Is Your Pet Food Safe?

Two years since the Menu food scare, pet owners are now faced with wondering whether their pet's food contains contaminated peanuts or peanut oil. There are so many brands and they all claim to be "healthy", "natural" or "gourmet". How do you know which brand to choose? Here are a few tips to help you better understand what your pet is eating.

• Read the label. The first few ingredients are the major factors in the quality of the food. The label should provide all of the information that you need to make an educated decision about the food.
  
• Find out where your pet's food is manufactured. I am a firm believer that products produced stateside are better quality due to our higher safety standards than overseas producers.
• If you have any questions about the food, don't be afraid the call the manufacturer and ask. If they are hesitant to answer your questions (or you can't reach anyone), you may want to reconsider your choice.
• Try to choose all natural or "human grade" food when you can. These formulas typically don't include byproducts like "meat-and-bone meal". Again, read the label.
  

Avoid pet foods that include:

• Corn - it's a cheap filler and is difficult for dogs to digest. It's very common in most pet food.
  
• Animal by-products - this is a cheap protein and the name says it all - parts of the animals that are leftover.
• Soybean - an even cheaper protein with little no value for animals.
• Animal Fat - this is produced by any walking animal including other dogs and cats (horses, pigs, etc.).
• Wheat - this is the number 2 cause of animal allergies next to corn.
• Chemical Preservatives - like Ethoxyquin, BHT and BHA - these have been know to cause cancer in animals.

Look for pet foods that contain:

• Chicken Meal - whole ground chicken meat which promotes strong muscles and bones.
• Rice - whole grain rice is an excellent source of carbohydrates for energy & regularity.
• Flaxseed - a great source of Omega 3 Fatty acids for healthy skin & coat and a strong immune system.

It's good to keep an eye on what products are being recalled as you never know when one of them might be in your pantry.

There are a few official resources for monitoring the status of pet food recalls:

• The Humane Society of the United States
• Food and Drug Administration

By making educated decisions about your pet's food and treats, you can not only protect them from harm, but you can provide them with a healthier life.