Benefits of canned versus dry pet food

There are countless sources of information available about pet care.

From pet food and training to illness and surgery, the internet is full of wellmeaning people and experts offering opinions and information, which can oftentimes be contradictory or misleading.

Some of the beliefs my staff and I encounter is that canned food is not good for your pet because it will make them gain weight, cause tooth decay, and give them diarrhea. On the contrary, high quality canned food is more likely than dry food to supply your pets with the nutrition they need.

As carnivores, cats and dogs should eat a lot of protein from animal sources. Grains, legumes, and potatoes are less useful to a pet’s body than animal protein. These fillers are used in dry pet food to bind, thicken, and add an inexpensive source of calories. In contrast, canned foods provide higher levels of digestible animal protein and plenty of moisture.

Cats especially have no need for the copious amounts of carbohydrates used to make dry cat foods. Since felines are inefficient drinkers and their digestive tracts are designed to get moisture through the consumption of meat, they often wind up in a state of dehydration. A high moisture diet will keep them hydrated, helping to ward off diabetes, renal disease, excessive weight gain and urinary tract infections.

Diets high in calories from carbohydrates are one of the main causes of obesity in dogs and cats. Because high quality canned food is low in carbohydrates and high in animal protein, it can help an animal lose weight. The high moisture content in canned pet food also satisfies their appetites more quickly.

Because canned pet food has fewer carbohydrates, it can also benefit a pet’s dental health. Eating exclusively dry foods leaves a residue of starch that builds up below the gum line. There, it ferments into sugar and causes plaque and tartar build-up that can cause long term dental problems. (Imagine what would happen to your teeth if you ate a diet of crackers and cereal without ever brushing.)

Less processed canned foods are more nutritious because most dry pet food is heated to such high temperatures that the molecular structure of the ingredients, especially animal protein, is changed and vitamin loss occurs. Then, manufacturers must add synthetic vitamins back into the food for it to become complete and balanced.

Switching any of your pet’s foods can cause digestive upset. If you want to introduce canned food, do it slowly. Mix it with the current food and slowly increase it until you reach the desired ratio. Remember to cut back on regular food as canned is added. A teaspoon of canned pumpkin or the addition of probiotics can be used to avoid digestive upset when transitioning to new foods.

While good quality canned food is more expensive than dry food, the health benefits from a lower processed diet will pay off in your pet feeling better and needing fewer visits to the vet, which is where the real savings lie.

Kristen Zellner owns Abrams & Weakley General Store for Animals, est. 1986, Central PA’s first health food store for pets. She helps customers keep their pets healthy through better nutrition.

By the Book/Alex Brubaker

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Here at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore, we believe in the power of literature and storytelling to bring readers together, and nothing brings readers together like hanging out with our favorite writers. With the warmer weather and longer days, we’re kicking our author event series into high gear this spring.

From the New York Times bestselling author behind the Bridgerton series to one of the most celebrated historical fiction authors working today, the Midtown Scholar Bookstore aims to be that laboratory for coming together. Read on for a snapshot of our spring author events — and make sure to visit our website at www.midtownscholar.com for our full event listings. All events will take place at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg.

Wednesday, May 10th at 1pm: Patti Callahan Henry, THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA

Patti Callahan Henry is writing some of the best historical fiction being produced today, and THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA might be her best yet. Set in World War II England, Henry’s new novel is the perfect pairing for book clubs, and anyone interested in the power of storytelling. Henry will be in conversation with author Amy Jo Burns in Harrisburg.

Friday, May 12th at 7pm: Julia Quinn,

Queen Charlotte

Love it or hate it, you’ve heard of Bridgerton. It’s one of the most popular romance TV Series in the world, and Julia Quinn is the brilliant writer behind the books. Now, she’s coming to Harrisburg to discuss the new show and her brand-new novel (co-written with Shonda Rhimes), QUEEN CHARLOTTE. Quinn will be in conversation with Tik Tok royal commentator, Amanda Matta.

Thursday, May 25th at 7pm: Jeff Shaara, THE OLD LION

Jeff Shaara has been called the master of military fiction for good reason — over the span of his prestigious career, he’s written a total of fifteen New York Times bestselling novels, ranging from the Civil War to World War II. In THE OLD LION, Shaara takes on the life of one of America’s most enigmatic figures: Theodore Roosevelt. With Sharra’s riveting prose and dramatic flair, we can’t wait to see what he delivers in Harrisburg.

Tuesday, June 6th at 7pm: Samantha Irby, QUIETLY HOSTILE

From one of the most hilarious writers working today, fan-favorite Samantha Irby delivers an uproarious new essay collection, once again setting the bar even higher for comedy writing. QUIETLY HOSTILE is one of the most anticipated new books of the year for good reason, as Irby takes us on another outrageously funny tour of all the gory details that make up the true portrait of her life. Irby will be joined by #1 New York Times bestselling poet Kate Baer in Harrisburg.

Alex Brubaker is the manager of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore and director of the Harrisburg Book Festival. Previously, he was the editorial assistant at Rain Taxi Review of Books and the exhibit coordinator for the Twin Cities Book Festival. He is a graduate of Millersville University and now lives in Harrisburg.

So, we’re well into baseball season, which means we should probably talk a bit about baseball movies. Baseball is actually the only sport, aside from my Olympics obsession, that I follow. Put that together with my love of cinema and we have the perfect opportunity to do a Top 5 baseball movie list. So, play ball!

Before we get into the best, I would like to mention a few runners-up. No respectable baseball movie list would be complete without the likes of films such as The Sandlot, The Pride of the Yankees, Bang the Drum Slowly, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Eight Men Out, and Major League, the latter of which was partially filmed at the (then) newly built stadium on City Island. But enough of this. Howzabout those best of the best baseball movies.

5. The Bad News Bears (1976) – I remember seeing this in the theatre when I was 9 years old and was amazed how real and rude these kids were. After, I was a changed man (or boy). I too would become a foul-mouthed little brat. And I did. My skills at shortstop were not as good though. But the movie still holds up as one of the best baseball movies – and one of the best movies about kids.

4. The Natural (1984) – Probably the most obscure film on this list – and the most underrated. Robert Redford, at the latter part of his Robert Redford peakness, plays a magical legendary ballplayer. The movie plays at being the ultimate fairytale of sports stardom – complete with the most spectacular light-shattering homerun ever shown on the big screen.

3. Bull Durham (1988) – I’m not normally much of a Kevin Costner fan (notice the lack of mention of his other baseball movie, the highly overrated Field of Dreams) but Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins make up for any lack of luster from the lead. Seriously though, this is a solid baseball movie through and through.

2. A League of Their Own (1992) – An all-star cast (even Madonna takes some swings) led by the late great Penny Marshall in the director’s chair (a rarity back then – a woman at the helm of a studio picture) made this look at the reallife women’s baseball leagues during WWII a smash hit – and a great baseball movie, too. Geena Davis is great in the lead role. Just don’t cry in front of Tom Hanks.

1. Moneyball (2011) – “How can you not be romantic about baseball?” A great line in a great movie. That line pretty much sums up how my wife and I feel every baseball season. Brad Pitt should have won the Oscar for his portrayal of Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane. Simply put, if you want a perfect baseball movie, that perfectly embodies the ideals of the game, even while being about how the game was changing at the time, you cannot go wrong with Moneyball.

So there ya go gang. How can you not be romantic about baseball? See ya at the movies – and on the fiel

Kevyn Knox is a Writer, Artist, Pop Photographer, Film & TV Historian, Pez Collector, and Pop Culturist. He has written film reviews for FilmSpeak, Central PA Voice, and The Burg. His reviews & other ramblings can be found on his blog, www. allthingskevyn.com.

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