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Q: Why a raw meat diet? Health & Handling Q: Why do some animals apparently do fine on commercial dry and canned food, and yet others do so poorly? | |
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Let's Talk Nutrition... | |
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A: The answer is very simple – undamaged enzymes and amino acids! A raw meat diet contains natural digestive enzymes and the most complete amino acid profile (the protein building blocks) totally undamaged in this natural state. Many of the important amino acids and all digestive enzymes are destroyed by temperatures in excess of 120 degrees F. Most processed and canned pet foods are cooked at temperatures in excess of 212 degrees F. Animals consuming these highly processed foods often become nutritionally compromised and manifest dry and itchy skin, dull coats, weight problems, lethargy, and many more not so obvious symptoms. Enzymes are essential biological catalysts that enhance the quality and quantity of nutrient assimilation. This allows your favorite pet to conserve its own enzyme energy for other important life enriching health benefits such as longevity. Wouldn’t we all like our four legged companions to live long, healthy and happy lives? AFS has evidence of this happening! | |
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A: AFS Meat Eater Diet, though predominately a meat diet, and targeted primarily for dogs, has a small percentage of cereal food fines included. Because some dogs are very active, they consume increased quantities of food and extract and burn more calories from their food. AFS has included this carbohydrate source to satisfy this demand. Also, the extreme digestibility factor of this food demands the extra fiber for stool formation. AFS Carnivore Diet, targeted for cats, does not need the added carbohydrate due to the sedentary life-styles of most cats. Cats and dogs that consume cooked grains as their predominate pet food, too often manifest very apparent nutritional deficiencies, i.e. weight, skin, and odor problems. Vegetables, though not the most preferred or necessary food of carnivores, can be successfully added to meat diets in very small amounts, but should be emulsified and fed raw to protect the antioxidant properties and their natural digestive enzymes. If nothing else, can serve as added roughage. | |
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The natural nutrients derived from fresh raw meat diets (frozen or freeze-dried) are necessary for optimum health. The difference between a grain/vegetable and an AFS product fed dog/cat is incredible. Once the condition is seen and compared, there isn't anyone who wouldn't prefer feeding AFS products to their dogs, cats, and ferrets. (The fresh organ meats, meaty bones and blood are necessary to achieve peak health.) | |
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A:When comparing diets, one must always compare on a dry matter basis to get equivalent values. When compared on a dry weight basis AFS diets are not low at all, 44-50% protein and 29-35% fat. The more important aspect of protein is the quality and source of protein, or the biological value (the measurement of how much of the protein is actually turned into body tissue). AFS diets are at the “top of the food chain” when it comes to digestibility and biological value. | |
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A: Not recommended for small breeds, but many large breed and/or multiple dog owners reportedly feed this way (when budget restraints are an issue) and quite successfully. The reason being is that AFS product ingredients are very rich in all the necessary nutrients, plus fortified with natural vitamins and minerals (because we cannot be absolutely certain the soil that the free-range cattle are grazing on is complete and balanced at all times and on all days). Thus, AFS product ingredients over-compensate for whatever nutrients the other product may be lacking! For example, if I were to feed a 50/50 ratio diet, the kibble would probably not contain all the vitamin B elements necessary for a balanced diet, however the extra B elements would be in the AFS diet. (If there is ever too much of any one nutrient, the body simply discards it as waste material.) The quality of the kibble should be considered (price is not a consistent indicator of quality). Even on a 50/50 ratio, in as little as 1-2 weeks, very positive changes will be apparent in your dog's appearance, mobility, behavior and stools (fecies are greatly reduced in size and frequency!). In less than 30 days, it will seem as though you have a different dog--apparent to you AND your neighbors! That's when you will want to make the final decision...stay on the 50/50 ratio, or go all the way and feed AFS products 100%. Kibble will primarily consist of undigetible grains and other ingredients that you are simply causing volumes of fecal matter in the yard. In addition, the meat source that goes into most kibble is “meat and bone meal, chicken meal, lamb meal, fish meal, etc.” These ingredients are NOT fresh or whole meats, but the animal waste materials picked up from meat packing plants, restaurants, hotels/motels, grocery stores, etc. by rendering companies--then, cooked once to extreme temperatures to destroy all the bacterial rancid garbage materials can hold, then only to be added grains and grain flours and cooked again. How much nutrition can be left after that? Check labels and use kibbles that are predominately meat based – not grain and/or animal meal predominent ingredients. | |
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A: The high biological value of the protein in AFS Diets will result in a large reduction in the amount and frequency of stool elimination. Digestion studies done on our diets showed protein absorption in the 90% range. Most commercial pet foods are filled with undigestible (however palatable) ingredients that cause dogs and cats to overeat which creates the need to eliminate several times a day. Animals on AFS Diets generally eliminate just once a day or even every other day. In addition, this kind of digestibility greatly reduces stool odor and is a healthy and more natural occurrence, just as in the wild. Simple test: stools from well-digested foods, when placed in water, “float like a boat.” | |
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A: Meat that is cooked above 120 degrees F loses its natural digestive enzymes as well as some of the important fragile amino acids such as Taurine. The preventative health benefits of an uncooked, balanced, raw meat diet can be seen in the testimonials of AFS customers. Meat eaters, from small pet ferrets, through all sizes of domestic dogs and cats, to the Carnivora Magnificent lions and tigers build strong immune defense mechanisms on AFS diets, protecting them from infection and affording them the healthiest diet prescribed by Mother Nature - raw meat! | |
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A: The words “complete and balanced” on packages of dog or cat food do not speak to their nutritional adequacy. To legally use this phrase, the foods need only meet minimum requirements to keep an average pet alive. Most of us have more than average pets and wish more than to just keep them alive! | |
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A: Back in January 2008, AFS conducted a routine inspection of a newly received shipment of the cereal food fines, which includes opening a number of 50 Lb. bags and sifting through the contents. On that shipment, we found a number of cardboard pieces, half-moon in shape (like the cardboard pieces found on boxes of breakfast cereal, behind the side panel "press to open" location). The shipment was refused and the vendor was called. After waiting several weeks, while the vendor tried to resolve the problem, we were finally contacted. But, rather than receiving good news, we were told that production changes were made at their plant, and would no longer able to provide the high quality cereal food fines at reasonable rates. Regretfully, we had no choice but to decline and discontinue the entire Meat Eater product line...our signature products. If AFS were to accept the new terms, the entire line of Meat Eater product prices (price per Lb.) would have had to be raised significantly, higher than ALL of our other products; which would not make sense, as all of our other products are 100% fresh beef and/or chicken--higher premium products. (Those customers favoring the Meat Eater products with the 6% cereal food fines in the ingredients, liked the tidy absorbtion of blood and its ability to help cut down the smell of Beef Tripe (the smell dogs LOVE so much!)). We respectfully suggest all of our loyal Meat Eater brand fans switch to our higher premium brands, "Majestic Raw" or "Nature's Advantage", also 100% complete and balanced in every bite, and fairly priced! All of us at AFS regret the forced discontinuation of the Meat Eater line, but have every confidence that you will learn to like the other brands even more! | |
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Health & Handling...
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When the organs of the body, especially the all important digestive machine, the pancreas, starts to age, it is much easier on the animal’s system to be eating a diet with the digestive enzymes still intact and undamaged by heat processing. Raw foods provide this. Numerous people from European countries who feed raw meat diets confirm the health benefits and longevity of large breed dogs, i.e. Great Danes, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, etc. to ages of 15 years or longer. This reality is nearly unheard of in our country, except those companion pets on raw meat diets like those produced by AFS. Wouldn’t you want the same for your favorite furry companion? | |
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A: If fresh table meat (using common in-home processing procedures) is fed without cooking, processing, or freezing, diseases such as toxoplasmosis and intermediate stages of parasites such as tapeworms could be transmitted. Mad Cow Disease, specifically, Click Here | |
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This factor, along with 40 years experience in handling, chilling, and flash freezing raw meat diets, greatly reduces the chances for bacterial contamination. In addition, dogs and cats have a natural deterrent to ingested bacteria due to their highly acidic stomach environment. However, it is important to introduce any raw meat diet slowly to their present food and gradually increase daily for 7-10 days to recommended levels. This gradual increase allows your companion pets the opportunity to adjust to, and take full advantage of their ancestor’s food of choice – nutritionally rich raw meat with minimum risk! | |
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A: Unfortunately, most veterinary schools provide grossly inadequate education on basic canine and feline nutrition. Few veterinarians know that AFS has provided these same raw meat diets to zoos, circuses, wildlife parks, and professional dog and cat breeders for nearly three decades. AFS raw meat diets were developed under the scrutiny of, and consultation with the most discriminating veterinarians and animal nutritionists. Ask any Pet Patty customer, and you will discover health benefits from a raw meat diet that far outweigh any risk factors. | |
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A: Raw meat diets do not produce tartar on teeth for one reason – enzymes. Raw meat left between teeth or along the gum line will self-digest because of the undestroyed natural digestive enzymes. On the other hand, cooked food particles can remain on the gum line, setting up the perfect host for bacteria to proliferate, causing tartar and bad breath. Excessive tartar can cause periodontal disease. | |
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A: There are various probable causes of bloat, but Animal Food Services has never known of a dog bloating on meat. Just the opposite seems true. Our raw meat diets have a high digestion and rapid absorption rate, which reduces the chance for gases to form. Many of our customers have reported bloat and flatulence disappearing after their dogs were fed on raw meat diets. | |
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A: First and foremost, the food will more likely be gobbled up in moments! The canine and feline will instinctively recognize the smell and taste of the organ meats and you will witness a finicky eater rapidly convert to a fast eater! However, pet owners don't always remember in the beginning that a much smaller portion of AFS products is all that is needed (nutrient packed, not full of fillers) and may overfill the food dish. Should this ever occur, any portion of our fresh and safe ingredients that are left uneaten, even if mixed with other foods, should be placed in a covered container in the frigerator and brought out to serve at the next feeding. When a meat temperature rises to 40 degrees F, or warmer, bacteria can multiply, and can lead to a sick animal if eaten. (This is also true of all human meat consumables.) We recommend thawed frozen or any re-hydrated freeze-dried meat products be placed into the refrigerator or freezer within 20 minutes. | |