Dog Health Care Blog

William Greenbaum asked:




Ferndale, WA: Recent internet searches reveal this question and it's a very interesting one and in a funny sort of way rather relevant because so many people are talking about raw food diets and vegetables are edible and nutritious right? So bottom line strange is in the eye of the beholder. This article will examine the different nutritional needs of dogs, cats and humans.

District 9

The first thing that comes to mind about the safety of eating pet food is the scene from the Hollywood Blockbuster film, District 9, where the stranded aliens buy and eat cat food from food stalls scattered throughout their refugee camp. Villers, the main protagonist in the story, about one third of the way into the film, gets transformed into an alien and begins to crave cat food. Its awful as he takes great handfuls of tinned cat food and eats it. Is it possible for humans to eat cat food safely?

The answer is its not recommended, animal and human nutritional requirements are very different (which this article explores) especially those of an obligate carnivore like a cat. We'll get to the safety thing in a minute.

Obligate Carnivore

An obligate carnivore is described as an animal that can only sustain itself buy eating the flesh of other animals. Your cat was built by Mother Nature to get her nutritional needs met by the consumption of a large amount of animal-based proteins (meat/organs) and derives much less nutritional support from plant-based proteins (grains/vegetables). It means that cats lack specific metabolic (enzymatic) pathways and cannot utilize plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins. On the other hand, dogs and humans can get nutrition from plants and thus live on a vegetarian diet but cats cannot.

The safety question. The answer is it depends on the pet food. I can't see it in my mind eating kibble nor tinned cat food, but if one did I believe a persons stomach would probably reject it but as far as I've been able to research, a person can't die from ingesting dog kibble or wet pet food. One reason is that most foods are made from scraps and leftover foods that humans wont eat and also, many dry and wet dog foods also contain rice, wheat and other plants, not to mention added vitamins and minerals.

What's rather unsavory about this whole discussion from the 50,000 foot level looking down, is that what goes into pet food falls between the regulatory cracks between the FDA and AFFCO (Association Of American Feed Control Officials), so even though its commercial grade pet food you buy from a store, the labels (and the ingredients) are less stringent so anything can be used. If you look carefully or test commercial foods you find they contain high percentages of cooked starches and things like re-processed human made restaurant waste, slaughterhouse scraps and other fun stuff. Yuck!

What about the Recall?

One important point to make lest we forget is the major U.S. pet food recall in March of 2006, in which the FDA issued a recall on some "cuts and gravy" style of canned pet food that evidently caused rapid kidney failure and death in hundreds of animals. The FDA later recalled more animal edibles, tracing the problem back to wheat gluten, a component used to thicken. The scientists who tested the pet meals in question say an ingredient called melamine (a fire retardant and plastic-producing chemical) was to blame for the deaths, and further investigation found that the melamine came from a Chinese manufacturer of wheat gluten. commercial energy consumption . Because melamine "looks" like protein when tested, adding it to pet food could deceptively boost protein levels-a major selling point for consumers. This, some allege, may be why it ended up in pet food.

Is Pet Food Safe?

So coming full circle, if people do eat pet food these days, is it really safe? The jury is out in light of the pet food crisis, but sticking to food intended for humans would be a wise choice.

On the other hand, there are bright manufacturers out there and some of the modern pet foods these days do have food grade ingredients and are probably very nutritious. Some people do eat some of the food grade raw (usually they do cook them for human consumption which we would definitely recommend) and cooked dog foods that are available and claim to enjoy them greatly!

I think in this article we've covered a lot of ground but I think the take away for everyone is two-fold. Yes its possible for something quite toxic to happen if you eat pet food since the ingredients are not known and perhaps something strange has been included. But for the most part the jury seems to suggest that eating pet food will not be great for your body but you can do it. But don't. Its not the right nutritional mix.

by William Greenbaum

Sources:

1. AFFCO regulates the quality of animal feed such as grains for livestock not commercial pet food ingredients.
2. LiveScience.com: Life's Little Mysteries
3. Interview with Dr. herve leger . Anna Maria Gardner, M.A. Vet. MB MRCVS

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Ryan Joseph asked:




Sadly, there are several household items which we tend to
take for granted that are potentially very hazardous to your
dog's health. It is especially important to be aware of this because as
you know, dogs are very much scavengers and will often eat whatever
they can sink their fangs into. I would say that may own dog is more
like a mobile garbage disposal. It is also very important to be aware of
these items
since their sense of smell is so well developed that your pooch will be
able to find what you may think is well hidden.

One of these dangerous household items, it turns out, is simple
chocolate. While chocolate has been reported recently to be high in
human-friendly antioxidants,
it appears to be potentially lethal for our pets, and particularly for
our dogs. Cats are mostly unaffected since they do not care for the
taste of chocolate, but dogs tend to
be crazy about it. Certain breeds of dogs react indifferently to
chocolate. The root of the problem is that chocolate contains various
chemicals which are called methylxanthine alkaloids(sometypes have more of
these chemicals than others)

Sadly, relatively miniscule amounts of these chemicals are capable of
causing such serious problems as constriction of the arteries and an
increased heart rate. Large amounts may cause even more dire symptoms and
a pound of milk chocolate could possibly kill a sixteen pound dog.
If you find that your dog has eaten chocolate then by all means take
note of the it's type and try to estimate the amount eaten. Bride and groom first dance . Then get on
the phone with a veternarian or an emergency facility. Be sure that your
children know how important it is to keep chocolate out of your dog's
reach.

If you are not aware that your dog has consumed chocolate, the
consequences could be severe. If consumption is not found within 4 to 6 hours
without the right treatment, cardiac failure, seizures, coma and death
could result, according to veternarian Dr. Jane Bicks.
In addition to seemingly innocent chocolate, there are a number of
other common household items that may seem safe for our dogs but that can
be downright dangerous.

Some mushrooms, for example, can produce abdominal pain, liver andd
kidney damage and amenia. So be aware of wild mushrooms when you are out
walking your dog in wooded areas. Garlic may seem benign but can cause
vomiting, liver damage, anemia and diarrhea so do not give your pet baby
food since it can contain garlic.

Anti-freeze can shut down your dog's kidney and they tend to love the
taste. Miscletoe can cause vomiting, abdominal pain and depression.
Onions can causeliver damage, anemia and diarrhea. Onion can also sometimes
be found in baby food. Cats are actually somewhat more sensitive to
this one so keep out of the reach of both.

Coffee, like cocoa, is especially dangerous, and may cause heart rate
increase, diarrhea, seizures, coma, death. Caffeine just does not have
the same effect in dogs.

When outside be careful around apple and cherry trees. While the fruit
is safe, the leaves and roots are not.

And be very careful about Moth Balls. it's primary chemical naphthalene
is extremely toxic to dogs and can result in tremors and seizures.
Concerning dog food, you should be looking for dyes
and other chemicals, according to Dr. Jane
BHA, for instance, which is one of the main synthetic
antioxidant preservatives used to prevent food
discoloration, has been observed to cause cancer in laboratory
rats at certain doses. Small doses are as yet unclear but since dog
food is eaten every day caution is advised.
Many conventional dog food brands have large quantities of sodium to
make them palatable, and this can be quite harmful to a dog. baby armbandje .
Other ingredients to wary of are dairy, by-products, chemical
preservatives and artificial colors.



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Michael Bellson asked:




If you plan to get a dog and plan to allow that dog to go in your backyard when it's loose, you need to take a lot of precautions.

First of all, start with a solid fence. The fence needs to be deep enough that the dog can't dig under it and tall enough that the dog can't jump over it. This also includes scanning your yard to make sure that sheds, picnic tables and other things aren't too close to the fence. If they are, the dog could climb them to get out.

It's also important to secure any hazards before you get your dog. For example, if you have a swimming pool, it should be securely fenced in. Also, be sure not to keep chemicals or pesticides where the dog can get to them. In fact, you also should avoid using hazardous chemicals on your lawn or in your garden, if you plan to get a dog.

If you want your dog to go in and out as it pleases, you should also get a special doggie door with a magnetic or radio controlled collar for your pet. The collar will ensure that only your pet can trigger the door. That way, you won't get other dogs, cats or even raccoons in your house.

Finally, make the yard fun and safe for your pet by giving them lots of toys, a sturdy dog house and a constant supply of food and water. That way, they can be safe and also have fun in their new home, whether inside or out.

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