| Many of us have been convinced that the healthy, | | | | By-Products are left over wastes from human |
| natural, premium and recommended by labels on | | | | food production. By-Products come in two forms: |
| dog food and cat food must mean that the food | | | | named and un-named. Examples of named |
| inside the bag is good for our pets. Alongside | | | | by-products include chicken by-products and pork |
| these words are claims of 100% complete and | | | | by-products. By-products can include necks, feet, |
| balanced that leave us to assume we are | | | | intestines and undeveloped eggs. |
| providing the best we can for our pets, feeding | | | | Un-named by-products include meat by-products. |
| the same dry cereal based diets day in and day | | | | Meat by-products can include brain, blood, kidneys, |
| out. Yet, most people do not fully appreciate | | | | lungs and stomachs. |
| what goes into these pet foods. The pet food | | | | By-products, in many cases, are derived from 4D |
| companies place images of fresh cut chicken | | | | meat sources - animals that have been rejected |
| breast, fresh fruits and vegetables and | | | | for human consumption because they were |
| wholesome grains on packages, however, that is | | | | presented to the meat packing plant as Dead, |
| rarely what is actually inside the bag. | | | | Dying, Diseased or Disabled. |
| Chances are you are feeding a pet food which | | | | Animal Fat |
| contains more than one of the ingredients | | | | Unlike chicken fat (a named animal source), |
| discussed below. The pet food industry has a | | | | un-named animal fat is a rendered product from |
| broad range of unsavory options when it comes | | | | animals of unspecified origin. |
| to what substances may be used in pet food and | | | | Again in many cases animal fat includes meat |
| freedom to print enticing pictures, however | | | | sources from the 4D class. |
| misleading, on their packaging. It is only when our | | | | Meat Meal |
| pet's health begins to degrade and eventually fail, | | | | Meat Meal consists of rendered, unspecified |
| that most people begin to question why. After all, | | | | sources of animal tissues. |
| a healthy body can only be as good as what is | | | | What this definition does not mention is the 4D |
| put into it. | | | | class of meat sources may still be legally used in |
| To promote the best health you can in your | | | | meat meat. |
| companion, read and understand the uses of the | | | | Meat and Bone Meal |
| common ingredients below and make sure to | | | | Meat and Bone Meal is a rendered product from |
| always read your labels! | | | | mammal tissues, including bone. |
| Top 12 Pet Food Ingredients to Avoid | | | | Recently many cat and dog food companies and |
| Corn, Corn Meal, or Corn Gluten Meal | | | | rendering plants have undergone scrutiny over |
| Years ago pet food manufacturers discovered | | | | their inclusion of euthanized pets in meat and bone |
| that pets adore the sweet taste of corn. Corn is | | | | meal. Ann Martin, in her book, "Food Pets Die For", |
| one of the most heavily subsidized crops in | | | | exposed this revolting practice and the detection |
| agriculture, making its market price lower than the | | | | of sodium pentobarbital in pet foods, a veterinary |
| cost of producing the corn. | | | | drug used in the euthanasia of pet animals. |
| The gluten in corn is used as an inferior protein | | | | Chemical Preservativces: BHA, BHT, Propyl Gallate, |
| source in pet foods. Corn protein in itself is not a | | | | Ethoxyquin or Sodium Nitrite/Nitrate |
| complete protein source and must be balanced | | | | BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) and BHT |
| with animal proteins to create a usable amino acid | | | | (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) are petroleum derived |
| profile for pets. | | | | preservatives used in food and hygeine products. |
| Unfortunately corn is often abused as the single | | | | TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) is another |
| most abundant ingredient in many pet foods, | | | | petroleum derived preservative. |
| contributing to the many diseases linked to high | | | | Ethoxyquin is used as a food preservative and a |
| carbohydrate diets, including obesity, chronic | | | | pesticide. In pet foods it is typically found in meat |
| inflammation, diabetes and cancer. The cob of the | | | | and fish based ingredients. Ethoxyquin is banned |
| corn becomes filler with very little nutritional value. | | | | for use in human products because it is believed |
| The quality of the corn is also a problem as many | | | | to cause cancer. It is important to note that |
| foods use low quality corn containing toxins such | | | | when a manufacturer obtains an ethoxyquin |
| as mycotoxins and mold which cause damage to | | | | preserved ingredient from a supplier the |
| a pet's liver and kidneys. | | | | manufacturer is not required to list ethoxyquin on |
| Carnivores were never designed to obtain the | | | | the pet food ingredient panel. |
| majority of their energy requirements from | | | | Propyl Gallate is another preservative used in |
| carbohydrates. In fact they have zero nutritional | | | | foods, cosmetics, hair products, adhesives, and |
| requirements for carbohydrates or grains. Yet the | | | | lubricants |
| majority of products on the market regularly | | | | The use of these harsh chemicals are known to |
| consist of up to 50% carbohydrates, with some | | | | cause cancer and are considered neither inert nor |
| even higher. | | | | safe, yet are widely used in pet foods. |
| Eons of evolution have designed carnivores to | | | | Powerful preservatives provide an inexpensive |
| obtain energy from amino acids (protein) and | | | | means of providing long product shelf-life. Naturally |
| fatty acids, fat from prey animals through the | | | | preserved products may utilize tocopherols |
| process of gluconeogenesis. Other than simple | | | | (Vitamin E), citric acid and rosemary extract to |
| economics there is no reason to challenge the | | | | prevent rancidity. |
| eons of evolution nature has put into place when | | | | These natural preservatives are common in truly |
| it comes to feeding carnivores like dogs, cats & | | | | healthy pet foods as the manufacturers realize |
| ferrets. When we force such a dramatic change | | | | that the small additional expense is worth it when |
| in metabolism and utilize least cost ingredients, | | | | it comes to our pets safety. |
| adverse effects over the long term become | | | | Sugar |
| much more likely. The same effects of junk food | | | | Table sugar is often used to perk interest in the |
| on humans can be seen in today's companion | | | | unsavory concoctions pet food manufacturers |
| animals. | | | | make. There is no reason for added sugar to be |
| Wheat | | | | placed in pet food, other than the reason |
| Wheat is another ingredient found in abundance in | | | | mentioned. |
| many foods. The repetitive and persistent | | | | Propylene Glycol |
| exposure of wheat to pet animals has resulted in | | | | Like sugar, propylene glycol is used as a flavour |
| allergies and intolerances to wheat and wheat | | | | enhancer due to its sweet taste. It is another |
| gluten. This is another starchy crop that should be | | | | questionable ingredient in pet food. In human uses |
| avoided. | | | | it is a common ingredient in stick deoderant and |
| Wheat gluten is also utilized as an inexpensive | | | | make-up as a humectant. It is interesting to note |
| protein source. Wheat gluten contamination was | | | | that propylene gycol is the less toxic chemical |
| the cause of the massive 2007 Menu Foods pet | | | | sister to ethylene glycol, "anti-freeze". |
| food recall, which caused a countless numbers of | | | | Artificial Colours |
| companion animals to suffer from kidney failure, | | | | Coloured kibble bits are not for the benefit of the |
| debilitation and death. Menu Foods manufactured | | | | dog or cat, they are in fact to make them more |
| food for hundred's of common brands. This ordeal | | | | appealing to you! Our pets could care less what |
| would have been avoided if the pet food | | | | colour their food is, this is simply another |
| companies involved used quality ingredients such | | | | marketing trick to catch your attention in the |
| as human grade meat rather than lower cost | | | | meriad of pet food labels. Artificial colours are |
| cereal alternatives. | | | | synthetic chemical dyes that have no place in pet |
| Soy | | | | food. There have been cases that link FD & C |
| Along with corn and wheat, soy is one of the | | | | colours to cancer and other ill effects. |
| most common allergies in companion animals. | | | | Conclusion |
| Carnivores were never meant to eat soy, it is | | | | We can see that any pet food can claim healthy |
| commonly used in pet food as an inexpensive | | | | and natural when such is not the case. |
| substitute for meat protein. As an additional | | | | Recommended by statements also have little |
| problem, is that it is estimated that some 89% of | | | | impact on the quality of these pet foods. |
| soy and 61% of corn crops are genetically | | | | Quite simply quality pet foods do not use these |
| engineered. Genetically modified foods are shown | | | | ingredients. Clearly pet foods found in |
| to adversely affect our pet's health, just as it | | | | supermarkets and even pet chain stores do not |
| does with us. | | | | have the best interests of your pets at heart. |
| Cellulose | | | | So, what are the alternatives? |
| Cellulose is essentially nothing more than 100% | | | | Fortunately there are plenty! Whether you are |
| filler. It can be purified and obtained from anything | | | | looking for alternative dry or canned foods, or |
| from plant material to saw dust. | | | | would like to switch to a natural raw food diet, |
| By-Products | | | | there are plenty of healthy options available for |
| Cat and dog food routinely contains by-products. | | | | you. |