Vet Says Feeding Dog Food Can Put Your Pet's Health at Risk
Paula Terifaj, D.V.M, believes that pet owners concerned about feeding their dogs a healthy diet should stop feeding highly processed pet foods. To help people feed their dogs a truly natural diet, she opened the first "for dogs only restaurant" called The Dogie Bag in Palm Springs, CA last year and has now launched dogiebag.com, which offers nutritionally balanced recipes for dog owners and homemade meals that can be purchased online.
Today's manufactured dog foods are no better for your dog than fast food is for us, says Paula Terifaj, D.V.M. To combat the problem, she has launched dogiebag.com a new online bistro for dogs.
www.dogiebag.com features nutritionally balanced recipes and homemade meals for dogs. Recipes have been developed by Terifaj, a veterinarian who specializes in alternative medicine with a focus on nutrition. All meals are prepared using only human grade USDA inspected meats and fresh produce. They are cooked and individually vacuum sealed for freshness, making them easy to prepare, defrost and serve. Selections include Meaty Mutt Loaf, Chick-n-Paw Pie, FisherMutt's Wharf, Mutts-n-the Henhouse, Mutta Mia Pasta & Muttballs, and Health Mutt Cookies.
For a full menu, prices and detailed nutritional content simply visit www.dogiebag.com.
Meals are freshly prepared each week and frozen until they can be delivered, Terifaj adds. They can be kept in a freezer for up to one year but are best if used within three months of purchase. Unopened pouches can be refrigerated for up to 14 days. Once they are opened meals can be kept under refrigeration for three to four days, the same as food cooked for people.
By contrast, many popular manufactured dog foods do not offer high nutrient value, may contain undesirable additives and none offer freshness or variety. These factors alone violate any ethical attempt by the pet food industry to call their products healthy. Short term feeding of an inferior diet may not induce immediate heath problems, but long term feeding of nutrient poor, over processed pet foods can lead to chronic diseases.
Terifaj said she started up the online bistro because she wants dogs to live healthier lives. Before the advent of commercially manufactured dog foods some 50 years ago, she adds, family dogs thrived on family leftovers. Cooked meats and vegetables ? people food ? was for centuries the mainstay diet of the domestic dog until technology replaced common sense. Now, with www.dogiebag.com, recipes and daily feeding guidelines are available for those who want to make their own doggie meals. And for those who don't have the time or the inclination, dogiebag.com provides pre-cooked, ready made meals.
About Paula Terifaj, D.V.M.:
She is the owner of Founders Veterinary Clinic in Brea, CA where she has practiced companion animal medicine since graduating from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. She is also a strong advocate for animal welfare issues and is currently heading up an organization to fight Breed Specific Legislation called ROVERlution.org, which promotes national protest marches.
Vet Says Feeding Dog Food Can Put Your Pet's Health at Risk