Pet Food: What ‘s In It?
Jade VonHawley-Frey, CFS, CCS
Copyright June 2007
The death of thousands of pets, as the result of being fed contaminated food, has spurred interest in knowing what's in your pet's food.
Let’s take a look at some of the pet food manufacturers, how they are owned and to whom they are connected. I am sure that at least 3 out of 5 owners have experienced the need to use a special diet for their pet at one time or another so let us look at Science Diet®.
Science Diet is owned by Colgate-Palmolive and Colgate owns one of the largest rendering plants in the country.
Nestle, Heinz, Proctor and Gamble and others own and manufacture: Alpo, Friskies, Mighty Dog, Pedigree, Iams, Eukanuba and the list goes on.
Rendering plant/pet food, hum, I wonder if there could be a connection?
? [In case you are unsure: Rendering Plants: Rendering plants perform one of the most complementing functions for modern slaughterhouses. They recycle dead animals, slaughterhouse wastes, and supermarket rejects into various products known as recycled meat, bone meal, and animal fat. These products are sold as a source of protein and other nutrients in the diets of dairy animals, poultry, swine, pet foods, cattle feed, and sheep feed. Animal fat is also used in animal feeds as an energy source. http://jivdaya.org/rendering_plants.htm ]
So how does this translate to us as the consumer? It translates into profit for the manufacturer and "caveat emptor" for the consumer.
I think all will agree that there is nothing wrong with profit as long as ethics in packaging and advertising is present and the average owner can feel safe in purchasing a wholesome, safe product.
However, sadly, that is not the case because if you really knew what was in your pet’s food you would be appalled and YOU WOULD NOT BUY IT, hence no profit here.
So, what is in your pet’s food? Well, let’s see, how about:
Diseased animals, cattle not fit for human consumption.
Euphonized pets, i.e. cannibalism
Chicken beaks, feet, feathers & other discarded parts of animals
Floor debris from the rendering plant floor, including plastic.
Restaurant grease
How can “the buyer beware” if the product information is misleading or bogus? One cannot be an intelligent, informed consumer if the information is as tainted as the product. Look for foods that are free of by-products; look to educational sites and for the most part don't ask your
vet , most are not nutritionists.
So, where does an owner look for human grade, quality foods? The question should be: What Not to look for in a pet food!
Look for foods that DO NOT contain:
By-products
Antibiotics
Preservatives, soy, corn, or wheat.
For those of you who cannot get away from the idea that dry food is best, let's just say that a carnivore does not eat cereal but if you must feed kibble here is the way 90% of the dry food is processed.
Baking as one would bake at home
Pressuring ingredients under hundreds of pounds of pressure at very high temps
Freeze-drying.
All these processes are used to insure a long shelf life and so they can be warehoused for months before reaching the store.
Sealed, greasy packages of kibble sitting around in warehouses for months waiting to be shipped and subjected to temperatures that vary from below zero to 110 degrees.
The longer the product is warehoused the more likely it will become contaminated with pathogens and bacteria.
Remember dogs and cats are carnivores and need meat protein, not cereal.
Other sites that are helpful are Natural Pet , Sojos and locally Dogs and Company. Once you have linked to these sites they will guide you to other sites. You will be amazed at the mounds of Information and how easy it is to feed a healthy diet.
Personally, I feed a good canned food with a daily regimen of raw meat, yogurt and eggs. I also supplement with Wysong’s “Call of the Wild”, a powdered supplement that is added to the raw food.
As an aside I would like to add one more piece of information. Teeth cleaning for pets has become as commonplace as feeding dry foods. It amazes me how many pets I see with gum disease and just bad teeth. Isn’t it interesting that one never sees this in wild animals or zoo animals? That’s because they all eat a diet that is “raw”.
MYTH: Feeding dry food prevents teeth and gum problems.
Well, I hope this information has been helpful and leads you on a path to a healthy diet not only for your pet but you as well.
Sources/Links
Dr. Pitcairn, DVM: Graduate of U of California-Davis. Expert in natural and holistic pet care; http://www.drpitcairn.com/
Dr Wysong, DVM : BS degree in Biology and Chemistry, 30 years in nutritional, clinical and surgical research. Expert in animal nutrition. http://www.wysong.net/
Link to DR Wysong's educational aids:
http://www.wysong.net/page/WOTTPWS/CTGY/EDUAIDS
Sources for Information and Places to purchase whole food diets for pets: