| Can Your Dog Stomach This? | | | | Our pet's food is filled with additives and chemical |
| There's an old adage that says "You are what you | | | | preservatives such as BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin |
| eat". While more and more Americans are becoming | | | | which are potential cancer-causing agents. |
| aware of the need to reduce or altogether eliminate | | | | According to the Animal Protection Institute, "to |
| processed foods from their diets, we need to do the | | | | make pet food nutritious, manufacturers fortify it |
| same for our pets. The ingredients that make up | | | | with vitamins and minerals. Why? Because the |
| most commercial, processed pet foods are not fit for | | | | ingredients they are using are not wholesome...and |
| even non-human consumption. | | | | harsh manufacturing processes destroy many of the |
| To be fair, not all manufacturers use poor or | | | | nutrients the food had to begin with". |
| potentially dangerous ingredients. In fact, there are a | | | | It is not unusual for commercially prepared pet foods |
| few that use human grade, healthy ingredients. But | | | | to be contaminated with bacteria and endotoxins |
| most pet food widely available on the shelf of the | | | | from using diseased animals rejected by |
| local discount store should be a source of concern | | | | slaughterhouses for human consumption. |
| for pet owners. | | | | The bottom line here is that ingredients in many of |
| The sources of protein used vary vastly. Any | | | | the commercially prepared, pre-processed pet foods |
| slaughtered animal, cattle, swine, poultry, lamb - is a | | | | vary widely in content and quality and are marginally |
| source of pet food protein. Well, that doesn't sound | | | | nutritious at best. Pre-processed foods are a major |
| so bad but the question is this: what parts of that | | | | source of allergies and chronic digestive problems in |
| slaughtered animal is in my pet's kibble? Bones, blood, | | | | our pets. |
| intestines, lungs, ligaments, beaks, feet, undeveloped | | | | What can you do? Consider replacing commercial |
| eggs, and feathers are termed by-products by the | | | | foods with an all- natural dry food. Supplement with |
| industry and are a questionable source of | | | | fresh foods. Many people are trying raw diets for |
| nourishment for our animals. | | | | their pets and more and more pet owners prepare |
| Fat is added in the form of discarded restaurant | | | | their pet's food fresh daily. There are many books on |
| grease and "animal fat" that is a by-product of the | | | | the subject and lots of information via the Internet. |
| rendering process. These fats are highly saturated | | | | If you are interested in learning more about natural |
| and lack the linoleic acid essential to healthy coat and | | | | pet foods, please visit and read about Barker and |
| skin. | | | | Friends Natural Pet Treats and Flint River Ranch All |
| Many of the grains used come from wheat rejected | | | | Natural Pet Foods for dogs and cats. We use only |
| for human consumption. Brewer's rice, a low quality | | | | human-grade, natural ingredients to protect the health |
| rice product is void of the nutrients found in whole | | | | of our pets. You may request a free sample of Flint |
| rice. Corn gluten is the dried residue left from the | | | | River Ranch by emailing Barker and Friends at . |
| milling process. Glutens are added to slow down the | | | | If you would like to find some good books on the |
| transition of rancid animal fats. This holds waste in | | | | topic of pet nutrition, visit our website and click on |
| which causes kidneys and livers to work overtime | | | | the link on our Links page. |
| and our pets pay the consequences with ill health. | | | | To receive Creature Comforts Pet Care Newsletter |
| Fillers are often used that consistent of wood pulp, | | | | on a regular basis, email us at . |
| corncobs and peanut hulls. | | | | |