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Post by ZandraJoi on May 31, 2020 9:18:32 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/05/31/pet-food-transparency.aspx Story at-a-glance Big pet food realizes consumers have lost trust in them, and so the topic of transparency is trending among industry insiders The problem these pet food producers face, however, is that being fully transparent about their ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes could very well destroy their profitability Most pet parents would be horrified, for example, to learn the realities of the pet food rendering industry There are a variety of fresh and minimally processed commercial diets made by companies that believe in transparency that are healthier alternatives to ultra-processed pet food
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jun 20, 2020 9:01:26 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/06/20/raw-food-infection.aspx Story at-a-glance A recent international survey of nearly 17,000 households with raw fed pets suggests dog and cat owners don’t consider raw pet food a significant source of infections 99.6% of surveyed households didn’t report a single incident of human contamination from raw pet food over time periods ranging from several weeks to 65 years A previous survey showed that offering their animal companions a healthy, natural diet was a primary motivation for pet owners to feed homemade raw pet food Based on the number of recalls over many years, it’s dry pet food that should come with a warning of the risks and dangers associated with feeding kibble My notes: I'm not a big eater myself & tend to get a bit OCD w/ raw meat. I know it's healthier for our furbabies but we do get a good quality food from Halo. Maybe one of these days I'll overcome the fear & be able to feed them raw too.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jun 30, 2020 9:51:51 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/06/30/synthetic-vitamin-k-in-cat-food.aspx Story at-a-glance Menadione and menadione sodium bisulfite complex (MSBC), synthetic forms of vitamin K, are widely used in pet food though they are only approved for use in poultry feeds Menadione and MSBC can be found in all types of pet food, including a few commercial raw diets, so regardless of the type of pet food you buy, it’s important to check labels carefully for the presence of this synthetic nutrient Pet food producers use menadione because it’s an inexpensive and stable ingredient, however, it lacks many of the important properties of natural vitamin K derived from whole foods Menadione has been identified as a liver toxin; even in very small amounts, ingestion of this synthetic vitamin on a daily basis over a dog’s or cat’s lifetime is cause for concern My notes: Anything synthetic is not good, for humans or animals.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jul 11, 2020 12:45:53 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/07/11/soy-in-pet-food.aspx Story at-a-glance Soy is found in fewer and fewer pet food brands these days in response to pet parent concerns about its appropriateness for dogs and cats Most soy grown in the U.S is genetically modified, so in addition to potentially toxic levels of glyphosate, the plants also contain naturally high levels of anti-nutrients and phytoestrogens Raw, mature soybeans contain phytates that prevent mineral absorption and substances that block the enzymes needed to digest protein In dogs and cats, soy has been linked to gas and bloat, bladder stones, blood sugar fluctuations, thyroid damage, and seizures All in all, the potential risks associated with feeding soy to furry family members are unacceptably high
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jul 13, 2020 20:08:10 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/07/05/feeding-pets-with-tumor.aspx Story at-a-glance If you’re looking for information on the best way to feed a pet with cancer, you may want to avoid advice from leading university veterinary colleges Due to the established relationships between major pet food industry players and board-certified veterinary nutritionists, the latter has more than a passing interest in promoting only ultra-processed diets for both sick and healthy pets To help your pet avoid cancer, it’s important to feed an anti-inflammatory, low glycemic diet of real, whole foods, along with beneficial add-ins and supplements Other important steps you can take include carefully considering the timing of sterilization, especially in large breed dogs; keeping your animal companion lean and fit; and reducing exposure to toxins and unnecessary vaccines My notes: That was always funny to me! Vets say don’t feed our pets people food. Well, what other kind of food is there? Lab made! If I don’t eat GMOs, toxic crap, & I eat REAL food, so will my pets. They will eat ‘people’ food. Now, some will say Well they mean no chocolate… Nope, they don’t mean that lol Just like w/ humans, when we eat junk, our bodies get sicker. When our furbabies eat junk, they too get sicker.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jul 16, 2020 8:56:30 GMT -5
This is what I wrote in 2009- Another thing I’m doing is weaning our pets off of can & dry food. Read a book by Ann N. Martin “Food pets die for” ’08. If we’re getting healthier (eating organic), why shouldn’t our pets? Toxic ingredients & carcinogens are in human food w/ the “FDA”, “FTC”, et al, PET food is even more lax. Meat meal is in dog food. Has euthanized animals also include their tags, collars & diseases they may have had. BHA/BHT is a preservative, a known carcinogen. They can get away w/ putting crap in human food, they can EVEN MORE so w/ pet food. Vets, et al say don’t feed your pets ‘human’ food, well what other type of food is there? It’s not that intensive for dogs. I still have to read up for cats plus our cats are picky. Cats need meat, dogs don’t. But simple things WE eat, they can. Veggies in bulk at Sam’s or Farmer’s Market or better yet, OUR garden. They can eat pasta, rice, most fruits & veggies, grains, nuts, oatmeal (again, can get in bulk), even honey. Like I’m still using reg. flour instead of the more natural one (picking & choosing). People think they can’t do this, don’t do this to pet food. Just look at all the recalls for HUMAN food! Not to mention PET food. Just like w/ human food, they don’t have to list ‘all’ the ingredients. & the difference is yes, humans are exposed to toxins & carcinogens here & there too but… pets eat the same thing day in & day out. They are even MORE exposed. They’ll be healthier in the long run. & yeah, they are not sick yet, but we don’t know that. Just as for humans, we can REVERSE & PREVENT diseases & health probs. They’ve come this far, but so have we! But doesn’t mean we have to stay on that path. Research is out there that man-made is not good for humans & humans are changing & demanding change for their food (pretty much going back to how it used to be way back when). They are also demanding our pets have the same treatment. We stopped eating i.e. HFCS ‘cos it’s bad, so are numbers & colors. But we are giving numbers & colors to our pets. They deserve health just as much as we do. Diseases & cancer are higher in humans ‘cos of the toxins out there. They are also higher in animals too! ‘cos they are exposed to those same toxins that our bodies are exposed to. Humans & animals are paying for man’s stupidity & greed. 2011- For 3 years we made our dog homemade food but as she got older, we felt she needed more. So we switched her over to a natural dog food, Blue Buffalo.
My notes: I’m still not into kibble, dry food, but right now we supplement our cats w/ wet food. Our cats were just not going for anything else. All our pets eat Halo. Perfect world, they’d all eat literal nature made. So, anybody else feed their pets homemade food? Raw is best. I don’t like eating meat myself & I cannot get past the OCD part of the raw. Otherwise I’d go that route.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jul 19, 2020 20:03:27 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/07/19/ethoxyquin-in-pet-food.aspx Story at-a-glance A lawsuit was recently filed against Nestlé Purina for labeling cat food “natural” that contained potentially toxic ingredients, including the synthetic preservative ethoxyquin Ethoxyquin is linked to cancer and liver and kidney damage, and is banned for use in human foods, but is still allowed in processed pet foods, particularly those containing fish meal In addition to scientific studies of toxicity, there are countless anecdotal reports — including my own — of pets becoming severely ill as a result of eating diets containing ethoxyquin Pet parents concerned about ethoxyquin in their dog’s or cat’s food may find it challenging to get a straight answer from pet food manufacturers
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jul 26, 2020 15:15:33 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/07/26/by-products-in-pet-food.aspx Story at-a-glance The ultra-processed pet food industry, forever in search of more appealing ways to position its products, is now including buzz words like “sustainability” and “eco-consciousness” This latest is an attempt to reframe the industry’s long-standing use of human food industry waste (aka by-products) in pet food to reattract pet parents who increasingly avoid these types of ingredients As part of this effort, the industry is hoping to rebrand by-products as “co-products” and even “leftovers” As is customary for the industry, nothing about the actual ingredients is changing, rather, the focus is on changing consumer perception through wordplay and appealing marketing campaigns My notes: Us pet parents have to step up our game & ask even MORE questions. Never assume.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jul 28, 2020 11:44:02 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/07/25/miscanthus-grass-in-pet-food.aspx Story at-a-glance Pet parents may soon discover a new fiber source in their bag or can of dog or cat food: miscanthus grass In pet food, miscanthus grass is somewhat similar to powdered cellulose, an ingredient the pet food industry loves, but pet parents try to avoid In dog and cat diets, a small amount of species-appropriate fiber is very important, but foods loaded with fiber are very detrimental My notes: Companies will do anything to cut corners. I like Dr. Becker's quote: "And while I agree bowel health is of critical importance, I want animals to truly have a healthy and resilient gastrointestinal (GI) tract, not an artificially created one. I don’t agree with masking a dysbiotic digestive tract with a plethora of food additives that result in firm poop but do nothing to nourish or maintain the rest of the body." Same can be said for humans.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Aug 8, 2020 8:16:48 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/08/08/dog-food-veggies.aspxThe best vegetables to feed your dog or cat Story at-a-glance Fresh, low glycemic vegetables are extremely important for cats and dogs, even though they should comprise only a small percentage of their diets Vegetables are a rich source of critical phytochemicals not found in meat, and may have such positive effects on our pets’ health due to a process called xenohormesis Veggies also provide minerals and vitamins E, K, C, beta-carotene and the B vitamins; bright-colored and leafy green veggies tend to be the most nutritious Fermented vegetables are optimally digestible for dogs and cats, and are nutritional powerhouses, even in very small quantities The inclusion of vegetables in pet diets promotes gut health and diets devoid of vegetables result in a less robust microbiome; veterinary researchers are beginning to study the critical role of a healthy microbiome in maintaining pets' immunologic and physiologic well-being
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Post by ZandraJoi on Aug 9, 2020 20:10:24 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/08/03/homemade-dog-food-mistakes.aspx Story at-a-glance Increasingly, dog parents are realizing the importance of nutrition to the health and longevity of animal companions, and are becoming more interested in homemade pet food Homemade meals can have tremendous benefits for dogs, but it’s not the easiest task to take on, and unfortunately, mistakes are easy to make If you’re considering making homemade dog food, it’s important to have a good understanding of why the diet you prepare absolutely must be nutritionally balanced Common mistakes to avoid include offering only meat and veggies, forgetting the need for dietary fiber, and not meeting minimum nutrient requirements with specific supplements or foods There are two broad categories of supplements for pets: required supplements to balance homemade meals, and optional supplements for health and wellness that support a specific health goal, such as joint, allergy, longevity or detoxification support
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Post by ZandraJoi on Aug 30, 2020 10:50:19 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/08/30/switching-pet-food.aspx "4 Compelling Reasons to Switch Your Pet's Food" Story at-a-glance A recent survey of pet owners revealed that about 25% changed the diet they feed their dog or cat in the previous 12 months Dog owners are most likely to switch to a higher quality product, while cat owners are more motivated to switch to something their pet will enjoy eating More cat parents than dog parents make a change because their pet has stopped eating their current food The majority of pet parents make changes to their animal companion’s diet without input from their veterinarian, perhaps because the majority of veterinarians aren’t trained in pet nutrition topics In addition to the reasons for switching cited in the survey, other good ones include dietary diversity for a pet who’s been eating the same food for a long time, and adapting to the changing nutritional needs of an aging pet
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Post by ZandraJoi on Oct 12, 2020 11:00:33 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/10/12/how-to-find-natural-pet-food.aspx Story at-a-glance More and more pet parents are looking for natural, holistic and organic diets for canine family members Often dog owners don’t realize those types of food can’t be found among the bags and cans of ultraprocessed pet food on store shelves So-called natural pet food doesn't mean non-processed, nor does it even mean non-synthetic food; holistic food doesn’t exist, and pet foods claiming to be organic must meet human food regulations (USDA vs. AAFCO) Ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes can tell you a great deal about how natural or organic a pet food company’s product are To feed your dog a truly natural diet, either make the food yourself using nutritionally balanced recipes and fresh, human-grade ingredients, or choose an excellent quality commercial raw food that mimics a pet’s ancestral diet My notes: Good article for those who want to learn how to decipher pet food.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Dec 13, 2020 13:41:48 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/12/13/can-raw-food-help-canine-atopy.aspx Story at-a-glance Two recently published studies point to the very significant influence of diet on skin gene expression in adult dogs Specifically, when pregnant mothers are fed non-heat-processed, meat-based diets and their puppies are fed the same diet as their first solid food, it provides a protective effect against atopic dermatitis (itchy skin and other skin conditions) in adulthood Additional protective effects may be achieved by exposing young puppies to sunlight each day and allowing them to spend time on a dirt floor or lawn before six months of age In a study of Staffordshire Bull Terriers, the effect of diet on skin gene expression was found to be associated with the immune system, antioxidants and inflammatory processes A significant finding of the studies is that the immune defense is activated in puppies who are raw fed My notes: Our pets' health is dependent on us.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2020 16:43:09 GMT -5
ZandraJoi, love that site, as I have stated before. (Mercola)
I use a freeze dried organic beef food from Boulder, Colorado. I always get day old organic meat from the Market and add beef or seafood to the food. I add hot water, mix, add supplements and then the meat. The two dogs love it. I stick with beef and seafood because the holistic Vet. said it's the best for Toby's brain inflammation issue.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jan 4, 2021 10:25:01 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2021/01/03/fresh-pet-food-concept.aspx "The Fresh Pet Food Farce — Don't Believe Their Claims" Story at-a-glance A recent pet food survey confirms that pet parents are becoming ever more interested in alternatives to traditional kibble and canned pet foods; specifically, they like the idea of fresh and frozen pet meals Meanwhile, the ultraprocessed pet food industry continues to hope that marketing processed diets as “fresh” will capture a percentage of naïve pet parents Fresh pet food sales increased 70% in a recent three-year period; pet owners frequently turn to fresh food to heal a sick dog or cat, or in response to processed pet food recalls and/or distrust of the science behind such diets An optimal raw or gently cooked diet for pets is nutritionally balanced and species-specific, and consists of excellent quality, unadulterated fresh whole foods An alternative to homemade pet meals is a nutritionally complete commercially available diet from a carefully researched, transparent and trustworthy pet food company My notes: We have been using Halo for years now. Seems to be what helps our pets the best.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jan 10, 2021 10:32:52 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2021/01/10/extruded-pet-food.aspx Story at-a-glance One of the latest processed pet food industry’s tricks of the trade is giving extruded pet food and treats, manufactured in huge quantities, the appearance of being homemade Big pet food employs all manner of manipulations designed to depict their rendered, extruded, ultra-processed products as something much more appealing than they really are If you’re a pet parent, it’s important to avoid being fooled by pet food that looks handmade (but isn’t), claims to contain more meat than filler ingredients (but doesn’t) and a myriad of other deceptions designed to dress up inferior pet diets My notes: That really irks me! & some people DO get fooled. I go further & ask questions & I don't stop until I'm satisfied with the answer. Note too, if they drag their feet answering, that is a red flag that they are hiding something & for you to move on somewhere else. Bob bradp @catsmother cryptonomica @dazzal ellyfant @james joshi @lilac @marti safeinsanity @shaliza stluee Lee
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2021 14:12:22 GMT -5
I agree ZandraJoi, with your note comments.
I use HONEST KITCHEN and add my own organic meat, along with hot filtered water. The dogs love it. I also add organic supplements to their food. Too many to name. lol
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Post by Bob on Jan 13, 2021 19:53:15 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2021/01/10/extruded-pet-food.aspx Story at-a-glance One of the latest processed pet food industry’s tricks of the trade is giving extruded pet food and treats, manufactured in huge quantities, the appearance of being homemade Big pet food employs all manner of manipulations designed to depict their rendered, extruded, ultra-processed products as something much more appealing than they really are If you’re a pet parent, it’s important to avoid being fooled by pet food that looks handmade (but isn’t), claims to contain more meat than filler ingredients (but doesn’t) and a myriad of other deceptions designed to dress up inferior pet diets My notes: That really irks me! & some people DO get fooled. I go further & ask questions & I don't stop until I'm satisfied with the answer. Note too, if they drag their feet answering, that is a red flag that they are hiding something & for you to move on somewhere else. Yeah, we have found that out so many times. Natural to some is not natural to others. And natural doesn't always mean healthy. People need to be cautious and do their homework.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jan 31, 2021 11:57:29 GMT -5
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2021/01/31/carcinogen-glyphosate-in-pet-food.aspx Story at-a-glance Research into the problem of animal exposure to the carcinogen glyphosate in pet food indicates that dogs and cats have levels 4–12 times higher than those of humans on a per kilogram basis Highest concentrations of glyphosate have been found in grain-free kibble, followed by regular kibble, then canned food; dogs fed raw food had no detectable levels of glyphosate in their urine Emerging studies of children and adults in the U.S. show a significant reduction in glyphosate levels as the result of eating organic food Pet parents can participate in an ongoing study to help determine their animal companion’s glyphosate exposure, and the source(s) of exposure Steps you can take to protect your dog or cat include reducing environmental and dietary exposure to glyphosate, and providing your pet with a detox protocol as often as needed My notes: WE choose for them. They trust us to make the right choices.
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