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With
all the confusion regarding the ongoing food recalls, maybe it's time
to consider whether there is a better way to feed your dog commercial
foods. Here is an article by Terri Lewis, who was recently interviewed
on Channel 2 News.
Recent Pet Food Recall Prompts Companion Animal Guardians To Look Closer At What They Are Feeding
Wheat
gluten is an inexpensive additive to dry and “gravy style” dog and cat
food. Gluten is the elastic, rubbery protein present in wheat, rye,
barley and to a lesser degree in oats.
Melamine has been found in the wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate that was purchased by Menu Foods Income Fund www.menufoods.com/recall
(a co-packer of popular brands such as Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet and
private labeled dry, canned, pouched and treats) from Xuzhou Anying
Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China. Melamine is
used in plastics, countertops, glue, fire retardants and other
products. Its toxicity to dogs and cats is unknown, but it is not
allowed in food in any quantity. Melamine has not been found in human
grade wheat gluten.
The Food and Drug Administration took action
against wheat gluten from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development
Co. in Wangdien, China, after the U.S. recall of nearly 100 brands of
pet food made with the chemically contaminated ingredient. The pet
food, tainted with the chemical melamine, apparently has resulted in
kidney failure in an unknown number of animals across the country.
The
publicity of the tainted wheat gluten in dog and cat foods has prompted
many companion animal guardians to take a closer look at the food they
are feeding.
Determine and Evaluate the Main Ingredients of the Food
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Protein: Specifically named protein- chicken, chicken meal, beef, beef meal
Fats and Oils: Specifically named oils-chicken fat, sunflower oil
Carbohydrates: Specifically “WHOLE GRAINS”-white rice, brown rice, oats
Fiber: Normally not isolated with the inclusion of grains. Exception -beet pulp
Fruits and Vegetables: Whole fruits and vegetables
Determine and Evaluate the Main Ingredients of the Food
WHAT TO AVOID
Protein: Generic named protein- meat, meat meal, meat by-products poultry, poultry by-products
Fats and Oils: Non-specific named oils-animal fat, poultry fat
Carbohydrates: Fragments- potato product, middlings/mids
Fiber: Corn Bran, Peanut Hulls, rice halls
Fruits and Vegetables: Apple pomace, grape pomace, citrus pulp
Preservatives: BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin
It is our responsibility as companion animal guardians to research and provide a diet which our animals thrive on, not survive
on. Our options to provide a diet of variety of foods to include dry
kibble, canned, home cooked, raw, and dehydrated will assist your
companion animal to achieve optimal health.
It is unfortunate
that the death and sickness of many of our companion animals brought
many of us to the reality of what we were feeding.
Additional Resources
- The
National Pet Foundation is now offering free "Pet Alerts" which will be
sent to your email within the hour of a new pet product being recalled.
You can sign up for a free email alert from the National Pet
- Foundation by visiting: http://www.nationalpetfoundation.com/pet-food-recall.html
- Food Pets Die For, by Ann Martin
- DR. PITCAIRN'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO NATURAL HEALTH FOR DOGS & CATS, 3RD EDITION, by Richard and Susan Pitcairn
- K9 Kitchen, by Monical Seagal
- Terri
Lewis, owner of Dogs And Company in Columbia, Maryland has been a
nutritional advocate for companion animals for the past 10 years.
Through her own personal experiences, and the experiences of her
clients, Terri continues to educate the public on knowing what they are
feeding and the importance of feeding a variety of dry, canned, raw,
and home cooked meals to companion animals
Excellent Resources for Pet Food Recall Updates
Email Alerts: Links With Continually Updated Info
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