Bright Eyes & Bushy Tails

Despite what the large pet food manufacturers tell you, quality does matter.  Ingredients count.

Take it from me, as I learned the hard way. I lost a beloved dog to the massive pet food recall in 2007. Her name was Shelly. She was an 8-year-old Chinese Crested Powderpuff – and yes, they are as cute as that sounds. She was a healthy and happy girl. We were feeding what we thought was a quality food. One day, she started throwing up – a lot. We took her to the vet the next day, thinking she had a stomach virus. Despite last minute surgery, there was nothing they could do. She had massive damage to her liver and kidneys. We lost her on the third day.

I still had two dogs at home, both of whom were a lot older than Shelly and so were on a different (senior) food – one not subject to the food recall. That was pure luck. I decided right then to do my best to ensure this never happened to one of my dogs again. I did research. I spoke to animal nutrition experts. I came up with a plan. Over the years since then, while various brands of pet food have been subject to recalls each year, the foods I have chosen have never been subject to one. Not only that, but my dogs are healthier than they have ever been, with brighter eyes and shinier coats. No upset stomachs, no excess shedding or dry skin, and, most importantly, no trips to the vet for anything other than their annual checkup and vaccinations.  

One of the things that amazed me when I started to do my research (and still does today) is the disconnect between our understanding that healthy eating equals healthier people and a similar belief for our pets. For humans, it is accepted that eating natural whole foods with as few additives and as little processing as possible will lead to better health, weight loss, allergy relief, etc. Since when does this not translate to our pets? Would you eat low-quality hot dogs every day, for every meal? Probably not, as you know they are made with animal pieces and parts which you wouldn’t normally eat and are full of artificial colorings, chemicals and preservatives. You realize this would have an effect on your health, if not in the short-term, most certainly in the long-term. Surprisingly enough, many, many pet foods suffer from what I call this ‘hot dog syndrome’.

So what can a caring pet parent do? Do your research. Learn what to look for in a quality food. If you are curious about the quality of your pet’s current food, there are several web sites that rate most common pet foods based upon ingredients.

For dogs, visit http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com.  For cats (and dogs) visit http://www.petfoodratings.net.  Also, ensure you stay informed about pet food recalls (as, while they are more common for low quality foods, they do occasionally affect some of the better ones). 

On a side note, pet treats suffer from many of the same quality issues as pet food. In fact, pet treats from China (including rawhides, jerky treats, and many others) have constant issues with quality and/or contamination. Please ensure you are as careful about treats as you are about food. Another great site for pet parents concerned about their pet’s welfare is http://www.dogaware.com.

Many pet parents are on a tight budget and have to consider cost when purchasing food, whether for themselves or their pets. While it is true that many of the higher quality foods do cost more, there are several highly-rated foods that are comparable in cost to lower quality ones. Additionally, since low quality foods contain a large amount of fillers, such as corn and wheat, you actually have to feed a larger quantity for your pet to get the same amount of protein and nutrients found in a smaller quantity of a high quality food. So, with a high quality food, you can feed less food; your pet will feel just as full and, as an added benefit, he will create less waste for you to scoop!  What all this means is that cost really isn’t a barrier to feeding your pet a quality food.

Below are some of the most important considerations to use when attempting to determine the quality of a particular pet food:

• Check the top of the ingredient list.  What is the first ingredient?  the second?  Since ingredients must be listed in order of quantity, the first several ingredients on your pet’s food are very important.  Look for whole meat (chicken, lamb, beef) or whole meat meal (which is minced, dried meat of the specified animal).  Avoid ingredients such as by-product meal (which is all the parts of the animal that are not considered fit for human consumption, such as feathers, beaks, brains, hooves, ‘downer’ animals, etc.).  By-product meal is often used to boost the protein content in a food, however, many of the items are of questionable nutritional value, and some are downright unhealthy (if WE don’t eat animals that are so sick they can’t stand up – known as ‘downers’ – why should our pets?).

• Check to see if the food contains carbohydrate fillers such as corn, corn meal, wheat or soy.  This is the hallmark of a low-quality food.  Corn, corn meal, etc. are used by manufacturers as they are very low cost ingredients.  They contain little nutritional value and are often indigestible to animals with short digestive tracts (such as dogs and cats).  This means they travel right through the animal, doing nothing more than providing a full feeling and making lots of waste on the other end. Corn and soy are also common allergens.

• If grains are listed as an ingredient, ensure they are whole grains such as rice or barley.  Such unrefined grains can add significant nutritional value and aid in digestion and elimination.  If your dog has, or may have, grain allergies, there are many quality ‘grain free’ foods available.

• Check to ensure whole animal fats are used.  The list should mention the animal from which the fat is derived (chicken, beef, etc.).  Avoid foods that simply list ‘fat’ or ‘animal fat’ as an ingredient.  The generic term indicates that the fats come from a variety of sources, which can include such things as used restaurant fat, rendered ‘downer’ animals, road kill and other unsavory things.  This is another hallmark of a low-quality food.

• Check for the presence of artificial ingredients and preservatives.  Avoid foods with artificial food colorings or preservatives such as BHA and BHT and ethoxuquin.  Many such ingredients are banned from or strictly limited in human foods due to their links with cancer and other serious diseases.  Look for foods preserved with natural ingredients such as antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, rosemary or sage extracts, or mixed tocopherols, and no colorings at all.

• Check out how the food is sweetened.  Avoid foods sweetened with corn syrup.  It has no nutritional value and has been linked with several serious health issues in pets.  Look for foods sweetened with honey, molasses or agave.

• Read the nutritional chart to ensure the food contains all necessary nutrients, as well as appropriate amounts of protein necessary to meet the needs of your pet.  Most quality foods offer a variety of formulations designed to meet specific dietary requirements.  Your pet’s nutritional needs will depend upon such things as age, activity level and health.  

Again, there are several great websites that have taken the hard work out of determining the quality of your pet’s food and treats. Check out either of the above listed websites for an overall quality rating (one to five stars) and a detailed analysis of your pet’s food. If, after researching your pet’s food, you find that you are feeding a good quality food, congratulations! If you find that the food has ingredients that set off alarm bells, and has a low rating and review, then you might wish to consider switching to a better quality food.

“We feed ourselves quality food, and feel good. It only stands to reason that quality food will improve and maintain the health of our pets,” said Lisa Gay, co-owner along with Cynthia Socha, of . 

For great advice and assistance regarding choosing the right quality food for your pet, consult with the staff at H3 Pet Supply. They now have two locations: 350 Bridgeport Avenue in and the Big Y Shopping Plaza on Hawley Lane in Stratford. They will be happy to consult with you to help you choose a high quality food that is right for your pet, and your pocketbook.

Remember, quality does matter. Ingredients count. Feed your pet a quality food and she will thank you with brighter eyes and better health. Take it from me. I’ve been there, and done that.