance of accuracy or precision. Anecdotal
incidents of health or illness do not reflect the true occurrence of
problems in either population.
If feeding raw organic food stresses out the owner because it is so
difficult and expensive then it is another added factor in the equation.
If the judgment of raw feeders stresses out the owner, and the judgment
of kibble feeders . . . you see there just simply is not a perfect
solution, but we want to believe there is because life is uncertain and
it is comforting to believe we are doing everything we can, only in most
instances we are not. We still live in cities, drink city water and eat
contaminated food, even if it is raw.
Life is just not simple and has many risks. You can not eliminate all
the risk, and probably would not really be happy if you could. Just
think about the lack of challenge in a perfect world. How boring!
Balance is the key, IMHO and we all find our own balance whether it is
raw feeding or buying organic kibble.
The dogs that came back from the brink "might" have recovered on a
different kibble but we have no controls to conclude this because you
are talking about single incidents.
Just as ancient man concluded that the Earth was flat because they could
not see it from a distance, I believe we are too close to the issue to
see the big picture. And I include myself in this observation. There are
many aspects of health that we just don't know so we go with our beliefs
which are powerful healers in themselves. And we can't discount the
power of mind over matter. If you believe that you are doing the best
thing for your pets that makes a huge difference in how you feel and
interact with them. That is a real effect and can occur with kibble fed
dogs as well.
Respectfully,
Janet
Dee wrote:
We are exhorted on a daily basis by doctors, media, etc., etc., to eat food
that is as close to nature as possible i.e. Cooked as little as possible,
and as much raw food as possible. As far as I am concerned, this goes for
my dog too, and I have seen too many dogs get ill from eating kibble, and
recovering when fed raw. Cancer is rife in dogs now, even very young ones,
as are things like terrible skin complaints, gum disease, diseases of the
pancreas etc., etc., if you go to the web site I mentioned, and see what
really goes into kibble, then I think you will understand why I do *not*
feed it to my dog. I have friends whose dogs have literally come back from
the brink, when switched to raw and as I have seen it for myself, I know
what I believe to be the best way, and that has to be raw. I have met only
one person whose dog did not do well on raw, but that was one out of
literally hundreds, so I think the odds are definitely with raw feeding, but
if your dog is one of the unlucky few then you have to do what you think is
best. Dee
-------Original Message-------
From: Garnet
Date: 05/07/07 15:20:56
To: silver-list@eskimo.com
Subject: Re: CS>Melamine chemical reaction in pet food recall (OT)
Hi Dee,
Are you up to looking at this issue in detail? I know beliefs are a very
Strong influence and I have many of my own. I would much prefer to be in
Nature, hunting and gathering the food we need for ourselves and our fur
Brothers, but that is not practical at this time for me.
--
The Silver List is a moderated forum for discussing Colloidal Silver.
Instructions for unsubscribing are posted at: http://silverlist.org
To post, address your message to: silver-list@eskimo.com
Address Off-Topic messages to: silver-off-topic-l...@eskimo.com
The Silver List and Off Topic List archives are currently down...
List maintainer: Mike Devour <mdev...@eskimo.com>
