The Truth About Pet Food – Dogs & Cats
In recent times pet nutritionists have come to the
conclusion that many of today’s health problems in
animals, including physical and behavioral conditions have
their roots in poor nutrition. Many of the leading
manufacturers of so-called ‘quality’ pet food
are responsible for this decline in your pet’s
health. Veterinarians are noticing this deteriorating
health in pets and believe that chemical additives and
preservatives play a part.

So, just what is in your dog or cat’s pet food?

The fact that when you open up a can of dog food you turn
your nose, is a sign that there are all sorts of gases and
odors released that are unfit for human and animal
consumption. The heavy use of preservatives such as
BHT/BHA and Ethoxyquin are likely to be responsible as well
as urine, faecal matter, hair, pus, meat from sick or
adrenalin filled animals (most animals just prior to the
kill in abattoirs release a rush of adrenalin into their
bloodstream as they intuit they are about to die).
Ethoxyquin is actually an herbicide and has had detrimental
effects on humans who were working with it in the rubber
industry. Reports of liver/kidney damage, cancerous skin
lesions, hair loss, blindness, leukemia, fetal
abnormalities and chronic diarrhea were noted and in
animals it has been linked to immune deficiency syndrome,
spleen, stomach and liver cancer, as well as the above
mentioned diseases.

It is no doubt that the increased use of chemical
preservatives in pet food is linked to the rise in pet
disease over the last 25 years. Rancid animal and poultry
fat (by-products of the meat industry) that have escaped
human consumption are the staples of most canned pet food.
These unhealthy putrid fats are difficult to digest and are
likely linked to stomach and liver disorders resulting in
bloating, gas, diarrhea and the notorious bad breath our
pets are known for.

At present, the department of agriculture does not have
mandatory inspection of the ingredients used in pet food.
They are allowed to use “4D” classification sources such as
meat, tissues, skin and insides of animals that are dead,
dying, disabled, or diseased (AND UNFIT FOR HUMAN
CONSUMPTION). Some of the animal meat used will be loaded
with heavy hormones, steroids and antibiotics from the
farming industry that continue to be ‘active’
in dead tissue! Add to this a host of artificial colorants,
preservatives and sweetening agents such as cornstarch and
sucrose and you have a chemical concoction bound to cause
disease in any animal that ingests it.

Cat food manufacturers use corn syrup, which cause
addiction and over stimulate the production of insulin and
acidic digestive juices. These empty sugars put a great
deal of stress on the pancreas and may result in diabetes.
They also interfere with the animal’s ability to
absorb nutrients and vitamins from their food. As with
humans, artificial sweeteners can cause hyperactivity and
behavioral problems in animals and destroy friendly
bacteria that aid in digestion. The added sugar content
could also be responsible for diseases such as diabetes,
hypoglycemia, obesity, allergies, loss of vision and cancer.

Another harmful chemical is propylene glycol, which is
responsible for prolonging the shelf life of dry products.
However, they also dehydrate the colon, causing
constipation and the formation of small, dry,hard stools.
These kinds of stools may be uncomfortable for your pet to
pass as well as leading to diseases of the digestive tract
in the long term.

The addition of salt to canned pet food is also a health
hazard. Too much refined salt can lead to hypertension,
water retention, kidney damage, palpitations and other
ailments – in much the same way as coffee from espresso machines can do to some humans.

To add fiber, soybean meal is added to pet food, which
hinders digestion in dogs. Peanut hulls are also used but
can be an irritant to the colon and cause constipation.

As you can see from the above, properly feeding your pet is
an essential part of caring that you, the owner is
responsible for. Just as there is a growing awareness
today of what’s healthy for humans to eat, it is just
as crucial to make sure your pet is also getting the proper
healthy nutrition it needs for optimum health. A happy pet
= a happy owner. Give YOUR pet the best chance of optimal
health through proper nutrition today.

May you both live long happy healthy lives together.

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Claris Rivers is a writer on the subject of Health and
Nutrition. For information on how to feed your dog healthy
and nutritious food visit the website
http://www.happywagger.co.uk