The Poisons in Pet Food
"Recent studies have shown processed foods to be a factor in increasing numbers of pets suffering from cancer, arthritis, obesity, dental disease and heart disease, comments Dr. Wysong. Dull or unhealthy coats are a common problem with cats and dogs and poor diet is usually the cause, according to many veterinarians and breeders. "Dogs, cats and other animals live for years on foods that come out of bags, cans and boxes. But do these foods promote health? If they did, our companion animals would enjoy long, happy lives free of arthritis, hip Dysplasia, eye problems, ear problems, fleas and other parasites, gum disease, lick granulomas, thyroid imbalances, skin and coat problems, personality disorders, birth defects, breeding problems, diabetes, cancer and other major and minor illnesses. Before World War II, most North Americans fed their pets raw bones and table scraps. Today, everyone uses convenience foods, and pet food companies are industry giants. Diet isn't the only thing that has changed. So has life expectancy, with the life span of many breeds now less than half what it was two or three decades ago. Skin and coat problems are so common that we accept them as unavoidable, and today's vets routinely treat conditions that used to be unusual or even rare." William Pollak D.V.M.
 

Food not Fit for a Pet 
by Wendell O. Belfield DVM 

In 1981, as Martin Zucker and I wrote How to Have a Healthier Dog, we discovered the full extent of negative effects that commercial pet food has on animals. In February 1990, San Francisco Chronicle staff writer John Eckhouse went even further with an expose entitled "How Dogs and Cats Get Recycled into Pet Food." 

Eckhouse wrote: "Each year, millions of dead American dogs and cats are processed along with billions of pounds of other animal materials by companies known as renderers. The finished product... tallow and meat meal... serve as raw materials for thousands of items that include cosmetics and pet food." [See sidebar, ''The Dark Side of Recycling," Spring 1990 ElJ.] more

The Following Practices are Used by Some Pet Food Manufacturer

POOR PROTEIN SOURCES 
Soybean Meal, Wheat, Corn Glutens, Corn Meal, Whole Corn, Crushed Corn and Ground Corn are commonly used for their protein content in many pet foods.  These ingredients are generally poor sources of protein vs. meat.

CHEMICAL PRESERVATIVES 
BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin are found in many pet foods. Scientific studies have proven that these chemicals can be harmful.  In fact, they have been shown to promote liver disease and other medical problems.

FOOD COLORING
Food colorings are still commonly used in pet foods today despite the fact that they are not necessary and some have been linked to medical problems.

BY-PRODUCTS
By-products can vary ... they can consist of the internal parts of animals such as necks, heads, undeveloped eggs, feet, intestines, lungs, spleen and liver.

WHAT LABELS DON'T REVEAL
Condemned parts and animals rejected for human consumption can be rerouted into commercial pet foods.  These condemned parts are referred to as the 4 D's: dead, dying, diseased or decayed.   We believe this is one of the most despicable practices in the pet food manufacturing industry.

Some manufacturers have a lower standard regarding the quality of ingredients they use to make pet food.  A recent example of this practice is the discovery of Pentobarbital in major pet foods, including supermarket brands.  Pentobarbital is a chemical used to euthanize animals.  Many holistic veterinarians feel that daily ingestion of pentobarbital can be harmful.

Many manufacturers cut costs by using the cheapest ingredients available at the time a food is made.  Since costs rise and fall, some manufacturers will vary ingredients from batch to batch .. resulting in changed nutrient values for each batch and possible digestive illness.

Some manufacturers have lower standards regarding the freshness of ingredients they use to make pet food.  You can not determine the freshness of ingredients by reading a label; you must trust the pet food manufacturer. 
Learn more

"In the wild, no one cooks for the coyote or wolf; no one brushes their teeth. Their foods are raw and unprocessed." William Pollak D.V.M.
 

Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food? Listen to Dr. Jane Bicks holistic veterinarian 12 minute FREE audio presentation to learn more about how you can improve the health, well-being and longevity of your cherished pet.
 

What's Really in Pet Food  from the Animal Protection Institute
Plump whole chickens, choice cuts of beef, fresh grains, and all the wholesome nutrition your dog or cat will ever need. These are the images pet food manufacturers promulgate through the media and advertising. This is what the $11 billion per year U.S. pet food industry wants consumers to believe they are buying when they purchase their products. This report explores the differences between what consumers think they are buying and what they are actually getting.