Interview with Doris from Ca Na Tess on the topic of dog nutrition
How did you get into conscious dog feeding?
I grew up with dogs that were fed cooked food, because there was no dry food in East Germany. I got my first dog in 1999, which I fed in the classic way with food from the supermarket. Nevertheless, out of habit, I always cooked additional meat as food. Then, through acquaintances, I discovered high-quality wet food. After my first dog got very old, I was introduced to raw food for the first time by a dog trainer in Mallorca. Then a light went on in my head and I was totally hooked. I knew that this was what it had to be. That's why I quickly immersed myself in it and trained as a nutritionist. I am really lucky that I have now found my calling in life, although I actually studied sociology and come from a completely different background. And yet there are connections to my current vocation. I have been doing Ca Na Tess here in Mallorca for 8 years now. Then I specialised in Malinois dogs and Mediterranean diseases. Today I also give seminars in Germany as well as online seminars on these topics. Recently, I have also started offering a training course here in Spain with a colleague to become a nutritionist for dogs and cats in Spanish, as this is almost non-existent here. This has been running for half a year and we will soon add a second course because it has started so well.
What does Ca Na Tess do?
We produce raw meat items and from these we make completely finished menus, i.e. complete meals or individual meat components. Everything that is raw is 90% home-made, the rest is bought in, but it is all fresh. The individual ingredients are processed on site in the shop. We have the sales counter in the front and our preparation room in the back.
How exactly are the menus put together?
Feeding raw goes back to reproducing the prey animal. In nature, a dog kills a rabbit or a chicken. It has different components such as meat, innards, blood, bones, fibres, stomach contents, intestinal contents and this is eaten completely by the dog. And we try to replicate that with our menus. If possible, we work with complete prey animals, e.g. with the complete rabbit, but without the fur. We only work with meat that is approved for human consumption. Supplements are available in the form of vegetables and fruit and additives such as fish oil, seeds or coconut flakes and herbs. So that all the animal's needs are covered. Because dogs also look for grasses and herbs in nature when they are not feeling well. The dog must not lack anything, because this is the only way to cover the nutritional content. Standard menus are edible for a normally healthy dog. These are bought frozen, defrosted at room temperature several hours before feeding and then given to the animal. In case of illness, the menus are individually composed by the owner. Creating food specifically according to breed is pure marketing because every dog descends from the wolf. Of course, there are special features in breeds, e.g. due to the bite, which then want finer or coarser food. But the menu for the animal really only differs in terms of quantity. Even a puppy can eat raw from the beginning.
What happens when a dog has an allergy?
This can be caused by additives in ready-made food, such as dried food, because there is a lot of chemical treatment in it. This is because dried food is dried, i.e. it is treated with very high heat. Many vitamins are not heat-resistant and are therefore lost. After that, everything is pressed under high pressure, and a lot is lost again. A lot of flavour is also lost during the procedure, so flavourings are added, otherwise the dog would never eat it. Most of the time these are not natural substances but chemical colourings, flavour enhancers etc. and the dog or cat can react intolerantly to these. Ca Na Tess only uses fresh products that are frozen to preserve them, so fewer nutrients are lost and it is more natural. Additives are also natural, such as fish oil, which is important for the omega 3 household, or algae for the iodine content. It is always possible that an animal is allergic to a certain type of meat. In this case, of course, a special menu may be prepared. The animal may also react allergically to cereal components. The dry food is very rich in carbohydrates, even if it is grain-free, because it is sticky. This is because the gluten in the cereal actually works like a glue, which makes dried food sticky, and when food is grain-free, other "glues" are just used, such as peas, sweet potatoes or potatoes, which contain starch, which in turn is the glue. Normal dry food contains 40-50% carbohydrates, which dogs don't need because they are carnivores. Instead, they need fibre and roughage for good intestinal flora, but not carbohydrates.
The ratio of food intake in humans is similar to that of dogs?
Humans, unlike dogs, are omnivores, which means we can theoretically be completely vegetarian or vegan, which works up to a point. But even vegans need to take supplements like essential B12, as this is only found in animal products. In dogs it is even more important, because in addition enzymes are missing to process carbohydrates, which causes health problems. Such as pancreatitis or kidney problems, due to the extra water deprivation from the dry food.
What about people who feed their pets a vegan diet?
That's like suddenly feeding meat to horses. It is against nature, because so many chemical additives have to be added for nutritional requirements that it cannot be healthy either. Of course, there are exceptional cases that need an almost completely vegetarian diet, they are very special, and yet this diet can lead to a shorter life span.
Do chews do anything for the dog?
Being happy and calming! When humans chew gum, for example, it calms us down incredibly too. And eating is a highlight of the day for dogs. Because of the way dogs are kept today, they have very little variety, and the food is not appealing either. A dog's emotional status will always be linked to food. If a dog eats something that is good for it, it is always happier and more emotionally balanced than a dog that only eats because it is hungry, out of survival instinct.
Why is a good intestine or healthy intestinal flora so important?
The intestine is one of the largest organs in the dog's body and, in addition to digestion, it performs important tasks. If the sensitive balance is disturbed, it can also be the source of many problems or diseases. A healthy intestine and intact intestinal flora are not only important for good digestion, but also ensure that the dog stays fit and healthy. I can influence the dog's well-being through food. That is why the dog's diet plays a decisive role here.
Because 80% of our immune system originates in the intestines. This means that if I have a good intestinal flora, I am healthier. A good intestinal flora develops with good food, with high-quality food and nutrients that are easy to digest and do not burden the animal. Food that has no allergens or chemical substances. Humans are changing with organic products and high-quality food, but this change is not yet taking place in dogs. But it is just as important for them. Because dogs now suffer from the same diseases of civilisation as we humans do: Cancer, allergies, diabetes, obesity.
Are these diseases on the increase?
Yes, these diseases are on the increase. Of course, because the diet has not changed. Dry food has been around for 70-80 years. But grandma's dog, who always got the leftovers, lived to be 15-16 years old in perfect health, because at some point he just fell asleep. Nowadays we have dogs with cancer at the age of 8. About half of the dogs are overweight because they don't exercise enough, and they get too much sugar because of the carbohydrates in their food. Many also get diabetes. And a disease like diabetes can be beaten with a change from dry food to raw food, just like other diseases.
Do dog owners come to Ca Na Tess when their pets have a health problem?
Yes, they do. Unfortunately, most only come when the animal has a problem, for example when the dog doesn't want to eat or shows other symptoms. With the way we feed, we ensure that there is no worsening of the health condition or even an improvement. Especially in the case of allergies, the state of health can be improved by diet alone. The skin, the coat, the smell and also the excretions become smaller.
What can I do when travelling so that my dog does not suffer from the diet?
When travelling, it is better to feed canned food instead of dry food, but it depends on whether the dog can eat it. This is because canned food is cooked food due to its shelf life. Ca Na Tess also offers canned food here that is more or less the raw version of the menus as cooked version, of course without carbohydrates. There are also people who switch back and forth between dry and raw food. As long as the dog can eat it, that's no problem. Feeding raw once a week is already an advantage.
What other ideas are there to make the food more digestible?
You can enrich the dry food with fresh bone broth or add fresh vegetables, yoghurt, kefir or a raw egg. Even if the basic dry food remains, I can enrich it so that I always add something good for the dog. Every gram of fresh food I add to the dog's food is an improvement for my pet. To further enhance the feeding for my pet you can also make a game out of it. For example, if you give the pet a whole raw egg, the pet has to see for itself how do I get it open. Anti-speed-eating bowls also take the speed out of feeding and make it a joyful affair for the animal, which then in turn tolerates the food better. In nature, animals have to work for their food, e.g. by hunting, but as pets they don't need to do that. If they are now stimulated how to get the food, e.g. by searching in the garden, etc., then they are also mentally stimulated and eat much more consciously, so to speak. Even if you keep the same food, you can improve the food intake as an experience. Animals actually know what is good for them and refuse food that would harm them.
Is it better to feed before or after walking?
With dry food, it softens in the animal's stomach and becomes very large. In addition, the animal gets thirsty from the food. Furthermore, this type of food stays in the stomach for a long time. Therefore, it is recommended that the dog should rest for 1 to 1.5 hours after feeding. However, with raw food, the dogs get such a boost of energy that they run around like possessed for 5 minutes after eating. So, they feel good and are in a great mood. The risk of gastric distress is definitely lower with raw feeding.
Are dogs naturally predisposed to know how much they are eating?
Yes, normally dogs even fast when they are not feeling well. The first remedy for diarrhoea is fasting, just like in humans. Because otherwise the intestines never get a rest. Except for a few breeds, like the Labrador. Dogs also look for herbs and the like in nature when they don't feel well or drink only water. So, the humans should be brought back to nature by the dog, not the dog to the human. And this is where my concern comes in. To motivate people to think and to say: I eat a high-quality diet, but not for my dog, I must change that. A better diet for your own pet might cost you 5 minutes more if you are well organised, for example with our menus.
A-Dogslife has the perfect bowl for your dog!
It is known that a ceramic bowl, especially in summer, will keep the water for your dog longer cool and your pet will drink more. Your dog will stay better hydrated. Several colours are available. Every bowl is unique that is why colours and application of the same can vary. Each logo was painted by hand. This bowl is machine washable.
For more information write me at sandra.bucher@a-dogslife.com