Clinical Study
The results of this study suggest that 74.7% of common diseases in dogs and 63% of common diseases in cats can be eliminated without medical intervention over one year with diet modifications.
505 dogs and 83 cats , all with assorted chronic skin diseases, were treated by diet alone at the Pet Health and Nutrition Center in Corning, N.Y. (96 percent of these animals had veterinary care before the study.) Animals free of medication were included. All remained in home situations without matching controls. The diet was natural raw and cooked whole foods and PHD pet food. Feeding protocols varied.
Dermatoses Food Allergies
The dogs (representing 31 breeds) and cats (representing five breeds) displayed classic symptoms of chronic skin disease. These animals were placed on a diet of fresh raw meats and PHD in a 1:2 and 1:3 ratio for one year. In the dog group, 88% displayed a cessation of 80% or more of the symptoms within three months. The figure rose to 91% by the sixth month and to 94% by the end of the test. In the cat group, 78% showed a 70%-80% healing response within six months; 80% within nine months, and 84% within the year.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Of the tested animals, 114 dogs and 19 cats also displayed symptoms of gastrointestinal disturbance. Their diets were adjusted.
Treatment was generally started with a fast. The animals were then given a chicken-base broth, followed by raw chopped meat. Other whole foods were added gradually. This diet continued for between two and five weeks. PHD was gradually introduced several days to two weeks after the raw meat, until a diet of one-third whole food to two-thirds PHD was reached. Cats were given a variety of raw meats and other whole foods. As with the dogs, the PHD was gradually introduced in the same proportions.
Improvements seen
Behavioral changes were difficult to chronicle and were based solely on improvement, or the lack thereof, as observed by the owners. Positive changes, based on existing behavioral patterns, were reported by 72% of the owners.
Healing Episodes
The higher-quality nutrition, freshness of diet and formulation of the Natural Raw Meat Diet and/or PHD enabled the animal’s immune system to throw off lingering chronic disease. In a survey of data from people who are and have been feeding a combination of the foods mentioned, 46% of the animals exhibited a healing episode.
A healing episode is a short-lived, mild appearance of symptoms mimicking disease in which the symptoms pass without medical intervention. After their passage, the animals are more playful and stronger.
Conclusion
The benefits of raw food, including meat, were revealed when Dr. Francis M. Pottenger Jr. MD F.A.C.P. conducted what became known as the Pottenger Study. Over a 10-year period, Dr. Pottenger did a series of controlled experiments between cats fed raw foods, including meat, and cats fed the same foods cooked. (For a copy of the study, call the Price Pottenger Nutrition Foundation, P. O. Box 2614, La Mesa, CA 91943-2614, Tel. (619) 574-PPNF.)
Monitoring of animals after the survey (up to one year later) has shown no return of original symptoms as long as the natural diet with Viand is maintained.