beingstray.com » Pet Food

FDA finds Petag responsible in tainted infant formula

isak — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:09:37 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just found Petag responsible for the tainted formula that sickened and killed infant animals. An independent lab analysis of the product showed insufficient nutrition, extreme levels of fiber and toxic levels of heavy metal copper.

January 29, 2010, the FDA finished their investigation into Petag. Petag is the number one manufacturer of kitten and puppy milk in the world as per the company’s website. Their formulas — KMR and Esbilac – sickened and killed many animals in 2009. These formulas are also used for orphaned wildlife such as cheetahs, raccoons, squirrels and opossums who also died.

Only after the FDA began their investigation did Petag publicly admit on their website that their KMR kitten formula was bad and should not be used:

Recently, a limited number of KMR powder users have experienced product producing an off odor. Normally, the product exhibits a faint “milky” smell.

It has been determined that some packaged KMR powder may have been exposed to excessive heat outside the manufacturing process.

Do not use the product if it has an off odor.

Note: They provide no geographical location or product code information about this “limited” problem. They want consumers to call them and provide that info.

This was after months of reports of kittens and other animals who got diarrhea and died. Even though the company admitted on their website that they received multiple complaints, CEO and co-owner George Gill told the FDA that they only received one complaint.

COO and company owner Darlene Frudakis admitted in a December 17, 2009 radio interview on “Where the fur flies” that their KMR formula was spoiled from heat and should not be used. Unfortunately Frudakis did not alert consumers or distributors of the problems with the product. She merely posted a small note on the company website. The tainted product is still on store shelves. The FDA does not have the power to force recalls on pet food items. The company must initiate their own recalls. Petag has not done this.

The formula does not expire until 5/2011. The company will replace any bad cans with a new one if you encounter this.

When informed about the spoiled formula from consumers, Pet Sense pet stores removed all of the product from their 31 stores nationwide. One manager of one Petco store removed the tainted product after consumer complaints. It is not known at this time if Petco or PetSmart removed all of the tainted formula from all of their stores nationwide. The tainted KMR smells rancid and appears more yellow than white. Do not use this formula.

Animal Advocates in Los Angeles, California was the organization which made the initial report to the FDA. More information about the problems is available on the Animal Advocates website.

New info about problems with KMR killing kittens and Petag admitting their KMR formula is bad and should not be used from Animal Advocates. Another article and comments.
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Kitten Milk Replacement Recipes

Here are two recipes come from the Pro-Bone-O website.

Kitten Glop

1 large can evaporated milk (goat’s milk is best but cow is ok) not skim
2 tablespoonsful plain active culture yogurt (not diet)
2 tablespoonsful real mayonnaise (not diet)
1 tablespoon light Karo syrup
1 package plain Knox gelatin
1 egg yolk beaten
1 cup liquid unflavored pedialyte ( or the homemade version)

Mix milk, yogurt, mayo and syrup well. Bring 1 cup pedialyte to a boil, mix in the gelatin, set aside. Mix the egg yolk with a small amount of the milk mixture and beat well. Set aside. Add gelatin and water to milk mixture. Beat well. Add in egg yolk mixture and again beat well.

Pour the whole mess into a covered bowl and place in refrigerator. It will last 2 weeks if kept covered and cool. Warm to room temp before feeding.
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Kitten Milk

12 oz. can evaporated milk
1/c cup water
1 egg yolk – no white
1 teaspoon Karo syrup
1 – 2 drops vitamins

Mix all together and serve.

Faces of the Homeless

isak — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:31:16 +0000

I am sitting here in front of my computer under layers of clothing and a blanket over my legs. It’s a little chilly outside. I don’t want to turn the heat up in the house any more than it is because I am out of work; I am trying to keep my bills and expenses down as much as possible.

Looking through some messages on Facebook this morning, I found a post that includes three photos: homeless women and their dogs — photographer(s) unknown. I was immediately drawn to the photos. In these hard times, the scenario could easily be any one of us. It could easily be me and my “kids,” knock on wood.

The National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that 3.5 million people are homeless. Further, they estimate that between 5% to 10% have cats and/or dogs. This number is as high as 24% in some areas of the US. For many, homelessness is temporary until they can find housing or rent subsidy. But for the homeless with pets, the challenge is greater. Faced with choosing between their pet and a roof over their heads, they choose to stay on the streets with their pets for the emotional bond that exists between pet and owner. Their pets also provide warmth and protection.

Recognizing the needs, people are joining together to form organizations to help. Animal Care & Control of New York City has a unique program called the Safety Net Program which helps owners keep their pets (including the homeless) in order to prevent them from going into shelters. Their assistance includes low-cost/sliding scale behavior training for cats and dogs, reduced cost boarding/foster homes during crises, free guidance for pet-related landlord/tenant issues, reduced cost vet care for those on restricted incomes and more.

Through volunteer collection sites, Feeding Pets of the Homeless accepts donated pet food and delivers it to food banks and/or soup kitchens which have agreed to distribute the food to the homeless and impoverished in local communities across the US and Canada. They also accept cash donations for veterinarian care and to purchase pet food.
Los Angeles has many homeless people that own one or more dogs. The ASAP – Association to Save Abandoned Pets has been trying unsuccessfully to get the homeless to bring their dogs in to the local vet. The ASAP will provide transportation and cover all medical expenses plus give the homeless owner a $20 bonus. Perhaps the word is just not getting out to them. If you find a homeless person in the Los Angeles area who is willing take his/her dog to the vet at no expense, please let ASAP know. Call (310) 306-8166.

Here are a few more photos of the homeless and their pets. Keep it in mind that this really could happen to any one of us. Consider making a donation in your neighborhood.

Pet Food PantriesPet Food Pantries and Spay/Neuter Assistance for the US

isak — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:09:24 +0000

I have a new list of Pet Food Pantries and Spay/Neuter Assistance for the US to share with everyone. Though it seems to be impossible to locate one definitive source, it is heartening to know their numbers keep growing.

If you are looking for pet food assistance, you might also check with your local pet food pantry as some of them are starting to include pet food. And you might even search Facebook for “Pet Food Pantry” in the groups section.

If you know of anything I have missed or something we should include, please contact me.

See also similar posts on this blog listed below. And good luck to you. Stay strong!

FDA Alerts Pet Owners to Voluntary Recall of Premium Edge Cat Food

isak — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:53:02 +0000

released October 20, 2009

FDA is providing the following information from Premium Edge Pet Foods to alert pet owners of a voluntary recall of certain cat foods manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods for Premium Edge. The affected brands were found to contain an inadequate level of thiamine, which may cause clinical signs of thiamine deficiency in cats eating this food. FDA is working on this situation and will provide additional information as it becomes available. If your veterinarian diagnoses that your cat has become ill from consuming the affected pet food, please ask your veterinarian to file a report with FDA.

Diamond Pet Foods has issued a voluntary recall on the following date codes of Premium Edge Finicky Adult cat food and Premium Edge Hairball cat food: RAF0501A22X 18 lb., RAF0501A2X 6 lb., RAH0501A22X 18 lb., RAH0501A2X 6 lb. The date of manufacture is May 28, 2009. All retail outlets shipped the above lots were contacted, asking them to pull the product from the store shelves. The retailers were also asked to contact their customers via email or telephone requesting them to check the date code of the food. However, if you or anyone you know has these date codes of Premium Edge cat food, please return them to your retailer.

Symptoms displayed by an affected cat will be neurological in nature. Symptoms may include wobbly walking or muscle weakness, paralysis of the hindlimbs, seizures, ventroflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, and abnormal eye movement called nystagmus. Any cats fed these date codes that display these symptoms should be immediately taken to a veterinarian.

The company tested the product and found no contaminants in the cat food; however the cat foods were deficient in thiamine. Diamond tracked the vitamin premix lot number that was utilized in these particular cat foods and have performed testing on another lot of Premium Edge cat food that used the same vitamin premix, and it was not deficient in thiamine. No other neurological signs have been reported on any other product manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods.

To contact Premium Edge Pet Foods, please call 800-977-8797 between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm central time, Monday through Friday

So What Is — or Isn’t — in Your Pet’s Food

isak — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:52:56 +0000

There is so much talk surrounding pet food these days. Even the “good stuff” seems to have its problems. Due to economic conditions — specifically, unemployment — I have changed the brand that I bought for over 20 years (sorry Purina) for the company’s cheaper version. The price of the original food went up $8-10 per bag over the course of several months. I go through about 1,000 pounds of pet food a month, so that price hike is a lot of money to me. Fortunately, I made the change prior to being layed off, so I had the time to make the transition slowly.

I notice the cheaper food seems to make their teeth dirtier, kind of stained-looking. And there is more stool volume, but I am doing the best I can right now. I still have many questions about pet food, but that is for a later post. Maybe someone will be able to answer them for me then.

I came across this blog post today on the SkepVet Blog. It’s a good read for putting some of the pet food myths to bed, so I share it with you here.

from the SkepVet Blog: Pet Food Nutrition Myths»

Pet Food Nutrition Myths

reprinted from SkepVet Blog

I’ve previously written an analysis of one of the most popular veterinary nutrition myths, the idea that cats and dogs should eat raw food. I was recently asked by one of my colleagues to address a couple of other veterinary nutrition myths, and by a happy coincidence Dr. David Dzanis, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and consultant, gave a brief talk on the subject at the American Veterinary Medical Association conference from which I just returned. While I hope to someday put together a more comprehensive and thoroughly referenced list of such myths, I thought I’d share a few tidbits I learned from Dr. Dzanis, and a few other sources, on the subject of pet nutrition.

“Good” vs “Bad” Ingredients
Popular mythology assigns food ingredients statues as “good” or “bad,” ill-defined categories which are seldom based on any scientific facts but which have a powerful impact on the purchasing decisions of the pet-owning public. Unfortunately, pet food manufacturers play along and exacerbate this mythologizing of certain food ingredients for marketing advantage. When the public begins to believe a common ingredient is harmful, manufacturers will sometimes begin proudly announcing their foods are free from the ingredient, and this will appear to be confirmation of the myth. The chemical preservative ethoxyquin is a perfect example. While there is no evidence this ingredient causes any harm, and it is clear that spoilage of “preservative free” food can pose a real health risk, the ingredient is now rarely used because uninformed and unscientific public opinion demanded its removal from pet foods. A similar sort of process lead to the removal of thimersal from human vaccines despite the clear science refuting the public concerns about this preservative.

Often the growth of a movement against a food ingredient is a purely aesthetic issue with no scientific merit. Eating chicken feet and viscera, unborn calf fetuses, and so on sounds gross, so people assume these aren’t healthy pet food ingredients. But the aesthetic standards of cats who like to chew on dead lizards and dogs who eat socks, rubber, and poop are different from ours, so it’s a meaningless way to judge such food constituents.

Such food ingredients are also disdained because of the confusion in many people’s minds of nutrients and foods. People will claim that “sea salt” is somehow different from mined salt or that wheat proteins are somehow less nutritious than beef proteins. The fact is that, properly prepared, many things we would not consider appropriate as foods in their original state can provide vital nutrients of the same quality, or better, as more aesthetically pleasing sources.

It is particularly common these days for people to claim that grains are “bad,” and that wheat and corn in particular are harmful or “allergenic” for our pets. As Dr. Dzanis puts it, “Corn and wheat are often criticized as inferior to other grains such as rice. While rice is generally more digestible than corn, that also means the starches are reduced to sugars and absorbed much more quickly. This may not be desirable for animals with clinical problems related to blood glucose control. As far as potential allergenicity, historical use of rice in therapeutic diets as a “novel ingredient” for diagnosis or control of food allergies may have led to a false impression. In cases where the cause of a food allergy has been determined, the incidence of allergy to corn is equivalent to the incidence of allergy to rice.”

The popular suspicion of wheat is likely related, to some extent, to the incident in which a Chinese firm supplying many American pet food manufacturers with wheat gluten adulterated their product with melamine, leading to kidney failure, sometimes fatal, in pets who consumed the tainted food. While this is a tragic and infuriating example of venality and inadequate regulation in China, it has nothing to do with the appropriateness of wheat as a pet food ingredient. And while a few breeds, such as the Irish Setter, have genetic gluten sensitivity, in general wheat is a healthy and nutritious ingredient perfectly appropriate as an energy and protein source in pet food.

Corn has also gotten a sinister reputation from popular author Michael Pollan. While I enjoy, and agree with, the balance of Mr. Pollan’s writing, his indictment of the corn industry and the use of corn-derivatives in food products can easily encourage an irrational and hysterical assessment that corn is somehow poisonous and nutritionally vacuous, which is simply not true. Corn and wheat proteins are common allergens for dogs and cats not because they are especially “allergenic” but simply because they are common proteins in pet food. As they are replaced, under the misguided pressure of public mythology, with rice and soy and so on, these newer ingredients will become the predominant allergens in pets who develop hypersensitivities or true allergies to commercial foods.

Hidden Food Ingredients
Pet food manufacturers are often accused of slipping roadkill, old shoes, and all sorts of other bizarre and disagreeable things into commercial pet food. While these companies exist to make a profit and certainly do what they can do encourage the public to view their products favorably, even if this involves a little slight-of-hand when it comes to describing the content of their foods, the reality is that they are legally required to identify any ingredient they use, and there is no evidence that they ignore this requirement in any routine or egregious way. Which brings me to one off the most shocking, and farfetched, concerns about pet food:

Dead Pets in Pet Food
Soylent Green is….Rover? Probably not. Promoters of this story take a few facts and weave them into an unlikely, but shocking narrative. It is true that in some parts of the country, euthanized dogs and cats are disposed of by rendering, a process which breaks whole carcasses down into potentially useful constituents. This is usually done by commercial services, and at facilities, not associated with slaughter and rendering of the agricultural animals generally used as pet food ingredient sources. however, the practice of using rendered cattle as an ingredient in cattle feed, and the subsequent epidemic of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, aka “Mad Cow Disease) illustrates that there are potential risks to such practices. However, from a purely economic point of view, using rendered pets as an ingredient in pet food makes no sense. Additionally, the Pet Food Institute, an industry lobby which represents the manufacturers of ~98% of commercial pet foods, specifically prohibits rendered pet ingredients in their members’ products.

FDA studies in 1998-2000 did find miniscule quantities of pentobarbital (2-32 parts per billion) in many commercial pet foods. This is an anesthetic often used to euthanize animals, and the finding provided some ammunition for those who claim dead pets have made their way into pet foods.

However, the same studies did not find any cat or dog DNA in the proteins from any of the tested foods. While the source of the pentobarbital was not identified, the best guess is that it comes from small numbers of cattle or possibly horses euthanized and then rendered and used in pet foods. In any case, follow up studies estimated the minimum amount of pentobarbital which has any measurable physiological effect and found that even the smallest dog eating large amounts of the food with the most pentobarbital could not get to this dose. So while the FDA cannot guarantee, that no rendered pet material ever makes it into any pet food, it is highly unlikely, and there is no evidence that even if this were the source of the anesthetic detected that there is any health risk associated with such miniscule amounts of the contaminate.

People concerned about such “toxins,” whether in food or vaccines, often fail to understand the concept of dose-dependent toxicity. As I’ve pointed out before, water and oxygen can kill in sufficient doses, despite being vital for life. And even an anesthetic which, when given as an overdose can kill, can be harmless in quantities measured in parts per billion.

The Role of AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials)
AAFCO is a private organization that establishes non-binding guidelines for the production of animal feeds, including pet foods. While it is not a government agency, only government officials can be members. Most are from the U.S. but there are members from the FDA/USDA equivalents in other countries. It is often labeled, by promoters of raw or home-cooked pet diets, as an organ or lackey of the pet food industry. Industry and private groups can attend AAFCO meetings and contribute advice or information to task forces or working groups, but they cannot vote. Such groups have included pet food manufacturers, but also veterinary groups such as the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association, as well as advocacy groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Defend Our Pets, and others.

AAFCO creates guidelines and models but has no regulatory authority. However, their ingredient definitions and nutritional standards are often adopted by the FDA in their regulation of pet foods. A food can be certified as meeting AAFCO standards based on nutrient analysis done by the manufacturer. Or it can be certified as “feeding trial tested” based on trials conducted by the manufacturer. These often last 10weeks (for growth diets) to 6 months (for maintenance diets) and involve regular clinical and laboratory monitoring. Unfortunately, a food can also be certified as “feeding trial tested” without an actual feeding trial if it is ruled by FDA substantively similar (in the same “product family”) to a food that has undergone feeding trial testing. Clearly,, this is less than ideal but without the political will to fund government testing of all pet foods marketed, these standards at least ensure a minimum level of adequacy, and they are certainly preferable to the complete lack of standards that apply to most home-cooked diets or those marketed outside the official regulatory system. Which leads me to the last category of veterinary nutritional mythology:

“Natural” and “Organic” Foods By legal definition, to be “natural” an ingredient must come from an animal, plant, or mined source and must be minimally processed (it can be heated, fermented, and so on). Most vitamins added to foods are synthetic and do not meet this requirement. However, to be legally marketed, “natural” foods must still conform to the nutritional standards established by AAFCO and regulated by the FDA. There is zero evidence, of course, that this designation has anything to do with the safety or nutritional value of a food/food ingredient. It’s really a marketing issue, not a scientific one. The popularity of this designation is an example of the “naturalistic fallacy,” the idea that “natural” is synonymous with “good” or “healthy.” Salmonella, hydatid cyst disease, poison oak, and gamma radiation are all “natural,” while most antibiotics, antiparasitics, anti-inflammatories, and cancer treatments aren’t, but if I am unlucky to run into these “natural” things I’d sure like to have the “unnatural” ones around .

“Organic” foods and food ingredients, similarly, have a specific legal definition, enforced by USDA not FDA, that has detailed requirements for how a food ingredient can be grown and processed. The best way to ensure something is truly “organic” is too look for the USDA Organic seal. There is no evidence that food produced by these standards is superior in terms of health and nutrition. There is, however, good evidence that organic production methods have less harmful impact on the environment than more common industrial methods, so there may be some value to the designation despite its unfortunate affiliation with the mythology of the naturalistic fallacy.
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References

Comprehensive proceedings from the 2009 Hill’s Symposium on Nutrition Myths and Truths, Facts and Fallacies. Cats and Carbohydrates- What are the Concerns.

Cowell CS, Stout NP, Brinkmann MF, et al. Making commercial pet foods (Ingredient myths and facts). In: Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, et al. P (eds). Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 4th

Edition. Topeka, KS: Mark Morris Institute, 2000; p. 141.

Food and Drug Administration/Center for Veterinary Medicine: Report on the risk from pentobarbital in dog food [Online]. Available: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/FOI/DFreport.htm. 31 March 2009.
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Australian Irradiation of Pet Food Caused Cat Deaths

isak — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:46:24 +0000

Cat-food irradiation banned as pet theory proved
Kelly Burke, Consumer Affairs Reporter
May 30, 2009

A SERIES of mysterious cat deaths was caused by the government-mandated practice of irradiating imported pet food.

The Agriculture Minister, Tony Burke, has ordered the controversial sterilisation process, which has been in place for more than a decade, to cease immediately, following compelling overseas evidence that some cats can suffer fatal neurological damage after eating irradiated dry food.

Dogs do not appear to be affected by similarly treated food.

About 90 cats fell ill last year and 30 died before a Sydney vet, Georgina Child, made the link in November between the mystery illness and a brand of Canadian gourmet pet food called Orijen.

The manufacturer, Champion Petfoods, blamed the contaminated food on Australian quarantine regulations, which demand that pet food not cooked over a specified temperature undergo irradiation of 50 kiloGrays upon arrival in the country. Of the 60 countries Champion Petfoods exports to, only Australia makes irradiation compulsory.

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and the company that carries out the process, Steritech, insisted at the time the irradiation process was harmless. A limited range of imported human foods, including dried herbs and some tropical fruits, are also irradiated before landing on store shelves, but at much lower levels than that mandated for pet food.

Mr Burke said the inspection service decided to act in response to international reports his department received only late last week. Work was being done in state and federal governments to see how safety standards for pet food could be improved.

“People expect that any treatments conducted on imported pet food will result in food that is still safe for pets,” he said.

Dr Child said the move was welcome but did not go far enough. The irradiation ban is not being extended to imported dog food, leaving cats with access to such food still at risk.

“We still don’t know why this problem is unique to cats, and we’re still not certain why some brands of pet food are affected by irradiation and not others,” she said. “What this does show is that all food that has been irradiated needs to be labelled, which isn’t the case at the moment.”

Sarah Oddy, of Dundas, who lost two cats after they were fed the Orijen pet food, said the ban was great news.

Champion Petfoods has set up a fund to disperse compensation for veterinary bills for all affected Australian cat owners.
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reprinted from the Sydney Morning Herald in Australia

8 Quick Tips For Making Dog Food at Home

isak — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:15:59 +0000

Many people have turned to making dog food at home instead of buying the store brands. It’s much healthier for your dog and you get to pick everything that you put in it. Recipes are in abundant supply, so here are a few tips on what to do.

1. The most important tip of all is that it’s much easier than you think! You’ll see for yourself by the time you have finished this quick article.

2. Dogs need lots of protein, so be sure that your recipe has enough. Great sources of protein include beef, fish, chicken, turkey, and spinach.

3. Vegetables for vitamins and carbs are necessary in a dog’s diet as well, so make sure you include some. Carrots, peas, celery, and cucumber work great!

4. A whole grain source, such as brown rice, is another good ingredient for making dog food at home. It’s natural, wholesome, and a great compliment for any recipe.

5. Keep it super simple. Whole foods are best, so stick to the ones you are familiar with. And always use fresh, nutritious ingredients.

6. Be careful that you don’t use processed foods, junk food, sugary snacks, salted ingredients, chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, avocados, or dairy products. They are bad for dogs, and some are even toxic.

7. Raw foods can be dangerous for dogs because they can contain bacteria, so it’s always best to cook your dog’s meals.

8. There are plentiful sources of great recipes for making dog food at home and your dog will truly love you for all the great meals you make for him!

by Matthew Bandas

The Dog Owner’s Guide to Recipes For Dog Food

isak — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:05:42 +0000

If you’re considering using recipes for dog food to prepare your dog’s meals, then there are a few important concepts you should familiarize yourself with. When you find a recipe, it’s difficult to know if it’s really healthy for your dog. This article will answer all of your questions. You are about to learn what ingredients a recipe should contain, what foods are bad for your dog, and the benefits of making your dog’s meals yourself. When you have completed this article, you will be an expert in dog food recipes and will be able to make him the healthiest meals.

When you think you have found good recipes for dog food, take a long, hard look at the ingredients. The recipes should contain whole, natural foods and nothing artificial. Beef, chicken, fish, or turkey are very good sources of protein and should be the main ingredient. Another important component of recipes for dog food is vegetables. Dogs love them and they are super good for them. You can use vegetables such as, carrots, spinach, celery, green beans, kale, cucumber, and zucchini. The rest of the recipe can consist of whole wheat grains, brown rice, and eggs.

Not all foods that are healthy for people are healthy for dogs. Be sure that the recipe you’re considering does not contain avocado, chocolate, garlic, onion, or macadamia nuts. Many fruits, such as grapes and raisins, are toxic to dogs so it may be best to take no chances and avoid them altogether. A recipe with a variety of vegetables should be enough to compensate. Salts and spices are not necessary in his food. In fact, they can be harmful. Your dog will find all the whole food ingredients that you are using to be very tasty without the need to use seasonings.

It is a great benefit to make your dog’s meals because all the ingredients that you use will be fresh and free of by-products. It is nice to have that control over what goes into his food. You have the peace of mind that you are doing something very positive for his health. As a result, your dog will live longer and have fewer health problems throughout his life time.

Now that you have learned this great information about recipes for dog food, the next time you are considering a recipe, keep these statements in mind. Be sure it contains only natural, wholesome ingredients that are good for your dog’s health. Avoid using ingredients that are not good for dogs. A nutritious diet will ensure that you dog lives a long, healthy life. So put this guide to good use and your happy pooch can begin to enjoy the healthiest meals around!

by Matthew Bandas class=”thickbox”

The Top 9 Foods You Should Never Give Your Dog

isak — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:52:24 +0000

There are plenty of foods you should never give your dog. Some foods aren’t even that good for people, but dogs always seem to want what we’re eating. And how can you resist that little begging face? You know, the one that practically says “pleeeeaaaasssse.” But, before you give in to that K-9 companion of yours, take a look at this list and make sure you never give your dog any of these foods.

1. Chocolate. It’s toxic to dogs and tops the list of foods you should never give your dog. Baking chocolate is the worst and white chocolate is the least harmful, but please avoid giving any to your dog no matter how much he begs!

2. Grapes and raisins. These can cause kidney failure. You would think that these little morsels would be okay and even fun for your dog to eat, especially grapes because they roll around and your dog can chase them, but they can also be very deadly.

3. Onions are very bad for a dog’s digestive system, especially in large quantities, so please avoid them in any amount.

4. Bones. They are probably a dog’s favorite thing to eat, which is why this is the most surprising of all the foods you should never give your dog. They can chew, chew, chew and then bury them and dig them up for later. But the truth is, bones can splinter and become lodged in your dog’s intestines or even puncture them. Dogs can also choke on bone fragments. And it’s not just chicken bones. This is true of any bones.

5. Milk and milk-based products. An enzyme called lactose is needed to digest them, but dog’s don’t have enough of it. Even though dogs love ice cream, it’s a no-no for them.

6. Sugary and processed foods. Yeah, people eat a lot of that stuff. That’s why so many humans are obese and the weight loss industry is so lucrative. Dogs don’t digest these foods very well, so stick to healthy, nutritious, whole foods (it’s good advice for people too!).

7. Artificial sweeteners and artificial fats are harmful to dogs. In fact, they don’t really need any flavor enhancers to enjoy their food. They are happy with cooked foods just the way they are.

[Xylitol--a sugar-substitute found in many candies, gums, toothpastes and pastries—causes an insulin reaction in dogs that can cause liver failure within a few days. And the nearby pancreas is at risk if your dog gets too many greasy, fatty table scraps. Pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas caused by the need to produce large amounts of digestive juices, shows itself as bloody vomit or diarrhea. Affected animals can suffer dehydration and even death.]

8. Any spicy foods or rich foods can harm your dog’s stomach. And like number 7 above, your dog does not need any spices or seasonings on his food to encourage him to gobble it up!

9. Food that is going bad. This one is hard because so many people do it. Instead of throwing food out that is going bad, many dog owners give it to their dog. Somehow it’s believed that dogs can tolerate this better than people. The fact is, you’re putting your dog’s health at risk by giving him food that should be thrown out.

Remember these important guidelines whenever you are considering sharing your table scraps or snacks with your dog. Fortunately, there are many people foods that are good and healthy for dogs. In fact, there are many dog food and treat recipes you can make with them. Just be sure the foods you should never give your dog, which are listed above, are not in any of them.

Did any of this information surprise you? Many people just didn’t know about some of these harmful foods. For more dog nutrition information and even some recipes that your dog will absolutely love, please visit http://www.matthewb-knowledge-site.com/index.html

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

What Pet Food Labels Really Say

isak — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:09:12 +0000

Learning To Read Pet Labels

If you are like me, you read the labels on your pet food. Especially in light of all the pet food recalls. Who doesn’t look for “gluten” these days. But so often, I find myself reading the labels and thinking, “So? What am I reading?” I know that the order of ingredients is based on how much of each ingredient is in the food. For example, if chicken by-product is first and chicken is sixth, I can be sure there is more chicken “stuff” in the food than actual chicken. And what is “by-product”? I am glad you asked. “By-product” means those animals and parts of animals unfit for you and I to eat–unfit for human consumption. That can include animals in the 4-D category.

What’s the 4-D category you ask? Animals that are Dead, Diseased, Dying, or Disabled when they arrive at the slaughter house. It can also include meat that has spoiled. Or even pets and horses who have been put to sleep!

So when I came across this article about reading pet food labels, I felt I had learned even more about what pet food labels really say.

You may find it confusing with all of the choices to select a brand of food that works for your pet. The choices are infinite not to mention the mind boggling labels that can lead you to believe the wrong thing. If you understand the pet food labels, you can buy the food that is best for your dog or cat.

There are two sections to a label: the information panel and the main display panel. The main display panel shows the names such as the brand, the manufacturer, etc. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) governs a product’s name and what ingredients it contains.

It is crucial to focus on how things are worded on pet food labels. If the product name includes things such as ‘beef platter’, ‘beef entree’, ‘beef dinner’, etc., it only has to contain 10% beef. However, if it is worded as ‘beef’, it must contain 70% beef. If a label reads ‘with beef’ it must only have a 3% beef content, and believe it or not, the words ‘beef flavor’ means the product must only contain less than 1% of beef!

A key to finding high quality food for your particular pet is to be sure to check the bag for the AAFCO statement that tells you this food has passed its feeding trials.

The other portion section of the label is the information panel, which must include an ingredient statement and a guaranteed analysis. The ingredients on the analysis will be listed in order of weight. The analysis will tell you the percentage of crude fat, proteins, fiber and moisture in the product. Even though the percentages are listed, the quality of the ingredients is not stated.

Pets are very sensitive to changes made to their food. Before making a change, pay attention to their coat, eye clarity and how they are acting. If he looks healthy, you may not want to upset his system by changing his food. Any pet nutritional information or concerns can be answered by a qualified veterinarian based on your specific pets needs.

Also when considering a new pet food take the time to consider what you will put the food in. Elevated dog bowls are considered an excellent selection, especially for taller dogs. There are many dog bowls and cat bowls to pick from, but whatever pet bowl you do decide on please stay away from using plastic bowls for feeding. Plastic bowls can hold onto germs and create a potentially unhealthy eating situation. Many pet owners opt for having two sets of pet feeding bowls to make sure that one set is always clean. It is so tempting to just keep reusing the same bowl without washing but do not fall into this trap, your pet’s health may depend on it. Look into pet supplies online for a wide selection and free shipping.

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reprinted from Dog Nutrition website