natural pet
Kibble Quandary A Fresh Look at Pet Food
E
by Julie Peterson
ating healthy is a family affair, and that includes the family pet. However, what works for humans may be less than optimal for Fluffy or Fido, as each requires a species-specific, nutritionally balanced regimen. Most pet parents opt for commercial dog or cat food that comes in a bag or a can, but many are beginning to
consider more natural options. “Kibble is often the most economical way to feed your pet. But its processed state makes it the least optimal,” says Angie Krause, DVM, at Boulder Holistic Vet, in Colorado. Canned food is also heavily processed and potentially toxic. In 2017, Clean Label Project, a nonprofit testing laboratory,
completed a study of 1,084 pet food products, screening them for more than 130 toxins and contaminants linked to cancer and other conditions. Results showed cadmium, a heavy metal, in 94 percent of the products, along with arsenic and lead. Contaminants aren’t the only concern. “Up to 50 percent of commercial foods are composed of meat meal and byproducts,” says Armaiti May, DVM, owner of Dr. May’s Veterinary House Calls, in Los Angeles. These can include meat from dead, dying, diseased or disabled animals, and even rendered dogs and cats from animal shelters, says May. “We are seeing more cancer, neurologic conditions and kidney disease, and there is evidence that the increase in these diseases may be due to harmful ingredients in commercial, meat-based foods.”
Healthy Alternative Diets
Owners that switch from commercial foods report their animals display thicker coats, brighter eyes and greater energy. However, dogs and cats require specific ranges of vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates, so it’s important to ensure that nutritional needs are met and a healthy balance is maintained.
n Home-Cooked Pet food recalls have prompted some families to start cooking for their charges, but it’s not as simple as sharing the family dinner. “There are online calculators that can help you create and balance recipes for dogs and cats. Balancing a
PURE PASTURES
Local Farm Fresh Fare / Michigan Made Products — Your One-Stop Shop for Healthy Meats & More! Visit PurePasturesMI.com for More Info — Weekly Specials • Free Home Delivery • Two Convenient Locations Plymouth – 1192 Ann Arbor Rd, 734-927-6951 Dearborn – 23309 Ford Rd, 313-406-6282 26
Detroit / Wayne & Monroe Counties Michigan Edition
HealthyLivingMichigan.com
Local, Free Range, Pasture Raised, and Grass Fed Offerings, Including:
• Beef • Pork • Chicken • Turkey • Buffalo • Lamb • Venison • Rabbit • Duck • Elk • Pastured, Non-GMO Eggs • Great Lakes Fish • Local Honey & Maple Syrup • Paleo-Friendly/Gluten-Free Selections • Organic, Grass-Fed Dairy Products • Large Cheese Selection • Beef, Chicken & Buffalo Bones for all your Bone Broth Needs
• Wild-Caught Scallops & Shrimp,
Flounder & Cod, Salmon (Sockeye, Coho & Chinook). • No Gill Nets • No Farmed Fish
