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These all-natural, hemp infused pumpkin dog treats provide a healthy source of plant fiber, protein, and essential fatty acids for your fur-babies. 100% vegan and made in Canada from high-quality natural ingredients that are formulated to promote a healthy skin and coat while also supporting your pup’s digestion, bone and joint health.

What are they made with? Yellow Peas, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Molasses, Hemp Protein, Hemp Seed Oil, Canola Oil, Cinnamon, Apples, Carrots, Blueberries, Cranberries and Rosemary Extract.

Can you say “Yummy?”

Want some? Get yours at Hemp4Tails.ca

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This guide outlines what is required to ensure that your Chihuahua’s diet is correct so they remain healthy, energetic, and happy. We have covered the most pertinent recommendations on what foods your little cutie should eat and what not to make informed and healthy choices for your pup.

Nutritional Diet for Chihuahua Health

Chihuahuas don’t require numerous nutrients, but a balance of nutrition. Choosing a healthy dry dog food or the right raw food will require prioritizing the main components for what you need:

Protein for Muscle and Energy

Your pet Chihuahua is likely to be small and active. Thus, good-quality protein should be included in the diet. Some protein sources include:

• Lean meats: Dominating protein sources, such as chicken and turkey fish, are also excellent protein sources.
• Eggs: Cooked eggs are a good protein source, but they should be offered in moderation to avoid any complications.
• Lamb and beef: These can be incorporated as long as your Chihuahua tolerates them without complications.

Dietary Fats that Promote Healthy Skin and Coat

The right essential fats will improve energy levels and ensure that the coat remains shiny and the skin healthy. Some of these include:

• Fish oil: Fish oil is a decent source of omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coats.
• Chicken fat: A popular fat source that is relied on by most dog food manufacturers.
• Olive oil or coconut oil: In moderation, these oils may offer nutritious fats without overwhelming a dog’s diet.

Cutting back on fatty foods is necessary since fat is also a source of energy, so this means weight gain may be caused by moderation.

Carbohydrates For Sustained Energy

Too many carbs are not needed in the Chihuahua diet, yet a small quantity can offer sweet energy. Take note of wholesome sources that are easy to digest, including:

• Sweet potatoes: These are carb-packed with nutrients and are easy to digest.
• Brown rice: Soft on the stomach and offers fiber.
• Quinoa: A gluten-free grain that offers protein for diversity.

Carbs may keep one active but should not be abused since some Chihuahuas cannot handle large amounts of grains.

Incorporating CBD Oil into Your Chihuahua’s Diet

CBD oil for dogs is increasingly becoming a trend for pet parents owing to its several health advantages. Chihuahua dogs, too, can benefit from using Cannabidiol oil. Here is what you need to know about incorporating CBD oil into your Chihuahua food.

Possible Benefits of CBD Oil for Chihuahuas

Eases Tension: It can assist in calmness and relaxation for Chihuahuas. If your dog is hyperactive due to car movement, fireworks, separation, etc., CBD may help relieve some of these stresses without making the dog sluggish.

Balances Digestion: Perhaps CBD oil may be useful to encourage healthy digestion. For those Chihuahuas with sensitive stomachs, it supports the internal gut and helps out now and again with digestive upsets.

Enhanced Coat Health: Made from Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, Cannabidiol oil will also care for your Chihuahua’s coat and ensure that it appears glimmering and fluffy.

Stepwise Process of Safe Consumption of CBD Oil for Chihuahuas

What is the correct dose of CBD oil for dogs? Cannabidiol oil should be given to Chihuahuas in moderation. Follow these guidelines when trying it out for the first time.

• Look for Quality: It is best to try pet-targeted CBD products that are reputable for their purity and strength. THC should be restricted if consumed as it has direct adverse effects on dogs.
• Always Start Small: Start with a small board for CBD oil for as much as half your Chihuahua’s weight. If necessary, gently increase it.
• Look at your dog to see how it responds: After starting CBD, observe how your Chihuahua behaves. Pay particular attention to changes in behavior, energy levels, or appetite.

All CBD products have a risk aspect; always talk to your veterinarian about CBD if you want to make it a regular supplement for your Chihuahua.

Food That Should Never Be Included In Chihuahua Meals

Many people already know that certain foods are considered harmful or poisonous for Chihuahuas. You will need to remember what to keep out of their bowls:

Food that is Dangerous for Chihuahuas

• Chocolate: Theobromine is contained in it, and this substance can be poisonous to dogs.
• Grapes and raisins: Too many of them can lead to kidney issues.
• Onions and garlic: Red blood cells are destroyed, leading to possible anemia
• Avocado: Contains a person, which may trigger stomach problems.

Never give these foods to Chihuahuas; even the smallest quantity can create health-related complications.

Foods That Are Not Advised For Chihuahuas

Some foods are hard for Chihuahuas to handle in the stomach, and therefore, they will not feel very comfortable afterward.

• Dairy: This might result in gas or an upset stomach, as many dogs have lactose intolerance.
• High-fat foods: Animals can develop digestive problems and have a higher chance of developing pancreatitis.
• Processed foods: Food colorings may create an upset stomach, among other problems.

Conclusion: How To Prepare the Best Diet for Your Chihuahua

There is a lot of conflicting information on the best diet for your Chihuahua, but it’s easy if you pay attention to particulars. If you concentrate on good protein sources, a sensible diet, and provide food on a routine basis, you can promote your Chihuahua’s health, energy, and mood in the best way possible.

Don’t forget: each Chihuahua is different, so watch what foods your Chihuahua likes or dislikes, and call your veterinarian for help regarding your Chihuahua diet choices if you can. Your Chihuahua will be healthy, energetic, and full of life every single day with a diet that is suitable for them if you stay on top of it as recommended in this article.

The post The Chihuahua Diet: What to Feed (and Avoid) to Keep Your Chihuahua Healthy appeared first on Famous Chihuahua.

This video will give you insight into the commercial pet food industry and explains the benefits of giving your chihuahua fresh food – like to decrease their chances of cancer!  You will also learn how to make a healthy recipe that you can make every 2.5-3 weeks and store in the freezer.

The post Here’s a healthy homemade dog food recipe to make for your Chihuahua! appeared first on Famous Chihuahua.

did you know that a popular pet food label myth is that “meat first” on the ingredient list means more and better-quality meat?

it’s a fact, consumers tend to focus on the ingredients in pet food rather than on the nutrient value and digestibility of the food.  this occurs because people can’t understand pet food labels, so they look for anything that relates to human food labels.

what information should you look for?

what pet owners should look at is the nutrient value and whether it meets the daily requirements their pets need and how well those essential nutrients will be absorbed during digestion.

because the ingredient list provides little information on the nutritional value or overall quality of a pet food, look for one of these three statements on the packaging that must answer these important questions:

• does the diet contain all the essential nutrients that a pet needs?
• how that was determined?
• for which age or life stage is the diet appropriate?

clearly, the need to improve and simplify pet food labels is necessary

people want the best for their pets as they are often seen as family members, so to help consumers make better and more informed decisions, data label specialists and ethical dog food companies are creating info graphics that show:

• how pet food is currently labelled,
• the terms used in the ingredients list,
• and the creative marketing used to promote these terms

the must-read article, calls for clearer labeling on pet food, educates and shows the consumer these very helpful info graphics.

for chihuahua owners specifically, the ebook, caring for chihuahuas made easy: breed information, health care and nutrition also provides you with helpful information on pet food labeling.

start now. do the research. educate yourself on the importance of understanding pet food labels.  your pet will thank you for it!

reference:  important-information-you-could-be-misreading-on-the-pet-food-label

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very rarely does famous chihuahua endorse a nutritional dog treat if they aren’t 100% sure that it’s all natural, the best quality and loved by teaka the famous chihuahua.  So if you’re looking for an all natural wholesome dog treat for your chihuahua to enjoy and you only want to give them the very best, then you must try little l’s crunchy krakem’s!

krak’ems are a freshly baked all-meat brittle that are a crunchy and flavorful alternative to conventional jerky.  they are made from human-grade poultry and meat grown free range and without the use of antibiotics or hormones.  only premium parts of meat are used, so these low calorie treats are high in lean protein, low in fat, and 100% grain/gluten free.  no glycerin, oils, salt, additives or preservatives are used and they are shipped straight from the kitchen to your front door.  your chihuahua will start wagging their tail the very moment the mailman arrives!

we guarantee your chihuahua will love krak’ems, so we’re offering a 15% discount off your purchase.  just use the coupon code ‘TEAKA’ at the checkout.  oh, and did we mention there’s free shipping on orders of 2 or more bags!  “wowsers!”

so what are you waiting for?
click here to order your bag of crunchy krak’ems!

“krak’ems make my mouth water auntie lana!  this smells soooo good i just have to eat it!”

“yummy, yummy!  these are absolutely delicious!  loving licks all around!  … woof, woof”

you simply can’t go wrong with krak’ems, they will have your chihuahua doing back flips!

The post crunchy krak’ems for your chihuahua! only the best all natural dog treats! appeared first on Famous Chihuahua.

looking for the perfect snack to give your chihuahua? a healthy snack that’s packed with nutrients and is juicy, crispy and crunchy? look no further, feed your chihuahua romaine lettuce!

fresh romaine lettuce is full of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber. with its extremely low calorie content and high water volume, romaine lettuce is actually a very nutritious food.

romaine lettuce is also an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, vitamin C, manganese, and chromium and is very good source of dietary fiber and 6 vitamins and minerals.

other than being highly nutritious snack and low in calories, romaine lettuce is also a fast and safe way to hydrate your chihuahua on those hot and dry days or when your chihuahua just isn’t drinking enough water.

when selecting romaine lettuce for your chihuahua, make sure it is crisp, with unwilted leaves that are free of dark or slimy spots. be sure to wash it before giving it to your chihuahua.

the edges of the leaves should also be free of brown or yellow discoloration and they should have compact heads and stem ends that are not brown.

related: chihuahua health problems
famous chihuahua does tricks for treats video
famous chihuahua does tricks for crunchy red pepper!

photo source: whfoods.com – (the world’s healthiest foods – profile romaine lettuce)

The post chihuahua nutrition: feed your chihuahua fresh romaine lettuce! appeared first on Famous Chihuahua.

ever look at the label on your dog’s food and you didn’t understand what you were reading? ever wonder if the ingredients listed meet optimal nutritional requirements for your chihuahua?

dog food labels can be full of information, but sometimes we don’t understand what everything means. here are some pointers to help you understand what you are reading when it comes to dog food labels.

• foods labeled as “completely balanced” or “nutritionally complete” meet nutritional requirements for either adult dogs, or puppies and pregnant or lactating females. these standards are set by the american feed control officials (aafco).
• the label of a completely balanced food must indicate the group for which it is intended.
• ingredients on a label are listed in descending order by weight.
• the different components of a single ingredient are often listed separately (for example, ground corn and corn gluten meal), which changes the order in which these ingredients are listed.
• nutritionally balanced dog foods always contain some plant products. dogs love meat, but they are actually omnivores. this means they need the nutrients found in both plant and animal food.
• the nutritional analysis lists minimum crude protein and fat content, as well as maximum fiber and moisture content. the percentages are as fed values, meaning just the food with nothing added to it.
• crude means the analysis was made with a laboratory instrument, which is somewhat accurate, but doesn’t tell you anything about the digestible content or how much of the nutrient your chihuahua can actually use. it is suggested that you contact the manufacturer for that information. you can check the label for a toll-free number or website.

what are you feeding your chihuahua?
healthy snacks to feed your chihuahua

picture: teaka the famous chihuahua is fed only quality foods and it shows.
reference: karla s. rugh, d.v.m., ph.d – chihuahuas, vol 3, 2nd edition

The post how to read dog food labels appeared first on Famous Chihuahua.

with so much processed food on the market, do you ever wonder what foods are healthy for your chihuahua to snack on? its ok to allow your chihuahua to indulge on occasion, but just be sure to choose healthy treats.

if you are selecting from store-manufactured dog food, make sure you check the package label for the nutritional analysis, ingredient list and recommended serving. some manufactured treats are actually formulated to provide complete nutrition, but this doesn’t mean it should be the staple of your chihuahua’s diet.

as with people, it is best to avoid treats with too much sugar, salt or fat. crunchy treats tend to have less sugar than semi-moist ones, so they are better for your chihuahua’s teeth and waistline. in addition, they provide satisfying chewing exercise which also promotes dental health.

low-cost alternatives to commercial snacks include:

vegetables: cooked, raw or frozen – carrots, broccoli stems, green beans, fresh peppers, peas, lettuce stems

fruits: apples, pears, bananas (only small amounts to avoid digestive upset)

breads: crackers and dry cereal (only occasionally and reduced fat or no-fat)

cheese: high in fat so offer only reduced fat on occasion

meat: small chunks of cooked lean meats – chicken, turkey, pork, steak, liver

teaka the famous chihuahua favorite snacks: fresh red pepper slices, romaine lettuce stems and broccoli

* it is important to note that not every food that is safe for humans is also safe for your chihuahua. do NOT feed your chihuahua chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins or macadamia nuts – all have been associated with toxic reactions ranging from vomiting, diarrhea and death

source: karla s. rugh, d.v.m., ph.d – chihuahuas, vol 3, 2nd edition
picture source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdmsf/1477490312/

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Photo Source

It is very important to understand that animals and humans share many of the same nutritional and metabolic needs. Certain ‘ESSENTIAL’ fatty acids obtained through diet are required in both you and your pet for optimal health.

The word ESSENTIAL means just that, essential to the diet because even death can be the result of a severe deficiency in these vital fats.

Whether it be through diet or proper supplementation, it is fundamental that you see to it that both you and your pet are not deficient in these essential life sustaining nutrients.

What are Essential Fatty Acids and how is it that they are ‘essential’ for your pet’s health?

Realize that Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) are ‘good’ fats and will not make your pet fat. Because of thier chemical make-up, essential fatty acids are oils. The essential fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, are vital nutrients that function as necessary building blocks for every cell membrane in your pet’s body. Their liver and other internal tissues do make many of the fatty acids needed that are required for your pet’s body’s chemical factory to operate normally, HOWEVER with dogs in particular, the one essential fat, Omega-6 (Linoleic acid) CAN NOT be made by their body on its own so it becomes a MUST for you to see to it that your dog is getting essential fats.

The right amount of essential fats in your dog’s diet will help to regulate their cholesterol levels, keep their energy levels up, ensure their immune system is functioning properly and will also alleviate dry itching skin or skin-related conditions.

Essential Fatty Acids also play a vital role in establishing a healthy lipid barrier on the skin of your pet to block any other potential irritants and/or infections. A consistant intake of the Essential Omega-3 Fatty Acid in sufficient amounts will also help to avoid high blood pressure, reduce the chances of blood clots, and of arrhythmia (an abnormal heart beat).

Omega-3 also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by stimulating the production of certain hormone-like substances called prostaglandins.

How do I know if my pet is deficient in essential fatty acids?

Pets deficient in essential fatty acids will most likely have easy to detect dermatitis-like characteristics. The best way to assess the possibility an essential fatty acid deficiency in your pet is to do a thorough inspection of them. If their skin is dry and flaky and their coat actually feels dull and greasy, but still has a coarse texture, then this is a sure sign that your pet is either not getting any or enough high quality essential fats.

Further defects associated with Essential Fatty Acid deficiencies in your pet may be one of following:

• eczema, eczema-like skin eruptions
• behavioral disturbances
• dry nose, scratching
• hair loss, knawing at skin
• arthritis or arthritis-like conditions
• impaired vision or learning abilities
• disrupted healing process (wounds are slow to heal or don’t heal at all)
• sterility in males
• miscarriages in impregnated females
• hindered growth
• heart and circulatory problems
• drying up of glands, fragility and weakness
• vulnerability to infections
• kidney or liver problems
• coats may have a foul odor
• overall lack of energy

So if your pet has been on a generic, corn-based formula, or on a cheaper “weight-reducing” diet for a long time, or has ANY of the symptoms listed above, then you should re-evaluate your pet’s diet and make these much needed changes. It is very important to look at is the type of dog food you are feeding your pet and the process about which the manufacturer is using to formulate their food.

Usually the first thing dog food manufacturers will do to formulate a dog food for a “reduced calorie diet” is to cut the total fat content so there is a reduction of the total calories your pet takes in with each meal. Your pet may or may not lose weight on such a formula, but the potential for an Essential Fatty Acid deficiency is very high.

Make sure your chihuahua is getting enough essential fats in their diet by having them supplement with an Essential Fatty Acid 3-6-9 Oil Blend!

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS ARE NOURISHING AND GOOD FOR BOTH PETS AND THEIR OWNERS!

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Plump whole chickens, choice cuts of beef, fresh grains, and all the wholesome nutrition is all your dog or cat will ever need – these are the images pet food manufacturers promulgate through the media and advertising.

This is what the $11 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 market for slaughterhouse offal, grains considered “unfit for human consumption,” and similar waste products to be turned into profit. This waste includes intestines, udders, esophagi, and possibly diseased and cancerous animal parts.

Three of the five major pet food companies in the United States are subsidiaries of major multinational companies:

• Nestlé (Alpo, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Mighty Dog, and Ralston Purina products such as Dog Chow, ProPlan, and Purina One)
• Heinz (9 Lives, Amore, Gravy Train, Kibbles-n-Bits, Nature’s Recipe)
• Colgate-Palmolive (Hill’s Science Diet Pet Food)

Other leading companies include:

• Procter & Gamble (Eukanuba and Iams)
• Mars (Kal Kan, Mealtime, Pedigree, Sheba, Waltham’s)
• and Nutro

From a business standpoint, multinational companies owning pet food manufacturing companies is an ideal relationship. 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.

There are hundreds of different pet foods available in this country. And while many of the foods on the market are similar, not all of the pet food manufacturing companies use poor quality or potentially dangerous ingredients.

Ingredients

Although the purchase price of pet food does not always determine whether a pet food is good or bad, the price is often a good indicator of quality. It would be impossible for a company that sells a generic brand of dog food at $9.95 for a 40-lb. bag to use quality protein and grain in its food. The cost of purchasing quality ingredients would be much higher than the selling price. The protein used in pet food comes from a variety of sources. When cattle, swine, chickens, lambs, or other animals are slaughtered, the choice cuts such as lean muscle tissue are trimmed away from the carcass for human consumption. However, about 50% of every food-producing animal does not get used in human foods. Whatever remains of the carcass — bones, blood, intestines, lungs, ligaments, and almost all the other parts not generally consumed by humans — is used in pet food, animal feed, and other products. These “other parts” are known as “by-products,” “meat-and-bone-meal,” or similar names on pet food labels.

The Pet Food Institute — the trade association of pet food manufacturers — acknowledges 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.”Many of these remnants provide a questionable source of nourishment for our animals.

The nutritional quality of meat and poultry by-products, meals, and digests can vary from batch to batch. James Morris and Quinton Rogers, two professors with the Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California at Davis Veterinary School of Medicine, assert that, “There is virtually no information on the bioavailability of nutrients for companion animals in many of the common dietary ingredients used in pet foods. These 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.”Meat and poultry meals, by-product meals, and meat-and-bone meal are common ingredients in pet foods. The term “meal” means that these materials are not used fresh, but have been rendered. What is rendering? Rendering, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, is “to process as for industrial use: to render livestock carcasses and to extract oil from fat, blubber, etc., by melting.” Home-made chicken soup, with its thick layer of fat that forms over the top when the soup is cooled, is a sort of mini-rendering process.

Rendering separates fat-soluble from water-soluble and solid materials, removes most of the water, and kills bacterial contaminants, but may alter or destroy some of the natural enzymes and proteins found in the raw ingredients. Meat and poultry by-products, while not rendered, vary widely in composition and quality. What can the feeding of such products do to your companion animal? Some veterinarians claim that feeding slaughterhouse wastes to animals increases their risk of getting cancer and other degenerative diseases. The cooking methods used by pet food manufacturers — such as rendering, extruding (a heat-and-pressure system used to “puff” dry foods into nuggets or kibbles), and baking — do not necessarily destroy the hormones used to fatten livestock or increase milk production, or drugs such as antibiotics or the barbiturates used to euthanize animals.

Animal and Poultry Fat

You may have noticed a unique, pungent odor when you open a new bag of pet food — what is the source of that delightful smell? It is most often rendered animal fat, restaurant grease, or other oils too rancid or deemed inedible for humans. Restaurant grease has become a major component of feed grade animal fat over the last fifteen years. This grease, often held in fifty-gallon drums, may be kept outside for weeks, exposed to extreme temperatures with no regard for its future use.

“Fat blenders” or rendering companies then pick up this used grease and mix the different types of fat together, stabilize them with powerful antioxidants to retard further spoilage, and then sell the blended products to pet food companies and other end users. 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 digests. 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.

Wheat, Soy, Corn, Peanut Hulls, and Other Vegetable Protein

The amount of grain products used in pet food has risen over the last decade. Once considered filler by the pet food industry, cereal and grain products now replace a considerable proportion of the meat that was used in the first commercial pet foods. The availability of nutrients in these products is dependent upon the digestibility of the grain. The amount and type of carbohydrate in pet food determines the amount of nutrient value the animal actually gets.

Dogs and cats can almost completely absorb carbohydrates from some grains, such as white rice. Up to 20% of the nutritional value of other grains can escape digestion. The availability of nutrients for wheat, beans, and oats is poor. The nutrients in potatoes and corn are far less available than those in rice. Some ingredients, such as peanut hulls, are used for filler or fiber, and have no significant nutritional value.

Two of the top three ingredients in pet foods, particularly dry foods, are almost always some form of grain products. Pedigree Performance Food for Dogs lists Ground Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, and Corn Gluten Meal as its top three ingredients. Lives Crunchy Meals for cats lists Ground Yellow Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, and Poultry By-Product Meal as its first three ingredients. Since cats are true carnivores — they must eat meat to fulfill certain physiological needs — one may wonder why we are feeding a corn-based product to them. The answer is that corn is a much cheaper “energy source” than meat.

In 1995, Nature’s Recipe pulled thousands of tons of dog food off the shelf after consumers complained that their dogs were vomiting and losing their appetite. Nature’s Recipe’s loss amounted to $20 million. The problem was a fungus that produced vomitoxin (an aflatoxin or “mycotoxin,” a toxic substance produced by mold) contaminating the wheat.

In 1999, another fungal toxin triggered the recall of dry dog food made by Doane Pet Care at one of its plants, including Ol’ Roy (Wal-Mart’s brand) and 53 other brands. This time, the toxin killed 25 dogs. Although it caused many dogs to vomit, stop eating, and have diarrhea, vomitoxin is a milder toxin than most. The more dangerous mycotoxins can cause weight loss, liver damage, lameness, and even death as in the Doane case. The Nature’s Recipe incident prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to intervene.

Dina Butcher, Agriculture Policy Advisor for North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer, concluded that the discovery of vomitoxin in Nature’s Recipe wasn’t much of a threat to the human population because “the grain that would go into pet food is not a high quality grain.”Soy is another common ingredient that is sometimes used as a protein and energy source in pet food. Manufacturers also use it to add bulk so that when an animal eats a product containing soy he will feel more sated. While soy has been linked to gas in some dogs, other dogs do quite well with it. Vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source.

Additives and Preservatives

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.

Adding chemicals to food originated thousands of years ago with spices, natural preservatives, and ripening agents. In the last 40 years, however, the number of food additives has greatly increased. All commercial pet foods must be preserved so they stay fresh and appealing to our animal companions. Canning is a preserving process itself, so canned foods contain less preservatives than dry foods.

Some preservatives are added to ingredients or raw materials by the suppliers, and others may be added by the manufacturer. Because manufacturers need to ensure that dry foods have a long shelf life to remain edible after shipping and prolonged 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.

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 to consume as much chili powder every day as a dog would eat dry food.

Ethoxyquin has never been tested for safety in cats. Some manufacturers 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. Other ingredients, however, may be individually preserved.

Most fish meal, and some prepared vitamin-mineral mixtures, contain chemical preservatives. This means that your companion animal may be eating food containing several types of preservatives. Federal law requires preservatives to be disclosed on the label; however, pet food companies only recently started to comply with this law.

Additives in Processed Pet Foods:

• Anticaking agents
• Antimicrobial agents
• Antioxidants Coloring agents
• Curing agents Drying agents
• Emulsifiers
• Firming agents
• Flavor enhancers
• Flavoring agents
• Flour treating agents
• Formulation aids
• Humectants
• Leavening agents
• Lubricants
• Nonnutritive sweeteners
• Nutritive sweeteners
• Oxidizing and reducing agents
• pH control agents
• Processing aids
• Sequestrants Solvents
• Vehicles Stabilizers, thickeners
• Surface active agents
• Surface finishing agents
• Synergists Texturizers

While the law requires studies of direct toxicity of these additives and preservatives, they have not been tested for their potential synergistic effects on each other once ingested. Some authors have suggested that dangerous interactions occur among some of the common synthetic preservatives. Natural preservatives do not provide as long a shelf life as chemical preservatives, but they are safe.

The Manufacturing Process: How Pet Food Is Made

Although feeding trials are no longer required for a food to meet the requirements for labeling a food “complete and balanced,” most manufacturers 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. The larger and more reputable companies do 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.

Most dry food is made with a machine called an expander or extruder. First, raw materials are blended, sometimes by hand, other times by computer, in accordance with a recipe developed by animal nutritionists. This mixture is fed into an expander and steam or hot water is added. The mixture is subjected to steam, pressure, and high heat as it is extruded through dies that determine the shape of the final product and puffed like popcorn. The food is allowed to dry, and then is usually sprayed with fat, digests, or other compounds to make it more palatable.

Although the cooking process may kill bacteria in pet food, the final product can lose its sterility during the subsequent drying, fat coating, and packaging process. A few foods are baked at high temperatures rather than extruded. This produces a dense, crunchy kibble that is palatable without the addition of sprayed on palatability enhancers.

Animals can be fed about 25% less of a baked food, by volume (but not by weight), than an extruded food. Ingredients are similar for wet, dry, and semi-moist foods, although the ratios of protein, fat, and fiber may change.

A typical can of ordinary cat food reportedly contains about 45-50% meat or poultry by-products. The main difference between the types of food is the water content. It is impossible to directly compare labels from different kinds of food without a mathematical conversion to “dry matter basis.”

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.

There are special labeling requirements for pet food, all of which are contained in the annually revised Official Publication of AAFCO. 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.”

Products containing multiple ingredients are covered by AAFCO Regulation PF3(b) and (c). 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 usually not nutritionally balanced, 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) as long as the ingredient(s) shall constitute at least 10% of the total product weight; and a descriptor that implies other ingredients are included in the product formula is used on the label.

Such descriptors include “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.

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, without containing any actual beef meat at all.

What Happened to the Nutrients?

Dr. Randy L. Wysong is a veterinarian and produces his own line of pet foods. A long-time critic of pet food industry practices, he said, “Processing is the wild card in nutritional value that is, by and large, simply ignored. Heating, cooking, rendering, freezing, dehydrating, canning, extruding, pelleting, baking, and so forth, are so commonplace that they are simply thought of as synonymous with food itself.” Processing meat and by-products used in pet food can greatly diminish their nutritional value, but cooking increases the digestibility of cereal grains.

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.

Contaminants

Commercially manufactured or rendered meat meals and by-product meals are frequently highly contaminated with bacteria because their source is not always slaughtered animals. Animals that have died because of disease, injury, or natural causes are a source of meat for meat meal. The dead animal might not be rendered until days after its death.

Therefore the carcass is often contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia 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 and are released when they die. These toxins can cause sickness and disease. Pet food manufacturers do not test their products for endotoxins.

Mycotoxins — These toxins comes from mold or fungi, such as vomitoxin in the Nature’s Recipe case, and aflatoxin in Doane’s food. Poor farming practices and improper drying and storage of crops can cause mold growth. Ingredients that are most likely to be contaminated with mycotoxins are grains such as wheat and corn, cottonseed meal, peanut meal, and fish meal.

Labeling

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 NRC standards, which still exist and are being revised as of 2001, 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 can still be done, a standard chemical analysis may be also be used to determine if a food meets the profiles. 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. The digestibility and availability of nutrients is not listed on pet food labels.

The 100% Myth — Problems Caused by Inadequate Nutrition

The idea of one pet food providing all the nutrition a companion animal will ever need for its entire life is a myth. Cereal grains are the primary ingredients in most commercial pet foods. Many people select one pet food and feed it to their dogs and cats for a prolonged period of time. Therefore, companion dogs and cats eat a primarily carbohydrate diet with little variety. Today, the diets of cats and dogs are a far cry from the primarily protein diets with a lot of variety that their ancestors ate.

The problems associated with a commercial diet are seen every day at veterinary establishments. Chronic digestive problems, such as chronic vomiting, diarrhea, 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 animals have developed.

The newest 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. Dry commercial pet food is often contaminated with bacteria, which may or may not cause problems. Improper food storage and some feeding practices may result in the multiplication of this bacteria. For example, adding water or milk to moisten pet food and then leaving it at room temperature causes bacteria to multiply. Yet this practice is suggested on the back of packages of some kitten and puppy foods.

Pet food formulas and the practice of feeding that manufacturers recommend have increased other digestive problems. Feeding only one meal per day can cause the irritation of the esophagus by stomach acid. Feeding two smaller meals is better. Feeding recommendations or instructions on the packaging are sometimes inflated so that the consumer will end up purchasing more food.

However, Procter & Gamble allegedly took the opposite tack with its Iams and Eukanuba lines, reducing the feeding amounts in order to claim that its foods were less expensive to feed. Independent studies commissioned by a competing manufacturer suggested that these reduced levels were inadequate to maintain health. Procter & Gamble has since sued and been countersued by that competing manufacturer, and a consumer complaint has also been filed seeking class-action status for harm caused to dogs by the revised feeding instructions.

Urinary tract disease is directly related to diet in both cats and dogs. Plugs, crystals, and stones in cat bladders are often triggered or aggravated by commercial pet food formulas. One type of stone found in cats is less common now, but another more dangerous type has become more common. Manipulation of manufactured cat food formulas to alter the acidity of urine and the amount of some minerals has directly affected these diseases. Dogs also form stones as a result of their diet.

History has shown that commercial pet food products can cause 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 itself occurred because of decreased amounts of animal proteins and increased reliance on carbohydrates. Cat foods are now supplemented with taurine. New research suggests that supplementing taurine may also be helpful for dogs, but as yet few manufacturers are adding extra taurine to dog food.

Inadequate potassium in certain feline diets also caused kidney failure in young cats; potassium is now added in greater amounts to all cat foods. Rapid growth in large breed puppies has been shown to contribute to bone and joint disease. Excess calories and calcium in some manufactured puppy foods promoted rapid growth. There are now special puppy foods for large breed dogs. But this recent change will not help the countless dogs who lived and died with hip and elbow disease.

There is also evidence that hyperthyroidism in cats may be related to excess iodine in commercial pet food diets. This is a new disease that first surfaced in the 1970s, when canned food products appeared on the market. The exact cause and effect are not yet known. This is a serious and sometimes terminal 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 result 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 meat meals are not as nutritious or safe as you should expect for your cat or dog.

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.
• Call API with any information about the pet food industry, specific manufacturers, or specific 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 this website, to alert them of the dangers of commercial pet food. Or request copies of our Fact Sheet on Selecting a Good Commercial Food.
• Stop buying commercial pet food. Or if that is not possible, reduce the quantity of commercial pet food and supplement with fresh foods.
• 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 and complete.

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