There are articles out there stating that our dogs should live at least twice as long as they do if we weren't making them die so young.
The question then, is that true? Should our dogs live at least twice as long as their current live expectancy if we did right by them?
Science, of course, is looking for answers after its own fashion, with an anti-aging drug.
Not that I have anything against a drug that could help my dog(s) live longer and healthier. It is, in fact, possible that in our day and age it might be the best answer to the problem. On the other hand, it seems a very "cookie cutter" solution. It is, of course, ideal for the drug industry to produce such drug; can you imagine the profits?
And there is another question that begs to be asked.
If most of what we do leads to shorter lifespans, is such a solution simply an attempt to reverse or slow down the damage we're doing?
It almost makes you wonder whether it's the same principle as in one of the Mission Impossible movies where the big pharma created a deadly virus just so they could then sell the cure.
Now, I don't think the problem is a conscious conspiracy, though one never knows. But I don't think it is. I think it just happens to work out that way.
The biggest questions, though, is whether we could simply stop shortening our dogs' lives instead.
The problem with that is that if we could simply extend our dogs' lives by what we feed them and how we care for them, nobody is going to get rich from it. So who's going to invest in such research?
We can help.
Long Living Pets is presently running three research projects:1. The Odin Project
Following and documenting 3000 plus raw-fed dogs. The goal is to document health and longevity benefits of feeding raw, natural foods. If you're feeding raw, you too can participate in this project.
2. Cancer Prevention using natural protocol
Cancer is a complicated, multi-faceted disease. There are many factors at play but what role do our dogs' diet and lifestyle play? And could cancer be prevented by adjusting what we feed our dogs, adjustments to their environment, their weight and how they spend their lives? You can participate in the Natural Cancer Prevention project.
3. Cancer Help using natural protocol
What if your dog already has cancer? Could diet help fight it? Join the Natural Cancer Help project.
Is raw feeding the answer to everything?
Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. I do believe, though, that feeding species-appropriate, whole ingredients, whether raw or cooked, might be. Likely not by itself but with other environmental and lifestyle changes, but it is still an important factor.
I believe enough that I started feeding Cookie raw two years ago. Before that, I was feeding her home-cooked or freeze-dried food. But Cookie voiced her opinion and who was I to argue? She's been doing very well on her raw diet. In fact, she had her annual wellness exam at the end of December and her vet noted that she has improved since her last visit and that her diet has been an important factor. Yes, I am fortunate to have a veterinarian who believes in whole foods, whether cooked or raw.
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| Cookie has voiced her opinion on whether she wants to be fed raw |
There is not enough data out there
Even though logic and common sense are on the side of raw feeding, data is lacking. We can help with that.
What I do believe is that, however magical, a pill cannot undo all the breeding, dietary, environmental and lifestyle errors we've all been making. And even if it could, that's all it would do--maybe, perhaps, hopefully, add back the years we've taken away.
I am going to participate in The Odin project and I invite you to do the same.
Further reading:
Long Living Pets