Recently, I wrote a column about species appropriate food for your pet and the dangers of modern day packaged feed to the health of our cats and dogs. So where to go from here? What should we actually give our best friends to comply with their genetic requirements and well-being?
There are pet food companies that work with vet clinics in the sense that the clinic provides them with pets that have been euthanised to then be rendered into the mix for commercial cat and dog food… I mean, I barely got through writing this sentence let alone doing the research. And these are not just some crazy companies in Thailand (although.. you know..) but these are the actions of your everyday run of the mill brands.
For example, in the 90s there were traces of phenobarbital found in pet food, which is a drug used to put pets down. So, to connect the dots – unidentified diseased animals were euthanised using phenobarbital and then sold to the rendering industry to be used as ingredients in pet food. WTF. This was brought to daylight thanks to an ex-rancher on the Oprah Winfrey show.
” And the former president of AAFCO (the organization that determines what is supposed to be in pet food) actually admitted on camera that there’s really no way of telling what kind of animals (even “Fluffy”) are in commercial pet food, under vague ingredient names like “meat” and “bone meal”. ”
earthrated.com
So even if the food is a big name brand, sold at the high end pet store, advertised as vet approved, flooded with AAFCO or FDA-like stamps, with words like natural, whole and no artificials on them, still means that more than likely it is unhealthy and bio-inappropriate for your pet.
Not to mention that all the name brands (even the ones sold at the vet’s) are owned by the world’s biggest commercial companies or as us vegans like to call them ”the evil parents”, which means that they are the biggest contributors to animal testing; bunnyrabbits, monkeys and yes, you guessed it – kitties and pups being held in horrendous conditions, cramped into a cage, never ever seeing daylight or running free and day in-day out being poked and injected and more in order to make money. So why would you want to give your hard-earned cash to them so they can sell you the shit that they tested on cats and dogs just like the one you have at home…
Like that’s not enough, there are countless of material on the internet about pet food recalls, the most famous of them being the 2007 Melamine Poison recall, which killed thousands of domesticated cats and dogs. Melamine is a highly toxic industrial chemical and all these brands sold the product that had this horrible poison masked as wheat gluten and rice protein (stuff that cats and dogs shouldn’t eat anyways) from China, in it.
Hill’s brand has also been under fire in recent years as it was found to contain very dangerous additives including one of the most cancer-causing chemical aflatoxin but how many of us have still had those big-brand purchase suggestions from our vet?
So what to buy?
Raw, raw, raw! Raw feed is the best thing for your pet. There are several options for this; you can just buy raw meat from the grocery store or your local butcher and freeze it or low cook it, or you could buy already frozen balanced raw foods usually available at a small or private clinic, some pet stores or online, I just recommend to opt for organic meat and defer from ingredients sourced from China (duh).
Another option is for example dehydrated freeze-dried food that keeps well on a shelf and just needs to have water added! This is great for parents who move around with their pets!
Commercial refrigerated and human-grade-labelled canned food is also a step forward to turn pets towards healthier eating.
Now, you have to remember that just like your own food, your cat’s food also has to be balanced as many diets based on raw food are missing much needed nutrients. Keep in mind that if we eat junk food and don’t really pay as much attention to our nutrients as we should, we know when we’re feeling ill or sick and we can see it in our appearance. Your cat however will not tell you its symptoms. My column is only a starter tool to guide you in the right direction. To ensure you are providing optimal care for your furball, do your research and find recipes.
” Dogs and cats need quality protein, fats and a small amount of vegetables and fruits (roughage). Vegetables and fruits provide antioxidants and fiber to animals that no longer hunt whole prey. Natural sources of trace minerals, vitamins and fatty acids must be added, since the soils in which foods are grown are depleted of many of the nutrients pets need. Also, food storage, whether it’s in a freezer or a pantry, decreases critical essential fatty acid levels in foods.
Pets need unadulterated, fresh, whole foods that are moisture dense. They don’t need grains, fillers, artificial preservatives, colors, additives, chemicals, byproducts or processed foods. Although animals can eat some processed foods, they aren’t designed to consume a lifetime of dry or canned diets.”
dr. Karen Becker
Make sure that the brand you decide to give your money to has clearly labelled the product and is transparent about their exact ingredients and sources, even if you’re an omni yourself you wouldn’t buy something that says ”unidentified meat” so why compromise for your pet, right?
If you decide to ditch the kibble, it doesn’t mean that the animal can never have ”dry food”, dehydrated or dried raw food make great snacks! You can even use these in the food dispenser toys. As a vegan I would never force my cat on a vegan diet, even if they are imitation meat vegan pet food (who even buys that?!) but since it still makes me feel queasy to handle meat, I usually have my mum or partner prepare the stuff so I will just present the meals.
Countries like the US and Australia surely have loads of options. Do some research and see what’s available for you in your area.
It is absolutely understandable that it may not be affordable to now do a total 180 and buy everything raw and turn the whole thing upside down. But do it step-by-step, even if you can change out one current meal a day for a meal that’s bio-appropriate you’re doing great by your pet! And remember, they might need some time to adapt to the new diet!
If you think about it then the amount of money that you may spend more by providing your favourite with a raw food based diet, balances out in long term as you will have less vet bills to deal with but also your pet will live a longer, happier and healthier life and isn’t that the most important thing?