1. There is No Such Thing as “Grain-Free” Dry Pet Food
a: Plain and simple making dry pet food involves baking at extremely high temperatures. To make dry dog or cat food, some type of starch[grain] is necessary to bind the food together. While the word “grain” may not be listed on the label, chances are you will, for example, see potato or pea starch listed. So, if you’re wondering why your pet still suffers from allergies, ear infections and skin lesions, despite the price you’re paying for “Grain-Free” dry pet food, look no further.
2. Where do the Proteins in my Pet’s food come from?
In MOST pet foods, actual pieces of chicken, steak, turkey, or fresh gourmet fish are not actually in the bag or can of pet food. However, pet food manufacturers want pet owners to believe they are, which is why they hire graphic artists to create those beautiful pictures they paint on the bags and cans of pet food. Yet, at the same time, they make you think that if you fed your dog or cat real chicken for example, they might suffer from some awful adverse reaction. Could this be true? No!
So why do the pet food giants spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on adds that scare pet owners from offering any of those ingredients to their pets? To protect their bottom line… the BUCK!
Where do the meats or protein sources in pet food come from? The meat in your pet’s food are the parts of a chicken or turkey or cow, for example, literally left over on the slaughter house floor, unsuitable for human consumption. That right folks, take a chicken for example, once it enders the rendering facility, the parts we are familiar with, the breast, leg and thigh are sent over to the human food section. The beak, claws, guts and other parts of that chicken literally left over on the slaughter house floor are sent over to the pet section and put into your pet’s food. Various additives including Cyanuric acid, a chemical used to clean swimming pools are legally added to the pet food “to artificially inflate the protein levels.” For this, well-meaning pet owners pay premium prices: $50-$90 dollars a bag or more.
a: Note that even if you buy dry pet food that is labelled human grade, it still goes through such a rigorous cooking process that the ovens high temperatures basically destroy most of the natural quality of that food. In addition, if fats or vitamins have been added most become rancid. Ever wonder why some dogs poop just about as much as they eat” For example if you feed your dog a cup of food, then he or she eliminates a cup of feces, how much of that food was digested, absorbed and utilized by your pet? Not much!
3. Why are there chemicals in the ingredients panels of dog foods?
All those chemicals and words you can’t pronounce are there to artificially inflate both the protein and nutrient value in your pet’s food. This is noteworthy because if they put quality ingredients in your pet’s food they wouldn’t have to add all those chemicals to meet AAFCO’s nutritional pet food standards.
The Facts: Did you know The Consumer Council found that Purina, Iams and Solid Gold Dog Foods contained melamine and cyanuric acid? For those of you who aren’t familiar with Cyanuric Acid, it’s a chemical used to clean swimming pools. Melamine is a chemical used in whiteboards, floor tiles, kitchenware, fire retardant fabrics, and commercial filters. These additives were responsible for deaths of over a quarter of a million dogs and cats during the Menu Pet Food Recalls of 2003 and 2007.
4. If Dog Food is so Good, why don’t you eat it?
a: Since scientists discovered that a dog’s DNA or genetic material is 99% identical to humans, we now know a dog’s bio physical needs are also nearly identical to ours. So, if that dog food is so good and of such high quality, try eating it. I challenge you to find a dog food that you could safely consume. You will sadly find you will not.
5. Is Dog food making your dog healthier? NO, a percent of Dog Food Causes Cancer
Per a study conducted by the Council of Hong Kong; Purina, Hill’s and Avo-Derm Pet Foods were among 40 other pet foods all of which tested positive for a type of mold content also referred to as Aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are poisonous and cancer-causing chemicals that are produced by certain molds (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus) which grow in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains.
a: Aflatoxins are commonly found in corn, wheat, rice, nuts and vegetables. They become contaminated with molds, due to over extended storage and/or poor growing conditions. Aflatoxins are basically molds. In addition to causing allergies, molds in pet food produce very potent cancer causing carcinogens, which is why they are just as bad for you as they are for your dog. Aflatoxins survive despite the high temperatures at which pet foods are cooked, thereby making your pet’s food anything but healthy.
b: Flame Retardants are also added to dog foods, which cause a mirage of health problems, including cancer.
c: A 2007 study conducted at Indiana University (IU) found “significant concentrations of flame retardants in the blood of pet dogs.”
Read the Article: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es1043529
6. So What Should You Feed your Dog?
a: Homecooking is just as good for you as it is for your pet. Contrary to popular belief, your dog will NOT be missing out on certain vital nutrients by eliminating the dry food from his diet. For pet owners in doubt, a study conducted in Belgium, by scientists Lippert and Sapy, documented the fact that dogs fed a homemade diet, consisting of high quality human foods versus dogs fed an industrial, commercial pet food diet enjoyed a healthy life span that was 32 months or nearly 3 years longer that their counterparts. To balance out your pet’s homemade meals be sure to talk with your vet about adding a comprehensive balanced vitamin mineral supplement.
Hi, what would be a good, homemade meal for a 16 yr old dog in the beginning stages of kidney failure? I read that they need low phosphorus/sodium and possibly low protein but I don’t know where to begin. Thanks!