Pet Food Or Junk Food?

Is commercial pet food fit for animal consumption? Many people believe that the commercial pet food we feed our animals may be the leading cause of sickness in companion animals, not to mention premature aging. Ever wonder why more and more pets come down with human diseases that animals in the wild never experience, including allergies?

Cow brains, tongues, esophagi, fetal tissue, diseased and even cancerous meat, road kill and rancid grain are just a few of the so-called nutritionally balanced ingredients found in the commercial pet food we serve our pets every day. A wild animal is very selective about which parts of a deceased animal it eats. Our pets have no choice.

Condemned animal parts and animals rejected for human consumption are routinely rerouted for commercial pet foods. A similar fate applies to the so-called "4-D" animals. These are food animals picked up dead, or that are dying, diseased, or disabled, and do not meet human-food qualifications. These animals and carcasses are processed straightaway for companion animal consumption. Little goes to waste. Food processing refuse of all sorts winds up in your animals' dinner bowls, including moldy grains and meat meal. The latter is ground-up slaughterhouse discards often containing disease-ridden tissue and high levels of hormones and pesticides -- the very things that may have contributed to the death of the steer or hog. When cattle, swine, chickens, lambs, or other animals meet their ends at a slaughterhouse, the choice cuts -- lean muscle tissue and organs prized by humans -- are trimmed away from the carcass for human consumption. Whatever remains of the carcass (bones, blood, pus, intestines, ligaments, subcutaneous fat, hooves, horns, beaks, and any other parts not normally consumed by humans) is, according to the pet food industry, perfectly fit as a protein source for cat and dog food.

More than 95 percent of US companion animals derive their nutritional needs from a single source - processed pet food. Four of the top five major pet food companies in the United States are subsidiaries of major, multinational food production companies. From a business standpoint, it's a smart idea for multi-national food companies to own pet food manufacturers. The big food companies thus have captive markets in which to dump their waste products, and the animal food manufacturers have a direct source of bulk materials. Both make a huge profit from selling scraps that originate from places far worse than the dinner table.

Don't be deceived; stay alert to mass marketing hype. When people think of pet food, many envision the happy animals on TV commercials eating pieces of chicken, choice cuts of beef, fresh grains, and all the nutrition that a dog or cat may ever need. And yet animal remains, preservatives, synthetic vitamins, minerals, flavorings, sugar, lard and other hardened rancid fats and cereal make up most of what every companion animal eats. For this, pet food companies can expect to earn $12 billion in sales a year.

So, why do companion animals eat this garbage? Pet food scientists have discovered that spraying the kibble or pellets with a combination of refined animal fat, lard, kitchen grease, and other oils too rancid or inedible for humans makes an otherwise bland or distasteful product palatable. Animal fat is mainly packinghouse waste or supermarket trimmings from the packaging of meats. Animals love the taste of this sprayed fat, which also acts as a binding agent to which manufacturers may add other chemical flavor enhancers. Rancid, heavily preserved fats are extremely difficult to digest and can lead to a host of animal health problems, including digestive upsets, diarrhea, gas, and bad breath.

For years, we have tried to avoid feeding our companion animals people food leftovers, having been warned by veterinarians about the heath problems they can cause. If you are a junk food junkie this can cause as many problems over time as junkie pet food. But if your diet consists of whole and mostly natural foods, it may be better to feed your animals from the table. There are also natural food pet companies that use natural oils, no preservatives, and whole ingredients in their foods. The Anchorage SPCA operates a little store called Wags and Whiskers, next door to the SPCA spay clinic. They sell holistic health foods for dogs and the proceeds go to help keep the cost of spay and neutering down.

Beware Pet Vaccinations - There Is An Alternative

Instead of blindly following the dictates of society, responsible pet owners (like parents of small children) should be informed about the pros and cons of vaccinating.

The vaccination controversy continues to heat up. Mounting evidence on the harmful life- time side effects of vaccinations, which compromise the immune system, are making pet owners think twice about vaccinating, especially yearly. Consider waiting to vaccinate if you must. Vaccinations are much more stressful on the underdeveloped immune system of companion animals. Also, these vaccinations are much less effective at providing immunity before three months of age.

Talk to holistic veterinarians who use homeopathic remedies to treat animals. If you don't have a holistic vet, ask your naturopathic doctor. Puppies and kittens can be given homeopathic nosodes beginning at three weeks of age, if there is a potential for exposure to Distemper, Parvovirus or Panleukopenia. These nosodes can be used until vaccinations are given or continued periodically for the first year of life, if vaccinations are not given.

Booster vaccinations may be completely unnecessary. Studies now show that many vaccinations are effective for many years and most probably for life. Vaccinated animals may not need any boosters. Homeopathic nosodes can also be given periodically if you are concerned or if you think your animals live a high risk, life style.

Rabies Vaccinations in the United States should be given as dictated by state laws. Lyssin, the homeopathic nosode, can be given within a few hours after the vaccination. Clearly, many holistic vets agree the rabies vaccination is effective for many years more than state laws require booster vaccination.