Pet Food Report

get to the truth about pet food

Annual report

Pet Food Report From the Publishers of Animal Wellness Magazine

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Fruits & Veggies: what’s good, what’s bad

Why do

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Fast and easy

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How to pick the

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The evolution of pet food

Diet & disease

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vets

What do really learn about nutrition? $5.95 USA/Canada

ANNUAL 07

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pet food report

pet food report

Contents

8 The evolution of pet food

page

How did we go from feeding Fido and Fluffy table scraps to dishing out kibble-sized bits?

14

12 Top 14 fruits

& veggies for your animal

These flavorful favorites are as good for him as they are for you!

14 Be a label detective page

How to read and understand pet food labels.

12

20 What do vets learn about nutrition?

If diet is the foundation of good health, why isn’t nutrition a priority at vet school?

22 Diet and disease -

what’s the connection?

page

Allergies, diabetes, obesity and arthritis are rampant in dogs and cats. The culprit can often be found in their food bowls.

32

28 Top 10 lies you’ve 8

been told

Our favourite list of lies and myths.

30 What you should know about “Frankenfoods”

Are GMO foods as safe as the experts say they are? page

52 pet food report

Contents

32 As fresh as it gets

More and more people are discovering the benefits of feeding their pets a raw diet.

38 Why do recalls happen?

You may be surprised to find out how few guidelines there are regulating pet food.

41 Good ol’ home cooking for dogs and cats

page

Creating healthy, wholesome meals for your four-footed companion involves a little homework, but it’s well worth the effort.

48

48 It’s a dog’s life

From puppyhood to the golden years…what you need to know about feeding your canine companion through the various stages of life.

52 Doing detox page

8

Just like us, our animals are constantly exposed to toxic substances in their food and environment.

Here’s how to help them back to wellness.

56 “Grrrr…that’s mine!”

What to do about food aggression.

58 What a treat!

Choosing the right goodies for your companion.

page

pet food report

58

64 Coupons & discounts

pet food report

Editorial

Knowledge is power When the massive pet food recall unfolded last spring, people were justifiably horrified. Millions were glued to the news, watching nervously to see if their brand of pet food made the growing recall list. Dozens of animals died and many more than we’ll ever know of fell sick.

Ironically, some good did come from this crisis.

Pet lovers discovered that diet really is the cornerstone of their pets’ health. They realized that the decisions they make for their animals’ nutritional needs can make the difference between a healthy, happy dog or cat and one whose life is plagued by medical problems.

But awareness is only the first step. To make informed decisions for the four-legged members of your family, you need a deeper level of understanding. Unfortunately, as Dr. Shawn Messonnier explains in his article on page 20, most conventional veterinarians learn very little about nutrition, so you can’t rely on these professionals for advice on diet. Clearly, the regulatory bodies responsible for pet food are equally ineffective at guaranteeing pet food safety (see Dr. Jean Hofve’s article on page 38). So how do you know what to feed your companion animal? The truth is, it depends on a number of factors, including your lifestyle and budget. But the Pet Food Report will give you all the guidance you need to make the best decisions for your family. At the very least, you’ll find much food for thought in the articles, written by nutritional experts from a wide variety of backgrounds. And don’t be surprised if your animal’s health improves after incorporating some of the advice you find here.

More than likely, pet food recalls will continue to happen in the future.

As I write this, Wal-Mart is removing two lower quality pet treats from its shelves amidst reports from shoppers that the “cookies” are causing dog deaths.

With diligence, however, and publications such as the Pet Food Report and Animal Wellness Magazine, you’ll be better able to keep your animals safe and happy. al report 2007 annu

t pet food truth abou get to the

of Animal Wellness

Inside: Money

Magazine

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How to keep him breathing easy

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alls rec happen?

Fast and easy

How to pick the

aNIMaL WELLNESS MagazINE

Recipes

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advice on

ANNUAL 07

Magazine.com

pet food report

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Classified Advertising: Lesia Wright classified@redstonemediagroup.com To subscribe to Animal Wellness magazine: Subscription price is $19 in the U.S. and $24 in Canada, including taxes for six issues shipped via surface mail.

Subscriptions can be processed by: Website: www.animalwellnessmagazine.com Phone: 1-866-764-1212 US Mail: Animal Wellness Magazine, PMB 168, 8174 S. Holly St., Centennial, CO 80122 CDN Mail: Animal Wellness Magazine, 164 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9H 2L2 Subscriptions are payable by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, check or money order.

The material in this magazine is not intended to replace the care of veterinary practitioners. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor, and different views may appear in other issues. Redstone Media Group Inc., publisher of Pet Food Report, does not promote any of the products or services advertised by a third party advertiser in this publication, nor does Redstone Media Group Inc. verify the accuracy of any claims made in connection with such advertisers.

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Animal Wellness Magazine’s Pet Food Report (ISSN 1710-1190) is published annually by Redstone Media Group Inc. Publications Mail Agreement #40884047. Entire contents copyright© 2007. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, without prior written permission of the publisher. Publication date: September, 2007

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10 best dogs for apar tments

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Diet & ase tion?

Disethe connec VOLUME 9 ISSUE 5

Dana Cox Editor-in-Chief

the evolution of pet food

Administration & Sales President/C.E.O.: Tim Hockley Office Manager: Lesia Wright Circulation & Communications Manager: Jamie Conroy Administrative Assistant: Julie Poff

For a long, health y life!

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FRuits & Veggiesbad:

you’ve been told

Contributing Writers Kim Bloomer Steve Brown Audi Donamor Autumn Drouin, DVM Michael W. Fox, DSc, PhD, B. Vet. Med., MRCVS Megan Hobbie Jean Hofve, DVM Shawn Messonnier, DVM Lisa S. Newman, ND, PhD Paul Owens Monica Segal Beth Taylor Jeannie Thomason Celeste Yarnall, PhD

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Mom, we can’t read ingredients, but you can.

Most pet foods contain animal by-products and things you’d never feed your family.

Are you being fooled?

Before you say “my pet’s food has no animal by-products,” take a minute to read the ingredients. You’ll probably be surprised to learn that you’re not feeding them as well as you thought you were.

BLUE is True.

BLUE has no animal by-products or artificial preservatives, just the finest natural ingredients like high-quality protein, wholesome whole grains, garden veggies and fruit. Plus, BLUE contains unique LifeSource® Bits that are filled with nutrients and antioxidants for an extra measure of protection.

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Compare Your Brand to BLUE™ Your

Deboned Chicken, Fish or Lamb is the FIRST Ingredient Wholesome Whole Grains Garden Veggies & Fruit LifeSource® Bits All Natural* NO ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS NO CORN, WHEAT OR SOY PROTEIN GLUTEN-FREE

BLUE Brand

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

*With added vitamins and minerals.

Compare the ingredients of your pet’s food to BLUE™ and get a free sample at www.TrueBluePetFood.com. ©2007 Blue Buffalo Co., Ltd.

Be TRUE. Feed BLUE.™ pet food report

The EVOLUTION of pet food How did we go from feeding Fido and Fluffy table scraps to dishing out kibble-sized bits?

by Megan Hobbie

W

hat we feed our companion animals is probably the biggest factor in building health, long life, resistance to disease, and a happy, even temperament. The pet food industry provides us with hundreds of choices, some a lot better than others.

But when and how did it all start? How did dogs and cats go from hunting and foraging to eating “kibbles and bits”?

How it all began

Let’s travel back in time to the late 1800s when a young American electrician, James Spratt, was in London for business. He noticed some dogs being fed leftover ship’s biscuits. Ideal for long trips by sea, these bone-hard flour paste biscuits yielded an extraordinarily long storage life.

Inspired, Spratt decided to create a dog biscuit made from wheat meal, vegetables, beetroot and meat to sell to

pet food report

English countrymen for their sporting dogs. His formulation was based more on guesswork than nutritional guidelines, but this simple biscuit was undoubtedly more nutritious than many of the processed commercial foods sold today.

during the Second World War, since tin was an important resource for the war effort.

Spratt sold his company in 1890. The new owners took the company overseas and established the dog biscuit concept in the United States. It soon became a household commodity, although it would be nearly 30 more years before pet food in general started to catch on.

•The 1950s saw the introduction of “nutritionally enhanced” dry pet foods; these were comparable to the cheaper commercial brands of today.

A century of change

•After World War I, canned horsemeat entered the dog food market.

•Canned cat food and dry meat-meal based dog foods made an appearance during the 1930s.

•By 1941, canned dog food represented 91% of the industry. This changed

•By the end of the war, dry pet foods had become the most popular.

•During the 1960s, dry kibble, semi-moist,

and canned pet foods were available.

The general ingredients were meat, poultry, seafood and their by-products, feed grain, meal, preservatives, additives, and flavorings. Some of the additives included dyes, flavor enhancers, stabilizers and thickeners. People were discouraged from feeding their animals table scraps, the claim being that they didn’t comprise a “complete and balanced” diet.

•It was around this time that Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD, and others like him, started coming out with information and resources that provided people with the facts about what they were actually feeding their furry friends. Their work triggered a new awareness among consumers about the quality of pet food ingredients and regulation standards.

•By 1973, pet food overtook coffee as the largest-selling category among dry grocery commodities. Americans were spending four times more on pet food than on baby food. This $5 billion-ayear industry spent more than $160 million a year on television, newspaper, and magazine advertising. In the midst of the industry’s competition, quality and good nutrition were being sacrificed to profit, and animals began to suffer from health problems they rarely, if ever, had before, such as diabetes, kid- ney disease, obesity, cancer, allergies, etc.

Before the advent of pet food, people mainly fed their dogs and cats kitchen scraps and leftovers.

•Unhealthy commercial pet foods still flood the market today, but we’re also seeing an increase in the number of companies offering higher pet food report

A closer look at commercial foods Kibble

For many people, price is a consideration, so they purchase large bags of whatever food is on sale. Commercial dry kibble is the easiest form for the manufacturers to blend; it’s also easier for them to hide the questionable ingredients. The process begins by pressure-cooking the ingredients. Then the food is flavored, colored, and dehydrated. Kibble may seem cost-effective, but the consistent consumption of indigestible food creates health challenges in dogs and cats.

Canned

To make commercial canned foods, animal proteins (including by-products and other waste materials) are ground and mixed together. The meat mixture enters a “cooker” which is responsible for determining the texture of the food. The meat is then mixed with grains, vitamin/mineral supplements, and water, then cooked at a high temperature. The cans are filled, sterilized at a temperature high enough to kill bacteria, cooled, vacuum-sealed, and labeled. Although this process destroys nutrients, it isn’t as detrimental as dry food processing.

Hint:

High quality premium canned and dry foods are made with whole, clean, meat-based protein sources and contain a much higher meat-to-grain ratio than their commercial counterparts.

They are free of questionable by-products and fillers, as well as chemical preservatives, coloring and other additives. As well, new processing and packaging technologies allow these foods to be produced in a way that preserves as many nutrients as possible.

Semi-moist

The ultimate “junk food” of the pet food industry, semi-moist diets were devised to remind people of hamburger, chunks of meat, or cheese.

They contain a large number of artificial flavorings, preservatives, fillers, and salt. Some contain up to 25% sugar and/or propylene glycol, an additive from the chemical family of antifreeze, oils, and waxes. These chemicals are used to extend the shelf life and keep the food moist.

10

pet food report

quality canned, dry and raw frozen diets made from whole, natural ingredients free of synthetic additives and other chemicals. Not long ago, it wasn’t easy to source these premium foods, but they’re becoming more widely available and you can now find them in many pet food stores.

Things have changed beyond recognition since James Spratt baked his first dog biscuit, and when we consider what goes into today’s commercial pet foods, we might wish ourselves back in simpler times.

But we’re actually lucky to live in the age we do. We have access to all kinds of information sources that would have been unknown in Spratt’s day. Books and magazines about holistic health, websites, natural pet food stores and manufacturers, health food stores, and integrative veterinarians can all provide the education you need to choose the best possible diet for your beloved companion.

We also have a growing number and variety of healthy high quality pet foods to choose from (and it’s okay to add some table scraps!). In short, we have all the tools we need to take back the health of our dogs and cats.

Megan Hobbie specializes in providing information, resources, and services that create a healthy, peaceful, and

fun environment for people and animals.

She has written two health guides for Part of the proceeds from these products goes to Gulf Coast Animal Refuge. Having survived Hurricane Charley with her dogs Angel, Zoe, and Ginger, Megan is dogs and cats.

currently spearheading a community effort to build a multi-use facility

that will provide shelter for families and their animals during natural

disasters, and assist other communities

affected by the same challenges.

Visit www.gcanimalrefuge.com or www.justrelaxwithmegan.com

I

Leads the Way in naturaL WhoLe Food diets For dogs and Cats

n nature, dogs and cats are meat eating predators, what scientists call carnivores. When wild dogs or cats consume their prey they eat the entire animal, including hair, bones, entrails, blood, stomach contents, etc. Their prey is often herbivores, or plant eating animals. Predators obtain essential trace nutrients available only from plants by consuming the stomach and intestinal contents, which are partially digested plant materials, of their prey. Cats are “obligate carnivores,” which means their diet must be made up primarily of meat. Nevertheless, even these meat eating animals still obtain essential nutrients from small amounts of plant derived foods.

For decades, most pet foods have been formulated with deficient by-product ingredients of mainly meat, poultry, and high percentages of cereal sources and then fortified with man-made chemically synthesized vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and glutens in order to meet adequacy levels established by The National Research Council and AAFCO. As history has shown, this approach has not been the best way to ensure health and longevity. Over the years, and as recently as this year, recalls of pet foods have occurred as a result of this type of insufficient formulating. Supplemental iron, copper1, zinc2, Vitamin D33, and grain glutens4 are recent examples of added ingredients that have been associated with incidences of toxicity and death of pets. These ingredients are typically added to meet adequacy levels for insufficient formulations.

Nature’s Logic has taken a different and innovative approach. It is the only line of pet food in which all product categories use 100% natural whole foods to safely derive all nutrients for adequacy. Industry ingredient experts have recently argued the positive benefits of deriving nutrients from functional foods rather than isolated single synthetics5. With this approach, there is no need to add as many as 26 chemically synthesized vitamins and minerals (known to have toxic levels and potential contaminants6) found in other foods. Also, there is no need to add additional synthesized amino acids such as taurine because adequate amounts are in the formulations naturally from the high meat and organ content. By formulating diets naturally from whole foods without the use of synthetic additives, Nature’s Logic can easily source ingredients from known USA and other safe country locations such as Canada, Norway, France, and New Zealand. It is a known fact that most of the synthetic vitamins and synthetic taurine used in both human and pet products are made in and sourced from China7.

Nature’s Logic is excited about the great results its products are producing in pets. The AAFCO Feeding Trial for substantiating the Nature’s Logic Dry Canine Diets for All Life Stages was no exception. The results in all areas of testing were well above the kennel historical averages and AAFCO requirements8.

For more information about this great new line of products that includes high meat or poultry content, low carbohydrates, no gluten, exceptional levels of probiotics and enzymes, and the only full line of pet products that uses no chemically synthesized vitamins or minerals, visit www.natureslogic.com.

As a manufacturer it is our responsibility to make sure pets get fed the safest & healthiest food!

1-888-546-0636 w w w. n a t u r e s l o g i c . c o m 1) http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Documents/HHEGoNatural.pdf 2) C.M. Gurnee, K.J. Drobatz and M.J. Ryan, 2007. Zinc intoxication in dogs: 19 cases (1991-2003). JAVMA 230(8):1174-1179.

3) http://www.natureslogic.com/news/showarticle.php?ArticleID=12 4) http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html 5) Aldrich, Greg, 2007. Popular Functional Ingredients; Proceedings Pet Food Forum 2007: 73-84 6) Balthrop, Jim, 2007. Official Guidelines for Contaminant Levels Permitted in Mineral Feed Ingredients; 2007 Officialt Publication AAFCO: 316-320 7) Petfood Industry E-News, June 5, 2007 8) http://www.natureslogic.com/news/showarticle.php?ArticleID=18

pet food report

11

14

Top

by Audi Donamor

Fruits & vegetables Apples

for

Health benefits

Red Delicious, Northern Spy, and Ida Reds contain more antioxidants than other red apples.

The pectin in apple skins is fermented in the intestines, producing short-chain fatty acids that help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Organic apples may contain one-third more antioxidants than regular apples.

1.

2.

Avocados

Bananas

A good source of potassium and vitamin A.

Make a treat for your animals by combining 2 bananas, 1 large container of vanilla goat yogurt, and 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract, in a blender or food processor. Freeze in ice cube container trays.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Blueberries

Cantaloupe

7.

Carrots

8.

10.

pet food report

Contains a very high concentration of beta-carotene. Considered an especially safe fruit, because it’s not commonly allergenic, and does not contain measurable pesticide residues.

A valuable digestive aid. Also act as a glandular tonic, skin cleanser, and eye conditioner.

Green beans

9.

Papayas Pumpkin

Blueberries are a rich source of antioxidants. They help prevent urinary tract infections.

Packs more nutrients than any other vegetable. An important cancer-fighting vegetable.

Broccoli

12

fruits

Heart smart.

Contain papain, an enzyme that supports digestion. A heart smart fruit.

Very rich in fiber and one of the most valuable sources of bio-available carotenoids.

& veggies your animal

All Natural Dog & Cat Food 1MVT B IVHF TFMFDUJPO PG t 4VQQMFNFOUT

11.

A rich source of beta-carotene and fiber. Help promote a healthy gastrointestinal tract.

Baked sweet potato “fries� with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt are something both people and animals can enjoy.

Sweet potatoes

12.

Rich in lycopene, which may protect against some cancers and heart disease.

Tomatoes*

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Watermelon

13.

14.

#

Contains 40% more lycopene than tomatoes.

Finicky felines often enjoy a nice crisp piece of seedless watermelon.

-

t )FSCBM 3FNFEJFT t BOE .PSF

9

Cranberries

#-

Help prevent urinary tract infections.

-9

#9

What to avoid #-9

+

Onion-induced oxidation of canine red blood cells has caused severe reactions in some dogs. A sensitive dog may develop Heinz-body anemia.

Onions

Grapes & raisins Spinach & Swiss chard

Peppers

Eggplant

A bunch of grapes, or just a few raisins, can lead to acute renal failure.

Contain oxalic acid, a compound that can interfere with calcium absorption.

Serve with care.

$BMM PS WJTJU PVS XFCTJUF UP SFRVFTU B DBUBMPH

*If your animal has arthritis, limit vegetables from the nightshade family, including eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes; they may aggravate inflammatory conditions.

pet food report

13

14

pet food report

Be a label

detective How to read and understand pet food labels

by Kim Bloomer and Jeannie Thomason

“ hicken by-product meal… wheat gluten…preserved with BHA/BHT….” If you’ve ever taken a close look at the list of ingredients on a commercial pet food package, you’ve probably found yourself wondering what all these things really are. If you’re seriously concerned about good nutrition for your dog or cat, however, you need to learn how to read and interpret pet food labels.

The most common include: • barley • brown rice • corn

Ingredients 101

Pet food manufacturers are required to list all the ingredients in their products.

Each ingredient must be listed in order of its weight. This is one of the better ways to determine the actual quality of the food. With a little knowledge of the ingredients themselves, you can then choose a food that is more appropriate, more digestible and free of unwanted products.

1. Grains

Dogs and cats are carnivores and need raw meat and bones. They weren’t meant to eat a grain-based diet, yet many commercial pet foods have a high content of grains and grain products.

• corn bran • corn gluten • corn gluten meal • ground corn • corn syrup • ground dehulled oats • ground wheat • ground whole brown rice • ground whole wheat • ground yellow corn • kibbled corn • soybean meal • wheat bran • wheat flour • wheat germ meal • wheat gluten.

Choosing a product with the smallest possible quantity of grains will help prevent eventual health problems.

Hint

Be aware of the tactics used by commercial manufacturers to disguise less desirable ingredients. For example, if you were to group together all the wheat ingredients on a pet food label, the wheat would be the primary ingredient, not the chicken touted on the package.

2. By-products

Meat by-products are refuse or leftovers from the human food industry.

They include parts of the animal not

pet food report

15

used for human consumption, such as heads, feet, bones, blood, intestines, lungs, spleens, livers, ligaments, and fat trimmings. Even unborn baby animals are considered a by-product.

None of these ingredients in themselves are bad for a carnivorous animal – after all, wild dogs and cats eat them when they consume their prey – but the condition of the by-products that go into pet food is questionable. They can often be diseased or spoiled, for instance.

3. Meat meal, poultry meal, animal digest

These are very common ingredients in most packaged pet foods. “Meal” could be translated as rendered-down “food”.

It’s made by boiling down leftover parts from carcasses to remove or separate fats, take out the water and so on. The idea is to kill any bacteria, viruses, and parasites to make the food “safe” for consumption.

Hint

Dead, dying, diseased and disabled (known as 4-D) animal protein sources are banned in human food, but can still be legally used for pet food.

The problem is, the rendering process is done at such high temperatures (270°F/130°C) that the valuable enzymes and proteins in the raw ingredients are also “rendered” useless, or destroyed.

These enzymes and proteins are critical to good health.

16

pet food report

4. Vegetable protein and gluten

Think “glue” when you read “gluten”.

In pet food, gluten is used to hold dry kibbles together, and is also added to canned foods.

Soybean meal protein is another newly favored ingredient in commercial pet foods. Original pet foods had a lot more meat in them, but thanks to the demand for bigger profits, grains, vegetable proteins and other cheap ingredients have replaced the high meat content in most commercial pet foods. The result?

Severe nutritional deficiencies.

5. Preservatives and other additives

These ingredients are in all commercial pet foods, although the canned diets are a bit better than the dry foods.

Because pet foods have been highly overcooked and are now denatured, something has to be added back in to improve their taste and appearance. They must also have preservatives to lengthen their shelf life for the retailer and buyer.

While many of these ingredients fall under the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) guidelines, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are good for our pets.

Ingredients to watch out for are butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hy-

BHA

droxytoluene (BHT), and ethoxyquin.

All are synthetic preservatives and potentially cancer-causing. Another red flag additive is propylene glycol (also used as a less toxic version of automotive antifreeze). This ingredient lends a sweet taste to the food and is used for flavor enhancing, but it’s not something that should be part of a dog or cat’s daily diet.

What is AAFCO and what does it do?

AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) develops guidelines for the production, labeling, and sale of animal foods. They have developed two standards they feel pet foods should meet. All pet foods which meet AAFCO requirements must include one of two statements on their labels:

1.

“Formulated to meet AAFCO’s nutrient requirement.” This standard simply means the food was tested in the laboratory and was found to have the “recommended” quantities of protein, fat, etc.

2. “Animal-feeding tests using AAFCO’s procedures substantiate that this product provides complete and balanced nutrition.” For a pet food to carry this label, it has to be tested on a population of animals for six months and shown to provide adequate (not optimal) nutrition.

Here’s the catch. If one particular product in a manufacturer’s line is tested and found to meet this standard, the company is now allowed to include the same statement on other products in the same “family” that provide equal or greater concentrations of all the

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nutrients. So even if the pet food carries this statement on its label, you cannot be sure that the specific product was actually tested in a food trial. In any case, testing a food for six months is not a long enough to determine if deficiencies or other adverse effects may occur long term.

Hint

Dogs and cats do not require a lot of carbohydrates – something typically found and allowed in high quantities by AAFCO standards.

How does an AAFCO feeding trial work?

Before the trial starts, and after it ends, the participating animals must pass a veterinary examination. The veterinarian evaluates general health, body and hair coat condition. At the end (but not the beginning) of the trial, only four blood values are measured and recorded: hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum alkaline phosphatase, and serum albumin. The trials do not take into consideration that different breeds have different needs, nor do they differentiate between breed sizes (e.g., from a nutritional standpoint, large breeds are still puppies up to two years of age).

apparent within a six-month period, as they tend to take much longer to develop.

It’s clear that the protocol for AAFCO feeding trials and the standards by which pet food is made are not perfect.

Indeed, these standards can lull us into a false sense of security about the food we are giving our pets.

Many AAFCO officials have close ties to the pet food industry, which is like the fox guarding the henhouse. It’s important to realize that AAFCO is an association, not a government agency, which means the pet food industry is self-regulating.

meal, but just for one bowl of cereal.

You wouldn’t want to have to eat that same bowl of cereal every meal for the rest of your life because it wouldn’t give your body all the nutrients it needs.

The same holds true for our pets.

The standards for “balanced” pet food are approximated. True balance comes with giving dogs and cats a variety of foods, such as animals eat in the wild.

The needs of our dogs and cats are the same as those of their wild cousins.

What is “natural”?

Is it really “complete and balanced”?

AAFCO states that a pet food must contain what they have declared to be the minimum requirements of each ingredient or nutrient. This means that any pet food company can claim “complete and balanced” if their food meets the standard based on these set amounts, and not the actual requirements of the various animals that will eat the food.

Hint

The term “natural” does not have an official definition, although you will often see it on commercial pet food packages these days. For the most part, “natural” can be construed as meaning that the product lacks artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Be discerning when reading about AAFCO standards and ingredients allowable in pet foods, especially the word “natural” – arsenic is natural.

AAFCO standards irrelevant to raw diets

“Natural” is not the same as “organic.” The term “organic” refers Rules for the feeding trial are very loose. The food being tested must merely keep six out of eight seemingly healthy dogs/cats (two are allowed to drop out) alive for six months, without their losing more than 15% of their initial body weight, and without the average of the four blood values falling below minimum levels. Yet most nutritional deficiencies or excesses will not be

18

pet food report

to the conditions under which feed animals and plants are raised.

The concept of “complete and balanced” is really only a myth. It’s actually a marketing concept rather than science. For example, a box of cereal may state “complete and balanced”.

That doesn’t mean for every single

The AAFCO standards were based on the belief that dogs are omnivores and can be properly maintained on a grain-based diet. They are therefore irrelevant to raw diets. If a dog is fed as an omnivore, most of the nutrients

in processed food are unavailable to him because they are contained in the indigestible plant matter. AAFCO standards are based on cooked or processed foods which already have a decreased nutritional value since cooking denatures proteins and collagen, destroys important nutrients, and generally makes the food less digestible and less bio-available (the exception being grains and vegetables, which we have already determined should not be given to dogs anyway).

homework, and learn how to read labels before buying a food, you can ensure your best friend receives the nutritional care he deserves.

These “complete and balanced� pet foods can actually destroy long-term health and cause disease, yet still be marketed as a healthy food for your pet. An example would be the lamb and rice commercial diets that “met or exceeded� the nutrient profiles of AAFCO and passed their feeding protocol, but created a taurine deficiency in the dogs that ate them.*

vitamins, minerals, enzymes, etc.

You have a right to know what you are feeding your dog or cat. That means being proactive in knowing what your animal needs to thrive. If you do your

Hint

In nature, carnivores thrive on fresh, raw prey. Their diets offer the exact proportion of fat, protein, they need. If wild animals suffer a nutritional deficiency, it’s not because the food is insufficient but because they just aren’t getting enough to eat.

Kim Bloomer is a natural pet care educator, host of the online radio show Animal Talk Naturally (www.animaltalknaturally.com) and a writer on natural pet health. She is also co-author of the book Whole Health for Happy Dogs. Kim worked in the veterinary field for many years

and continues to do extensive research into natural health care for dogs and cats.

She is currently enrolled at the Clayton College of Natural Health studying for a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition/Doctor of Naturopathy. She is a member of the American Veterinary Naturopathic Association (AVNA) and co-founder of Natural Animal World.

Jeannie Thomason is a former licensed veterinarian technician and worked in

the veterinary field for many years. She is now a natural pet care educator and continues to study animal nutrition

and holistic animal husbandry. Jeannie has been breeding and showing dogs for

*Torres, C.L.; Backus, R.C.; Fascetti, A.J.; and Rogers, Q.R. “Taurine status in normal dogs fed a commercial diet associated with taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy.� Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 87, 2003. pp. 359-372.

over

20 years. Her love for animals and

passion for natural health led her to

The Whole Dog (www.thewholedog.org). Jeannie is co-host of the online radio show Animal Talk Naturally, a member of AVNA, and co-founder of Natural Animal World. create her website

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19

What do vets learn about nutrition?

If diet is the foundation of good health, why isn’t nutrition a priority at vet school?

by Shawn Messonnier, DVM

A

s a holistic veterinarian, I understand the importance of proper nutrition for my pa- tients. No matter what therapies I use to treat my patients - conventional medications, herbs, homeopathics or nutritional supplements - unless they are eating the proper diet my treatment plan will never achieve its maximum results. How much do veterinarians learn about nutrition? The sad answer is not a lot, and often our

20

pet food report

information is biased. I actually learned much more about nutrition in my undergraduate studies as an animal science major, and on my own after graduating with my degree in veterinary medicine, than I ever learned in veterinary school. I vaguely remember a discussion about balancing diets (which I never do in the real world of practice), but not much else.

The big company bias

really wonderful book on small animal nutrition. It contained a lot of great basic nutrition information, but there was a bias in the writing. While the medical facts themselves were factual, correct and unbiased, the authors were researchers from Hill’s (the makers of Science Diets and Prescription Diets), so they were quick to promote their own line of pet food.

In addition to providing course maAs a veterinary student, I was given a terials for veterinary students, Hill’s,

IAMS, Purina, and other well-known manufacturers offer additional perks for students. Purina, for example, provides several wonderful monographs on a variety of topics, including radiology, cytology, bone marrow disorders, and urinary problems. These pet food companies provide the diets used in veterinary hospitals to feed patients, and also offer these products free or at a greatly reduced price to students and staff.

A more balanced approach

Morris (the founder of Hill’s) for cats with kidney disease. Dr. Morris was years ahead of his colleagues and appreciated the fact that diet can have positive or negative effects on animals with disease.

Unfortunately, the quality of these prescription foods has declined drastically since Dr. Morris first prepared his diets many years ago. Most well known pet food companies have been sold to mega conglomerates like Colgate-Palmolive, who often add plant and animal by-products and various chemical preservatives, additives, flavorings, and colorings to the products. While the science behind the diets remains valid (less protein for animals with kidney disease, less fat and more easily digestible carbohydrates and proteins for those with GI disease, etc.), using by-products and chemicals does nothing to improve the health of the patient and can even contribute to illness.

While I’m certainly not opposed to good marketing, there is no question that without a balanced approach from the companies that market themselves as makers of “natural” foods, the doctors graduating from veterinary schools are biased at best. At worst, they are very “anti-natural” and rabid fans of these Having said all this, I will occasionally national brands. use a prescription-type diet for an aniDoctors must strike out on their own to mal with a chronic illness if his caregiver seek a more balanced approach to diet cannot prepare a similar diet at home. and nutrition. But they’re are not in- For some animals, I think the benefits clined to do this unless they are driven to of these diets do outweigh the negatives. expand beyond conventional medicine. Whenever possible, though, I prefer to Since most are satisfied with the status use them for a short period only, ultiquo, it is hard to find a veterinarian who mately switching to a more natural diet is not afraid to challenge his long-held for longer term control of the problem. beliefs and actually look at other dietary and nutritional options for his patients. I would love to see a manufacturer of natural foods make diets for animals with health conditions and market them The prescription to veterinarians and consumers. Until diet connection then, read up on good nutrition for One of the concerns many doctors and dogs and cats and search out a holistic their clients face is how to feed animals vet who can help you make wholesome with medical problems. Are the so-called dietary choices for your companion. “prescription diets” of any value?

Veterinarian Dr. Shawn Messonnier is

Again, these diets are typically made the author of the award-winning The by the well known pet food companies, Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats, including IAMS, Hill’s, Purina, and The Natural Vet’s Guide to Preventing Waltham. The concept behind the diets and Treating Cancer in Dogs, and 8 Weeks is medically sound. Since the animal to a Healthy Dog. He is also the pet care has a medical problem, such as kidney, expert for Martha Stewart Living’s liver, heart, or gastrointestinal disease, program, “Dr. Shawn – The Natural Vet”, it makes sense that feeding the proper on Sirius Satellite Radio. His veterinary diet should help him improve during the practice, Paws & Claws Animal Hospital (www.petcarenaturally.com), is located treatment for the disorder.

The first prescription diet was made back in the good old days by Dr. Mark

in

Plano, Texas.

Things to remember when a diet is recommended to you:

• Most veterinarians (and few pet store employees) do not have any significant training in pet nutrition.

• Veterinarians often know nothing more about nutrition than the small amount they were taught in veterinary school. The textbooks and other nutritional information provided to students and veterinarians at continuing education seminars usually come from pet food companies that do not make “natural” diets.

• The majority of pet foods on

the market contain animal and plant by-products, chemical preservatives, additives, and many artificial ingredients.

These are not as healthy as those that contain wholesome meats, vegetables, and more natural preservatives.

• Prescription diets are usually no better than nonprescription diets when it comes to the quality of ingredients. Whenever possible, homemade diets are preferred for animals with various ailments. If necessary, prescription diets (plus a lot of nutritional supplements) may be given to some patients, but are best used for a short time while the animal heals. pet food report

21

Diet disease what’s the connection?

Allergies, diabetes, obesity and arthritis are rampant in dogs and cats. The culprit can often be found in their food bowls.

by Lisa S. Newman, ND, PhD

W

hat a scare we had last spring when contaminated pet food ingredients from China caused kidney failure in thousands of dogs and cats.

But what about the thousands of other cases of kidney failure or disease in general that we’re seeing in our companion animals these days? Could even “safe” pet food be a culprit?

22

pet food report

Common diseases and conditions such as obesity, diabetes, allergies, FLUTD, arthritis and cancer are rampant among dogs and cats these days. They may all be different, but they all share the same path from wellness to symptom.

Regardless of the diagnosis, each is created the same way. It starts with diet! What you feed your dog or cat is crucial to his health and longevity.

The Animal Protection Institute of Washington, D.C., reported that the average dog lives 12 years and costs $13,000 in care. Only $3,000 goes to the food bill! The rest is spent mostly on medical costs for easily preventable conditions.

Cheap pet foods don’t save money Poor quality pet foods may cost less at the register, but more in veterinary care in the long run. When you give a dog or cat a cheap food, the result is always the same: you create a toxic animal. A toxic animal becomes a prematurely aging, diseased animal. Without food

that’s easy to digest and assimilate, the body cannot heal well. It may survive, but does not thrive. Food really is the difference between life and death!

Hint

Just like a car burning gas and creating exhaust, the body digests food and produces waste.

Cheap pet food not only contains less nutrition, it’s also harder for the body to break that nutrition down and absorb it. The commercial pet food industry is based on the remnants of human food manufacturing industries.

What is considered unfit for human consumption is ferried to pet food mills for further processing. This way, human pet food report

23

their waste and pet food manufacturers have inexpensive ingredients to use. Even restaurants recycle their cooking grease which is then used as “tallow” in pet food.

These ingredients are unwholesome and unhealthy, and not easily digested.

Food as fuel Food is the fuel the body needs to conduct its many functions such as weight maintenance, hormone production, fighting allergens and building skin tissue.

When we think of our dog or cat’s waste, we think of his stool, but it goes much deeper than that. We need to consider metabolism, the process of taking in food, converting it to use and eliminating the resulting waste on a cellular level. The cleaner the food, the easier it is to burn and the less waste there is circulating in the blood.

Early warning signs Wastes or toxins are processed through the organs of elimination (the skin, liver and kidneys). When overloaded, these organs become burdened. They mal-

1

Poor quality foods always compromise the animal’s health.

6

5 24

And so on until symptoms of illness arise.

function and symptoms appear. These may include: • pimples • hot spots • allergies • arthritis • constipation/diarrhea • vomiting • gas • stone formation • pancreatitis • behavioral issues There’s a simple explanation for this: once the eliminatory organs become burdened, the built-up toxins in the body begin to affect other organ systems. These can include the skeletal system (creating inflammation in the joints) and the nervous system (affecting the brain and mood). The more toxins that build up around the cells, the harder it is for those cells to take in nutrients and eliminate that waste.

The cells prematurely age and weaken, which causes a malfunction in the organ system the cells belong to. This process is the root of all symptoms.

When the immune system is burdened, the whole body suffers. It is the primary defense system, protecting healthy cells from invading organisms such as viruses, bacteria and parasites. The immune system works especially hard to rid the body of dying or mutant cells and to maintain and build health. Without a properly functioning immune

He begins to lack vital nutrients.

pet food report

This causes his elimination system to weaken and become overburdened.

His immune system begins to malfunction.

4

Clean food = clean cells The quality of a cell’s “food” depends on the quality of the body’s food intake and how well it is digested. The easier the food is to digest, the more thoroughly nutrients such as vitamins and minerals will be assimilated into the bloodstream to feed the individual cells that make up the various organ systems.

And the cleaner the diet (no by-products, rancid meats or fats, chemicals, white rice, etc.), the easier it is to digest and metabolize.

When a food is difficult to metabolize, not only is it robbing the body of vital nutrients, it is robbing the body of en- ergy as well. Energy is wasted when the body works harder to digest food, assimilate nutrients and eliminate toxins.

This is the energy needed to prevent or reverse all symptoms, and to run the immune system.

2 Toxins negatively affect the immune

A vicious cycle

The organs of elimination become even further weakened and burdened.

system, these invading organisms attack the healthy cells of other systems. The immune system needs healthy, vibrant, well-fed cells to function.

system, and that stops the production of healthy cells to fight aging and disease.

3

As you can see, it’s a vicious cycle.

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It doesn’t happen suddenly Toxic build-up poisons the body a little at a time, so it sometimes takes years for symptoms to appear. This is why people often exclaim that their animal’s condition “suddenly” appeared around ages five to seven and why the importance of diet is so often overlooked: they just don’t make the connection.

During the first few years, the body is running on its youthfulness and dealing with the food’s toxic effects. Eventually, though, these effects overwhelm the body as its natural defenses start to weaken with age. Most disease is years in the making!

26

pet food report

A good quality premium diet, preferably canned or raw, can help prevent health conditions by providing the body with the clean fuel needed to thrive. Easy-to-digest pet foods are made with the highest human-grade ingredients and are free of by-products, sugar, salt, yeast, chemicals, artificial flavors and colors. These diets provide animal protein as the first ingredient, as well as whole ground grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. They include superior supplementation, such as proteinated minerals, and in the case of dry diets, barrier packaging to maintain the food’s freshness.

Hint For maximum nutrient

assimilation, your animal’s food should be as fresh as possible.

Rancid pet food is difficult to digest no matter how great it started out, so avoid plastic-lined paper bags. Dry food also loses its nutritional value as it ages, so never buy more than a month’s supply.

Consider a vitamin/ mineral supplement My research confirms that the majority of dogs and cats do not get enough nutrients from the pet food they eat.

This problem is not always one of poor quality ingredients or digestibility, but of a general lack of nutrients in the ingredient itself. This is especially true

of vitamins and minerals, vital to all biological functions. I have found that today’s fruit, vegetables, grains and even meats are not raised to their fullest nutritional potential and that additional supplementation is most beneficial when asking the body to recover and stay well.

No matter how pet food is advertised, it cannot, based on today’s industry standards, optimally support each and every individual animal’s specific needs. If that were the case, the food would be too expensive for the general market. There- fore, as with humans, it is helpful to add a quality daily multiple vitamin and mineral supplement even to the very best diets. This assures that a good potency and more complete combination of nutrients (premium fuel) are made available to the body, especially the immune system.

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Hint

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Look for a multiple that includes vitamins A,C, E and B12 and the minerals selenium and chromium. These nutrients help rid the body of toxins and stimulate the immune system.

All animals will benefit from a change to a better brand of food. Highly digestible, human-grade quality food is assimilated more thoroughly, yielding greater nutritional support for the body’s needs while producing less waste in the blood to hurt healthy cells. The more obvious results can be seen within six weeks as old, worn out skin and coat cells are replaced with much healthier ones.

Dr. Lisa Newman holds doctorate degrees in naturopathy and holistic nutrition

25 years applying She is the author of nine books including Three Simple Steps to Healthy Pets: The Holistic Animal Care LifeStyle™. Dr. Newman is also the formulator of award-winning Azmira® holistic pet foods and supplements.

Her comments in this article are meant as a support to, not in lieu of, proper veterinary care. Contact www.azmira.com or 1-800-497-5665. and has spent the last

what she has researched to pets.

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27

Top 10 lies you’ve been told “

Y

ou can’t always believe what you hear”. When it comes to the pet food industry, truer words were never spoken. In an effort to sell prod- uct, some conglomerates have made some pretty outlandish claims in their advertising. Then there are the rumors that circulate, becoming more like “fact” with each new generation that repeats them. So how do you know what to believe? You’ll have a pretty good idea after reading through the Pet Food Report. But just to make it fun, we’ve compiled our favorite Top Ten Lies and Myths list. See if any of these are familiar to you.

makes dogs and cats more ornery or protective of their food. Food aggression is usually a behavioral issue, and not related to the type of diet.

Table scraps are bad for him.

Feeding the same food or flavor day after day can lead to nutrient deficiencies or excesses, allergies and other problems. Variety is the spice of life, so rotate protein sources often!

Stick to one diet; it’s better for him.

Semi-moist food is more like meat.

It only looks like meat. Sometimes referred to as the “junk food” of the pet food industry, semi-moist diets are filled with artificial colors and flavors to make them resemble hamburger or chicken, and preservatives to keep them soft.

Cats should have food 24/7.

In the wild, cats don’t have constant ac- cess to food; like dogs, they only eat when they hunt. Free feeding is actually a major cause of obesity in domestic felines.

Cheap food saves money.

If it’s at my vet clinic, it must be a top quality food.

If it’s good for you, how can it be bad for him? Leftovers of lean meat, veggies, eggs, or a little cheese make great complements to your animal’s diet, adding extra variety and nutrition. But do avoid cooked bones, rich gravies, sweets and the veggies on p. 13

Prescription foods are usually made by large commercial pet food manufacturers that use questionable ingredients. They may be helpful short term for dealing with acute health issues, but not as a replacement for a more natural diet.

All bones are dangerous.

Dry kibble and treats are good for his teeth.

Isn’t that like saying a diet of croutons will save you a trip to the dentist? Commercial dry diets and treats contain ingredients that can actually contribute to dental problems; as well, carnivores tend to break up these foods and swallow them in chunks, so they don’t really do much to help remove plaque.

Raw meat causes aggression.

There is no evidence that raw meat

28

pet food report

It’s only cooking that makes bones brittle and prone to splintering. A suitablysized raw meaty bone or raw chicken neck is perfectly safe.

It might seem the most economical choice, but poor quality food often leads to health issues down the road, and that means costly vet bills.

Raw diets will make my animal sick.

Dogs and cats have a shorter digestive tract than we do, so raw meat passes through their systems before it can cause parasitic illness. If you’re preparing your own raw diet, buy from a reputable source. If you use prepared frozen raw diets, remember to thaw them out in the fridge, keep thawed meat for a maximum of three days, and as you would when you prepare meat for yourself, thoroughly clean utensils, bowls, and countertops after preparation.

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29

What you should know about “Frankenfoods” Are GMO foods as safe as some experts say they are?

by Dr. Michael W. Fox, DSc, PhD, B. Vet. Med., MRCVS

L

ast spring’s pet food recall

– the largest in the industry’s history – not only raised many questions but also left many serious concerns un- addressed. One involves the use of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in foods consumed by both animals and humans.

What does GE mean?

Genetically engineered or genetically modified (GMO) plants – sometimes dubbed “Frankenfoods” - contain artificially inserted genes from viruses and other living organisms. This produces entirely novel chemicals that were never in our foods before, or in such quantities, and is done primarily to make crops resistant to herbicides and insect pests.

In 2006, an estimated 136 million acres of U.S. cropland was used to grow GM crops– 89% of soybeans, 83% of cotton, and 61% of corn crops were genetically engineered.

30

pet food report

Canola is also genetically engineered, and vegetable oils (cotton, canola and corn) along with soy protein and lecithin are used widely in a variety of prepared foods. (See www.non-gmoreport.com for more details.)

What are the risks?

Numerous issues and unanswered questions surround the “safety” of GE foods.

• The insecticidal poison Bt (Bacillus thuringiensisis) is present in most The FDA has a wholly cavalier attitude genetically engineered U.S. commodity toward feeding both livestock and crops that go into animal feed and pet companion animals the new GE varieties foods. High levels of Bt toxin in GM of corn, soy, canola, cotton (cottonseed crops have made farmers ill and poisoned cake) and the other commodity crops farm animals eating crop residues. and crop by-products that are now dominating the agricultural landscape, • So called “overexpression” can occur regardless of documented adverse en- when spliced genes that synthesize chemicals such as Bt become hyperactive vironmental consequences. inside the plant and result in potentially The FDA offers some restrictions where toxic plant tissues. These are lethal not human consumption is involved, yet just to meal worms and other crop pests, they refuse appropriate food labeling, but to cats, dogs, birds, butterflies, other including country of origin. They claim, wildlife, and humans. as their industry sponsors insist, that these crops and food products • Researchers have also found that unlike are “substantially equivalent” to con- conventionally bred crops, genetically ventionally bred varieties. This is totally engineered varieties are intrinsically incorrect. No scientifically valid, peer- unstable and prone to spontaneous mutareviewed food safety and quality studies tions. The inserted genes can have what were ever conducted or published before are called multiple pleiotropic effects. the biotechnology “Life Science” industry The unpredictable consequences of sought to monopolize world agriculture introducing a new genetic trait or qualwith patented varieties of GM seeds. ity include alterations in existing gene

expression, function, relationships, regulation of metabolic pathways, synthesis of proteins and chemicals, and alteration of enzymatic and other molecular, cellular and organismic processes.

Make your opinions heard. Contact your state representatives, MPs, senators, food manufacturers and local grocery stores and tell them that you want to know what’s in your food, and your animal’s, and that you want labels on all GE foods and food products. • The herbicides glufosinate and glyphosate are liberally applied across the U.S. to millions of acres of crops genetically engineered to be herbicideresistant. These poisons are actually absorbed by the crops, while all else growing in the fields, and much of the surrounding aquatic life in rivers and

lakes, is wiped out. These widely used herbicides have caused kidney damage and other health problems in animals. • These herbicides and other agrichemicals, along with the insecticide Bt, are found in pet foods and the crops and crop by-products fed to cattle, pigs, poultry, and dairy cows. Many nutritionists and health experts are linking the rise in human food allergies to the increased consumption of GM foods and food additives, especially genetically engineered soy products that contain novel proteins. I have also received more and more letters in recent years from people whose dogs and cats have various skin problems, immune system disorders and inflammatory bowel disease, and whose veterinarians have not succeeded in treating these problems until the animals were taken off all commercial, processed foods and treats.

What you can do Industrial agribusiness is indifferent toward the potential risks of GM crops and foods. Since pet foods show no

labels to the contrary, and the FDA does not even permit the labeling of foods when they contain GM ingredients, we really have no way of knowing what we are eating or feeding our dogs or cats.

Look for the Certified Organic label when buying pet food, read the list of ingredients, or prepare organic foods from scratch. Until our governing bodies change their attitude, it’s up to us to make sure we’re protecting our health, and that of our dogs and cats, by becoming educated consumers.

Dr. Michael W. Fox writes the syndicated newspaper column “Animal Doctor�, with United Features, New York, and is the author of two forthcoming books on animal care, Dog Body, Dog Mind: Exploring Canine Consciousness and Total Well-Being, and Cat Body, Cat Mind: Exploring Feline Consciousness and Total Well-Being, published by The Lyons Press. For more information on GE foods, see Dr. Fox’s book Killer Foods: What Scientists Do to Make Better is Not Always Best, also published by The Lyons Press. His website is www.doctormwfox.org.

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31

As fresh as

32

pet foodwellness animal report

it gets...

More and more people are discovering the amazing health benefits of feeding their pets a raw diet.

by Celeste Yarnall, PhD

M

any people balk when they first think about feeding raw meat to their dogs and cats.

Maybe you’re one of them. But when you consider the significant health benefits a raw diet can offer your animal, and learn that many of the fears surrounding raw meat are exaggerated, you may change your mind.

Hint

Find a meat supplier you can trust and stick with them. Support local farms whenever possible.

Why feed raw?

Between 1932 and 1942, Dr. Francis M. Pottenger, Jr. conducted a feeding experiment to determine the effects, over several generations, of different diets on cats. When a group of cats was fed a diet of 2/3 raw meat, 1/3 raw milk, and cod liver oil, generation after generation enjoyed incredible health.

No degenerative changes were noted.

There was very little shedding. Gum inflammation was seldom seen. All internal organs were fully developed and functioned normally. The cats proved to be resistant to infections, fleas, parasites, and showed no signs of allergies. They were gregarious, friendly, and had predictable behavior.

Miscarriages were rare, and mothers delivered and nursed without difficulty.

Isn’t raw meat risky?

We’ve all heard that raw meat is dangerous, but carnivores have been eating their prey raw for 40 million years with no ill effects. I’ve been feeding my own version of a raw meat diet to my animals for 15 years and have raised ten generations of super healthy Tonkinese cats.

• One reason raw meat doesn’t make carnivores sick is because their digestive tracts are much shorter than ours and food moves through their systems quickly. In addition, their stomach acids destroy most unfriendly bacteria.

• Buy clean meat. It should be pastureraised or free range, if possible. (For sources of pasture-raised meat, visit the Weston A. Price Foundation’s website at www.westonaprice.org.)

If there is nothing available in your area, regular meats from the grocery store are still far better than processed commercial pet foods. Always use USDA meats and poultry graded for human consumption.

• If you’re still in doubt, you can pretreat raw meat using grapefruit seed extract (GSE), which is a wellresearched antimicrobial agent (see recipe for details). I have always used and trusted GSE as a pre-treatment for raw meat and have not had any problems.

• Finally, just as you would when preparing and handling meat for your human family, be sure to thoroughly clean your hands, sink, countertops and utensils afterwards.

Building a recipe

When creating my raw recipe, I used the prey animal as a model. In the wild, dogs and cats eat the whole animal, including feathers, fur, bones, stomach contents, etc. To rebuild this kind of meal, we need approximately: • 80% meat (muscle) • 10% glands and organs (viscera) • 10% edible bones (ground bone meal also be used)

We started seeing degenerative health conditions in dogs and cats when commercial pet food companies became mainstream in the 1960s.

As a vitamin/mineral-packed substitute for feathers/fur/stomach content, we can use a few raw veggies prepared in a food processor (I use zucchini).

Vegetables provide soluble fiber, which prevents constipation. In the wild, dogs and cats obtain some vegetable matter by nibbling on wild grasses.

This is usually done to purge their systems. If you prefer not to use raw veggies, try growing organic wheat grass in pots or flats.

Many people feed their pets chunks of raw meat. This is fine, but I personally prefer ground meat and chunks of organ meat. I find that my supplements (which contain bone meal) mix pet food report

33

beautifully with ground meat, yet my animals still have the excitement of organ chunks to chew on. I feed a small amount of organ meat daily (every prey animal comes with a full set of organs and glands). My cats especially love lamb liver and kidneys and whole chicken hearts. Medium and large-sized dogs relish whole turkey hearts.

A bone to pick

Quick and Easy Raw Food Recipe for Dogs and Cats Ingredients: • 1 pound raw ground or minced/chopped chicken, turkey, lamb, or beef (not too lean; raw fat is great.)

• 1 ounce cut or sliced liver, heart, kidney, or gizzard.

• Pretreat raw meat (and bones, if used) in 8 ounces of purified water to which 4 drops of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) have been dissolved.

(Do not use straight GSE internally or topically.) Marinate for 45 minutes in the fridge, then drain off excess water.

• 2 level tablespoons of feline or canine vitamin/mineral powder, which includes bone meal (if bones are used on a regular basis, reduce to 11/2 teaspoons), super greens, gland and organ powder, lecithin, and additional nutrients.

• 1 dash Kyolic aged liquid garlic.

• 1 to 2 tablespoons of a feline or canine essential fatty acid (EFA) blend, which includes olive oil, borage oil, salmon oil, and vitamin E oil.

Instructions: Combine all the above, and at feeding time, top-dress with a high quality digestive enzyme. I prefer enzymes formulated specifically for each species, as both dogs and cats have their own unique requirements.

While cats need taurine, it is not necessary to supplement with it when feeding a raw diet. Raw meat, especially heart, is high in taurine; it’s only when meat is cooked that this nutrient is destroyed and must be added back in.

34

pet food report

Bones or ground bone meal are vital for calcium. Raw whole bones are also a great way to help keep your animal’s teeth clean. Raw chicken necks can be cut to size for cats and small dogs, and turkey necks and wings left whole for medium to large dogs. Large and giant breed dogs enjoy meaty beef knucklebones. Rock Cornish game hens can be quartered for cats and small dogs already accustomed to eating raw meat and bones. I recommend raw bones only on a full stomach, as this is when they are eaten in the wild.

Hint

Healthy animals love to try new foods.

My barometer in gauging the health of dogs and cats new to raw food is to see how quickly they take to it. The more difficult the transition, the more they really need to make the change. Finicky eaters are usually exhibiting subtle signs of underlying illness.

When first introducing your dog or cat to raw bones, allow him to have one for just ten to 15 minutes every few days and observe digestive function As he adapts, you can let him have it for longer periods. Initially, please supervise bone gnawing. Cats and dogs are designed to crush, shred, and tear their prey. They do not chew their food, as their jaws are not designed to masticate. They swallow most food whole and let their stomach acids do the work.

For this reason, never give your animal cooked bones – they splinter easily and can cause choking or injury.

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A timesaving tip Feeding a raw diet doesn’t have to be time-consuming or inconvenient. One of the easiest ways to do it is to make up big batches and freeze it in

serving-sized

portions.

Feeding guidelines

Dogs: Base feeding requirements on breed, weight, and activity levels. Giving a dog approximately 2% of his total body weight is a good rule of thumb.

For example, a 50-pound dog can eat approximately 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of the recipe per day, divided into two servings.

Hint

You can make enough to last

It’s wise to consult with a holistic

several weeks if you wish. Some

vet when changing your animal’s diet,

experts feel that freezing the

especially if his health is compromised.

meat for at least 72 hours also

If his digestive system is sensitive

kills most harmful bacteria.

to dietary changes, start with small

Defrost the meat in the fridge;

amounts of raw food and increase

store in a tightly-covered glass

slowly. Always have fresh,

Pyrex bowl and keep for no

purified water available.

more than three days You can refreeze the meat once after defrosting it.

36

pet food report

Cats: Feed adults two heaping tablespoons morning and evening on a flat plate (they don’t like their whiskers

touching the sides of a bowl). Kittens can eat approximately one heaping tablespoon several times per day.

You do have to take care when preparing and handling a raw meat diet, but in my opinion you’re putting your animal’s health at far greater risk by feeding him a processed commercial pet food. A raw diet is much more wholesome and natural. And if you include love in the recipe, you’ll be well on the way to providing optimum health for your dog or cat!

Celeste Yarnall, PhD, is a renowned animal nutritionist and holistic

health care advocate.

She specializes

in dogs and cats and is the author of

Natural Cat Care and Natural Dog Care.

Celeste has successfully raised ten generations of championship cats on her version of the raw food diet.

For more information and recipes, Celestial Pets® 818-707-6331 or visit www.celestialpets.com. contact

Pawsetively Pawfect!

™

Another Healthy Pet Systems success Life for me has certainly changed since adopting my six daschunds. Each required something different as they were abandoned, neglected and/or abused. What is universal is their need for love and proper nutrition.

I firmly believe wellness is achieved with a natural and holistic approach to life. I feed them the way they are designed to eat and provide them with supplements in their daily food to insure the quality of nutrition they require to be and stay healthy. As far as I am concerned, food today just does not meet the requirements demanded by the body for My Family: Back row: Sugar, Tucker, Zak, the health of our pets. Providing them with and Abbie. Bottom: Zoie and Meg Ryan quality nutrients is displayed in their shinny soft coats, their energy levels and their bright eyes. Taking this extra necessary step hopefully will offer them longevity and improved quality of life. Fortunately, I provide them with supplements that I formulate and manufacture. I take them myself. As host of Let’s Talk Healthy Pets-a local TV show- I stress proper nutrition for good health and this is often reflected in the coat. What is going on inside shows on the outside. With Gods grace and proper nutrition, I expect good health and wellness.

Dr. Ed Sulkowski For more information, ask your veterinarian or to order today, contact

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pet food report

37

Why do recalls happen?

by Jean Hofve, DVM

Y

ou probably believe that “someone” is in charge of regulating pet food, though you may not know who that mysterious official or agency might be.

But someone’s gotta be making sure pet food doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients and does contain what animals need to survive, right?

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as clearcut as, “Yes, it’s all taken care of.” There are government agencies that oversee various aspects of pet food production,

38

pet food report

but nearly all the regulation is post- market. There are few guidelines concerning the manufacture of pet food.

So is there anyone making sure a “duck and potato” food is really made with duck and potatoes? Or that it actually contains the minimum 20% protein its Guaranteed Analysis claims? Maybe, depending on where you live. As the recent recall has shown all too clearly, there are many opportunities for pet foods to fall between the cracks of testing and enforcement.

Federal and state regulations

1

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforces the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This Act requires that pet foods contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. However, the most meaningful day-to-day regulation of pet foods actually occurs at the state level.

2

Each individual state adopts its own laws about pet food. These laws are implemented by the Department

of Agriculture or similar agency, which oversees the sale of pet food within its borders. The state’s feed control officials are responsible for examining the food’s label claims and often the food itself.

Some states have very proactive feed control officials, who aggressively examine and test a wide selection of pet foods. Other states do little or nothing, sometimes because the laws are not well written, or because there may not be a sufficient budget for enforcement.

Most states at least have a program to examine pet food labels. Many also randomly test pet foods: i.e., chemical tests for the Guaranteed Analysis (GA), which the FDA requires to be printed on every container of pet food. The four items required to be in the GA are minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, maximum percentage of crude fiber and the total percentage of moisture in the food.

State feed control officials can and do enforce violations of their state regulations. Depending on the nature of the problem, there are numerous levels of notification and correction. In the interim, however, tons of non-compliant food can be sold and consumed by dogs and cats.

3

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is another body indirectly involved in pet food. It regulates meat production (including the foods that are fed to meat-producing animals) and slaughterhouses. USDA’s regulations are intended to prevent contamination of meat products with nasty bacteria such as Salmonella, a culprit in many recalls of human food and occasionally pet food.

Enforcement is weak

When there’s a serious problem, such as reports of illness or death, FDA may get involved. However, you might be surprised to learn that pet food manufacturers have no legal obligation to report anything to FDA, nor does FDA have the power to order a recall.

It’s up to the manufacturer to voluntarily recall a food if they feel it is warranted, or if FDA suggests it. FDA also takes complaints from consumers.

In the Menu Foods recall, chances are that FDA would have been alerted eventually had the company not done so, but many more animals would have died in the meantime.

On the federal level, budget issues are to blame. Since 2003, FDA’s inspection budget has decreased by nearly 25%.

Given their many critical duties, pet food is low on their list of priorities.

FDA admits that they’ve inspected less than a third of more than 600 pet food manufacturing plants in the last three years, despite laws requiring many more frequent visits. Many plants have never been inspected.

The problem isn’t really that the regulations are inadequate, but that inspection and enforcement are deficient. This is partly due simply to volume – the number of pet foods on the market is overwhelming and no one has the resources to check them all.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

FDA also says they inspect barely 1% of all food imports. As we discovered during the recent recall, imported ingredients are becoming more common in pet foods due to their low cost. FDA tends to inspect items that are known to be problematic, such as fresh fish; “safer” items like wheat gluten that were never an issue in the past wouldn’t be flagged for inspection.

Recalls and the barn door

Most recalls are equivalent to “closing the barn door after the horse is gone.”

It’s uncommon for a problem to be discovered before a product has hit store shelves. In the case of pet food, it often isn’t until animals fall sick and consumers complain that recalls occur.

Occasionally, a bacterial contaminant like Salmonella is discovered earlier in the process because it is extensively tested for. A good thing too, since FDA has found Salmonella in two foods so far this year; both were recalled. pet food report

39

Several large pet food recalls have involved moldy grain, particularly corn.

Molds can produce many types of toxins. In a 1995 recall, dozens of dogs were sickened by a mold appropriately called “vomitoxin.” A fungal poison called aflatoxin was responsible for about 25 dog deaths in 1998, and 100 more in 2006. Pet food companies now routinely test for these toxins.

In the Menu Foods recall, the culprits were melamine and related compounds, none of which had ever before been discovered in pet food.

There was no reason to look for them or test for them. But since FDA and analytical laboratories around the country started looking for melamine, they found it in many unexpected places.

From here on in, pet food companies are likely to test for these chemicals.

Until early June, it was anyone’s guess what the next contaminant might be.

Then acetominophen (Tylenol) was discovered in at least five pet foods by laboratories that received samples from private consumers or veterinarians.

Again, because it was an unexpected substance that shouldn’t have been in

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North of the border In Canada, pet foods are regulated at three federal levels. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulates imported products in an effort to prevent the introduction of animal diseases; in the wake of the recall, the organization is currently in the process of reviewing its regulations and programs with a view to implementing some improvements. Industry Canada is responsible for the regulation of basic pet food labeling requirements, while Health Canada’s Veterinary Drugs Directorate authorizes therapeutic claims for pet foods under the Food and Drug Regulations.

pet food, it hadn’t been routinely tested for. This will probably change now.

The bottom line

The more you learn about the pet food industry, the more you probably worry about your dog or cat’s food.

The kind of regulation that many of us assume is present across the industry really doesn’t exist. Instead, current regulations and the market itself tend to promote the better products, and weed out the “bad players” over time.

It really is amazing that the industry is as “clean” as it is.

The chances of a recall will never be zero. Pet food makers can’t possibly test for the millions of chemicals that might get into a food. And with the industry’s emphasis on profit, the temptation to use cheaper, riskier ingredients won’t go away. But as government and the industry learn more, testing abilities improve, and consumers demand better standards and quality, pet food will hopefully become safer. In the meantime, you can take control of your animal’s well being by exploring healthier alternatives such as home-prepared raw or cooked diets, or premium pet foods made from high quality ingredients.

Veterinarian Dr. Jean Hofve is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, and has researched pet food and nutrition for more than 12 years. During two years as a full-time animal advocate for the Animal Protection Institute, she was a liaison to AAFCO, the organization that sets standards for the pet food industry.

Having also served as a practicing veterinarian and four-term President of the Rocky Mountain Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Jean has a unique perspective on the pet food industry and pet nutrition.

She has written extensively

on nutrition for a variety of publications over the past ten years.

pet food report

Good ol’ home cooking for dogs and cats

Creating healthy, wholesome meals for your four-legged companion involves a little homework, but it’s well worth the effort.

by Audi Donamor

ears ago, I believed the very best diet I could feed my animals was the commercial stuff from the pet food store. After all, how could I possibly create a diet that was as nutritious, delicious, and balanced as those made by the big pet food companies, or so their advertising told me?

One day, everything changed. My golden retriever became ill, and even after a trip to the vet there didn’t seem to be a “label” we could pin on his gastrointestinal upset. I concluded he must have consumed some “tasty” morsel while roaming around outside, or perhaps it was a rancid ingredient in the food he was eating. Either way, I decided to change his diet. I became almost fanatical about studying pet food labels labels, and finally made the decision to get out my pots and pans and make his food myself.

Many people feel that creating a home cooked diet for their dog or cat is just too time-consuming and difficult. “I’ve got enough to do without cooking meals for my pets!” they say. True, it does pet food report

41

al Needs: A Science Based Guide for Pet Owners and Your Cat’s Nutritional Needs: A Science Based Guide for Pet Owners (http://dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/ dog_nutrition_final.pdf and http://dels. nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/cat_nutrition_ take more final.pdf).They contain information time than about proteins and amino acids, fats just opening and fatty acids, energy needs, vit- a can or bag, amins, minerals, feeding practices, and but aside from food choices. Charts provide you with a that, preparing framework for designing diets that meet a whole food the individual needs of your animal. home cooked There’s also guidance from veterin- diet is not rock- arians and nutritionists: et science. And the more you

do it, the easier Once you’ve learned something about it’ll get. home cooked food for dogs and cats, you can begin.

Let’s get started

Do your homework

The basics of a good diet When you’re home preparing food for your furry friends, it helps to understand the foundations of a balanced meal. Three ingredients for the most basic of home cooked diets are: 1. Ground meat, without the bone 2. An orange and a green vegetable 3. A good carbohydrate source, for sustained energy The photo above shows a wholesome selection of these ingredients, including ground chicken thigh, a fruit and vegetable mash containing carrots, green beans, cranberries, blueberries and a Red Delicious apple, and stone ground whole oats.

42

pet foodwellness animal report

You do need to understand something about dog and cat nutrition before starting to home cook your animal’s meals, so it’s important to do a bit of reading and research. Here a few resources to help you out: • Two books that are front and centre on my bookshelf are Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats (Third Edition, Revised and Updated) by Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD and Susan Hubble Pitcairn; and Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Recipes: The Healthful Alternative by Dr. Donald R. Strombeck DVM, PhD. They’re easy to read and understand, and packed with valuable information and lots of easy recipes.

• The USDA database at www.nal.usda. gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ and www.nutritiondata.com are simple to use, even for first timers. You can get an analysis of countless foods, including caloric content, and the percentage of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, based on serving size. The World’s Healthiest Foods at www.whfoods.org is also an excellent resource.

When creating a diet, you need to do two basic things: 1. Be sure to include the right proportions of protein, fat, digestible carbohydrates and other nutrients.

2. Determine how much food your dog or cat will need on a daily basis.

How much do I feed?

Let’s take a look at a moderately active 50-pound dog. According to the NRC guidelines, an inactive 50-pound dog requires an average of 989 calories per day, while an active dog of the same weight needs approximately 1,353 calories per day. A moderately active dog would therefore require around 1,200 calories (add 1,353 and 989 and divide by 2).

The quantities provided in the menu with this article make enough food for a dog like this for one day. If you want to know how much food you’ll need in a week, just multiply by seven. Keep no more than two or three days’ worth of food in the fridge, and freeze the rest in serving size containers.

For a nine-pound adult cat, NRC guidelines recommend 250 calories a day. For a cat then, you would make • The National Research Council of up one day’s worth of food, as listed the National Academies offers two free in the menu, and divide it into five online booklets: Your Dog’s Nutrition- portions for five days.

pet food report

43

higher in fat than others. The meats can be ground or whole.

Healthy diets start with whole foods

Fat

The menu

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they must eat meat in order to survive.

Be sure to include meat, poultry or fish in every meal.

1-1/2 cups chicken 1-1/2 cups turkey 1-1/2 cups duck 1-1/2 cups lean beef 1-1/2 cups bison/buffalo 1-1/2 cups lamb (lean cuts) 1-1/2 cups venison 1-1/2 cups emu 1-1/2 cups ostrich 1-1/2 cups rabbit 1-1/2 cups salmon 1-1/2 cups tuna 1-1/2 cups pollock 1-1/2 cups mackerel 4 hard boiled eggs

When making a meal for your animal, pick one ingredient from each of the three categories of protein, fat and carbs.

The ratio for this diet is approximately 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbohydrates. All the amounts are based on cooked volume.

Try to use organic foods whenever possible, including meat. Choose seasonal fruits and vegetables and whole grains, properly prepared for digestibility.

If your dog or cat has a health condition, you can prepare a diet that targets that specific concern; the books by Dr. Pitcairn and Dr. Strombeck can help, or consult a holistic vet who is well-versed in nutrition.

Protein Proteins are the building blocks of an animal’s diet. Choose one protein from the list below, remembering that this is just a starting point and you can start combining them when you have some food prep miles under your belt.

Keep in mind that some proteins are

Fats are the most concentrated source of energy in the diet plan. Add a tablespoon of one of the following oils to the diet.

Use cold pressed oils wherever possible.

• safflower • sunflower • canola • grape seed • hemp seed • avocado • olive • rice bran

Carbohydrates Whole grains and fruits and vegetables provide the most complete source of carbohydrates and provide sustained energy for your animal companion.

Choose one carbohydrate from the list.

One cup of a dry whole grain is cooked in three cups of filtered water.

3 cups of whole brown rice 3 cups of pearl barley 4-1/2 cups of oatmeal, made from whole oats 3 cups of sweet potatoes Also add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of a vegetable and fruit mash that includes orange and

“Because the intestinal tracts of dogs and cats are much shorter than those of cereal-eating animals, like cows and horses, grains fed to dogs and cats need some pre-digestion, in the form of cooking.”

- Dr. Richard Pitcairn.

44

pet foodwellness animal report

Don’t stick to the same ingredients all the time. Mix and match, and choose from a variety of protein sources. green vegetables and brightly colored fruits. Since dogs and cats do not have the necessary enzymes to break down cellulose walls, indigestible carbohydrates found in the outer layers of fruits and vegetables, we have to break them down so these power-packed foods can be made as bio-available as possible.

Cooking and steaming vegetables will do the trick. Alternatively, a food processor, blender, juicer or grinder can quickly create a wonderful pureé. Most fruits just need a fast spin in a processor.

For a list of the top 14 fruits and veggies for dogs and cats, turn to page 12.

What else you need to know • Your animal companion will also need a complete vitamin/mineral complex.

• If you have a cat, a taurine supplement is essential.

because each product is different. A 50-pound dog requires a minimum of 1,350 mg of calcium per day, while a nine-pound adult cat requires a minimum of 750 mg.

Do not give your animal cooked bones – they can splinter and cause injury.

Switch over to the new diet gradually.

Both dogs and cats can experience digestive upsets if you change their food too abruptly. Make the change over a period of a few weeks by adding slowly-increasing amounts of the new food to his regular diet, while cutting back on the latter.

Feline Flatbread with Liver Pureé and Organic Catnip

• Ensure that fresh filtered water is available to your dog or cat at all times.

• It’s always a good idea, when embarking on any new diet for your dog or cat, to work with a holistic vet, especially if your animal has a health issue. He or she can help you with an individually-tailored diet plan, and also provide you with additional advice about home cooking.

Home cooking food for your animal might seem daunting at first, but the • You must also include a calcium source. • As you get more comfortable with the more you do it and the more you learn, It may take the form of raw bones, hu- above diet plan, you can start adding the more you’ll get into it. Best of all, man grade bone meal, available from some cooked or steamed organ meat your dog or cat will reward you with health food stores, pharmaceutical to the protein sources. It can be mixed in better health, more energy, and a longer, grade dicalcium phosphate, or vegetable with regular meat, but shouldn’t com- happier life. (continued on next page) based calcium. Read labels carefully, prise more than 10% of the diet.

pet food report

45

More savory recipes to try salmon, tuna, mackerel 1 tablespoons fresh organic catnip or 1-1/2 tsp dried organic catnip

Booster Bars

The very best chicken stock 24 cups filtered water 3 pounds chicken backs and necks 2 carrots, in pieces 2 celery stalks, in pieces 3 Shitake mushrooms, dried or fresh 2 garlic cloves 1 piece of fresh ginger 12 white peppercorns 1 to 2 tablespoons kosher salt, to taste handful of fresh parsley (Italian or curly) other fresh herbs to taste, e.g. thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary Put all ingredients in a large stock pot.

Bring to a rolling boil, skim off the foam, turn the heat down to simmer, and leave the pot to sit and stew all day long.

Re-frigerate overnight. Next morning, skim off the fat, remove the meat and vegetables, strain the stock into storage containers and freeze. This will give you a nutrient-packed broth to add to any of your dog or cat recipes, including biscuits and other treats.

Feline flatbread 2 cups organic whole oat flour 3/4 cup chicken stock, or liquid from a can of fish 1/4 cup pure cranberry juice 1 teaspoon sea salt (optional) 2 tablespoons pureéd liver or fish, e.g.,

46

pet food report

Preheat oven to 325ºF. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender, and blend well until the dough is pulling away from the sides of the bowl. Turn dough out onto a clean, floured surface. Knead for two minutes, adding more flour as needed so dough is not sticky.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Roll out dough to about 1/4” thick. Lightly brush the top of the flatbread with cold pressed oil (e.g., olive, safflower or sunflower). Score the surface with a knife or pizza cutter.

Sprinkle with chopped cranberries or catnip, or both.

Bake for 15 minutes, then turn oven down to 175ºF, and bake for one hour more. Let the flatbread cool completely before breaking into bite-sized pieces and storing in an airtight container or Ziplock bag.

If you would like a softer flatbread for your finicky feline, bake for a shorter time. For a real treat, sprinkle the flatbread with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Purrfect!

Carrot cake 2 free range eggs 1/2 cup unpastuerized local honey 1/4 cup cold pressed oil, e.g., saff- lower, sunflower 1/2 cup apple sauce 1 cup finely grated carrots 1-1/4 cups whole oat flour 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1 heaping teaspoon of Saigon cinnamon 1 teaspoon carob powder 1/2 cup fresh or sun dried unsulphured cranberries. Blueberries can also be used for this recipe.

Preheat over to 350ºF. Combine all ingredients, except cranberries, in

a food processor or blender. Combine well, then fold in cranberries. Lightly grease an 8” cake pan, and spoon in batter.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, checking for “doneness” by testing with a toothpick.

Cool the cake completely before storing in an airtight container in the fridge.

It also freezes well. You can also make muffins instead of a cake; shorten baking time to 15 to 20 minutes.

Booster bars for dogs 4 cups large oats 2 cups oatmeal 1 tablespoon carob powder (optional; cinnamon can also be used) 1 cup apple sauce or pureéd banana 1/4 cup cold pressed safflower oil or other oil of your choice 1/4 cup unpasteurized honey 4 free range eggs 1 cup sun dried unsulphured cranberries or blueberries Preheat oven to 350ºF. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Spoon batter into a well greased baking pan or Pyrex baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes and check for “doneness” by testing with a toothpick. Remove pan from oven and score into squares. Cool completely before storing in airtight container or Ziplock bags. This is a very easy recipe to double, and the bars freeze well.

Audi Donamor has been creating special needs diets for dogs and cats

for over ten years. Following the loss of her beloved golden retriever,

Blues, Smiling Blue Skies ® Cancer Fund through the University of Guelph’s Pet Trust. Audi is a recipient of the Golden Retriever Club of Canada Silmaril Kennel Trophy for the Human/ Animal Bond. she founded The

Carrot Muffins

pet food report

47

It’s a dog’s life From puppyhood to the golden years...what you need to know about feeding your canine companion during the various stages of life.

by Monica Segal

P

atty’s golden retriever,

Sam, recently turned twelve. She’s also just adopted a six-month-old puppy from the local shelter. “My question is, should I feed them both the same, or does the pup’s needs differ from Sam’s?” Patty wonders.

puppies, adults and senior dogs the same diet, and/or if they should buy the agespecific commercial pet foods so widely available today.

Here’s what you need to consider.

Puppy power

Age-appropriate nutrition can be a controversial subject. Like Patty, many The body of a growing puppy is like people aren’t sure if they should feed a house under construction. It has a

48

pet food report

greater need for minerals and vitamins because it is experiencing new cell formation at an accelerated rate.

Puppyhood is the foundation stage when bones and organs are not only growing, but serve as storehouses for some vitamins and minerals. The liver, for example, stores copper, a mineral necessary for bone formation, pigmentation, immune function, iron metabolism

and blood formation. The bones and teeth, meanwhile, store calcium. When a diet is deficient in calcium, the bones and teeth will release it into the bloodstream. Every dog will have days when he doesn’t eat well, so strong bones rich in calcium are an advantage. Furthermore, growing bones need extra calcium in order to support their strength and density. Otherwise, they will release their calcium into the bloodstream and become weaker over time.

That said, puppies aren’t able to excrete excess calcium as efficiently as adult dogs do. For this reason, it’s important that they are not feed too much. Giant breed dogs can develop serious skeletal problems when calcium is fed incorrectly.

All foods contain some protein.

Eggs, milk, fish and meat, in that order, provide the highest quality. Although grains also contain protein, the quality is inferior. Think of a diet that provides 32% protein: it might

sound good, but if most of the protein is coming from grains, the dog would actually be better off with a lower percentage of better quality meat protein.

an advantage over poor quality commercial foods because you can control the food sources, know where the protein is coming from, and adjust the amounts as needed.

The importance of protein

Healthy growth comes from good nutrition. Along with protein, the puppy also needs fat. As with protein, the percentage of fat needed to support growth and appropriate weight gain can vary based on the quality of the food. A premium diet for puppies is usually based on more protein and fat with less focus on carbohydrates, which is how it should be.

In general, high quality puppy diets can provide as much as 80% of their calories from a combination of protein and fat.

Every cell in the body requires protein, and a rapid growth rate demands even more. For this reason, commercial puppy diets tend to include more protein than adult diets. However, the quality of protein, which translates to how well the body actually utilizes it, is a key factor in determining how much the puppy really needs. If the food is a low end brand, it probably contains poor quality protein and is therefore not the best choice for your new companion.

If you’re buying a packaged food for your puppy, avoid the low-end commercial diets and choose a premium canned or frozen raw product that has whole named meat as its primary protein source. Home-prepared diets also hold

Factoring in fat

The nutritional requirements of puppies also depend on the size the adults are expected to be. Great Danes and Chihuahuas are examples of just how great the differences can be.

pet food report

49

All grown up

while body fat increases. Our dogs may look and even weigh the same as in the To the naked eye, the adult dog’s body past, but the body mass composition does not seem to alter very much aside has changed. Body strength depends on from some changes in weight. How- a combination of muscle mass, muscle ever, the adult body can be likened to a tone and the integrity of the skeletal house under constant renovation. Cells system. Physical strength decreases die and new ones are manufactured when muscle mass is lost. As a result, on a continual basis. Blood cells, skin, dogs may be more lethargic or unable to muscle tissues and more all require proper do what they once did for as long as they used to. Most of the time, this makes for nutrition to keep a dog healthy. accelerated weight gain.

Adult dogs do not need the high quantities of vitamins and minerals that Females tend to accumulate puppies do, but they continue to require more body fat than males do. a healthy diet that includes all the necessary nutrients as well as high quality Breeds may also differ in their protein and fat. body fat-to-lean ratio.

Notice I didn’t mention carbohydrates.

While dogs are certainly able to use the nutrients provided by carbohydrates, they do not actually need the carbohydrates themselves. When carbs are used in a low-end commercial diet, they are there for one reason: to add calories so the manufacturer can save money by using less protein and/or fat. Sometimes there’s a valid reason to feed carbohydrates - in the case of dogs that don’t tolerate high-fat diets, for example - but for the average healthy dog, this requirement does not exist.

More weight and less muscle mass compromise the animal’s ability to move easily. Stress may be added to the joints, heart and general body func- tion. Digestive changes can also occur.

For example, when exercise is reduced, some older dogs begin to have problems with constipation.

Many dog owners worry about preventing kidney disease, and this is what motivates them to decrease the protein in an older dog’s diet. Do not let fear drive your decisions. A study conducted

by Purina notes that after three years, a How much protein does an adult dog higher mortality rate was seen in older actually need? If it’s of high quality, much dogs on a low protein diet (16.5%) less than many people think. The body compared to those on a higher protein is the original recycling machine. It can diet (34%).* The mechanism of this utilize some of the matter that old cells effect is not fully understood, and there leave behind, and create some protein of is suspicion that that the older animal’s its own. This is one of the reasons that gastrointestinal tract becomes less the protein content in diets can vary so efficient at digesting and absorbing pro- widely; one might be only 18% while tein and other nutrients. But it’s hard to another has 43% protein. Both are fine, argue the results since there is no finanbut while feeding more protein than the cial gain for a dog food company to state pendium on Continuing Education for the healthy body needs does no harm, nei- that an older dog needs more protein.

Practicing Veterinarian; 21:34-37. ther does it serve a purpose because it is simply excreted.

In the case of older dogs, feed the pet, Monica Segal received certification in not the age. A healthy older dog does Diets that provide 25% to 35% not need to have his protein restricted. animal health care through the Uniprotein are healthy for an adult Remember that easily digested, high versity of Guelph. She writes feature quality protein benefits dogs of all ages, articles for publications throughout dog, as long as the source is of from pups like Patty’s to golden oldies North America and conducts workshops such as Sam. good quality. and seminars by invitation. She also

The golden years One important change that occurs with age is that lean skeletal mass decreases

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pet food report

authored

* Kealy, R.D. (1999) “Protein in Life Stage Nutrition – Factors Influencing lean Body Mass in Aging Dogs.” Com-

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51

Doing Detox Just like us, our animals are constantly exposed to toxins in their food and environment. Here’s how to help them back to wellness.

by Autumn Drouin, DVM

M

ystie is a sweet sixyear-old spayed female border collie/springer spaniel cross. She first came to our clinic on May 26, 2006. Her medical history was routine: puppy vaccines, spay, parasite prevention medication, annual boosters for rabies, distemper, hepatitis and kennel cough, with leptospirosis added in the past three years. She was on a medical weight-reducing diet.

She had no illness, other than two ear infections that were treated with

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a medicated ointment. But Mystie was slowing down. She showed less interest in her Frisbee, was more aloof, and her daily runs were becoming walks. Her owners put the change down to her age.

On examination, Mystie was found to have a mild doggy body odor despite good grooming. She also had a small amount of mucus and crusty discharge in the corners of her eyes, tartar accumulation on her upper molars, a little wax in both ears, and a soft, painless, easily moveable growth under the skin on her right thigh. Her coat was luster-

less with mild dandruff on her back, and she was 15% overweight.

Her blood tests were within normal limits and her heartworm and stool parasite tests were negative. We did distemper and parvovirus vaccine titers and they came back positive, indicating an antibody response to those vaccines. Mystie presented the typical picture of the “basically healthy but toxic dog” – in other words, declining health without overt pathology.

Mystie’s guardians, who had always done what they believed best for their canine

Vaccines: Too many.

Drugs: Antibiotics, dewormers, heartworm and flea prevention products.

It’s best to work directly with a holistic vet when starting your own dog or cat on a detox program.

Detoxification to the rescue Detoxification is how the body rids itself of poison, and is a process that’s always taking place. Due to poor quality food, over-vaccination and other factors, the detoxification organs (the liver is the main one) become stressed. The process consequently becomes less efficient and needs assistance. In alternative medicine, detoxification is the extra support we give the body to help it carry out its natural detoxing process. It also helps with the breakdown of some of the toxins that the body can’t get

companion, felt guilty that she showed demands of energy expenditure, healing signs of toxicity. I assured them we could and detoxification. begin to immediately reverse the situation.

Environmental exposure: Mystie’s family lives in a new housing development Why was Mystie toxic? adjacent to agricultural land. New houses Diet: Mystie was eating a food that are highly polluted while the chemicals contained low quality ingredients as in new building materials outgas. well as additives, hormones, pesticides, Pesticides on lawns and surrounding etc. The nutrition she was receiving agricultural land are also a problem, as was inadequate and unable to meet the is air pollution.

Toxins are also normally produced in the body as byproducts of digestion and metabolism. pet food report

53

Hint: It’s difficult to predict which reactions may appear and for how long, although animals often detoxify through their weakest system.

For example, an animal with skin problems will often detoxify through his skin.

These reactions occur as toxins drain out of the animal’s body, so they aren’t something to worry about unless they’re severe. In that case, always consult your veterinarian, since this is not a normal part of detoxification.

If your animal is generally well, just give the detoxification process time; the dose can be reduced if necessary.

If your animal has an existing illness, however, consult a holistic veterinarian, as her/his ability to detoxify may be compromised and a different protocol may be required.

rid of on its own. It’s important to do • Stool test for parasites rather than this because illness can result from acc- treat unnecessarily umulated toxins in the body.

• Limit exposure to vaccines, drugs Natural remedies such as homeopathic and other chemicals

preparations, herbs, and nutritional supplements can be used to help an animal detox. Equally important is reducing toxic exposure; improving the diet is an essential part of the equation, as is lim- iting vaccines, drugs and environmental toxins. For Mystie, I used a basic protocol that I’ve utilized with hundreds of companion animals.

General detox protocol

1. A grain-free home-prepared diet. The new diet begins with a “water only” fast (12 to 36 hours for dogs, maximum 12 hours for cats.)

pet food report

It’s not uncommon for an animal to have a reaction while detoxing. It may include an aggravation of existing symptoms, a recurrence of old ones and/or the develop- ment of new ones. Some examples are: • Loose stools and/or mucus in stools for a few days to a few weeks (if wat- ery or bloody consult a veterinarian) • Discharge from the eyes

2.Nutritional supplements:

• Increased body odor and/or itchiness

• fish oil

Revisiting Mystie

• probiotic (Lactobacillus

acidophilus and Bifidobacteria)

• high quality vitamin/mineral supplement formulated for dogs (or cats if the patient is a cat)

By July 15, Mystie’s weight had dropped four pounds. Her coat was shiny and free of dandruff and odor. The growth, ear wax and dental tartar had improved 20% to 25%. Best of all, she was like a puppy again!

• digestive enzymes

3. HEEL Detox Kit, to start after the diet is completely switched.

The kit contains three homeopathic remedies, each of which supports cleansing and drainage: • Nux-vomica Homaccord for the liver and gut • Berberis Homaccord for kidneys and gall bladder

• Lyphosot for the lymphatic system I generally recommend two to ten drops of each remedy daily; the dosage is based on weight. Add each to water bowl daily for three weeks, stop for one week, and repeat for another three weeks. If a pet won’t drink water with the remedies, they can be dropped on food or in salmon juice.

4. Other:

• Weekly local application of diato- maceous earth for flea prevention

54

What if there’s a reaction?

Like ourselves, animals are constantly exposed to toxic substances in their food and environment. Feeding your dog or cat a high quality premium diet made with whole, fresh ingredients and free of artificial preservatives, coloring and other chemicals, is an excellent start.

Along with that, minimizing vaccines and exposure to toxins, along with a regular detoxification program (spring and fall) can help maintain or restore your companion’s health and zest for life.

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55

Grrrr... that’s mine!”

“

What to do about food aggression

by Paul Owens

Y

ou’ve adopted a sweet dog from the shelter and everything is wonderful. You play with her, pet and cuddle her, teach her the basics of sit, down and stay, and marvel at how smart she is.

She seems to love playing with you, the kids and her toys.

At dinner, you put food in her bowl and she happily starts eating. You think she might like a little special “homecoming” treat of grilled chicken. But as you reach to add it to her bowl, she freezes, snarls, then lunges and snaps. All of a sudden your sweet little adoptee has turned into Mrs. Hyde. What gives?

It’s a natural reaction

Dogs have an innate proclivity to guard their resources, including food, people, toys and whatever else they think is “theirs.” Mother Nature has hardwired this trait into each and every dog to help ensure survival and reproduction.

Left to fend for himself, a dog who successfully guards his food has an edge over another animal.

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Although every dog has this guarding instinct, there are degrees of manifestation. Early puppy socialization and training can tremendously influence his behavior by teaching bite inhibition.

How much of a role genetics plays can’t really be measured, but the problem of guarding can certainly be ameliorated or exacerbated by what we do or don’t do to teach our dogs appropriate behavior and to prevent mishaps.

Hint

Resource aggression can lead to serious injury so I cannot stress strongly enough the need to call in a professional dog trainer (positive

feet of their bowl. Small dogs might not inflict as much damage, but blood is blood. Safety is your first and foremost concern, especially if there are children in the family.

A three-step program

If your dog guards her food, whether from you or another animal in your house, consult a professional trainer.

He or she will set you up with a behavior modification program that employs all three of the following methods:

1. Prevention

and Management

Set up your environment so the dog’s behavior isn’t triggered. For example, don’t leave food out between meals.

training only of course) to nip this problem in the bud.

There are degrees of aggression, ranging from dogs who freeze and growl when someone approaches while they are eating, to dogs who can and will inflict severe injuries if you come within six

2.

Systematic Desensitization and Counterconditioning

Systematic Desensitization begins by introducing the stimulus that normally triggers the behavior (like you

approaching the dog while she’s eating) at a distance and intensity that isn’t threatening. Then you gradually increase the intensity, contingent on her feeling okay with your progression.

Eventually you work up to a point where you can touch your dog and handle her all over her body while she’s eating, and even take her bowl away or put your hands in her bowl without triggering aggression.

Counterconditioning is used in conjunction with systematic desensitization. πIt’s a process that changes the way your dog feels about the situation.

We counter a dog’s negative feelings about someone approaching her food bowl by associating the approach with something pleasant, like highly-valued chicken or cheese treats.

Hint

Don’t compete with your dog, challenge her, or try to

decided to show her dog she was “boss”.

She tried to force him away from his food by sticking her face near the bowl.

Dozens of stitches later…

3. Operant Conditioning

Resource guarding won’t be resolved overnight, but if you consistently and precisely follow the step-by-step program that a trainer sets up for you, you should enjoy very good to excellent success.

Use common sense and err on the side of safety. I knew of one woman who

Paul Owens is the author of The Dog Whisperer, A Compassionate Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training, now also available on DVD (www.dogwhispererdvd.com).

Certified by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and endorsed by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors, Paul is the director of Raise with Praise, Inc., based in Burbank, California.

“show her who’s boss” by using physical correction.

Teaching your dog a substitute behavior is a great way to help resolve the problem because it establishes leadership and also teaches a specific alternative.

If, for example, you teach your dog to “drop it” or “leave it” or to back away from the bowl whenever someone approaches, he learns what to do rather than having to be corrected.

pet food report

57

What a treat!

Choosing the right goodies

for your companion

by Steve Brown and Beth Taylor

58

pet food report

T

hink of pet treats and many of us envision those highly- processed, highly-flavored morsels in the shape of fish or mailmen. They might be fun to buy and give to your dog and cat, and your animal might love eating them, but at best all they do is add empty calories to his diet.

Most also contain all kinds of risky ingredients, including artificial colorings, sugars and fillers. Just like people who are always snacking on candy and cookies, animals that eat too many treats can become prone to obesity, diabetes and other health issues.

Here’s a look at the different types of pet treats you can buy and the pros and cons of each.

Biscuits

These are an old standby, so familiar we don’t think about what’s in them. But they are what they look like: cookies!

The average dog biscuit contains more grain than most dry foods, as well as flavorings of all sorts.

Here’s an example. Yodel is a heavy 30-pound beagle. He gets two mediumsized biscuits in the morning, two for “lunch,” and two after he goes out before bed. Each biscuit contains 35 calories. Yodel’s ration for the day is about 550 calories; with six biscuits a day, 210 of those calories are being provided by treats, on top of what he’s already eating. His owners didn’t do their arithmetic, and Yodel got fat. Because of this, his life may be shortened, and he may be more likely to develop arthritis and other chronic health problems.

When buying biscuits, choose organic, natural products made with only whole grains and that contain as few synthetic

ingredients and additives as possible.

Keep in mind that even natural biscuits will add to the carbohydrate level of your animal’s diet, making it harder for him to maintain a proper weight.

Break the treats up into small pieces, or buy the smallest size you can find, so you’re not giving your animal as much at a time.

Meat-based treats

These come in all shapes and forms, from jerky to tiny freeze-dried cubes.

Look for whole food products. Brands that bear “meat-sounding” names may be full of artificial coloring to make the treat look like bacon, beef or other meats.

Meat-only treats include freeze-dried or dehydrated meat such as liver, turkey breast strips, lamb lungs and other body parts. These treats are mostly protein, but they still add calories. A 20-pound dog who consumes a full piece of lamb lung is getting most of his calories for the day, and not in a balanced way. Again, break these treats into small pieces.

Hint

Cats love meat and fish-based treats.

Read labels carefully: attractively packaged, smelly treats may contain low quality ingredients.

Treats to Avoid Avoid giving your animal raisins, grapes, onions, and chocolate; these can all have toxic effects.

Also, don’t feed him junk food like potato chips or hot dogs. open the fridge door, Fido shows up, wondering if there’s something inside for him! In fact, human food can make fresh, nutritious treats for dogs and cats, so long as you choose the right things. Blueberries, carrots, apples, melon, eggs, or bits of cheese or meat are all tasty tidbits. As with any treat, size and quantity are important, but since many of these foods still have their water content, they aren’t as fattening. A piece of apple has far fewer calories than even a small biscuit.

Peanut butter and celery is an entertaining dog treat, but it does have an extremely high caloric content, and should be saved for special occasions.

Chew treats Freeze-dried meat and vegetable diets make excellent, often “complete and balanced” treats. They contain both protein and fat, though, so they add more calories than meat-only treats of the same size.

All meat-based treats should be bought in small packages and used promptly.

Store them in the freezer to preserve the fats and keep the treats dry.

People-food treats

It’s not surprising that every time you

Chew treats can promote mental, dental and overall physical health, and may also help prevent a growing puppy from gnawing on your furniture or shoes. Here’s what you need to know about them: • A raw meaty bone (not cooked) is the best and healthiest chew treat.

• Food-stuffed toys provide lots of physical and mental stimulation. A rubber Kong filled with a few crunchy treats, a piece of cheese, or a bit of peanut butter will keep a dog working for a long time. Treat balls stuffed with pet food report

59

PASS THE GRASS “Cat grass”, available as a kit or already growing, is an excellent kitty treat, providing entertainment and live green nutrients for indoor felines. Some dogs also enjoy nibbling on fresh greens.

Look for an organic product.

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pet food report

small crunchy treats add an element of play as the dog throws and bounces it around to get the goodies out.

• Avoid rawhide treats. Not only do they contain no nutrient value, but dogs tend to swallow large chunks which can cause life-threatening blockages in the digestive system.

Even small pieces can be irritating to the GI tract and may cause diarrhea.

Hint

Always supervise your dog when he has a chew treat.

• The green chews promoted for dental health are often made with a gluten base. Gluten is one of the most common causes of allergies in dogs and should be avoided.

• Other cooked or smoked body parts also need to be carefully evaluated.

Pigs’ ears, for example, are not recommended because they are high in fat.

Tracheas and tendons are easy to digest and add cartilage to the diet, but can pose a choking hazard.

Treat time is an important part of the day for everybody. The most healthful goodies you can give your dog or cat are those made from fresh, whole foods.

It’s all right to buy those cute little fish and mailmen once in awhile, but stick to real food or meat treats most of the time. You’ll help your animal maintain a healthy weight and live longer.

Steve Brown and Beth Taylor are the authors of See Spot Live Longer, How to Help Your Dog Live a Longer and Healthier Life!

Steve is also the creator of Charlee Bear® Dog Treats, Steve’s Real Food® for Pets, and See Spot Live Longer Homemade Dinner Mixes.Visit www.seespotlivelonger.com.

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$2.50 off any 3.3 lb, 4.4 lb bag or 5 lb raw frozen or $5.00 off any 7.7 lb, 26.4 lb bag, a full case of 12 cans or 10 lb raw frozen

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the phd system s smart sensible solutions Established 1995

$ Save 5 on any phd product

pet food report

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Receive 25% off website purchase when you visit www.barkinbiscuit.com This offer is good through March 1, 2008. This coupon may be used multiple times. Not to be combined with any other offers. Enter coupon code AW92007 during check out.

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