As a dog owner, it’s no-nonsense that you are very much concerned about your canine’s health. It’s important that you take care that there is no stone unturned, when it comes to your dog’s diet. You may find this lovely creature, sitting beside you in the most memorable moments of your life. So, looking after your pet dog, no more remains a passion, it becomes a responsibility.

Among so many things that you can feed your dog with, natural dry dog food appears to be the best choice. This foodstuff can really be something, which not only your dog would prefer, but will also provide him the required nutrients necessary for his healthiness. As it is important that your pet gets all the vitamins and minerals, which his body requires for being fit, you need to revise your thoughts before purchasing anything that you would feed him.

However, there is a list of natural dry dog foods available in the market, which can solve your problem. These branded dry dog foods can help you in both ways – provide the essential nutrients and also add to the taste of your dog. So selecting the best dry dog food, will help you make your dog happier and healthier. The top 5 natural dry dog foods, which are presently available in the market, are: -

Superior Dog rice and chicken formula:- This food is made from human grade natural chicken and is thus, preferred by many. This product is a medley of vitamins, minerals, proteins, whole grains, which maximizes palatability. This highly nutritional food also consists of brown rice, peas and carrots.

Peak protein formula:- As the name suggests, this food is rich in proteins. The main source of protein is chicken, while tomatoes, salmon, potatoes and oats provide the necessary vitamins and minerals. Usually used for adult dogs, as this product is low in carbohydrates, it improves the performance of your canine, providing high energy levels.

Adult dog’s maintenance formula:- It is one of the better natural dry dog foods available in the market. None of the meat by-products, chemical preservatives or artificial flavors is used in this kind of foods. The protein supplied in this product is easily digestible and the vegetables help in sustaining a glowing skin.

The daily nutrition and health for adult dogs:- This food is mainly beneficial for dogs, which are in the later part of their life. This food helps them maintain the right balance and be energetic even at a higher age. An overall fitness of the senior dogs can be achieved by providing this product.

Fat reducing formula:- This product mostly finds use for those dogs, which are overweight and less active. The tri meat proteins present in this product helps your dog to loose weight and regain a considerable amount of energy.

All the aforesaid products are the best in the market. One just needs to consult a vet before starting any new food in the diet of his dog.

“Why do some pet foods have puppy food (or kitten food) and others do not? Shouldn’t I give my new pup – puppy food?”

Before I answer that question – I need to share a little pet food history. Back in the early days of commercial pet food, veterinarians noticed that when puppies were fed the same commercial food that the adult dogs were eating – they did not grow and thrive the way they should. Back then, commercial dog foods and cat foods contained very little quality meat – the protein mostly came from grains the food contained. It was determined that puppies and kittens need a higher protein food in order to develop properly. This change was important, however the bad news is that the protein was not required to come from meat sources – the majority came from inferior grain sources. The new requirements just required a higher percentage of protein for a growth food – a puppy food or a kitten food – there were no specifications as to where the protein came from (still holds true today).

Today, AAFCO has set standards for puppy foods to be a minimum of 22% protein (adult dog food minimum 18% protein), standards for kitten food must be a minimum of 30% protein (adult cat food 26% minimal protein). Besides a few other very insignificant differences – the amount of protein is the only difference between an adult dog food or an adult cat food to a puppy food or kitten food.

So, to answer the question above – you can feed a puppy food or kitten food, but you don’t have to if you are feeding the right food! Remember, except for percentage of protein, there are no significant differences in an adult pet food to kitten or puppy food.

Many pet food lines have protein percentages above the minimal requirements for puppies and kittens. Some pet food formulators have determined in their research that 18% protein for adult dogs and 26% protein for adult cats is not optimal – so they formulate their foods with higher protein levels than the required minimal. In other words – many adult foods meet the same nutritional requirements for puppies and kittens even though they are not labeled specifically as puppy food or kitten food. As an example…ABC Chicken & Rice Puppy Food has a protein percentage of 23% and ABC Chicken Kitten Food has a protein percentage of 32% – but XYZ Chicken & Rice Dog food has a protein percentage of 25% and XYZ Chicken Cat Food as a protein percentage of 35%. Both ABC brands and XYZ brands meet the required protein levels for puppy or kitten foods as well as adult dog and adult cat food. So, a puppy owner or a kitten owner could feed their new baby the XYZ pet food – even though it is not labeled specifically for puppies or kittens.

Before I go any further – I have to mention a little about canned pet foods. ANY canned or pouched pet food (a moist pet food) contains at least 70% to 85% moisture. Protein percentages in canned pet foods vary from 7% to 11% – far below the minimal requirements necessary for adult dogs and cats as well as kittens and puppies. Pet owners do not want to feed solely a canned or pouched pet food to adult dogs and cats or puppies and kittens. They simply do not provide the necessary nutrition. If you want to feed a canned pet food, feed it WITH a quality dry food. Maybe soft for breakfast and kibble for dinner.

OK, back to puppy foods and kitten foods…a common question I hear on this subject is…’Is it ok for my adult dog (or cat) to be eating a food that has such a high protein percentage?’ Many pet owners – after hearing my explanation of puppy foods and kitten foods, are then concerned about feeding an adult dog or cat a pet food that has a higher percentage of protein. The best way I can ease those concerns is from sharing the words of many pet nutrition experts. As a dog or cat goes from being a puppy or kitten, to a young adult, to a mature adult, to a senior pet – their body continually produces new cells, new tissue, and new muscle – the entire process feeds off of protein. So the pet continues to need a quality protein source throughout its entire life. (There are exceptions for senior pets and pets with illnesses – this discussion is strictly for healthy animals – consult your veterinarian if you have any questions.) Science – not speculation – has determined that a higher protein level benefits young dogs and cats as well as adult pets. I have reviewed some dog and cat foods in Petsumer Report that have protein levels as high as 50%! I’m not so confident that 50% protein in a dog food or cat food is optimal for house pets (more for a working dog – example being a working cattle dog tending to a herd) – the point is that higher protein level pet foods are out there, and not all of them are labeled as puppy food or kitten food.

The thing that makes most pet owners choose a puppy food or kitten food is the marketing. Those television commercials that show adorable puppies and kittens stating this food ‘meets the unique needs’ or ‘specially formulated’ or ‘Extra Nutrition’ or ‘developed to meet the higher energy needs’ and so forth have lured pet owners into firm beliefs that their puppy or kitten has to have a puppy food or kitten food. The cute little faces along with the expertly researched tag lines – have helped to grow the puppy food and kitten food business into phenomenal numbers. Part of the marketing strategy is to get puppy owners hooked into a particular emotional commitment to the manufacturer through a puppy or kitten food. If you start off with ABC puppy food – the marketing goal is for you to stay loyal to that company later with ABC adult dog food. The pet food manufacturers have become SO successful at this marketing technique – several manufacturers that make a quality maintenance pet food (not a specific puppy food or kitten food) have been forced to package their food in a puppy or kitten format.

I am not saying that puppy foods and kitten foods are bad – it still boils down to ingredients in the pet food. What I am saying is that it is not a requirement to feed a puppy or kitten specifically a puppy food or a kitten food. As long as you provide them with a quality pet food that meets the protein percentage they need – you are fine.

Always, always, always – consult your veterinarian.

And one more quick bit of information – I wish I could tell you that when you find a good puppy food or kitten food, with quality human grade US ingredients, and added health bonuses such as chelated or proteinated minerals and probiotics – that you can stick with that same manufacturer for your adult pet food and treats…but that is not always the case. Actually it is more just the opposite. From reviewing many lines of pet food and pet treats from one manufacturer for Petsumer Report, I have found that many pet food manufacturers make some pet foods that have quality human grade ingredients and then their pet treats are close to junk food. While others might have one or two varieties of pet food that are good, and have several more varieties that I would never recommend a pet owner to feed. It’s just not that easy. You must look at the ingredients, ask the questions, and look at the Guaranteed Analysis and Best By Date on everything.

Wishing you and your pet the best.

Cats are amazing pets because they are very low maintenance. For the most part, cats will care for themselves without ever needing any assistance from their owners. However, one area in which pet owners can drastically affect the lives of their cats is based upon what they are fed. Cats have very specific nutritional requirements and if these needs are not catered to when determining their diet, chances are they will develop severe health problems and be unable to function normally.

Cats are obligate carnivores and, as such, cat food contains both plant and animal material and is also supplemented with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. All of these elements are essential to the proper growth, development and maintenance of your cat. One of the most important nutrients is an amino acid, taurine. Cats cannot synthesise compounds without this. If cats are fed a diet that is lacking in taurine, they may develop severe health problems that may be extremely detrimental to their well-being. These problems include retinal degeneration and, in a worst-case scenario, blindness.

Pookinuk is an Australian company that is committed to giving you access to the highest quality products and services for your pets. You can order all kinds of dog food online including other pet food. Our range of products, apart from advance dog food, Eukanuba dog food and Artemis dog food, also includes pet loo, Eagle Pack and Royal Canin products. We also arrange for the home delivery of dog food. Pookinuk is an Internet-based service provider of premium pet food, pet insurance, pet accessories and even pet furniture. Pet owners who have used Pookinuk services are unanimous in their feedback, namely, “If you love your pet… you’ll love Pookinuk!” For more information, please visit http://www.pookinuk.com.au

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If you’ve decided that you’re ready to purchase your first pet bird there are a few steps that you should take in order to ensure the health and safety of your new bird. Birds are cuddly, intelligent creatures and make great companions; however they do require a lot of care from their owners. Follow my tips below on how to choose the perfect bird for your family.

Do plenty of research before you go out and purchase your bird. Different bird types have vastly varying temperaments; they also require different food, different sized bird cages and various levels of commitment and maintenance. As you are doing your research, you should contrast the needs of your ideal bird with the realities of your lifestyle. If you work over forty hours per week and are rarely home then a Macaw obviously won’t be a smart choice for your first bird. Once you’ve chosen the type of bird you would like to purchase, you can start searching for your perfect bird. You can either go to a breeder or a pet store. Either can be a good choice as long as you make sure that the birds are healthy and well-taken care of. The area where the birds are housed should be immaculate and the staff or breeder should be highly knowledgeable. You will want to be prepared to ask numerous questions. Everything from current feeding schedules to temperate should be covered in-depth before you make your final decision. Also consider adopting an older bird that needs a home. It will already be socialized and trained, which could make the transition to your home much easier. Prepare your home for your bird’s arrival. Make sure that you are stocked up on all of the essentials. You will need a proper sized bird cage, toys and food. Once you’ve brought your bird home, make sure to schedule a veterinarian appointment as soon as possible. You want to make sure that your bird is healthy and up-to-date with all of its shots.

Are you a pet lover? As a pet owner no doubt you want to give the quality and healthy food to your pet for the best care possible. Best care means feeding your pet the nutritious diet you can.

Many pet owners prepare their prêt food at home. By preparing your pet food at home you can save up to 80% and it’s easy; making pet food at home is probably a lot less time-consuming than you may have thought. With hundreds of websites offering free pet food recipes online, it’s now easier than ever to make your own pet food.

While preparing food for your pet does not need salt added to their diet as the natural salt in the food is enough for them. It’s a good idea to always add a grain, such as Kibble, wheat germ, cooked oatmeal or whole wheat bread to meat dinners. For dogs use 75% carbohydrate foods (grains and vegetables) to 25% meat; for cats use half carbohydrate foods to half meat.

You will find, once you begin making your own pet foods, that it is really relatively simple and you will save some money as well. Remember that all pet foods should be served at room temperature; don’t serve food cold from the refrigerator nor hot from the stove.

Homemade pet food should take a ridiculously small amount of your time. As a general guide meats should be raw and vegetables must be finely chopped in a food processor or by a hand grater.

When it comes time for feeding, it is important that you let your dogs and cats eat as much as they want at the time of feeding. Once their body becomes nutritionally satiated, they will cut their food intake, sometimes by half the amount, and go on a maintenance diet. Incidentally, you should know that cats should be fed three times a day, while an adult dog needs only one meal a day.

To get started, find a good book with pet food recipes and use it to start preparing simple meals. You can also get free recipes from many websites online. If preparing your own pet food is not an option for you visit the website below for some healthy pet food

Anna Josephs is a freelance journalist having experience of many years writing articles and news releases on various topics such as pet health, automobile and social issues. She also has great interest in poetry and paintings, hence she likes to write on these subjects as well. Currently writing for this website Pet Health. For more details please contact at annajosephs@gmail.com

There once was a man who wanted to make money utilizing his pet dog. So what did he do? He took all of his dog’s expenses and deducted them on his taxes, dog food, leashes, dog food bowls, veterinary bills, etc. His rationale was that his dog acted as a watchdog for his home and was therefore a security system, an allowed deduction by the IRS.

Was his deduction legal? I have no idea, I’m not an accountant. But I can certainly sympathize with the man. Pets, dogs especially, can be an expensive endeavor. In any given year you will spend on your dog hundreds of dollars on veterinary bills and medical treatments, hundreds or thousands more on dog food, and then you’ve got equipment, leashes, collars, and such. Your annual dog maintenance bill could easily reach into the thousands. What if you could take your love of dogs and turn it into a money making venture? Thousands have and are much better off for having done it.

There are several traditional ways to turn your dog-loving self into a pet entrepreneur. Thousands have gone into the dog training industry. These professionals spend thousands of dollars and years learning their craft. Dog training can be a tough and competitive industry, but very rewarding for those who are successful.

Thousands more have turned their love of dogs into a career as a dog groomer. This is another dog career that requires extensive training and ongoing learning. Commissions can be high, though, given enough clientele.

Within the last decade there have been an increasing number of pet professionals in the pet sitting/dog walking industry. This can be a fun dog-job for a pet lover. This job provides variety and a good living.

None of these pet careers compares, however, to a burgeoning new industry for people who wish to make a care working with dogs. Direct sales has typically been a career dominated by products marketed to people. Only in recent years has this business model been adopted to cater to pet products.

The pet food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Pet owners for years have purchased their pet food at grocery store or big box pet outlets. The pet foods purchased are typically full of fillers, preservatives, rotting animal carcasses not fit for human consumption, covered in throw-away grease purchased from restaurants, and completely lacking in nutrition.

A few pioneering companies are fighting this trend. These companies are creating quality dog and cat foods without these damaging by-products, and are selling them in a way never before attempted in the pet industry; direct sales and network marketing.

These new pet food representatives are finding an opportunity to not only provide superior pet foods and supplements but to line their wallets in the process. A successful pet food representative can quickly build a network of consumers who find that their pets are healthier and happier due to quality food, but are also saving money on vet bills, allergy treatments, and smaller portions. Representatives are able to harness the power of the internet, word-of-mouth, print advertising, etc. to build their business effectively. Representatives work part time, full time, and around their own schedules.

Do you love dogs? Do you want to have a career working with dogs and other pets? Consider becoming a pet food representative.

On April 5, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided an update on the recall on pet foods from Menu Foods. The Agency reported its latest findings in the ongoing investigation into the recent outbreak of cat and dog illness and death associated with pet food manufactured with contaminated wheat gluten.

FDA launched an investigation within 24 hours after being notified by Menu Foods of a recall and investigators arrived at the company’s plant and searched for possible sources of contamination. The same day, FDA consumer complaint coordinators nationwide began taking calls from consumers and veterinarians who reported illnesses potentially associated with the contaminated pet food. FDA has received over 12,000 reports in the last three weeks more than twice the number of complaints typically received in a year by the consumer complaint coordinators. In an effort to trace all of the contaminated product, the Agency conducted numerous inspections of manufacturers and warehouses identified as recipients of the suspect product. FDA has also been working with the affected firms to assist them with their product recall efforts.

FDA’s investigation identified the distributor of the contaminated wheat gluten as ChemNutra, of Las Vegas, Nevada. FDA worked with the firm to trace the suspect product, and identified its Chinese source. FDA has asked the Chinese government to help us with the investigation which continues to determine how the melamine may have gotten into the wheat gluten. FDA is currently sampling 100 percent of all Chinese wheat gluten being offered for import. FDA Field laboratories confirmed the presence of melamine in shipments of wheat gluten received from a source from China.

This was done through testing of samples of finished product and raw materials. Melamine is a product used as a fertilizer with other industrial and commercial uses. FDA laboratories have conducted over 400 sample analyses, and to date have found 21 samples that were positive for melamine. To date, voluntary recalls of pet food products have been conducted by Del Monte Pet Products, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Menu Foods, Nestle Purina PetCare Company, P&G Pet Care, and Sunshine Mills. On April 5, Sunshine Mills, Inc., of Red Bay, Alabama, voluntarily recalled a portion of its branded dog biscuits made at its Red Bay, Alabama biscuit plant during part of March 2007. In addition, Menu Foods, Inc., voluntarily expanded its pet food recall for selected cuts and gravy pet food products, manufactured back to November 8, 2006. Both firms issued press releases which are accessible on the FDA website.

Be sure you are aware of these other facts of the recall. This is an ongoing investigation. FDA is conducting recall audit follow-ups to ensure an effective recall. They continues to work with federal, state, and local partners, veterinarians, and members of the public as part of this investigation. At this time there is no evidence that any wheat gluten contaminated with melamine has entered the human food supply.

Understanding the role of melamine in each of the dog and cat illnesses will require an extensive analysis of the information, assistance from outside sources, and perhaps further research. The Food Drug Administration’s priority now is to assure that all contaminated product is identified and removed from store shelves. All the contaminated wheat gluten has been traced, and all the pet food manufacturers who have received contaminated ingredients have been identified and have initiated recalls. Following the removal of all suspect products from retailers, there remains an ample supply of safe cat and dog food available at stores throughout the U.S.

The Food Drug Administration has a dedicated pet food recall page on its website which has all of the current information including all press releases issued, frequently asked questions, as well as contact information for FDA consumer complaint coordinators. FDA urges members of the media and public to visit the FDA website.

With the food recall, What should a pet owner look for in their pet food. Most pet owners have heard that it is better to feed their animals specially formulated food for pets rather than table scraps. An occasional treat is fine, but table scraps used to excess may unbalance a pet’s diet. Purchasing pet foods labeled as “complete and balanced” can help ensure that your pet’s diet is nutritionally adequate.

Dog and cat foods labeled as “complete and balanced” must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. The AAFCO’s Canine Nutrition Expert (CNE) Subcommittee and Feline Nutrition Expert (FNE) Subcommittee have established new nutrient profiles for “complete and balanced” dog and cat foods. Dog Food Nutrient Profiles were established in 1991 and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles were established in 1992. Both were updated in 1995 to incorporate new scientific information.

The new nutrient profiles replaced the recommendations of the National Research Council (NRC) as the AAFCO-recognized authority on canine and feline nutrition. Dog and cat foods labeled as “complete and balanced” based on the AAFCO Dog or Cat Food Nutrient Profile must meet all the nutrient minimum and maximum levels as established by the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee set these levels after considering the most current information on good nutrition for dogs and cats. The profiles are designed to provide practical information for manufacturers of dog and cat foods.

There are now two separate nutrient profiles — one for growth and reproduction and one for adult maintenance, instead of just one for all life stages. This allows dog and cat foods made for adult animals only to contain lower amounts of some nutrients, eliminating unnecessary excesses. Also, maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established for the first time, because of concern that over nutrition, rather than under nutrition, is a bigger problem with many pet foods today.

The protocols for conducting the feeding trials for dog and cat foods have also been updated. With these improvements, label reference to either the AAFCO nutrient profile or AAFCO feeding trials better assures the consumer of the validity of a “complete and balanced” claim. Endorsements, seals of approval, etc., from other organizations do not add assurances of safety and may be misleading.

The Wysong Pet Food Company provides natural as well as healthy products for the pets have a very holistic approach towards the health of all pets. These products are of excellent quality and they are prepared using only the natural ingredients. They make use of wind powered energy for their manufacturing processes. The packaging of their pet food items is also made in such a way that it decreases the wastes and conserves the valuable resources. This is done by using the boxes and packaging materials that can be reused.

The Wysong Pet Food is rated as a top quality food in the U.S. it provides maximum nutrition to the pets. They do not use any addictives or non-nutritional ingredients in their food items. The Wysong Pet Food has a high content of Essential Fatty Acids which is necessary for skin and coat health and also for immunity.

Wysong dog food- the Wysong Dog food is a healthy, natural, holistic food for the dogs. The Wysong Archetype Canine and Feline Diet ism prepared to compete the natural diet of the animals along with the bones, organs, meats, enzymes, essential fatty acids, plant nutrients, micronutrients and probiotics. It contains high levels of carbohydrates. It is a concentrated and a light-weight food that is restructured into a nutritious gruel.

The Wysong Growth Puppy Food- this food is especially designed for satisfying the increasing nutritional demands of the baby dogs. It contains concentrated source of vital micronutrients and digestible ingredients that are required for a normal and healthy growth of the puppy. The Wysong Maintenance Dog Food is another type of Food of the Wysong Pet Food Company. It provides an all-round and a nutritional diet for the long term maintenance of those dogs that have matured. It enhances vitality and also prevents the elderly dogs from any diseases. 

Wysong Cat Food- the Wysong cat food is made by combining the natural organic ingredients in such a taste that is loved by the cats. The cats that are fed with the Wysong cat food are nutritionally healthy as well as balanced. The Wysong’s Kitten diet has high levels of meat and fat to modify the nutritional well being of the growing cats. It is recommended to use the Wysong kitten diet upto 9 months for the cats, as this the time when they are need of excess fats and proteins. The Wysong Cat Treats 4oz is a nutritional diet. It should be fed to the cats along with the dry, canned foods, fresh foods and other supplements.

The Wysong foods create such types of food for your pets that are nutritionally sound and will be loved by your pets to consume. They provide palatability along with nutrition. The nutritional demands of the particular pet are kept in mind at the time of manufacturing the foods.

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!