What Dogs Eat – Is Pet Shop Food Dangerous?

 

Vet: I’m afraid, there is nothing we can do…

You: But…I didn’t know.

– Ignorance quickly turns to remorse, when the vet prepares to euthanize your best friend.

 “Knowing is half the battle.” ~ G.I. JOE  

12 Reasons to Start Preparing Your Pet’s Meals – Instead of Feeding Them Pre-Packaged, Processed Junk Food

It is not possible to know exactly what is in those big ole bags of industrial food you buy for your pets. But, the ingredients we can see reads like a laundry list of unhealthy junk-food we try to stay away from ourselves.

• Bone meal
• Animal fat
• Cereal by-product
• Meat by-products
• Ethoxyquin
• Xlitol
• Fishmeal
• Corn syrup
• Menadione
• Ammoniated glycyrrhizin
• Propylene glycol
• Food coloring

If You Wouldn’t Eat It – Why Feed It To Your Pet?

As you’ll soon see, some of these ingredients are not only unhealthy – but they are downright toxic. They attack your pet’s liver, kidneys and other vital systems. If it goes uncorrected, then the unthinkable becomes reality.

The symptoms of liver toxicity, kidney failure and diabetes can happen slowly over weeks and months. You’ll  notice your pooch becoming lethargic and when you expect the usual spritely response to “ Go get your leash,” you may see a dim, unenthused, stare behind her glazed over eyes. You might find she’s barely touched her breakfast and whatever she does take in comes right back out. These are the danger signs that you are slowly poisoning your pet.

If you were to Google the ingredients listed above, this is what you would find:

A laundry list of foods “unfit for human consumption”

1. Bone meal
   Pretty much just as the name implies, this is crushed up bones from whatever animal they can find: dead zoo animals, road kill or even other cats and dogs. Bone meal is used as an organic plant fertilizer and was once used as animal feed…until they realized it was full of lead and other toxic metals. It is enough to make you wretch, but let’s keep reading…
2. Animal fat
   This non-specific term can mean the rendered fat of just about any animal. In fact, manufacturers are not required to disclose the origin of the fat. You may notice it says after the listing, “Used as a preservative.” What does that mean? How does fat act as a preservative? That aside, this rendered animal fat can lead to diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
3. Cereal by-products
   What? Cereal is bad? Yes – if they use inferior cereal by-products in the manufacturing process. You can bet your ash that can pet food manufacturers aren’t really concerned with the best quality ingredients. In fact, much of the grains used in dog food are agricultural waste that the FDA has deemed, “Unfit for human consumption.” Yet, it is more than legal to put this nasty substance into pet food.
4. Meat by-products
   This stuff isn’t even meat at all. It is the leftovers after the meat is stripped from the bones of animals. So, meat by-products are heads, entrails, feet, lungs, spleen, kidneys and stomach.  Like the inferior grains, these by-products are, “unfit for human consumption.”
5. Ethoxyquin
   Ethoxyquin is an insecticide, which doubles as a preservative in pet food. Even foods with such wholesome reputations as Taste of the Wild and Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul use ethoxyquin. Bottom line – it is used to kill bugs, so it’s toxic. It has been linked to cancer in laboratory test subjects, too. So, why risk it? Your dog could be eating about 26 pounds of toxic preservatives each year if you give him food with this stuff in it!
6. Xylitol
   Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in many types of candy, chewable vitamins, sugarless baked goods and in sugarless gums like Trident™ and Orbit™. As little as three grams (e.g. about five pieces of gum) can kill a 65 pound dog. Smaller dogs succumb with amounts from just one or two sticks. Within 15-30 minutes of ingesting xylitol, a dog’s insulin levels will surge and blood sugar levels will drop, resulting in lethargy and loss of balance. Permanent brain damage can occur and without treatment, xylitol consumption can lead to liver failure, even known to cause death within 24 hours. [i]
7. Fishmeal
   It is nutrient-rich, high in protein…seemingly all your pet needs for healthy living. But, not really. See, fishmeal is also used as a high-quality organic fertilizer – like many of the unsavory ingredients in pet food. What else is fertilizer used for? If you said making explosives, then you are right. Unmodified fishmeal has been known to spontaneously combust – the resulting fire has even sunk ships transporting this stuff. [ii]
8. Corn Syrup
   We all know the buzz around the use of corn syrup in our own foods. The danger of it in your pet’s food is just as bad – if not worse. Corn syrup – the king of processed sugars – has absolutely no purpose for your pet. Processed sugar is completely foreign to your furry friend. It leads to tooth decay, diabetes and obesity – just like for us.
9. Menadione
   A source of vitamin K, menadione is far from nutritional. Nutritional value is its façade…it is really just a complex synthetic chemical used in chemotherapy. Doses of it have been linked to anemia, brain damage and liver failure.[iii]
10. Ammoniated glycyrrhizin
    Huh? If it is difficult to pronounce, then it is probably a bad idea to eat it! A potent sweetener, this is actually derived from licorice root. It is often added to pet food in order to make it taste more appealing to your cat or dog. But just like any other sweetener, it leads to the same ugly health problems like diabetes tooth decay and unruly weight gain.
11. Propylene Glycol (PG)
    AKA, antifreeze. This stuff finds its way into the darndest things…creams and lotions, make-up, engine degreasers and now – Fido’s food bowl. Supposedly, PG is a non-threatening version of antifreeze and is added to make food soft and moist. It helps retain water, but also kills red blood cells and is a prime suspect in the cause of cancer.[iv]
12. Red dye # whatever
    Do you really think your pet cares what color her food is? All she needs to know is that it smells good and tastes good. Fact is, the same dyes used in food production – ours and theirs – can also be found in textiles, cosmetics and Big Pharma drugs. Make no mistake – it is a non-food item. It is completely unnecessary where your pet is concerned. Some dyes have been banned by the FDA because they were found to cause behavioral problems, as well as a higher risk of cancer development. [v]

So Now That You Know, What Do You Do?

The day you realize you have been slowly poisoning your pet hurts and can make you feel guilty. But, the good news is you can make up for it — starting today!

See, your four-legged friend is your #1 fan, your advocate and full of unconditional love. So trust me – he forgives you…just make the right choice for his excellent future health.

Let’s Start With Kitty…

The amount of kilocalories a cat needs depends on how active they are. Young cats are high energy and a lean, mean, 15 Lb playing machine needs about 360 kilocalories a day. As your cat ages and settles down, you must make caloric adjustments. Give Fluffy about 30% less calories each day when she stops chasing string or when her playing days are numbered. Over feeding a cat just 10 extra calories per day can add a pound of fat to her little body each year. Not to mention the increased risk of diabetes, kidney disease and osteoarthritis.

Supplement A Carnivore’s Diet

Cats are carnivorous. Meat is muscle and muscle stores water – this is where cats get a large portion of their water intake.

Do carnivores need vegetables and grains? Yes. By feeding them a balanced diet, we are effectively giving them everything their ancestors would have gotten through their herbivorous prey.

So, if you want to prepare a special meal for Tiger, serve up a chicken breast stuffed with spinach and wild rice. There you have it: the Big-6 —proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water – all well represented.  With the right ratio of meat to veggies and wholesome grains, your cat (and your dog for that matter) can safely meet their daily needs for energy, growth and overall well-being.

Dry Foods Are Not The Answer

It is real simple. Eliminate dry food for 3 reasons:

1. Your feline friend can finally join the ranks of his ancestors – lean active and ready to pounce.
2. The wet food will hydrate rather than dehydrate.
3. The animal protein will deliver all the essential amino acids that nature intended.

Dry foods are high in calories and high in carbohydrates adding unwanted fat to your cat.

Kidneys Choked By Fat – Not What Nature Intended

Your pet depends on YOU to serve up their needs. Look for signs that show you are off the mark for targeting the long healthy life of your pet.

Dry food just doesn’t cut it. Cats in the wild have lived long and full healthy lives by enjoying a fresh kill for its nutritional needs. Now, I’m not saying you should go out on a hunt for little Tabby’s dinner of course…but you can try a very simple, all natural recipe to give her the balanced meals she needs.

Try this fresh, natural, simple and wholesome recipe that packs on the nutrition – not the pounds.

Dinner For One…Feline*

What you’ll need:

• 3 pound of chicken thighs (bones/skin)
• OR 2.25 pounds of whole ground rabbit mixed with .75 pounds of boneless chicken or turkey (meat/skin/fat)
• At least 1 C water
• 2 Eggs – you can put the yolk in raw but lightly sauté the whites
• 2000 – 5000 mg fish oil – kitty needs essential fatty acids too!
• 400 IU (268 mg) vitamin E – the powder from the capsules is easiest to use
• 50 mg vitamin B-complex
• ¾ tsp Morton Lite salt with iodine if you use chicken but NOT with rabbit
• 4 ounces liver only if using chicken mixture – rabbit will have liver in it

What to do:

This is a raw or semi-cooked meal. You decide how to serve it. In either case, thoroughly rinse all meat to remove any surface bacteria. If you wish to serve this semi-cooked, bake the meats just enough to kill off any remaining surface bacteria but leave it “rare.” Incorporate all ingredients into a grinder and grind until desired consistency is achieved.

Scoop it into a bowl, ring the bell and bon appetite!

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Stay Out of The Dog House – give Fido only what he needs and nothing he doesn’t

Research Based, Peer Reviewed, Published Clinical Trials….

The proof’s in the pudding, our Nations chronic health conditions are directly related to life style.

YOU are what YOU eat, and so is your pet.

When Silent Ingredients Become Silent Killers

According to the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, ingredients in commercial dog food are the primary culprit for a deadly condition known as Dialated Cardiomyopathy  (DCM).

See, the ingredients that are “unfit for human consumption” interfere with a dog’s production of taurine, an essential amino acid needed to build his cardiac muscle. Without tuarine, the muscle can no longer effectively pump blood to the body.  So, this means the end of the dog run gets a little closer with each bite.

The findings of a clinical trial, where each dog was fed a diet of commercial dry food containing lamb meal, rice, or both as the primary ingredients, revealed that each 1 of 12 dogs had low levels of taurine and varying stages of disease related to DCM.

Here we find the mystery protein sources, their enzymes and engineered amino acids. Digested chemical preservatives and pesticides contain molecules that are unrecognizable. They start to clutter and block pathways for the amino acids that are made by Fido’s system and crucial for cellular survival. Although we can’t see it at first, his organ function is going haywire.

Because malfunction can go undetected, pet owners rarely catch it in time to reverse the damage: heart muscle death is permanent. In fact, you may not know until Rover has a heart attack and dies. All his life you carefully chose food you thought was nourishing to your dog, when in reality it may have caused his premature death.

Which do you think will take more time? Planning your pet’s menu or spending your time researching and watching for all the dangerous symptoms that go along with these:

• Digestive disorders
• Diabetes
• Autoimmune Disease
• Hyperadrenocorticism
• Pancreatitis
• Gastric dilatation volvulus
• IMHA (hepatic failure}
• IBS
• Dialated Cardiomyopathy

I am sure you agree…smart menu planning trumps wasted time, money or worse – loss of life!

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Fluffy…Party of One – Your Table Is Ready

When making dog food, keep in mind that the ratio of digestible carbohydrates is 10 times higher than in cat food. Yet, the RDA of protein is less than half. Here is a quick canine RDA chart:

Chicken Veggie Chow**

What you need:

• Fresh minced chicken meat
• Two and a half cups of fresh or frozen veggies of your choice – NO Onions or Garlic
• Four cups of rice
• Six and a half cups of water

What to do:

You will need either a large saucepan or a Dutch oven. Either one will work fine. There are no other real necessities for preparing or cooking this dog food recipe, except a knife and a stirring utensil. To prepare your food, follow the directions below.

1. Mince chicken
2. Cut fresh vegetables into tiny pieces (if using fresh)
3. Add chicken, vegetables, and rice into pot or Dutch oven
4. Stir in water
5. Keep stirring until mixture is smooth
6. Turn heat to medium
7. Bring to a boil
8. Reduce heat to medium-low
9. Simmer until rice is tender and water is absorbed
10. Cool completely
11. Serve or store

When it comes time to store the chow, you will have two options. You can put each serving into either a baggie or air-tight container. If you have four days worth of servings, then simply refrigerate until you are ready to use. If you have more than four days worth of servings, then you will need to freeze in freezer safe containers or bags each one to keep them fresh, for up to 6 months.  The night before you run out of refrigerated servings, take out four more days of frozen servings to thaw the fridge.

Thank You, Sir. May I Have Another?

And here is another great meal your dog will lick his chops over…

Just your Basic Dog Food – Meat, Rice and Vegetables***

What you need:

• 1 pound ground meat – antibiotic and hormone free (beef, chicken, lamb, turkey, etc.)
• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• 1 pound bag or equivalent pound of mixed vegetables (I favor carrots, celery, potatoes, sweet potatoes – I know people who use kale, broccoli, cauliflower)
• 1-2 pound of plain yogurt

What to do:

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet if you desire, drain fat. Set that aside.
2. Steam vegetables in a vegetable steamer or steam in pan with a veggie steamer device until tender. Remove from steamer and allow to cool a bit.
3. Chop the vegetables to desired size by hand or add vegetables to a food processor and pulse until the vegetables are coarsely chopped.
4. Mix the chopped vegetables with the rice and ground meat.
5. Store refrigerated in a tightly sealed container.

Your Pets Are Totally Dependent On You – Don’t Let ‘em Down

Our pets depend on us to serve up their needs. Watch for signs that you might be off the mark for targeting the long healthy life of your pet. If you are – fix it!

For the love of all things good, don’t fall for pet food manufacturers’ lies. They are just trying to make a buck – billions of them with no regard for the lives they are risking.

Remember: wherever animals die – the circus, zoos, pet stores, shelters and even scooped up road kill, they are all united in places like Baltimore, home to 1 out of 286 rendering plants in the US. Here, their carcasses are all married together in massive vats and then sent through the grinder, then into the cauldron to make a nasty “stew” known by many different names: meat meal, poultry meal, poultry by-products, yellow grease, tallow, beef product or fatty acids (remarkably deceptive as this gruel is not the fatty acids we’ve come to know and love at all).

The Proof Is In The Bag

Now chances are if you feed your pet store bought food – he is eating this garbage. To drive the point home – if you eat processed foods, so are you and your family.

It is even in the soap you wash with and the candles you light for a romantic dinner. It is in the tires on your car and the GUMMY BEAR vitamins you give your kids, and you might think twice before applying lipstick or smooching with someone wearing it – bone meal is routinely put into lipsticks.

The choice is yours. Save yourself and your family – including your innocent, reliant, trusting, little furry friends. They count on you to make the right choice when it comes to mealtime.

You now have the knowledge. You have won half the battle between the good and evil of moral and ethical judgment. You have only to win the other half with an action plan.

Do this by keeping it simple – less is more. Feed your pet fewer ingredients with fewer syllables – foods you can prepare cheaply and quickly…without toxins and unhealthy by-products. You wouldn’t choose to eat that stuff yourself – don’t choose it for your pet, either.

Have you seen your pet improve in health with homemade food?  How do you feed your dog or cat with natural ingredients?

 

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