By Linda Garrettson
Bon Appetite, Fido

There’s big excitement in Norfolk for dog owners these days with the prospect of a dog park – our very own outdoor play space for both dogs and their owners. Now that the dogs will have a place to work on their manners, social skills, and hygiene habits with other canines, maybe it’s time to give them a little nutritional coaching too?

As a nutritional counselor, I typically work with humans, but I have had occasions when my human clients had pets, and their pets needed some help, too. After all, how many times can you put the same bowl of dry, dully colored, pebbles in a pet’s bowl and expect the best results?

When I was coaching a cancer patient before her trip to Texas for extensive chemotherapy, her major concern was not for herself, but for her dog. She needed a dog sitter for the time she was away, and the prospect of sunrise and sunset views from their Caribbean home made it pretty easy for me to say yes. All was not perfect in paradise when I arrived, however. Their 12-year old dog appeared to be on his last legs, and I was worried the dog could die while his owner was in treatment. Food is Medicine I thought,
even for dogs. I gave it a try.

The owner left good organic beef for him, fine for canines, but the dry food was suspect. She also left very specific instructions about what, when, and how to feed him. I’m not usually one to disobey, but I decided to change things up a bit.

Instead of pan-frying the hamburger, I boiled it, and discarded the fatty water. Then I boiled some white rice, mixed it with a mashed cooked carrot, and stirred it together with the meat. The dry food stayed on the shelf, and the dog had no trouble scarfing down the rice and veggies.

After a few days on white rice, I switched to brown rice. White rice is easier to digest, but brown rice is where the nutrient dense fiber lives. I also added more vegetables like spinach, kale, squash, cabbage, cauliflower, and root vegetables.

The dog came back from death’s door. A month later, I took him with me to pick up his owners at the airport. Their jaws dropped when they saw him. He had slimmed down and was full of energy. The tumors, halitosis, urinary problems, and joint pain were all gone. If only humans were this easy!

I had to fess up about the change in diet, but they didn’t mind. The owners continued
with the same diet, and the dog lived another four years in exceptional health.

Because dogs and cats are canines, they need meat. Their intestines are much shorter than ours. The transit time from kill to elimination is relatively short, therefore less toxins are absorbed into the blood. Meat nourishes their acidic constitutions with acidic foods. (Humans are more alkaline.) Cats need more meat than dogs. Ever notice how starving lions in Africa would rather starve than eat the local grasses? Just give them the wildebeest. Dogs, however, can benefit from some grains, vegetables, and even fruits in their diet.

There’s no precise recipe this month, as quantities depend on the size of the dog, but my method is simple: Boil the ground meat and discard the fatty water. Cook a cup of white or brown rice. Steam an assortment of chopped vegetables.

Mash the vegetables and add them to the boiled meat, and rice.
You can experiment with different grains. Try quinoa, millet, or barley. Turkey, venison,
and bison are good alternatives to beef. While most nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables
are great for dogs, there are some that must be avoided. Mushrooms, onions, leeks,
chives, tomatoes, avocado, cherries and grapes are all toxic to dogs.

A three or four day supply makes life easier. After that amount of time food loses its zip.
The vegetables are less calorie-dense, yet more nutrient-loaded. You can add more of
them, and the dog will keep his or her youthful figure. But be prepared, especially if you
have an older dog, they might start acting like a teenager again.

Who knows, on this diet maybe your dog will be the best looking, most energetic, and
personable dog at the dog park?