Each New Year tends to be a time of cleansing and renewal. As we humans look for new ways to balance our diets and put exercise back on top of the priority list, what better time to also consider our furry family member’s health and nutrition? It is common knowledge that exercise is important to the well-being of the family pet. It not only increases energy and decreases unwanted behavior, but can go a long way toward alleviating many ailments. But what about the type of dog food we purchase? How much thought do we actually give to what we feed our pet?
I must admit that I am guilty of having little knowledge of what goes into my dog’s food – until now. I didn’t have to dig very deep to uncover of the non-nutritious ingredients that are found in many commercial dog foods. I discovered items ranging from 4-D meat (short for dead, dying, diseased or disabled animals) and meat by-products to old restaurant grease and spoiled fish.
“Many speculate that the dramatic increase in incidences of cancers, kidney failure and many other degenerative diseases in our companion animals in recent years may be due to the harmful ingredients in many commercial meat-based pet foods,” says Armaiti May, a veterinarian in West Los Angeles. May helps many clients introduce vegetarian and vegan diets to pets that are allergic to meat and poultry.
Does your pet suffer from digestive problems, diarrhea, skin problems, food intolerances or other chronic health problems? If so, these problems might be caused or exacerbated by ingredients contained in their daily diets. The big dog food recall of early 2007 caused many folks to rethink what they feed their pets, leading them to try approaches that range from purchasing vegetarian, plantbased or holistic dog foods to preparing home-cooked dog meals.
Although traditionally touted as a “diet for older dogs,” a plant-based diet is actually wellsuited for most dogs – particularly those with allergies to meat and poultry products. “If the formula meets all necessary nutrient requirements, dogs can thrive on a plant-based diet,” says Dave Middlesworth, owner of V-Dog, a plant-based dog food company.
Every dog is different, so always discuss your dog’s diet and physical health with your veterinarian to confirm that you are meeting his or her specific needs. When evaluating a pet food, take care to ensure that it meets the nutritional standards of the U.S. Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Read Pet Food Labels For the healthiest approach to feeding your pet. Here are some ingredients you may want to avoid:
• By-products such as feet, beaks, intestines and hair can be diseased and contaminated.
• Meat meal and bone meal often come from the meat of euthanized and diseased animals that may have been treated with steroids or other drugs prior to death.
• Chemicals – BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin are chemical preservatives that allow your pet food to have up to a two-year shelf life.
• Artificial colors, flavors and sugar.
Info from preciouspets.org.
Keeping your pet healthy requires more than just exercise and good nutrition. The following foods/items can be poisonous to your pet:
• Backyard/outdoor mushrooms (particularly in winter and damp weather) can be toxic. If your dog is a grass-eater, keep your yard/lawn clear of these fungi.
• Chocolate – Baker’s chocolate is the most toxic, but even milk chocolate in larger doses can be lethal.
• Antifreeze can be deadly to dogs, even in very small amounts. Dogs enjoy the sweet taste of antifreeze, so always keep this product away from your pets.
• Garlic and onions contain thiosulphate, which in large doses can be toxic to dogs.
• Raisins and grapes can develop acute kidney renal failure in dogs that can lead to death.
• Turkey skin does not digest in dogs and has been linked to acute pancreatitis.
• Snail/slug bait is ingested when dogs lick grassy areas containing the poison. It’s best not to use this pesticide in your yard, as these baits contain arsenic, which is fatal after ingestion.
IMPORTANT: If you believe your pet has ingested a poison or toxin, contact your veterinarian and take your pet to the nearest veterinary office immediately. In many cases, damage can be minimized if the condition is treated quickly.
Poison info provided by bigpawsonly.com.
