Ayurveda and Your Dog

Author: Alakananda Devi, M.B., B.S. (Lond.)

Just like you, your dog can benefit from an Ayurvedic approach to food and daily routine. The best routine for your dog is that which most closely resembles the natural life of a non-domestic dog.

Food
The single most important thing to for your dog’s health is to feed him a raw food diet. Here’s why:

Dry dog food provokes vata because it is dry and rough.

Dry dog food provokes pitta due to content of toxic chemicals such as ethoxyquin (used to harden rubber) and BTA. These lead to aggressive behavior and fighting.

Dogs are extremely prone to food allergies, if given the same food daily.Commercial dry dog foods often contain such items as rendered cats and dogs, cancerous parts of cows, meat from diseased animals (all so-called meat by-products) as well as sweepings from granary floors. Such foods can lead to prion-caused diseases such as mad-cow disease.

Commercial wet dog foods also contain dangerous meat by-products. Use a good quality wet food such as Innova, Wellness or California Natural.

Dogs don’t cook. Their natural diet is raw and this is what they can most easily digest and assimilate. If you are unable to prepare a raw diet for your dog, use a good quality wet food. However, your dog will live a longer, healthier and happier life if given a raw food diet.

Caring for your dog’s digestive fire
Although the following rules may sound harsh from a human’s perspective, they are essential for your dog’s health.

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