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early 1990s they were registering open dissent. Dr Breck Muir often remarked about the foul odours given off from both ends of dogs fed canned food. In the December 1991 issue of the Australian Veterinary Association News, he wrote:'* factory, the starches, proteins and fats become denatured or toxic early 1990s they were registering open dissent. Dr Breck Muir to varying degrees.‘ Junk food is laden with colorants, often remarked about the foul odours given off from both ends of preservatives, humectants and a raft of other strange chemical dogs fed canned food. In the December 1991 issue of the additives—none with any nutritive value and all toxic to varying Australian Veterinary Association News, he wrote:'* degrees.* Once in the bowel of a carnivore, toxic nutrients are absorbed into the circulation and affect various body systems. Canned pet food not the healthiest 3. Poorly digested grain-based junk food supports a large The pet food situation has concerned me for some years, population of toxin-producing bacteria in the lower bowel. The my feelings brought to this by the current competitive bowel lining, in constant contact with poisons, may be adversely marketing of various dental work stations for veterinary use. affected. Some poisons pass through the bowel wall into the The scene as | see it goes like this: "Here is the best blood circulation, are carried to other organs and create further food ever made for your dog, Mrs Jones," handing her a problems.‘ can of commercial dog food or dry food, "but he may 4. Like Morgan Spurlock, some pets show signs of ill health develop problems with his teeth, so here is a special after a short time consuming junk food. For instance, puppies toothbrush and paste for you to use to clean his teeth frequently suffer from bad skin and diarrhoea. Long-term regularly, and then if that doesn't keep the periodontal exposure to the diet-related toxins listed in disease at bay we...have the very categories 1, 2 and 3 leads to diseases of body latest in dental equipment just like organs. Diseased organs produce more your own dentist has, and we can give toxins, which enter the bloodstream and add Fido that perfectly enamelled ivory to the spiral of worsening disease.’ grin"—that he would have had had 5. Mostly pets suffer in silence; they can't you not fed him the commercial food speak in words. But when animals are affected Clearly and in the first place. by the above four categories of poison, their undeniably, Here we have the perfectly body language tells observant owners to seek engineered commercial circle—a help from the vet. Some vets say: "Stop! Stop pets worn down problem doesn't exist, so we create feeding junk food." Sadly, though, most vets by the toxic effects one, and then come up with all the ignore categories 1, 2 and 3, and instead they F A remedial treatments. diagnose diseased organs as mentioned in 4 of a junk food diet (above). Treatment usually involves strong are at greater risk Also in December 1991, my article "Oral pharmaceuticals, which then contribute another level of toxic insult.’ Disease in Cats and Dogs" appeared in the newsletter of the Sydney University of succumbing to You may ask: what about the genetic other diseases, Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary diseases, infectious diseases, parasitic Science: diseases, the broken legs, other traumatic and the recovery The stench of stale blood, dung diseases and the diseases of old age? For phase is likely to and pus emanating from the mouths of so many of my patients has finally provoked this eruption of dissent. The sheer numbers passing through the practice, when extrapolated to the world situation, tell me that oral disease is the source of the greatest sure, these are all important factors governing the well-being of our pet carnivores. But clearly, undeniably, pets worn down by the toxic effects of a junk food diet are at greater risk of succumbing to other diseases, and the recovery phase is likely to be longer, too.’ be longer, too. Stop! intractable pain and discomfort Stop feeding junk pet food is the first and best bit of advice I experienced by our companion animals. can give you—for the benefit of your pet(s), the human economy This is a great and mindless cruelty we visit upon our and the natural environment. By stopping doing harm, we take animals from the whelping box to the grave. Just imagine the first step on the road to doing good. It gains us some having a mouth ulcer or toothache for a lifetime. breathing space, allowing us to survey the scene, investigate further and harness the benefits of our newfound wisdom. Whilst the chemical contents (masquerading as nutrients) of junk Actually, it's not so new. Hippocrates, the famous Greek pet foods are a major cause of concern, the new emphasis on oral physician of the fifth century BC, said: "Leave your drugs in the hygiene opened an important chapter focusing on the physical form chemist's pot if you can heal your patients with food.""” of the food. Indisputably, lions, tigers, wolves and all other wild So why did we lose sight of the ancient wisdom? Why did we _ predators don't have access to toothbrushes, dental floss or annual ignore the teachings of nature? And of utmost importance, why is check-ups at the dentist. Nature equipped carnivores with the tools it so difficult to discuss, let alone reverse, the current orthodoxy? of trade to complete a very necessary evolutionary function: eating By way of explanation, let me tell you a story that, when taken to and thus regulating herbivore populations on planet Earth. Strong, a conclusion, should provide medical, scientific, social and precision tools need to be kept sharp and clean, and it's by the very environmental benefits worth billions of dollars. Since 1955, act of a carnivore's gnawing and ripping its way through tough hide, when Juliette de Bairacli Levy published her Complete Herbal muscle, sinew and bone that its teeth and gums get scrubbed, Book for the Dog, there have been mutterings about the scraped and polished. inadequacy of processed-food diets for pet dogs and cats.'' By the For dogs, cats and ferrets, the biological principles are exactly late 1980s Australian vets were passing comment, and by the the same as for their wild cousins. Nutrients need to be raw and Clearly and undeniably, pets worn down by the toxic effects of a junk food diet are at greater risk and the recovery phase is likely to be longer, too. Whilst the chemical contents (masquerading as nutrients) of junk pet foods are a major cause of concern, the new emphasis on oral hygiene opened an important chapter focusing on the physical form of the food. Indisputably, lions, tigers, wolves and all other wild predators don't have access to toothbrushes, dental floss or annual check-ups at the dentist. Nature equipped carnivores with the tools of trade to complete a very necessary evolutionary function: eating and thus regulating herbivore populations on planet Earth. Strong, precision tools need to be kept sharp and clean, and it's by the very act of a carnivore's gnawing and ripping its way through tough hide, muscle, sinew and bone that its teeth and gums get scrubbed, scraped and polished. For dogs, cats and ferrets, the biological principles are exactly the same as for their wild cousins. Nutrients need to be raw and 32 = NEXUS of succumbing to other diseases, www.nexusmagazi ne.com OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2007