Fresh out of university, two impressive degrees in hand, I was convinced that theory and science were the only things that mattered and were, for me, the absolute truth… What a shock to find myself back on solid ground…
Science is very important; it allows us to have an objective view of many factors, but what about practice? When you work with animals, you're not working with machines. You have to know how to observe, adapt; every living being is unique. Another aspect of science is that it's done by humans, and sometimes, unfortunately, we make it say what we want or what industry wants. Don't forget that science hadn't discovered the internet not so many years ago… so science is evolving and doesn't know everything.
Another thing that practice has taught me is that nature is and always will be right, and trying to contradict it always causes us issues… It’s by listening to what nature tells us that we have the healthiest and happiest animals. But we must know how to listen, a rather rare virtue in our fast-paced world…
When it comes to pets, humans have created many ways to make life easier… and let's face it, to make money… The pet market is extremely lucrative, and a few multinational corporations are behind many of the things you buy for your dogs and cats… The marketing power in this industry is strong and potent, sometimes blinding us in our choices…
Let's talk about pet food in the form of kibble. Pets are the only species, including humans, for which the majority of health experts advocate a commercial, processed diet instead of a fresh, biologically appropriate one… to me, this doesn't make much sense if we trust what nature tells us… with all the consequences that entails… Imagine your doctor telling you that you would be much healthier eating commercially processed food…
That being said, don't think I'm against all kibble, but I encourage you to consider what nature tells us about cats and dogs… I'll give you a hint: they have teeth and a digestive system that dictate a diet with a strong carnivorous tendency… On the other hand, some people, due to physical, financial, and time constraints, are better off feeding high-quality kibble than trying to improvise a natural diet. And you shouldn't assume that all commercial natural diets are high-quality and balanced either, because that's not true.
Finally, make it a habit to consider nature's perspective each time you act on your pets. This will allow you to make the best choices and keep your animals healthy and long-lived. Also, be critical and ask questions of the experts around you; this will enable you to make more informed decisions. That, I believe, is what we call wisdom.
At Pattedeau Bio, being in harmony with Mother Nature is a priority for us, which is why each of our products has been chosen following this philosophy…
Karine Simard
President Pattedeau Bio
Agronomist-expert in animal nutrition, M.Sc. in animal nutrition
