Transcript File - AAEC
I am not a dog nutrition or label reading expert. I don’t feed the perfect diet, not by a long shot, but I do the best I can to educate myself about what I am feeding them Dry Canned Mostly water so can’t be sole source Does not cause adverse dental health Higher amounts of meat, poultry, fish Can not be sole source for big dogs—you’d be feeding 8 cans a day! Semi-moist—Do not feed, loaded with chemicals Raw Homemade Diets Meat, poultry, seafood, feed grain By-products ◦ Not fit for human consumption but still must meet federal standards for safety and nutrition Vitamins/Minerals-to complete nutritional needs Preservatives-for shipping and to extend shelf-life Coloring-to make it pretty ◦ Approved by the U.S. FDA and U.S. Dept of Agriculture FDA (Food and Drug Association) FTC (Federal Trade Commission) USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) State Government Pet Food Institute AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Never know the true quality of ingredients Predicting recall is impossible Ingredient quality can vary daily Not required to disclose the origin of their ingredients Good companies use trusted sources, but some use brokers, middlemen or even 3rd party suppliers Lots of information! Consumer driven huge industry Knowledgeable staff in specialty stores Don’t trust that fancy artwork or manufacturer claims, its all marketing hype! Set standards for animal feeds and pet foods in the U.S. but have no regulatory authority ◦ Work with FDA Must meet “Complete and Balanced” standards Adult Maintenance Growth/Reproduction Feeding trials and Lab Analysis Fed and monitored for six months It isn’t perfect, but it’s a good starting place Water Protein-Meat protein better than veggies Fats Minerals Vitamins Variety Dogs have fewer taste buds than we do Nothing’s perfect so rotate diet Some pets can’t tolerate changes No study that says its unhealthy or detrimental to change food Look for this label The product contains all nutrients known to be required by a dog or cat Must contain minimums of nutrients required by AAFCO Does not cover treats, snacks or other products for supplemental feeding Depends on ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ 1. 2. 3. 4. Medical Condition Lifestyle (active or couch potato?) Size Growth or Maintenance? (puppy or adult?) Puppies should be switched from Growth to Maintenance around 9 months or when they reach 8090% of anticipated weight For puppies, should meet “Growth” or “All Life Stages” Food that is stored appropriately Cool, dry place Pour out of the bag Canned in the cupboard Food high in meat content and free of plant-based protein boosters USA registered and manufactured food Fresh Veggies “Holistic”-no legal definition “Natural”—assumed synonymous with “good” “healthy” Organic? No scientific research supporting this but do Mother Nature a favor Cat Food—too high in fat/protein Some Table scraps or bones Too fatty, vomiting, diarrhea, obesity Bones can get lodged or splintered Be cautious of foreign markets Added supplements Not adequately researched Homemade diets Labels that say “meat entrée”, “meat dinner”, “Meat platter” “meat flavor” Senior or weight loss diets Supermarket brands All food in one meal Split to at least 2 feedings Whole grains and antioxidants Gluten free “Green Movement” Rendering Pet Food Institute—made of 98% of commercial pet foods prohibit rendered ingredients “Toxins” ◦ Water ◦ Oxygen Ask around Look at their dog Monitor your own dog One to three meals a day (average for adults) ◦ Puppies < 3 months 4x a day 3-5 months 3x a day No free feeding Can cause anorexia Most dogs can’t self-regulate Gradually change food ◦ Change made over 5-7 days or longer if your pup is sensitive Guaranteed analysis This is the minimal amount present Ingredient List Look for protein sources and carbohydrate sources Complete and Balanced The less processed the better Protein, protein, protein! Deficiencies = Roxanne Slow your dog down to prevent Bloat Do not elevate bowls Homemade Usually not well balanced Vegetarian Dogs are omnivores, Cats are carnivores Must be well-balanced and are usually not Raw Controversial Not formulated to meet AAFCO standards AAHA, AVMA, and CVMA, discourage raw diet Good things to look for Foods that contain: ◦ Whole Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, Pork and meals made from whole meats (beef meal, chicken meal, etc.) ◦ Whole grains, vegetables and fruits ◦ Foods with as much animal protein as possible ◦ Identified ingredients (instead of “liver” should say “beef liver”) Do Not Buy Foods that contain: ◦ Animal fat, animal digest, meat meal ◦ Foods with artificial colors ◦ Products without expiration dates or those past their expiration ◦ Products containing meat or bone meal ◦ Foods that are sweetened ◦ Wheat Gluten (“gum”) ◦ Products with protein derived from meat “byproducts” Sometimes, by-products are ok You eat them! ◦ Sweetbreads, chitterlings, etc Still have to be approved for use and must be safe and meet nutritional requirements Make sure they aren’t the main source of protein Water sufficient for processing, chicken, wheat gluten, carrots, liver, peas, meat by-products, corn starch-modified, wild rice, rice, artificial and natural flavors, calcium phosphate, salt, soy flour, potassium chloride, added color, zinc sulfate, choline chloride, Vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, niacin, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, manganese sulfate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin A supplement, potassium iodide, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin, sodium selenite. Deboned Chicken, Chicken Broth, Dried Egg Product, Natural Chicken Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12, dCalcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate), Carrageenan, Cassia Gum, Guar Gum, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Glucoheptonate, Sodium Selenite), Lecithin. Animall Phydeaux Unleashed Barnes Supply Pet Pantry ◦ www.feedyourpets.com www.dogfoodadvisor.com www.fda.gov ◦ Go to animal and veterinary www.whole-dog-journal.com www.petfoodinstitute.org The Healthful Alternative Dog and Cat Diets Donald R. Strombeck, DVM, PhD