It is more than frustrating to read another story on the Internet telling pet food consumers that cheap pet food is the way to feed your dog or cat. Even worse when a veterinarian jumps on board the cheap pet food wagon. Here’s one that is sure to frustrate many of you out there in educated pet food consumer world.
The title sent a red flag up to many of you out there (I received this post from several readers) – “Does Your Dog Need Expensive Pet Food?” And yes, the article (and video) was full of misleading and inaccurate information including misinformed chatter from a veterinarian.
The story is basically a regurgitated post of Consumer Affairs pet food advice of the past few years. Advising pet food consumers that cheap dog food/pet food is perfectly fine for your pet.
Ugh…those that don’t have a clue about the regulations of pet food should not be giving advice.
The following message was sent to Money Talks News via their contact form…
Your recent story – “Does Your Dog Need Expensive Pet Food?” was full of incorrect and misleading statements. “Complete breakdown of the dog food aisle”? No, this is not even close.
The veterinarian you featured in your story is one of a dying breed. Old school veterinarians that cannot comprehend the simple fact that quality nutrition DOES improve pet health are becoming the veterinarian that educated consumers avoid. She speaks on a subject she clearly knows little of (pet food). As example…
Dr. Heyerly DVM stated “If your dog doesn’t have a job, the protein is wasted.”
This is implying that higher cost pet foods all contain high levels of protein. Some higher cost pet foods contain higher levels of protein, and some higher cost pet foods contain quality protein. With pet food, the search for quality meat and vegetable ingredients is significant.
I would guess Dr. Heyerly and Money Talks News is not aware of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Compliance Policies that allow horrendous waste into pet food such as euthanized animals and 4D animals (dead, diseased, dying, disabled). Federal law requires that all foods (human and animal) contain meat ONLY from slaughtered USDA inspected and approved animals. However FDA provides the pet food industry loopholes to avoid these federal laws. As example: FDA CPG Sec. 690.300 states “Policy: Pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, which is in violation of 402(a)(5) will not ordinarily be actionable, if it is not otherwise in violation of the law. It will be considered fit for animal consumption.”
Pet food consisting of material from diseased animals will be considered fit for pet consumption. Does Dr. Heyerly and Money Talk News believe this is appropriate pet food? Even for a cheap price?
Without informing pet food consumers to seek out pet foods that contain quality ingredients (USDA inspected and approved meats and vegetables), Dr. Heyerly and Money Talk News is basically advising consumers that cheap pet foods using cheap waste meats sourced from diseased animals or euthanized animals – which are in violation of federal law – are suitable for the pet. Again, is this what Money Talk News really wants to tell pet food consumers?
And Dr. Heyerly proves she has no understanding of the pet food industry with her statement “The ones that add in the by-products and fruits and veggies, the carbohydrates, are better foods all around for the dog.” If the “by-products” are not USDA inspected and approved, such as the liver of a drugged, diseased animal, how in the world could this be a better dog food?
And then your advice Mr. Johnson…”Bottom line, if pet food prices give you pause, just take a look at the label. Look for the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, and find the cheapest price you can on the foods you need.”
Quality aside for a moment, on the pet food label the protein and fat in the pet food is required by state and federal law to be stated as minimum (not actual). As example a Guaranteed Analysis of a dog food might state 18% protein and 6% fat on the label. However the actual protein and fat percentage of the pet food could be 30% and 20% (respectively). Plus, there is no requirement in pet food regulations to provide carbohydrate information on the label. How can a consumer “look for the right amount of protein, carbohydrates” if the information is not provided or not stated as the actual amount?
I must ask you Mr. Johnson, knowing that FDA allows pet foods to contain waste ingredients rejected for use in human foods, do you still feel “cheapest price” is the best advice to pet food consumers?
I would be glad to provide Money Talk News (and Dr. Heyerly for that matter) with more information on how to find a true quality pet food sourced from quality ingredients. Plus I would be able to provide Money Talk News with the names and contact information of veterinarians that understand that good health and good quality food go hand in hand. If you are going to provide advice to pet food consumers, at least provide accurate information.
I would like a reply to this message.
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
AssociationforTruthinPetFood.com
Should I get a response from them, it will be shared.
How sad. How sad it is there are ‘news’ outlets that don’t have a clue what they are reporting on. How sad it is there is another veterinarian that doesn’t understand quality meat and vegetable pet foods are the only type of pet food our pets should be eating. (I wonder if she’d let her kids eat Happy Meals every day of their life?) How sad it is that this misinformed article and video from Money Talks News will probably cause numerous pet food consumers to buy cheap pet foods their pet will pay for later.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
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John Huff
August 8, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Susan… What trash! I WAS appalled that a vet would make such a statement…Then reality set in. It’s all about the money. They will say anything if the price is right. If she didn’t get paid for that statement of stupidity, then she will earn even more profit from constant visits from clients who are suffering needlessly due to poor diets.
Case in point: Friend’s Terrier was suffering from an itchy allergy…vet put the pup on steroids. I informed her about the food she was feeding him and asked her to check your “LIST.”
She did…changed food to one on the “LIST” and no more allergy. She asked her Vet why he did not go the diet route…response: “I would miss your monthly visits.” read that as missing the $$$. Fools. The law of Karma will apply to them one day. In the meantime. Thank you so much for what you teach us for our canine family. ♥
Susan Thixton
August 8, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Did her vet say ‘I would miss your monthly visits’? Oh wow! I hope she has found a new vet. There is no excuse. I agree with you on Karma…it will turn around on them all one day.
KT
August 8, 2013 at 1:37 pm
I recently read an article from either Tufts or Cornell(can’t remember which) that was touting corn as an appropriate source of nutrition for dogs. Go figure..if a vet school supports the use of grain as a nutritious source of oils and protein..no small wonder that vets are fairly clueless when it comes to feeding our dogs and cats.
Lynne Manjengwa
August 8, 2013 at 1:48 pm
I think we all need to move away from the medical model and the myth that, somehow, vets and doctors have a clue about what is good and what is bad for humans and pets. Nutrition is so important yet how many vets and doctors have a clue or even care about it? They prescribe their drugs and treatments, the pharmaceutical companies get richer and more powerful and everyone and everything gets sicker. We need to empower and educate ourselves to keep ourselves, our families and our animals healthy.
Winston's Mom
August 8, 2013 at 1:49 pm
I was just berated on a FB cooking board by 2 vets who care greatly about non-GMO, organic and non processed foods for their human family but recommend crap dog food for their clients! I was responding to a post from a new dog owner about what type of dog food they should feed. I recommended they look for the best quality food they could afford (based on reviews) and I stated that I made my own dog food. Both vets told me it was a waste of time and that it did not matter what food dogs ate! They both feed Iams b/c they get a discount! I was totally shocked since they make fun of people who eat processed foods and skimp on quality human foods. They would probably also tell me I was a bad owner since I do titer testing instead of vaccines. Sad really!
Jeri
August 8, 2013 at 5:41 pm
I appreciate your statement that these types of vets are indeed a dying breed, as that is my belief also. The AHVMA is gaining ground and providing grants for alternative modalities training in vet schools and vets are learning about a far better way from their own clients and their pets! Times are changing and more pet parents are refusing to buy garbage for their pets. They are getting educated about what constitutes a “species appropriate” diet and are acting accordingly. Naturally this is putting a kink in the long-time monopoly the PFI has held and I really believe the FDA crackdown on raw pet food companies via “salmonella” intolerance stems from the drop in profits experienced by the PFI. Likewise the increase in commercials touting “natural” and the marketing over nonsense like “feather meal”. The PFI is working hard to convince savvy educated pet parents to “pay no attention to that man behind the curtain”!
Paul
August 8, 2013 at 10:50 pm
GA protein of 18-20%???
Even ol’ roy & Pedigree have GAs of 21%
What would this vet like me to feed my dog sawdust?
Peter
August 8, 2013 at 11:22 pm
So-called news outlets will develop stories on anything that can take the notice of viewers, especially a topic that can be shoved into a quickie 90 second spot. Pet food manufacturers will fight back with propaganda as the only means to defend themselves as consumer awareness grows about the junk they market. And they will need vets and other “authority figures” to shill for them.
Lynn
August 9, 2013 at 1:01 am
This video is appauling to say the least. The fact that a vet publicly stated that it’s ok to feed this garbage to your pet really doesn’t surprise me. They have been spilling the same useless rhetoric for years and as long as people are stupid enough the believe them we will continue to have sick animals. The same principal applies to pets that applies to humans…you are what you eat and if you put garbage in you’re going to get garbage out.
I’ve come to the conclusion that vets are only out to line their pockets and don’t give a rats ass about their patients. If they did they wouldn’t continue to push Hill’s, Iams & Purina (the gruesome threesome I like to refer to them as). There are some vets that are the exception to this way of thinking and two of them are Dr. Lisa Pierson (catinfo.org) and Dr. Karen Becker who is a holistic veterinarian who both believe in raw diets. If anyone has any doubts I encourage you to watch this video. Perhaps it should be sent to the birdbrained vet who endorsed these god awful products. Here is Dr. Karen Becker’s video. Please watch it. It educates pet parents about what to look for in pet food and what to avoid at all costs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTWHxvjI_as
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdDPi-1Yjy0
KAH
August 9, 2013 at 1:47 pm
I would like to thank “Lynn” who made this particular Dr. Becker video so easily available. It was one of many available at the end of Susan’s By-Product parody. Along with Ann Martin’s “Foods Pets Die For” and an interesting narrative promoting “Dog Food Secrets.” All should be required reviewing for learning about commercial PF. I feed whole food, but used Dr. Becker’s video to review a couple of my backup kibble choices, and brands that friends are using. None really passed the test. I found the message about the first 5 ingredients most important, eventhough Susan has been teaching this forever. Somehow the way Dr. Becker explained the “whole” meat moisture factor suddenly hit me. You’d be surprised at how many commercial PFs out there do post “___meat” as the first ingredient, then follow it up with carbs. No wonder grain-free is becoming more popular. Anyway, as a result, I was disappointed in Fromm’s and I can’t understand why Champion Foods will not return the Pledge (does anyone know the story behind their refusal?) because Orijen contains a LOT of useful protein and they “seem” to be doing things right… . Once again, Nature’s Logic tops the list, including making the Pledge. And because I can’t use a chicken product, NL Beef is my choice. Thank you again for posting the Dr. Becker quick check video!! I hope a lot of other readers will view it too!
Lynn
August 9, 2013 at 3:45 pm
To KAH – You’re very welcome. There is a part one to that video I posted but for some reason it didn’t post. I love vets like Doctor Karen Becker, Dr. Lisa Pierson and Dr. Fox. They dispel the myths other vets have been telling their furry patients’ pet parents for years. I just wish they were near me so I could take my animals to them. It’s vets like these and Sue Thixton that make consumers aware of the toxic stews available disguised as commercial pet food. Knowledge is power! Here is that part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTWHxvjI_as
Marsha
August 9, 2013 at 3:46 pm
Very informative. We have been feeding grain free for several years. And as far as dog treats go we only use Pure Bits. Freeze dried and only one ingredient!
Dragon77
August 22, 2013 at 7:31 pm
I love Dr Becker! I’ve practically been *begging* her to join up with Sue to help educate petsumers! 🙂
Amanda
January 19, 2014 at 8:35 am
Funny how they always talk about cost, and percentages.. Not Saying say Hills is a good food.. But as it has a HUGE amount of corn.. something that cost like pennies. a pound.. it is WAY to expensive biased on the ingredients in the bag… so if cost is the only issue how about the fact they use ingredients that are frankly cheap and charge a “premium” price for?? works both ways however.. think of the foods who claim the world are expensive, however they use X,Y,Z a their Specific majority ingredient.. and yet.. way lower. than the cost for such meats? Defies logic.. too…. FYI I feed only a kind of mid grade kibble.. plus a TON or majority of fresh.. why.. I want to spend my money on real food.. Not overpriced “processed” pet food.. I don’t trust either.. I only use “commercial” as a snack, some extra calories, and when I am limited due to travel on options.. not the choice for all.. but works well.. for me..
Amanda
January 19, 2014 at 8:39 am
Not all and there is a lot of deception.. But at least cheap food= cheap ingredients.. there are a few “expensive” foods many of us know of.. where are yup.. not better just more expensive..
In cheap foods price equals lower quality ingredients.. Sadly once one gets out of the base.. the price DOES NOT indicate quality… Sigh..
Lynne Manjengwa
January 19, 2014 at 3:06 pm
I visited a friend recently and her dog is limping around with a ligament injury. I pointed out that the dog is grossly overweight and this obviously won’t be helping. She wasn’t feeding her much so I checked the ingredients in the food. Cereal, meat derivatives, vegetable derivatives, grain, sugar. I asked whether the vet had mentioned the fact that the dog is clearly obese and he hadn’t said a word. Just keeps prescribing metacam and suggesting they X ray her. Once I explained that the dog is eating pure crap, she agreed and is going to buy a better food and substitute one meal with raw chicken wings.