The Truth About Pet Food - Dogs And Cats

By Susan Mahoney
In recent times pet nutritionists have come to the conclusion that many of today's health problems in animals, including physical and behavioral conditions have their roots in poor nutrition. Many of the leading manufacturers of so-called 'quality' pet food are responsible for this decline in your pet's health.

Veterinarians are noticing this deteriorating health in pets and believe that chemical additives and preservatives play a part.

So, just what is in your dog or cats pet food?

The fact that when you open up a can of dog food you turn your nose, is a sign that there are all sorts of gases and odors released that are unfit for human and animal consumption. The heavy use of preservatives such as BHT/BHA and Ethoxyquin are likely to be responsible as well as urine, faecal matter, hair, pus, meat from sick or adrenalin filled animals (most animals just prior to the kill in abattoirs release a rush of adrenalin into their bloodstream as they intuit they are about to die).

Ethoxyquin is actually an herbicide and has had detrimental effects on humans who were working with it in the rubber industry. Reports of liver/kidney damage, cancerous skin lesions, hair loss, blindness, leukemia, fetal abnormalities and chronic diarrhea were noted and in animals it has been linked to immune deficiency syndrome, spleen, stomach and liver cancer, as well as the above mentioned diseases. It is no doubt that the increased use of chemical preservatives in pet food is linked to the rise in pet disease over the last 25 years.

Rancid animal and poultry fat (by-products of the meat industry) that have escaped human consumption are the staples of most canned pet food. These unhealthy putrid fats are difficult to digest and are likely linked to stomach and liver disorders resulting in bloating, gas, diarrhea and the notorious bad breath our pets are known for.

At present, the department of agriculture does not have mandatory inspection of the ingredients used in pet food. They are allowed to use "4D" classification sources such as meat, tissues, skin and insides of animals that are dead, dying, disabled, or diseased (AND UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION). Some of the animal meat used will be loaded with heavy hormones, steroids and antibiotics from the farming industry that continue to be 'active' in dead tissue!

Add to this a host of artificial colorants, preservatives and sweetening agents such as cornstarch and sucrose and you have a chemical concoction bound to cause disease in any animal that ingests it. Cat food manufacturers use corn syrup, which cause addiction and over stimulate the production of insulin and acidic digestive juices. These empty sugars put a great deal of stress on the pancreas and may result in diabetes. They also interfere with the animal's ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins from their food.

As with humans, artificial sweeteners can cause hyperactivity and behavioral problems in animals and destroy friendly bacteria that aid in digestion. The added sugar content could also be responsible for diseases such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity, allergies, loss of vision and cancer.

Another harmful chemical is propylene glycol, which is responsible for prolonging the shelf life of dry products. However, they also dehydrate the colon, causing constipation and the formation of small, dry,hard stools. These kinds of stools may be uncomfortable for your pet to pass as well as leading to diseases of the digestive tract in the long term.

The addition of salt to canned pet food is also a health hazard. Too much refined salt can lead to hypertension, water retention, kidney damage, palpitations and other ailments.

To add fiber, soybean meal is added to pet food, which hinders digestion in dogs. Peanut hulls are also used but can be an irritant to the colon and cause constipation.

As you can see from the above, properly feeding your pet is an essential part of caring that you, the owner is responsible for. Just as there is a growing awareness today of what's healthy for humans to eat, it is just as crucial to make sure your pet is also getting the proper healthy nutrition it needs for optimum health. A happy pet = a happy owner. Give YOUR pet the best chance of optimal health through proper nutrition today.

May you both live long happy healthy lives together.

By Charlie Hare
Growing up in a small farm town had a lot of advantages, not the least of which was a freedom and sense of complete control over one's own contentment and pursuits of happiness.

We had a lot of pets. We had cats, dogs, a white rat, turtles, frogs, and anything else we found or that came to us as hungry strays. Back then, we didn't think too much about what our pets ate. We very often gave our pets "people-foods"; scraps from family meals, treats, etc.

The local farmers always had a bunch of hungry cats and dogs running around their property, feeding on cows' milk, mice, birds, table scraps, and any other bit of fodder they could find (or that someone nonchalantly and innocently tossed their way).

What we did not realize is that we were giving our pets foods which are hazardous for them. For some reason, we believed that if we could eat it so could they. Looking back, that way of thinking, that mentality seems rather ignorant; indeed, even blind to so many things.

Funny, though, because we rarely took any of our pets to veterinarians back then either. Hmmmmm...perhaps they (the pets) knew how to heal themselves from all the junk we gave them. Maybe they knew enough natural remedies (i.e., herbs, berries, fruits, weeds, and other 'anti-toxins') to counteract our poisons.

There was not a lot of information-sharing back then either. Certainly nowhere near as it is today, and things we learned came much slower then, for sure! I guess life was just a whole lot slower and simpler then.

How many adorable pictures have we seen of tiny kittens being fed pure cow's milk, directly from the cow? Now, we are told many cats are lactose intolerant and cannot metabolize the milk properly, so we should not give that to them. Who knew?

Here are seven "people foods" that should not be given to your cat or dog, as they have been found to be either directly or indirectly "toxic" to them:

Avocado

Avocados contain persin, which is a derivative of fatty acids. Persin is toxic to cats and dogs, as well as other animals, and especially birds.

Chocolate

Chocolate is considered to be poisonous to cats and dogs. It contains theobromine, an alkaloid, which can give pets theobromine poisoning, which can lead to death if not treated early.

Cows' milk

Cows' milk is not considered toxic to cats, but some cats are lactose intolerant, thus milk may give them diarrhea or other digestive symptoms.

Foods containing Xylitol

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center warns dog owners that products sweetened with Xylitol are harmful to dogs. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener extracted from fibers of fruits and vegetables and is used in a wide variety of desserts, snacks, candies, gums, and the like. Xylitol can cause a rapid and severe blood-sugar drop in dogs, which can lead to seizures, vomiting and weakness. Immediate veterinary attention is required.

Grapes, raisins

Grapes and raisins should be avoided as pet snacks, as they have been linked with kidney failure, especially in dogs.

Onion, garlic, leek, chive

Onions contain a substance called N-propyl disulphide, which can destroy red blood cells in cats, causing a type of anemia called Heinz body anemia. Garlic, leeks and chives contain similar substances, although in lesser amounts.

Tomatoes, raw potatoes

Tomatoes and raw potatoes contain the glycoalkaloid Solanine, a poisonous compound which can cause digestive ailments in animals.

By Susan Thixton
Last year turned out to be the worst in history for pet food recalls. While there is no way to be 100% certain that a pet food is not tainted or will be recalled, there are some red flags to look for when selecting your dog's or cat's food. Avoiding these common pet food ingredients can greatly improve your odds in purchasing a healthy, safe pet food.

Judging the safety or the nutritional value of a pet food starts by ignoring the advertising, the price of the pet food, and ignoring the front of the bag. The real signs to the safety of a dog food or cat food lie on the back or side of the bag or can in the 'Ingredient Listing'. Regardless of what marketing terms ('choice', 'premium', and so on) are on the front of the bag or can of pet food, a pet owner cannot determine the quality or how safe the food is unless they look at the ingredients.

With dry foods there can be 90 different ingredients (or more), with canned foods there can be 50 or more different ingredients. But don't panic...you don't have to understand hundreds of different pet food ingredients! You just need to be aware of a few key ingredients...pet food ingredients that you do NOT want to see in a dog food or cat food (or treats).

'Wheat Gluten', 'Corn Gluten', or 'Rice Gluten'. These three ingredients were the bad boy pet food ingredients of 2007. Tainted glutens were found to be the cause of thousands of dogs and cats becoming ill and dying. It is not that glutens themselves are toxic to pets - these ingredients have been used in pet foods for years.

The problem was the source or manufacturer of the glutens - imported from countries with far less quality standards than in the US. (The majority of glutens used in the US pet foods are from imported sources.) These imported glutens contained added chemicals that caused crystals to form in the kidneys of dogs and cats.

Not only is it important to avoid dog foods and cat foods (and dog and cat treats) that contain glutens because of the possibility of dangerous added chemicals, it is important because they add no real quality nutrition to the food. Glutens are used as a thickener AND as a source of protein in pet food. Adult maintenance dog foods must provide a minimum of 18% protein, adult maintenance cat foods must provide a minimum of 26% protein.

If the meat source of the pet food does not provide enough protein, glutens are often added to boost the protein level of the pet food. The best nutrition for your pet comes from a meat protein pet food not from a gluten protein. Avoid dog foods and cat foods (and treats) that contain 'corn gluten', 'wheat gluten', or 'soy gluten'.

'By Products'. By-products have never been the cause of a pet food recall, but they are definitely ingredients you want to avoid feeding your pet. To give you an understanding of by-products, I'd like to compare this pet food ingredient to pies - you know, the dessert! How many different types of pies you can think of? There are apple pies, cherry pies, chocolate pies, meringue pies, meat pies, mud pies, pie in math, cow pies (yuck!) - I think you get my point. Now imagine if you purchased yourself a prepared ravioli dinner at the grocery and you looked at the ingredients and you see 'pie' listed as the first ingredient in your dinner.

Hmmm, pie in ravioli - what kind of pie? You wouldn't know if it was apple pie or mud pie or even cow pie. All you would know is that your dinner contained 'pie'. Considering 'pie' could be anything from apple pie to cow pie - my guess is that you wouldn't be having ravioli for dinner. Same thing with by-products in pet food.

AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials, the organization responsible for all animal feed manufacturing rules and regulations) defines by-products as "meat by-products is the non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth, and hoofs. It shall be suitable for use in animal food. If it bears name descriptive of its kind, it must correspond thereto."

So, with respect to pet food, a by-product is a catch-all ingredient name. All left over meat materials from the human food industry are clumped into one ingredient name - by-product. There is NO certainty of what you are feeding - one batch of pet food might be more intestine by-products while the next batch of pet food might be more liver or bone by-products.

There is NO way of knowing what is actually contained in the pet food ingredient by-product (the pet food manufacturers themselves couldn't tell you exactly). Avoid dog foods and cat foods (and treats) that contain By-products of any kind...Chicken By-Products, Beef By-Products, Chicken By-Product Meal, Beef By-Product Meal, and so forth.

'Meat Meal', 'Meat and Bone Meal', or 'Animal Digest'. These three ingredients are similar to by-products. AAFCO defines Meat and Bone Meal as "the rendered product from mammal tissues, including bone, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably to good processing practices."

Again, a catch all ingredient name for the left-over parts of animals used for human food. No consistency to what is contained in these ingredients (all three of these pet food ingredient definitions are similar) - no way of knowing what is actually in your pet's food. Avoid dog foods, cat foods, and dog and cat treats that contain 'meat meal', 'meat and bone meal', or 'animal digest'.

'Animal Fat'. In 2002 the FDA tested many different brands of dog food (cat food was not tested) for the presence of the drug pentobarbital. Many brands of dog food tested positive to contain the drug. Pentobarbital is the drug used to euthanize dogs, cats, cattle, and horses.

How can the drug that is used to euthanize animals be found in pet food? The answer - euthanized animals are rendered (cooked) and the end ingredients are placed in pet food. It has long been rumored that euthanized dogs and cats (from animal shelters and veterinarian offices) is the major source of the pentobarbital in pet food. However no one has been able to prove or disprove this rumor to date. The FDA/CVM (Center for Veterinary Management) developed testing methods on two separate occasions to determine the species source of the drug. No results have ever been determined.

The pet food manufacturers adamantly deny they use rendered dogs or cats - but NO clinical evidence has ever been released to confirm the pentobarbital is from euthanized cattle and horses in pet food as they claim.

However, the one thing the FDA/CVM has determined through their testing is the pet food ingredient 'animal fat' is the most common ingredient to contain pentobarbital. In other words, if you are feeding a dog food or cat food (or treats) with the ingredient 'animal fat' in the ingredient listing - you are (more than likely) feeding your pet euthanized animals.

Not every batch of pet food tested that contained the ingredient 'animal fat' has proved to contain pentobarbital - but why would any pet owner want to take the chance? Avoid dog foods, cat foods, and dog and cat treats that contain the ingredient 'animal fat'.

'BHA', 'BHT', 'TBHQ', and 'Ethoxyquin'. These pet food ingredients are chemical preservatives and you might have to look through the entire ingredient list to find them. It is worth the look because there is plenty of clinical evidence to associate all four of these chemical preservatives with cancer and tumors (simply do a Google search on any one of these chemicals).

All four of these chemical preservatives are rarely used to preserve human food and if so, are used in quantities far less than what is allowed in pet food. Avoid any dog food, cat food, or dog and cat treat that contains 'BHA', 'BHT', 'TBHQ', and 'Ethoxyquin' on the label.

'Corn', 'Wheat', 'Soy'. While there is no scientific evidence that proves these ingredients are dangerous to pets - they are potentially dangerous ingredients associated with recalls in the past (1995, 1999, and 2005).

These grains are highly prone to a deadly mold (aflatoxin). It is suggested (by AAFCO) that all pet food manufacturers test grains for the mold, but as recalls of the past have proven - that doesn't always happen. I do not think these ingredients are as risky as others mentioned above, but they are ingredients I avoid for my own pets.

There is more to selecting a true healthy pet food for your dog or cat than avoiding the above mentioned ingredients. This is just a start - based on pet food history, AAFCO ingredient definitions, science and opinion of many pet food experts including myself.

There are many quality pet foods available that do NOT use the above ingredients and that add health promoting ingredients to their foods and treats. Continue to learn as much as you can about what you are feeding your pet and ALWAYS read the labels!

By J. E. Davidson
It doesn't seem to matter what you put in front of him, he just turns his nose up at it. He holds out for what he wants until you give in. He prefers between meal snacks to a regular meal. No, I'm not talking about your child. I'm talking about your dog! Just like children (or adults) dogs can be finicky eaters. Some dogs, like people, are just naturally more finicky and some are allowed to become picky eaters.

A dog who has always had a healthy appetite and suddenly begins refusing food may have a health problem. Giardiasis, a waterborne parasite, is a common cause of a dog turning away from his supper dish. A dog who is infected with Giardiasis may go off his feed, have stomach upset with severe cramps, intermittent diarrhea and won't gain weight.

Other gastrointestinal disorders or underlying illnesses can also cause your dog to stop eating well. Oral disease is a possibility. Dogs don't get cavities as easily as humans do, but are prone to gum disease which can make eating uncomfortable. Consult a veterinarian if your dog's eating patterns change drastically.

Dogs who don't eat at mealtime may be getting food from other sources. Does the family slip him table scraps or feed him extra treats during the day? Is the dog rummaging through the garbage cans or eating at the neighbor's house? Take control of his eating by letting the family know that extra between meal treats and bites from the family table are not allowed. Keep the trash cans covered and prevent him from wandering the neighborhood where he can help himself to outside pets' dishes or the neighbor's trash can.

When your dog refuses a food that he has been eating consistently check the expiration date and make sure the food is not spoiled. Check for foul odors. Store dry food in a plastic storage container, or indoors in a dry location. If dry food becomes damp it will form mold and should not be fed to your pet. When part of a can of food is given the rest should be stored in a container in the refrigerator and not left to sit out during the day.

Educate yourself on proper nutrition for dogs, or get some guidance from your vet. You don't necessarily have to offer your dog the brand your vet just happens to sell and swears is the best. Any high-quality brand of pet food will supply your dog with all the nutrients he needs. Dogs do not need variety in their diet. Too much variety may actually contribute to the pickiness and cause your dog to hold out for something else.

Treats should not be more than 10% of the dog's daily diet. Hard biscuits that clean the teeth are good between-meal snacks. Some dogs will eat vegetables; cooked vegetables will be easier for them to digest than raw ones. Lean, unsalted meats are acceptable. Some like fruit. Avoid feeding your dog refined sugars and fats which lead to obesity and other health issues. Some human foods should never be given to dogs. Chocolate and caffeine are definite no-nos. Seeds and pits of many fruits can be toxic to dogs. Onions and garlic may cause anemia in dogs. If you choose to give him table scraps or human food do some homework on what is safe for dogs. Whatever type of treat you give him do it at scheduled intervals and not when the dog begs for them. Saving treats for after his regular meal may encourage him to clean his plate! You must be in control of his feeding and not feed him at his whim.

Some breeds are known to be naturally picky eaters. German Shepherds are notoriously finicky as well as many small breeds including Yorkies, Maltese, Pomeranians and Chihuahuas. With naturally picky eaters you may have to do some experimenting to find what they prefer. Many dogs prefer moist food to dry. Feeding larger breeds canned food exclusively can be expensive, so you might try mixing some water or broth with their kibble. Mix something extra in with his food to make it more interesting. Try adding kibble to canned food to add crunch. Add some meat-flavored baby food or break up a favorite treat, mixing it in well so he can't pick out the goodies. Don't add too much or you may end up with an obese dog. It may take a bit of trial and error until you can satisfy a naturally picky eater.

A dog who has been fed a particular food for a long time and has always been picky about it may not like the taste. Try a different brand or flavor. Buy a small bag at first to test your dog's reaction to it. Always make changes in your dog's diet gradually. Sudden changes may cause stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea. Mix a small amount of the new food in with the old. Gradually increase the proportion of new to old until he is eating only the new food.

Appealing aromas excite the appetite in dogs as well as humans. Cold food will have little aroma. Add hot water or broth to dry food or slightly microwave canned food so the aroma is more enticing. If you microwave the food stir it well before serving to avoid hot spots.

Females coming into season may go off feed temporarily and males in the "teenage" stage (12 to 18 months old) who are active and energetic may just not slow down long enough to eat a full meal! Try putting his kibble in a treat-dispensing toy so he can have fun working for his food. Alternately, a dog who is not too active may benefit from a short walk or playtime (nothing too strenuous) before mealtime to stimulate his appetite. Feed a quantity of food that is appropriate to the dog's level of activity.

Some dogs have trained their owners to feed them what they want. They have learned that if they hold out and act starved the owner will eventually give in. The owner needs to be firm and retrain his dog to eat correctly. Feed your dog at the same time each day. An unpredictable feeding schedule can cause stress and stomach upset. Two feedings a day are appropriate for most dogs although toy breeds may need fed more often to avoid low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Some large dogs will do well on just one daily feeding if they are in good health and not overweight.

Recognize times when your dog is most likely to eat. Your dog may not eat when the house is filled with noisy children, or may prefer to eat after the master gets home. He may not eat around another dog, or may prefer the company of other household pets while he eats. An automated feeder may be used if the dog's preferences don't jive with the schedule of the person responsible for feeding the dog.

At mealtime put the appropriate serving of food in the dog's dish and walk away. Don't cajole him to eat. Some dogs will use food to gain attention. Put the food away if the dog hasn't eaten in 15-20 minutes. Do not leave the food out if the dog does not eat. After a day or two he will get hungry enough to eat and it won't hurt him to go that long without eating. It is not a good idea to leave food out all day. Most dogs will only eat enough to be satisfied but some breeds are prone to overeating and may become obese or suffer bloat or gastric torsion. Make other family members aware that you are teaching your dog good eating habits and that unauthorized treats or table scraps are banned.

It's your will against your dog's and it can be so hard to resist those big brown begging eyes, but be firm and consistent. Your dog's health will benefit from having regular eating habits, and your finances will benefit by avoiding health issues and veterinary expenses associated with poor diet and obesity.

By Robert Fernicola
The talk of healthy eating now also pertains to dogs. The demand for a healthier dog food option for your dogs has increased a lot since the numerous news reports of dogs dying from the effects of toxic dog food. The best solution is make your own dog food it may take more work than just pouring kibbles in a food bowl, but this may save your dog from dying at an early age.

Dogs are always looking forward to a little reward of doggie treats when they do something good. They really are smart when it comes to knowing what they have to do to get a doggie treat. You can feel at ease knowing that your dog can safely have a cookie or two, since you can easily make your own dog food treats. You don't need baking skills since some recipes for homemade dog food treats don't require you to bake at all.

To begin with, you can try a delicious pizza treat which you can bet will be one of your dogs favorite. To make the crust, you will need 3 1/4 cup of flour, 1/4 cup cornmeal and 1 tsp baking soda. Don't forget to pre-heat the oven to approximately 325 F.For the toppings on this fabulous gourmet pizza, you will need 1/2 cup tomato paste, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup mozarella cheese and mushrooms.

Knead the ingredients for the crust into a dough. Mix the ingredients for the toppings in a large bowl. Lay out all the ingredients in a pizza pan and bake in the pre-heated oven for 25-30 minutes. Put back in oven for 10 more minutes with the temperature set at 200°F. Let this pizza treat cool before serving or packaging. You can offer this treat several times over a four-day period.

For your dogs sweet tooth make your own dog food treat with just these basic ingredients: 3 cups whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup powdered milk, 1 egg that's been beaten, 1/3 cup margarine, 1/2 tbsp salt and 3/4 cup hot water or meat broth. Mix ingredients in a large bowl starting with the margarine and hot water (or broth). Add powdered milk, salt, egg. Stir in 1/2 cup flour at a time while continuously mixing. Knead the dough until stiff and cut into bone shapes that are half an inch thick. Place in a greased baking pan and bake at 325 F for 50 mins. Cool and let your dog enjoy.

One of the greatest recipes for low-protein dog food Mash up 2 cans of tuna in a bowl, add 2 eggs and 3 cups flour. Take a portion of the mixture and shape into little cakes. Bake at low heat. Your dog will drool over it for days. Other recipes for low-protein dog food like this may also make use of other fish varieties. Although baked treats are great for making your dog waggle his tail,limiting them to special treat time only is best. Only natural ingredients in your recipes for home made dog food that are eaten as is without additives, preservatives or the use of heat is the best way to make sure that your dog is taking in the nutrients that his body needs. Remember this when you decide to make your own dog food.

By John Birch
The basic choice we have when we look for a petfood for our dog or cat is whether to go for a dry complete mix, or a moist/canned food. The main criteria to consider are the place you shop, how much money you would like to spend and the level of convenience, palatability and digestibility desired.

The difference in moisture content among the various types of pet food impacts the nutrient density of the products or the amount of nutrients per pound of food. As the water content of the diet increases, the amount of protein, fat and other essential nutrients decreases. That means the animal must consume a larger portion of the high moisture products to receive the nutrition they need, but it also makes comparisons between the different types of food difficult.

Canned or pouch foods offer highest palatability and the highest cost per serving when compared to the dry and soft-moist products. However, they are less convenient to use, as once opened any unused food needs to be stored in the refrigerator.

The main advantage of dry foods is convenience, as wastage is minimal, cost is low in comparison to canned or pouch foods, and it is claimed that the grinding action of eating dry food helps to keep teeth clean (again disputed by some.)

Carbohydrates constitute between 30 percent and 40 percent of dry cat food. Some have been concerned that this unnatural diet is harmful to cats and leads to increased incidence of diabetes. Wet cat food, on the other hand, is high in protein and more similar to a natural carnivore diet.

Canned or Pouch Food

Obviously it is difficult to give anything other than a guide to the production process, as methods and machinery vary. Also, some products are presented in a 'loaf' form and others as chunks in 'gravy'. But a typical processing scenario for canned or pouch food would be:

Meat products are thawed, pre-chopped and stored in silos containing no more than half an hour's production.

Then as soon as they enter the production chain, the ingredients required for the recipe are dosed and ground.

An endless screw collects and weighs the components.

The resulting mass is then sent to the thin pre-cutters and mixers. At this stage, minerals, cereals and vitamins as required are added to ensure a balanced diet for the cat or the dog.

The product is then packed in cans, metal trays or sterilised pouches

Bear in mind that those 'meaty chunks' in your pet's food may not be all that they seem! Much of this material is manufactured from ground up meat which is extruded to give the impression of meat fibres. Soya protein isolates can help to give these chunks more body by holding onto water.

Dry Food

Again it is difficult to give anything other than a guide to the production process, as methods and machinery vary, but the simplified method below is common:

The ingredients required for a given recipe are first weighed, ground and mixed.

Production is achieved through a special technology : cooking-extrusion. This involves exposing the mixture of animal and vegetable materials to the combined effects of pressure and temperature for a short period, making the product highly digestible as it ensures the complete cooking of the starch.

Dry foods may then be sprayed with fat in order to complete their composition and increase palatability.

Because dry foods are exposed to the air, and not sterilised in a can or pouch, they need to have anti-oxidants and preservatives added to ensure that the product does not go rancid. These can be chemical (declared as 'EU approved antioxidants' and could be BHA, BHT or Ethoxiquin for instance) or natural (Vitamin E or C, and an extract of Rosemary Oil are common),

Natural antioxidants are generally less stable and more prone to degredation if subjected to high temperatures. They are also more expensive to use!

By Thomas Henricks
Is your pet's health important to you? I would hope the answer to that question is yes, it is important. It might surprise you to read that many studies indicate that commercially prepared dog food is not entirely healthy for your dog, and can even contribute to health issues. To avoid these problems, some people are turning their own homemade dog food. While this might seem like a much unnecessary work, it is a small price to pay to keep your beloved pet healthy.

Baking Basics for Your Dog

If you want to make your own homemade dog food, there are a few basic issues to bear in mind. There are some specific guidelines for homemade dog food that should be followed when you are determining the base products required. These guidelines ensure that the end result will in fact be a healthy alternative for your dog.

The primary elements that make up commercial brands of dog food are protein, fats, fibre and moisture.

To satisfy nutritional requirements, about one third of the components of homemade dog food should be high in protein. This protein can come from eggs, dairy products, or any type of meat. The remaining two thirds of the homemade dog food should consist of grains and vegetables.

It equally as important to know what ingredients you should avoid when preparing homemade dog food. We sometimes have a tendency to think that a dog can eat nearly anything but in fact there are certain ingredients that upset a dog's digestive system. To assure that will not occur, there some products you should never include in a homemade dog food recipe. These include chocolate, onions and onion powder, mouldy foods, garlic, grapes and raisins, mustard seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, and any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol. These products have all proven to be intolerable to your canine's digestive system.

A Sample Homemade Dog Food recipe

Although a number of common household food products are suitable for your own dog food a simple list of ingredients could include the following.

Mix together 6 cups water, 1 pound ground turkey, 2 cups brown rice, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1/2 (16 ounce) package frozen broccoli, and a combination of carrots and cauliflower. You can prepare these ingredients for use as your own custom homemade dog food by simply placing them in a large Dutch oven and cooking them for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Let the mixture cool and package in quantities suitable for to satisfy single serving requirements. Be sure to package your servings in a manner that will dispel surrounding air.

Vacuum sealing is a great way to package portions that will remain safe for use for extended periods of time. When preparing large batches, these portions can be frozen until required.

If you want to be sure that your dog is receiving high grade, healthy food products, try making your own. You might be surprised at the satisfaction you feel when cooking up a meal for your dog exactly as you would for any other member of the family.

Chat show Titan Ellen DeGenres is getting kudos from her pet pooches — after introducing her very own brand of pet food.
“I should have done it a long time ago,” Ellen tells Parade magazine about her new feline venture. “I was waiting for the right thing.”
The new pet food remains unnamed — but Ellen, 50, plans to take a leaf out of salad dressing king Paul Newman’s book. “We’re tentatively calling it Ellen’s Own,” she adds. “Sort of like Paul Newman’s Own.
“We’re still working on the name.”
DeGenres’ pet food can be eaten by humans — but Ellen herself is yet to indulge. “I have not tasted it yet,” she said “A lot of my people have. I have my people taste it first. I have people tasters. No, my life’s going pretty good. I don’t need to eat it yet.
The pet food is completely natural — so it’s suitable for even the most pampered pets. “People love their animals so much so that they put little clothes on them and necklaces and booties and things like that,” said Ellen. “And if you love your animal, then you should feed them something that’s not dangerous for them.
“There’s a lot of poisonous stuff that they’re putting in a lot of that food, those by-products.”

By Sandra Milner
Sure, Cheerios has all kinds of vitamins and supplements and healthy things in it. But would anyone in their right mind think that eating dry Cheerios for every single meal for their entire lives is a healthy diet? Surely not. But somehow the big pet food companies have convinced the masses that a piece of dry kibble with all kinds of horrific things in it is what you should feed your pet its entire life.

Ask yourself this question - does the zoo feed lions "lion chow"? Or elephants "elephant chow"? Or snakes "snake chow"? Certainly not. The bodies of all animals do best on a natural diet. Real food is for mammals.

Now back 100 years ago, when people used to eat healthier meals -- with real meats and vegetables -- people would just feed the left-overs to their pets. Also back then the pets most likely supplemented this diet with daily catchings of various other critters (remember this is back when they all used to run loose). I believe that pets were healthier back then.

Since then, these big pet food companies have brain-washed the public into thinking that giving your pet "people food" is bad. Excuse me but if you put several piece of your dog's kibble next to some broccoli and chicken - which looks healthier for any mammal? Additionally, you can do an internet search to find out what REALLY goes into those dry kibbles -- search "rendering plant" or "under cover research of rendering plants".

You will be horrified at what goes in there! Not only millions of pounds of dead dogs and cats from shelters and vets (which in itself isn't horrible, after all animals eat animals, but it does offend us to think that "Fluffy" is now kibble) but the worst part is the drugs that are used to put them to sleep does not break down in the rendering process, and so goes into the pet foods, along with their collars, flea collars, tags, etc.

Also "4D meat" which is meat from dead, downed, diseased and dying animals, declared unfit for humans goes into the rendering plant for dog food. Also rancid supermarket meats goes in, still in the plastic bags and Styrofoam. And don't be fooled, even the expensive pet foods from the vet - they come from major pet-food companies that buy their base stuff from rendering plants too! They simply spray some stuff on the kibble that makes it smell good to the pets so they'll want to eat it.

The recent rash of pets dying from grocery store pet food along with the alarming rise in rates of all kinds of pet diseases is obvious evidence that these foods are not the wonderfully healthy diet they would like you to believe it is. Sure, the commercial pet foods are easier and maybe cheaper, but in the long run they cost your pet its health and its life. More expenses at the vet to treat all the skin rashes, allergies and diseases caused by these pet foods.

There is a slew of books out on how to feed your pet a natural diet. Personally, I use kibble that is only made from human-grade quality products and that is guaranteed, but I supplement it heavily with chicken, broccoli, sweet potatoes, fish, hamburg, green peppers. I especially use all the vegetables for treats, which is good for those trying to cut down on calories for their pets.

My dogs love the vegetables - one of mine eats the sweet potato in her dish before the hamburg! You do have to only use a little kibble when you add natural foods - you don't give the amount of kibble suggested for the size of your dog, and then add to it. Take out an appropriate amount of kibble and add that in natural foods. I cook on Sundays for the entire week. You can get bulk hamburger for a good price, as well as chicken thighs - I generally spend .99 cents a pound on those.

When looking at flea preventatives, there is also a natural alternative for this too. Look on ebay for "Flea Free Natural Food Supplement". It is simply a liquid that you add to their drinking water. Works on all blood feeding insects: fleas, ticks, mites, lice, mosquitoes and biting flies.

Flea Free has over 200 vitamins, minerals and enzymes, so it not only gets rid of insects, it also is a superb food supplement that makes the pet healthy, while it conditions the fur and skin. It has been documented that scratching stops, hair grows back and fur becomes full and thick after using Flea Free. The basic ingredients of Flea Free are Vinegar, Garlic, Citrus & Herbs. Flea Free is SAFE for all animals. It is easy to use (1 tablespoon of Flea Free to 1 quart of drinking water. It is healthy and it works.

You will end up saving money at the vet by going with a more natural diet, and getting rid of fleas the natural way too. Your pet will be healthier and happier.

By John Birch
If you look on the supermarket or pet shop shelves you will find foods for retrievers, boxers, terriers, cooker spaniels, old dogs, young dogs, indoor cats, outdoor cats... the list is endless and I feel sorry for the small retailer who must despair at just what they should be stocking (or delisting to make room for all these supposed essential foods.)

But let me put forward a suggestion - that we're in danger of believing the marketing men rather than our common sense. Consider this; as a dog owner I buy what is called a 'complete pet food' by which I am given to understand that this balanced food contains all the necessary ingredients and nutrients to keep my pet in the finest of health. Let me emphasize that fact - it contains ALL the necessary nutrients required, as defined by best current scientific knowledge.

And what do I do? I give her the recommended quantity per day... PLUS some treats, bits of raw vegetables and maybe scraps off our plates. Am I any different to any other pet owner? I would hazard a guess that I am not, but what I have done is take a complete balanced food and made my pet's diet unbalanced (at least by the information given me by the pet food companies) because I've given high protein hide chews, or increased the fat and protein content by feeding a small quantity of chicken casserole.

Is my dog unhealthy? No, she is not! Is my dog overweight? No, she is not!

Now if I am fairly typical as a pet owner, and I think I am, what should I do when I faced with marketing men who tell me that I should be switching to a food which has been designed specifically for a retriever? I pass by and make a more informed choice based upon my relationship with my pet.

The problem is, of course that we do have a lot of overweight pets around, which no doubt is a consequence of giving too much food in total.

Balanced pet foods are good, but they vary in protein and fat content even for a basic adult food (for example between 18 - 26% in protein for dogs.) AAFCO minimum recommendations are 18% protein and 5% fat for an adult dog maintenance food. Most commercial pet foods contain more than this which might explain the overweight dogs around. A lean pet is a healthy pet - Purina have done trials to prove this scientifically - and a light diet should help here if you are feeding extras.

Now if most pet owners supplement their feeding with treats and extras it makes little sense to buy special foods. Better, perhaps to buy a food that is closer to the AAFCO recommendations in protein and fat content, knowing that with the extras you feed you are less likely to be overfeeding.

Marketing men survive by inventing new products for customers to buy - added this, added that, increased this, increased that. Consumers need to be informed, and that's difficult when faced with advertising budgets of £millions!

Obviously there are some pets that have health problems that demand that they have a special diet (and I include allergies and intolerences here) and the advice of a veterinary surgeon should be taken - that's a given fact.