By Carrie A. Corson, from the July 1999 Newsletter

For many of us, pets are family. This is certainly true of me. I have always had dogs, cats, horses, fish, and reptiles, in some combination.

And just as I have become interested in holistic health for myself, I have also taken an interest in the holistic approach for my pets. So recently, my attention was grabbed by an article title on the cover of the May 1999 issue of Natural Health Magazine. The words Killer Dog Food: Just What Are You Feeding Fido?, jumped out at me.

The focus of the article was the harmful ingredients in commercial processed pet food. I was appalled when I read about what we may find in many of the pet foods that are available. I was disgusted to find ingredients which could pose a major health threat to our companion animals. Natural Health listed eight ingredients to be wary of:

1. Meat by-products: These are animal products such as hooves, bowels, feathers, and intestines, which are deemed unfit for human consumption. They may also include euthanized household pets, diseased, disabled, dying and dead farm animals (including cancerous tissue and contaminated blood), sold to rendering plants, rendered and sold to pet food manufacturers.
2. Ethyoxyquin: This is a pet food preservative originally used in rubber production.
3. BHA and
4. BHT: These are preservatives that keep oils from going rancid, which may be carcinogens.
5. Propylene glycol: A chemical preservative especially bad for cats.
6. Low nutrition grains: Specific examples include corn and rice gluten
7. Sweeteners: These can cause obesity.
8. Artificial colors: These only make the food look prettier for us and could cause health problems for them.

All of these products may contribute to serious health problems such as liver, thyroid, immune disorders, heart disease, cell damage and cancer. I was dismayed to learn that some of these products were in the "premium" commercial food that I had been feeding my dog and cat.

They have since undergone a change of diet.

So what can we feed our pets? Some experts believe that we should prepare our pet's food from fresh meat, vegetables and grains. There are several books available that contain recipes if you're inclined to cook your pets' food. I can attest to the dramatic difference that this can make in some pets.

My parents have a dog that went from a high energy, playful dog, to a very sick and lethargic dog. She would go through bouts of vomiting and extreme discomfort. She had elevated liver enzymes and a possible diagnosis of pancreatitis. None of the medications she was given seemed to help her.

About 2 years ago, my mom started cooking Josie's food. Fresh vegetables, rice and chicken. She also gives her supplements (vitamin C, Chromium Picolinate and milk thistle (recommended by her veterinarian).

The change has been remarkable. Josie's liver enzymes have dropped dramatically and she is once again full of life. And even though it isn't the most convenient form of food, my parents remember how sick Josie used to get, they believe seeing Josie healthy is worth the trouble.

If you find it impossible to prepare your own pet food, there are natural pet food alternatives. Come in and check out our foods from Halo Purely for Pets (made with human grade food ingredients), Natural Life, Lick Your Chops and Natural Value. We can also special order several other brands.

We also have a full line of supplements from Ark Naturals, including a feline and canine antioxidants, acidophilus and arthritis supplement.

We also stock several books on natural pet care. If you are going to make your own pet food, I highly recommend Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, by Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M. Natural pet foods are generally going to cost more than mass market commercial brands. But just as good nutrition can help prevent costly health care for us, I believe it can do the same for our pets. So in the long run, I think it probably works out even.

For additions or corrections to this page, please contact the Webmaster.