Of pets and people: Common bonds, common needs

by Melian McKee
Freshlife Staff Writer

My dog rides shotgun. Yep-right there in the front seat and I don’t even have a cover on it. Sand, dirt, hair, grit, and unconditional love make an unbeatable copilot. We go to the bank, the farmer’s market, the woods, the bike trail. I take her anyplace and everyplace I can safely and reasonably do so, and I believe she is happier and healthier for it.

What about you? Where does your dog ride? What do you like to do together? A game of fetch? A walk in the park? Maybe you’re the cat-loving type who enjoys an afternoon nap with a purring ball of fur on your stomach, soft paws kneading your lap as you work at the computer, or an amusing game of pounce-on-the-feather.

Sharing our lives with animals is a richly rewarding experience, and our pets become very much a part of the family. Countless studies prove the health-promoting effects of animal interaction and pet ownership, and we want to keep our best friends around and in good health as long as possible.

If you own a pet, whatever activities you prefer to enjoy together, there is one thing we should all share with our pets- a healthy lifestyle founded on a good diet and enhanced by appropriate nutritional supplements.

In order to thrive and enjoy good health and long life, your pet needs many of the same things you do: regular vigorous exercise, a clean dry environment, and an abundance of water, fresh air, and friendship.

Equally important is a good diet. While I don’t necessarily recommend you set a place at the table for Fido and share the other half of the grilled free-range chicken breast, I do recommend you take as much time and care in choosing your pet’s food as you do your own. Read labels, become informed, and don’t believe those pet food commercials you see on TV.

As with food intended for humans, there is a wide spectrum of quality in pet food. That quality can’t always be determined by bold claims made on the front of the package, price, name brand familiarity, or even veterinary recommendation. Just as it is healthier for you to eat foods that have been unaltered from their original state and as close to source as possible, so too will your dog and cat be healthier eating the foods nature intended. Fresh clean muscle meat, cartilage, bone, and innards are a carnivore’s natural diet. That is what their systems are designed to digest and thrive on.

While modern life may not be conducive to throwing your dog a deer leg for dinner, you can come closer to what nature intended by making educated choices. Choosing the right brand and form of food for your pet is much the same as choosing to stop at McDonald’s for dinner, or baking a casserole from the items you purchased at the grower’s market last Saturday. The choice makes a profound effect on your pet’s health, and making the right choice is the basis for good health and disease prevention.

If you’re not sure about the quality of your dog’s food, or are apprehensive about making a switch, consider stopping at Freshlife and asking a wellness coach for our in-depth handout on pet food. It covers everything from the industry to the ingredients and gives you the information you need to separate the happy meals from the organic casseroles of the pet-food world.

Just as you share a walk in the park or an afternoon nap with your pet, you should also consider sharing your supplements-in the right dose and form of course! Our pets are exposed to environmental toxins, bombarded by chemicals, and experience chronic nutrient deficiencies from depleted soil and poor digestion just like we do. Animal health is enhanced by daily doses of essential fatty acids, probiotics, digestive enzymes, vitamins, and minerals just as much human health is improved by these same nutrients.

For those times when even the best of habits aren’t enough to prevent health challenges, our pets can also benefit from homeopathic remedies, essential oils, and system-specific nutrients to bring relief and healing to anxious hearts, achy joints, itchy skin, and a host of other ailments that result from genetics and aging.

The one thing our pets don’t share with us is the freedom to make healthy choices. They are dependent on us to exercise, care for, feed, and address their safety and health issues. In exchange for our concerted efforts, we can enjoy their companionship and unconditional love for years to come. My hope is that you can find the time to share a belly rub, a walk in the park, and maybe even a spoonful of flax seed oil with your pet today. You’ll both be healthier for it!