The HOLLYWOOD Dog

Comic Pooch opens for Bruce Baum

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:57:21 +0000

www.poochcomedy.com Bruce Baum
BRUCE BAUM PEGS POOCH FOR NEBRASKA SHOW Legendary, Veteran Headliner Hires Rising California Comedian to Perform at Private Country Club Show on Valentine’s Day Weekend (Denver, CO – Michael “Pooch” Puccini proudly announced today that veteran stage and screen comedian Bruce Baum has selected him as the opening act for a private show at the Scottsbluff Country Club in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Bruce Baum has a stellar list of credits which include appearing as himself on a stand-up comedy-themed episode of “The Simpsons,” and co-starring in the Bobcat Goldthwait major motion picture “Shakes the Clown.” A major headlining act around the country highlighted by regular appearances in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Baum has also appeared on HBO and Showtime comedy specials, “Hollywood Squares,” “Full House,” “Growing Pains,” and “Make Me Laugh.” He is also the accomplished co-author (under the pen-name Ted L. Nancy) of the best-selling “Letters From A Nut” books. “When I was younger, before I had stand-up comedy aspirations, I remember watching Bruce Baum absolutely kill with his unique style of comedy on the Comedy Central television show ‘Make Me Laugh,’”
Pooch-. “As a comedian who also integrates props into a performance, I was excited to see Bruce featured with some of his classic, trademark props on an episode of ‘The Simpsons.’ Needless to say, this is a tremendous thrill and honor for me. I have worked hard at my craft for many years and working with Bruce is great validation that my diligence, passion and perseverance is starting to pay off.” Bruce Baum has two websites on the Internet – www.brucebaum.com and the unique, cleverly named www.theouternet.com, where people can sign-up to become members and share in the comedy community. Upon relocating his comedy operations from California to Denver in the Fall of 2008 Pooch continues to achieve a high-level of success in the Rocky Mountain comedy scene with national tours and shows, special engagements across the state and performances at many of the region’s comedy hotspots – including the revered Comedy Works comedy club in downtown Denver, as well as the Denver Improv.
	Pooch Live
*ABOUT POOCH* A smart and versatile comedy writer and performer originally from San Jose, California, Michael “Pooch” Puccini is one of the most entertaining talents working today’s comedy scene. His shows are highlighted by his distinctive combination of original California culture-based material, audience participation, song-and-dance, props, and the positive vibe that he exudes. His credits include: the 32nd Annual 2007 San Francisco International Stand-Up Comedy Competition; Winner of Lil’ Wayne’s “Making the Next Hit” Talent Search, Comedy category (2007, Hollywood, CA); the Hollywood Improv, the Hollywood Comedy Store, the Hollywood Laugh Factory, the Denver Improv, the downtown Denver Comedy Works; and multiple roles and voice-overs in the 2008 independent film Dirty Jokes: The Movie. # # #

Michael "Pooch" Puccini
www.poochcomedy.com

www.youtube.com/pooch2k7

www.facebook.com/michael.pooch.puccini

www.myspace.com/poochcomedy

WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:34:58 +0000

WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1
Get The Facts:
What’s Really in Pet Food
Plump whole chickens, choice cuts of beef, fresh grains, and all the wholesome nutrition your
dog or cat will ever need.
These are the images pet food manufacturers promulgate through the media and advertising.
This is what the $15 billion per year U.S. pet food industry wants consumers to believe they are
buying when they purchase their products.
This report explores the differences between what consumers think they are buying and what
they are actually getting. It focuses in very general terms on the most visible name brands — the
pet food labels that are mass-distributed to supermarkets and discount stores — but there are
many highly respected brands that may be guilty of the same offenses.
What most consumers don’t know is that the pet food industry is an extension of the human food
and agriculture industries. Pet food provides a convenient way for slaughterhouse offal, grains
considered “unfit for human consumption,” and similar waste products to be turned into profit.
This waste includes intestines, udders, heads, hooves, and possibly diseased and cancerous
animal parts.
The Players
The pet food market has been dominated in the last few years by the acquisition of big
companies by even bigger companies. With $15 billion a year at stake in the U.S. and rapidly
expanding foreign markets, it’s no wonder that some are greedy for a larger piece of the pie.
• Nestlé’s bought Purina to form Nestlé Purina Petcare Company (Fancy Feast, Alpo, Friskies,
Mighty Dog, Dog Chow, Cat Chow, Puppy Chow, Kitten Chow, Beneful, One, ProPlan,
DeliCat, HiPro, Kit’n’Kaboodle, Tender Vittles, Purina Veterinary Diets).
• Del Monte gobbled up Heinz (MeowMix, Gravy Train, Kibbles ’n Bits, Wagwells, 9Lives, Cycle,
Skippy, Nature’s Recipe, and pet treats Milk Bone, Pup-Peroni, Snausages, Pounce).
• MasterFoods owns Mars, Inc., which consumed Royal Canin (Pedigree, Waltham’s, Cesar,
Sheba, Temptations, Goodlife Recipe, Sensible Choice, Excel).
P.O. Box 22505, Sacramento, CA 95822 • (916) 447-3085 • info@api4animals.org • www.api4animals.org
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG.
Other major pet food makers are not best known for pet care, although many of their house
hold and personal care products do use ingredients derived from animal by-products:
• Procter and Gamble (P&G) purchased The Iams Company (Iams, Eukanuba) in 1999. P&G
shortly thereafter introduced Iams into grocery stores, where it did very well.
• Colgate-Palmolive bought Hill’s Science Diet (founded in 1939) in 1976 (Hill’s Science Diet,
Prescription Diets, Nature’s Best).
Private labelers (who make food for “house” brands like Kroger and Wal-Mart) and co-packers
(who produce food for other pet food makers) are also major players. Three major companies
are Doane Pet Care, Diamond, and Menu Foods; they produce food for dozens of private label
and brand names. Interestingly, all 3 of these companies have been involved in pet food recalls
that sickened or killed many pets.
Many major pet food companies in the United States are subsidiaries of gigantic multinational
corporations. From a business standpoint, pet food fits very well with companies making human
products. The multinationals have increased bulk-purchasing power; those that make human
food products have a captive market in which to capitalize on their waste products; and pet
food divisions have a more reliable capital base and, in many cases, a convenient source of
ingredients.
The Pet Food Institute — the trade association of pet food manufacturers — has acknowledged
the use of by-products in pet foods as additional income for processors and farmers: “The growth
of the pet food industry not only provided pet owners with better foods for their pets, but also
created profitable additional markets for American farm products and for the byproducts of the
meat packing, poultry, and other food industries which prepare food for human consumption.”i
LABEL BASICS
There are special labeling requirements for pet food, all of which are contained in the annually
revised Official Publication of AAFCO.ii While AAFCO does not regulate pet food, it does
provide model regulations and standards that are followed by U.S. pet food makers.
The name of the food provides the first indication of the food’s content. The use of the terms
“all” or “100%” cannot be used “if the product contains more than one ingredient, not including
water sufficient for processing, decharacterizing agents, or trace amounts of preservatives and
condiments.”
The “95% Rule” applies when the ingredient(s) derived from animals, poultry, or fish constitutes
at least 95% or more of the total weight of the product (or 70% excluding water for processing).
Because all-meat diets are not nutritionally balanced and cause severe deficiencies if fed
exclusively, they fell out of favor for many years. However, due to rising consumer interest
in high quality meat products, several companies are now promoting 95% and 100% canned
meats as a supplemental feeding option.
The “dinner” product is defined by the “25% Rule,” which applies when “an ingredient or a
combination of ingredients constitutes at least 25% of the weight of the product (excluding water
sufficient for processing)”, or at least 10% of the dry matter weight; and a descriptor such as
“recipe,” “platter,” “entree,” and “formula.” A combination of ingredients included in the product
name is permissible when each ingredient comprises at least 3% of the product weight, excluding
water for processing, and the ingredient names appear in descending order by weight.
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG.
The “With” rule allows an ingredient name to appear on the label, such as “with real chicken,” as
long as each such ingredient constitutes at least 3% of the food by weight, excluding water for
processing.
The “flavor” rule allows a food to be designated as a certain flavor as long as the ingredient(s)
are sufficient to “impart a distinctive characteristic” to the food. Thus, a “beef flavor” food may
contain a small quantity of digest or other extract of tissues from cattle, or even an artificial flavor,
without containing any actual beef meat at all.
The ingredient list is the other major key to what’s really in that bag or can. Ingredients must
be listed in descending order of weight. The ingredient names are legally defined. For instance,
“meat” refers to only cows, pigs, goats and sheep, and only includes specified muscle tissues.
Detailed definitions are published in AAFCO’s Official Publication, revised annually, but can also
be found in many places online.
The guaranteed analysis provides a very general guide to the composition of the food. Crude
protein, fat, and fiber, and total moisture are required to be listed. Some companies also
voluntarily list taurine, Omega fatty acids, magnesium, and other items that they deem important
— by marketing standards.
Pet Food Standards and Regulations
The National Research Council (NRC) of the Academy of Sciences set the nutritional standards
for pet food that were used by the pet food industry until the late 1980s. The original NRC
standards were based on purified diets, and required feeding trials for pet foods claimed to be
“complete” and “balanced.” The pet food industry found the feeding trials too restrictive and
expensive, so AAFCO designed an alternate procedure for claiming the nutritional adequacy
of pet food, by testing the food for compliance with “Nutrient Profiles.” AAFCO also created
“expert committees” for canine and feline nutrition, which developed separate canine and feline
standards.
While feeding trials are sometimes still done, they are expensive and time-consuming. A standard
chemical analysis may also be used to make sure that a food meets the profiles. In either case,
there will be a statement on the label stating which method was used. However, because of the
“family rule” in the AAFCO book, a label can say that feeding tests were done if it is “similar” to
a food that was actually tested on live animals. There is no way to distinguish the lead product
from its “family members.” The label will also state whether the product is nutritionally adequate
(complete and balanced), and what life stage (adult or growth) the food is for. A food that says
“all life stages” meets the growth standards and can be fed to all ages.
Chemical analysis, however, does not address the palatability, digestibility, or biological availability
of nutrients in pet food. Thus it is unreliable for determining whether a food will provide an animal
with sufficient nutrients. To compensate for the limitations of chemical analysis, AAFCO added
a “safety factor,” which was to exceed the minimum amount of nutrients required to meet the
complete and balanced requirements.
In 2006, new NRC standards were published; but it will take several years for AAFCO’s profiles
to be updated and adopted, let alone accepted by the states.
The pet food industry loves to say that it’s more highly regulated than human food, but that’s just
not true. Pet food exists in a bit of a regulatory vacuum; laws are on the books, but enforcement
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG.
is another story. The FDA has nominal authority over pet foods shipped across state lines.
But the real “enforcers” are the feed control officials in each state. They are the ones who
actually look at the food and, in many instances, run basic tests to make sure the food meets
its Guaranteed Analysis, the chart on the label telling how much protein, fat, moisture, and fiber
are present. But regulation and enforcement vary tremendously from state to state. Some, like
Texas, Minnesota, and Kentucky, run extensive tests and strictly enforce their laws; others, like
California, do neither.
THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS: HOW PET FOOD IS MADE
Dry Food
The vast majority of dry food is made with a machine called an extruder. First, materials
are blended in accordance with a recipe created with the help of computer programs that
provide the nutrient content of each proposed ingredient. For instance, corn gluten meal has
more protein than wheat flour. Because the extruder needs a consistent amount of starch and
low moisture to work properly, dry ingredients — such as rendered meat-and-bone-meal, poultry
by-product meal, grains, and flours — predominate.
The dough is fed into the screws of an extruder. It is subjected to steam and high pressure as it
is pushed through dies that determine the shape of the final product, much like the nozzles used
in cake decorating. As the hot, pressurized dough exits the extruder, it is cut by a set of rapidly
whirling knives into tiny pieces. As the dough reaches normal air pressure, it expands or “puffs”
into its final shape. The food is allowed to dry, and then is usually sprayed with fat, digests, or
other compounds to make it more palatable. When it is cooled, it can be bagged.
Although the cooking process kills bacteria in the ingredients, the final product can pick up more
bacteria during the subsequent drying, coating, and packaging process. Some experts warn that
getting dry food wet can allow the bacteria on the surface to multiply and make pets sick. Do not
mix dry food with water, milk, canned food, or other liquids.
A few dog foods are baked at high temperatures (over 500oF) rather than extruded. This produces
a sheet of dense, crunchy material that is then broken into irregular chunks, much like crumbling
crackers into soup. It is relatively palatable without the sprayed-on fats and other enhancers
needed on extruded dry food.
Semi-moist foods and many pet treats are also made with an extruder. To be appealing to
consumers and to keep their texture, they contain many additives, colorings, and preservatives;
they are not a good choice for a pet’s primary diet.
Wet Food
Wet or canned food begins with ground ingredients mixed with additives. If chunks are required,
a special extruder forms them. Then the mixture is cooked and canned. The sealed cans
are then put into containers resembling pressure cookers and commercial sterilization takes
place. Some manufacturers cook the food right in the can.
Wet foods are quite different in content from dry or semi-moist foods. While many canned foods
contain by-products of various sorts, they are “fresh” and not rendered or processed (although
they are often frozen for transport and storage). Wet foods usually contain much more protein,
and it’s often a little higher quality, than dry foods. They also have more moisture, which is better
for cats. They are packaged in cans or pouches.
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG.
Comparing Food Types
Because of the variation in water content, it is impossible to directly compare labels from
different kinds of food without a mathematical conversion to “dry matter basis.” The numbers
can be very deceiving. For instance, a canned food containing 10% protein actually has much
more protein than a dry food with 30% protein.
To put the foods on a level playing field, first calculate the dry matter content by subtracting the
moisture content given on the label from 100%. Then divide the ingredient by the dry matter
content. For example, a typical bag of dry cat food contains 30% protein on the label, but 32% on
a dry-matter basis (30% divided by its dry matter content, 100-6% moisture = 94%). A can of cat
food might contain 12% protein on the label, but almost 43% on a dry-matter basis (12% divided
by its dry matter content, 100-72% moisture = 28%). Dry food typically contains less than 10%
water, while canned food contains 78% or more water.
PET FOOD INGREDIENTS
Animal Protein
Dogs and cats are carnivores, and do best on a meat-based diet. The protein used in pet food
comes from a variety of sources. When cattle, swine, chickens, lambs, or other animals
are slaughtered, lean muscle tissue is trimmed away from the carcass for human consumption,
along with the few organs that people like to eat, such as tongues and tripe.
However, about 50% of every food animal does not get used in human foods. Whatever remains
of the carcass — heads, feet, bones, blood, intestines, lungs, spleens, livers, ligaments, fat
trimmings, unborn babies, and other parts not generally consumed by humans — is used in pet
food, animal feed, fertilizer, industrial lubricants, soap, rubber, and other products. These “other
parts” are known as “by-products.” By-products are used in feed for poultry and livestock as well
as in pet food.
The nutritional quality of by-products, meals, and digests can vary from batch to batch. James
Morris and Quinton Rogers, of the University of California at Davis Veterinary School, assert
that, “[pet food] ingredients are generally by-products of the meat, poultry and fishing industries,
with the potential for a wide variation in nutrient composition. Claims of nutritional adequacy
of pet foods based on the current Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
nutrient allowances (‘profiles’) do not give assurances of nutritional adequacy and will not until
ingredients are analyzed and bioavailability values are incorporated.”iii
Meat or poultry “by-products” are very common in wet pet foods. Remember that “meat” refers to
only cows, swine, sheep, and goats. Since sheep and goats are rare compared to the 37 million
cows and 100 million hogs slaughtered for food every year, nearly all meat by-products come
from cattle and pigs.
The better brands of pet food, such as many “super-premium,” “natural,” and “organic” varieties,
do not use by-products. On the label, you’ll see one or more named meats among the first few
ingredients, such as “turkey” or “lamb.” These meats are still mainly leftover scraps; in the case
of poultry, bones are allowed, so “chicken” consists mainly of backs and frames—the spine and
ribs, minus their expensive breast meat. The small amount of meat left on the bones is the meat
in the pet food. Even with this less-attractive source, pet food marketers are very tricky when
talking about meat, so this is explained further in the section on “Marketing Magic” below.
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG.
Meat meals, poultry meals, by-product meals, and meat-and-bone meal are common ingredients
in dry pet foods. The term “meal” means that these materials are not used fresh, but have been
rendered. While there are chicken, turkey, and poultry by-product meals there is no equivalent
term for mammal “meat by-product meal” — it is called “meat-and-bone-meal.” It may also be
referred to by species, such as “beef-and-bone-meal” or “pork-and-bone-meal.”
What is rendering? As defined by Webster’s Dictionary, to render is “to process as for industrial
use: to render livestock carcasses and to extract oil from fat, blubber, etc., by melting.” In other
words, raw materials are dumped into large vat and boiled for several hours. Rendering separates
fat, removes water, and kills bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other organisms. However, the
high temperatures used (270°F/130°C) can alter or destroy natural enzymes and proteins found
in the raw ingredients.
Because of persistent rumors that rendered by-products contain dead dogs and cats, the FDA
conducted a study looking for pentobarbital, the most common euthanasia drug, in pet foods.
They found it. Ingredients that were most commonly associated with the presence of pentobarbital
were meat-and-bone-meal and animal fat. However, they also used very sensitive tests to look
for canine and feline DNA, which were not found. Industry insiders admit that rendered pets and
roadkill were used in pet food some years ago. Although there are still no laws or regulations
against it, the practice is uncommon today, and pet food companies universally deny that their
products contain any such materials. However, so-called “4D” animals (dead, dying, diseased,
disabled) were only recently banned for human consumption and are still legitimate ingredients
for pet food.
Vegetable Protein
The amount of grain and vegetable products used in pet food has risen dramatically over
time. Plant products now replace a considerable proportion of the meat that was used in
the earliest commercial pet foods. This has led to severe nutritional deficiencies that have been
corrected along the way, although many animals died before science caught up.
Most dry foods contain a large amount of cereal grain or starchy vegetables to provide texture.
These high-carbohydrate plant products also provide a cheap source of “energy” — the rest of
us call it “calories.” Gluten meals are high-protein extracts from which most of the carbohydrate
has been removed. They are often used to boost protein percentages without expensive animalsource
ingredients. Corn gluten meal is the most commonly used for this purpose. Wheat gluten
is also used to create shapes like cuts, bites, chunks, shreds, flakes, and slices, and as a
thickener for gravy. In most cases, foods containing vegetable proteins are among the poorer
quality foods.
A recent fad, “low-carb” pet food, has some companies steering away from grains, and using
potatoes, green peas, and other starchy vegetables as a substitute. Except for animals that are
allergic to grains, dry low-carb diets offer no particular advantage to pets. They also tend to be
very high in fat and, if fed free-choice, will result in weight gain. Canned versions are suitable for
prevention and treatment of feline diabetes, and as part of a weight loss program, as well as for
maintenance.
Animal and Poultry Fat
There’s a unique, pungent odor to a new bag of dry pet food — what is the source of that
smell? It is most often rendered animal fat, or vegetable fats and oils deemed inedible for
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG.
humans. For example, used restaurant grease was rendered and routed to pet foods for several
years, but a more lucrative market is now in biodiesel fuel production.
These fats are sprayed directly onto extruded kibbles and pellets to make an otherwise bland or
distasteful product palatable. The fat also acts as a binding agent to which manufacturers add
other flavor enhancers such as “animal digests” made from processed by-products. Pet food
scientists have discovered that animals love the taste of these sprayed fats. Manufacturers are
masters at getting a dog or a cat to eat something she would normally turn up her nose at.
What Happened to the Nutrients?
Cooking and other processing of meat and by-products used in pet food can greatly diminish
their nutritional value, although cooking increases the digestibility of cereal grains and
starchy vegetables.
To make pet food nutritious, pet food manufacturers must “fortify” it with vitamins and minerals.
Why? Because the ingredients they are using are not wholesome, their quality may be extremely
variable, and the harsh manufacturing practices destroy many of the nutrients the food had to
begin with.
Proteins are especially vulnerable to heat, and become damaged, or “denatured,” when cooked.
Because dry foods ingredients are cooked twice — first during rendering and again in the extruder
— problems are much more common than with canned or homemade foods. Altered proteins
may contribute to food intolerances, food allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Additives in Processed Pet Foods
Many chemicals are added to commercial pet foods to improve the taste, stability,
characteristics, or appearance of the food. Additives provide no nutritional value. Additives
include emulsifiers to prevent water and fat from separating, antioxidants to prevent fat from
turning rancid, and artificial colors and flavors to make the product more attractive to consumers
and more palatable to their companion animals.
A wide variety of additives are allowed in animal feed and pet food, not counting vitamins and
minerals. Not all of them are actually used in pet food. Additives can be specifically approved, or
they can fall into the category of “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS).
Chemical vs. Natural Preservatives
All commercial pet foods must be preserved so they stay fresh and appealing to our animal
companions. Canning is itself a preserving process, so canned foods need little or no
Anticaking agents
Antigelling agents
Antimicrobial agents
Antioxidants
Color additives
Condiments
Curing agents
Drying agents
Emulsifiers
Essential oils
Flavor enhancers
Flavoring agents
Grinding agents
Humectants
Leavening agents
Lubricants
Palatants
Pelleting agents and binders
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG.
additional help. Some preservatives are added to ingredients or raw materials by the suppliers,
and others may be added by the manufacturer. The U.S. Coast Guard, for instance, requires
fish meal to be heavily preserved with ethoxyquin or equivalent antioxidant. Evidently, spoiling
fish meal creates such intense heat that ship explosions and fires resulted.
Because manufacturers need to ensure that dry foods have a long shelf life (typically 12 months)
to remain edible through shipping and storage, fats used in pet foods are preserved with either
synthetic or “natural” preservatives. Synthetic preservatives include butylated hydroxyanisole
(BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, propylene glycol (also used as a
less-toxic version of automotive antifreeze), and ethoxyquin. For these antioxidants, there is
little information documenting their toxicity, safety, interactions, or chronic use in pet foods that
may be eaten every day for the life of the animal. Propylene glycol was banned in cat food
because it causes anemia in cats, but it is still allowed in dog food.
Potentially cancer-causing agents such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are permitted at relatively
low levels. The use of these chemicals in pet foods has not been thoroughly studied, and long
term build-up of these agents may ultimately be harmful. Due to questionable data in the original
study on its safety, ethoxyquin’s manufacturer, Monsanto, was required to perform a new, more
rigorous study. This was completed in 1996. Even though Monsanto found no significant toxicity
associated with its own product, in July 1997 the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine requested
that manufacturers voluntarily reduce the maximum level for ethoxyquin by half, to 75 parts per
million. While some pet food critics and veterinarians believe that ethoxyquin is a major cause
of disease, skin problems, and infertility in dogs, others claim it is the safest, strongest, most
stable preservative available for pet food. Ethoxyquin is approved for use in human food for
preserving spices, such as cayenne and chili powder, at a level of 100 ppm — but it would be
very difficult for even the most hard-core spice lover to consume as much chili powder every day
as a dog would eat dry food. Ethoxyquin has never been tested for safety in cats. Despite this,
it is commonly used in veterinary diets for both cats and dogs.
Many pet food makers have responded to consumer concern, and are now using “natural”
preservatives such as Vitamin C (ascorbate), Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), and oils of
rosemary, clove, or other spices, to preserve the fats in their products. The shelf life is shorter,
however — only about 6 months.
Individual ingredients, such as fish meal, may have preservatives added before they reach
the pet food manufacturer. Federal law requires fat preservatives to be disclosed on the label;
however, pet food companies do not always comply with this law.
Petroleum derivatives
pH control agents
Preservatives
Seasonings
Spices
Stabilizers
Sweeteners
Texturizers
Thickeners
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG.
DANGER AHEAD
Potential Contaminants
Given the types of things manufacturers put in pet food, it is not surprising that bad things
sometimes happen. Ingredients used in pet food are often highly contaminated with a wide
variety of toxic substances. Some of these are destroyed by processing, but others are not.
• Bacteria. Slaughtered animals, as well as those that have died because of disease, injury,
or natural causes, are sources of meat, by-products, and rendered meals. An animal that
died on the farm might not reach a rendering plant until days after its death. Therefore the
carcass is often contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella and E. Coli. Dangerous E.
Coli bacteria are estimated to contaminate more than 50% of meat meals. While the cooking
process may kill bacteria, it does not eliminate the endotoxins some bacteria produce during
their growth. These toxins can survive processing, and can cause sickness and disease. Pet
food manufacturers do not test their products for bacterial endotoxins. Because sick or dead
animals can be processed as pet foods, the drugs that were used to treat or euthanize them
may still be present in the end product. Penicillin and pentobarbital are just two examples of
drugs that can pass through processing unchanged. Antibiotics used in livestock production
are also thought to contribute to antibiotic resistance in humans.
• Mycotoxins. Toxins from mold or fungi are called mycotoxins. Modern farming practices,
adverse weather conditions, and improper drying and storage of crops can contribute to mold
growth. Pet food ingredients that are most likely to be contaminated with mycotoxins are
grains such as wheat and corn, and fish meal.
• Chemical Residue. Pesticides and fertilizers may leave residue on plant products. Grains that
are condemned for human consumption by the USDA due to residue may legally be used,
without limitation, in pet food.
• GMOs. Genetically modified plant products are also of concern. By 2006, 89% of the planted
area of soybeans, 83% of cotton, and 61% of maize (corn) in the U.S. were genetically
modified varieties. Cottonseed meal is a common ingredient of cattle feed; soy and corn are
used directly in many pet foods.
• Acrylamide. This is a carcinogenic compound formed at cooking temperatures of about
250˚F in foods containing certain sugars and the amino acid asparagine (found in large
amounts in potatoes and cereal grains). It is formed in a chemical process called the Maillard
reaction. Most dry pet foods contain cereal grains or potatoes, and they are processed at
high temperatures (200–300°F at high pressure during extrusion; baked foods are cooked at
well over 500°F); these are perfect conditions for the Maillard reaction.iv,v In fact, the Maillard
reaction is considered desirable in the production of pet food because it imparts a palatable
taste, even though it reduces the bioavailability of some amino acids, including taurine and
lysine.vi The content and potential effects of acrylamide formation in pet foods are unknown.
Pet Food Recalls
When things go really wrong and serious problems are discovered in pet food, the company
usually works with the FDA to coordinate a recall of the affected products. While many
recalls have been widely publicized, quite a few have not.
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG. 10
• In 1995, Nature’s Recipe recalled almost a million pounds of dry dog and cat food after
consumers complained that their pets were vomiting and losing their appetite. The problem
was a fungus that produced vomitoxin contaminating the wheat.
• In 1999, Doane Pet Care recalled more than a million bags of corn-based dry dog food
contaminated with aflatoxin. Products included Ol’ Roy (Wal-Mart’s brand) and 53 other
brands. This time, the toxin killed 25 dogs.
• In 2000, Iams recalled 248,000 pounds of dry dog food distributed in 7 states due to excess
DL-Methionine Amino Acid, a urinary acidifier.
• In 2003, a recall was made by Petcurean “Go! Natural” pet food due to circumstantial
association with some dogs suffering from liver disease; no cause was ever found.
• In late 2005, a similar recall by Diamond Foods was announced; this time the moldy corn
contained a particularly nasty fungal product called aflatoxin; 100 dogs died.
• Also in 2005, 123,000 pounds of cat and dog treats were recalled due to Salmonella
contamination.
• In 2006, more than 5 million cans of Ol’ Roy, American Fare, and other dog foods distributed
in the southeast were recalled by the manufacturer, Simmons Pet Food, because the cans’
enamel lining was flaking off into the food.
• Also in 2006, Merrick Pet Care recalled almost 200,000 cans of “Wingalings” dog food when
metal tags were found in some samples.
• In the most deadly recall of 2006, 4 prescription canned dog and cat foods were recalled by
Royal Canin (owned by Mars). The culprit was a serious overdose of Vitamin D that caused
calcium deficiency and kidney disease.
• In February 2007, the FDA issued a warning to consumers not to buy “Wild Kitty,” a frozen
food containing raw meat. Routine testing by FDA had revealed Salmonella in the food. FDA
specifically warned about the potential for illness in humans, not pets. There were no reports
of illness or death of any pets, and the food was not recalled.
• In March 2007, the most lethal pet food in history was the subject of the largest recall ever.
Menu Foods recalled more than 100 brands including Iams, Eukanuba, Hill’s Science
Diet, Purina Mighty Dog, and many store brands including Wal-Mart’s. Thousands of pets
were sickened (the FDA received more than 17,000 reports) and an estimated 20% died
from acute renal failure caused by the food. Cats were more frequently and more severely
affected than dogs. The toxin was initially believed to be a pesticide, the rat poison “aminopterin”
in one of the ingredients. In April, scientists discovered high levels of melamine, a
chemical used in plastics and fertilizers, in wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported
from China. The melamine had been purposefully added to the ingredients to falsely
boost their protein content. Subsequent tests revealed that the melamine-tainted ingredients
had also been used in feed for cows, pigs, and chickens and thousands of animals
were quarantined and destroyed. In early May, scientists identified the cause of the rapid
onset kidney disease that had appeared in dogs and cats as a reaction caused by the combination
of melamine and cyanuric acid, both unauthorized chemicals. The fallout from this
recall is ongoing as of May 2007 so please be sure to check the FDA web site for the most
recent updates (www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html).
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG. 11
Nutrition-Related Diseases
The idea that one pet food provides all the nutrition a companion animal will ever need for its
entire life is a dangerous myth.
Today, the diets of cats and dogs are a far cry from the variable meat-based diets that their
ancestors ate. The unpleasant results of grain-based, processed, year-in and year-out diets are
common. Health problems associated with diet include:
• Urinary tract disease. Plugs, crystals, and stones are more common in cats eating dry diets,
due to the chronic dehydration and highly concentrated urine they cause. “Struvite” stones
used to be the most common type in cats, but another more dangerous type, calcium oxalate,
has increased and is now tied with struvite. Manipulation of manufactured cat food formulas
to increase the acidity of urine has caused the switch. Dogs can also form stones as a result
of their diet.
• Kidney disease. Chronic dehydration associated with dry diets may also be a contributing
factor in the development of kidney disease and chronic renal failure in older cats. Cats have
a low thirst drive; in the wild they would get most of their water from their prey. Cats eating dry
food do not drink enough water to make up for the lack of moisture in the food. Cats on dry
food diets drink more water, but the total water intake of a cat eating canned food is twice as
great.vii
• Dental disease. Contrary to the myth propagated by pet food companies, dry food is not good
for teeth.viii Given that the vast majority of pets eat dry food, yet the most common health
problem in pets is dental disease, this should be obvious. Humans do not floss with crackers,
and dry food does not clean the teeth.
• Obesity. Feeding recommendations or instructions on the packaging are sometimes inflated
so that the consumer will end up feeding — and purchasing — more food. One of the most
common health problems in pets, obesity, may also be related to high-carb, high-calorie dry
foods. Both dogs and cats respond to low-carb wet food diets. Overweight pets are more
prone to arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. Dry cat food is now considered the cause of
feline diabetes; prevention and treatment include switching to a high protein, high moisture,
low-carb diet.
• Chronic digestive problems. Chronic vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and inflammatory bowel
disease are among the most frequent illnesses treated. These are often the result of an allergy
or intolerance to pet food ingredients. The market for “limited antigen” or “novel protein” diets
is now a multi-million dollar business. These diets were formulated to address the increasing
intolerance to commercial foods that pets have developed. Even so, an animal that tends
to develop allergies can develop allergies to the new ingredients, too. One twist is the truly
“hypoallergenic” food that has had all its proteins artificially chopped into pieces smaller than
can be recognized and reacted to by the immune system. Yet there are documented cases
of animals becoming allergic to this food, too. It is important to change brands, flavors, and
protein sources every few months to prevent problems.
• Bloat. Feeding only one meal per day can cause the irritation of the esophagus by stomach
acid, and appears to be associated with gastric dilitation and volvulus (canine bloat). Feeding
two or more smaller meals is better.
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG. 12
• Heart disease. An often-fatal heart disease in cats and some dogs is now known to be caused
by a deficiency of the amino acid taurine. Blindness is another symptom of taurine deficiency.
This deficiency was due to inadequate amounts of taurine in cat food formulas, which in
turn had occurred due to decreased amounts of animal proteins and increased reliance on
carbohydrates. Cat foods are now supplemented with taurine. New research suggests that
some dog breeds are susceptible to the same condition. Supplementing taurine may also be
helpful for dogs, but as yet few manufacturers are adding extra taurine to dog food.
• Hyperthyroidism. There is also evidence that hyperthyroidism in cats may be related to diet.
This is a relatively new disease that first surfaced in the 1970s. Some experts theorize that
excess iodine in commercial cat food is a factor. New research also points to a link between
the disease and pop-top cans, and flavors including fish or “giblets.” This is a serious disease,
and treatment is expensive.
Many nutritional problems appeared with the popularity of cereal-based commercial pet foods.
Some have occurred because the diet was incomplete. Although several ingredients are now
supplemented, we do not know what ingredients future researchers may discover that should
have been supplemented in pet foods all along. Other problems may occur from reactions to
additives. Others are a result of contamination with bacteria, mold, drugs, or other toxins. In
some diseases the role of commercial pet food is understood; in others, it is not. The bottom line
is that diets composed primarily of low quality cereals and rendered meals are not as nutritious
or safe as you should expect for your cat or dog.
PET FOOD INDUSTRY SECRETS
Co-Packing
The 2007 Menu Foods recall brought to light some of the pet food industry’s dirtiest secrets.
Most people were surprised — and appalled — to learn that all Iams/Eukanuba canned foods
are not made by The Iams Company at all. In fact, in 2003 Iams signed an exclusive 10-year
contract for the production of 100% of its canned foods by Menu.
This type of deal is called “co-packing.” One company makes the food, but puts someone else’s
label on it. This is a very common arrangement in the pet food industry. It was first illustrated by
the Doane’s and Diamond recalls, when dozens of private labels were involved. But none were
as large or as “reputable” as Iams, Eukanuba, Hill’s, Purina, Nutro, and other high-end, so-called
“premium” foods.
The big question raised by this arrangement is whether or not there is any real difference between
the expensive premium brands and the lowliest generics. The recalled products all contained the
suspect ingredient, wheat gluten, but they also all contained by-products of some kind, including
specified by-products such as liver or giblets.
It’s true that a pet food company that contracts with a co-packer can provide its own ingredients,
or it can require the contractor to buy particular ingredients to use in its recipes. But part of the
attraction of using a co-packer is that it can buy ingredients in larger bulk than any one pet food
maker could on its own, making the process cheaper and the profits larger. It’s likely that with
many of the ingredients that cross all types of pet foods, those ingredients are the same.
Are one company’s products — made in the same plant on the same equipment with ingredients
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG. 13
called the same name — really “better” than another’s? That’s what the makers of expensive
brands want you to think. The recalled premium brands claim that Menu makes their foods
“according to proprietary recipes using specified ingredients,” and that “contract manufacturers
must follow strict quality standards.” Indeed, the contracts undoubtedly include those points.
But out in the real world, things may not go according to plan. How well are machines cleaned
between batches, how carefully are ingredients mixed, and just how particular are minimumwage
workers in a dirty smelly job going to be about getting everything just perfect?
Whatever the differences are between cheap and high-end food, one thing is clear. The purchase
price of pet food does not always determine whether a pet food is good or bad or even safe.
However, the very cheapest foods can be counted on to have the very cheapest ingredients. For
example, Ol’ Roy, Wal-Mart’s store brand, has now been involved in 3 serious recalls.
Menu manufactures canned foods for many companies that weren’t affected by the recall,
including Nature’s Variety, Wellness, Castor & Pollux, Newman’s Own Organics, Wysong, Innova,
and EaglePack. It’s easy to see from their ingredient lists that those products are made from
completely different ingredients and proportions. Again, the issue of cleaning the machinery out
between batches comes up, but hopefully nothing so lethal will pass from one food to another.
Animal Testing
Another unpleasant practice exposed by this recall is pet food testing on live animals. Menu’s
own lab animals, who were deliberately fed the tainted food, were the first known victims.
Tests began on February 27 (already a week after the first reports); animals started to die
painfully from kidney failure a few days later. After the first media reports, Menu quickly changed
its story to call these experiments “taste tests.” But Menu has done live animal feeding, metabolic
energy, palatability, and other tests for Iams and other companies for years. Videotapes reveal
the animals’ lives in barren metal cages; callous treatment; invasive experiments; and careless
cruelty.
Although feeding trials are not required for a food to meet the requirements for labeling a food
“complete and balanced,” many manufacturers use live animals to perform palatability studies
when developing a new pet food. One set of animals is fed a new food while a “control” group
is fed a current formula. The total volume eaten is used as a gauge for the palatability of the
food. Some companies use feeding trials, which are considered to be a much more accurate
assessment of the actual nutritional value of the food. They keep large colonies of dogs and cats
for this purpose, or use testing laboratories that have their own animals.
There is a new movement toward using companion animals in their homes for palatability and
other studies. In 2006, The Iams Company announced that it was cutting the use of canine and
feline lab animals by 70%. While it proclaims this moral victory, the real reasons for this switch
are likely financial. Whatever the reasons, it is a very positive step for the animals.
Finally, it is important to remember that the contamination that occurred in the Menu Foods
recall could have happened anywhere at any time. It was not Menu’s fault; the toxin was unusual
and unexpected. All companies have quality control standards and they do test ingredients for
common toxins before using them. They also test the final products. However, there is a baseline
risk inherent in using the raw materials that go into pet foods. When there are 11 recalls in 12
years, it’s clear that “freak occurrences” are the rule, not the exception.
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG. 14
Marketing Magic
A trip down the pet food aisle will boggle the mind with all the wonderful claims made by pet
food makers for their repertoire of products. Knowing the nature of the ingredients helps sort
out some of the more outrageous claims, but what’s the truth behind all this hype?
• Niche claims. Indoor cat, canine athlete, Persian, 7-year old, Bloodhound, or a pet with
a tender tummy, too much flab, arthritis, or itchy feet — no matter what, there’s a food
“designed” just for that pet’s personal needs. Niche marketing has arrived in a big way in
the pet food industry. People like to feel special, and a product with specific appeal is bound
to sell better than a general product like “puppy food.” The reality is that there are only two
basic standards against which all pet foods are measured: adult and growth, which includes
gestation and lactation. Everything else is marketing.
• “Natural” and “Organic” claims. The definition of “natural” adopted by AAFCO is very broad,
and allows for artificially processed ingredients that most of us would consider very unnatural
indeed. The term “organic”, on the other hand, has a very strict legal definition under the
USDA National Organic Program. However, some companies are adept at evading the intent
of both of these rules. For instance, the name of the company or product may be intentionally
misleading. Some companies use terms such as “Nature” or “Natural” or even “Organic” in
the brand name, whether or not their products fit the definitions. Consumers should also be
aware that the term “organic” does not imply anything at all about animal welfare; products
from cows and chickens can be organic, yet the animals themselves are still just “production
units” in enormous factory farms.
• Ingredient quality claims. A lot of pet foods claim they contain “human grade” ingredients.
This is a completely meaningless term — which is why the pet food companies get away with
using it. The same applies to “USDA inspected” or similar phrases. The implication is that the
food is made using ingredients that are passed by the USDA for human consumption, but
there are many ways around this. For instance, a facility might be USDA-inspected during the
day, but the pet food is made at night after the inspector goes home. The use of such terms
should be viewed as a “Hype Alert.”
• “Meat is the first ingredient” claim. A claim that a named meat (chicken, lamb, etc.) is the
#1 ingredient is generally seen for dry food. Ingredients are listed on the label by weight,
and raw chicken weighs a lot, since contains a lot of water. If you look further down the list,
you’re likely to see ingredients such as chicken or poultry by-product meal, meat-and-bone
meal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, or other high-protein meal. Meals have had the fat
and water removed, and basically consist of a dry, lightweight protein powder. It doesn’t take
much raw chicken to weigh more than a great big pile of this powder, so in reality the food
is based on the protein meal, with very little “chicken” to be found. This has become a very
popular marketing gimmick, even in premium and “health food” type brands. Since just about
everybody is now using it, any meaning it may have had is so watered-down that you may
just as well ignore it.
• Special ingredient claims. Many of the high-end pet foods today rely on the marketing appeal
of people-food ingredients such as fruits, herbs, and vegetables. However, the amounts of
these items actually present in the food are small; and the items themselves may be scraps
and rejects from processors of human foods — not the whole, fresh ingredients they want
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG. 15
you to picture. Such ingredients don’t provide a significant health benefit and are really a
marketing gimmick.
Pet food marketing and advertising has become extremely sophisticated over the last few years.
It’s important to know what is hype and what is real to make informed decisions about what to
feed your pets.
What Consumers Can Do
• Write or call pet food companies and the Pet Food Institute and express your concerns about
commercial pet foods. Demand that manufacturers improve the quality of ingredients in their
products.
• Print out a copy of this report for your veterinarian to further his or her knowledge about
commercial pet food.
• Direct your family and friends with companion animals to www.api4animals.org to alert them
to the dangers of commercial pet food. Print out copies of API’s Fact Sheet on Selecting a
Good Commercial Food or download more copies of this report.
• Stop buying commercial pet food; or at least stop buying dry food. Dry foods have been the
subject of many more recalls, and have many adverse health effects. If that is not possible,
reduce the quantity of commercial pet food and supplement with fresh, organic foods, especially
meat. Purchase one or more of the many books available on pet nutrition and make your own
food. Be sure that a veterinarian or a nutritionist has checked the recipes to ensure that they
are balanced for long-term use.
• If you would like to learn about how to make healthy food for your companion animal, visit
www.api4animals.org and type “Sample Diets” into the search box for simple recipes and
important nutritional information.
• Please be aware that API is not a veterinary hospital, clinic, or service. API does not and will
not offer any medical advice. If you have concerns about your companion animal’s health or
nutritional requirements, please consult your veterinarian.
Because pet food manufacturers frequently change the formulations of their products, and API
cannot conduct the necessary testing, we are unable to offer endorsements for particular brands
of pet food. Many of our staff choose to make their own pet food, or to purchase natural or
organic products from feed and specialty pet stores or online, but we cannot recommend brands
that would be right for your companion animal or animals.
For Further Reading about Animal Nutrition
The Animal Protection Institute recommends the following books (listed in alphabetical order
by author), many of which include recipes for home-prepared diets:
• Michelle Bernard. 2003. Raising Cats Naturally — How to Care for Your Cat the Way Nature
Intended. Available at www.raisingcatsnaturally.com.
• Chiclet T. Dog and Jan Rasmusen. 2006. Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care.
Available at www.dogs4dogs.com. ISBN-10: 0977126501, ISBN-13: 978-0977126507.
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG. 16
• Rudi Edalati. 2001. Barker’s Grub: Easy, Wholesome Home-Cooking for Dogs. ISBN-10:
0609804421, ISBN-13: 978-0609804421.
• Jean Hofve, DVM. 2007. What Cats Should Eat. Available at www.littlebigcat.com.
• Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, and Susan Hubble Pitcairn. 2005. Dr. Pitcairn’s New Complete
Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. Rodale Press, Inc. ISBN-10: 157954973X, ISBN-
13: 978-1579549732. Note: The recipes for cats were not revised in this new edition and date
back to 2000; they may contain too much grain, according to recent research.
• Kate Solisti. 2004. The Holistic Animal Handbook: A Guidebook to Nutrition, Health, and
Communication. Council Oaks Books. ISBN-10: 1571781536, ISBN-13: 978-1571781536.
• Donald R. Strombeck. 1999. Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: The Healthful Alternative. Iowa
State University Press. ISBN-10: 0813821495, ISBN-13: 978-0813821498. Note: Veterinary
nutritionists have suggested that the taurine and calcium are too low in some of these recipes.
Clam juice and sardines are poor sources of taurine; use taurine capsules instead.
• Celeste Yarnall. 2000, Natural Cat Care: A Complete Guide to Holistic Health Care for Cats;
and 1998, Natural Dog Care: A Complete Guide to Holistic Health Care for Dogs. Available
at www.celestialpets.com.
The books listed above are a fraction of all the titles currently available, and the omission of a
title does not necessarily mean it is not useful for further reading about animal nutrition.
Please note: The Animal Protection Institute is not a bookseller, and cannot sell or send these
books to you. Please contact your local book retailer, an online bookstore, or the website
indicated, who can supply these books based on the ISBN provided for each title.
Who to Write
AAFCO Pet Food Committee
David Syverson, Chair
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Dairy and Food Inspection Division
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55155-2538
www.aafco.org
FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine
Sharon Benz
7500 Standish Place
Rockville, MD 20855
301-594-1728
www.fda.gov/cvm/
Pet Food Institute
2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
202-367-1120
Fax 202-367-2120
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG. 17
References
Association of American Feed Control Officials Incorporated. Official Publication 2007. Atlanta:
AAFCO, 2007.
Case LP, Carey DP, Hirakawa DA. Canine and Feline Nutrition: A Resource for Companion
Animal Professionals. St. Louis: Mosby, 1995.
FDA Enforcement Reports, 1998-2007. www.fda.gov.
Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, et al., eds. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 4th Edition.
2002. Topeka, KS: Mark Morris Institute.
Logan, et al., Dental Disease, in: Hand et al., ibid.
Mahmoud AL. Toxigenic fungi and mycotoxin content in poultry feedstuff ingredients. J Basic
Microbiol, 1993; 33(2): 101–4.
Morris JG, and Rogers QR. Assessment of the Nutritional Adequacy of Pet Foods Through the
Life Cycle. Journal of Nutrition, 1994; 124: 2520S–2533S.
Mottram DS, Wedzicha BL, Dodson AT. Acrylamide is formed in the Maillard reaction. Nature,
2002 Oct 3; 419(6906): 448–9.
Pet Food Institute. Fact Sheet 1994. Washington: Pet Food Institute, 1994.
Phillips T. Rendered Products Guide. Petfood Industry, January/February 1994, 12–17, 21.
Roudebush P. Pet food additives. J Amer Vet Med Assoc, 203 (1993): 1667–1670.
Seefelt SL, Chapman TE. Body water content and turnover in cats fed dry and canned rations.
Am J Vet Res, 1979 Feb; 40(2): 183–5.
Strombeck, DR. Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Foods: The Healthful Alternative. Ames: Iowa
State University Press, 1999.
Tareke E, Rydberg P, Karlsson P, et al. Analysis of acrylamide, a carcinogen formed in heated
foodstuffs. J Agric Food Chem, 2002 Aug 14; 50(17): 4998–5006.
Zoran D. The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats. J Amer Vet Med Assoc, 2002 Dec 1;
221(11): 1559–67.
Information on Reprints:
API receives many requests to reprint all or portions of our “What’s Really in Pet Food” report in
newsletters, on websites, and elsewhere.
Permission is usually granted under the following conditions:
• Full acknowledgment is made to the Animal Protection Institute as the source of the material.
• API’s copyright is preserved.
• Our URL — www.api4animals.org — is included in the reprint.
• Under no circumstances is the reprint to be used for fundraising of any kind.
Please email or write first for permission so that we can track your requests. Thank you.
API’S WHAT’S REALLY IN PET FOOD REPORT – PG. 18
Footnotes:
i Pet Food Institute. Fact Sheet 1994. Washington: Pet Food Institute, 1994.
ii Association of American Feed Control Officials. Official Publication, 2007. Regulation PE3,
120–121.
iii Morris, James G., and Quinton R. Rogers. Assessment of the Nutritional Adequacy of Pet
Foods Through the Life Cycle. Journal of Nutrition, 124 (1994): 2520S–2533S.
iv Tareke E, Rydberg P, Karlsson P, et al. Analysis of acrylamide, a carcinogen formed in heated
foodstuffs. J Agric Food Chem, 2002 Aug 14; 50(17): 4998–5006.
v Mottram DS, Wedzicha BL, Dodson AT. Acrylamide is formed in the Maillard reaction.
Nature, 2002 Oct 3; 419(6906): 448–9.
vi Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, et al., eds. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 4th Edition.
2002. Topeka, KS: Mark Morris Institute.
vii Seefelt SL, Chapman TE. Body water content and turnover in cats fed dry and canned
rations. Am J Vet Res, 1979 Feb; 40(2): 183–5.
viii Logan, et al., Dental Disease, in: Hand et al., eds., Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, Fourth
Edition. Topeka, KS: Mark Morris Institute, 2000.

Global Sources

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:01:38 +0000

Find Global Sources Suppliers

Pet Calendars – Dog Breed Store

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:28:33 +0000

DogBreedStore.com – Nothing But the Breed. Calendars, mats, leash hooks, cards, mugs, caps, bags, flags, figurines, and much more!

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR DOG FROM OUTDOOR SHOCK

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:18:55 +0000

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR DOG FROM OUTDOOR SHOCK – www.StreetZaps.com

WHY URBAN METAL ISN’T PRECIOUS -Blair Sorrel, Founder, www.StreetZaps.com

Of course, you want a worry-free walk year-round, so adopt this simple strategy:

EYEBALL THE BLOCK, AVOID A SHOCK.

Take just a few seconds to survey the immediate surroundings and make your trajectory toward a non-conductive surface, ie., plastic, wood, cardboard, rather than risking any metal or electrical fixture. The lowly, free-standing garbage bag, is you and your dog’s best friend, most of the time, unless it’s snowed and salted. Consider the safer, hardware-free RopeNGo leash and harness to help shield against a possible zapping and for greater peace of mind.

CONTACT VOLTAGE IS, INDEED, A BITCH.

Your pooch’s sex is irrelevant. True, the most gruesome scenario is that of a male dog electrocuted by its ricocheting urine, but contact voltage is just that, mere interaction with an energized surface. Our poster girl pooch sidled a fire hydrant and limped for five days. Intuit your dog’s cues, if resistant to an area, choose an alternative route. Elude potentially live work areas or carry your canine, if necessary. Opt for indoor products such as The Pet Loo, Hammacher Schlemmer’s Indoor Restroom, or Wee-Wee Pads, if external conditions are ominous. Dog booties can leak and make your pooch even more vulnerable.

ARE YOU PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH YOUR DOG?

Any of these fixtures might be dangerous, so again, choose non-conductive where and when possible. (link to home page fixtures listed below and/or the visuals page):

View All Images

– Street & Traffic Lights can leak if damaged internally, even if the compartment is fully closed and the light is not illuminated

– While wooden blocks anchor Scaffolding or Sidewalk Sheds, be aware that sloppy wiring by a contractor and/or the use of lighting equipment which is NOT WATER-PROOFED or even suitable for outdoor usage, may still shock a passerby.

– ATM Vestibules

– Decorative Lighting

– Dog Booties may increase
the risk of a shock

– Electrical Boxes

– Fire Hydrants

– Fire Police Call Boxes

– Manhole Covers

– Muni Meters

– Phone Booths

– Service Boxes

– Street Light Boxes

– Traffic Boxes

– Work Areas

After all, why chance it when there’s a choice?

BETWEEN YOU, ME, AND THE LAMPPOST.

Tampered equipment can become pernicious so please map damaged fixtures and known hot spots to admonish other pedestrians and alert the utility and transportation department.

(Utilize Report Form, thank you).

Famous Dogs We All Love

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:11:33 +0000

Famous Dogs We All Love
Certain dogs will never be forgotten. We grew up with these famous dogs, have read about these dogs and watched them on television and in the movies.

Truly Man’s (and Woman’s) Best Friend

Certain dogs will never be forgotten. We grew up with these famous dogs, have read about these dogs and watched them on television and in the movies. These world famous dogs will always hold a place in our hearts for generations to come. You hear the name and automatically, a mental image

of the dog comes to mind.

Benji: A mixed breed dog that always got into trouble. All the way back to the 1970’s, Benji was famous as the dog that everyone loved – small, cute, lovable and adventurous. America fell in love with Benji for her heroic deeds from helping small children to helping other dogs in need. Benji starred in several movies and television shows as the dog that saved the day.

Lassie: A dog that can herd sheep and rescue little boys from burning buildings has thumbs up from me. The dog character, Lassie, was first introduced to the world in book form and later became popular and even more famous in television and movies. Lassie truly was man’s best friend; one could always count on this dog to be there when a crisis got out of hand or simply to sympathize with a lonely or broken heart. Lassie is an icon for dogs – reliable, dependable and always faithful.

Beethoven: Dogs are notorious for causing trouble and Beethoven showed us just how much mischievous acts they can conjure up. Beethoven, a Saint Bernard dog, brought mishaps to a new level leaving viewers laughing at just how rough dogs can make it for others. Although trouble always seemed to follow this dog, he was loved by his family and viewers alike and no one would dare dream of sending this dog to the pound.

Toto: Everybody knows this legendary dog starring in the “Wizard of Oz”. A friend of Dorothy, this Cairn Terrier played in a total of 12 films. Toto didn’t play a huge role in this book, film, or play, but the fact that Dorothy clung to her dog as a trusted friend and companion emphasizes to all that dogs are valued and thought of highly in their owner’s eyes.

Scooby Doo: Where are you? This famous fictional dog is a Great Dane that can talk and find trouble if it is to be found. His master, Shaggy, and he are always looking for Scooby Snacks (or anything else they can eat!) As part of a detective team, Scooby Doo is known for cracking the mystery and uncovering the necessary evidence to capture the bad guy.

Dogs (whether fictional or not) will continue to be man’s best friend. We love to watch and read about these Hollywood dogs as they cause us to laugh and cry and reinforce heroism in today’s world that greatly needs heroes – including those with four legs, paws and floppy ears.

http://www.kansasoz.com/infototo.htm

Calendars.com / DogBreedStore.com

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:01:40 +0000

DogBreedStore.com – Nothing But the Breed. Calendars, mats, leash hooks, cards, mugs, caps, bags, flags, figurines, and much more!

Funny New Dog Breeds

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:15:43 +0000

1. Collie + Lhasa Apso = Collapso, a dog that folds up easy for transporting

2. Spitz + Chow Chow = Spitz-Chow, a dog that throws up alot

3. Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet

4. Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs, a puzzling breed

5. Pekingnese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso, an abstract dog

Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel = Irish Springer, a dog fresh and clean as a whistle.
7.

Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever = Lab Coat Retriever, the choice of research scientists.
8.

Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisors.
9.

Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistakes.
10.

Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador, not a popular dog with CIA agents.
11.

Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point, owned by… oh, well, it doesn’t matter anyway.
12.

Collie + Malamute = Commute, a dog that travels to work.
13.

Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere, a dog that’s true to the end

Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:14:56 +0000

Many dogs suffer from the unfortunate condition of hip dysplasia. It’s a disease that is causing many pet owners to turn to FlexPet for help to ease their pets’ pain. Here are the key parts of a great article from The Big Paw Blog about the degenerative joint disease that affects so many of our canine friends.

They explain how the malformation of the hip joint causes arthritis, which becomes increasingly debilitating as dogs age. Large breed dogs are more at risk than smaller dogs and those that are overweight are at even a greater risk. Several factors may play a role in the development of the condition. Here are some of the breeds that may be genetically predisposed to abnormal development of the hip joint:

German Shepherds
Great Danes
Mastiffs
Rottweilers
St. Bernards
Labrador Retrievers
Bulldogs
Golden Retrievers

Abnormal wear and erosion of the joint can occur in one or both hips. Symptoms usually don’t become apparent until the dog reaches middle age or older.

Here are some symptoms of hip dysplasia:

Stiffness/Pain/Limping
Difficulty getting up from a resting position.
Problems going up and down stairs or getting in and out of a car.

The Big Paw Blog suggest that dogs suffering from canine hip dysplasia should be kept indoors where it is warm during the winter months since cold can aggravate the condition making pain and stiffness worse. You can also help your pet at home by trying to eliminate any unnecessary need for climbing or jumping. If canine hip dysplasia is fairly advanced in your pet, you may want to consider a ramp so that he doesn’t need to try and climb stairs. Talk with your veterinarian since he or she will be able to make the best suggestions and answer any questions you may have about treatment options.

Read the entire article on the The”>http://site.bigpawdesigns.com/blog/?p=168””>The Big Paw Blog.

FlexPet is an all-natural Joint Pain Supplement for dogs and cats. The primary component of FlexPet is CM8™, which relieves joint pain at its source, reduces inflammation and irritation of the joints and tissues. It has been helpful for many pets suffering from joint pain and stiffness caused by aging, canine arthritis or feline arthritis.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs-1456537.html

Canine Separation Anxiety and How to Solve It

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:14:55 +0000

If your dog seems to go over the top with barking and howling when left alone, he may be suffering from canine separation anxiety.This can be a severe condition that can cause suffering to your dog and your house. Canine separation anxity is a medical condition that should not be ignored. Good behavioral techniques are needed here to help your pet.

Separation anxiety is represented by a dog’s nervous reaction to their owner being away from them for a period of time, even if it is only in a different room. What is happening is the dog’s level of anxiety and excitement is unbalanced.

Canine separation anxiety is more often spotted in the younger and older dogs. It is often seen in the rescue dog who, having been abandoned once, doesnt trust that it wont happen again.

If you are suffering because your pet is suffering and need help fast see help with canine separation anxiety

A dog can get used to spending too much time with you and this can lead to separation anxiety. Whether you take your dog to the store with you, stay at home with them majority of the time or take them on vacation. A dog that is used to you being around but is suddenly left alone may get separation anxiety as a result, worried that you are not coming back for them.

This condition in dogs is similar to when we leave our children at daycare and they cling to us not wanting us to leave them. A child specialist would probably say, let your child know that you are going to work and will be back soon. Dogs need the same assurances.

Your dogs separation anxiety can be anything from mild to severe. You will probably find there reaction will be obvious within about 30 minutes. Signs of distress or general separation anxiety can range from chewing, scratching at furniture, doors,and other items to defacating in the house. Dogs who suffer from separation anxiety may chew on your doors, window seals or anything they can find.

Click if you are desperate to solve canine separation anxiety

You can consider a number of steps to deal with this including medication. You must remember that your dog is not doing this on purpose. Your dog is dealing with its stress in the only way it knows.Punishment is not an option.It will make the problem worse and you could end up with a timid dog that is frightened of everything

A few steps that may help your pet to deal with their separation anxiety include, making departures and arrivals a non-event, leave your dog something that has your smell to keep with them, establish a word or phrase that you always say when leaving your dog. Animals associate these repetitive words with your actions and they will eventually realize that you will come back. Try a few test runs and pick up your keys and pretend to leave as they can help them deal with their anxiety if they know that you are returning.

You could try leaving your pet with a friend or family member or trying doggy daycare.Drugs can be used as a last resort and if chewing is problematic,leave them something innocent to chew on.

Dogs love their owners and are attached to us just like our kids. You need to assure them that you are not leaving them for good and will be backCanine separation anxiety can be improved but in the short term it can be a very worrying condition for the dog and its owner.

If you are suffering because your pet is suffering and need help fast see help with canine separation anxiety