It has always been a problem to us, dog owners, on what to feed our best buds with the variety of dog foods available in the market. Well, I hope this could help you narrow your list and get to the brand you want for your dogs:
Orijen. A recognized very high grade grain-free dry dog …
When your cat stops eating and you have ruled out any medical problems, such as kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid problems, or diabetes you may want to check out your cat food label. Now cats will stop eating do to a difficult hair ball. Most cats will pass these by vomiting them up or through their stool. Giving a laxative a few times a day can ease their discomfort and help them pass that stubborn hairball. Feeding an all natural cat food will assist in this matter as well. I can’t remember the last time I cleaned up a hairball.
Have you read your cat food label lately? Most of us would say no. Cats can be finicky at times, but sometimes they just get sick of eating junk. So when your cat stops eating and you start doing the cat food juggle, why not stop to read some labels and find out whats really in your cat food.
Try searching for all natural cat foods and stay away from grocery store brands. Your grocery store foods are cheap for a reason. You get what you pay for. When reading your labels you want to make sure your protein source is the number one ingredient and even your number two or three ingredient. Stay away from anything that has Corn , Wheat, Soy, By-Products, or Artificial preservatives in it. These thing can cause digestive issues, premature aging, bad skin and coat, and allergies.
Many years ago when I began my hunt for the best pet food out there, I learned so many things about pet food. Much of it was disturbing. I knew I only wanted to feed the bet and all natural ingredients. I have found many great foods out there. And unlike grocery store pet foods I can alternate my cats food to offer balance and variety among these great foods.
I usually stay with grain-free cat food because I believe cats a carnivores and need a balanced high protein diet to meet there nutritional needs. The grains, veggies, and grasses they would eat in the wild would be from the guts of the animals they killed. If you look at a carcass from a dog or cat kill, you will notice they leave the beak, feathers, feet, fur, and lower intestines, containing feces. These would be called by-products in your grocery store foods. You will not find these in your all natural cat foods.
Some of my favorite brands are Orijen Cat Food, Lotus Cat Food, Nature’s Variety Cat Food and Felidae Cat and Kitten Food Gran Free.
I shop at www.thepetmasters.com because they carry all the top brands at affordable prices.
Tiffany Hillis
Before TJ and I bought Pet Masters in 2003 I dug deep into pet foods. One of the food companies was Natura Pet, a company committed to independent retailers. This ideology suited me well, and so I added them to the line up. Pet Masters was the first pet store in Titusville to offer Natura Pet Foods: California Natural, Innova, Healthwise, and EVO.
When I first bought Pet Masters in 2003, the previous owner carried Ims and Eukinuba. So very soon after taking control of the store I tossed the food that were made by the big conglomerates.  No big conglomerate food, here thank you very much. My actions did not play well with some customers and the store lost them as food customers. Fortunately a good many stuck with Pet Masters and made a switch. Pet Masters has stayed the course with great new foods and established itself as Titusville source for healthy, all natural pet foods.
Flash forward 7 years and Natura Pet is being purchased by Proctor and Gamble. Again the store is faced with a difficult decision. Maybe I’m jaded now, maybe I’m more business minded but I don’t feel the need to react as I did when I first opened. Our nation is so full of corporate ownership. Tom’s All Natural toothpaste is a subsidiary of Colgate Palmolive, and Kashi cereal is a subsidiary of Kellogg’s. How can we get away from corporations? The fact is Natura Pet makes up 50% of Pet Master’s food sales I cannot just kick that out the door. However this corporate dog has bitten me before.
For customers who wish to switch, our friendly staff is ready to offer great alternatives (there are many). If you wish to stay with Natura as long as they uphold their current integrity, then Pet Master’s is supportive of that too. In the end it’s all about your wonderful, healthy dogs and cats. As long as they thrive on quality foods like Innova they should have the opportunity to eat it.
Your comments are welcome.
Jim Hillis
Owner – Pet Masters
Ever heard the espression “Tou are what you eart? It’s really quit interestion whon you think about it Our bodies use foodas an energy source. If we don’t have energy our bodies can’t properly heal themslves,  fight off infections and provide us with fue for our brain to think.
If we provide our bodies with poor nutrition we are providing  poor source of energy. we feel weak, sluggish, run down, and even sick. So, the expression should be “you feel what you eatâ€.  We should make it our rule to provide our bodies with good, healthy, food  and you will be healthier, feel great & look good.
When it comes down to our four legged friends, the same rule applies. If your feeding your pet cheap, foods that contain corn, wheat , soy, artificial flavoring and color, etc.,  Then thier bodies can not preform at thier best possible level. We need to be feeding a All Natural Dog Food or Cat Food for the well being of our pets.
Grocery Store foods contain inconsistant ingredients, You nay buy a bag one week and it has 10% fish by-products, Containing heads, bones& eyeballs, then the next week it has 10% fish tails. Remember when you buy cheap, grocery store foods yo get what you pay for. All Natural Dog Foods will not contain  by-products or corn, wheat and soy. All Natural Dog Foods will not be preserved with BHT and BHA’s, which is probably the leading cause in cancer in dogs.
What is so bade about corn, wheat and soy? Well, I could go on forever and will one day about the heath concerns of those three ingredients. For now I will say this, Have you ever watched ath discovery channel and seen wolves, cats chew on corn or chew on some wheat, soy beans? That just seems ridiculous . The reason they don’t eat these products in the wild is because Dogs and cats are carnivores, meat lovers. In fact, Many dogs are actually allergic to corn, Wheat and soy. When these ingredients compromised immune systems, resulting in ear infections, loss of hear, itchy dry skin, flaky skin, dry skin , and gassy tummies. These ingredients are cheap fillers and a used to make cheap pet food. You should look for a All Natural Dog Food that does not have any of these products.
When reading pet food labels, your protein source should be your nuber 1 ingredient. Its should not have any by-products or bone meal
Are you confused about what the right food for your pet should be? Give us a call or e-mail us and we would love to help you.
Tj
It all started with my big  boy Demetrious. He was a 95lb, black and tan German Shepherd. Oh, what a beautiful dog! He was my handsome protector. I remember the day I took him home. He came from a litter of 13 pups. He was 1 of 3 that were left. I bonded with him right away. took him home to be my furry companion for the next 10 years of his life.
Now at this time in my life, I worked as a Veterinarian Technician and I was able to take my new baby to work with me every day.   I was also able to keep track of about 6 of Demetri’s litter mates. The others I was able to keep track of throught their breeder that also worked with me.
Pedigree, Eukanuba, IAMS, Science diet. Sounds familiar? I wasn’t really particular about what brand of dog food we fed our dog up until i bought my very own German Shepherd Dog (yes, the word “Dog†is part of the breed’s name, otherwise you’re referring to a human being). Once i had my pup, gone were the days of cooked human food and in came the expensive 21kg bags of dog food.
 |
| How do we find out what’s good for them? |
But just like any living being, our dogs need the PROPER nourishment. Most brands would plaster a picture of a majestic looking golden retriever and claim that your dog would be as happy and healthy as their dog. (hint: it comes in a yellow bag).
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| You sure you know what you’re doing? |
In no particular order
Jun/2009 at 12:14 am Leave a comment
Are you wondering whether making your own dog or cat food is worth it? Just look at the length of this list! Please note the premium brands that are on it and read more about the class action suit here.
This is serious and it makes me wonder what is still lurking in commercial foods. Remember, this industry is unregulated.
What our pets eat is something that we can manage in a world where so many other things seem beyond our control.
Information like this makes me renew my commitment to providing wholesome food for all our pets.
Anyone have any good cat food recipes?
Entry filed under: CATS, Coton de Tulear, DogFood, Dogs, ECONOMY, ifIWereInChargeOfEverything, JustAnOldFashionedGirl, ThingsIKnowToBeTrue, TwelveStepThis, Why, WhyNot?, Woof, Yuk. Tags: CatFood, CatHealth, Coton de Tulear, DogFood, DogHealth, Dogs, ECONOMY, HomeMadeDogFood, LessonsLearnedLater, Tainted Cat Food, Tainted Dog Food.
If you know me personally then you know how I feel about my canine companions.. they are a part of my family. Ollie will be 7 years old this August and I’ve never quite found a dog food that I’ve liked for him. The brands you are offered at your local supermarkets are just plain horrible. If you have no idea what I’m talking about go here and become familiar with the pet food industry. Now I know I could go on the other end of the spectrum and have him on a raw diet but I’ll be honest, it’s a bit much to put on my plate while taking care of a 6 month old. A few months back I spent some time looking through dog foods and was shown the brand Fromm. One of the things I really like was that none of their ingredients are preserved with ethoxyquin or any other artificial preservative. In addition to that, the Four-Star dry recipes for dogs that I buy for Ollie offers the highest inclusion levels of fresh meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables. Another great thing is that they designed that entire line to complement one another allowing you to switch between and combine recipes. I started him with the Duck and sweet potato formula and we’re now trying their Whitefish and potato formula, both which he seems to enjoy. Since switching Ollie to this brand I’ve seen the biggest difference in his coat. He was shedding horribly (which is a lot of times sign of a bad diet) and that has decreased.
Ollie and I are very happy with Fromm and just wanted to share our experience with you. If you’re in the market looking for a new brand of dog or cat food make sure to check them out.
A supermarket’s pet food aisle in Brooklyn, New York (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Every time I turn on the computer or get a notification from my smartphone, there is another recall on pet foods and treats. I’m sure many pet parents like me are concerned about the food they are giving their furry baby. What is going on? Is there a brand of pet food we can trust?
Katie Burns wrote an article in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association on February 15, 2013 . She states that pet food recalls are virtually unchanged. She states what has changed is the media attention on this issue.
Well lets look at the pet foods that have been recalled lately.
Pet Foods Recalled
Solid Gold has issued a recall for two of their dog foods with specific batch codes as a precautionary measure. To date according to Solid Gold, no cases of salmonella have been linked to these foods.
Apex Dog Food has issued a voluntary recall for all of their dry dog foods manufactured on January 24, 2012. The recalled foods were distributed only in South Carolina. To date, Apex Dog Food claims there have been no cases of salmonella linked to these foods.
Canidae has issued a voluntary recall of four of their dog foods, at this time the recall covers only dry dog foods with production codes with both a number “3†in the 9th digit and an “X†in the 10th or 11th digit – and a best before dates of December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013. These products were distributed in the following states: Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Wellness Dog Food has issued a voluntary recall on one of their dog foods with specific best by dates. According to Wellness, they no longer conduct business with Diamond Pet Foods and none of their other dog foods were affected by the salmonella outbreak.
Natural Balance has issued a voluntary recall on some of their dry dog food options. To date, Natural Balance claims that no cases of canine salmonella poisoning have been linked with their foods and none of the recalled foods have tested positive for contamination.
Kirkland Dog Food has issued a voluntary dog food recall on a number of their dry dog food products.
Nature’s Variety has announced a voluntary recall of one batch of Instinct® Raw Organic Chicken Formula with a “Best if Used By†date of 10/04/13.
Kasel Associated Industries is recalling all products manufactured at its Denver, Colorado, facility from April 20, 2012, thru September 19, 2012.
The products may be contaminated with Salmonella.
Honest Kitchen had voluntarily recalled five lots of its Verve, Zeal and Thrive dog foods because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.
The following brands are also affected by the recall. No specifics have been provided as to the recall.
4Health.
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul.
Country Value.
Diamond.
Diamond Naturals.
Premium Edge.
Professional.
Taste of the Wild.
Why Are These Pet Foods Recalled
The Diamond Dog Food plant located in Gaston, South Carolina tested positive for the presence of salmonella. As a result of this, all pet food companies that conducted business with this plant within a specific time period are recalling their pet food products.
These recalls have just as much to do with human safety as pet safety. Dan McChesney PhD, Director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance at the Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine says the pet food recall involves Salmonella contamination. He believes pet foods are safe.
Salmonella poses a much higher risk for pet owners than to the pets themselves. There have been no confirmed cases of Salmonellosis in pets from pet food recalls, though human illnesses have been reported. In most cases Salmonellosis in pets is associated with raw home made diets.
Dr. Kate KuKanich Assistant Professor of small animal internal medicine at Kansas State University came to this conclusion in her research.
Matter of fact the ratings of the pet food industry are still very high when it comes to safety. And efforts are continuously made to place stronger emphasis on pet food safety. So yes the awareness of pet food recalls continued to rise. But pet parents , what that means is that pet food safety, which is already good will get better. So Relax.
What To Do If Your Pet Food is Recalled
If you have a bag of dog food that is covered under the recall at this time
1) Stop feeding the product even if your dog shows no signs of salmonella poisoning .
2) It is also important that any time you handle this food; you wash your hands thoroughly to avoid contracting salmonella poisoning.
3) Check your pet food’s company website to find out the procedure of compensation for the return.
Signs of Poisoning in Dogs
While most dogs are hardy and can bounce back from a salmonella infection once the offending source has been removed, this is not always true. In some dogs such as those taking antibiotics, the elderly, the newborn and those with pre-existing medical conditions, salmonella can have a devastating effect. Some of the common signs of salmonella poisoning in a dog include the following:
Fever
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Dehydration
Mucus in Stool
Anorexia
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion
Weight loss
Rapid heart rate
Blood in the stool
Low white blood cell count
Low platelet levels
Low albumin
Non-regenerative anemia
Electrolyte imbalances
If your dog displays any of these symptoms it is important to take them to your veterinarian immediately in order to prevent more serious symptoms. One of the most commonly seen symptoms to develop in cases of salmonella is dehydration resulting from chronic diarrhea. Dehydration can be prevented by your vet by the administration of IV fluids. Your vet may also recommend performing a number of tests to ensure that your dog is suffering from salmonella poisoning. In a case where a dog is suffering from a severe case of salmonella poisoning the vet may recommend an antimicrobial. It is also advised to put a dog on a 48 hour food restricted diet if possible in order to help to eliminate the cause of the infection.
Switching Your Dog To A New Food
Switching your dog to a new food is always recommended after a recall. Most dogs, when undergoing a sudden diet change may experience some gastrointestinal discomfort. Happy Walk Happy Dog is a distributor of Flint River Ranch. Flint River Ranch dog food formula is oven-baked and comes in an easy-to-eat size kibble. It’s ingredients contain Rice and Wheat which is easily digestible for dogs. There is no corn or by products of meat. It has 23% protein and is concentrated so your dog becomes full on less food. That helps in controlling your dog’s weight. Please contact me or visit my website for more info and to order at Flint River Ranch
Procter & Gamble announced Wednesday they are recalling two of their most popular brands of pet food, Eukanuba and Iams,… Read more…
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