Have you ever been to a slaughter house? What about a chicken or sheep farm? If you have then you know what it is like after animals are butchered, if you haven’t then here is what happens. The animal is butchered for what is called “useable product”, what is left is shoved to the side for other uses. We are talking about brains and guts, things that you wouldn’t think of eating. The problem is not that anyone would feed it to you but they are feeding it to you pet. These are a few of the “nutritionally balanced” ingredients found in most commercial pet food.
Most people feed their beloved pet cat or dog with traditional pet food, the type you purchase in a bag or can from the grocery story, the problem is that most people have no idea what is actually in those pet foods that are created by large pet food companies.
Most people think that the pet food they are buying is nothing but the best, well balanced nutrition with pieces of whole chickens, choice cuts of beef, fresh grains, and all the good stuff that a dog or cat needs. In fact, many companies even make those claims in their commercials. The reality is that chicken parts such as heads and feet as well as cow intestines tongues, esophagi and fetal tissue are used instead.
As for whole grains they are more often then not hulls and other remnants from the milling process. These are “grains” that are fit for human consumption.
When it comes to feeding your pet with what you believe is the best in pet food, you have to take a moment and look at the label. Is what you are feeding your pet really the best? Chances are it is not the best but instead a tangled mess of bi-products and leftovers not fit to feed a human. Normally your dog or cat would not eat the items that pet food is made with however it has become a multi-million dollar industry to discover just how to mask those items so that your pet will not only eat it but enjoy it.
What about the standards you may be asking? There are standards established by the Center for Veterinary Medicine for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and they are monitored by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The problem is that the AAFCO standards be deceptive because the product names are confusing. Most people don’t know what the definitions for the listed ingredients mean.
Ground-up slaughterhouse discards often containing disease-ridden tissue and high levels of hormones and pesticides are masked with scientific sounding names on labels.
The bones, blood, pus, intestines, ligaments, subcutaneous fat, hooves, horns, beaks, and any other parts that are not normally consumed by humans that is left in a slaughterhouse is, according to the pet food industry, is perfectly fit as a protein source for cat and dog food. Bi-products are what ends up in your dog or cat food and are animal parts leftover after the meat has been stripped from the bone. Chicken bi-products include heads, feet, entrails, lungs, spleens, kidneys, brains, livers, stomachs, noses, blood, and intestines free of their contents. These are all items that end up in your pets’ food.
So is this an issue with dry food or just canned food. The answer is both. The most nutritious dry pet food is no better than the worst canned pet food. So how do they get your otherwise finicky pet to eat this mess? They spray the food with grease or animal fat while it is process. Animals love the taste fat. Many pet food manufacturers use it as a flavor enhancer. The problem with this practice is that some times the way in which this grease or fat is stored is part of the issue. The fat becomes rancid and rancid or heavily preserved fats are difficult to digest thus causing your animals’ stomach problems.
So what about the claim that today’s pet food is nutritional? The bottom line is that if it meets the AAFCO minimum standards a pet food manufacturer can make that claim true or not. In the early 1990’s tests conducted showed that a fair percentage of all pet foods analyzed failed chemical analyses for nutrients. Manufacturers continue to claim that pets can live well on a diet consisting of commercial pet food but research and veterinarians say otherwise. There has been a rise in kidney disease for animals and many veterinarians are attributing it to commercial pet foods.
No matter what you feed your pet there are several rules of thumb to follow if you want to raise a healthy pet. First and foremost, read the label to the pet food you have chosen. Even though many commercial pet foods are questionable in regards to content there are some others that are ok for your pets. These pet foods are going to be more expensive but well worth the price when you consider the alternative.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/37217/what_is_in_the_commercial_pet_food.html
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Ways to Save Money on Cat Food
Cat owners are special people. They understand just how precious felines are. And part of their routine care of their furry friends is providing them with quality food.
During a tough time economy, though, people are looking to save money. If you have a cat, you likely have found that cat food can get expensive.
How can you save money without sacrificing the quality of your cat's nutrition? Below are a few tips on how to save money on cat food.
* Buy cat food in larger bags.
Whether you are at a pet store or supermarket, you will do better to buy larger bags of food. You will get more food per dollar spent.
While it may be more challenging to manage a 20-pound bag of dry cat food, it will be worth it when it comes to saving money. At any pet store, you can buy a storage container for the food.
This container will snap shut, and it will keep the food from going stale. If you get a 4-pound sized container, then you can simply pour food from the large bag into this container. It will make it easier to deal with the food on a daily basis.
* Enroll in loyalty programs or use coupons.
Retailers such as PetSmart offer both loyalty programs. Since you know you are going to be purchasing cat food on a regular basis, enroll in such a program to gain perks and savings opportunities.
Also look for coupons online or in weekly newspaper circulars. Brands such as Iam's often offer coupons. Your supermarket will run specials on cat food as well.
Stay aware of what is going on in your area. And when your brand of cat food goes on sale, be sure to stock up so that you are buying this item at a lower price point.
* Make homemade cat treats.
Did you know you could make your kitty homemade treats? By using regular kitchen staples such as flour, cornmeal and chicken, you can make some wonderful snacks or meals for your cat.
Consider finding recipes online, such as the ones found here for savory cheese treats and chick n'biscuits. There are all kinds of neat things you can concoct for your feline friend.
It is probably wise to consult with your vet when making some of your own kitty food. You want to make sure that you keep your cat's diet balanced, and your vet can better advise you on what to do.
* Serve reasonable portions of cat food.
A final way to save on cat food is to serve reasonable portions of dry cat food. You will want to talk to your vet about portion size.
You will likely find that your cat needs less food than you realized, or than what is advertised on the food bags. There are many overweight cats, and more than likely, their owners are inadvertently feeding them far more than what is necessary.
If you are on a budget, you can save on cat food. It just requires some planning and a strategy. And you can find ways to spend less without sacrificing quality.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2006972/ways_to_save_money_on_cat_food.html
During a tough time economy, though, people are looking to save money. If you have a cat, you likely have found that cat food can get expensive.
How can you save money without sacrificing the quality of your cat's nutrition? Below are a few tips on how to save money on cat food.
* Buy cat food in larger bags.
Whether you are at a pet store or supermarket, you will do better to buy larger bags of food. You will get more food per dollar spent.
While it may be more challenging to manage a 20-pound bag of dry cat food, it will be worth it when it comes to saving money. At any pet store, you can buy a storage container for the food.
This container will snap shut, and it will keep the food from going stale. If you get a 4-pound sized container, then you can simply pour food from the large bag into this container. It will make it easier to deal with the food on a daily basis.
* Enroll in loyalty programs or use coupons.
Retailers such as PetSmart offer both loyalty programs. Since you know you are going to be purchasing cat food on a regular basis, enroll in such a program to gain perks and savings opportunities.
Also look for coupons online or in weekly newspaper circulars. Brands such as Iam's often offer coupons. Your supermarket will run specials on cat food as well.
Stay aware of what is going on in your area. And when your brand of cat food goes on sale, be sure to stock up so that you are buying this item at a lower price point.
* Make homemade cat treats.
Did you know you could make your kitty homemade treats? By using regular kitchen staples such as flour, cornmeal and chicken, you can make some wonderful snacks or meals for your cat.
Consider finding recipes online, such as the ones found here for savory cheese treats and chick n'biscuits. There are all kinds of neat things you can concoct for your feline friend.
It is probably wise to consult with your vet when making some of your own kitty food. You want to make sure that you keep your cat's diet balanced, and your vet can better advise you on what to do.
* Serve reasonable portions of cat food.
A final way to save on cat food is to serve reasonable portions of dry cat food. You will want to talk to your vet about portion size.
You will likely find that your cat needs less food than you realized, or than what is advertised on the food bags. There are many overweight cats, and more than likely, their owners are inadvertently feeding them far more than what is necessary.
If you are on a budget, you can save on cat food. It just requires some planning and a strategy. And you can find ways to spend less without sacrificing quality.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2006972/ways_to_save_money_on_cat_food.html
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Choosing the Right Food for Your Cat
Forget the fancy commercials. Pay attention to the label. After all, just because a pretty talking bird tells you its brand of cat food is the taste cats crave, doesn't mean it's true. After all, when is the last time you saw a cat tear across an open pasture to take down a cow? Today's pet food market is fraught with over marketing, but thankfully for animal caregivers, the government is very strict about what words can and cannot be used on a pet food label. Here are some things to look for when choosing a cat food.
1) Your cat is a carnivore. Unlike a dog or a human, both omnivores, cats simply cannot process vegetable matter other than to break it down and expel it. The first ingredient listed should always be "animal protein". If an animal protein, such as beef, chicken or fish is not listed as the primary ingredient, move on. Otherwise you are paying or poop, rather than nutrition.
2) While cats of course love wet cat food from cans, dry food is typically less fatty and better for your cat's teeth, and therefore overall health. If you feed wet food, do so as a treat, but keep the primary diet of the cat, dry food. Cats need fresh water. If your cat is hesitant to drink water, then it may be necessary to give the cat a higher percentage of wet food. Cats that don't get enough hydration run a higher chance of developing urinary tract infections and crystals.
3) Pet food from reputable manufacturers is made to be nutritionally balanced. In fact, the government regulates which foods are allowed to display the words "complete and balanced". Of course, that's the sort of food you want to feed your cat. While cats love treats, human treats should not feature in their diets. Instead, when feeding treats to a cat choose treats made for cats from cat food experts.
4) Lastly, while milk is technically not a food product, it's important to know that most cats are lactose intolerant. In other words, no matter how much your feline companion likes the creamy taste of milk, it is not good for the cat and should be avoided. Cats will never associate a stomach ache with the milk they drank, but caregivers should avoid the choice to thrill the cat, and instead choose only water with which to hydrate cats.
Feeding a cat is an easy proposition once you understand the basics. Carnivores need meat and there is no way around that fact. There is a difference between chosen carnivorous activities, such as is often the case among omnivorous humans, and a cat whose body is simply created to eat animal proteins. Keep in mind that your cat needs meat and your cat needs water, and that other than some love, the cat needs precious little else, and you will do just fine. May you and your feline companion spend many joyful years together.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1990492/choosing_the_right_food_for_your_cat.html
1) Your cat is a carnivore. Unlike a dog or a human, both omnivores, cats simply cannot process vegetable matter other than to break it down and expel it. The first ingredient listed should always be "animal protein". If an animal protein, such as beef, chicken or fish is not listed as the primary ingredient, move on. Otherwise you are paying or poop, rather than nutrition.
2) While cats of course love wet cat food from cans, dry food is typically less fatty and better for your cat's teeth, and therefore overall health. If you feed wet food, do so as a treat, but keep the primary diet of the cat, dry food. Cats need fresh water. If your cat is hesitant to drink water, then it may be necessary to give the cat a higher percentage of wet food. Cats that don't get enough hydration run a higher chance of developing urinary tract infections and crystals.
3) Pet food from reputable manufacturers is made to be nutritionally balanced. In fact, the government regulates which foods are allowed to display the words "complete and balanced". Of course, that's the sort of food you want to feed your cat. While cats love treats, human treats should not feature in their diets. Instead, when feeding treats to a cat choose treats made for cats from cat food experts.
4) Lastly, while milk is technically not a food product, it's important to know that most cats are lactose intolerant. In other words, no matter how much your feline companion likes the creamy taste of milk, it is not good for the cat and should be avoided. Cats will never associate a stomach ache with the milk they drank, but caregivers should avoid the choice to thrill the cat, and instead choose only water with which to hydrate cats.
Feeding a cat is an easy proposition once you understand the basics. Carnivores need meat and there is no way around that fact. There is a difference between chosen carnivorous activities, such as is often the case among omnivorous humans, and a cat whose body is simply created to eat animal proteins. Keep in mind that your cat needs meat and your cat needs water, and that other than some love, the cat needs precious little else, and you will do just fine. May you and your feline companion spend many joyful years together.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1990492/choosing_the_right_food_for_your_cat.html
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