by Tina Valant

Created on: April 25, 2008

Wheat Tigers? Corn Wolves?

Every day, we enjoy a wide array of food choices and styles, from fast food to elegant multi-course feasts. But, our pets have to eat what we serve, when we serve it. As a pet mom who cooks (and bakes) for her pets, I thought I was very knowledgeable about their nutrition. Evidenced by extra ribcage padding, our vet kindly suggested two of the dogs needed to drop weight. Pne of my cats, Chance had a chronic problem with little scabs and itchy skin. I was taking her to the vet every three to five weeks for a shot to an "inhalant allergy". Car rides, not so fun for kitties....I know a lot of pets with skin and ear problems. I wondered, Could it all be food-related? I had to discover how my pets' food was affecting their health. Was I feeding them "fast food" or solid nutrition which could improve health and vitality, and possibly increase their life spans? I didn't want to continue to simply mask symptoms.

Gently look in your cat's mouth. The four long pointy teeth are "canines" and indicate a carnivore, a meat-eater. Review your pet's food label. The first five ingredients are fundamental. Ground yellow corn was the first ingredient, in the food I had. Did you ever see a dog, wolf, coyote, or fox chomping down on an ear of corn? Do zoo care-givers offer wheat or soybeans to the tigers, lions, or cougars? After all, our domestic pets are tiny replicas of their wild cousins.

So, then why do pet food manufacturers use corn and wheat? A little research yielded that shortly after World War II, there was a grain surplus. Unfit for human consumption, it was directed to the pet food industry. Cheap, readily available, with a long shelf life; add a colorful label, clever advertising, and grocery store convenience; for a now multi-billion dollar industry. The second ingredient was chicken by-products (what remains after choice cuts). By-products can include unappealing items (heads, feet, tendons, intestines).. No wonder they can be difficult to digest. I learned an optimum food would first list "meal", (ie chicken meal) a human grade, concentrated source of protein with the majority of water extracted. Along with a meat meal, what else should your pet's food contain? Vegetables, an animal based fat source, beet fiber, antioxidants, bacterial cultures and proteinated minerals.

What to avoid in your pet's food:

By-products ~ Grains (soy, corn, wheat, corn gluten or wheat gluten) ~ Chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxoquin) ~ Refined sugar ~ Artificial sweeteners ~ Artificial colors

I found the right foods, complete nutritional systems; and my pets are thriving. Chance's coat is more gorgeous than ever. The little bumps she had vanished after about a month of being on the holistic food and supplement. And, I can't tell you the last time I saw a hairball, on my sofa! Rudy no longer keeps me awake. His feet are fineit was an allergy to corn. Mack and Jackpot achieved their target weights.

Yes, holistic foods usually cost more, but since they are more digestible, you feed less. Factor in, less trips to the vet (we miss him) for allergy relief. By taking an active interest in my pets' nutrition, I believe I have increased and enhanced their lives. Our pets deserve to be healthy and happy, as long as we are entrusted with them.

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