Steve’s Real Food now offers an Emu diet as part of our line of complete and balanced raw pet food diets! Why emu, you ask? Let’s take a closer look at the flightless “bird” to see why it is such a good choice for your pets.
Though emus look very similar to birds of flight, they are a part of the ratite family, including the ostrich and cassowary. Emus are the second-largest living bird in the world by height and have been raised and consumed in their native Australia for thousands of years. Unlike poultry birds, emus have red meat, similar in taste and texture to lean beef.
Emu meat is an exceptional protein in that it is higher in vitamin C, iron, and digestible protein than beef, yet still has the equivalent fat and cholesterol content of poultry. 43% of the fat per serving is monounsaturated, which helps lower LDL, or “bad”, cholesterol. Emu fat is prized for its use in making emu oil, which contains anti-inflammatory properties and is also rich in fatty acids like oleic and linoleic that are great for nourishing skin and coat. According to data from the USDA and the University of Wisconsin, emu meat has fewer calories, more protein, less fat (including saturated fat), lower cholesterol levels, more iron, less sodium, more potassium, and more of vitamins A, D, & E compared to other commonly consumed meats like poultry or beef.
This is all great to hear, but how is it beneficial to pets?
Steve’s Real Food Lamu Diet is the perfect option for pets who suffer from the following common conditions:
- Obesity – The low-calorie and low-fat content of Emu meat make it easy for your chubby friends to trim pounds without compromising nutrition. Considering that over 58% of housecats in the US are classified as obese, this is a very good thing!
- Pancreatitis – Emu meat is easily digestible, has low fat, and contains ample naturally occurring moisture that a pet with pancreatitis needs to get healthy.
- Allergies – Since emu is an “exotic” meat that is fed raw, it has a low chance of causing or aggravating existing allergies. Pets who have hot spots, itchy ears and/or paws, hair loss, or other symptoms of a food allergy will benefit from the easily digestible raw novel protein.
- Anemia – Emu meat contains over twice the amount of iron as beef, so for pets that have diagnosed anemia or those who show symptoms such as black tar-y stools, lack of appetite, general lethargy, and/or very pale pink gums, the high iron content of emu will help raise iron levels and diminish symptoms.
In addition to the alleviation of the above conditions, an emu diet will provide an important variety for your pet. When pets eat food from a wide variety of sources, they are able to absorb nutrients more effectively than if they were fed the same food with the same amounts of nutrients every day. Apart from the practical side of the variety, your pet will appreciate that she doesn’t have to eat the same food for every meal of her life!
Whether you choose Steve’s Real Food Lamu Diet to address certain problems or because you want superior nutrition for your pet, your pet will love you for it!
