What Is Really In Your Pet’s Food?
Do you know how to read your dog or cat food label?
by Marian Brown
Did you
know some pet foods actually contain sawdust, chicken beaks, animal toenails
and proven cancer causing agents? This is a gross topic with gross
injustices to our pets’ nutritional needs. However, it is something you must
address – for your pet’s sake!
There are
so many different brands of pet food on the market today, how do you know
which is best for your pet? Many promise good health, top of the line
nutrition and natural ingredients. But, is your animal really getting it?
Reading labels is the most important step in finding a food worthy for your
pet.
Most
commercial foods are loaded with preservatives, additives, by-products,
fillers and sodium. One or all of these ingredients could be detrimental to
your pet’s health. Poor ingredients can cause a range of problems like skin
allergies, allergic reaction, intestinal upset, skin disorder, kidney and
liver failure, cancers and even lead to pre-mature death.
Most major
commercial foods also fail to tell consumers that their pet foods contain
the 4 “D”s of meat products – Dead, Diseased, Dying and/or Decaying animal
parts. The fact is when a dairy cow or farming chicken becomes ill, they
don’t dispose of the body, they SELL it to pet food manufacturers. This
represents millions of dollars to the ranchers of the world.
Are
fillers, crude by-products, dead and dying animals or chemical preservatives
that are proven to cause disease what you really think is going to give your
pet a healthy appearance and robust health?
Do not
just buy a food because it advertises “natural” or “premium”. Read the label
and make an informed decision.
Consider
these three key points when
choosing dog or cat food for your pet:
1.
Fillers are a red flag. The first ingredient on a label is always your
main ingredient. Make sure the first one or two ingredients are not
fillers. Fillers are usually corn or wheat.
Don’t be fooled by fillers like Quinoa, oatmeal, millet, etc. These have
been ingeniously added to the ingredient list because recently people have
discovered them to be part of a healthy human diet. Animals have a
completely different set of needs and reactions to these foods. Wheat and
corn, for example, are the NUMBER ONE cause of food-related allergies and
intestinal upset in animals.
2. Know
the meat source. Beef or chicken “by-products” means this brand of food does not contain pure
beef or chicken. By-products are hair, feet, ears, noses, tails, fat,
diseased organs and worse. Chicken meal is a good source of meat, with the
water and fat removed in processing, allowing a more pure source of protein.
3.
Keep preservatives and additives away. Most of these are know to cause cancer over long-term consumption for
animals and humans. Cumulative effects take hold, especially if your dog or
cat eats twice a day, every day, year after year. Truly all natural foods do
not contain chemical preservatives or additives and will state it proudly on
their labels.
For an online audio about pet food ingredients by Holistic Veterinarian Dr. Jane Bicks -
Visit Holistic Pet Products |
