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Kibble Quandary A Fresh Look at Pet Food
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by Julie Peterson
ating healthy is Contaminants aren’t We are seeing more a family affair, the only concern. “Up to cancer, neurologic and that includes 50 percent of commerconditions and kidney the family pet. However, cial foods are composed disease, and there what works for humans of meat meal and bymay be less than optiproducts,” says Armaiti is evidence that the mal for Fluffy or Fido, May, DVM, owner of Dr. increase in these as each requires a speMay’s Veterinary House diseases may be due Calls, in Los Angeles. cies-specific, nutritionto harmful ingredients ally balanced regimen. These can include Most pet parents opt for meat from dead, dying, in commercial, commercial dog or cat diseased or disabled animeat-based foods. food that comes in a bag mals, and even rendered ~Armaiti May or a can, but many are dogs and cats from anibeginning to consider mal shelters, says May. more natural options. “Kibble is often the “We are seeing more cancer, neurologic most economical way to feed your pet. But conditions and kidney disease, and there is its processed state makes it the least optievidence that the increase in these diseases mal,” says Angie Krause, DVM, at Boulder may be due to harmful ingredients in comHolistic Vet, in Colorado. mercial, meat-based foods.” Canned food is also heavily processed Healthy Alternative Diets and potentially toxic. In 2017, Clean Label Owners that switch from commercial foods Project, a nonprofit testing laboratory, report their animals display thicker coats, completed a study of 1,084 pet food prodbrighter eyes and greater energy. However, ucts, screening them for more than 130 dogs and cats require specific ranges of vitatoxins and contaminants linked to cancer mins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates, so it’s and other conditions. Results showed cadmium, a heavy metal, in 94 percent of the important to ensure that nutritional needs products, along with arsenic and lead. are met and a healthy balance is maintained.
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