Sarah is available for private consultations.
Sarah, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into nutrition for pets?
I’ve always been personally interested in nutrition. Twenty years ago when we lost our first dog to pancreatic cancer I was very surprised, after all dogs don’t smoke or drink or engage in the other kinds of things that contribute to cancer in people. So I started researching the topic and read a book called ‘Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats’ by Kymythy Schultze about species appropriate diets. It really opened my eyes to all the pet health issues that derive from feeding commercial pet foods. I started introducing raw meat into my dogs’ diets, though at the time I was still feeding some dry commercial dog food.
Five years ago I got a job working for Only Natural Pet. Through my job I have learned a lot. We frequently participate in product trainings by the vendors of homeopathic, herbal and other pet products. The exposure to so much information really rocketed me into the field of pet nutrition.
What are the benefits of home cooking?
Actually, I try to stay away from cooking or baking food. That’s the main problem with commercial pet foods. In the process of canning and drying, heat destroys the enzymes and antioxidants, and damages the amino acids. The food is almost completely indigestible!
People, dogs, all animals - we're each given a certain finite number of enzymes at birth to last our whole lives. In wild animals the enzymes are primarily used for healing. But when our pets eat diets depleted of enzymes for a number of years, their own personal stash of healing enzymes is forced to go towards aiding digestion. So with no enzymes in their food, they end up in a negative enzyme situation, which makes them very vulnerable to disease and chronic conditions.
Sarah's dogs are energetic, healthy and happy.
I speak to hundreds of people a year and 100% of pet health issues, such as digestive disorders (loose stool, vomiting), paw licking or chewing, and chronic ear infections, can be resolved by changing the dog from a commercial dog food diet to a mostly raw diet.
A few weeks ago I interviewed wolf expert Rob Gudger. He feeds the wolves a raw diet and he mentioned that they digest their food so well there's hardly any poop. When we feed our pets a raw diet will the amount of poop they produce decrease because the food is being properly digested?
Yes! There will be less of it and it will be hard and firm.
Clicker trainers use lots of treats! What kinds of treats can we make for our dogs?
Stay away from baked treats. Raw ingredients are best. I'll give you a treat recipe from my book called Peanut Butter Fudge Treats. This is a delicious and nutritious treat. The oats and Chia Seeds soak up the moisture to make a firm, yet moist treat. Another one of my dogs’ favorite treats is made by soaking raw nuts like almonds and walnuts, or apples, and then dehydrating. Dogs love these! (see recipe below).
Do you mean in a dehydrator?
Yes. Dehydrators are very affordable and easy to use. They’re a lot of fun.
How do you store the treats?
Make smaller batches so you use them while very fresh. Most are fine in a baggy in the refrigerator. The nuts do well in a glass jar. A really good treat for clicker trainers is freeze-dried meat. It’s like jerky. You break it into bite-sized pieces. It’s very nutritional and delicious, and easy to store. (see list of freeze-dried treats)
Small dogs enjoy raw food too.
I found some dog treat recipes online. Commenters argued about certain ingredients in those recipes such as brewer's yeast and garlic. Some said it was good for dogs and others said it wasn’t. So I got confused and scared to make my own treats. That's why I contacted you!
Brewer’s yeast, and all nutritional yeasts, are loaded with B vitamins. As with any food, some dogs may have an intolerance but generally speaking, garlic and nutritional yeast are very good for dogs. Some people think of yeast as causing yeast infections, but these are completely different types of yeast. If you read old veterinary manuals from the 1930s-1950s, before we had so many prescription drugs, garlic was often prescribed for dog ailments. A really good remedy for dogs is raw garlic mixed with raw honey. The dogs love it and it boosts their energy. Garlic also repels fleas and ticks. It is safe to feed a dog up to two cloves of garlic daily for a 50-pound dog. It would be proportionately less for smaller dogs, and even less (1/8 tsp per day for 2 weeks at a time) for cats.
A lot of people just don’t have time to make food for their pets.
There are actually freeze dried or dehydrated products you can buy to feed your dogs, so you don’t have to start from scratch learning to make pet food. You won’t find these foods in your grocery store or at stores like PetsMart or even at health food stores. But your smaller, health-oriented pet food stores will have them. You can buy these foods from an online retailer such as www.onlynaturalpet.com. If you visit the company website of the particular food you're interested in, they usually have a 'where to buy' link with a list of retail stores that sell their products. (see list of freeze-dried foods and treats)
Isn't it expensive to make your own pet food?
When I first decided to eliminate dry food (just about one year ago), I was worried about the expense. Based on a lot of reading and research, I decided to use my favorite lentil/rice recipe to replace the dry food that I had been feeding. I include this rice/lentil recipe in my book, which is followed by several expanded recipes that incorporate the proteins, vegetables and supplements. My dogs LOVE these combinations, and get excited when I make the rice and lentils. I've done numerous taste-tests and food prep demos using these combinations, and the approval ratings from the dogs in attendance is 100%. Ditto for dogs that have stayed at my house. In fact, at my last demo, one German Shepherd brought his plate back up to the table for a refill! Not kidding!
I noticed on your website that you add Dr. Harvey’s supplements to your recipes.
Dr. Harvey’s is a wonderful new company. Dr. Harvey makes all his supplements himself. But there are plenty of other good companies that offer supplements. Other greens can be substituted instead, and in my book I include recipes for some home made supplements that can be made in quantity at a very low cost using bulk herbs and ingredients from a health food store. Simple, yet super nutritious. I also include a list of my favorite supplements in each category: greens, essential fatty acids and digestive enzymes.
Tell us about your e-book.
My book contains 50 recipes and the first part of the book explains all the health benefits of preparing your pet's food - some of what we discussed today but much more in depth. The cost is $19.95 and you can pay online with a credit card or PayPal. Then you download the book in PDF format. You can print it out and/or keep it on your computer for reference. You also can just print a page at a time. It’s a very nice book with lots of color pictures. (go here to learn more)
I understand you’re working on a second book … what’s this one about?
Lately I’ve become interested in nutritional, edible herbs. Many people don’t realize that plants often considered noxious weeds, like dandelions, are very good for animals. You can use all parts of the dandelion, from the roots to the leaves and the flowers. In one summer you can grow enough of these nutritional herbs to last a year. So, the focus of the next book is to make more of this kind of information available.
Thank you so much Sarah. This has been super informative and educational. You've shared a lot of great resources with us. And you've given me enthusiasm about being able to make my own pet food correctly. Can my readers contact you?
Absolutely! I am available for consultations and am always happy to answer questions.
Sarah's website is creatinghealthfordogsandcats.com and her email address is sarah@creatinghealthfordogsandcats.com
- 4 Tbs organic peanut butter (or almond butter)
- 3-4 Tbs hot water - Blend water and nut butter to form a thin paste.
- 1 cup oats - Stir in oats until thoroughly coated.
- 1/2 cup Chia Seeds (available at a health food store) (loaded with essential fatty acids!)
- 2 Tbs raw honey
- 1 Tbs powdered greens (barley grass, wheat grass, etc.) or Kelp
- 1 Tbs nutritional yeast
- 1 pinch of unrefined sea salt
Add the Chia Seeds, yeast, greens, salt and honey. Stir til blended well. Press into a pie plate or wide bowl and refrigerate overnight. Cut into 1" squares (or smaller).
- Get raw almonds or walnuts at the health food store. They should be refrigerated.
- In a large bowl, cover with purified water, and let soak overnight.
- Next day, drain and place on dehydrator shelf. Dehydrate at 95 degrees for 48 hours.
Dehydrated Apples
- Slice apples to about 1/4" thickness, and arrange on dehydrator tray.
- Dehydrate at 95 degrees for 48 - 72 hours.
- Only Natural Pet All Meat Bites Treats - Made by Only Natural Pet, and only available on their site.
- Nature's Variety Freeze Dried Diets - made by Nature's Variety
- Dr. Harvey's Power Patties - made by Dr. Harvey's - This is freeze dried tripe! Super-nutritious. Kind of expensive. About 15 patties for $14.99. You can cut the patties into quarters with a sharp knife to use as a super-motivational treat because dogs LOVE these. Cats, too.
- ZiwiPeak Daily Dog Cuisine Dry Food - made by ZiwiPeak (great company from New Zealand) This is air dried jerky - not really dry food. Super tasty. Available in Venison, Venison/Fish and Lamb. The little square jerky bits are great for treats. All ingredients from New Zealand. includes muscle meat, organ meat and essential fatty acids.
- Complete Natural Nutrition Real Food Toppers - made by Complete Natural Nutrition - they offer freeze dried wild Salmon, Chicken, Beef Sirloin, Beef Liver. If your dog likes fish, the wild Salmon is fab.
- Whole Life Pet Treats - Made by Whole Life Pet Products - Chicken, Beef, Beef Liver, Venison, Turkey, Lamb
Sarah's Recommended Book List
The Nature of Animal Healing
by Martin Goldstein, DVM
Started as traditional vet. I quote Dr. Goldstein at the beginning of my book. His book is where I learnedabout rendering plants. This is a must-have for any holistic care library.
Dr. Pitcairn's Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
by Richard H. Pitcairn (Author), Susan Hubble Pitcairn
Started as a traditional vet. Contains information about the most common imbalances, discussion of traditional treatments and holistic treatments. Also has a lot of recipes. He uses way more grain than I recommend, but a good reference.
How to Have A Healthier Dog
by Wendell Belfield, DVM
Out of print, but still available. Great book! He went to Veterinary school in the early 1950's. Very telling info about the development of traditional veterinary philosophy.
The Naturally Healthy Dog - Real Dogs Don't Eat Kibble!
by Sandra Bailey
The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care
by CJ Puotinen
So well-researched, very user-friendly, fantastic book.
The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat
by Juliette de Baracli Levy
Written in the 1940's or 50's. Juliette is amazing. She has several others books about herbs and nutrition.
Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats
by Kymythy Schultze
The original species-appropriate book about raw diets. This is the book that introduced me to raw foods more than 20 years ago.
Herbs for Pets
by Mary L Wulff-Tilford and Gregory L. Tilford
If you want to learn about the amazing healing and nutritional qualities of herbs, this is a great book.
Photo credits: Sarah Wadleigh
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The copyright of this article is owned by Eve Alexander. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by Eve Alexander in writing.
Comments
"informative and educational"? Give me a break, this entire article was based on myth, misinformation, untruths and the "nutrition expert" is no expert at all. Garlic and yeast do absolutely NOTHING to repel or kill ticks, this is misinformation propogated on dumb websites for years, and innocent pet owners don't know how to evaluate the source of misinformation. Garlic, by the way, is and can be toxic to pets, ever hear of hemolytic anemia? Heinz body anemia? Could the examiners in these pet articles EVER bother to research their subjects before touting this crap?
By the way, the "pet nutrition expert" is no expert, and she stands to benefit from misinformation from her books, propogation of misinformation from Shultz (who is a nutcase), and sales from unregulated supplement makers.
I hope your readers have more sense than you do.
As a matter of fact, every single book listed above lists garlic as safe & healing when given at the correct amount for the size and weight of the animal.
Dr. Pitcairn states: "Garlic helps to eliminate worms, strengthens digestion, and beneficially stimulates the intestinal tract. Include fresh, grated garlic with each meal, using 1/2 to 3 cloves, depending on the animal's size." He includes a chart with dosage recommendations.
The Manual of Natural Veterinary Medicine references garlic as beneficial for the following conditions: congestive heart failure, dermatophytosis, flea infestation, fungal infections, heartworm disease, hyperlipidemia, neoplastic disorders, parasites, and transitional cell carcinoma.
See more than 70 reviews about the effectiveness of brewer's yeast and garlic at onlynaturalpet.com. Search for "Only Natural Pet Brewer's Yeast and Garlic."
Worried about anemia? Use garlic intermittently. It's a naturally healing food!
Wow, had to write this because the first comment was so negative and inaccurate. Natural care of animals is clearly misunderstood by most people including most veterinarians. Ms. Wadleigh clearly has an understanding of a "better way" to care for our pets.
Commercial pet food companies are the ones with the grand agenda. Dogs have eaten "people" food for centuries and have done just fine. But like with breast-feeding, when baby formula companies told us that formula was better, pet food companies marketed relentlessly to the public, that table scraps were bad for our animals.
Since that time, we have seen a dramatic a rise in cancer, obesity, diabetes, kidney and liver disease, allergies, arthritis and other degenerative diseases in our pets. Many of these disease are preventable with the good nutrition and supplementation that Ms. Wadleigh shares with knowledge and commitment. So okthen, what makes you an expert?
Really ever watch your dog die of cancer? I have.
Who do you work for okthen, purina? science diet?
Cats and dogs both benefit from garlic. The food item you are talking about is onion. To create a toxic situation for a dog with garlic you would have to feed whole heads of garlic on a daily basis. Onion, on the other hand is dangerous in minimal amounts.
The interviewee lists printed authors to back up her information and I've read some of those same books.
This is a great article and I can't wait to see the next book!
Not sure what okthen's background is, but like d-g, I suspect okthen is affiliated with a major conventional pet food maker - the very people who create the lowest quality food that is causing so many health problems for cats and dogs. Get educated readers, and remember that like the tobacco industry, major pet food manufacturers (an a lot of human food companies) don't want you to know how bad their products really are. Pets do better on natural diets (generally speaking, the more raw food the better), and Sarah Wadleigh presents sound advice for conscientious pet parents who want to have healthy, high energy pets. I've read her book and many other holistic pet books, including some she mentions, and she presents good information, consistent with what other holistic pet health experts say, along with some great recipes for healthy pet foods. My advice to okthen: Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. I feed my dog a raw diet, and she's healthier now than when I got her 1 1/2 years ago.
Why yes, Miss Wadleigh, those links of yours, since they only focus on "natural", are "naturally going to be your only source for facts, is that right?
You are wrong, as are the rest of the commenters here. Alternative vets will prescrive you strichnine if you ask for it, with my point being, your sources are all like-minded, with absolutely no credibility or science-based-evidence. It's too easy for you and your alternative/natural-minded cohorts to stray under the umbrella of the non-existance of regulation. Those vets you speak of, by they way, are laughed at within the professional veterinary community. Their books, mind you, are not credible, since every single one of them has an agenda to sell their books.
Duh, I must be a cohort with a pet food manufacturer, because I prefer to rely on evidence and science, as opposed to hype and non-credible sources? Give me a break, it's people like you who propogate all the misinformation, not one of you can provide facts!
Well, "Okthen", give us your "scientific" and "credible" sources. I'm always up for info.
I do agree that Ms. Wadleigh has a vested interest in the info she gives. I try to get my info from sources that don't profit from pet food in any way.
But she is very honest about working in the industry and the sources she lists don't.
I also think pet supplements are a waste. I use ones made for humans.
It's possible garlic could be toxic to pets. It's not to most, in fact it's good for most.
(Mango is toxic to some people , no reason to say all people should avoid it.)
Garlic does seem to produce a body order that repels fleas and ticks naturally. Some dogs repel them on their own naturally.
Whether nutrional yeast does or not, I know of no better source of Vitamin B.
Let's remember that commercial dog food wasn't invented until the 50's yet we have had healthy (I would argue healthier) dogs since long before that.
Great article! Informative. Innovation is often met with disdain when introduced. This is a wonderful age of learning in all fields. The naysayers are often predjudiced, fearing what they don't know and afraid to try out new ideas. and that is OK. I'm just glad I didn't stop learning 60 years ago! I've found that if it works, use it. If it doesn't, don't use it.
When I first learned about feeding raw food to dogs I thought it was crazy! Dogs eat dog food - it's all the same! But when I was introduced to the idea of a species appropriate diets it started to make sense. What would dogs eat in the wild? Raw meats, whole animals and greens primarily. It makes sense that their digestive system is organized in such a way that they can most optimally acquire the nutrition they require from these food sources.
As a result, many years ago we made the switch to a raw diet for our dogs. The results are astounding. Our dogs are healthy, energetic with rich shiny coats. And visits to the vet? A very rare occasion.
Can a dog survive on dry dog food? Sure. But they won't thrive. It's like eating fast food for every meal. Your system can adapt but the long-term effects on your health will severely detrimental.
Sarah is right on all accounts. So, for yourself and you best friends, eat and feed them a natural diet rich in greens and whole foods.
Three of the above authors, Dr. Goldstein, Dr. Pitcairn and Dr. Belfield, graduated from traditional veterinary school. Dr. Goldstein graduated from Cornell University. All three of these individuals practiced traditional veterinary medicine for a number of years, which is exactly what gives them a high level of credibility. They are familiar with both approaches.
The Hills Science Diet website is another source I visit often so that I can read the ingredients of their prescription foods to clients who are wondering why their dog won't eat the food, always seems hungry and still has allergies or digestive disorders.
Another great source of information are the ingredient lists on the bags of Iams, Eukanuba, Purina, Pedigree, Ol' Roy, Hills Science Diet and other commercial foods. This is one of the most telling tales, although it does require an awareness that corn, by-products, wheat, cellulose, undefined meat, sucrose and chemical preservatives are harmful to dogs and cats.
OkThen, let's take a look:
"she stands to benefit from misinformation from her books . . . and sales from unregulated supplement makers."
Everyone who publishes a book, a study, or research stands to benefit - otherwise they wouldn't do it, would they. Research conducted on behalf of major dog food manufacturers stand to benefit in sales and reputation.
"Unregulated supplement makers"? Almost ALL supplements are not regulated. And therefore, almost all supplement makers are not regulated.
"your sources are all like-minded, with absolutely no credibility or science-based-evidence."
OkThen chooses only "science-based-evidence" from like-mined sources. He prefers sources that support his mind-set only. And from that mind-set, alternative health has no merit.
"You are wrong", "Duh", "Touting this crap"...
OkThen, lacks tact and grace. He comes across as emotional, angry and irrational. A very unscientific approach to making an argument. I expect more from a scienc
It's also helpful to know that corn syrup, beet pulp and sorghum are all sugar.
It's often the 3rd ingredient in crummy dog food. That means there is a lot of it in there!
Much like in the days when we were learning about sugar and were told to look for cereal that didn't have sugar until the 5th ingredient. (Am I the only one who remembers adding spoonfuls of sugar to my Sugar Pops?)
By now, most people know about corn syrup. Most don't know that beet pulp is sugar and it takes a southerner to know that sorghum is sugar. (It's right on the syrup shelf.)
Wow, the comments are flying in here. Listen this article as well as all of our articles are for what we research and believe to be of interest to other pet owners. These articles are written so other pet owners can read or review about different pet related items, foods, training and so on. This examiner told her story with the facts she collected and she had many to support her article. It is your opinion to do as you like with your own pet and you are entilted to it. You just do not need to come on here with the comments that depict we do not know what we are talking about. Her article is supported with the facts she needed to make her point with the article. It was an interviw with a nutrition expert, not just an article with something found on the internet. Have a good day and enjoy your pets.
The red flag, Miss Wadleigh, is attacking other pet food manufacturers because "your" evidence doesn't stack up to theirs. Ad hominem attacks are the norm for misinformed pet owners or fad "nutritionists" claiming they know pet nutrition when they obviously have no basis for their claims. Just because it might say "natural", "raw", etc., does not mean safe, and just because these are fads for humans does not mean one should apply them to pets. Ever hear of the placebo effect? This applies to medicine, nutrition, etc.
Of course those vets you mention, attended traditional veterinary studies, that's a no-brainer. Unfortunately, most every alternative vet has abandoned all reason and evidence-based science for snake oil, factless claims, and don't bother to educate their clients these things are without evidence. There's a reason vets call alternative vets woo-meisters. The same applies to human medical practitioners, aka quacks. Just because YOU say so, doesn't make it true.
I was just looking for feed recipes, but let's take a look at the "scoreboard" as I see it.
OkThen - Claims to be scientific, but provides no proof and no real facts, only vitriolic attacks. Also sounds kind of defensive.
Wadleigh - Doesn't refer to herself as an expert, the interviewer does. Is honest about her associations. Gives sources to back up her claims. Has been using her methods for many years. Has been tactful and professional in her replies despite obvious personal attacks by OkThen.
Given that my dogs have been healthy and happy on raw food for more than a decade, I have to go with Sarah Wadleigh.
We have a winner. Time to go away troll.
DogFeeder, typical response from a raw-food advocate. Backed up with references? You've got to be kidding! Let me guess, you did your "research" into your raw feeding via university of google and private raw food evangelist yahoo groups! Been there, seen it, you people still can't provide evidence for your bogus claims.
Not a troll, sorry to rain on your parade. Just sick and tired of the examiner "experts" getting paid whenever people click on these useless articles. I doubt my few clicks will amount to a hill of beans, but I hope the examiners can sleep at night.
okthen, what do you feed your dog (if you have one)? I'm curious as to how you decide which food is best.
okthen - Attacking people for expressing beliefs and opinions other than your own contributes nothing beneficial to the discussion. How do you expect to persuade anyone to your side considering the language and the tone you use?
In deciding how to feed my pets I will refer to the ultimate veterinarian, aka God, who built his beloved dogs a digestive system made for processing a wide variety of fresh foods - primarily meat, bones and greens. God did not create kibble - dogs have thrived for thousands of years without it.
Yesterday I prepared my dogs their first meal (from Sarah's book). By rejecting man-made processed commercial dog food, I feel I am honoring God and his masterpiece creation.
Sorry, Eve, your assertion that dogs have "thrived for thousands of years" without kibble, is a bit ignorant on your part. Do a little homework on the history of animal nutrition and the foods people fed their pets before the invention of commercial food, it will make you cringe and then you can ask yourself why people think it's cool to revert to the days of old to feed their pets. I guess you don't bother to think why we know much more about animal disease and how to treat nutritional deficiencies, taken from the "thousands of years" of dogs dying from malnutrition and rarely living past the age of 2 years old. Disease, parasites, nasty bacteria, nasty pathogens, tainted food, none of that mattered, right?
Your claim of the miraculous digestive system in dogs is also incorrect. This has been propagated ad nauseum by raw feeders to absolve them of the dangers. I have news for you, dogs don't have special enzymes to process bacteria any more than you do.
OkThen, since you have decided to turn this into your forum to attack the interviewee, please answer ANY question given you?
What do YOU feed your dog?
Why do you fail to provide ANY references? Once again, the references listed above are by Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, can you please back up your attacks? Otherwise, yes, you ARE a troll, that is practically the definition of troll.
The red flag, OkThen, is attacking other pet food manufacturers and pet owners because "your" evidence doesn't stack up to theirs. Ad hominem attacks are the norm for misinformed pro-processed food enthusiasts and so called "nutritionists" claiming they know pet nutrition when they obviously have no basis for their claims. Just because it might say "Precisely balanced nutrition for your pet", does not mean safe, and just because highly processed foods for humans is accepted as the norm does not mean one should apply them to pets.
---
OkThen, exemplifies the typical response from a process-food advocate. Backed up with references? You've got to be kidding! Let me guess, you did your "research" into your processed-food diet via university of "Old Roy" and private for-profit corporations who sell the stuff! Been there, seen it, you still can't provide evidence for your bogus claims.
I feed my dogs raw and have for years. They never need to go to the vet, unless for an injury. If you look into what the big companies put in their foods, you'd NEVER want to give it to your pet. It's like eating at McDonald's every single day of your life.
Back to the subject at hand: I talk with many people every week about the imbalances their dogs and cats are enduring: ear infections, itching, paw biting, digestive disorders, allergies, runny eyes, hot spots, body and breath odor, dental issues and more serious imbalances. The common denominator? Dry and canned heat-processed food.
Time and time again, changing the diet to raw, enzyme-rich, bio-available nutrients quickly resolves most imbalances. It's an obvious solution, once you understand that digestion and all healing processes in the body require the presence of enzymes. Sadly, this is almost always overlooked by traditional veterinarians.
Thus the recipe book, to provide nutrient-rich, healing foods that dogs and cats can enjoy with abandon and benefit from at the most fundamental level - where healing occurs.
Providing EFA's, enzymes, greens and proteins in their natural, digestible form is the path to health and longevity for our companions and ourselves. Amen.
Eve, this was such an awesome article and you already know how I feel about raw. It's great to see it mentioned in another forum not considered 'alternative'. Thanks for promoting healthy food for our pets. And I'm ordering Sarah's book today.
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