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In my previous post, I discussed raw feeding and the benefits we have noticed since transitioning to a natural raw diet nearly six years ago for our dogs. I also mentioned the supplements we use, one of them being Golden Paste. It seems only right that I follow up with a few articles about those supplements and why we choose to use them. Right now, I'm going to focus on Golden paste and will add the recipe I use, as so many people have asked me about it.
On our quest to provide a well balanced, nutritious meal, we have spent hours reading and researching in order to arm us with the knowledge we need to make a well reasoned decision as to how we do that. I will echo what I have said before; in that every dog is different and will have their own needs and whilst some people will choose to follow a Prey Model Diet and see no need for supplements, others may choose to follow a BARF diet and add supplements to each meal. We personally do a mixture of both and have had periods of time following one or the other. Our ultimate aim is to provide a diet which best suits our dogs and as such feel happy that it is raw.
As owners of German Shepherds for many years, we were always well aware of the health conditions they are prone to and figured that if we were going to tailor make our meals for our dogs, then it would be a good idea to add something to their diet that could possibly prevent the onset of such conditions.
One day I came across Golden Paste... Why had I never heard of it before?
It sounded truly golden and was made up of three simple ingredients: Turmeric, Black pepper & Coconut Oil.
The benefits are huge!
· Anti-inflammatory, providing arthritic relief
· Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal
· Anti viral
· Promotes heart and liver health
· Healthy blood and circulation
· Rich in antioxidants, thought to prevent cancer
· Boosts energy & Immune system
· Aides digestion
· Healthy skin, eyes and shiny coat
· Reduces allergies
· Prevents tumour development
We decided to use Golden Paste for a number of reasons. Firstly, because of its ability to interfere with growth and development of tumours, which was important to us, having experienced the sudden loss of our German Shepherd Bonnie after an internal tumour ruptured. Therefore, anything with anti-tumour and anti-cancerous properties was going to appeal to us. Secondly, having a dog with arthritis, we wanted a supplement that contained natural anti inflammatory properties to provide arthritic relief.
How does it work?
The main ingredient of Golden Paste is Turmeric, which has been around for thousands of years and used not only for culinary purposes, but also as a dye due to its vibrant colour and as an ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine! However, the idea of using the spice for our canine companions in the form of Golden paste was developed by an Australian Vet Dr Doug English.
What you might not know is that one of the key components of Turmeric is curcumin. It is the main active compound and contributes to the wealth of benefits seen with the use of Golden paste. However, the bio-availability of curcumin is low, which means it is poorly absorbed by the body and quickly eliminated. So, by sprinkling a bit of turmeric onto the dogs dinner, as I have seen people do, isn't actually going to be very beneficial. This is where the black pepper comes in!
You would be right in thinking that black pepper in large quantities is not safe for dogs, however, small amounts are absolutely fine and if you want your dog to reap the benefits of Turmeric, then you really need to use black pepper also. This is because black pepper contains a bio-active compound called piperine, which helps increase the bio availability of the curcumin dramatically. In some cases, it is shown that by adding black pepper to turmeric and water it increases the body's ability to absorb the curcumin by a massive 2000%.
So what part does the Coconut oil play in Golden paste?
Many of us will have heard about or even seen the results of coconut oil when used topically. It is wonderful for relieving many skin complaints and can be very soothing for dogs who have been scratching or biting their skin. However, by adding small quantities to their diet, it is also known to aide digestion and boost metabolism, some say that it even reduces allergic reactions.
Now, whilst Coconut oil in its own right has been said to offer a wealth of benefits to our canine friends, you may have come across the latest studies, which claim the unsuitability of Coconut oil for dogs due to it containing 80% of saturated fats.
Coconut oil is often advertised as high in MCT's (Medium Chain Triglyceride) which are beneficial to our dogs, however, half of the MCT's in coconut oil are lauric acid, which whilst still an MCT, doesn't act in the same way as other MCT's do. It is thought that lauric acid is metabolised in the same way as long chain fatty acids, which mean that it is more likely to be stored as fat. Therefore, if your dog is overweight, coconut oil is not the best supplement for them and alternatives should be considered.
This is why I always emphasize how important it is for you as a dog owner to weigh up the pros and cons and make an educated decision as to what is best for your dog. If you choose not to use coconut oil, you could always use MCT oil or a good quality organic, unsalted Ghee as an alternative.
If like us, you want to give Golden paste a try, please be sure to check with your Vet first if your dog is on any medication or about to undergo surgery. Turmeric can interfere with some medications, especially anti-inflammatory and diabetic treatments, so it's always best to check!
So How Do I make it?
Golden paste is one of the easiest recipe's you will ever follow! No Michelin stars are needed, just four simple ingredients and some spare time to spend in the kitchen. Not only will you feel like a super dog parent for making it but your pooch will reap the benefits.
Be sure to purchase good quality ingredients and beware of cheap alternatives, which are often bulked out with fillers. Also, when you come to use the Turmeric, remember it stains, your hands, your kitchen worktop and potentially your dogs fur!
You will need :
½ cup of Turmeric
1.5 teaspoons of freshly ground Black Pepper
¼ cup of Organic, cold pressed Coconut Oil
1 to 1 ½ cup of Filtered water
Method:
Whisk 1 cup of water and turmeric together (save the remaining ½ cup of water in case you need to thin the paste)
Pop on a low heat for 7 - 10 minutes until a thick paste forms (Be careful not to burn it!)
Remove from the heat and allow to cool for a few minutes before adding the coconut oil and black pepper (The paste will still be warm at this point to help the coconut oil melt).
Mix well
Cool completely
Jar it up and fridge for 2 - 3 weeks.
If you have made too much, you can pop in silicone moulds and freeze until needed.
It really is that simple!
Golden paste must be introduced slowly to your dogs diet. As with anything new, I generally add tiny quantities that gradually build up over the course of a week or two to reduce the risk of tummy upsets. The general recommended quantity is ¼ teaspoon per 10lb of body weight.
On average this would equate to roughly:
· Small dogs 1/4 teaspoon per day
· Medium dogs 1/2 teaspoon per day
· Large dogs 3/4 teaspoon per day
· Giant dogs 1 teaspoon per day
(Please note this is a rough guide.)
When it comes to feeding time, I simply add the desired quantity to my dogs food bowl and mix in well, however, if you wanted to, you could add it to a bit of Kefir. As turmeric can cause constipation, you can add a little bit of water to the meal also if you wanted. Our dogs don't mind the taste at all and will lick their bowls clean. If like me, you hand feed your dog during training, prepare the meal, mix the golden paste in well and make sure you wear a glove when you come to hand feed. We don't include it in our dogs meals every day, however, we always have it at hand for the days we choose to include it.
We hope this article has been of some interest to you and if you do decide to give Golden Paste a whirl, we hope your dog reaps the benefits as much as our Nala and Stanley have.
Signing off for now...
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