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Dog Walks & More
California Pet Care Newsletter
"Cool Tips for Hot Pets"
Feed Your Pet More
Alkaline than Acidic Foods
Your pet's body is filled with fluids both inside and outside the cells. These fluids are found in the muscles, the brain, bones, the bloodstream, the spine, saliva, in urine, etc.
All fluids have a certain level of acidity or alkalinity. This level is measured by the pH value. The pH scale runs from zero to 14. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, while a pH higher than 7 is considered alkaline and a pH lower than 7 is considered acidic.
The sicker the animal the more acidic the fluids in her/his body. You can help your pet regain their health by helping reduce the acidity in the fluids of their body.
The main determining factor for maintaining a pH level on the alkaline or acidic side in the pet's body is the food he/she eats. Foods are of two types, acid or alkaline. This refers to the ash value of a food or the type of residue that remains after the food is digested and processed. If the food leaves an acid residue, the body must neutralize this acid to keep the blood from becoming acidic. The acid is neutralized with alkalinity (minerals). Ideally, there is adequate alkalinity (minerals) in the diet to do this. However, if there is not, the body must extract alkalinity (minerals) from its cells to neutralize the acid. Perpetuating this condition over a period of time causes the cells to become acidic and eventually diseased.
Click here to review our recommendations of whole food supplements for pets.
All canned and dried foods fed to pets today are highly acidic. They do not contain the alkaline minerals found in live and natural foods. This is why pets with compromised liver and kidneys must be fed a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are generally metabolized to yield ash residues which result in alkaline potentials for the body fluids. The majority of mineral elements found in fruits and vegetables are alkaline in solution including potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium. We hope you can add more organic fruits, vegetables and green foods to your pet’s daily diet so you have the assurance of feeding them alkaline/mineral rich foods. A pet’s diet high in alkaline foods may help them maintain a healthy and long life.
Click here to review our recommendations of whole food supplements for pets.
References:
Abrams, Karl. (1996). Algae to the Rescue! Studio City, CA: Logan House Pub.
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