| Do you choose canned food or dry food? What | | | | so ingredients. If you find more than one grain listed |
| brand? There are so many different brands, all | | | | in the first five ingredients - that is telling you this pet |
| shapes and sizes of pet food to choose from and | | | | food is acquiring some of its protein from grains. |
| pet owners are provided with very little information | | | | Why is protein obtained from grains important for |
| to base your decisions on (other than advertising) - it | | | | you to know? Several reasons - first off science |
| can get so confusing! Well, buckle your seatbelt | | | | proves that cats and dogs alike require and thrive on |
| depending on how much you know of the pet food | | | | a meat protein. If a pet food is obtaining protein |
| industry, this could be a bumpy ride! You are about | | | | from grain sources, the pet is not getting the meat |
| to learn seven secrets - well kept secrets - of pet | | | | that it needs to thrive. Second, if the grain products |
| food. Sit back, brace yourself, and keep reading. | | | | are a corn gluten, wheat gluten, or rice gluten you |
| Beneful says it's 'Premium Dog Food for a Happy, | | | | take the risk of chemicals such as melamime added |
| Healthy Dog' and sells for around $18.00 for a 31 lb. | | | | to it used strictly to boost the protein analysis. By |
| bag, Science Diet "promises" 'precisely balanced | | | | the way, melamime is one of the chemicals found to |
| nutrition through continuous research and the highest | | | | be the cause of the March 2007 pet food recall. And |
| quality food backed by your Vets endorsement' and | | | | there is one more concern with grains - aflatoxin. |
| sells for around $21.00 for only a 20 lb bag. Then | | | | Aflatoxin is a deadly mold that is common to corn, |
| there are numerous pet foods that make the very | | | | wheat, and soy and it's responsible for several other |
| same statements - 'Premium Dog Food, Highest | | | | pet food recalls you probably never heard about. In |
| Quality' - that sell for $30.00 or more for a 20 lb bag. | | | | December 2005, Diamond Pet Food contained moldy |
| And the same holds true for cat owners...Do you | | | | grains that killed over 100 pets before the product |
| choose Whiskas that states 'Everything we do is | | | | was recalled - all due to aflatoxin. |
| about making cats happy!' or do you choose one of | | | | It is my recommendation to avoid any pet food that |
| those high end cat foods that make the very same | | | | contains corn, wheat, or soy in ANY variation. The |
| claim of a happy, healthy cat but cost 3 times as | | | | risk is simply too high. |
| much? | | | | Secret #4... |
| Now with the on-going pet food recall pet owners | | | | I've got more suggestions for you to look for in the |
| have questions such as 'Has this food been recalled?' | | | | ingredient listings...chemical preservatives. A very well |
| or 'Is this food the next one to be recalled?'...'Is my | | | | kept secret of the pet food industry is their common |
| pet safe?' Wow this is confusing! And scary too! | | | | use of chemical preservatives. BHA/BHT are very |
| What exactly is a pet owner to do? How about | | | | popular chemical preservatives used in pet food and |
| learning a few secrets! Equipped with the knowledge | | | | science has linked them to tumors and cancer. |
| of a few secrets of pet food, it's not nearly as | | | | Another common preservative is ethoxyquin which |
| confusing. | | | | has known risks to cancer. Ethoxyquin is ONLY |
| Secret #1... | | | | allowed in human food in some spices because of the |
| All pet foods use descriptive words like choice and | | | | very tiny proportions. However it is allowed in much |
| premium, though few of them actually use premium | | | | higher proportions in pet food. |
| or choice ingredients in their food. The 'secret' is that | | | | If you scan the ingredient listings, you will be looking |
| per the rules of the pet food industry, no pet food | | | | for BHA/BHT and ethoxyquin listed anywhere. |
| can make any claims or references on their label or | | | | Commonly BHA/BHT is used to preserve the fat in |
| advertising as to the quality or grade of ingredients. | | | | the food which usually is found higher on the list. And |
| You see, the word 'premium' when it's related to pet | | | | also look for any of these chemicals towards the end |
| food DOES NOT mean that the ingredients in the | | | | of the ingredient listing. Personally, I wouldn't touch a |
| food are premium. With pet foods, premium does | | | | pet food that contained these chemical |
| not (can not) describe the food nor does it (can it) | | | | preservatives. You want a pet food that is |
| describe the quality of the food. It is a marketing | | | | preserved naturally - common natural preservatives |
| term and that is all. Per the pet food industries own | | | | are 'natural mixed tocopherols' or 'vitamin E'. |
| rules and regulations, "There are no references to | | | | Secret #5... |
| ingredient quality or grade" (regulation PF5 d 3). So, | | | | The very best food to provide to your pet is a well |
| words like premium, or choice, or quality are just | | | | made food using human grade ingredients. That |
| marketing or sales terms. They should not be | | | | should be simple enough...How do you find that? You |
| interpreted as terms describing the quality of the | | | | already know that pet food manufacturers are NOT |
| food. | | | | allowed to make any statement as to quality or |
| Now why wouldn't a pet food label be allowed to tell | | | | grade of ingredients, the only way you can find out |
| a prospective customer the quality of their | | | | the grade or quality of your pets' food is to call the |
| ingredients? Doesn't a pet owner deserve to know | | | | manufacturer and ask them. |
| what they are buying? This leads me to the next | | | | Now, let's say you call the ABC pet food company |
| secret... | | | | and ask the question "Is your Premium dog food and |
| Secret#2... | | | | Premium cat food made using human grade |
| If I can compare 'people' food to pet food for just a | | | | ingredients?" It could be that you get the response |
| second, we all know there are different qualities of | | | | yes, we use human grade ingredients - when actually |
| people food. There is White Castle (I'm guilty here, I | | | | only a couple of ingredients are human grade. Here's |
| love the little guys!) and there is Outback Steak | | | | the trick to asking...ask them if they are APHIS |
| House (another favorite). Both restaurants serve | | | | European certified. |
| meat and potatoes. At White Castle for under $3.00 | | | | Pet food manufacturers that are APHIS European |
| you can get a couple of hamburgers and an order of | | | | certified assures you that ALL ingredients in their pet |
| fries. While at Outback you can get a steak and | | | | food are human grade. APHIS - Animal Plant Health |
| baked potato for around $16.00. Both serve beef and | | | | Inspection Services - is a division of the USDA. APHIS |
| potato - yet you already realize that there are huge | | | | European certification provides this pet food |
| nutritional differences between a fast food | | | | manufacturer with the opportunity to ship their foods |
| hamburger and a steak...right? | | | | treats to Europe. When importing pet foods from the |
| The problem in the pet food industry - is that most | | | | US, European countries demand that all ingredients |
| pet owners don't think in the same terms when it | | | | are human grade and thus require this certification. |
| comes to pet food. They don't think in terms that | | | | Most pet food manufacturers that have APHIS |
| there are fast food types of pet foods and there | | | | European certification do not ship their products to |
| are sit down restaurant more nutritious types of pet | | | | Europe - they simply use this as a means to assure |
| foods. In fact, several years ago a young man tried | | | | their customers to the higher quality of their |
| this very experiment with his own diet - eating | | | | ingredients. |
| nothing but fast food for 30 days. In just one month | | | | Again, you WON'T see this listed on the label - it's |
| of eating fast food three meals a day, he gained a | | | | not allowed. You must call the manufacturer and ask. |
| great deal of weight, blood pressure and cholesterol | | | | Often times the representative of the pet food |
| levels sky-rocketed. Now, imagine your pet eating | | | | won't even know what you are talking about when |
| this type of food its' entire lifetime. | | | | you ask about APHIS certification - if that's the case, |
| OK, so back to our two meals...if a chemical analysis | | | | you can assume they are not APHIS European |
| of your meal at White Castle was compared to a | | | | certified. APHIS European certification is a bonus to |
| chemical analysis of your meal at Outback - both | | | | pet owners - it is not required or even suggested |
| would analyze with a percentage of protein, | | | | that any pet food manufacturer go through the |
| carbohydrates, and fat. Regardless whether you | | | | extra steps to obtain this. This is a special effort |
| consider a steak at Outback a higher quality of | | | | some pet foods go through to tell their customers |
| protein than the burger - it would still analyze as | | | | they REALLY CARE about the quality of their |
| protein. The analysis doesn't measure quality of | | | | products. Personally, I would NOT buy a pet food |
| protein. | | | | that doesn't have it. |
| So here is the secret...All pet foods come with a | | | | And by the way, if you can't reach the pet food |
| Guaranteed Analysis stating the percentage of | | | | manufacturer, or they do not return your call within a |
| protein, fat, fiber and moisture in the food. The REAL | | | | short time frame, lose their number! Any company |
| secret lies in the quality of the percentages of | | | | that does not place a priority on answering |
| protein, fat, and so on. | | | | customers questions - doesn't deserve your business! |
| In a chemical analysis of a pet food - chicken feet | | | | Secret #6... |
| would analyze as protein, although granted it provides | | | | Minerals are a required ingredient in human diets as |
| very little nutrition. And as well, a cow that was | | | | well as diets for our pets. Copper, Iron and Zinc are |
| euthanized (put to sleep) because of a disease that | | | | common minerals found in pet foods. Just as they |
| made it unfit for human consumption - would analyze | | | | are - copper, iron, and zinc are basically rocks, very |
| as protein although that could be considered | | | | difficult for anyone or any pet to utilize. Science has |
| dangerous for consumption. Both of those things - | | | | developed several ways to introduce minerals into |
| chicken feet and a euthanized cow - are allowable | | | | the body (human and pet) for better absorption thus |
| ingredients and commonly used in pet food. You see | | | | benefiting the individual far more. This scientific |
| the secret within the pet food industry is | | | | development is called chelating or proteinating and it's |
| manufacturers have a WIDE OPEN door to where | | | | been around for years. Through the chelating or |
| they obtain their ingredients. The only strict rule they | | | | proteinating process minerals are absorbed about |
| must follow is an adult dog food must analyze with | | | | 60% better than just the minerals alone. |
| 18% protein and an adult cat food must analyze with | | | | This secret is spotting the minerals in your pet food |
| 26% protein. Sources to acquire those particular | | | | to see if they are chelated or proteinated. Notice the |
| percentages range from a 'human grade' meat, to | | | | minerals on your pet food label, way down on the list |
| chicken feet, to euthanized animals, to grain proteins, | | | | of ingredients. You are looking for minerals that read |
| to even man made chemical proteins and many | | | | 'copper proteinate' or 'chelated copper'. If you see |
| variations in between. | | | | just the mineral listed, your pet is sort of like Charlie |
| Pet food labels do not have to tell - are not allowed | | | | Brown at Halloween saying 'I got a rock'. If you want |
| to tell - the sources they use to obtain that required | | | | your pet to have the best, chelated or proteinated |
| 18% or 26% protein. And to make matters | | | | minerals are part of the best foods! |
| worse...quality minded pet food manufacturers - the | | | | Secret #7... |
| companies that use 100% human grade ingredients - | | | | This secret is called 'friendly bacteria'. Although |
| are not allowed to tell customers or potential | | | | 'friendly bacteria' sounds a little scary, the reason for |
| customers that their products are quality, human | | | | it lies in your pets' intestinal system. A large portion |
| grade ingredients. | | | | of your pets' immune system is found within the |
| So how can you know if your pet's food uses | | | | intestinal system. Keeping the immune system |
| chicken feet or euthanized cows or if it contains | | | | healthy helps to keep the animal itself healthy. This |
| human grade ingredients? | | | | friendly bacteria is similar to what's found in yogurt, |
| Secret #3... | | | | however in pet food it is introduced in a fashion so |
| If the words premium and choice mean basically | | | | that the cooking process doesn't destroy it. Looking |
| nothing with regards to the quality of pet food, and | | | | at the fine print on your pet food label, this time you |
| if some pet foods use chicken feet and euthanized | | | | are looking for lengthy, scientific words like |
| animals in their food - how can a pet owner know | | | | Lactobacillus Acidophilus or Bifidobacterium |
| what they are getting in their pets' food? | | | | Thermophilum. If you do NOT see these words or |
| This big secret is found in ingredient definitions. Unlike | | | | some very similar, that pet food is not addressing |
| 'people' food where you can pretty much look at the | | | | the care of your pets' immune system. And again, if |
| food to determine the quality, pet food is far | | | | you want your pet to have the best, you want |
| different. All 'people' food must meet particular USDA | | | | 'friendly bacteria' in their food. |
| (United States Department of Agriculture) and FDA | | | | There are your seven very secrets to help you find |
| (Food and Drug Administration) guidelines. The same | | | | the absolute healthiest and best pet food for your |
| is not true for pet food. Chicken feet and euthanized | | | | four-legged friend. Armed with those secrets - you |
| cows are NOT allowed in people food for obvious | | | | now have the knowledge to find your pet the best |
| reasons - they have no nutritional value or they could | | | | food possible! A pet food that can extend their life |
| be dangerous to consume. The same is NOT true for | | | | and prevent early aging and disease. If you don't |
| pet food. The only way to know if those chicken | | | | want to bother doing the homework involved, I urge |
| feet or euthanized cows are in your pet's food is to | | | | you to subscribe to my monthly magazine Petsumer |
| know what ingredients they can be used in. | | | | Report(TM). Through Petsumer Report(TM) I've done |
| The common pet food ingredient 'Meat and Bone | | | | all the homework for you - each month I review and |
| Meal' is basically a combination of many different | | | | rate over 40 different pet foods, treats, toys, and |
| discarded left-overs from the human food industry. | | | | various other pet supplies. It's the ONLY publication |
| Components of 'meat and bone meal' can be | | | | of its' kind providing pet owners with the information |
| anything from cow heads, stomachs, and intestines, | | | | they need to know regarding their pet product |
| to (horrifying but true) euthanized animals including | | | | purchases. |
| cows, horses and dogs and cats from veterinarian | | | | I want to share just a couple more things... |
| offices, animal shelters, and farms. And along with | | | | It's best to feed an adult dog or adult cat two meals |
| those euthanized animals the pet food also contains | | | | a day. The nutrition they consume with two meals is |
| the drug pentabarbitol that was used to euthanize | | | | better utilized than with just one meal a day. If you |
| the animal. 'Meat and bone meal' can also contain | | | | are currently feeding your pet one meal a day, split |
| left-over restaurant grease, and diseased (including | | | | that same amount into two meals and feed in the |
| cancerous) meat tissues cut away from slaughtered | | | | AM and PM. |
| animals. In other words, this commonly used | | | | You should know that all canned or moist pet foods |
| ingredient is a mix of highly inferior and potentially | | | | are anywhere between 70% to 85% moisture. This |
| dangerous left-overs from the human food industry. | | | | means that 70% to 85% of that can or pouch of |
| The pet food ingredient 'Meat By-Product' or 'Meat | | | | food is useless nutrition - its water. Granted our pets |
| By-Product Meal' is pretty much the same thing as | | | | need water, cats especially tend not to drink enough |
| 'meat and bone meal'. It is a highly inferior pet food | | | | water. But since all canned or moist foods are mostly |
| ingredient containing literally who-knows-what. | | | | water, they do not provide adequate nutrition to be |
| Another similar ingredient to the above is 'Animal | | | | fed strictly a canned or moist diet. Use a canned or |
| Digest'. | | | | moist product to supplement your pet's diet - not as |
| As to the chicken feet I mentioned earlier - this item | | | | the only food. |
| can be found in the ingredients 'Chicken By-Product' | | | | The best pet foods are preserved naturally (secret |
| or 'Poultry By-Product' or 'Chicken By-Product Meal' or | | | | #4) - but there is a concern with naturally preserved |
| 'Poultry By-Product Meal'. Any left-overs in the | | | | pet foods...freshness. Take notice of the expiration |
| chicken or poultry division - including but not limited to | | | | date on your pets food label - typically with naturally |
| chicken feet, skin including some feathers, chicken or | | | | preserved dry pet foods (not as much of a concern |
| poultry heads, and intestines are found in these | | | | with soft foods because of canning - very little need |
| ingredients. It does NOT matter as to the health of | | | | of preservatives) the expiration date is one year to |
| the bird - sick, healthy, dead, dying...all is included in | | | | 18 months from the date it was manufactured. Let's |
| these ingredients. | | | | say the pet food you are considering to purchase on |
| So here is what you need to do...BEFORE you | | | | July 1, 2007 has a 'Best if Used by' date of January 1, |
| purchase any pet food, flip the bag over and closely | | | | 2008. This would tell you that this particular bag of |
| examine the list of ingredients. The above mentioned | | | | pet food is already 6 months old. While it is still 'good' |
| ingredients would be listed within the first five or ten | | | | a fresher food - a bag that is only 2 or 3 months old |
| ingredients. If you see ANY of those ingredients - it | | | | - is better. Naturally preserved pet foods lose |
| is my suggestion to NOT purchase that food. | | | | nutritional potency with time. Always try to find a |
| Remember - chicken feet and euthanized animals do | | | | very fresh bag. |
| analyze as protein. That is all that is required in pet | | | | If you are considering changing your pets food, |
| food - just the correct analysis. | | | | ALWAYS consult with your Veterinarian first. You |
| Another little trick some pet food manufacturers use | | | | should always keep your veterinarian advised of any |
| in this category is using grains and chemical additives | | | | changes you make with your pet. Don't take |
| to grain products to boost the protein percentages. | | | | chances. And if you do switch pet food, make the |
| Which is exactly the cause of the pet food recall | | | | change over very slowly. I always recommend to pet |
| that began in March 2007 - chemical proteins. Two | | | | owners ¼ new food to ¾ old food for |
| different chemical additives - that have NO nutritional | | | | 4 to 7 days, ½ to ½ for another 4 to 7 |
| value to pets, but that analyzed as protein - were | | | | days, and so on. Switching food quickly can cause |
| added to a grain product (wheat gluten, corn gluten, | | | | intestinal disorder! Its short term, but we don't want |
| or rice gluten) solely to provide a cheap protein. | | | | intestinal disorder!!! |
| Thousands of pets died and countless others became | | | | One last thing, as you are already aware dogs and |
| ill because no one counted on the problem of the | | | | cats have a far better sense of smell than humans. |
| combination of these two chemicals would cause | | | | Their food bowl can be a wealth of smells - both |
| kidney and urinary blockage. Again, their secret is the | | | | good and bad. Some times a pet will refuse to eat |
| product has to analyze as having a particular amount | | | | simply because he or she smells a previous food in |
| of protein - no one is required to provide a quality | | | | their bowl. Plastic food and water bowls retain odors |
| meat protein. | | | | the worst. And surprisingly so does stainless steel |
| While you are looking at the ingredient listing - you | | | | bowls. The best type of food and water bowl is a |
| should also take note of how many grains (corn, | | | | ceramic one. They retain odors the least. |
| wheat, rice) and/or how many grain products (corn | | | | "Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no |
| gluten, whole corn, ground corn, whole wheat, ground | | | | questions, they pass no criticisms." George Eliot. |
| wheat, wheat gluten, rice, brown rice, brewers rice, | | | | I completely agree! |
| soy, and on and on) are listed within the first five or | | | | |