1. Keep meals frozen until 24-48 hours before serving your pet.
2. Thaw food by moving individual meal from freezer to refrigerator one to two days before serving.
| 3. To serve THPG foods, you have four options: | |
a. |
Serve cold, cut open packet, place in pet's dish and serve |
b.
|
Serve warm, remove food from plastic and microwave food till warm.* |
c. |
Serve warm, remove food from plastic and warm on stove, adding a small amount of water to make up for what is lost in heating.* |
d.
|
Serve warm, place food in pet's dish and add warm water to make a nice gravy with the food.* |
| * Do not make food hot. Your pet can not blow on his food to keep from burning himself. | |
If you forget to defrost your pet's food, you can defrost by placing the meal, still in bag, in a pot of heating water on your stove. If you do so, make sure the water does not boil. You want to do this, only to raise the food to a lukewarm temperature. You can also defrost with the defrost setting of your microwave. Follow your microwave's instructions for how to use this feature.
Before you can enjoy the benefits of improved health that The Healthy Pet Gourmet foods offer, you first have to decide how to switch your pet from what he is currently eating, to his new THPG food. You need to learn how to feed THPG foods, and what signs of health change to look for in your pet. Although most pets will have no difficulties during the transition, it is important to take a little time to think about which of three methods will work best for your individual needs. This guide will help you start out right, and give you some basic start up information. Keep the following in mind as you make your choice. We're here to help you. If you have any questions or concerns, email us at maketheswitch@thpg.com.
Make a Great Sales Pitch
Get off on the right foot by making THPG foods as enticing as possible to your pet:
| Warm it up: | |
| • | Pour some warm water over the top of it |
| • | Pop it in the microwave for up to 8 seconds |
| • | Warm it on the stove for 1-2 minutes |
Remember to be careful! DO NOT BOIL the food on the stove or in the microwave in its bag. For best health, always remove food from plastic (for you and your pet) before heating to a boil.
Don't get it too hot! Although you can blow on your food if it is too hot, your pet can't. Only warm the food to 'lukewarm' as you would do for a baby. The goal here is not to get the food piping hot, but to warm the food so that it becomes more aromatic and flavorful.
| Safety first: | |
| • | Watch your pet - if he seems uncomfortable at meal times try making a switch in his eating location. |
Your pet may feel safe eating in a particular place in your home - some pets like to be out of the hustle and bustle and left alone, away from the action when they eat. Other pets may want to see you (the rest of their pack) at all times while eating.
These suggestions are just that - suggestions. Do what works for you.
THREE METHODS OF FOOD INTRODUCTION
Very simply, you gradually introduce THPG foods to your pet. Keep it separate from their old food. You might start by offering the new food as 'treats,' and reducing the amount of the old food your pet gets at mealtime. This allows your pet the time to adjust to both the taste of the food, and the way the food will digest. This is by far the most gentle method. We suggest switching slowly, over approximately 2 weeks, to lessen any digestive upset that could occur.
| If you choose this method, look for these signs while making the switch: | |
| • | Does your pet seem disinterested in the smell and taste of the food? |
| • | When your pet goes to the bathroom, does it seem to occur more frequently, or to be too loose? |
If your pet seems disinterested, or appears to have digestive adjustment problems, slow down the food introduction. Remember - this isn't a race. Although you are excited to offer your pet better nutrition, remember that all pets, like all people, are individuals and need to be allowed to let their bodies adjust at their own pace.
The benefits of the gradual method are:
It eases the transition for your pet, greatly reducing problems with food acceptance, and with food digestion
The drawbacks of the gradual method are:
Because your pet is still eating less nutritious food, it may take longer for your pet to begin to show positive health changes
If the gradual or mixing method doesn't work for you, you are probably dealing with a food addict, and will need to take a more extreme course of action.
Very simply, mix the new food into the old. If your pet won't cooperate with the gradual method, and if fasting won't work for you, you may want to use this method. Whether it is the actual look and taste of the old food your pet is attached to, or the ritual of the old food (the sound of opening the can, or scooping the dry food from the bag), this can also work to get your pet 'over the hump.' Once your pet is accepting the new food, you can continue to decrease the amount of old food until it vanishes.
The benefits of the mixing method are:
It eases the transition for your pet, greatly reducing problems with food acceptance, and with food digestion
The drawbacks of the mixing method are:
Because your pet is still eating less nutritious food, it may take longer for your pet to begin to show positive health changes
Unfortunately, just like today's junk food culture for people, many pets are also addicted to junk food. Many pet food companies put large amounts of sugars in their food to get your pet to like their food. And they love it - they have to! They are addicted! In the wild, dogs and cats have an instinct about what is 'good to eat' and what is not. Because we determine our pets' meal choices for them, they have lost the ability to choose food for health. Many pets become very attached to the particular sugars in their foods and refuse all other foods.
When a gradual food introduction fails in this circumstance, it may be time for a food fast.
| Here's the process: | |
Day 1-2 |
Reduce the total amount of food your pet normally eats for 1-2 days. You can add a small amount of THPG foods to their current food if you like. The point is to make sure you are decreasing your pet's food intake. |
Day 3-5 |
Move your pet to a liquid fast for 2-3 days. Your pet should only have liquids during this time - fresh water for sure, chicken broth if you like. |
Day 6-7 |
Add small increasing amounts of THPG foods to the broth to break the liquid fast. |
Day 8-9 |
Increase amount of THPG foods until your pet is eating full meals. |
The benefits of the fasting method are:
It stimulates appetite, gives the body's system a chance to rest and to cleanse, and deprograms old eating addictions and habits at the same time
The drawbacks of the fasting method are:
It can be difficult to see your pet go hungry. If your pet is not currently in good health, this method should not be used.
Common Concerns About Fasting:
| The two most common concerns are: | |
| • | I am frightened by the idea of fasting my pet |
| • | My pet won't eat THPG foods offered during the third step, 'Breaking the Fast.' |
Response:
Many people have convinced themselves that if their pet misses a meal, he will surely perish. It is not so dissimilar from mothers worrying that their children don't eat enough. Guess what? For both children, and pets: When they are hungry, they will eat. Only in extreme cases of illness has a pet (or a child for that matter) starved himself to death. The will to live and the instinct to survive are very strong! Don't underestimate them.
Obese dogs have fasted on water and vitamins alone for as long as 6-8 weeks with no ill effects. Remember, in the wild, mealtime doesn't happen precisely at 6:30 p.m. It happens when an animal finds or kills a meal. Dogs and cats are perfectly capable of skipping a meal or two with no ill effects.
Occasionally, after one to two days on the liquid portion of the fast, a pet will still be unwilling to eat THPG foods. This occurs more frequently with cats than with dogs. If this is the case, try the liquid diet for an extra one to two days. For dogs, one to two days of the liquid fast is usually more than enough to stimulate their appetites. For cats, however, it may take as long as five days before the appetite picks up.
Any pet that does not develop a normal hunger after a few days of fasting is likely to be suffering from chronic illness. This isn't to say they are 'sick,' rather they are in a reduced, sub-optimal level of health. If this occurs, The Healthy Pet Gourmet suggests you consult a homeopathic, or homeopathic friendly vet in your area for guidance. If you don't currently use a vet with knowledge of homeopathic methods, please check our website for links to the Homeopathic Vet Association of America. We would be happy to connect you with information that can help you improve your pet's life in additional ways.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR PET'S HEALTH
| A Quick At-Home Checkup For Your Pet | |
| 1. |
Feel your pet's backbone. Run your hand side to side across his back. Are the bones prominent? Is there a bony ridge running down his back? If so, your pet is too thin. |
| 2. |
Feel your pet's coat. Does it feel greasy? Are there dandruff flakes in his hair? Is his skin red, or inflamed? Do you see lots of black specks? (These are flea droppings)? Are there self-inflicted wounds from excessive scratching or biting? |
| 3.
|
Smell your hands. Is there a bad odor? Do your hands feel greasy? |
| 4. |
Hold your pet's head in your hands. Look at his eyes. Is there a lot of matter, or tears in his eyes. Do the eyes appear clear, or are they yellowish, or reddish? |
| 5.
|
Look in your pet's ears. Is there a lot of wax? Does it have a bad odor? |
| 6. |
Now look at your pet's teeth. Are they white, or are they covered in dark, yellow-brownish material. Is the breath ok, or is it deadly? |
All of these are signs of compromised health in your pet. The Healthy Pet Gourmet's foods are aimed at eliminating these common problems that are symptoms of lowered health, common from eating a poor, or even dangerous diet.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN SWITCHING YOUR PET
Over 6 weeks of eating THPG foods, wonderful things can begin to happen for your pet. Increased energy, improved skin and coat, softer, healthier stools, just to name a few. During this period, some really wonderful things will begin to happen for your pet that might be concerning if you didn't know what you were observing. Keep in mind: If your pet is in good health, he will most likely NOT experience any of the things described below. If however, your pet is in a state of compromised health, his body will begin to heal itself.
Every pet if different, and it would be impossible to describe all the things your pet could experience on his way to health. What is certain is that your pet's excretory system - his skin, kidneys, and colon - will begin to get rid of all the toxic substances that have been building up in his body. This process should last no more than 2 weeks, with only on average, 3-5 days of serious cleansing. Depending on your pet, and where he happens to be storing all of the garbage that is in his system, you could witness a wide range of symptoms as the body heals itself. These symptoms could include, but are not limited to diarrhea, vomiting, excessive dander, pimples, shedding, excessive peeing.
Let us put this process in terms we can relate to.
A Lobster Tragedy
Imagine for a moment that you are a person with extremely fair skin. Dying to have a beautiful tan like your melanin-inclined friends, you slathered yourself with baby oil and set yourself in the sun to bake.... And now you're completely cooked. You look like a lobster. As your body begins to heal itself from this burn, strange things begin to happen to your body - things that might look frightening to someone with no sunburn experience. You get very itchy. It's all you can do to sit still. And then you start to peel! All of your skin is peeling off! Will there be any left? What will happen? Where is it going? Have you damaged your skin so badly, you won't have any left? No of course not. Your body has healed itself enough from the burn that it can now replenish itself.
A Twinkie Diet
Imagine that you ate the same thing every day. Exactly the same. Whether you were eating twinkies or brussels sprouts, if you stopped eating what was normal for you and began eating carrots, your stomach would be upset too! Most pets in America eat the same thing every day. No matter how healthful this food is, your pet's digestive tract may need time to adjust to the change. Most digestive problems should last no longer than 3-5 days, certainly no more than one week. If your pet is experiencing troubles for a longer period of time,
consult your vet and please send us an email to help you troubleshoot! Click Here.
Your pet's body may begin to behave in a similar way. Systems of your pet's body that have been under siege may begin to slough off the old, damaged cells it is holding onto because it is now strong enough to produce new, healthier ones. If you have ever undergone a cleanse for your own body, you are probably familiar with all the ways the body rids itself of pollution. The skin, the kidneys and the colon all work to rid the body of waste and it may now begin to work overtime because of the boost to health it is experiencing. Pimples, a fast sudden shedding or production of dandruff can happen to the skin (like a tree dropping old leaves in preparation to grow new ones). Strange, dark, even mucousy poops, and dark, strong smelling pees can happen. Although I have never experienced it, I have even read about dogs passing whole masses of worms, now that they are experiencing improved health, that were existing undetected in the animal's intestines. All of these 'symptoms' are perfectly normal. The body is riding itself of pollution so that it can reemerge stronger and healthier.
Homeopathic, and allopathic medicines work in two very different ways. Homeopathic medicine works to boost the body's own ability to heal itself. Allopathic medicine, or conventional medicine, works by muting symptoms, without treating the underlying cause.
A THPG diet supports the body's attempts to heal itself, and in these healing efforts, your pet may experience some of the strange symptoms described above.
If your pet experiences any of these symptoms and they cause you concern, don't hesitate to consult your vet for guidance as your pet goes through this transition.
As a general rule, if your pet has a high energy level and a good appetite, temporary symptoms such as those described above are probably just passing through as the body continues to clean house. If, however, your pet's energy levels decrease for more than a few days, or if your pet's moods seem greatly altered in a negative way, you should immediately consult your vet to rule out any problems your pet has of which you may be unaware.
Please keep us informed of your progress. We LOVE to hear about pets with easy transitions, but LIVE to help the struggling pup, or kitty find his way to health. Drop us a line at maketheswitch@thpg.com .
The Healing Crisis
Mucousy Stool, Loss of Appetite, and Other Symptoms
| In short: | |
| 1.
|
Mucousy stool is a sign your pet is eliminating toxins from his system that could have been there for years! |
| 2.
|
Mucus can accumulate in the intestinal tract undetected over long periods of time, and is often only discovered during a 'healing crisis' cleanse. |
| 3. |
The healing crisis should begin to lessen and symptoms to dissipate within three to five days. |
| 4. |
Your pet may try to do what he would in the wild - lose his appetite, and curl up by himself - isolating himself to gather strength to get well. |
| 5. |
Other symptoms you may witness are vomiting, skin rash or pimples, and excessive thirst and urination. |
| 6. |
If your pet experiences these symptoms, cut his food until the symptoms stop, give him only water for 24 hours, and start introduction of food again, very slowly. Mix 10% of new food with 90% old food for days 1 &2, increase in the next days to 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%, and finally 100% new foods. The transition should be much easier this time through. |
One of the most frequent concerns pet owners have when switching their pet's diet from processed, low quality foods to fresh, healthy, human quality foods is the change in their stool. Specifically, a mucusy, loose stool. Dr. Martin Goldstein is one of my favorite sources of holistic health information on pets. Here is what he says to owners, that I would like to reiterate:
"Don't be afraid! Fear is such a terribly destructive force in medical care. So often, it inhibits us from letting the patient help himself. But also: Recognize the whole picture. How was the patient in the days preceding this apparent decline? A pet on the eve of a healing crisis will have seemed energetic, even frisky."
According to Dr. John Sherman:
"This feeling of strength is probably the most distinguishing feature that characterizes a healing crisis from a disease crisis when the vital force intrinsic to the body has finally worked up to this acutely reactive event, taking any suppressive medication, even an aspirin, could damage the immunity and vitality of an individual."
But how does this relate to mucousy stool you may ask? Mucus is just one of many forms in which toxins can be stored in the body, and when the body gains the strength and vigor to expel this material, it can be a seemingly traumatic event. Anyone who witnesses their beloved pet go from what they feel are 'normal stools' to loose, mucousy ones would be alarmed if they didn't have knowledge of what is happening in the body.
When this healing crisis occurs, your pet may try to do what he would in the wild - lose his appetite, and curl up by himself - isolating himself to gather strength to get well. Dr. Goldstein points out that this is actually very similar to what we do as people when we are sick as well: refuse food, and let our bodies focus on expelling toxins by sweating, expectoration, and emptying our bowels.
If you find yourself witnessing a healing crisis in your pet - pay close attention - it should take no more than about five days to move through before you start to see improvements. Other symptoms you may witness are vomiting, skin rash or pimples, and excessive thirst and urination.
When I was a child, I absolutely loved the cranberry sauce that came in the can. I loved everything about it- even it's odd ridges that formed as it molded itself to the can it had been in. Knowing how much I loved cranberry sauce, my mother attempted to make a cranberry sauce from scratch one year for Thanksgiving. I'm sure she thought it was a wonderful idea, and that I would love it because being fresh, surely it would be that much better than the store bought version! She couldn't have been more wrong! Not only did I HATE her cranberry sauce, but I was also mad she had taken away my favorite holiday treat! How could she!
Your pet may be just like I was at 10 years old. Pets, just like people LOVE their junk food. They also love the familiar. Julia Child could have made that cranberry sauce herself and I wouldn't have touched it. It was DIFFERENT. If your pet responds in this way, don't fret, and don't lose heart. Know your spoiled child is pitching a tantrum and that he will adjust, and he will soon begin to show signs of better health - which you will both be very happy about.
Remember, YOU are your pack's leader. It is up to you to take care of your pet and to make decisions about what they should eat. Many pets that throw 'food tantrums' have other behavioral problems as well. Often, these result from a wishy-washy pack leader. Dogs especially will lead if they are not led. Acting out about food is one more way a dog can attempt to establish dominance where it senses leadership isn't secure. If your pet has behavior problems concerning food, or other issues, The Healthy Pet Gourmet would be happy to introduce you to an animal behaviorist who can make life easier for you and your pet. Contact us at info@THPG.com and ask about receiving a referral, or how you can witness a quick demonstration of a communication tool that can greatly impact you and your pet, and your ability to live happily without behavior issues.