Truth about Pet Food

November 28, 2008

Truth about Pet Food November 2008 Newsletter

Control Bugs in your home without ChemicalsOur pets are exposed to many things, harmful chemicals to control bugs in your home can be one exposure you can write off your list. An Electronic Pest Repeller can keep the bugs away and keep your pet safe at the same time.http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/139/1/Control-Bugs-in-your -home-without-Chemicals/Page1.html

Tips to Finding Healthy Pet Foods and TreatsThere are many good pet foods and treats out there; safe and even health promoting dog and cat foods, treats, and supplements that I feel confident about, and you can too. Here are a few suggestions to determine if a dog food or cat food (or treat) uses quality ingredients...http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/134/1/Tips-to-Finding-Healthy-Pet-Foods-and-Treats/Page1.html

More News on BPAFrom the Wall Street Journal:The attorneys general from Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware have sent letters to 11 companies asking them to voluntarily stop putting the chemical BPA in baby bottles and formula. BPA is used in hard plastic containers and as a liner in some canned foods (including pet foods). Studies have linked BPA (Bisphenol A) to diabetes and heart disease.http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/10/14/states-ask-companies-to-stop-putting-bpa-in-baby-bottles/

Canada has stepped up and declared BPA dangerous. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iAzyDXB6VFF0AyXckKGD9m41Xg1wD93T75980 So why does the FDA still feel confident it's safe? Keep reading...

Compliments of a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation/article, we now have a better understanding why the FDA still feels BPA (bisphenol A) to be safe for people and pets...money. According to the article, the chairman of a FDA panel about to rule on the chemical's safety - Martin Philbert's research center received a $5 million donation from a supporter of BPA.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/12/AR2008101201582.html

Oh, and by the way, the FDA has released their new stance on BPA. To no one's surprise, they feel it's safe. Just released FDA stance on BPA: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01908.html

Precautions from the ASPCA

The ASPCA provides pet owners with a list of common human medications that poison our pets.

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_medications

How Safe is Bottled Water?

If you have not seen this report from Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/) regarding the contaminates in bottled water, it is a surprising report and worth your time to read.

http://www.ewg.org/reports/bottledwater

Fun Facts From Discovery News:

An international group of scientists just identified what they believe is the first known dog. Living 31,700 years ago the world's first dog was large and believed to live on a diet of horse, musk ox and reindeer.

"The most remarkable difference between these dogs and recent dog breeds is the size of the teeth," lead author Mietje Germonpre told Discover News, comparing the tooth size more to wolves than dogs.

Scientists believe these early dogs were used for tracking, hunting, and transport of game; they also believe dogs could have been kept for their fur or meat, or as pets. An ancient child and dog footprint found in France supports the pet belief.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/10/17/paleolithic-dog-skull.html

Humanitarian Offers $75 Million for Single Dose Sterilization of Cats and Dogs

Humanitarian Dr. Gary Michelson is making a tremendous investment on behalf of companion animals. Known as The Michelson Prize in Reproductive Biology, the competition is trying to solve the problem of pet overpopulation by encouraging researchers to develop an affordable non-surgical pet sterilization. The organization also is offering grants which will provide funding for promising research.

This is a wonderful gesture for the right reasons. I just hope the non-surgical sterilization technology that wins the prize, turns out to be truly safe for pets.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/humanitarian-offers-75-million-single/story.aspx?guid=%7BEEE3F10A-C5E6-4F68-98E2-0675504B5F5E%7D & dist=hppr

FDA asks Veterinarians to report complaints about pet food.

In a move that's a day late and a dollar short, the FDA is asking American Veterinary Medical Association members to report complaints about pet food to the FDA. Interestingly, the notice from the FDA on the AVMA website states that "Many (veterinary) practitioners report adverse drug events to drug manufacturers, and the law requires drug manufacturers to submit the reports to the FDA. In the case of pet food, however, manufacturers are not required to submit consumer complaints to the agency." http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/nov08/081101d.asp

Now why is that? Why wouldn't the FDA require any and all companies that provide food or drugs to US citizens to report complaints from consumers? The FDA regulates all food and food ingredient companies, why shouldn't those food and food ingredient companies be held responsible for their products?

This is a good idea for the FDA to ask veterinarians to report cases of sick pets, but...the next concern is will the veterinarian do it, and how often will a vet actually believe a pet food is the cause of a pet's illness. Time will only tell if this action will help.

All consumers - petsumers - can report complaints about a pet food (or any animal feed) to your state FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator. Information for each state's FDA representative and how to file a complaint can be found at http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petfoods.htm.

The Salmonella Recalls could be from the Pet Food IngredientsWith the most recent recall of Special Kitty Cat Food sold at Wal-Marts in fifteen states, the third major pet food recall from Mars in 15 months, pet owners have to wonder why this continues. It could be the ingredients in the pet foods.http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/140/1/The-Salmonella-Recalls-could-be-from-the-Pet-Food-Ingredients/Page1.htmlUN urges China to improve Food SafetyThe Associated Press reports that the U.N. has recommended China enact stricter laws to improve its food safety. http://news./s/ap/20081022/ap_on_re_as/as_china_tainted_products More concerns with MelamineThe New York Times reports that high levels of melamine was found in eggs imported from China. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/world/asia/27china.html?_r=2 & ref=world & oref=slogin & oref=slogin

Wal-Mart is pulling Chinese imported eggs from it's shelves.http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gKnKSn2RJcwce1BbdtdWmhkaBTnQD943FC0O0

Just imagine how much melamine had been consumed by the chickens that produced eggs testing positive with ʽhigh levels' of the chemical. The only reason melamine would be added to a milk product, pet food ingredient, or animal feed would be for the product to analyze with a higher protein percentage. This does not happen by accident. It is an intentional act to make more money.

As if we don't have enough problems with the FDA, things definitely need to change with import inspections from China. Until China proves to the world they have ʽthings' under control, every single food and drug import from China should be tested before it enters this country.

Ya might as well Laugh

If you need a good laugh, this website will give it to you. It is a joke at the expense of the pharmaceutical industry. Enjoy.

http://www.havidol.com/index.php

Cat Haikus (author unknown)

You never feed me.

Perhaps I'll sleep on your face.

That will sure show you.

You must scratch me there!

Yes, above my tail!

Behold, elevator butt.

The rule for today

Touch my tail, I shred your hand.

New rule tomorrow.

Grace personified.

I leap into the window.

I meant to do that.

Blur of motion, then-

silence, me, a paper bag.

What is so funny?

Terrible battle.

I fought for hours. Come and see!

What's a 'term paper'?

Small brave carnivores

Kill pine cones and mosquitoes

Fear vacuum cleaner.

Wanna go outside.

Oh, crap! Help! I got outside!

Let me back inside!

The effort to rid pet food of 4-D animals is moving along. As of the writing of this newsletter, we have pet owners in 18 states that are willing to write their Congressional Representative and forward TruthaboutPetFood.com the response. Please check the webpage devoted to this - http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/136/pages/We-are-Changing-Pet-Food.html (link to this page found next to Petsumer Report link on every page of the website) to see if your state is represented. If it is, PLEASE still consider sending a letter, the more letters sent the better our options for change. If you know pet owners in states without representation, please share this with them. My heartfelt thanks to all who are helping.

Petsumer ReportTM Review of the MonthNovember 2008 Petsumer Report reviews 16 products from Bil-Jac Pet Foods - six dog foods, 4 dog treats, 3 cat foods, and 3 cat treats; 17 products from Eagle Pack Pet Foods - eleven dog foods, 3 dog treats, 3 cat foods; and 19 products from Nutro Pet Foods - 10 dog foods, and 9 cat foods; a total of 54 new products added this month. Petsumer ReportTM Online now has a total of 326 cat foods, 29 cat treats, 441 dog foods, and 93 dog treats reviewed. A grand total of 889 pet product reviews; providing rs with valuable information such as grade or quality of meat ingredients, U.S. or imported ingredients, red flag ingredients such as Menadione or BPA, and health promoting ingredients. If you're not a r...you should be. It's very affordable, helps TruthAboutPetFood.com continue to provide pet food education, and most importantly helps you find healthier pet food choices for your dog or cat.

Eagle Pack Pet FoodsHolistic Select Ocean Fish & Tuna Canned Cat Food

Ingredients: Ocean Fish, Fish Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Tuna, Rolled Oats, Carrots, Peas, Potatoes, Guar Gum, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Egg Product, Cranberry Powder, Flaxseed, Dried Kelp, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Taurine, Vitamins & Minerals.

Red Flag Ingredients: NoneUS Only Ingredients: Yes with exception of Duck from Germany, Lamb from New Zealand, some vitamin B's and glucosamine from ChinaNatural Preservatives: Canned N/AShelf Life: 3 YearsCrude Protein: 9% Crude Fat: 6.5% Crude Fiber: 1% Moisture: 78%

Plus: The Eagle Pack Representative told me the ingredients are human grade/quality. The mineral listings do read to be chelated or proteinated (for better mineral absorption). This pet food contains several quality animal protein sources - Ocean Fish, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Tuna, Egg. Contains Flax Seed & Kelp - quality ingredients.

Minus:

Rating:

Rating Note: The highest rating for a canned pet food is 4 paw prints - due to high moisture content of all canned pet foods.

For more information on Eagle Pack Pet Foods visit http://www.eaglepack.com/

To explain the rating - only the first five ingredients - the majority of the food - are rated and listed in bold type. Grey Font ingredients imply inferior quality ingredients providing pets little to no nutrition, and Red Font ingredients are Red Flag ingredients that are potentially dangerous to pets. Quality ingredients are listed in bold black font. Five quality ingredients gives the pet food a five Paw Print rating. Four quality ingredients gives the pet food a four Paw Print rating, and so forth. Four Paw Prints is the highest rating possible for a canned pet food.

Petsumer ReportTM provides reviews similar to the above on almost 900 dog foods, cat foods, and pet treats. Petsumer Report is not downloaded to your computer. All rs access Petsumer ReportTM through a User Name and Password system. If you have not d to Petsumer ReportTM and would like to - http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/pages/Petsumer-Report.html

Wishing you and your pets the best,

Susan ThixtonTruth About Pet FoodPetsumer Reporthttp://www.petsumerreport.com/P.S. If you have young children Trick or Treating, please be cautious of unknown candy brands. Chinese imported chocolate coins containing melamine have already been reported in the US.

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