animal care

[Karlitta]

I don't want to be a bother but I was wondering is there a way to feed pets a heathier way. Does macrobiotics cover this isssue?

[Roy Collins]

Hi Karlitta. You are not a bother. This forum was desiged to answer questions like yours.

From our macrobiotic viewpoint, all animals that live in the
wild and free state eat what natually they find or hunt. They
kill only when necesssary for survival and eat almost always
the whole of their prey found in their native environment. That
is considered "macrobiotic" for a natural animal.

For domesticated animals it would be appropriate to give
them fresh meat scrapes (butcher does the killing), left-over
human food from macrobiotic table. Proportions should
be 1/4 human (macro) food to 3/4 fresh meat. Meat can be
be par-boiled or fresh and from organic sources. You might
want to consider purchasing the organic "canned" variety
from a health food store if you are looking for an easier way.

I wouldn't make too big of a deal about this as long as the
animal (I'm taking cats and dogs not hampsters/rabbits) appears
to be happy. My cats used to eat anything we gave them
and never complained. They like cooked broccoli scraps
the best.

In peace, Roy

[Bruce Paine]

Hi Roy, Karlitta,

Having had some experience caring for animals, macrobiotically, I would agree with Roy about wild animals but for domestic ones, I feel that one must determine the breed, the condition, and the activity of the animal to determine it's diet.

If it is dogs or/and cats we are talking about, and the are active, going from the indoors to the outside and back often, then besides animal food and some whole grains, I would make sure that they are ingesting some sea vegetables as the perspiration of seaweed eating pets drive fleas and other bugs from their coats (leaving no need for the toxic flea collars).

Cats are really finicky about foods and if you are introducing them to new foods, you might do it slowly and mash the new ingredients into the meal with your bare hands as the enzymes that your hands release into the food helps to make it more digestible for your pet and assimliable, as well.

Pets that are spending most or all of their time indoors can eat less flesh foods and more plant-based foods

To get the yin/yang viewpoint of a macrobitic vet read " A Great Vet: Norman Ralston, D.V.M. , a macrobiotic veterinarian doctor is interviewed on his life and methods of raising pets naturally and using macrobiotics to heal them of various maladies" (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/macroPETS/files/)

Then read about Norman's book: "Raising Healthy Pets : With Natural Foods, Herbs, Massage, & Love" in 'More "A Great Vet" information' ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/macroPETS/files/ )

Another great book is "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats"
by Richard H. Pitcairn, Susan Hubble Pitcairn
( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...957747-4556722 ).

I hope this helps.

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[anneh]

I am just wondering how much seaweed a day is recommended for a 68lb dog? I had been giving my dog 1tsp granulated kelp daily and recently switched to giving a capsule of Sea Veggies from Natural Lifestyles. I also have been told by holistic vet not to give him grains or root veggies because he has had yeasty ears which I am treating (advice welcome). So he is on fresh meat and pulped green vegetables at one meal and steamed fish/organic yogurt and raw egg yolk at another. I was disappointed about the grains as I was making him organic grain dog biscuits He has epilepsy (inherited) and no holistic ideas worked to stop the seizures (acupuncture etc) and had to put him on meds to save his dear life. Only 5years old Thanks for any input, it will be appreciated

[Roy Collins]

Best to think macrobiotics for people only. When you make an animal a "pet" and bring indoors then you break their natual
connection with the wild of nature which is "macrobiotic" for them.
It is noble that you are helping with you dog's illness, however.

I think the most appropricate way to treat is to give 75% meat
(raw and slightly cooked), put through a meat grinder or chopped
fine and add 25% left over grains & veggies (including seaweeds).
"Left overs" equates to mainly cooked macobiotic foods. Anatomy
and phusiology of non-human animals is vastly different from
humans and therefore needs are different. Always look to nature
and changing seasons for ideas on what different animals eat
depending on where they live, the season, feeding habits, etc.

We have many wild dogs living in the woods in my communtiy
in RI. We call them coyotes. They prey mostly on live small animals, including stray cats (usually at night). There is an intesting movie on wolves feeding habits called "Never Cry Wolf."
It is based on naturalist Farley Mowat's observations in the
far north. Turns out wolves eat mice when the carribou herds are thin.

In peace, Roy

[anneh]

My dog is fed raw meat except for the fish I steam. Anyway, I picked up a bag of Maine Coast Dulse flakes and wondering how much would be advisable to add to his daily diet. Was thinking of a teaspoon (he weighs 68lbs). Was giving him granulated kelp but thinking the dulse may be better for his sluggish thyroid (he does now get thyroid meds, his thyroid is slowed by one of his seizure meds) and also for the trace minerals. Is there any problem using dulse vs kelp? Thanks again

[Roy Collins]

Bladderwrack is more specific for tyroid and has been used successfully in place of synthroid. See if they make gelcaps
or glycerin tincture. Maybe someone else here can direct you to a supplier.

In peace, Roy

[Bruce Paine]

Anneh (and Roy),

I find myself wondering if epilepsy is really inherited or if , in fact, it comes more from the animals diet.

I assume that you got the dog from someone and did not own it's parents.

Because one doesn't usually take an animal from it's mother as soon as it's born but instead weeks or months after it's birth (probably sometime after it has been weaned and has been eating solids for a while), then the diet that was fed the mother (and possibly the father) would be very similar to the one your puppy was receiving before you got it.

Look at someone who claims that their condition is irreversable because they inherited it from their parents and when you ask them about their parents diet and way of eating and then them, you will almost always find that they eat very similarly to the way that they did when they were growing up and living with their parents.

While we do inherit some things from our parents, we can change most things, especially our conditions and like other sicknesses, I believe that the disease called epilepsy is a condition and is changeable.

Regarding the use of grains how that might spread yeast infections...not everyone who calls themselves holistic eats whole grains as a center of their diet and therefore might confuse refined grains with whole grains, refined grains often require simple sugars and lab produced yeast in their preparation, whole grains don't usually use simple sugars and in the case of naturally leavened bread use wild yeasts without added sugars so one will not get yeast infections from whole grains nor natural leavened breads, as yeast infections require simple sugars and the yeasts that grow on simple sugars.

And to insure that a pet is digesting the whole grains that are added to their meat a seaweed meals, perhaps a little fermented soy like miso can be mixed in.

Now about where to get bladderwrack (besides the seashore! :-) ) try ( http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/bladde54.html ) or ( http://www.seaveg.com/products.html ) and ( http://www.alcasoft.com/seaweed/pages/catalog.html ).

The latter two are companies that have been serving the macro community for many years and deserve our patronage!

I hope that helps.

Thank you, very much.

Bruce

[Roy Collins]

Bruce. Most of what we are, do, think, say, and dream is determined by genetics. The DNA codes of each individual
are all different, blended together by both parents and
passed on to their children. It all begins shortly after the
female zygote is charged by the male sperm. There is not
much we ourselves contribute. In the Orient this is well
known and for centuries great care is taken during the
growth of the human embryo inside the mother's womb.
Certain foods are given, certain foods are stopped during
pregnancy. Same with stimuli of various types. Even certain
books that may excite the mother too much are discouraged.

By the time a child is delivered into the world of NOW, he/she
has passed through millions of years of biological evolution.
Only a fraction of life is lived outside the womb! It is very
very difficult to alter anatomy and physiology, especially when
we are born with cetain defects or missing functions. The diets of past generations, along with the contributions of the environments our forebearers expereinced largely determines the stock of the offspring. There is very little we can change in this way but certain dietary regimens can help control and normalize some imbalances. This can not be achieved over night and therefore it is advisable to make these changes gradually and seek someone qualitfied who can help monitor the any changes that orrur ove time.

I think that some forms of epilipsey and diabetes and certain immune disorders (including cancers) can be kept in check with macrobiotics, but not disorders and birth defects can be corrected by diet. There are some a number of excellent books that discuss the facts of genetics and your destiny that should be read before going further into this topic: Nature Versus Nurture in Human Behavior by R. Grant Steen; Born That Way by William Wright, and the more scientific Your Genetic DestinyL KNow your Genees, Secure Your Health, and Save Your Life by Aubrey Milansky.

Macrobiotic sage George Ohsawa used to say (and write) that
all diseases can be cured -- most in ten days with the number 7 dietary regimen of mostly whole grains. Do you believe this is true? In my 36 years of being macrobiotic I can tell you from experience that it is not. We can change only some things
and frequently slow down the progression of cetain diseases.
But some things will happen to us not matter what we eat. Note
the amount of baldness, corrective lenses, dental fillings, cancers, and other immune disorders ( I think most organic diseases are from weakened immune system because if immune system is strong it can fight and conquer disease) among the macrobiotic elders, including myself.

Yes, we are all starting to look and act more like our parents!
We change only so much in a lifetime and try to pass it on to our offspring, who will more than likely follow a similar path (resisting it most of the way) and end up looking like us. When does it end?

Thanks for the bladderwrack sources. Seaweeds and other ancient foods do offer great hope in the fight against deterioating immune systems brought on largely by environmental factors. Blue Green algae and certain mushrooms help t-cell stimulation
and recognition of negative pathogens in the body. Most macrobiotics do need to eat more seaweeds and strengthen their
guts with more enymatic action of foods such as pressed salads, more fish, more cultured soy and getting away from eating LESS BREAD -- yeasted and unyeasted, especially when intestines are weak.

In peace, Roy