Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University is providing VERY misleading information to pet owners.
In the February 2020 Tufts Veterinary School newsletter “Catnip“, there is a feature article titled “Food Labeling Terms with More Sizzle Than Substance“. The story includes the subtitle “Don’t be fooled by these words when choosing your cat’s food“. However, it appears that Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is actually the one doing the fooling.
At the very top of their post Tufts discusses the pet food classification of “Human Grade“. Below is the full quote of this section, Tufts attempting to minimize the significance of human grade pet food.
“Human grade” is much more about the plant the food is processed in than where the food came from. For instance, chicken, whether for people or cats, comes from the same bird. It’s just that “human grade” chicken is processed in a plant or kitchen licensed to produce food for people, while chicken that gets put into pet food — which could include breast or thighs, but also nutrient-packed internal organs and the parts you pick off to make soup — goes to plants that manufacture pet food. All these ingredients work together to meet your cat’s nutrient needs. Just as important, they are pleasing to cats’ taste buds.
More to the point, products marketed as “human grade” are not necessarily higher quality nor better options in any other way. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets the standards for the levels of nutrients that should be in cat food, and that’s a separate issue from the origin of the food’s ingredients.
We should note that “human grade” food for cats tends to be relatively expensive compared to regular cat food. There’s no need to purchase it, either for your cat’s health or enjoyment of meals.”
“There’s no need to purchase” human grade pet food? Seriously Tufts? VERY misleading, shame on you.
What Tufts failed to consider (and failed to explain to pet owners) is that pet foods are either human grade or feed grade. The differences between the two are significant.
What’s the difference between human grade and feed grade pet foods?
Feed Grade. The FDA allows feed grade pet products (and feed livestock products) to utilize very inferior ingredients, in fact – some ingredients allowed in feed are illegal per federal law but still allowed by FDA. Evidence of this is FDA’s own words – in a response to our (Association for Truth in Pet Food) request of the Agency to stop allowing illegal ingredients in pet foods. The FDA stated: “we do not believe the the use of diseased animals or animals that died otherwise than by slaughter to make animal food poses a safety concern and we intend to continue to exercise enforcement discretion where appropriate.”
Per the FDA’s own disclosure, feed/feed grade pet foods are allowed to contain diseased animals or animals that died otherwise than by slaughter. All of which – by the way – is a violation of federal food safety laws (illegal, but allowed by all pet food regulatory authorities).
Human Grade. While feed grade pet foods are allowed to use diseased and non-slaughtered animal material, human grade pet foods are required to:
“a. Each of the individual ingredient suppliers has verified that the individual ingredients supplied to the manufacturer are fit for human consumption.
b. Every ingredient and the resulting product are stored, handled, processed, and transported in a manner that is consistent and compliant with regulations for current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) for human edible foods as specified in 21 CFR part 117.
c. The manufacturing facility is licensed to produce human food by the appropriate authority (which varies by jurisdiction). Such evidence may include, but is not limited to, facility licenses or permits for operation of edible food manufacturing facilities or results of most recent inspections issued by local, county, or state public health authorities.”
Human grade pet foods are required to be…food. And they are held to every single legal requirement of food. Feed grade pet foods are NOT required to meet any legal requirement of food, they are NOT food.
Tufts stated “products marketed as “human grade” are not necessarily higher quality nor better options in any other way“. Using the example of just one ingredient:
This quality of chicken
is the ONLY quality of chicken
allowed in Human Grade pet foods:
This quality of chicken
is allowed in Feed Grade pet foods
(with no warning or disclosure on the label):
There is a reason diseased, condemned, and/or non-slaughtered animal material is illegal…it is dangerous to consume. It is NOT quality nutrition. Why can’t Tufts or any other veterinary school understand that?
Opinion: A pet owner recently sent me this quote: “A lie cannot become the truth JUST BECAUSE it’s accepted.” This one sentence sums up a major problem we have with many of our veterinarians, veterinary schools, and regulatory authorities. Many accept the lie that recycled, illegal waste is quality nutrition for pets.
They accept the lie – but – none of them have ever provided the proof that recycled, illegal waste ingredient pet food is safe for our pets to consume. Never have we seen a study that proves condemned animal material or diseased animal material is nutritious or safe for our pets. A Freedom of Information Act request was sent to FDA asking for their scientific evidence to prove these illegal ingredients are safe, the FDA responded with “We could not find the requested documents.” Of course they couldn’t find it…the FDA has no proof, it doesn’t exist.
Where is Tufts evidence that “products marketed as “human grade” are not necessarily higher quality“?
Just because some veterinarians, some veterinary schools, and all regulatory authorities accept waste processed into pet food does not change the fact that this material is illegal (per federal food safety laws) and it is certainly not quality nutrition. A lie cannot become the truth just because it’s accepted.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Laurie Raymond
January 29, 2020 at 10:56 am
A question for FDA: If feed grade ingredients are safe and nutritious for pets, why are they not similarly held to be safe and nutritious for us? That is, what studies show that the standards for “human grade” are essential for human health, but do not matter to pet consumers’ health?
Stephanie
January 29, 2020 at 4:10 pm
Great question!
Marley
January 29, 2020 at 11:03 am
Is Tufts being deliberately misleading or willfully ignorant? Perhaps both?
Daniel G
January 29, 2020 at 11:11 am
They are also failing to recognize the contaminants introduced into feed-grade meats through denaturing. The list of acceptable (thus likely used) denaturing agents/process by the FDA is alarming at best. I wouldn’t want my pet to be exposed to meats that have been processed with approved denaturing agents. Shame Tufts.
Hope Williams
January 29, 2020 at 11:11 am
OMDog, can you say big time influence from big pet feed companies not to mention them buying Tufts credibility. Really?
Cannoliamo
January 29, 2020 at 11:33 am
Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVN sold out her professional credibility and that of her associates’ academic opinions and research a long time ago. Everything Cummings publishes with respect to animal nutrition should be taken with a grain of salt.
Sad!
readerguest9
January 29, 2020 at 11:54 am
The education industry are partners with corporations, big pharma, big pet food, banking financial industry and the gov to promote jobs and promote consumers with lies and deceit. This is how this works. Learn more about True History, not the lies taught in schools. TomatoBubble .com WhatREALLYhappened .com Google is censoring most true history, true health, theTruthAboutCancer .com etc Tufts even sells a pet newsletter filled with lies and deceit for everything about pet health. And they want you to pay for the lies and deceit in their worthless pet newsletter. Tufts lies to pet owners and don’t tell pet owners the protein in big commercial pet food, are the free dead dogs and cats picked up for free at animal shelter killing centers across America. Learn more read, Pet Food, Pets Die For by Ann Martin pet food researcher who went undercover into pet food factories to learn the truth about pet food.
vcs
January 29, 2020 at 12:42 pm
Tuft’s has a new Nutrition Center that was funded and built by Purina. It’s also stocked with Purina products. It would defy logic to think that either Tuft’s itself, or Dr. Lisa Freeman would ever bite the hand that’s feeding it!
Keller
January 30, 2020 at 1:53 am
I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info. I hate seeing anyone buy Purina products.
I love my vet, but the practice sells Purina Prescription food, which makes me ill. Has anyone on here ever given Purina KD prescription food in a can? Smells like death warmed over. Kept my boy on his regular food and he lived to be over 14, a very long life for a Rottie.
Stephanie B.
January 29, 2020 at 12:45 pm
“We should note that “human grade” food for cats tends to be relatively expensive compared to regular cat food. There’s no need to purchase it, either for your cat’s health or enjoyment of meals.””
_______
Willful ignorance?
paulette meath
January 29, 2020 at 5:06 pm
My cats enjoy a healthy lifestyleof fresh meat a little vegie some one takes from my meal if not quick enough to fend him off.I try to give as close to their natural diet as possible so dont have to seevets.Even give hypertensive oldr cat seaweed for iodine.Man he hooks in for a cat usually so gentle instead of treatments i read that may not work in long term.He is now 12 orange part persian.All the problem cats in one my vet said.Other abyssinian 2.Who is trying to get more business because my 1year old cat had been feed whiskers and cat biscuits i think she developed cancer(wasn’t my cat then)but she wasn’t overweight no diabeties and had all teeth.My old german shepherd got extreme arthritus and was falling over.No diabeties had all her teeth and had been overfeed by ex and had peritnitis which my vet said kills pensioners.I kept her alive all by natural means.and out of pain.She also had natural foods for many years.maybe arthritus due to overfeeding sausage and cheeseEx also had to heart attacks so he wasn’t a good manager of food for dogs.
Debra
January 29, 2020 at 2:42 pm
Well this is an eye-opener regarding Tufts. And I won’t be reading their newsletters anymore! Why read something if you have to take it with a grain of salt or maybe I am being naive. Appreciate all you do Susan!
Janice
January 29, 2020 at 3:05 pm
It is interesting to note that Royal Canin (RC), which is considered by many who promote Dr. Freeman’s views to be one of the five dog foods that are most safe for dogs with respect to DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy), stresses that RC is committed to “Only using meat from animals which are declared fit and healthy for human consumption” (RC website, FAQ, “Quality Assurance.”
Susan Thixton
January 29, 2020 at 3:18 pm
I would like to see evidence that Royal Canin only uses human edible ingredients.
Sara
January 29, 2020 at 4:06 pm
Copy that!
Janice
January 29, 2020 at 7:47 pm
I would like to see evidence re: Royal Canin’s claim, too. But I must also note that even some companies recommended by critics of large manufacturers like RC refuse to provide other pertinent information about their foods, such as a complete nutrient profile, despite a claim that the food is complete and balanced.
Laurie Matson
January 30, 2020 at 5:29 am
Ever since I heard that Royal Canin was using Feathers for boosting protein content I was completely turned off. I will never buy their pet food!!!
Debra
January 29, 2020 at 3:31 pm
Regarding Royal Canin; Me Too!
KAREN Lucas
January 29, 2020 at 4:18 pm
I subscribe to the Tufts newsletter so that I can read the truth about things that affect my cats, including food. I could not believe my eyes. Here is a vet school telling us what the industry wants us to think. And then my sister spoke with a tech at our vet’s office about food as I have been trying to share information about healthy food with her. The tech said she feeds her cats Friskies and it’s just fine.
We have gone to our vet for 40 years, since she finished vet school and she has an integrative practice and yet this is where we are. Now, I happen to know that she feeds her cats raw food and is very scrupulous about it but she does not tell the pet owners nor do her staffers the truth about, especially, grocery store food and what is likely in it and the reasons why animals become sick. Horrifying the way the industry has corrupted the whole practice of veterinary medicine.
Marilyn Kopp
January 29, 2020 at 5:45 pm
I think the people at Tufts are eating too much commercial pet food. (Which they are purchasing with the money they get from Big Pet Food manufacturers.) Their statement that people food is more expensive that pet food is ridiculous. Pet food is made from garbage. Pet food prices are exorbitant when you consider what we actually pay for: Factories, employees, advertising, transportation, taxes, accountants and lawyers, AAFCO, the FDA and so much more.I figure that less than 10% of what we pay actually goes for the ingredients. How come the big 5 pet food manufacturers have net profits of over a $billion a year?
~ Pet Owner ~
January 29, 2020 at 7:11 pm
I think what gets muddled in peoples’ minds is the idea that if my dog can eat (essentially) roadkill if necessary and grub in the dirt (and survive) what is the point of feeding the equivalent of what people eat. Of course “we” know that it’s about the concentration of toxicity in pet food. And a daily diet of it throughout their lives. Not incidental or random, but combined with useless additives (flavor, color) possibly hit with pesticides (in warehouses) and mycotoxins (rotting grains), as well as literally diseased protein. So it becomes a matter of convincing PF consumers of the PFI’s intentional neglect for the purpose of profit. And no entity connected with AAFCO or FDA or any of them (much less spokespeople) would come near to explaining that true rationale!
Keller
January 30, 2020 at 1:41 am
Pesticides are in almost of all our vegetables except for those that are truly organically grown. We’re vegetarians and we’ve grown our own veggies for years, but we still end up buying them from the grocery store. The organic choices in raw greens are absolutely pathetic looking, more expensive and barely worth buying. If our own food isn’t protected from Roundup and other disease-producing pesticides, why should our government care about what goes into our pets’ food? Big Ag lobbyists’ money takes precedence over all our health. Our government has sold us out for power and money. There are lots of grassroots actions and we all need to be part of their efforts, just as invested in providing for our pets as those on here and taking our messages to those who may be enlightened. I’m preaching to the choir, I know, but any change will take an enormous amount of work. Susan’s dedication and determination will help us keep the faith.
Debra
January 30, 2020 at 12:19 pm
I have a thought; we as caring loving dog owners would never let our dogs eat anything that they find be it a dead animal or anything found not given to them by us. It’s called evolved. We as humans have educated ourselves regarding our diet and that of our pets. I am horrified that the FDA has been put upon such a high pedestal with no regard to pet food. We should strip them from overseeing pet food and hopefully abolish their lies about its safety. Just say’n.
d
January 29, 2020 at 11:14 pm
Perhaps the implication is that Tufts knows some information that we don’t. Such as the intention to create “exceptions”/compliance policies/whatever you want to call them for the definition of human grade. In that case then Tufts would be correct in their statement.
Keller
January 30, 2020 at 1:22 am
A bit off topic, but not really… “A lie cannot become the truth just because it’s accepted.” How can anyone fight this with our government when “lies told often enough that they become the truth” or “alternative truths” from the top down of our present Administration? Our government, and the FDA included, is corrupt to the core and just doesn’t care about the real “truth.” This is so horribly unacceptable, but it appears that it will continue. My husband, daughter and I struggle to find kibble that is decent. We feed our older Rottie Honest Kitchen and she does very well on it. Our other Rottie has allergies and it’s tough to find anything decent that doesn’t affect her. The thought of feeding either one of diseased or downed animals makes me sick and I won’t do it. Our daughter is going through the same thing with one of her dogs. Keep fighting, Susan, as the time will come that the fight reaches ears that will listen and heed.
Janice
January 30, 2020 at 11:34 am
Have you ever considered homemade dog food? It is possible to make your dog’s food and know that it is complete and balanced. We use “Balance It,” which has many free recipes on its website. The company offers supplements to complete recipes, and the cost for them is reasonable. Moreover, they are human grade. I realize many pet owners would rather have their pets get all their nutrients from food, but that is not always possible, and we’ve found that Balance It has been a Godsend. Important for us also is that it provides a complete nutrient profile for each recipe. You can learn what the profile would be using the Balance It supplement, and what it would be if you didn’t use the supplement. (In the latter case, it would be incomplete but you could add your own supplements if you preferred doing this).
Keller
January 30, 2020 at 3:22 pm
My only questions concerning making our dogs’ meals is around costs and time constraints to do this. We’re elderly, retired on a fixed income, I’m very arthritic, and we also have a lot of medical expenses for our Long-Term Health Care insurance ($400/month) and for our daughter’s operations on her foot. Her medical insurance has a very high deductible, so we’re picking up the cost of the operations. The other issue is the size of our dogs. They’re adult Rottweilers (rescue) and would require a lot of time to make the meals. (No excuse, I know.) We’re vegetarians due to ethical issues surrounding the treatment of animals and I’ve been a vegetarian for so long that I cannot stomach the smell of cooking meat. We cooked ground turkey for a long time for the one dog who could tolerate everything in the basic Honest Kitchen and finally gave up and bought the complete dehydrated meal. The other one has skin allergies to something in that food and several others we’ve tried. Perhaps it’s time we simply bite the bullet and do as you’ve suggested. Thank you for your response.
~ Pet Owner ~
January 30, 2020 at 5:16 pm
I think you’re incredibly conscientious (already) and enjoyed reading your comments!
OMG, it infuriates me how the corrupt PFI pushes people into corners out of desperation. And fear. Why should well meaning, caring pet owners have to spend more time and energy than normal, circumventing their greed. I can understand your situation and can see that you’re already sacrificing a lot in terms of lifestyle.
A kibble which seems to have a pretty good reputation is Open Farms. Here’s the link: https://openfarmpet.com/products/grass-fed-beef-dry-dog-food Maybe you could add some fresh meat occasionally. Or steamed vegetables. Or a fresh egg. Without having to go to extremes.
Every dog is different in what he/she can tolerate, even though owners always want to do the very best they can. Home cooking for two Rotti’s is no easy task!! Kudos for the example you’d like to set!
Keller
January 31, 2020 at 10:31 am
Thank you!
Janice
January 31, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Thank you for replying and explaining your situation. But allow me just to add that with “Balance It” you can make quite a simple meal (with just a few ingredients, although yes, one should be meat or fish) and with the supplement it will be complete. ( Maybe just for the one allergic dog?) You may find that this is easier than trying many kibbles with multiple ingredients. Even though allergic dogs are usually sensitive to a meat or fish protein, we have found that just about any ingredient can trigger a reaction (we once found that krill did in our dog, and krill is in some dog food), and so using a simple homemade but balanced recipe may turn out to be less burdensome in the end. But I do understand your circumstances and wish you all the best.
Sara
January 31, 2020 at 4:32 pm
@Keller:
In regards to being a vegetarian for ethical reasons, my husband and I are in the same boat as you where we cannot bear to smell, look at nor handle any meat/poultry. Therefore we cannot feed raw or many homemade recipes.
However, a few of the retailers we purchase food from sell complete homemade food for dogs and cat, but it’s usually a hit-or-miss with our animals and ends up being an expensive endeavor.
Therefore, we’re mostly relegated to a few manufacturers/companies who sell ethically and humanely made products of the highest quality.
Marilyn Kopp
January 31, 2020 at 8:56 pm
Dogs will eat whatever you eat. They don’t need a special diet. I dump a lot of things, including vegetables, apples and applesauce, potatoes, eggs, whole grains, beans and whatever we are eating into my slow cooker. I add ground up egg shells for calcium. My dogs thrive on it. I also throw some raw chicken in but you can’t stand the smell, so that wouldn’t be an option for you. I know some people feed raw, but my friend the med tech at an emergency clinic said I shouldn’t give raw chicken because they see so many dogs with salmonella from chicken. My dog went from 78 pounds on commercial food to 56 pounds (optimum weight) on home cooked food. It also helped with her itchy skin. You can go on line and find recipes, but when I was growing up years ago, we fed our dog leftovers and never took them to the vet (which we couldn’t afford) and they lived long lives. Diabetes was unheard of.
Keller
February 1, 2020 at 11:33 am
Thanks for your input. Although many feed raw meat, it’s not something I choose to do. I saw a video once of a large, healthy Rottweiler that was fed an entire killed chicken every day and he thrived. Our adult rescue Rotties come to us with unknown but almost always undesirable backgrounds, with heartworm, arthritis, terrible nutrition, etc. I think it depends on so many factors how dogs thrive on what.
Ren
February 4, 2020 at 2:56 am
I just have a hard time agreeing that because “our dogs growing up lived a long time” and “this one dog on a video thrived on a chicken a day” is reasonable evidence for the food you’re throwing together being good. The meat/bones/organs of a chicken is already pretty naturally balanced but that’s still a lot of bone content, isn’t it? There’s just more to balanced nutrition than feeding them your leftovers.
Marilyn Kopp
February 4, 2020 at 10:40 am
I think you have me confused with another writer. I don’t feed cooked chicken bones to my dog or my cats. Also, I didn’t make the comment about the dog eating a chicken a day. Do you believe my empirical experience that pets live longer and healthier on a natural homemade diet is less believable than Big Dog Food’s and Veterinarian’s claims that whole food is dangerous for pets? Do you believe that only commercial dog food is healthier? When my Veterinarian told me that I should not be feeding “people food” to my dogs, I asked “Why?” He told me that homemade food is not formulated with “micro nutrients”. I asked him what “micro nutrients” are. He couldn’t say. I looked it up. Micro nutrients are vitamins and minerals. Do you really think that we are less able to make food choices for our pets based on our own experiences and research than the Vets and Big Dog Food? Remember, Vets and Big Dog Food and the FDA have a dog in this race–money. We don’t have an incentive to do anything except what keeps our dogs and cats healthy.and assures them the longest life possible.
Keller
February 4, 2020 at 7:47 pm
I guess I misled you on the chicken-a-day comment. I thought it was pretty funny, actually. As far as the “too much bone” comment you made, no, I don’t think it’s too much bone. It’s a naturally balanced meal. But, I can’t imagine very many people who would be interested in or comfortable with throwing a dog a just-killed chicken for his daily diet. And, no, I don’t agree that feeding a dog table scraps is a good or balanced diet. During the day, our dogs get a few banana slices during breakfast, a dollop of yogurt at our lunchtime, a few veggies when we’re making dinner and a few banana slices again in the evening during their third meal of the day. Those and a tiny sardine a day is all we add to their meals, except for some appropriate treats.
Marilyn Kopp
February 4, 2020 at 11:35 pm
You zeroed in on two unimportant statements and side stepped all the facts that contributors have provided. Its the way Big Dog Food, the FDA and Vets respond to legitimate postings without identifying themselves.
Marilyn Kopp
February 5, 2020 at 11:03 am
Hi, My reply about citing two of your comments was made in response to Ren’s post where she diisses some of our posts, You are right on point in everything you have posted. Please read her post and then my reply. Have a great day,.
Keller
February 4, 2020 at 8:07 pm
The chicken a day was a whole, raw. just-killed chicken, feathers and all. Marilyn, I’m sorry that my comment was not specific about the state of the chicken and I agree with you that one must never feed cooked bones to dogs, as they’re too brittle and can splinter.
Keller
January 30, 2020 at 3:24 pm
Error on the cost of our long-term health insurance. It’s $400 a week!
Debra
January 30, 2020 at 12:24 pm
Open Farm was the one Kibble on Sudan’s list of acceptable kibble for 2019. I am transitioning my English Lab over as I write this. I believe in Susan and what she thinks is best. And I have always fed small batch kibble. Check them out!
Debra
January 30, 2020 at 12:25 pm
Susan! Sorry I missed my misspelling
Janice
January 31, 2020 at 12:25 pm
I’m sure I will get criticisms for saying this, but I myself would avoid any food that has multiple pulses (dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, beans) high on the ingredient list. DCM is a real threat, and there is a connection between these and DCM, even if the connection is not fully understood. Just adding taurine to the food may not be the answer. Not enough is known about the connection between pulses and DCM, and caution guides me on this point.
~ Pet Owner ~
January 31, 2020 at 6:16 pm
Probably.
See the label for BalanceIT here: https://secure.balanceit.com/marketplace2.3/productlabels/FPDF-DVM-Canine-label-082017.pdf It is an expensive, shelf-life limited product. Recommended is to use the supplement in conjunction with a recipe formulated by the maker. (I’ve done that). The diet is based on your dog’s requirements, and the meal is made by weighing the ingredients, and an owner can make a preference about which ones they prefer. But which is based on combinations.
It does require the use of a lot of protein, and uses a filler. So shall we go back and read about too much arsenic in rice. And remember that some recipe combinations (like lamb & rice) are also suspect in the ongoing DCM investigation. Just as are sweet potatoes. (In some breeds). Even if people are feeding (commercially processed) raw food there are compromises involved (ex. HPP). About the only true diet is having access to very locally produced/slaughtered protein. San Francisco RAW (or SFRAW on the internet) is an amazing resource. But very unique in terms of locality, availability and freshness. And is membership driven.
The trick has always been in terms of rotation. A little of this. And that. So that the dog doesn’t have a steady diet of any one singular (type) meal which will always have some degree of imperfections and risk. The suggestion made was to be sure and add real meat and other fresh ingredients! Pulses should never replace the fundamental necessity of protein which a dog requires. And I agree that among the first 5 listed, too many pulses are an issue. And even can be in terms of digestion! Feeding fresh should also include organ meat. So it was because the followers appear to be vegan, that an ethically sourced product (offering full transparency) was suggested, having the advantage of using beef that is grass fed.
The EASY part always is talking about what should be avoided! But how many times can a (reasonable, practical & affordable) alternative be recommended in its place.
Janice
February 2, 2020 at 3:33 pm
“Balance It” recipes contain the amount of protein needed to provide required nutrients, including methionine and cystine from which taurine is made. Check out the nutrient profiles. Rotation can be useful but it can still result in deficiencies if what you rotate to is not completely balanced. Make sure your dog’s food is balanced in the first place.
Keller
February 1, 2020 at 2:07 am
Sadie did well on Honest Kitchen whole grain turkey and we’ve just switched her over to the whole grain beef. When we provided the protein, we would buy many packages of ground turkey, chicken and beef, cook them all up together in a big pot and then stir them up together and put them into meal-sized portions to be added to the base. That was a real endeavor, as we weighed out each separate meal’s portion and put them into small baggies and froze them in larger bags. It worked well, but the smell really did us in.
Presleigh’s another case altogether. She came to us with yeast-infected ears and even with treatment, she continued to have issues. We finally got that under control, and we’ve managed to reduce her itching and ear flapping with OTC allergy pills (same as we take). Right now she’s on a combined grain-free and whole-grain kibble of one brand, and she likes it. But we’re still hunting for a food that is better for her and doesn’t put us in the poor house.
And as careful as we are about our dogs’ food, my husband has to go out into their fenced yard every time they go out and pull guard duty, as Presleigh loves Sadie’s poop, and she’s fast! Go figure!
They’re dearly loved and precious family members, so we do the best that we can to give these rescued girl a great life.
Thanks for your input.
Sara
February 1, 2020 at 3:11 pm
I agree with you completely 🙂
Marilyn Kopp
February 2, 2020 at 11:27 am
Dogs lived healthy lives for centuries eating these foods. DCM in dogs was virtually unknown until the Big Dog Food Companies started making adulterated and poisonous food. Check the history of dog food. Wikipedia says:”Dog food is food specifically formulated and intended for consumption by dogs and other related canines. Dogs are considered to be omnivores with a carnivorous bias. They have the sharp, pointed teeth and shorter gastrointestinal tracts of carnivores, better suited for the consumption of meat than of vegetable substances, yet also have 10 genes that are responsible for starch and glucose digestion,[1] as well as the ability to produce amylase, an enzyme that functions to break down carbohydrates into simple sugars – something that carnivores lack. Dogs have managed to adapt over thousands of years to survive on the meat and non-meat scraps and leftovers of human existence and thrive on a variety of foods, with studies suggesting dogs’ ability to digest carbohydrates easily may be a key difference between dogs and wolves.” In fact, in the early to middle 20th century, many thousands of horses were raised for canned dog food. This ended in the 1960s when companies started scrimping on ingredients for the sake of their profits. Also, take a look at this site: https://www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/81166468-do-you-know-what-is-the-history-of-dog-food
Cannoliamo
February 1, 2020 at 8:21 pm
You might enjoy this comment I saw on the Petfood forum ….
Have you ever seen a painting of wolves grazing on “chickpeas, kale, and pumpkin”?
https://www.petfoodindustry.com/blogs/7-adventures-in-pet-food/post/8861-fdas-latest-dcm-update-no-news-is-status-quo
Chris
January 30, 2020 at 4:01 am
I’m sure they have a similar outlook on by-products and “meal”. Wonder if they’ve covered that? Would be an interesting series to complete the picture along with what the Tufts author(s) feed their own pets.
Sara
January 30, 2020 at 8:13 am
Unfortunately my husband and I are pet parents to a wide variety of animals and birds who cannot feed raw and are relegated to commercial pet food. We do buy from independent, humane manufacturers such as Open Farm, Big Bear, etc. whose quality we trust.
Other pet food needed we ensure to buy from companies who source and manufacture in other countries, i.e., some in Europe, New Zealand, etc. whose laws governing manufacturing and animal husbandry are in a different league all together than the governing bodies of AAFCO and the FDA.
Just my two cents.
Dianne & Pets
January 30, 2020 at 11:05 am
I think the FDA has also fallen for the hype. It is difficult to believe that anyone would actually put that garbage into pet feed. I also doubt that when they show their plants to the vets, that they get to see the raw ingredients, and they probably see a show factory, most likely a small one used for research and development. Is there a rendering plant that gives public tours?
~ Pet Owner ~
February 2, 2020 at 12:46 pm
In response to Marilyn Kopp: Thank you.
We seldom get such a balanced perspective here (in comments) as the one you have provided, which I’ve read before.
Few people remember the history of dog food. And would be appalled to know that canned dog food was indeed horsemeat. I remember feeding it, which had a very particular smell. And animals really did eat (basic) table scraps (meaning not spicy, fried, or sugary fast foods). The dogs we had in the 60’s most always died of old age, until their hearts gave out, or they couldn’t stand. Many into their mid-teen years. And were seldom taken to Vets unless very stricken.
Dogs wouldn’t be around today, if they weren’t ultimately adaptable feeders, nutrition wise. Particularly under harsh living conditions. They are scavengers by instinct and heredity, and didn’t necessarily consume only the “meat” of an animal, but portions of the entire carcass, because of whatever was left of it. Including the fermented (predigested) vegetation that the prey animal consumed.
The issue today is about a dog consuming the very same (artificially processed) meal for a lifetime. Lately the over-use of (field) peas (and pulses) have upturned the ratio of useful vegetable/starches to replace the correct proportion of meat/organs, including the absence of (useful, naturally derived) by-products. This is partly because consumers have been negatively reacting to the concept of “animal-by products” (in which manufacturers hide “garbage) because they are not being rendered from wholesome sources! It is indeed a mixed blessing to have a PF with various ingredient elements, that address a canine’s requirements for a broad spectrum of nutritional sources – and yet the profiteering of the PFI has taken advantage of the misuse of miscellaneous (euphemistically termed) ingredients, and to the point that both pets and consumers are reacting so poorly!
Compounding all of this is the nearly absent variety of ingredient combinations (recipe alternatives) on the market today, that once existed in prior years. It is almost impossible to find ANY brand that does not use “peas” in some form, and to excess.
The concept of PF (based on the composition described through this history-link) wouldn’t be as bad as assumed. Except for the problem of high heat extrusion in dry feed, replacing natural composition with artificial supplements, and the fundamental use of toxic ingredients! It isn’t the “recipe” (formula) itself, but the PFI’s method of processing, cost-cutting replacements, and (often toxic) storage, that are compromising pet health!
This is no doubt where DCM has been aggravated in particular breeds! When owners use a single product (because of the belief in a “single” brand or format). Even feeding raw can become a difficulty, unless correctly formulated (balanced and not compromised by HPP). For some dogs, even an excess of (pure) protein can become an issue as well.
As stated in M. Kopp’s very informative retrospect can be summarized by this significant statement: “When companies started scrimping on ingredients for the sake of their profits..”
Cannoliamo
February 2, 2020 at 1:51 pm
I’d like to share a personal experience …. I swear it’s true. I can’t feed my 7 cats a home-made diet … it’s impossible to find a mixture that they all will eat. I feed as much quality canned cat food as I can afford, but leave a bowl of kibble that they will eat in between. The kibble they ALL like is Purina Fancy Feast “With Savory Chicken and Turkey.” I thought it would be nutritious with the chicken and turkey until I recently read the AAFCO label ….
“Ground Rice, Poultry By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Tallow Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Whole Grain Corn, Soybean Meal, Liver Flavor, Chicken, Turkey, Phosphoric Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Natural And Artificial Flavors,”
and noticed how the chicken and turkey were listed as the least amount (8th and 9th) of ingredients in the composition by weight.
I called Jason Schmidt, the co-chair of the AAFCO pet food committee to ask how a chicken and turkey cat food could have such trace quantity of ingredients of those that were advertised on the front of the bag and he said “Because it says “WITH chicken and turkey” it only requires 3% of these ingredients.” I asked if it was nutritious and wholesome and if he would feed this as a staple to his cats, and he said YES. The food is perfectly nutritious and wholesome.”
This is the advice from the head of the AAFCO Pet Food Committee.
~ Pet Owner ~
February 2, 2020 at 6:10 pm
You’re clearly doing your best, this is no criticism!
Rhetorical questions only. Per AAFCO does the PF meet a numerically defined nutritional analysis quota. (Probably). But where in the wild (on a daily basis) would a cat find Corn Gluten & Soybean Meal, Rice & Whole Grain Corn. And can a cat digest all that. I don’t know about cats. But from experience, do know that the singular use of these “whole” ingredients can cause issues for dogs. The fact is, that intelligent animals (especially cats!) reject this kind of food unless manufacturers use artificial flavors (probably coloring too which isn’t declared) because most consumers like to see consistency in the can (or bag) they open! How sad there’s not even whole liver being used, and only the “essence” of chicken and turkey. How crazy is that.
Susan once wrote a Post about the REGULATED use of manufacturers’ terminology (or rules) for describing (and picturing) the products’ ingredients! Only a couple of words drastically changed the value of the meal! But no average person would know unless they had access to the “code” book. Stuff like that is just criminal.
I have a friend with a ton of old fashioned country wisdom. With a set of indoor only cats, and wild cats. The inside cats were fed expensive brands, and weren’t keen on moist food. Came down with a lot of problems. The outside (feral) cats were served a very, very popular name brand CF (that is said to be like “kitty crack”) which they gobbled up every night! Couldn’t keep the bowl filled. And yet those cats were around for a very long time, looking plump and able bodied. No doubt they supplemented their diet with wild prey. And maybe other peoples’ handouts too. There was plenty of it all around, being in agricultural territory. Which added up to variety and rotation! A single anecdote doesn’t prove any theory (obviously) but have talked to other friends with outdoor cats, who’ve noticed (on average) long uncomplicated lifespans.
Marilyn Kopp
February 3, 2020 at 10:28 am
I am able to confirm your post, Pet Owner. I have 2 cats that I feed a homemade/raw combination of meat and fish, liver and offal (giblets). I adopted my two guys at 7 months. Their parents were feral. The mother was brought in to the Kansas City Humane society’s monthly spay and neutering clinic for feral cats. The Vet recognized that she had just given birth, so the caretaker of that colony searched until they found the litter of 5 new born kittens under a bramble bush. A wonderful couple stepped forward to foster these kittens, as well as the mother who nursed them for two months in a room just for them. At two months, she was returned to her colony. I adopted the boys at 7 months. They had been fed kibble for their entire life. Research showed me that cats should never be fed carbohydrates. They are entirely carnivorous. I also found how to wean them from kibble to an entirely meat and fish diet. I started by mixing chopped fish into a canned cat food diet and kibble, which they ate, changing the ratio little by little until I could get rid of the kibble and then the cat food cans. They were eating fully homemade diet within a month. They had a few days where they wouldn’t eat much of anything, but cats are smart enough not to starve, so they transitioned to the meat, chicken and fish diet quickly. I had kept in touch with the Fosters, who came to visit Moses and Aaron every 3 or 4 weeks. They also kept in touch with a brother, Fred, and visited him regularly, At their 18th month visit, they were astounded. They said my boys were almost twice the size of Fred (who was fed only cheap kibble) and much more active with incredibly beautiful coats. At about 20 months, they weighed the boys. Moses was 20 pounds and Aaron was 18. They are not fat. They were almost twice Fred’s size. By the way, the feral cats that come in to the clinic are typically also big because their diet is mostly mice and other meat. They have other health and survival problems because of their feral lives. However, I recommend that you research whole food diets for cats and get your babies off commercial cat food as soon as possible. Just remember, they won’t allow themselves to starve. I kept saying that to myself when they wouldn’t eat. They have become addicted to the sugar and other ingredients in commercial food.. Plus, my cats don’t drink water. A mouse is 83% water. Good luck
Paige
October 23, 2022 at 8:26 am
The line about a lie not becoming a truth just because it’s repeated is the very essence of this website. A site run by individuals that do not have formal education or expertise in pet nutrition, yet apparently disparage those that do. According to AAFCO guidelines (the legal requirements), all meats and animal by-products included in pet foods need to either be clean parts or from a slaughtered animal – that means not diseased and not having died by other means. Any meals have been rendered and therefore, any bacteria or disease agents have been killed. Reputable manufacturers then ensure that foods contain the all nutrients needed for health and their quality control measure ensure they do not contain any pathogens. Even better manufacturers actually test their products on pets to ensure that not only are the nutrients needed in appropriate levels and balance but that it’s usable by the body. And yes, despite what most people think, big brands like Purina purchase their meat from the human food chain, it just ceases to be called human grade since it’s manufactured in pet food plants despite its source. “Human grade” does not automatically indicate that it’s healthy. Oreos and soda are human grade. Let’s talk about actual nutrition and nutrients and science and proper scientific research. Let’s get our information from those that are actual experts with formal training and education rather than letting our preconceived notions and biases allow us to ignore science just so our biases can be confirmed.
Susan Thixton
October 23, 2022 at 9:02 am
Paige – You are correct that I do not have formal experience in nutrition, which is why I don’t write about nutrition. I write about regulations. And I have more than 10 years of hands on experience of attending every AAFCO meeting. By the way, representatives from Tufts do NOT attend AAFCO meetings. Some AAFCO definitions do include the terms “clean” and some definitions include the word “Slaughter” – but neither of those terms are defined, thus they can mean anything. Several years ago, Dr. Jean Hofve and myself questioned former AAFCO President Mark LeBlanc about the term slaughter. He stated it could include any way for an animal to die – including euthanasia. You are incorrect that slaughtered or clean means free of illness. From USDA statistics, in FY 2021, almost 8 million slaughtered animal carcasses were condemned. Guess where those condemned slaughtered animal carcasses go? The FDA specifically allows “diseased animals and animals that have died other than by slaughter” to be processed into pet food/animal feed. Perhaps you should get your information on pet food regulations from those with experience.