As pet owners, we are becoming more aware of the importance of reading labels on pet food products, and as we do, it becomes apparent that products that are supposed to be healthy and nutritious have substances in them that may be very detrimental to our beloved pets.

Some commercial pet foods will list meat as meat meal or meat & bone meal. The truth is that it can be any animal (horses, goats, pigs, rabbits, road-kill and in some instances, recycled dogs and cats)! This was written in an article by the San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 19, 1990. Meat meal can also come from what is known as 4D animals- DEAD, DYING, DISEASED, or DISABLED. This meat is condemned parts from animals that have been rejected for human consumption.

Chicken meal; The dry rendered product from a combination of flesh and skin, with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts of whole carcasses of chicken, or a combination thereof exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and entrails.

Chicken; the clean combination of flesh and skin, with or without bone, derived from the part of the whole carcasses of chicken, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and entrails.

Poultry by-product meal; consists of ground, rendered, clean parts of slaughtered poultry, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as occur in good rendering processes. Comment; It is a very inconsistent ingredient because of the multiple organs used in the food and their consistently changing proportions. The origin is from any fowl as opposed to a single source like chicken. Poultry by product is less expensive and less digestible than chicken meal.

Lamb meal; the rendered product from lamb tissues, exclusive of any blood, hair, hoof, hide, trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents.

Corn gluten meal- The dried residue that’s left after the healthy ingredients are removed.

GROUND CORN-The entire corn kernel, ground or chopped. Ground corn is a good source of carbohydrates. Because it contains the entire kernel it has added protein, corn oil, corn bran, vitamins and minerals. The negative side is that some pets are allergic to corn.

Ground Rice- The hulled kernel without the pericarp, ground or chopped. Very high quality carbohydrate, and is the most digestible grain for pet food and considered to be relatively hypoallergenic.

Wheal mill run/middlings/mids: Coarse and fine particles of wheat bran, wheat shorts. Commonly referred to as “floor sweepings”. It’s an inexpensive “filler” and usually not found in premium pet foods.

Ground wheat: see ground corn.

Wheat flour: This is a highly preprocessed ingredient and all the natural vitamins have been leached out of this product.

Rice flour: see wheat flour.

Ground brown rice: Very high quality source of carbohydrates and natural fiber but lower in digestibility than ground white rice.

Brewers rice: A lower quality and not as good a white or brown rice.

Also substances as innocent as sugar, which is used to make food more palatable, is addicting our pets to certain products and increasing the incidence of diabetes, hypoglycemia, nervousness, cataracts, obesity, allergies, and death.

Then there’s formalin, which is used as a preservative in canned foods. It’s such a good preservative that undertakers use quite a lot of it!

Preservatives are used to stop fat from going rancid, and gives products a longer shelf life. Chemical preservatives are also cheaper than natural preservatives. Following is a list of commonly used substances in commercial pet foods:

SODIUM NITRATE- adds the artificial rosey color to pet foods but can be cancer causing.

BHA-(butylated hydroxysanisol) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) have been linked to brain defects, kidney and liver problems, birth defects, behavioral problems, slow heart rates, metabolic stress, increased cholesterol levels, baldness and allergic reactions.

LEAD- many canned pet foods contain so much that an animal eating only 6 oz. may be ingesting four times the level of lead that is potentially toxic to children.

ARTIFICIAL FLAVORINGS- Can cause dogs and cats to be nervous, hostile, and full of anxiety.

SALT-occurs naturally in nature, but some pet foods have been found to contain as much as one thousand times as much salt as in nature and can cause hypertension, and heart disease in pets, which was virtually unknown in pets until 40 years ago.

SODIUM METABISULFITE- can cause weakness, difficulty swallowing, loss of consciousness and brain damage.

MSG- monosodium glutamate, used as a flavor enhancer and preservative that can cause allergic reactions on pets.

PROPYLENE GLYCOL- Adds sweetness and keeps food moist but has caused unexplained red blood cells in cats. Dogs develop skin problems, hair loss, dull coats, diarrhea, obesity, and sometimes death. This substance is used in anti-freeze. Cats can become addicted to it.

ETHOXYQUIN- Supposedly safe but purebred dogs have been affected by chronic maladies at alarming rates. There has been a severe increase in immune related diseases, itchy skin, hair loss, lethargy, thyroid and kidney problems, birth defects, reproduction disorders and cancer. The chemical ethoxiquin, was developed to make rubber tires. It is also used as a herbicide and pesticide for apples and pears.

So now you can see why it’s important to read the labels on pet foods and supplements. So what do we do then, if so many foods contain such harmful substances? One alternative would be to feed the raw food diet that some of the vets are recommending. It’s said that that is supposed to be the healthiest diet available. It generally consists of raw meat, vegetables, and grain.

Another option could be home cooking. There are many recipes readily available that can be found in holistic animal books.

Thirdly, there are a number of pet food manufacturers that have all natural foods that are free of artificial preservatives, color and flavors. Those would be found in pet stores and in pet supply stores that specialize in holistic, natural pet foods. One thing to consider in buying all natural foods is to check if they contain USDA inspected meats, number 1 grains, and natural preservatives such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

Ideally the best diet consists of organic, free range meat and poultry, the highest quality grains, and organic fruits and vegetables. If organic fruits and vegetables are unavailable then it is important to wash them thoroughly to remove pesticides that have been sprayed on them.

There are also many other pet products that are healthy and natural. There are nutritional supplements, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidents, bee pollen products, calming remedies, digestive enzymes, dental products, herbal remedies, flower essences, homeopathic remedies, hairball remedies, aromatherapy with essential oils, essential fatty acids and magnetic pet beds.

Of course, it is also advisable to consult your veterinarian before trying any of the above to see if it is advisable for your pet. The above information is for educational purposes only.

Presented as a public service by PAWS, CLAWS & TAILS, 3525 Bonita Beach Road, #106, Bonita Springs, (239) 498-1198, Toll Free: 1-877-752-1235.