Natural Pet Foods

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

“I couldn’t find any products that met my specifications,” Weil says. “The major problem with the content of conventional pet foods is the use of ‘animal byproducts,’ which are low-grade wastes from the beef and poultry industries.”

Weil says the optimum nutrition for pets comes from meat, poultry and fish of a quality similar to what we would eat. It should be “raised in sustainable, humane ways without added drugs and hormones, and with quality grains, fats and macronutrients.”

Nutrition is just as significant for dogs and cats as it is for humans. “It is one of the most important determinants of health and resistance to disease,” Weil says.

Those who want to give their companion animals better nutrition need to become informed about the ingredients in pet food and look for the best available products, Weil says. However, some of the most expensive “scientific and veterinarian-formulated products” are not the best, so Weil advises pet owners to learn to interpret ingredient lists.

Avoid pet foods that contain byproducts, chemicals and synthetic preservatives. If meal is listed, it should be from a specific animal; be wary of “byproduct meal.” A specific form of meat or meal, such as chicken or turkey, should be the first ingredient listed. Check that the nutritional content has been validated by feeding trials — look for certifications from AAFCO. Another good sign is a reference to the use of “human-grade ingredients.”

“It gives assurance that it was handled properly,” Brown says. “When I worked as a pet food inspector, I saw dump trucks unloading materials onto a cement floor. ‘Human-grade’ on the label assures better ingredients and handling of the food.”

Over the years through his veterinary practice, Brown says he has seen an increasing number of nutrition-related problems in dogs and cats, such as obesity and degenerative diseases.

“Animals age better with better care,” Brown says. Inferior nutrition wears down animals’ immune systems and incites skin and coat problems. “A lot of the wheat and corn allergies we see in dogs and cats might be from pesticides and hormones used in food,” he says. “We know that even at low levels of exposure pesticides increase the risk of cancer. If there is even the potential for a problem, why feed it?”

Good For Pets, Good For Farmers

The increasing popularity of natural and organic pet foods also supports small-scale and sustainable family farmers and ranchers.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print