Commercial Food VS Homemade Food

[Olive's Mom]

By Homemade Food I mean food that is cooked specifically for the puppy - veggies/meat/fruits.
I am getting a Saint Bernard Puppy and I want to keep it in the best health that I can.
I have heard that feeding the dog veggies, meat and fruits are good for it - then I have heard you don't want to feed them like that because it's not good for them.
I just want to know other people views on this subject.:confused:

[eldavino]

well i've grown dogs on both chow and cooked food and they r both good, it is up to u which ever one ur comfy doing

[kinderwood]

The one (well, two things) you want to be extra careful and conscious about with a St. Benard pup is Calcium & Phosphorus. The problem with cooking a homecooked diet is that, one, if you're inexperienced, you don't know exactly what levels of nutrients your dog/puppy is getting (and, therefore, they could be getting too much or too little of somethings which could entirely be detrimental to the growth of a puppy) and two, getting those levels to be precisely consistent from meal to meal. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't plan on being one, so that's why I feed kibble. I rely on someone else's expert nutritional work. Call me lazy, but my dogs are & always have been happy and healthy. Just my 2c. Good luck deciding!

[eldavino]

actually i've stopped cooking since i got exams lol. my brands of chow are purina(pro plan) large breed! and pro pac

[hunter's pride]

First off let me say this in regards to food for dogs. Kibble is like Kraft dinner. Feed your dog kibble every day and you eat Kraft Dinner everyday. Pretty much the same nutrients. Now I don't know how to make Kibble so I use the best kibble that I have found as far as kibble goes it's above the rest by the ingredients and no it's not the one in your vet clininc. Basically I think Kibble on it's own no matter what brand is garbage on it's own. A dog needs MEAT real meat and veg, not the dog canned food we all know I hope what's in that! I use a slow cooker and cook steak or liver along with carrots, sweat potatoe and other veg. Takes 10 minutes to do about 5 hrs to cook. I then mix it in with the kibble about 4-5 tablespoons heated for 30 seconds in the microwave then add it to the kibble stick the rest in containers and freeze. Also I feed my boy salmon and tuna 3-4 times a week and add the water from the cans also I might mix some cottage cheese in with the salmon and tuna. High protien more than any kibble on it's own can do, and also omega 3 fatty oils. Sardines are also good a couple of times a week. Don't let the pet food comapnies try to convince you it's so hard to make food. Also I give my pup Hunter apples and bannana a couple times a week. I knew I was on the right track after doing this on my own I found through research that other sources for Golden retrievers also recomended this. Before you get carried away though research what you can feed a dog some foods can be harmful. Such as rasins, chocolate, grapes and many others. You want to see some of the truths about pet food go onto youtube and remeber the recalls. I lost my last dog to hip dysplasia and I also I think other complications to canned dog food. I lost my dog a week before the news broke out about canned food and the poison ingredient that was brought in from China and was put into our pet food supply. Never again! Kibble is a filler to me the real nutients is what I make. I wish you and your pets the best.

[21meg]

Me and my family have always used Pedigree. Their is the big bag of hard food, I feed my two dogs a scoop of hard food each then get a Pedigree can out and give one dog half of the mushy stuff, my other dog the rest of the half. It's always worked and they seem to love it. Pedigree has never had the problems with killing your dogs. My mom has really made sure since we love our dogs. And if you' haven't seen the commercial, Pedigree donates something (forget exactly what.....) to homeless dogs at the kennel when you buy Pedigrees. So, it's really good. There are some foods that kill dogs. One, is grapes. You should really research which kind of food kills your dogs.

[siberianhusky101]

Pedigree is one of the worst kibble brands out there. Chances are the ingredients come from a rendering plant where euthanized dogs, cats, zoo animals and road-kill are all processed in a big vat before being bought by cheapskate Pet food companies (Iams, Purina, Eukanuba, Science Diet, etc). All you need to do with most kibbles (if you cant afford to make your pets food, for time or financial reasons) is read the first 5 ingredients. If it includes Wheat, corn, or byproducts, its absolute crap. and if it lists it twice, chances are its double crap. and if you're about to mention how great science diet is and how your vet says its good (same with IAMS, Eukanuba) then think about this. Veterinarians are NOT Nutritionists, the nutrition classes in vet schools are optional and are also taught by reps from the Hills Science Diet company. Not to mention Science Diet pays for most vets to go through college so long as they sell their product in their offices. So most vets don't even know that there is better out there, and the ones that do wont be found feeding their dogs science diet.

heres a website that lists some of the healthier kibbles, none of which use the corn/wheat gluten that caused the last recall.
www.dogaware.com

And you might also look into the book "Food Pets Die For" by Anne Martin.

[kinderwood]

Pedigree is one of the worst kibble brands out there. Chances are the ingredients come from a rendering plant where euthanized dogs, cats, zoo animals and road-kill are all processed in a big vat before being bought by cheapskate Pet food companies (Iams, Purina, Eukanuba, Science Diet, etc). All you need to do with most kibbles (if you cant afford to make your pets food, for time or financial reasons) is read the first 5 ingredients. If it includes Wheat, corn, or byproducts, its absolute crap. and if it lists it twice, chances are its double crap. and if you're about to mention how great science diet is and how your vet says its good (same with IAMS, Eukanuba) then think about this. Veterinarians are NOT Nutritionists, the nutrition classes in vet schools are optional and are also taught by reps from the Hills Science Diet company. Not to mention Science Diet pays for most vets to go through college so long as they sell their product in their offices. So most vets don't even know that there is better out there, and the ones that do wont be found feeding their dogs science diet.

heres a website that lists some of the healthier kibbles, none of which use the corn/wheat gluten that caused the last recall.
www.dogaware.com

And you might also look into the book "Food Pets Die For" by Anne Martin.

I was just going to let this go, but I'm sick of all these absolutely unfounded (not to mention, down right absurd!) dog food "conspiracy theories" floating around the internet by folks who are too lazy to actually look into the whole untruth of them. First, Reputable companies like Purina and Iams/Eukanuba do NOT use euthanized animals such as dogs and cats. That is probably the most absurd thing I've heard to date! Put simply, they can't- and I'll let you look up the reasons to that since you seem to be so "internet savvy". Second, by your figurings, everytime someone purchases a bag of Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, etc. food from any store that carries it, your vet gets profits from it simply because they recommended it? Another absurd "theory"! I don't know about yours, but my vet sells Purina Prescription Diets and he doesn't see a penny from all the bags of Pro Plan I buy- nor does he make anything to talk about off of those PD foods he sells either. Also, a vet is not a regular doctor. A regular doctor has 8 years to learn all they can about 1 species (humans). Your vet only gets the same amount of time to learn several (dogs, cats, horses, lizards, birds, rodents, etc.)- so figure that into your veterinary "conspiracy theory". Does that mean that vets are less versed about the health care of your animals? No not at all, but it does mean that this is the reason some are less versed in certain areas. However, this should not be taken as they are "misinformed" or "lead by the big companies" when it comes to nutrition. And, unless you have lived the life of a veterinary student, I wouldn't be saying much about things you know very little about. Another question that should be asked is, why don't the manufacturers of some of these supposedly "better" foods start educating vets about their products? Is it because the simply don't have the money (which is another absurd thought for what they charge for food that is, in all actuality, is still kibble and little better than the competition- not to mention, the money that they also spend on advertising, I've seen the full page Solid Gold, etc. ads in magazines such as Dog World and Dog Fancy, so don't try to tell me they don't advertise)? Or is it that it simply isn't the priority that it should be?

And, I suppose the next conspiracy theory you will bring up is the one about reputable breeders feeding "crap" foods because they get "big incentives", LOL! "Incentives", yeah right! You want to talk about these "incentives"? In Purina's "incentive" program, you first need to be feeding 5 or more dogs or breed 1 litter a year to qualify and then feed 637 pounds of regular Pro Plan (not including the Performance or the Selects, and which costs about $527 by my math around here) to get only 10 $7 rebate checks (a total of $70). How do you figure these kinds of "incentives" will make breeders (who need their dogs to be in peak health for field or show, mind you) feed "crap" food if it doesn't work? I don't think I need to tell you that 5 or more dogs (and not to mention a litter of pups) will go through 637 pounds of food like no tomorrow, so figure that into your "big incentives" theory. And, it's not just the "cheapskape" companies that offer "incentive" programs. EVERY food company offers some kind of "incentive" program- even companies like Canidae and Natura. For Canidae, you only need to have 3 dogs and for every 5 bags you get one 1 free, but the food didn't work for my dogs so the "incentives" aren't worth it to me. I'm certainly not going to compromise by dogs' health when costs of competition are so high.

Sorry, but I really think all these absurd dog food "conspiracy theories" really need to die. Everyone should just feed what works for their dogs (no matter if it's raw, Purina, Solid Gold, etc.) and be done with it. No one should be knocking anyone else down for feeding whatever food works for their dogs. I don't know how many times I've been guilted into feeding supposedly "better" foods only to have my dogs be the ones to pay for it. No more.

[siberianhusky101]

It's hard to call it a conspiracy theory when research is finding levels of sodium pentobarbital in pet foods.

And, no, i wasn't going to bring up breeders. the only qualm i have with breeders are the ones who breed recklessly and BYBs. I'm well aware of the "incentives" breeders receive.

[Aztec]

I think the fear is the unknown. "by-products" could very well be anything, as they don't directly tell you what it is.

In general I would stay away from Pedigree, Iams, Science Diet, and Purina. If you look at the ingredients many contain corn which is a common allergin to dogs. They also contain many fillers...it would be the equivalent of human junk food.

Flint River Ranch, California Natural and other holistic foods are your best bets if you decide to feed kibble.

[kinderwood]

It's hard to call it a conspiracy theory when research is finding levels of sodium pentobarbital in pet foods.

And, no, i wasn't going to bring up breeders. the only qualm i have with breeders are the ones who breed recklessly and BYBs. I'm well aware of the "incentives" breeders receive.

This comes from Nutro's website and it relates to all manufacturers:
This issue has resulted from a report published by the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), a division of the Food and Drug Administration. The CVM published two lists of pet foods they claim contained very small amounts of the drug pentobarbital. The CVM tests were conducted during 1998 and early 2000. Their first list, from 1998, shows approximately 50 dog foods, including Nutro Premium, as containing minute levels of this drug. Their second list, from early 2000, shows no Nutro products as containing any pentobarbital. The CVM clearly states that at the extremely minute levels at which they claim to have detected the drug (as little as five parts per billion), there is absolutely no affect on, or health risk to, the pets that consume these foods.

You may be asked how Nutro's Premium could contain even this minute level. To answer this you should first know that pentobarbital is routinely used by veterinarians to humanly euthanize injured farm livestock, like cows with broken legs. These cows are then rendered with other cows. Since Premium is a beef-based product, it is possible that some cross-contamination in rendering plants occurred. Second, you should point out that Premium did not appear on CVM's second, more recent, list.

Another important point you should be aware of is that some people (particularly activists) will suggest that the presence of pentobarbital in pet foods implies that euthanized companion animals could be included in rendered ingredients. Your answer is simple. CVM tested the listed pet foods for dog and cat tissue, using DNA testing methods, and found none!

During 1999 Nutro began requiring its suppliers to provide affidavits assuring that no companion animals, or adverse chemicals, were included in any of our ingredients. Those agreements remain in force today.

Nutro has initiated a testing program to reconfirm that our products are free from pentobarbital. You can rest assured that we will diligently make sure that is always the case.

Any further questions on this issue should be directed to Nutro's Consumer Services Department at 1-800-833-5330.

And I suppose dogs, cats, and the other animals you speak of postmordumly turn into specifically named Chicken, Beef, and Lamb...give me a break! (Although, I would think that would be quite hilarious to watch, LOL!)

[kinderwood]

I think the fear is the unknown. "by-products" could very well be anything, as they don't directly tell you what it is.

In general I would stay away from Pedigree, Iams, Science Diet, and Purina. If you look at the ingredients many contain corn which is a common allergin to dogs. They also contain many fillers...it would be the equivalent of human junk food.

Flint River Ranch, California Natural and other holistic foods are your best bets if you decide to feed kibble.

No. By law, by-products cannot be just anything. Corn is not the big allergen most people think and fillers, by definition, are ingredients that have absolutely no nutritional value- i.e. they're not as numerous as people think, and the word is not only way overused, but misused. And, if it's a fear of the unknown, why not contact the companies and ask for the information to make the unknown known? I have.

I don't have a problem with people not liking the big companies (that's their opinion and choice), but they should get their facts straight and not bash others whose dogs do well on those foods.

[21meg]

Pedigrees is NOT "one of the worst kibble brands out there". It is one of the best. From the sounds of it, you don't feed your dog Pedigrees- I do. My dogs love it. If this means you're calling my dogs not right in the head or something because they like a certain food, you're sadly mistaken. You cannot base things off of what you read on the internet. Sorry, if you haven't read this on-line, but if you have you can't trust it unless you know this poster, and its a very reputable and GOOD person who puts the real stuff. Maybe these are their opinions. Noone can just go around rashing things they haven't even tried. Several of my friends use Pedigree and it goes well with their dog too. Of course, I respect opinions, but I'm just angry now! I'm not trying to yell my keyboard off at you ( seems like others already have. . . ) and I know you're a nice, good, person who has reliable information... but this one time I'm not believing your "Facts" you state because I know for a fact Pedigree does NOT do that. That is like saying Barnie gets his purple- colored self from some innocent persons blood. It's down right absurd! I would know- you can read the ingredients on the food bags. It won't say "We chop animals up and put it in our food!" it's just meat. Meat, from things that meat is regularly made of.
As for what type of food to feed your dog, you should also talk to your vet and see their recommendation. Sorry if this hurt feelings, I want to get it out LOUD AND CLEAR: PEDIGREES IS NOT A BAD FOOD!!!

[Aztec]

I in no way bashed people that feed these foods. I said that I would stay away from them myself.

I have tried Pedigree, Lassie's Choice, Iams, Science Diet, Flint River Ranch and my dogs are currently on California Natural.

I am sorry if this is just my experience, but my dogs had dull coats, had more and larger stools, and had more teeth buildup on Pedigree, Iams and Science Diet.

[kinderwood]

I in no way bashed people that feed these foods. I said that I would stay away from them myself.

I have tried Pedigree, Lassie's Choice, Iams, Science Diet, Flint River Ranch and my dogs are currently on California Natural.

I am sorry if this is just my experience, but my dogs had dull coats, had more and larger stools, and had more teeth buildup on Pedigree, Iams and Science Diet.

If your intention was not to bash why didn't you just come right out and say it was your personal experience that your dogs didn't do well on them instead of perpetuating internet fodder (i.e. by-products, corn, and "fillers")? No matter, you weren't the one who started it anyway...

I have absolutely no problem with people stating their personal experiences with foods for good or bad- and I doubt anyone else would object to that either. It's when folks get into the unfounded internet fodder that it turns into bashing. I guess some folks have nothing better to do than to spread misinformation over the internet, when, in fact, they could have spent the time more productively by contacting the source (the company) for the accurate information instead.

One thing, for example, is most people believe that since companies like Iams/Eukanuba and Purina use regular meat (Chicken, Beef, Lamb, etc.) as the the first ingredient, they are cheating you and that, once it's dehydrated, it falls way down in the ingredients list. Now, I know of a very well-known Pro Field Trainer (who's trained more FCs than I dare to count) who questioned both companies about the matter. She got back written statements from each company stating that they both add enough meat and, even once the water content is gone, it is still the first ingredient. Now, who am I going to believe, the trainer (who has actual written statements from the companies themselves) or some opinion-laced internet website?

[siberianhusky101]

"Meat, as defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), is the clean flesh derived from slaughtered mammals and is limited to that part of the striate muscle that is skeletal or that which is found in the tongue, diaphragm, heart, or esophagus; with or without the accompanying and overlying fat and the portions of the skin, sinew, nerve, and blood vessels that normally accompany the flesh.

Meat by-products are the non rendered, clean parts other than meat derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. (Again, be assured that if it could be used for human consumption, such as kidneys and livers, it would not be going into pet food. If a liver is found to be infested with worms (liver flukes), if lungs are filled with pneumonia, these can become pet food. However, in Canada, disease-free intestines can still be used for sausage casing for humans instead of pet food.)

What about other sources of protein that can be used in pet food? Poultry-by-product meal consists of ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcasses of slaughtered poultry, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practice.

Poultry-hatchery by-products are a mixture of egg shells, infertile and unhatched eggs and culled chicks that have been cooked, dried and ground, with or without removal of part of the fat.

Poultry by-products include non rendered clean parts of carcasses of slaughtered poultry such as heads, feet, and viscera, free of fecal content and foreign matter except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice. These are all definitions as listed in the AAFCO "Ingredient Definitions."

Hydrolyzed poultry feather is another source of protein - not digestible protein, but protein nonetheless. This product results from the treatment under pressure of clean, intact feathers from slaughtered poultry free of additives, and/or accelerators.

We have covered the meat and poultry that can be used in commercial pet foods but according to the AAFCO there are a number of other sources that can make up the protein in these foods. As we venture down the road of these other sources, please be advised to proceed at your own risk if you have a weak stomach.

Hydrolysed hair is a product prepared from clean hair treated by heat and pressure to produce a product suitable for animal feeding.

Spray-dried animal blood is produced from clean, fresh animal blood, exclusive of all extraneous material such as hair, stomach belching (contents of stomach), and urine, except in such traces as might occur unavoidably in good factory practices.

Dehydrated food-waste is any and all animal and vegetable produce picked up from basic food processing sources or institutions where food is processed. The produce shall be picked up daily or sufficiently often so that no decomposition is evident. With this ingredient, it seems that what you don't see won't hurt you.

Dehydrated garbage is composed of artificially dried animal and vegetable waste collected sufficiently often that harmful decomposition has not set in and from which have been separated crockery, glass, metal, string, and similar materials.

Dehydrated paunch products are composed of the contents of the rumen of slaughtered cattle, dehydrated at temperatures over 212 degrees F. (100 degrees C.) to a moisture content of 12 percent or less, such dehydration is designed to destroy any pathogenic bacteria.

Dried poultry waste is a processed animal waste product composed primarily of processed ruminant excreta that has been artificially dehydrated to a moisture content not in excess of 15 percent. It shall contain not less than 12 percent crude protein, not more than 40 percent crude fiber, including straw, wood shavings and so on, and not more than 30 percent ash.

Dried swine waste is a processed animal-waste product composed primarily of swine excreta that has been artificially dehydrated to a moisture content not in excess of 15 percent. It shall contain not less than 20 percent crude protein, not more than 35 percent crude fiber, including other material such as straw, woodshavings, or acceptable bedding materials, and not more than 20 percent ash.

Undried processed animal waste product is composed of excreta, with or without the litter, from poultry, ruminants, or any other animal except humans, which may or may not include other feed ingredients, and which contains in excess of 15 percent feed ingredients, and which contains in excess of 15 percent moisture. It shall contain no more than 30 percent combined wood, woodshavings, litter, dirt, sand, rocks, and similar extraneous materials. "

[kinderwood]

"Meat, as defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), is the clean flesh derived from slaughtered mammals and is limited to that part of the striate muscle that is skeletal or that which is found in the tongue, diaphragm, heart, or esophagus; with or without the accompanying and overlying fat and the portions of the skin, sinew, nerve, and blood vessels that normally accompany the flesh.

Meat by-products are the non rendered, clean parts other than meat derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. (Again, be assured that if it could be used for human consumption, such as kidneys and livers, it would not be going into pet food. If a liver is found to be infested with worms (liver flukes), if lungs are filled with pneumonia, these can become pet food. However, in Canada, disease-free intestines can still be used for sausage casing for humans instead of pet food.)

What about other sources of protein that can be used in pet food? Poultry-by-product meal consists of ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcasses of slaughtered poultry, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practice.

Poultry-hatchery by-products are a mixture of egg shells, infertile and unhatched eggs and culled chicks that have been cooked, dried and ground, with or without removal of part of the fat.

Poultry by-products include non rendered clean parts of carcasses of slaughtered poultry such as heads, feet, and viscera, free of fecal content and foreign matter except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice. These are all definitions as listed in the AAFCO "Ingredient Definitions."

Hydrolyzed poultry feather is another source of protein - not digestible protein, but protein nonetheless. This product results from the treatment under pressure of clean, intact feathers from slaughtered poultry free of additives, and/or accelerators.

We have covered the meat and poultry that can be used in commercial pet foods but according to the AAFCO there are a number of other sources that can make up the protein in these foods. As we venture down the road of these other sources, please be advised to proceed at your own risk if you have a weak stomach.

Hydrolysed hair is a product prepared from clean hair treated by heat and pressure to produce a product suitable for animal feeding.

Spray-dried animal blood is produced from clean, fresh animal blood, exclusive of all extraneous material such as hair, stomach belching (contents of stomach), and urine, except in such traces as might occur unavoidably in good factory practices.

Dehydrated food-waste is any and all animal and vegetable produce picked up from basic food processing sources or institutions where food is processed. The produce shall be picked up daily or sufficiently often so that no decomposition is evident. With this ingredient, it seems that what you don't see won't hurt you.

Dehydrated garbage is composed of artificially dried animal and vegetable waste collected sufficiently often that harmful decomposition has not set in and from which have been separated crockery, glass, metal, string, and similar materials.

Dehydrated paunch products are composed of the contents of the rumen of slaughtered cattle, dehydrated at temperatures over 212 degrees F. (100 degrees C.) to a moisture content of 12 percent or less, such dehydration is designed to destroy any pathogenic bacteria.

Dried poultry waste is a processed animal waste product composed primarily of processed ruminant excreta that has been artificially dehydrated to a moisture content not in excess of 15 percent. It shall contain not less than 12 percent crude protein, not more than 40 percent crude fiber, including straw, wood shavings and so on, and not more than 30 percent ash.

Dried swine waste is a processed animal-waste product composed primarily of swine excreta that has been artificially dehydrated to a moisture content not in excess of 15 percent. It shall contain not less than 20 percent crude protein, not more than 35 percent crude fiber, including other material such as straw, woodshavings, or acceptable bedding materials, and not more than 20 percent ash.

Undried processed animal waste product is composed of excreta, with or without the litter, from poultry, ruminants, or any other animal except humans, which may or may not include other feed ingredients, and which contains in excess of 15 percent feed ingredients, and which contains in excess of 15 percent moisture. It shall contain no more than 30 percent combined wood, woodshavings, litter, dirt, sand, rocks, and similar extraneous materials. "

I think you've just made my point.;) Most of the "crap" foods (as you call them) contain either named by-product meals (i.e. chicken by-product meal, etc.) or poultry by-product meals. Anything else has to be labeled on the ingredients list as such. When was the last time you actually saw things like Dehydrated Food-Waste or Dehydrated Garbage listed on a dog food label (and yes, they MUST be listed as such)? Also, by "slaughtered mammals", they mean actual food animals (i.e. Cows, Sheep, Buffalo, etc.). When was the last time a dog or cat was considered a "slaughtered mammal" (with the key word being "slaughtered")? And again, I ask the question: How does a dog, cat, or any of the other animals in which you speak of postmordumly turn into specified meat such as Chicken, Beef, Lamb, or even poultry by-product meal? (And again, I'll say that I'd love to watch that happen as I think it would provide some pretty good entertainment!;))

Btw, while the liver flukes and pnuemonia might have been true (in the past, before regulation), the meat still had to then be sterilized (meaning, it has to be free of those items before it's used; believe it or not, there are still standards for pet food)- a process that costs even more money than using healthy parts. So, put simply, these "infested" parts aren't used- not even by the "crap" foods. Hence why it also states "CLEAN" parts. Are "infested" parts considered "clean" all of a sudden? I hardly think so. So, looks like you're going to have find some better scare tactics:rolleyes:...

Again, if it's fear of the unknown, why not contact the companies instead of assuming and then perpetuating inaccurate information? Assumptions are no good to anyone.

It's easy...Here's a response someone got when they inquired about the contents of one company's animal digest:
December 12, 2007
Dear *****,

Thanks for visiting our website and for your email.

The animal digest used in our pet food is completely safe. Organ meat is selected from healthy animals and then emptied of its contents. This material is then subjected to a process which breaks the tissue into simple, more easily digestible sugars and proteins. The result is very palatable and rich in amino acids.

We want to assure you that our products are made with nutritious, quality ingredients that meet the applicable standards and specifications of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Each of our products is processed and packed following strict quality control procedures that comply with the Good Manufacturing Practices established by the FDA. These procedures ensure that the resulting food will be wholesome and safe for your pet.

We hope that this information is helpful. We have sent complimentary coupons to you via postal mail.

Niki, Del Monte Foods Consumer Affairs
IMHO, if you would rather continue this rediculous conspiracy theory way of thinking of yours, so be it. You are helping no one but yourself by providing the disservice of misinformation and lies.

[Bailey's mum]

I in no way bashed people that feed these foods. I said that I would stay away from them myself.

I have tried Pedigree, Lassie's Choice, Iams, Science Diet, Flint River Ranch and my dogs are currently on California Natural.

I am sorry if this is just my experience, but my dogs had dull coats, had more and larger stools, and had more teeth buildup on Pedigree, Iams and Science Diet.

I have to say I completely agree with you Aztec, I've fed my dogs so many differen't brands of dog food, from Pedigree, Iams, Eukanuba,Science diet, Advance & many many more that I can't think of at the moment & i was never really happy with their dull coats, the amount of stools & the really bad flatulance problem:D
But after doing some research I decided to put them on a more natural diet, mainly raw meat & bones & the kibble i give them now is Eagle Pack Holistic (its made in the USA so you guys would certainly know of it ) Its made with mostly natural ingredients with very little by products (real meat, required vitamins & minerals & fruit & vegies like carrots, peas , alfalfa, blueberries, cranberries & kelp ) I have found this product to be fantastic & my dogs health is so much better, glossy coats, smaller stools & I'm happy to say no more wind:)
Alot of the top breeders here in Australia have adopted this sort of diet, & I've only heard good things about it. I have to admit that alot of the supermarket type of foods like Pedigree have become very very unpopular over here But having said this I don't want to tell people what they should feed their dogs, it is really what works best for you, if you are happy with a certain food then stick to it. I can only advise people of my personal experience of what I have tried & what worked best for my dogs.:)

Seeya:D

[StGeorgeK9]

This is a subject that always seems to get the blood pumping in dog lovers. I personally use Canidae, I have also tried many different kibbles.........Pedigree, Iams and Pro Plan all did not work at all for my dog. There appears to be some allergies, to both wheat and corn. I also would rather feed a food that clearly lables the source....beef, lamb, chicken etc.....meat just is too vague to make me comfortable. By-products also make me uncomfortable, I will not personally use anything that uses by products. I have heard many people that really like to feed raw, but that really requires a lot of research, and I'm not a nutritionist. I will say, that being that I am feeding a dog who is a carnivore, I will stick to foods that have good meat proteins and less grain......If someone has good experience with the store brands, then they should have no reason to change. I have noticed reduced stool size, no dog odor, no gas, better coat and good energy and she no longer itches constantly. For these reasons, I will stick with Canidae.

[hunter's pride]

This is a subject that always seems to get the blood pumping in dog lovers. I personally use Canidae, I have also tried many different kibbles.........Pedigree, Iams and Pro Plan all did not work at all for my dog. There appears to be some allergies, to both wheat and corn. I also would rather feed a food that clearly lables the source....beef, lamb, chicken etc.....meat just is too vague to make me comfortable. By-products also make me uncomfortable, I will not personally use anything that uses by products. I have heard many people that really like to feed raw, but that really requires a lot of research, and I'm not a nutritionist. I will say, that being that I am feeding a dog who is a carnivore, I will stick to foods that have good meat proteins and less grain......If someone has good experience with the store brands, then they should have no reason to change. I have noticed reduced stool size, no dog odor, no gas, better coat and good energy and she no longer itches constantly. For these reasons, I will stick with Canidae.


You and me both although I add home cooked meals to the kibble I guess to each their own. Whatever works as long as our dogs are doing great.

[StGeorgeK9]

I did want to add that I came across a very good article with some very strong sources providing the facts substantiating the point of the paper, which is merely to inform not attack or push a hidden agenda. For those that are certain that the FDA protects our pets you may want to read this and come to your own conclusions but also read the supporting documents as well. I do not believe in creating hysteria and I also believe that you can find good information on the web IF you know the medical and educational resources out here to search. People will feed their dogs what they will, and no one here would ever knowingly give their beloved pets anything that could harm them, I dont particularly like admitting I made an error in judgement, but I will if it means my pets health can improve.....just find good reliable supporting information that supports your choices.

http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/784/Patrick06.html