RAW DIET FOR DOGS AND CATS

ALL RAW FOODS CONTAIN BACTERIA. MANY BACTERIA ARE BENEFICIAL AND OUR DOGS AND CATS CANNOT LIVE HEALTHY LIVES WITHOUT THESE BENEFICIAL BACTERIA. HEALTHY BACTERIA IN THE GUT HELP WITH DIGESTION AND SOME AID IN THE ABSORPTION OF NUTRIENTS. WHEN HEALTHY BACTERIA OUTNUMBER HARMFUL BACTERIA WE HAVE HARMONY IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. A HEALTHY GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS BOTH A SEWER AND A BREWERY. THE ELIMINATION OF WASTE FROM THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT IS A DAILY FUNCTION BUT THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT IS ALSO A PLACE TO MANUFACTURE HEALTHY BACTERIA. BECAUSE THE DOGS’ GI TRACT IS SHORT, BACTERIA SUCH AS E-COLI AND SALMONELLA ARE NOT A PROBLEM FOR THE DOG TO HANDLE. CARE MUST BE TAKEN BY USING SAFE FOOD HANDLING PRACTICES SUCH AS CAREFUL SELECTION OF MEATS, VEGETABLES AND FRUITS AND SAFE PREPARATION OF THESE FOODS, PLUS THE WASHING UP OF DISHES, COUNTERTOPS AND HANDS. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IS MORE FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AS THE DOG CAN HANDLE BACTERIA. WE HAVE ALL SEEN OUR DOGS EAT VERY UNCLEAN SUBSTANCES AND THEY KEEP WAGGING THEIR DELIGHTFUL TAILS AND REMAIN IN PERFECT HEALTH!

WHOLE RAW FOODS ARE AN EXCELLENT WAY TO ACHIEVE A HEALTHY DIGESTIVE TRACT. OUR DOGS CAN TOLERATE BACTERIA MUCH BETTER THAN HUMAN BEINGS CAN. THEY CAN BURY A BONE AND DIG IT UP WEEKS LATER WITH NO ILL EFFECTS. PROPER FOOD HANDLING IS THE KEY TO SAFETY IN RAW FOOD HANDLING AND MANUFACTURING. USE COMMON SENSE AND LOTS OF HOT SOAPY WATER TO CLEAN HANDS, BOWLS AND SURFACES. WE DO THIS EVERYDAY IN OUR KITCHENS WHEN WE PREPARE OUR FAMILY MEALS.

RAW BONES ACTUALLY ARE CONSTIPATING AND CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO MAKE SURE OUR DOGS AND CATS ARE GETTING ENOUGH FIBER TO BALANCE THE INTAKE OF RAW BONES. EXAMINE STOOL EVERY DAY AND IF YOUR DOG OR CAT IS STRAINING THEN MORE FIBER IS NEEDED. GOOD SOURCES OF FIBER (BOTH SOLUBLE AND INSOLUBLE) ARE CANNED PUMPKIN, APPLES, MOST FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND GROUND FLAX SEED.

THERE IS NO PROCESSED FOOD THAT CAN SUPPLY ALL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE. IN FACT PROCESSING ALTERS THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF FOODS AND DESTROYS OR LOSES MANY NECESSARY VITAMINS AND MINERALS. GOOD HEALTH AND FULL GENETIC EXPRESSION REQUIRE A VARIETY OF FRESH WHOLE RAW FOODS AND A WELL BALANCED SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM. RAW VEGGIES PROVIDE ENZYMES, ANTIOXIDANTS, VITAMINS AND MINERALS, CARBOHYDRATES, PHYTOCHEMICALS, Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, D, E, K, BORON, CHOLINE, INOSITOL, FOLIC ACID, IODINE, PABA, PANTOTHENIC ACID, CALCIUM, CHROMIUM, COPPER, MAGNESIUM, MANGANESE, MOLYBDENUM, PHOSPHORUS, POTASSIUM, SODIUM, SULFUR AND SELENIUM.

RAW MEATS, FISH AND EGGS PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF AMINO ACIDS/PROTEINS, ENZYMES, ANTIOXIDANTS, VITAMINS A, D, C, E, B1 B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, BIOTIN, CHOLINE, FOLIC ACID, INOSITOL, IODINE, PANTOTHENIC ACID, FATTY ACIDS, CADMIUM, PHOSPHORUS, MAGNESIUM, IRON, POTASSIUM, CHROMIUM, MANGANESE, SELENIUM, SODIUM, VANADIUM, ZINC, AND CoQ10. TODAY WHOLE FOODS ARE LESS NUTRITIOUS THAN THEY WERE FIFTY YEARS AGO BECAUSE SOILS ARE DEPLETED, FOODS ARE STORED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME OR ARE TRANSPORTED OVER GREAT DISTANCES. ALL THESE PROCESSES DEPLETE NUTRIENTS AND THEREFORE A PROGRAM OF PROVIDING VITAMINS AND MINERALS IS IMPORTANT. CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO PROVIDE WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS AND MINERALS AS THESE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE AND ARE LOST IN PROCESSING. FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS SUCH AS E AND D ARE STORED IN THE BODY AND CARE MUST BE TAKEN NOT TO OVER SUPPLEMENT WITH THESE VITAMINS. EXCESS OF WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS SUCH A, B’S AND C ARE ELIMINATED BY THE BODY. PROCESSED FOODS ARE FAR TOO HIGH IN SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATES (SUGARS AND STARCHES) AND TOO LOW IN BIO AVAILABLE PROTEINS AND FATS, ESPECIALLY ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS.

‘‘NATURAL’’ IS NOT A WORD THAT GUARANTEES THAT THE INGREDIENTS IN A PROCESSED FOOD ARE WHOLESOME. FEATHERS, LEATHER, HAIR AND IRON OXIDE ARE ALL NATURAL BUT NONE ARE GOOD FOR OUR DOGS AND CATS.

ALLERGIES ARE A COMPLEX REACTION CAUSED BY A REACTION TO AN ALLERGEN. PROCESSED FOODS CONTAIN MANY COMPLEX SUBSTANCES THAT DO NOT APPEAR ON THE LABEL.IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AN ALLERGIC REACTION MAY BE DUE TO ONE OF THE MANY CHEMICALS USED IN MANUFACTURING A PROCESSED FOOD. IN FACT, GRAIN IS OFTEN THE CULPRIT AND CAN BE REMEDIED EASILY BY NOT FEEDING ANY FOODS WHICH CONTAIN GRAIN. RAW FOODS ARE SIMPLE AND CAN BE MADE TO MEET AN ANIMAL’S SPECIFIC NEEDS. WE CAN CONTROL WHAT GOES INTO THE FOOD AND BY DOING SO, WE MAY EASILY DETERMINE WHAT INGREDIENTS MAY BE CAUSING A PROBLEM. THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ADDITION AND ELIMINATION, WE CAN FIND THE CAUSE OF AN ALLERGIC REACTION. MANY ALLERGIES CAN BE DUE TO AN INHALANT AND NOT A FOOD BORN ALLERGEN AT ALL. SURELY FINDING THE CAUSE OF AN ALLERGY IS A TEDIOUS PROCESS BUT MASKING THE SYMPTOMS WITH DRUGS IS NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION. CERTAINLY MANY ANIMALS WITH ALLERGIES HAVE BEEN HELPED BY WHOLE RAW FOODS.

GROUND MEAT FROM THE GROCER HAS BEEN GROUND EARLIER IN THE DAY AND WHEN MEAT IS GROUND, THE SURFACE AREA IS GREATLY INCREASED, AS IS THE BACTERIA COUNT. AS MOST BACTERIA DOUBLE EVERY TWENTY MINUTES IN IDEAL CONDITIONS, IT IS MUCH BETTER TO PURCHASE A PRODUCT WHICH IS GROUND AND THEN FLASH FROZEN IMMEDIATELY OR BUY WHOLE MEATS WHICH YOU GRIND YOURSELF.

ALL RAW FOOD CONTAINS BACTERIA. MANY BACTERIA ARE BENEFICIAL.

NEVER MIX RAW FOOD WITH KIBBLE. PROCESSED KIBBLE IS DIGESTED IN ABOUT TWELVE HOURS WHERE AS RAW DIET IS DIGESTED IN ABOUT 5 TO 6 HOURS. MIXING THE TWO TYPES OF FOOD CAN CAUSE SEVERE GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS. THERE IS NO RESEARCH AS TO THE CAUSE BUT IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THE STARCHES AND SUGARS IN PROCESSED FOODS MAY CAUSE A FLARE UP OF UNHEALTHY BACTERIA, WHICH CAN LEAD TO SEVERE PROBLEMS.

ALL RAW BONES ARE NOT SAFE FOR OUR DOG AND CATS. MANY DOGS DO NOT HAVE A PERFECT SCISSOR BITE THAT IS SO NECESSARY FOR RIPPING AND TEARING. BRACHEACEPHALIC DOGS CAN CHOKE AS MANY OF THEM HAVE A SOFT PALATE. KNUCKLEBONES ARE PREFERRED AND ARE THE SAFEST BONES TO FEED. NEVER FEED COOKED BONES OF ANY KIND. MANY DOGS, IF LEFT UNSUPERVISED WITH RAW BONES, CAN FRACTURE TEETH, GET BONES LODGED IN THEIR JAWS, STOMACH OR INTESTINES. SOME DOGS, WHEN THERE IS COMPETITION FOR FOOD, WILL SWALLOW OR GULP BONES WHOLE! ALSO, TOO MUCH GROUND BONE IN THE DIET CAN CAUSE AN IMPACTION OF THE LOWER BOWEL. EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN FEEDING RAW BONES! SUPERVISE YOUR DOG OR CAT. BONE FRAGMENTS CAN GET LODGED IN THE MOUTH OR GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT.

YES - WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION IS VERY DIGESTIBLE AND THE RESIDUE IS LOW. CLEAN UP IS LESS TIME CONSUMING. STOOL FROM ANIMALS FED RAW WHOLE FOODS ALSO COMPOSTS READILY!

THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS, WHICH ARE MORE EFFICACIOUS WHEN ADDED AT MEALTIME. ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS AND B VITAMINS ARE TWO THAT IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND.

LABELS CAN BE VERY MISLEADING. FOR EXAMPLE, CRUDE PROTEIN IS DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE AMOUNT OF NITROGEN PRESENT IN A SAMPLE OF FOOD. NITROGEN IS PRESENT IN A NUMBER OF HIGHLY INDIGESTIBLE SUBSTANCES (e.g. UREA, AMMONIA). PERCENTAGE NITROGEN CAN ALSO REFLECT A HIGH BACTERIAL COUNT AS WELL. ALSO, THE FIRST INGREDIENT MAY BE A MEAT BY- PRODUCT BUT THE NEXT 20 INGREDIENTS CAN BE GRAIN BASED BY-PRODUCTS. THE SUM TOTAL OF THE GRAIN PARTS IS FAR GREATER THAN THE FIRST INGREDIENT. THIS MISLEADS THE CONSUMER INTO BELIEVING THAT THE PROCESSED FOOD CONTAINS MOSTLY MEAT BY PRODUCTS. MOST PROCESSED FOODS ARE AT LEAST 40% GRAIN AND MANY ARE A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN 40%.

RAW FOOD DIET CAN BE FED FOR A REASONABLE COST. A FEEDING PROGRAM USING TRIPE, MEAL BONES, CHICKEN, TURKEY AND BEEF MEALS CAN BE FED. MANY RAW FOOD MANUFACTURERS CAN HELP YOU WITH AN ECONOMICAL FEEDING PLAN. FEEDING RAW WHOLE FOODS IS MORE EXPENSIVE BUT THE HEALTH BENEFITS AND QUALITY OF LIFE ARE DEFINITELY WORTH IT.

KIBBLE IS CONVENIENT. RAW FOOD, ON THE OTHER HAND, MAY REMAIN SAFELY FROZEN IN A COOLER FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILE TRAVELING.

FATS ARE VERY GOOD FOR DOGS AND CATS AND THEY DERIVE MUCH OF THEIR ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FROM FATS. IT IS NOT FATS BUT AN EXCESS OF CARBOHYDRATES IN PROCESSED FOODS THAT MAKE OUR COMPANION ANIMALS OBESE. PROCESSED FOODS HIGH IN GRAINS OVERWORK THE PANCREAS. AN OVERWORKED PANCREAS MAY AT SOME POINT BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH ENZYMES TO DIGEST FATS PROPERLY. THE KEY IS NOT TO OVER FEED GRAINS AND, IN FACT, MANY RAW FEEDERS RECOMMEND NO GRAIN AT ALL!

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR MANY METABOLIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS. THEY ARE, HOWEVER, EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO OXIDATION AND THEREFORE IT IS BEST TO ADD THOSE AT MEAL TIME. THEY SHOULD BE PART OF EVERY MEAL.

A VARIETY OF RAW FRESH WHOLE FOODS IS THE KEY TO EXCELLENT HEALTH. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES AND ACTIVITIES. GOOD FOOD IS SIMPLY THAT, “GOOD FOOD.” ANIMALS REQUIRE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FOODS FOR THEIR LIFE STAGES. ANIMALS THAT ARE ILL MAY REQUIRE SPECIAL DIETS AND THESE ARE BEST RECOMMENDED BY A HOLISTIC VETERINARIAN AND MADE FROM WHOLE FRESH INGREDIENTS. OLDER ANIMALS MAY NEED MORE FIBER AND MORE HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE PROTEIN. TOO MUCH FIBER IS NOT RECOMMENDED AS THIS CAN LEAD TO MALABSORPTION OF NUTRIENTS. GROWING PUPPIES SHOULD NEVER BE “FREE FED” AS THIS MAY RESULT IN AN OVER CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY AND TOO FAST A GROWTH RATE. TOO FAST A GROWTH RATE CAN LEAD TO SKELETAL DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS. ALL DOGS AND CATS NEED A BALANCED CALCIUM /PHOSPHOROUS RATIO AND THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF ENERGY (CALORIES). THE PROPER AMOUNT OF ENERGY IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR GROWING PUPPIES. MOST PROCESSED FOODS HAVE FAR TOO MUCH GRAIN AND FAR TOO LITTLE HIGH QUALITY BIOAVAILABLE PROTEIN. THE ONLY WAY TO ASSURE HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN AND NO GRAIN IN YOUR PETS FOOD IS TO MAKE IT YOURSELF OR PURCHASE RAW FROZEN FOOD FROM MANY OF THE FINE PRODUCERS TODAY.

CRUDE PROTEINS ON THE BAG IS THE TOTAL PROTEIN FROM MEAT BY PRODUCTS AND FROM GRAIN SOURCES. THE LAB TEST FOR PROTEIN IS A TEST TO MEASURE NITROGEN AS ALL PROTEINS CONTAIN NITROGEN. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE MANY COMPOUNDS THAT CONTAIN NITROGEN THAT ARE NOT PROTEINS AND THIS CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE TEST RESULTS.
SOME GRAINS HAVE PROTEIN CONTENT ALONG WITH A CARBOHYDRATE COMPONENT. DOGS AND ESPECIALLY CATS DO NOT NEED GRAIN.

AN ALL MEAT DIET IS VERY HIGH IN PHOSPHOROUS AND THEREFORE ANY DIET COMPRISED OF ALL MEAT WILL BE DANGEROUSLY LOW IN CALCIUM. OVER SUPPLEMENTATION WITH CALCIUM IS NOT THE ANSWER EITHER. DIETS FOR DOGS AND CATS SHOULD HAVE A RATIO OF 1.2 CALCIUM TO 1 PHOSPHOROUS. THIS RATIO IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. CALCIUM IS IN DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM IN THE BODY. THE BALANCE OF CALCIUM MUST BE MAINTAINED IN THE BODY. THE BODY WILL TAKE CALCIUM FROM BONES AND TEETH IF CALCIUM IS NOT FOUND IN THE DIET. WHEN AVAILABLE IN THE DIET, THE BODY WILL STORE CALCIUM IN THE BONE AND TEETH AND THUS RESTORING THE BALANCE. PROLONGED CALCIUM DEFICIENCY WILL MOST CERTAINLY CAUSE METABOLIC CHAOS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM. FEEDING GROUND RAW BONE THREE TIMES A WEEK WILL ASSURE A PROPER CALCIUM /PHOSPHORUS RATIO IN THE DIET.

ACCORDING TO PITCAIRN THERE IS 1800 MGM OF CALCIUM PER TEASPOON OF EGGSHELL POWDER, AN AVAILABLE SOURCE OF CALCIUM FOUND IN OUR OWN KITCHENS.

SAFE FOOD HANDLING PRACTICES MUST BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED DURING MANUFACTURE, STORAGE AND FEEDING. WHILE DOGS CAN HANDLE FOODS CONTAMINATED WITH BACTERIA AND OTHER ORGANISMS, PEOPLE CANNOT. RAW DIETS FOR DOGS AND CATS SHOULD NOT CONTAIN SUBSTANCES UNFIT FOR HUMANS TO HANDLE SAFELY IN THEIR KITCHENS. CARE MUST ALSO BE TAKEN TO WASH ALL SURFACES, FOOD DISHES AND YOUR HANDS WITH HOT SOAPY WATER AND A MILD SOLUTION OF BLEACH AND RINSE VERY WELL.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO CAUSATIVE EFFECT OR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EATING RAW MEAT AND WANTING TO KILL ANIMALS. THE DESIRE TO KILL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT A DOG IS FED AND HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH NATURAL PREY DRIVE, TRAINING AND SOCIALIZATION. CATS THAT HAVE BEEN FED PROCESSED FOODS ALL THEIR LIVES STILL ARE AVID HUNTERS. DOGS CAN EASILY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WHAT THEY ARE PROTECTING AND WHAT THEY ARE EATING.

PROCESSED FOOD MUST BE BALANCED AS MOST BRANDS ARE MADE FROM PARTS OF FOODS LEFT OVER FROM HUMAN FOOD PROCESSING AND RENDERED ANIMAL PARTS. MANY NUTRIENTS ARE INDEED DESTROYED BY HIGH HEAT USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF COMMERCIAL PET FOODS.

MANY PEOPLE TODAY HAVE REALIZED THE BENEFITS OF RAW WHOLE FOODS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEREFORE HAVE EASILY MADE THE TRANSITION TO FEEDING THEIR PETS THE SAME WAY. ONCE YOU SEE AND FEEL THE DIFFERENCE THERE IS NO RETURN TO PROCESSED FOODS OF ANY KIND. IT MUST BE POINTED OUT ALSO THAT PROCESSED FOOD HAS ONLY BEEN AVAILABLE FOR THE PAST FEW DECADES. RAW FOOD FEEDING IS NOT A FAD BUT WE ARE RETURNING TO THE PRACTICE OF FEEDING RAW FOODS TO OUR COMPANION ANIMALS.

RAW FISH AND RAW EGG WHITES BOTH CONTAIN ENZYMES, WHICH, IF FED OVER A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN CAUSE CERTAIN IMBALANCES. FISH CONTAINS AN ENZYME CALLED THIAMINASE AND IT DESTROYS VITAMIN B1 (THIAMINE). EGG WHITES CONTAIN AN ENZYME THAT DESTROYS BIOTIN.

MANY SKIN PROBLEMS CAN BE CORRECTED BY DIET ALONE. CERTAINLY IT IS AN OPTION AND A BETTER WAY TO GO THAN YEARS OF STEROIDS AND ANTIBIOTICS. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN ANY CURE. MANY VETERINARIANS ARE NOW REALIZING THE BENEFITS OF FEEDING WHOLE RAW FOODS TO DOGS AND CATS. GRAIN BASED DIETS CAUSE THE BODY TO BE VERY ALKALINE AND WHEN AN ANIMAL IS SWITCHED TO A DIET FREE OF GRAIN, SKIN PROBLEMS AND EAR PROBLEM SIMPLY DISAPPEAR. THE BODY BECOMES MORE ACIDIC ON A GRAIN FREE DIET AND THIS AIDS IN THE PREVENTION OF SKIN AND EAR PROBLEMS. RAW BIOAVAILABLE HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN WITH WHOLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ALSO PROVIDES HEALTHY BUILDING BLOCKS FIT FOR LIFE.

CLEAN TEETH AND FRESH BREATH COME FROM A HEALTHY WHOLE RAW FOOD DIET. RAW BONES (SUPERVISED) ARE NATURE’S TOOTH BRUSH. EXCESSIVE CARBOHYDRATES IN THE FORM OF GRAINS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR ORAL HEALTH. TOO MANY SIMPLE SUGARS AND STARCHES IN THE PROCESSED FOOD FEED BACTERIA IN THE MOUTH AND LEAD TO BUILD UP OF PLAQUE, WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO GINGIVITIS. POOR ORAL HEALTH LEADS TO HEART AND KIDNEY FAILURE, ETC.

CATS ARE 100% CARNIVORES. THEY MUST ALSO HAVE TAURINE IN THEIR DIETS AND ARACHIDONIC ACID BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PRODUCE THESE ESSENTIALS THEMSELVES.

MUCOUS IN THE STOOL CERTAINLY MAY BE CAUSE FOR ALARM BUT MUCOUS IS A WAY THE BODY CAN RID ITSELF OF TOXINS SIMILAR TO US BLOWING OUR NOSE! PROLONGED MUCOUS IN THE STOOL IS A SIGN YOU SHOULD SEEK THE HELP OF YOUR VETERINARIAN.

REGULAR VISITS TO YOUR VETERINARIAN ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. BE SURE TO TELL YOUR VETERINARIAN THAT YOU ARE FEEDING A BALANCED RAW DIET FOR YOUR COMPANION ANIMAL. IN MANY CASES, WHEN DRUGS ARE REQUIRED, SMALLER DOSES ARE RECOMMENDED.

THE CAUSE OF SKELETAL PROBLEMS CAN BE GENETIC, ENVIRONMENTAL OR A RESULT OF POOR NUTRITION. GENETICS CANNOT BE CORRECTED BY GOOD NUTRITION BUT SOMETIMES THE IMPACT CAN BE LESSENED OR AGGRAVATED BY GOOD OR POOR NUTRITION RESPECTIVELY. CALCIUM/ PHOSPHOROUS RATIOS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. DIETS COMPRISED OF TOO MUCH MEAT ARE VERY HIGH IN PHOSPHOROUS AND LOW IN CALCIUM. DIETS TOO HIGH IN FIBER MAY BIND CALCIUM AND RENDER IT UNAVAILABLE TO THE ANIMAL. TOO LITTLE SUNSHINE, FRESH AIR AND EXERCISE CAN ALSO BE A FACTOR IN POOR SKELETAL DEVELOPMENT. TOO MUCH ENERGY FROM TOO MUCH CARBOHYDRATE IN THE FORM OF GRAINS CAN ALSO PLAY A PART IN POOR BONE DEVELOPMENT. POOR QUALITY PROTEIN, TOO MUCH GRAIN AND TOO LITTLE FRESH AIR AND EXERCISE CAN LEAD TO PROBLEMS IN BONE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.