Really it’s sad that it’s necessary that I write this
blog. I would like to think the pet food
industry was on the side of the consumer and their pet(s). So, why am I writing it? Because I don’t like
to be misled, and it is really irritating when I know, it’s not just me who is
being deceived. I don’t feed my dogs
home cooked meals, study canine nutritional needs, or even invest my hard
earned dollars into obtaining certification in advanced canine nutrition because
I have nothing better to do. I do it because I not only care about my dogs, but
everybody else’s dogs! I love dogs! I
want everybody I know who has a dog to be educated in knowing what can help
their furry companions stay healthy. The
last 25 years of my life have involved reading countless articles and books, and
included probably thousands of hours of research and application of exercise
and nutrition. I have learned to sort
through the hype and present simplified information to help others live better
lives. I’m not perfect, I fall short…I’m
human, but I continue to strive toward what I know to be right. There is a lot of just down right nonsense
out there, and it can be confusing.
This blog will be quite lengthy, and I hope you will stick
with it and read it….I hope it makes you angry (you’ll understand why I say
that when you read on), and I hope it brings about change for your dog and
mostly a transformation throughout the pet food industry. I have no problem calling them out….because I
pursue the real truth in all things. I
am a proactive personality. Ignoring
issues doesn’t make them go away. I’m
also not a very trusting individual….perhaps that stems from my sheltered
childhood. I don’t tend to take things
at face value…if it is something that is important to me; I research it and
test it to prove whether it is correct.
I’m really starting to learn a lot of new things in my current studies
in canine nutrition…some of those things I had my suspicions about already…and
it’s just proving me right.
I would compare what the pet food industry practices to be
quite similar to that of the prescription drug industry. I understand there are times when a
prescription drug such as an antibiotic can be life-saving, and other drugs and
procedures can save one from the brink of death. Those are not the issues I’m comparing. It’s those things that herbal therapies and
natural remedies would do the job for effectively and would be more ‘user-friendly’
to the human body. Our systems were not
designed to choke them up with man-made chemical substances. But yet many find themselves in a vicious
cycle of prescription drug overload. I
don’t know of anybody personally that takes just one prescription drug. It’s what doctors are trained to do…write
scripts. Let’s not look at the
nutritional side of the equation to get to the root or cause of the
problem…let’s give you something to mask the symptoms. Oh…then that will get your body out of whack,
and then we have to take care of that issue…so another drug is required for
that….and on and on…the cycle begins.
So why are we so unwittingly trusting toward strangers to
make these decisions for us? What decision would that be, you ask? The real
burning question is, what do our dogs really need in their diet? What are their
nutritional needs? I was a naïve owner when I first got a dog…granted that’s
been almost 17 years ago…but it took many years, and earning certification in
human nutrition and studying canine nutrition on my own for the last four years
to bring me around. Is the pet food industry truly concerned about the health
and real needs of your dog, or getting you to believe your dog needs their
product? Have you noticed how the pet food commercials claim their product has
everything your dog needs for balanced and complete nutrition? Makes one tend to believe they really care
about your pet, however they are far more concerned with the sales and
marketing, i.e., the bottom dollars than with what they are selling. Most of it is what I would call junk…high
carbohydrates, fibers and fillers along with low quality proteins and ingredients
that would make your stomach turn.
Actually what some of it is are factory waste products, unfit for human
consumption, and truly not adequate for dogs either, but that’s not what they
lead you to believe. This is why it is
so important that you educate yourself. We are their voice. If we do not stand up for them and speak up
for them, they will suffer in silence. A natural diet for a dog contains about
14% carbohydrate. Even the high quality
kibble that I use contains 52% carbohydrate! Goodness knows what this low-end
stuff has! It doesn’t take rocket science in looking at these numbers to realize,
it’s not in the best interest of your dog to feed him/her just kibble! I cook
for mine, so the amount of kibble they get is about 25% of their meal. I incorporate a lot of protein from meat,
eggs, cheese, etc.
So what are ‘by-products’ that you see listed on many dog
ingredients (you have read the ingredient list of the dog food you buy for your
dog, I hope). Well, it’s non-human grade
meat, unusable parts…end of the chain so to speak…like chicken beaks and
feet. Yeah, it’s amazing how the
gimmicks and cosmetic strategies used to sell these products attract pet
owners. All those artificial colors
aren’t necessary…they’re there because we humans think they need to be. Do you really think your dog cares what
‘color’ his food is? Not! It certainly
has nothing to do with supporting dog health. The bottom line is what dogs need,
and believe me…the pet food industry isn’t rushing to make that known publicly,
otherwise they would sell a lot less of their food….which means, they wouldn’t
be raking in all the big bucks. When
people become educated about their own health, and even that of their dog, they
realize there are options they weren’t aware of before.
Many of these junk dog foods contain BHA and BHT,
preservatives….unnatural ones at that….known carcinogens. It’s the better manufacturer’s that use
things like vitamins C and E and rosemary to preserve their kibble. The hype behind all these special ‘formulas’
of dog foods is a crock too. What makes
you think if they can’t make a suitable food for a young, healthy, growing dog
that they could do something out of the ordinary special for an aging or
diseased dog? Really? Do you get the feeling that these folk don’t trust you to
feed your own dog? Hmmm…well, I don’t know about you, but that’s an insult to
my intelligence. A little research on
your end…throw in some common sense…like what do wild dogs and wolves eat, and
it doesn’t take long for two plus two to equal four. That can leave this industry totally out of
the equation. Do we not possess our own
judgment and common sense about nutrition? This is the twenty-first century…we’ve
learned a whole lot over the last twenty years, which has led more people to
take charge of their health….eating better, exercising, keeping their weight
down. That’s great….now let’s transfer
that to our dogs.
I’m going to give you some information to assist you in this
area. My first suggestion is to get a
copy of the book written by Lew Olson, PhD titled ‘Raw & Natural Nutrition For
Dogs’. The first chapter covers the
history of dog food…you will learn a lot from this that you most likely didn’t
know. Next, get on the Internet, and go
to www.lifesabundance.com. Click on the ‘pets’ tab….scroll down to the
video. This is about a 15 minute video
that will enlighten you on what is in your dog’s bowl. Next, visit: http://dogtorj.com/
and scroll down to the section on the right hand side titled ‘Something To Chew
On’. There is an article titled, ‘The
Truth About Pet Food’. There are several
other articles you can read there as well.
I wonder…if more pet owners were aware of their dog’s
nutritional needs, would they be less apt to rely on their vet? Your vet will
most likely not be the one to suggest a raw or home cooked diet for your
dog. So, what do veterinarians really
believe and how do they feed their own pets? I’m sure most of them probably
have at least one. Would fewer pursue
careers in veterinary medicine if it weren’t as lucrative? Why did they choose
this field? Because they truly care about helping animals, or for the money? It
seems for the majority of the pet food manufacturer‘s, the bottom line is the
money…is that the kind of help you want for your beloved furry family member?
Do you want them to have that kind of control? I don’t. Does your pet mean
enough to you that you feel it is worth the effort to become more involved in
his/her health and wellbeing? I am an advocate for dogs. As of 2010, the pet industry was a $41
billion/year industry! Wow! I don’t care
to be a millionaire…I care about dogs…remember? Mine and yours.
Ok, so I’ve let the cat…or rather the dog out of the bag on
this blog…and maybe I’ve stepped on some industry toes. I’m not going to apologize for it…it is what
it is. If ‘they’ don’t like it, then they need to change their ways! I hope
since you’ve read this it has caused you to realize how important nutrition is
for your dog…it is literally your first line of defense against disease. That’s where you have to start…proper
nutrition is key. I will continue to
pursue this area. I have learned a lot,
but I have so much more to learn…and I won’t keep quiet about it. My love for dogs is unconditional….a human
trait that is hard to come by. I’m all
my dogs have, they are my responsibility, and in my opinion they deserve the
best I can give them. I can only do that
if I am informed. Don’t fall prey to the lies of someone who is greedy, instead
trust in someone who is a true advocate for all dogs.
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