The intestine, a stranger

The intestine is divided into two parts, the small intestine and the large intestine (also known as the colon). The first part is the longest and completes the digestion, the second reabsorbs the water and mineral salts and allows the formation of the feces to take place. Just think of the fact that about 40% of the stool is composed of intestinal cells that have completed their life cycle (only five days on average). It may seem incredible but this is the situation, because this organ’s operation is much more complex than one might believe. And please note that, based on what discovered in the last 20 years, the intestine is considered the second brain. There are interactions and characteristics which we still know little or nothing about concerning this digestive system, which is more than just that.

The example of serotonin

A simple example: did you know that more than 90% of serotonin, a neutral emitter that regulates mood, is secreted in the intestine? And that an incorrect diet inflames it and prevents the formation of this very important neurotransmitter, causing very serious behavioral disorders in dogs and cats? The most serious of these disorders is unpredictability, an attitude that generates very serious problems as it prevents the owner from knowing if their pet will behave sociably or aggressively when meeting other animals, children or adults. But there are several others, such as impulsiveness, exaggerated excitability, continuous barking or even destructiveness if left alone, inappropriate urination or defecation, continuous exploration of the body, the environment or people, sleeping disorders and fear of thunder, which can lead to a state of terror ending up in the destruction of window frames or other furnishings.

How much chemistry must the intestine face up to!

The poor intestine, structured to handle natural food, is more or less continuously subjected to unknown molecules, preservatives, dyes, herbicides, antibiotics, hormones, antifungals, dioxins, heavy metals, pesticides and so on. The result? It ends up with devastated bacterial flora and altered enzymes, causing frequent stomach twisting, vomiting with or without food, exaggerated swelling, belching, constant desire for grass, extreme colitis, diarrhea or flatulence, constipation or a continuous variation in the consistency, volume, odor and color of the stool. In short, a nice mess, which drugs of course cannot resolve.

If the cause is not eliminated

The reason is simple: to solve the problem one must remove the cause, and the only truly effective method is intervening with the diet. It’s worth noting that, up until the 1960s, food was our principal medicine, but thereafter the oncome of chemical abuse in all human activities has led it to become the principal poison.

What can we do?

Though not easy, we can adopt a series of measures which will allow this vital organ to regain its functional balance. The first is to eliminate the most poisoned foods, especially meat resulting from intensive breeding, the number one enemy affecting dog and cat health (and, most probably, also ours). Raw materials of biological origin are also helpful.

Organic food

We can use biological raw materials, which are certainly better than traditional ones; they will also be contaminated, but to a lesser degree. The proof lies in the fact that dogs and cats eating organic food don’t suffer those inflammatory diseases which generally disturb them especially when eating pet food based on intensively farmed meat. Sea-caught fish, staying with blue fish (sardines, anchovies, herring) with very limited risks of mercury and arsenic, is, along with organic meat, the protein source which guarantees the best quality of life for dogs and cats, which can be seen from the fact that animals fed accordingly reach old age in a much better state than those using any other protein source. A careful and constant thirty-year experience attests to the validity of the proposed model, although sporadic and logical exceptions do of course exist.

The appearance of the feces, a very precise thermometer

Another simple proof lies in the compactness and low amount of feces emitted by dogs and cats feeding on sea-caught fish. And it is exactly the compact and scarce stools which represent the ideal thermometer confirming the validity of the suggested dietary model, allowing a vital organ such as the intestine to perform its task as nature intended.