How many recalls is it going to take to wake people up? You would think by now that they would be checking every label on their pets food for harmful ingredients and finding out how it is manufactured. Or at least be aware of what should and shouldn’t be in pet food.
What really gets me the most is even when you tell them what is really in the food they say “my pet isn’t having any problems with it he/she has been on this “brand” for years and doing real well. They just don’t get it, a dog or cats outward appearance may indicate overall wellness, while in fact they may be in seriously poor condition.
I always tell people don’t wait for another Pet Food Recall before they look for a safe and healthier pet food. It is not a matter of IF, it is a matter of WHEN and hopefully not like the magnitude as in 2007.
After the fact is too late to do something, you need to take action before your pets health goes downhill. Don’t wait till it is too late to switch pet food. During that last pet food recall there were so many desperate people looking for a healthier food because their pet had developed kidney failure, liver problems. It was too late!
That was caused by the chemical Melamine which shouldn’t have been an ingredient in pet food. It was used to boost the protein level up. I hate to think of the long-term impacts of the compromised liver and kidney function and how this will affect thousands of companion animals in America.
Here is the latest Recall September 12, 2008 Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet Food Product due to Potential Salmonella Contamination You can read more on the recall here: fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/marspetcare09_08.html
August 08, 2008 Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Limited Bags of PEDIGREE
Jul 14, 2009 | | Pet Food
There are many pet owners who buy pet food based on the price of the food. Most cheap products available in the market have less protein and more filler. If you have a cat then make sure the food that you give has high protein content and proper nutrients.
It is also important to check the manufacturing and the expiry date of the pet food that you intend to buy. Pets require fresh food in a glass or metal bowl. Avoid using plastic bowls as they get scratched easily and bacteria can collect in these scratches. These bacteria’s can cause serious health problems in your pet.
If you are buying food for your cat, you need to choose between dry and wet food. It is also a good idea to check if the food has been approved by Association of American Feed Control or AAFCO. The AAFCO has set guidelines that all pet food manufacturers must follow. Also, all the claims of the manufacturers must be first tested and verified. For instance a manufacturer cannot claim that his brand has the highest protein content unless it is tested and proved.
Before you buy food for your pet, it is important that you consult a veterinarian. Veterinarians are aware of the nutrition requirements of your pet and will suggest foods that help in the growth of your pet. They will also specify the important ingredients that you should look for when buying pet food. When you buy food suggest by the veterinarian, you are assured that unique requirements of your pet are met. Buying wrong pet food can cause diarrhea and other health related problems in your pet.
By: Abhishek Choudhari About the Author:
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Due to current pet food recalls, several of pet owners are left feeling alarmed and bewildered as to why this incident happened. Several dogs and cats were left sick and worse yet-several more died. Since the many of pet owners depend solely on commercial pet food to feed their pets, they are now cynical about which brand of food to buy and what type of food that they can eat without getting sick.
Who Can The Pet Owners Depend On?
Commercial pet foods have been tainted with harmful chemicals, including mycotoxins (toxins produced by fungi). According to the FDA and food manufacturers have authorized several recalls after a tainted food is found. In addition the FDA and the food company join together to find out the main cause of the problem and prevent it from happening again.
When Protecting Your Pet – Knowledge Is Power
When it comes to getting the healthiest dog food possible, all you really need to know what to look for and what to avoid. The following are a few ways to monitor the food you are giving your dog to ensure its safety:
o Make sure that you check the expiration date on all foods and treats before giving them to your dog. This will help you avoid any items that are scheduled to go bad. While this is a wise consumer action on your part, ironically enough the food could still be tainted because of preservatives and other chemicals that are added for taste, longevity, and texture. We recommend shopping organic if possible.
o If the pet food or treat is not have an expired but appears to be stale or has a foul odor, do not feed it to your dog and contact the company/manufacturer. There probably isn’t much you can do as far as getting your money back, but by calling the producer of the food themselves, you may be a small part of an effective action to have a recall initiated. Think of it this way, if nobody complains that nothing gets done.
o Always consult with your vet if your pet shows any symptoms of abnormal or unusual behavior. Early treatment will result in a greater chance of full recovery. It’s safe to say that some of the dogs and cats that die from tainted pet food may have survived had the owners’ brought them to the vet the first signs of sickness. Make sure that you take the situation seriously if you sense that you are dog is having a bad reaction-the threat is real and many dogs and cats have died.
o To guarantee the safety of the food that your pet is eating, keep informed of current news on pet food recalls. The fastest way to do this is to go online and type in “pet food recall”. Read as many articles as possible about pet food recalls.
Avoid information at all costs that is put out by pet food manufacturers themselves. It’s not that the information is not accurate, but consider the fact that these companies are going to sugarcoat the dangers of pet food. Plus, it is their livelihood after all and they are in the money making business!
By: Kelly Marshall About the Author:
pet food
There are many foods available for almost every pet one could own and this fact can create confusion when searching for the right food to meet your pet’s needs. However, by keeping some general questions and guidelines in mind, a trip to the pet food store no longer has to be a struggle. Pet health is essential to a fully functioning active pet, and while many brands claim to be more healthy, there is little evidence to suggest a huge difference.
What Type Of Pet Do You OwnKnowing the type of pet you own can be very helpful when determining the correct diet he or she needs. This may sound obvious, and in some respect it is; however, simply knowing the animal’s name and their breed may not be enough. For instance, if you have a female dog that is pregnant, you should research the special needs that accompany a dog that is carrying a pup. Pregnant dogs’ diet is far different than that of a male dog of the same age and even a non-pregnant female of the same age and size. Pregnant dogs need a different regiment of vitamins and minerals and it is suggested that you feed your pregnant dog puppy food. Not only do you fee the dog puppy food, but her dietary needs will be greater than that of a non pregnant female, which is why she needs to be fed more often.
Food is Made Based On Both Healthy, Young and Mature, PetsPet food is usually made for the healthy pet. Pet health means that your dog or cat is the proper size and weight for its particular breed. It also means that your dog or cat leads an active lifestyle and does not take in account any disorders or diseases. That being said, a both healthy pets, young and old, have specialize food that is created to meet their needs. If your pet is older, he or she will need food that caters to weakening bones and mineral absorption. Just the opposite for young pets in the sense that they need food for an active lifestyle that promotes growth and development. One issue that many tend to rely on is the price of the food. Some may think that just because they buy the most expensive food, their dog will have a better pet health and lifestyle status than dogs that eat less expensive food. However, this is not the case. When choosing pet food, a general rule of thumb is that one shouldn’t buy the cheapest food available, but you should not feel the need to buy the most expensive food either. A food that falls somewhere between cheap and expensive is most likely what your pet will need.
Special Foods For Special NeedsThere does come a time when one may need to purchase pet food that is specially formulated for their animal. In the case that your pet has a chronic disorder or is on the mend from an accident or sickness, you may have the need for special food. For situations such as this, it is recommended that you speak with your veterinarian so that he or she may assist you in finding the right food for your beloved friend.
By: Ima Johnson About the Author:
Pet Clinic petsocialonline.com is a website dedicated to bringing its visitors the most up to date information on pet care,
pet lifestyle and products. The website will contain a wide variety of topics on pet health and topics related to pet needs.
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Pet food is a very common term but what is so new in this? As you know that there are many different types of foods and also every pet has their likes and dislikes. All the pet lovers wish that their pet is always fit and healthy so to achieve this it is necessary that you give them the right food with the right diet. Therefore in this article we will discuss as to what is the right food that you must be feeding for your four legged friend with?
Now one might be thinking that whether the pet food is healthy or not? So the answer is no. There are lots of things in the food that may not be safe for the pets to consume. It has chemicals and the preservative that adversely affect the health of your friend. Though these types of products are cheap but you cannot compromise with your pet’s health. Therefore it can be said that there are lots of things to be considered if you are feeding your pet with the pet food items.
A few pet owners have a misconception that meat is beneficial for the pets but this is not really the case. They harm the intestine of the dogs and the cats. So it becomes very important to decide what is necessary and essential for the pets. The answer is energy and the proper nutrients are must for every pet. They need adequate quantity if proteins, vitamins and minerals. Together with pet food, the water is also very necessary for them.
So if you are thinking of finding a perfect pet food then you must remember that the above needs must be kept in mind. The nutrients give them energy to run around and play. If they do not have sufficient energy they will not be able to walk even. Thus a healthy diet will give them all the nourishment that a pet needs. Therefore the right quantity of food will help them to grow and nurture. But if more quantity of food is given then also it will have negative effects on their body.
Therefore always buy those products that are fresh because if they are kept for a longer duration of time they loose all their nutrients and thus there is no use of giving them to pets. So whenever you go to buy a product you must look for the tag “COMPLETE” which means that the product has all the required nutrients in it. And if it has a tag “COMPLEMENTARY” then there are some nutrients missing.
So if you are finding it difficult to find the best food, consult your vet who will tell you about all the food items that can be given to pets. Therefore keep your pet fit and fine so that he is happy.
By: Olivia Harris About the Author:
Kansieo.com
The average household has one or more pets that are kept as companions by people who love them and wish to provide the best for them. Whether that pet has feathers, scales, fins, fur, or hair it most likely holds a special place in the owner’ s heart. When it comes to pet food and what we feed our pets, we want to provide them with the best that we can afford but that is not always what’ s best for them.
Balance is the key to a healthy diet
A well balanced diet is desirable for each of us and our pets requirements are the same. Plenty of vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements given daily will insure our pets are healthy and live long happy lives. There are choices to be made when selecting high quality foods:
Dog food comes in dry (kibble), semi moist, or moist (canned) varieties Cat food is available in dry (kibble), semi moist, or moist (canned) varieties Bird food comes in seed form as well as dried greens, fruits, and vegetables Hamster and other rodents eat an assortment of seeds and pellets manufactured for their dietary requirements Snakes and other reptiles kept as pets generally eat insects and small mammals, depending on their size. This source of food typically comes from pet shops and storesEach type of pet food is made with quality and safety in mind (even those insects must be disease free). The dry kibble, semi moist, and canned foods have been researched for decades to find the healthiest combination of ingredients to keep our pets healthy throughout their lifetime. Those who supply this high quality food are usually pet lovers themselves and have dedicated their lives to providing the best for man’ s best friends.
Approved and guaranteed
The pet food industry is strictly regulated today, with rigid testing every step of the way. The dog and cat food industries do their own researching and continually perform tests involving quality of ingredients, taste, and appearance of each product they provide. While these pet foods must appear appetising to the pet owner, it is ultimately the pets themselves who determine what works and what does not appeal to them. The industry conducts taste tests with animals similar to those done for foods intended for human consumption. They actually have taste testers comprised of dogs, cats, birds, and other type pets who sample each food and through their reactions; help decide which flavour and what type of texture will be most appealing to the general pet population.
Stringent standards and sanitary conditions
Pet foods are held to high standards when it comes to the manufacturing process involved. We love our pets and want to provide them with the very best to eat. Feeding a dog or cat strictly meat would rapidly create problems because it would be unbalanced, leaving out many vital vitamins and minerals that animal requires (just as we do). A balanced pet food needs to contain:
Protein Fat Fibre Omega fatty acids Magnesium TaurineOther ingredients specific to the animal the food is intended for are also included to make this diet balanced with all our pet requires.
By: Vincenet Violet About the Author:
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The tainted food recall grew again on Saturday, March 31, as Nestle Purina Pet Care Co. added Alpo Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food to the list of growing pet foods being recalled. Purina said a limited amount of food contained wheat gluten from China.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, late Friday, March 30, recalled its Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry cat food that contained the same allegedly contaminated wheat gluten. Hill’s is the only company so far that has recalled a dry pet food.
It appears that even the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other experts don’t understand the real cause or full extend of the problem as concerned pet owners seek answers from both their vets and pet food suppliers.
The same US supplier of wheat gluten, a protein source, also sold to a Canadian company. So far Menu Foods recalled 60 million containers of wet dog and cat food it produces for sale under nearly 100 brand labels.
To date, the Chinese company that supplied the allegedly contaminated wheat gluten remains a mystery as Menu Foods refuses to name the company.
Last week, the New York State Food Laboratory identified aminopterin, a cancer drug also used as a rat poison, as the likely culprit. The FDA said that it could not confirm that finding.
Federal testing of some of the recalled pet foods, and the wheat gluten used in their production, resulted in the finding of the chemical melamine. Melamine is used to make kitchen ware and other plastics.
According to Fox News, Menu Foods, said the only certainty was that imported wheat gluten was the likely source of the pet deaths, even if the actual contaminant remained in doubt.
What’s the bottom line to pet owners who are unsure of what to feed their pet? The best thing to do, at the current time, is to check the ingredients and if your pet food contains wheat, think seriously before you serve it to your beloved pet.
By: Bev Storer About the Author:
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If you are a pet owner then you will certainly love to provide it with some delicious and highly nutritious food. When you are at the market to buy the food for your beloved animal, then you will have ample options that are offered to you by the storekeepers. Unlike other pet owners, you will certainly desire to buy the victual for your pet that is superior in its nutritional value and eminence. At times it is really tricky and difficult to reach the conclusion of which food product is good for your pet and its health. There are ample brands that are available in the marketplaces that will offer you innumerable food products.
If you are at the marketplace then you will get the impression as if all the storekeepers are offering you the same product. But if you glance intimately then you will come to know that there are several discrepancies when it comes to the superiority, nourishment, flavor and the ingredients. Make sure that the food that you buy for your beloved animal will help you to keep it hale and hearty, cheerful and also strapping.
These nutro-foods have served the best nutrients for your animal since the year 1926. Since the period of 80 years these food stuff for your domesticated animals have provided the victual with uncompromised excellence. These victuals boast of taking the name in the top food brands for the pets. The company believes that the pets are the elements of the life of their masters and they will certainly desire to give them the best food they can get!
Nutro food is quite different from the other victuals. They aim at supplying the best, highly nutritious, healthy and the delicious product that is possible. One of the ideal features of these food products is that when they are prepared they do not make any use of the additives, chemicals and the preservatives. They make the use of superior vitamins, minerals and the natural ingredients that ensure that the foodstuff is fresh and has the best flavor.
They make the use of the prescriptions that satisfy the special and some vital needs of your animal. The nutro-pet food products are accessible at every food store. You can also purchase them online. They prepare the quality food items that magnetize many patrons.
If you are looking for the quality and the healthy foodstuff for your beloved domesticated animal then you can definitely go with the option of these nutritious and delicious food products for your domesticated animal.
By: Olivia Harris About the Author:
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