The Skivvy about Pet Food

               Insider secrets that pet food companies do not want you to know about:

1.      There is No Such Thing as a “Grain-Free” Dry Pet Food

a.   The process of making dry pet food involves baking at extremely high temperatures. To create dry dog or cat food, some type of starch (grain) is necessary to bind the food together. Even if the word “grain” is not explicitly mentioned on the label, you may find ingredients like potato or pea starch listed. Therefore, if you are wondering why your pet still suffers from allergies, ear infections, and skin lesions despite purchasing “Grain-Free” dry pet food, the presence of alternative starches may be the reason.

2.      It is crucial to know where the proteins in your pet’s food come from.

In MOST pet foods, the images of chicken, steak, turkey, or fresh gourmet fish on the packaging are not a reflection of the actual contents. Pet food manufacturers commission these images to create a false impression. They want you to believe that if you fed your dog or cat real chicken, for example, they might suffer from some awful adverse reaction. But this is not true!

 Pet food companies invest heavily in marketing tactics that can mislead pet owners. They create the illusion of high-quality ingredients in pet food through appealing packaging and scare tactics about feeding pets’ real’ food. This revelation is not to scare you but to enlighten you about the truth behind the pet food industry. It is all to protect their profits, not your pet’s health.

Where do the meats or protein sources in pet food come from? The meat in your pet’s food is the parts of a chicken, turkey, or cow, literally left over on the slaughterhouse floor, unsuitable for human consumption. This is a harsh reality that every pet owner should be aware of.  Various additives, including Cyanuric acid, a chemical used to clean swimming pools, are legally added to the pet food “to inflate the protein levels artificially.” For this, well-meaning pet owners pay premium prices: $70-90 dollars a bag or more. Knowing the truth about these ingredients will enlighten you and help you make better choices for your pet.

a.      Note that even if you buy dry pet food labeled human grade, it still goes through such a rigorous cooking process that the oven’s high temperatures 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 they eliminate 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 cannot pronounce are there to artificially inflate your pet’s food’s protein and nutrient value. This is noteworthy because if they put quality ingredients in your pet’s food, they would not have to add all those chemicals to meet AAFCO’s nutritional pet food standards.

The Facts: The Consumer Council found that Purina, Iams, and Solid Gold Dog Foods contained melamine and cyanuric acid. Cyanuric Acid is a chemical used to clean swimming pools. Melamine is used in whiteboards, floor tiles, kitchenware, fire-retardant fabrics, and commercial filters. These additives were responsible for the 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 excellent and high-quality, try eating it. I challenge you to find dog food that you can 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              

According to a study conducted by the Council of Hong Kong; Purina, Hill’s and Avo-Derm Pet Foods were among 40 pet foods that tested positive for a mold called Aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are poisonous and cancer-causing chemicals produced by certain molds (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus) that grow in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains. 

Aflatoxins are commonly found in corn, wheat, rice, nuts, and vegetables. They become contaminated with molds due to overextended storage and/or poor growing conditions. Aflatoxins are 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, making your pet’s food unhealthy.

a.      Flame Retardants are also added to dog foods, which cause a mirage of health problems, including cancer.

 i.     A 2007 Indiana University (IU) study 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.      Home cooking 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 three years longer than their counterparts.  

Talk with your vet about adding a comprehensive, balanced vitamin-mineral supplement like PAAWS Plus to balance out your pet’s homemade meals.