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 Poison. March is Poison Prevention Awareness Month. It’s funny we don’t usually think about poisons and our pets but poisons are all around us. One of the most deadly food poisons is Xylitol. It is sugar alternative found in so many foods including peanut butter. Two of the more unique poisons on our list for dogs are possum urine and pine needles. They both shut the kidneys down. Possum urine has the same chemical make up as anti-freeze. They both taste sweet and encourage a second and third lick, etc. This list does not have plants on it other than Christmas trees. We never thought of pine needles or the sweet tasting fire retardant they are sprayed with being of interest to a puppy. We offer this list in memory of Kenzie. Symptoms: Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Diarrhea, Difficulty Breathing, Abnormal Urine (odor, frequency, color, etc.), weakness, lethargy or Death. www. Petpoisonhelpline.com 24/7 Animal Poison Control Center 855-764-7661 CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN OR POISON CONTROL CENTER IMMEDIATELY. Top Ten Most Frequently Reported & Life Threatening 1. Chocolate 2. Grapes, Raisins and Macadamia Nuts 3. Xylitol/Sugar Free Candy or Gum 4. Table Scrapes 5. Onions, Onion Powder, Garlic 6. Compost/-icides:Insect/Bait Stations/Flea- Tick Treatments/Rodenticides/Weed 7. Any Prescription and Non-Prescription Medicine/NSAIDs/Anti-Depressants 8. Possum Urine (Very sweet- has antifreeze –glycol- chemical- Deadly) 9. Bleach and Cleaning Fluids 10. Alcohol & Unbaked Bread Dough Harmful Foods Avocados/guacamole Dairy Allium Family (Onion, Garlic, leeks, chives) Baking Soda/Spices Apricot Mushrooms (if toxic to humans) Balsam Pear and Peach seed Salt Kernels Coffee Grounds Rhubarb Tomato and Potato Leaves and Stem Japanese Plum Spinach Wild Cherry (pits of any kind) YeastDough Moldy Bread Nuts of any kind Harmful Household Products Acetaminophen Disinfectants Paint/Turpentine Antifreeze and other car fluids Drain Cleaners Rat Poison Boric Acid Furniture Polish Rubbing Alcohol Deodorants Hair Colorings Matches Shoe Polish Deodorizers -Icides: Weed, Insect Nail Polish & Remover Detergents Mothballs String De-icing Salts Gasoline, Kerosene Harmful Holiday Products – Come Sprayed with The Anti-Inflammatory & Dye Is Sweet Tasting Evergreen Trees (coniferous)- sprayed with anti-inflammatory and/or dye /Christmas Trees Artificial Christmas Trees - sprayed with anti-inflammatory and/or dye Tinsel Pine Needles & Sprays such as wreaths Tree Preservative in Water (quick drink?) z In Memory of Kenzie z A Groomer: What to Ask, What to look for and What to Expect Qualifications - What sets an untrained amateur apart from a Master Groomer? In Texas a dog groomer does not need a high school diploma or equivalency to get started. Groomers are not required vocational licenses in any states at this time (2018) and it is possible for someone to become a groomer without logging in any hours of training or passing any exams. Without regulation pet grooming schools are able to have a lot of choice choosing their course material. There are five accredited dog grooming schools in Texas and graduating from a grooming school gives the graduate only a ‘certificate of completion’. After graduation comes experience perhaps as a grooming assistant and more education/workshops via formal grooming associations. The next step would be getting ‘certified’ by a formal grooming association of which there are three: National Dog Groomers Association of America, International Professional Groomers Inc. or International Society of Canine Cosmetologists. For example NDGAA offers a National Certified Groomer which requires passing written exams and practical grooming tests and workshop. There is much more for a National Certified Master Groomer requiring passing exams/skills on four categories of breeds (sporting dogs, non-sporting dogs, short-legged terriers and long-legged terriers) and an additional written exam. So a certified Master Groomer truly earns the title but most groomers are not certified MGs. What to do? Ask questions. Check credentials. A company grooming certificate is simply that and not a credential from a professional groomers association. Check on complaints as well as recommendations for the best groomers in your area. Less than 20% of groomers are certified as Master Groomers. Note: A business license is not a vocation license or inspection certificate. It is simply a license to operate a business. Prior to First Appointment - Check the references!!!! Take the time to go by and look at the facility. It should be clean, neat and bright with good ventilation. Happy people should be coming and going. Take a picture of what you want your dog to look like. Yes having/finding a picture is inconvenient but ‘Puppy Cut’ may have two meanings: the groomer’s and then yours. If you want the tail, feet or ears uncut or shaped but combed out, feathered, etc., - be specific. On the face - keep the brows, full beard, what? Poodle nose or feet? How many ways can you say ‘Puppy Cut’: Puppy cut, teddy bear, kennel cut, pet clip, variances breed-to-breed and so on. Pay attention to the length of the cut. Discuss your concerns. A standard appointment should include a brush out, bath, ear cleaning (including ear hair removed) haircut and nail trimmed. Questions - How long have your been grooming dogs? Important: Are you certified by NDGAA, IPGI or ISCC? Credentials? Who grooms the dogs? What is the requirement for the groomers? Do assistants groom the dogs? What do assistants do? Are they familiar with Havanese? Ask about how they cut the face, ears, the tail and the feet? The face on a Havanese can vary a lot. Make your choice before you talk it over with the groomer. What breed his/her specialty? Specialties - Do they offer special needs shampoos? Flea treatments? Do they offer other Havanese styles/lengths, cutting options such as hand scissoring the coat, clippers or mixture? Is your dog crated without a potty break? How do they clean their cages/grooming areas? How is it sanitized and how often? Is their grooming area visible to the clientele? Is water provided? What is their fee and what does that include ($ 30 - $90)? What are their hours, how long is the appointment and expectations regarding drop off and pick up. Take one of their business cards with you. Mats - Mats (large and dense) cannot be teased out during normal appointments and are generally clipped (yes, close to the skin). If you want your dog ‘dematted’, it is different from a normal appointment, requiring more time, cost, etc. Ask your groomer specifically about this if your dog is heavily matted and you do not want it clipped to the skin. Allow the groomer to examine the dog to offer you choices. Day of Appointment - Revisit important things to you about your dog and the haircut with the groomer. Take a picture as a reminder. Leave it with them if needed. The Cut is Perfect or Not What You Expected - If the cut is ‘spot on’ let the groomer know. Tipping is similar to when you go to a hair salon and get a good haircut. When the haircut is different than what you are expecting take a moment to discuss with the groomer the differences to better communicate your desires next time. You are building a relationship so allow a little grace while getting started if things are not perfect. A really bad haircut or damage to your dog is a different issue. If it can be ‘fixed’ send the dog back to have the cut corrected. Haircuts are expensive. We knew of a dog that was clipped in such a way he needed stitches (3) on his testicles. Fortunately there was an in house veterinarian clinic next door where the dog was attended to. The owner found out when they picked the dog up. Of course they never went back. Check out your groomer carefully. Fear vs. Nervousness - If you dog shows any signs of fear on the 2nd trip he may have been abused or handled harshly. Fear is different than stress and Havanese do not handle harshness well. There are other groomers. Listen to your dog. National Pet Disaster Day 2017 Monday May 8 With unpredictable weather around us it is a good idea to get your check list out (or make one) with what would you need to do or have for your pet in a disaster scenario. If you need help with it, here we go: 1. INSIDE. Gather them together. Outside can be a dangerous place before, during and after a disaster. If you can practice going to your safety spot ahead of time this would be good. Store what you can ahead of time. Be prepared. 2. EMERGENCY PACK. Like it is important to transport your important papers or to have copies, it would be good to have a copy of your pet’s rabies/shot record, registration (copies of AKC, city and chip papers together. 3-5 day food and a gallon+ of your tap water. Other water can upset stomachs. Any medicines. Leashes. Pee Pads. Ziplock baggies. List of area animal friendly hotels and doggy daycare centers or boarding choices. Crate(s) see if there’s room for your pet crates. Water and food bowls. If you have to evacuate it could be awhile before you get back home. Flashlights. Everything should be quickly transportable and contained. Wipes. Blanket or towel. Duct Tape. Basic first aid kit. 3. COLLAR/TAG. Please check your pet has a collar on and a tag with your cell number and perhaps a friend’s number or your vet number on it. 4. SAFE PLACE. See that your safe place is pet safe. No further hidey holes or dangerous products, tools or sharp objects. What can you have prepared in advanced of an emergency? A suitcase or tote works well to store things. 5. AFTERWARD. Keep them close and in crates or on leashes until you can assess your situation. Be pro-active about not letting them loose because there are known and unknown dangers immediately after disasters. Remember their hearing and senses are greater than yours so be patient with them. If you can take the Red Cross first aid class for pets it would be a good idea. Note: Our picture does not show the accurate amount of water or food or include other secondary items but was ordered for a photograph of limited space. Other Pet Disaster lists can be found on the internet but this is a good model. This article is also in Kiwi's Korner THE LAST OF "WHAT'S IN YOUR DOG FOOD??' There have been at least a dozen dog food recalls since Jan. 1 of this year. Pentobarbital has been a culprit among other impurities and there have been deaths associated with some of these recalls but recalls are simply a sign of larger problems in the dog food industry. Unfortunately, there is not a definitive, transparent way to know if your dog food is what you think it is - as good as you think it is. Only through some education, research and the choice to purchase the best dog food you can afford is there a better chance your dog food will not be part of long term health issues over his/her life. And then there are other diets offered to consider. You have now reached the last section in this very long article about ‘What’s In Your Dog Food??’ Section 15 contains concerns followed by closing comments and finally a very long list of references of supporting information used within this article. And now the last section: SECTION 15 - CONCERNS There is an interesting comparison of the commercial dog food market to a human fast food market. With the increase of filler or perhaps the abuse of ingredients to stretch a company’s profit margin at the cost of nutrition and health matters, I can see where the comparison is valid. The long term health of pets is being adversely impacted so heavily today leading into tomorrow. With poorer ingredients in dog food allowed on the market with labeling or advertising misguidance, omission or falsifying factual product information, worrisome long term canine health is little wonder. Canine epidemics are symptomatic of a horribly serious industry wide problem with commercial dog food or the process/ingredients used making it. The practice of deception in dog food ingredients was touted as obscene not too long ago when notorious pet and human deaths resulted in an overseas cover up regarding protein. In the United States long term epidemic growth in diabetes, cancers and other canine diseases veterinarians deal with daily seem almost unnoticed by an oblivious general public. The cancers and diabetes and the rest of it did not become epidemic over the past 24 hours. I am missing the part about regulation protecting the health of our pets here – but wait that was handed to the manufacturers to manage beyond the basics. CONSUMER EDUCATION The consumer has a better understanding when one can understand beyond what is written. We hope a better understanding of your dog food label will yield your best choice of commercial dog food for your pet. There are reputable and excellent pet food brands and companies in the industry. There is a manufacturer Pledge to Quality and Origin regarding the quality and grade of ingredients involved available from some companies upon request. The list of companies who have provided their Pledge is at http://associationfortruthinpetfood.com/the-pledge/. I do not know if this is valid or hype. I am cynical at this point. CLOSING In closing, making my own dog food at this point is not feasible but I also do not want to give my beloved pets a dangerous product. I understand upon purchasing dog food one cannot just take just the better parts but I can do my best to support the company (-ies) who really want to make a quality good food for my dog. I’m looking for a food that will not be the source of my pet’s premature death or directly contribute to developing a life long illness. I’m looking for a pet food with quality components made in the U. S. A. I’m looking for a company I can trust. They are out there. Read your dog food labels carefully. Weigh what you value in nutrition, research ingredients and reputation (it may surprise you!). The subject is so massive there are things which deserve more attention which have been missed or too lightly touched here. This article is actually just a consumer starting point in many ways, hopefully encouraging a deeper understanding and transparency of the difference between a dog food and its Company with a Higher <Quality> Bottom Line vs. a Lowest of the Low <Quality> dog food and its Company Bottom Line and some of the issues separating them. It’s not just about money. Finding a healthy, long term dog food basically has become a consumer challenge of choice and education as well as a cautionary concern. As a late footnote, recently more findings about the additives in our ingredient list include cautionary notes of newly discovered links leading to cancer and cell damage previously unfound. So this article is not only about the ingredients list, dog food manufacturers, food handling or processes, it is a reminder to watch for newly revealed hazards unrecorded or unknown before now because your dog cannot read this information but only process it on a cellular basis via his dog food. I apologize for any overlooked detail deemed vital. Finally, any mistakes here are my own. If you have any commentary, I would welcome hearing from you. Thank-you for sticking to the trail to get here. Also a heartfelt ‘Thank-you’ to Judy Reed, DRPH, RD, for her input. I want to also thank Dr. Charles Pipes, my veterinarian, for answering all my questions and the care he gives to our Havanese. Lea Robinson 2 Cute Havanese [email protected] References: http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food http://www.aafco.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Regulatory/Committees/Pet-food/Reports/PetFood Report 2013 Midyear-Proposed Revisions to AAFCO Nutrient Profiles.pdf http://www.alive.com/health/fit-for-human-consumption/ http://www.althernet.org/food/4-surprising-foods-packed-estrogen-chemcial-linked- obesity- and-sexual dysfunction - lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/manganese http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/03/19/two-food-additives-found-to-have- estrogenlike-effects.aspx “Two Food Additives Found to have Estrogen-Like Effects” by Dr. Joseph Mercola http://baerc.com/blog/recognizing-the-early-warns-signs-of-pet-diabetes/ http://bembu.com/estrogen-rich-foods http://www.bioaspectproducts.com/receptor-agonists-and-antagonists, “Receptor Agonists and Antagonists”, an article presented by the Canadian company BioAspects Products. http://www.buzzardsbeat.com/2013/02/slaughter-plants-and-rendering.html/ http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/nutrition-exercise/meal-planning/carbohydrate-counting- glycemic-index-and-glycemic-load-putting-them-all-together/ http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/canine-nutrition/dog-food-carbohydrates/ http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/animal-by-products/ http://dogfood.guru/small-breed/ (Carlotta Cooper) http://www.dog-nutrition-naturally.com/offal.html http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/dog-food-ten-scary-truths/ http:/www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-stink-on-tripe/. http://doublelifedogdiet.com/whats-in-it http://www.bestinshowdaily.com/divide-and-conquer-how-to-classify-breeds- into-groups/ http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/judging-protein-quality/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_pet_food_recalls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_meal http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WhatWeDo/History/Overviews/ucm056044.htm https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=bad+ingredients+in+dog+food https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=suet https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=what+food+is+rich+in+manganese http://www.grey2kusa.org/pdf/GREY2K%20USA%204-D%20Meat%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf http://www.healthydietbase.com/9-of-the-most-important-trace-minerals/ http://www.healthy.net/Health/Essay/The_Mystery_of_Estrogen_The_Good_The_Bad_and_why_it_h as_gotten_so_ugly/1007. “The Mystery of Estrogen: The Good, The Bad and why it has gotten so ugly!” by Dr. Holly Lucille http://www.hilarywatson.com/chicken.pdf http://iheartdogs.com/5-ingredients-you-never-want-to-find-in-your-dogs-food/ http://www.livescience.com/36424-food-additive-bha-butylated-hydroxyanisole.html http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/vitmins.htm http://mavitecrendering.com/rendering-process/red-meat-rendering/ http://www.naturalnews.com/Report_pet_food_ingredients_2.html - Best best to worst ingredient list I have seen – Lea http://www.naturalnews.com/Report_pet_food_ingredients_3.html http://www.nutrientsreview.com/carbs/dietary-fiber-hemicellulose.html http://petfood.aafco.org/Calorie-Content http://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/5371-key-elements-of-final-fsma-pet-food- safety-rule http://www.petfoodnutrition.com/glycemic-index-gi/ http://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/jcoates/2012/feb/nutrition_diffe rences_for_small_toy_large_breeds-12459 http://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_mineral-the_right_sources http://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_principles_of_dog_nutrition http://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_pet_food_for_your_pets_sake http://www.raw-foods-diet-center.com/oxalic-acid.html http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-35982009001300001 http://www.smalldogplace.com/dog-nutrition.html http://thebark.com/content/important- vitamins-and-minerals-your-dog https://smileydog.com/low-glycemic-pet-foods-help-or-hype/ http://thebark.com/content/important-vitamins-and-minerals-your-dog http://www.thedogdaily.com/dish/diet/dogs_vitamins/ https://www.thehonestkitchen.com/human-grade-dog-and-cat-food http://truthaboutpetfood.com/epa-document-proves-euthanized-dogs-and-cats-are-rendered/ http://truthaboutpetfood.com/pet-food-and-treat-ingredient-propylene-glycol/ http://truthaboutpetfood.com/should-my-pets-food-be-aafco-approved/ http://truthaboutpetfood.com/the-romance-is-over http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_02/features/Ingredients-Of-Quality-Dog- Food_20459- 1.html http://www.wysong.net/pet-health-and-nutrition/rabbit-vs-no-rabbit-in-pet-food.php http://www.wysong.net/pet-health-and-nutrition/the-100-percent-complete-pet-food- myth.php http://www.yourdictionary.com/tallow End of References. You made it! J Summary (pgs 29-31) 1. Concerns with Dog Food Industry Practices and Long term Canine Health Issues 2. What the Public is Missing 3. Consumer Education comparing the differences in dog food and the industry companies’ bottom lines 4. A terribly long list of References used in this article to authenticate, qualify and simplify the subject I have to apologize for taking so long to get this section about our dog food published. There have been so many products and articles about recalls and questions about the health of our dog foods lately. This is almost the last section in this series. Thank you for following it. I hope it will help you look at your dog food with clearer understanding when you read the label and ingredients. SECTION 14 - THINGS TO AVOID IN DOG FOOD INGREDIENTS: ROM SIMPLY POOR QUALITY TO DANGEROUS LINKS Animal Digest (by product from clean and undecomposed animal tissue of unspecified parts and unspecified animals – 4-D included), linked to pentobarbital in dog food. The problem is that even at a high heat pentobarbital does not break down. Animal Fat – linked to pentobarbital in dog food, difficult to digest apple pomace can include residuals from pesticides and/or synthetic fertilizer artificial coloring- linked to allergies, cancer, etc. There only for human’s sake. bacon flavoring – can cause cancer if not “natural” beef tallow – rendered beef or lamb fat. processed from suet. connected to causing cancer beet pulp – cheap beet by-product connected to diabetes and hyperactivity. Used as fiber filler. Beet pulp can reportedly be good source of fiber and has benefits for glucose and intestinal health except when over used. Hard stools are one a result of over use. BHT/BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole & Butylated Hydroxytoluene –a preservative in everything from potato chips to chewing gum and strongly suspected carcinogen/causes cancer), Brewers Rice - bits and pieces of rice left over from the milling process. Zero nutrition. Inferior product. Brown Rice Flour – cheap filler, fraction Cereal Food by-product - (cereal fines) very low quality cellulose - (saw dust or cardboard dust) used as fiber in powered form in dog good to thicken, replace fat increase fiber count as do gums and other fibers, organic, very popular. bothers bowels. Citrus Acid – used as a preservative and rough on the stomach citrus pulp - citrus in not good for pets. Corn/Corn Bran,- Cellulose,-flour,- Gluten, -syrup, -starch/Ground Corn can cause bowel problems, weight gain, poor filler used for protein. Corn can include deadly mold or fungus. Corn is connected to sugar production and growth of canine diabetes dried meat by-product – spoiled trimmings, can include tumors digest – used as flavoring from rendered/cooked animal parts which may be spoiled or diseased Estrogenic- Binds to estrogen on cellular level. Several hormones related to estrogen - steroid hormone/female produced by ovaries. There are more than 24 different estrogens linked to multiple organs and are part of a very strong group of hormones. See ‘xenoestrogens’ Ethoxyquin – a now little used preservative linked to cancer used in poorest quality of food Feeding Oat Meal (by-products of rolled oat groats or rolled oats called broken oat groats and oat groat chips – a fractionated grain) fish – may be spoiled flaxseed meal – cheap use of flaxseed, poor source of fat (flax meal, too) flavorings – may cause cancer food coloring/dyes – connected to allergies and cancer fraction – by product, partial part of . Sweepings. No nutritional value. Maybe dangerous. glyceryl monostearate (also called Glyceryl Stearate) can contain BHT and is a thickening agent can be an irritant or cause allergic reactions glandular meal such as liver meal – again 4-D possible -Gluten meals - having no nutritional value but used as protein filler. Connected to allergies and diabetes. Corn Gluten meal or Wheat gluten meals are incomplete proteins. Grain Fermentation Solubles (by-product)(DDGS-Dried Distillers’ Grains and Solubles) GRAS – Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) guar gum – cheap filler with no nutritional value Hulls – Oat, Peanut and Rice, Soybean can cause bowel upset, cheap filler. Often over used. Incomplete Proteins – plant foods that do not have all the essential amino acids for a full portion Maltodextrins and Fermentation Solubles (brewery by-product) – maltodextrins is from malted barley (mash) and is an artificial sugar (polysaccharide), food additive, Meals mentioned here: beef & bone, blood, chicken by-product, corn distillers dried grains with Solubles - DDGS, corn germ, corn gluten, fish, liver, meat and bone, meat meal, pork & bone, poultry by-product meal, poultry meal and soybean end this meal list. Cheap source for protein in the list. Beef & bone meal are not very digestible and can be from 4-D sources & stomach issues. Many have been linked to pentobarbital in dog food. Menadione – Synthetic vitamin K3 used to replace K. May not be safe. Middings – small particles of wheat bran, -flour, - germ, -shorts, and other waste (floor sweepings) Mill Run (Soybean and Wheat)- Contributes to early aging, arthritis, digestive problems, allergies. Sweepings from the floor Molasses of any kind can lead to arthritis and other sugar related issues, increases arthritis Non-chelated minerals – are harder to metabolize/absorb. Chelated minerals are identifiable by the suffixes (-ate) added to chemical names. Chelation is a means of attaching an organic compound to an inorganic mineral. Ex: Zinc proteinate. More expensive (4x+) than non-chelated minerals. Found in better dog foods. -oses - sucrose, fructose, glucose Propyl Gallate can lead to weight gain, sugar issues, hyperactivity PG (Propylene Glycol)- a humectant (keeps moist)in soft dog food. Cats cannot tolerate it. Too much is poisonous. Used more in dog treats than dog food. Toxic to 50% dogs. Digestive problems. Propyl Gallate – preservative for fats and oils that cause digestive problems and recently linked to multiple health problems. See ‘xenoestrogens’ See http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/03/19/two-food-additives-found- to-have-estrogenlike-effects.aspx Pomace (apple & grape) – what is left in the press; can contain chemical residues such as pesticides and/or fertilizer, pulp, seeds, skin, stems. Very popular. May be over used. potato product (by-product)- cheap filler; potato starch can cause stomach problems and weight gain poultry fat- falls in a ‘bad fat’ category with vegetable and mineral oil, animal fat, beef tallow and lard propionic acid – a preservative, possible dangerous mold inhibitor rabbit – it is listed as a high quality protein, white meat and alternative for allergies to other protein source. There was some question raised about diseased meat. Always sourcing is important. rendered fat (swine)- rendered fats can contain impurities such as hair, soil, possibly polyethylene and more. It can encourage water retention and other problems. rice, rice bran – flour, -gluten, rice protein Concentrate – Food Fractions. All are used for cheap filler over use and can lead to diabetes, digestive problems. Incomplete proteins. salt, sea salt – used to cover spoiled odor of meat or fat (also sodium chloride) sodium nitrate – used to hold color and highly cancer causing sorbic acid, sorbitol (highly toxic) soy product – see soy issues following ‘water’ soy protein- poor choices, incomplete proteins soy flour – adds bulk, more poos, increase protein content, brings in estrogen issues and thyroid problems, stomach problems, other digestion issues and blocks essential mineral absorption and endocrine function sweet potato powder- by-product of little value tallow- usually made from rendered fat. It can be made from a variety of animals including restaurant grease. It upsets digestion, a very bad fat. It is also a commercial component for candles, soap and lubricant products. TBHQ – a toxic artificial, petroleum preservative (tert-butyl hydroquinone). It is similar to lighter fluid. tomato pomace – marketing trick with little value, acidity can cause stomach upset turkey by-product meal can include tumors. ‘Nuff said. vegetable oil and wheat gluten are products to avoid and not purchased as ingredients. venison by-products – possible diseased organs and or tumors, link to pentobarbital, early aging wheat flour – not very digestible, causes stomach/bowel upset and allergy problems water – no nutrition just filler Rendered fowl has no limitations as to source or contamination. It could be part of the 4-D classification. Xeneoestrogens - synthetic xenohormone that mimics estrogen and is more potent and can block absorption of natural estrogen. Xeneoestrogens are made from petrochemicals (chemicals made from natural gas and petroleum). They do not break down but stay stored in fat cells. They are also referred to as EDC’s or Endocrine Disrupting Compounds. Scary news is that propyl gallate is a xenoestrogen. In this article, http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/03/19/two-food-additives-found-to-have- estrogenlike-effects.aspx, there is a cautionary statement about the use of propyl gallate. Although approved as a preservative since 1948 used in foods and other uses in cosmetics, often with BHA and BHT processed meat, and a long disturbing list of a variety of products, today it is known as an ‘antagonist’ or a product that disrupts cell to cell communication and natural cell functionality (if I got that right). The gist of this point is that multiple physical problems on multiple levels, degrees and systems have been connected to this product we all are exposed to. What does this do to our precious dog’s system? (http://www.bioaspectproducts.com/receptor-agonists-and-antagonists) Most of these products are by-products, have little if any nutritional value , difficult to digest, linked to pentobarbital and may be as dangerous as cancer causing and other long term physical hazards from unaccounted residual by-product including chemical, hormonal, diseased, residual prescription medicines, metallic, etc. They are usually difficult to digest, have no nutritional value, adversely affect blood glucose levels, may block absorption of important nutrients and more. They are cheap fillers, proteins, etc., used to broaden the profit margin. For further individual details and a wonderful report on these things go to http://www.dogfoodproject.com/?page=badingredients. Soy issues are connected to the trace elements found in metal containers where it is stored, unfermented soy, pesticides and other plant chemical issues beyond my understanding. With chemical issues like phytic acid or phytates which can stunt human growth and there is a connection to blocking the absorption of the Essential Minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, etc. Soy can affect the dog’s endocrine system as an estrogenic or high in estrogen linked chemically to obesity and other issues. Flaxseed is estrogenic and high in fiber found in poultry, swine, beef and dairy cow feed. Alfalfa is estrogenic. Estrogenic is a term to keep in mind as a danger over a lifetime. Summary (pgs 26-28) 1. Defining and listing undesirable to dangerous ingredients found in pet food 2. Physical impact of some of these ingredients 3. A closer look at Soy, related issues and the health impact it can have 4. Flaxseed, Alfalfa and the Estrogenic connection Next Time: Concerns and Consumer Education and Closing (FINALLY!) ************************ Why By-Products are not Buy-Products in dog Food. In Section 13 of our series ‘What’s in Your Dog Food?’ we look at ‘by-products’ and what that means in dog food. By-products are particularly distasteful (pun intended) for several reasons but the short answer is a quality dog food does not use by-products in its recipe. The following article explains why. Warning: This is truly gritty material. SECTION 13 - BY-PRODUCTS By-Products. Scraps or leftovers in meat processing companies (slaughter houses), grease from restaurants and FDA termed ‘4 D’ livestock. Meat and Poultry by-products can vary in quality. Meat by-products do not include meat, hair, horns, hooves or teeth. It does include internal organs such as the abdomen, blood, bone, brain, heart, intestines, kidneys, liver, and lungs. Edible by-product for human consumption such as sausage, hot dogs or bologna also have product used in dog food. Poultry by-Products include feet, heads and internal organs such as the abdomen, blood, bone, brain, cleaned intestines, kidneys, liver, lungs and spleen. Rendering is processed inedible by-product not allowed in pet food to eventually become a pet food acceptable product in a protein powder regarded as by-product meal. This grade of pet food by-product is high in protein but has little nutritional value. The by-products that are poor choices are the vague or generic meat meals such as meat and bone meal, animal or meat by-product meal. Inedible animal tissues from organs to feathers and bones know as offal. These products are labeled inedible for human consumption but allowed in dog food and by-product meal used in dog food by a process called ‘Rendering’. The unacceptable part of this is these by-products can contain (4D livestock) euthanized animals from animal shelters, road kill, dead animals from zoos and other sources, deceased on arrival poultry or livestock that was just dying or diseased. Beaks, feathers and hooves have a very high protein value. They are cheap product referred to as an unusable protein because it’s is very difficult to digest. “Most states (ok…all states) don’t take issue with a pet food (aka pet feed) containing protein sourced from euthanized animals or pesticide laden grains/vegetables. Even though the ‘stuff’ that pets consume is titled ‘pet food’ it is considered ‘pet feed’ and it is held to regulations of feed (not regulations of food).” - Should My Pet’s Food be AAFCO Approved? By Susan Thixton,TruthaboutPetFood.com and more. Trace elements: Pentobarbital (drug for euthanizing dogs and cats, etc.) found in “Animal Fat, Meat and Bone Meal, Beef and Bone meal and Animal Digest”- http://truthaboutpetfood.com/epa-document-proves-euthanized-dogs-and-cats-are-rendered/. Salmonella and other bacteria can be attributed to 4-D by product. FDA allows condemned animal carcasses to be rendered for pet food ingredients as by-product meal, poultry by-product meal, beef by-product meal, meat and bone meal, beef and bone meal, animal fat and or animal digest. What is the difference between a slaughterhouse and a rendering plant? From a fabulous Article with more detail than published here. Well worth the read. http://www.buzzardsbeat.com/2013/02/slaughter-plants-and-rendering.html/ “A slaughter plant breaks down the whole carcass into cuts of meat, whereas a rendering facility produces a variety of by-products. There are two types of rendering facilities – independent and integrated. An independent plant is one that picks up grease, blood, feathers and offal (internal organs and entrails) for further processing and development. Integrated facilities are physically connected to the slaughter plant and operate in conjunction with each other. The by-products of slaughter are used to make several essential products that fall into two categories: edible and inedible. Below is a list of what types of products fall under each area. — Inedible: tallow and grease for livestock feed, blood meal, soap and fatty-acids. — Edible: these plants process fatty animal tissue into edible fats and proteins. The only material that goes into these products (which are USDA and FSIS inspected) are fats from the animals carcass. THERE IS NO BONE OR OTHER INEDIBLE MATERAL THAT ENTERS THE EDIBLE FOOD SUPPLY” “Meat that is unfit or unsuitable for human consumption is sold to the pet food industry or processed and fed back to the pet food industry, or to farm animals. Currently in Canada as much as 20 percent of cattle feed is made up of what is termed “mammalian protein additives” and other animal waste products. Nov 23, 2005” from the article “Fit for Human Consumption? | alive” www.alive.com/health/fit-for-human-consumption/ Sourcing the product here is key. It is the difference between quality and cheap product or healthy and lesser than healthy for your dog. From Quality to Questionable Protein Reviewed It is possible to have a product high in protein, for instance, with very little nutritional value. Whole/fresh meat-unprocessed/not rendered (highest in protein and nutrition) Meal-whole product rendered (boiled water out of quality scraps to dry mass) By product- scraps including less desirable parts rendered Meal by product – Meal rendered from lesser product including heads, feet and entrails (lowest choice) Do not buy Unspecified Meat meal, unidentified by-product, mystery meal by-product. Summary (pgs 24-25) 1. What is a By-Product from A to 4D in detail 2. Acceptable By-Product to Not So Much 3. Trace Elements from Pentobarbital to Salmonella associated with meat and poultry by-products 4. What is the Difference Between A Slaughterhouse and Rendering Plant 5. Highest Protein and Nutrition to the Lowest Choice Next time: Things to Avoid ****************************************************** ‘Meal’ is in almost all of our dog food brands these days and because it involves a process called ‘Rendering”, it is good to take another look at that process before getting started. ‘Meals’ is Section 12 of our series “What’s In Your Dog Food??” Rendering – (after product is pulverized) a cooking process where product is grouped together in large vats. Fats are separated and the water is boiled away and leaving what will become ‘meal’ by dehydration and grinding it to a powder. You can find previous sections and follow this series at http://www.2cutehavanese.net/our-blog-kiwis-korner.html The meal by-products include blood meal, meat and bone meal and whole meals. The meals are a protein powder and the fats (becoming tallow) are further processed and clarified. Meals go into pet foods and feeds. Meal is not considered acceptable for human consumption. Oils, fats and tallow are sold to the chemical industry, pharmaceutical industry, oil industry and others. (Tallow is made from rendered beef fat although it is also listed from other animals such as sheep, pigs and horses, too. Tallow is used in candles, soap and lubricants for leather and so forth.) Rendering Plants receive animal carcasses from multiple sources to recycle. The resulting product can go back into dog food. AAFCO Definitions: ( http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=meat-meal ) MEALS - SECTION 12 “Meat meal is the rendered product from mammal tissues, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen (grazing) contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. It shall not contain added extraneous materials not provided for by this definition. The Calcium (Ca) level shall not exceed the actual level of Phosphorus (P) by more than 2.2 times. It shall not contain more than 12% Pepsin indigestible residue and not more than 9% of the crude protein in the product shall be pepsin indigestible. The label shall include guarantees for minimum crude protein, minimum crude fat, maximum crude fiber, minimum Phosphorus (P) and minimum and maximum Calcium (Ca). If the product bears a name descriptive of its kind, composition or origin, it must correspond thereto.” “Poultry meal is the dry rendered product from a combination of clean flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts of whole carcasses of poultry or a combination thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet, and entrails. It shall be suitable for use in animal food. If it bears a name descriptive of its kind, it must correspond thereto.” “Fish meal is the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish or fish cuttings, either or both, with or without the extraction of part of the oil. If it contains more than 3% salt (NaCl), the amount of salt must constitute a part of the product name, provided that in no case must the salt content of this product exceed 7%. The label shall include guarantees for minimum crude protein, minimum crude fat, maximum crude fiber, minimum Phosphorus (p) and minimum and maximum calcium (Ca). If it bears a name descriptive of its kind, it must correspond thereto.” Pros * Contributes a more concentrated amount of animal protein to a product since it contains only about 10% moisture, making the food more species appropriate. * No limit on the amount that can be used in a food formula, which permits the creation of high-protein, low-carb dry foods. Cons * More processed than fresh meat, already cooked and dried once before added to kibble “dough” and cooked again.” Source product needs to be revealed. Meal vs. Meat Meal There are some good meals which have a higher quality such as a freeze dried meat. Unfortunately it is the ash content that defines the quality and you generally cannot find that on a label. A low ash content or low ratio of bone to meat means a higher meat meal. An average ash content for most commercial dog foods is about 5-8 %. Good meal is made from quality meats. One of the differences between raw meat and meat meal is the water weight. As mentioned before raw meat is about 70% water weight where the water has been removed from meat meal. So it is likely a dog food has more filler with a raw product than a meal product to increase the protein level because the meat meal protein level is higher than in raw meat product. Meat Meal is not produced for human consumption - ever. AAFCO defines chicken meal as the “dry rendered (cooked) product from a combination of clean flesh and skin with and without accompanying bone, from whole carcasses of chicken, thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and entrails.” It has been compared to ‘dried-freeze food or perhaps dehydrated fruit. “No limit on the amount that can be used in a food formula, which allows the creation of high-protein, low-carb dry foods.” - http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=meat-meal. There is also chicken meal and duck meal. Several meals can include product from 4-D animals and worse. Meals are often describe as better used for another purpose such as fertilizer or as cattle feed. This puts it back into the human population eventually. Meal vs. By-product Meal The difference between poultry meal and poultry by-product meal is the use of heads, feet and entrails in by-product meal. Red meat includes buffalo, cattle, camel, goats, horses, pigs (porcine), and other mammals, etc. Red meat by-product includes the rendered bones, blood, dead on arrival (DOA), deboning residue, hair, hoofs, horns and farm waste. 4-D Animals and the dangers they present. 4-D Animals is a class of mammal for pet food which includes meat of dead, euthanized, dying disabled or diseased animals from farms, local animal shelters, zoos, restaurants, etc. 4-D animals are sold to salvagers or rendering plants. The carcasses are boned and the meat may be frozen or packaged without being heated. It is the handling and temperature the meat is kept at that makes the difference between Feed and Pet Food and other issues. What is “Edible” Edible food is approved for human consumption by the FDA. Summary (pgs 22-23) 1. AAFCO Defines Meals (Meat, Poultry and Fish) by percentage and process 2. Meal, Meat Meal and Ash 3. The grizzly detail of poultry by-product meal 4. 4-D Animals and what that is 5. What is ‘Edible’ Next time: By-Products ******************************************************** Section 11 is better taken in small doses. Although it is more like a vocabulary introduction for many people because the terms are unfamiliar. The following terms are subjects connected to dog food production. Section 12 takes a closer look at what exactly meal and meal by-product is. These are common products in any dog food on today’s market. In these sections we begin to understand a little better what product is used beyond muscle and organ meat in dog food. A tremendously important process called ‘rendering’ is used in many ways and introduced here. SECTION 11: THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE: DOG FOOD CONNECTION Slaughter House Some Terms Terms 1. Muscle meat is considered like ground beef and chicken breast. Organ meat is heart, liver and kidney. These two get lumped together occasionally. 2. 4-D Animals (means Dead, Diseased, Dying or Destroyed) – Animals that come from zoos, animal shelters, farms, animals not brought to a slaughterhouse, euthanized animals or animals that died in a barn, field or feed lot. 4-D meat is not heat processed which opens to door to bacteria and a lot of other transmittable diseases. However it is openly used at greyhound racetracks – http://www.grey2kusa.org/pdf/GREY2K%20USA%204- D%20Meat%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf Arguably 4-D animals is a violation of Federal Law if included in any overall product see the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Title 21, Code 342). Read more from Susan Thixton, TruthaboutPetFood.com “The Romance is Over” 3. Tripe – What is it? The stomach of cows, buffalos and sheep (grazing/ruminating animals). White tripe vs. green tripe – you want green, fresh & raw. Processing kills digestive enzymes in tripe that are really good for the blood, good bacteria and other things. It is hard to find so look to smaller butchers and they will want it removed quickly. Handle with care. For more all about tripe (cleans poisons in blood and more) see about enzyme deficiency andhttp://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-stink-on-tripe/. 4. Offal – A collective term for internal organ meat including green tripe (an organ -stomach- but not considered one if raw) and entrails left over or by-product from a butchered animal excluding muscle and bone. Another term used for offal is viscera meaning heart, liver, intestines, lungs, pancreas – soft tissue of the abdomen and chest versus bone, teeth, beak, etc. Offal and viscera have been regarded as “good dog nutrition”- http://www.dog-nutrition- naturally.com/offal.html. 5. By-product – Offal. The simplest term is slaughter house ‘left overs’ not limited to intestines or one organ. Any organ/meat part of slaughtered animals is considered not for human consumption other than whole muscle meat. By- product is a term also associated with vegetable and grain ingredients meaning leftover. It can include chemical, metal and other organic components left behind. 6. Meat – Clean flesh from Muscle organs but can include fat, gristle and other muscle tissue similarly sold for human consumption which come from slaughtered mammals. It can also include heart, lungs and other internal organ tissue but it is still referred to as ‘muscle tissue’. No bone is included according to this reference by AAFCO. Also, accordingly, it is only from cattle, pigs, sheep or goats. Poultry or fish are not identified at meat. I had never really thought of about this since I considered slaughtered animals to be limited to cows and pigs with chickens at different locations. Some of the business of slaughter houses and rendering companies is the collection from more sources than you might imagine. Mammals include dogs and cats, too. There is also a difference between a slaughtered animal vs other carcasses. Locations such as restaurants, zoos, road kill, animal shelters, supermarkets are other sources of protein. Collecting more than just carcasses including grease from restaurants or spoiled meat from supermarkets and more for processing ( see 4-D). Talk about visceral . 7. Feed – A broader range of ingredients allowed for livestock. Ingredients is one difference between feed and pet food and how the ingredient is handled regarding cleanliness, refrigeration, cooking temperature, sourcing and more. Production cost can also be a major difference between feed and pet food. Feed is allowed to contain 4-D animals, chemical contamination, metal contamination, fecal contamination and others. 8. Rendering – (after product is pulverized) a cooking process where miscellaneous product is grouped together in large vats. Fats are separated and the water is boiled away and leaving what will become ‘meal’ by dehydration and grinding it to a powder. The meal by-products include blood meal, meat and bone meal and whole meals. The meals are a protein powder and the fats (becoming tallow) are further processed and clarified. Meals go into pet foods and feeds. Meal is not considered acceptable for human consumption. Oils, fats and tallow are sold to the chemical industry, pharmaceutical industry, oil industry and others. (Tallow is made from rendered beef fat although it is also listed from other animals such as sheep, pigs and horses, too. Tallow is used in candles, soap and lubricants for leather and so forth.) Rendering Plants receive animal carcasses from multiple sources to recycle. The resulting product can go back into dog food. 9. Digest – an additive of cleaned, leftover animal tissue linked with pentobarbital which has been heated, treated with enzymes or acids producing a finished product used as natural flavoring. If the digest suggests a flavor it can be labeled as such but it must be made of that tissue if the product is labeled that flavor. On the label: EX: meat (chicken, beef, duck, etc.) means a collection of organ meat, flesh and skin but without bone (deboned), ground together (raw). Meat is almost 70% water. EX: chicken meat meal – (rendered) meat treated as a stew with the water cooked out of the mixture leaving a powder, nutrients and bacteria removed EX: chicken meal meat by-product – a different collection of cheaper by-product including backs, bones (frames), brains, feet, heads, intestines (cleaned), kidneys, livers, lungs, spleen, stomach (tripe), undeveloped eggs, and fatty tissue ground together EX: chicken by-product meat by-product meal –(rendered) the list given for meat by- product and rendered leaving a powder, nutrients and bacteria removed EX: chicken by-product meal “animal” meal, -by-product, -meat by-product meal means any kind of animal any kind of part or collection thereof. Can contain 4-D animals, grease, etc. EX: animal fat. Generic product. Any animal including 4-D. Summary (pgs 19-21) 1. Defining terms and processes 2. Defining meat through meat meal, meal meat by-product, etc., by components. Next time: Meals **************************************************************************** AAFCO Definitions: ( http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=meat-meal ) MEALSSECTION 12 “Meat meal is the rendered product from mammal tissues, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen (grazing) contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. It shall not contain added extraneous materials not provided for by this definition. The Calcium (Ca) level shall not exceed the actual level of Phosphorus (P) by more than 2.2 times. It shall not contain more than 12% Pepsin indigestible residue and not more than 9% of the crude protein in the product shall be pepsin indigestible. The label shall include guarantees for minimum crude protein, minimum crude fat, maximum crude fiber, minimum Phosphorus (P) and minimum and maximum Calcium (Ca). If the product bears a name descriptive of its kind, composition or origin, it must correspond thereto.” “Poultry meal is the dry rendered product from a combination of clean flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts of whole carcasses of poultry or a combination thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet, and entrails. It shall be suitable for use in animal food. If it bears a name descriptive of its kind, it must correspond thereto.” “Fish meal is the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish or fish cuttings, either or both, with or without the extraction of part of the oil. If it contains more than 3% salt (NaCl), the amount of salt must constitute a part of the product name, provided that in no case must the salt content of this product exceed 7%. The label shall include guarantees for minimum crude protein, minimum crude fat, maximum crude fiber, minimum Phosphorus (p) and minimum and maximum calcium (Ca). If it bears a name descriptive of its kind, it must correspond thereto.” Pros * Contributes a more concentrated amount of animal protein to a product since it contains only about 10% moisture, making the food more species appropriate. * No limit on the amount that can be used in a food formula, which permits the creation of high-protein, low-carb dry foods. Cons * More processed than fresh meat, already cooked and dried once before added to kibble “dough” and cooked again.” Source product needs to be revealed. Meal vs. Meat Meal There are some good meals which have a higher quality such as a freeze dried meat. Unfortunately it is the ash content that defines the quality and you generally cannot find that on a label. A low ash content or low ratio of bone to meat means a higher meat meal. An average ash content for most commercial dog foods is about 5-8 %. Good meal is made from quality meats. One of the differences between raw meat and meat meal is the water weight. As mentioned before raw meat is about 70% water weight where the water has been removed from meat meal. So it is likely a dog food has more filler with a raw product than a meal product to increase the protein level because the meat meal protein level is higher than in raw meat product. Meat Meal is not produced for human consumption - ever. AAFCO defines chicken meal as the “dry rendered (cooked) product from a combination of clean flesh and skin with and without accompanying bone, from whole carcasses of chicken, thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and entrails.” It has been compared to ‘dried-freeze food or perhaps dehydrated fruit. “No limit on the amount that can be used in a food formula, which allows the creation of high-protein, low-carb dry foods.” - http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=meat-meal. There is also chicken meal and duck meal. Several meals can include product from 4-D animals and worse. Meals are often describe as better used for another purpose such as fertilizer or as cattle feed. This puts it back into the human population eventually. Meal vs. By-product Meal The difference between poultry meal and poultry by-product meal is the use of heads, feet and entrails in by-product meal. Red meat includes buffalo, cattle, camel, goats, horses, pigs (porcine), and other mammals, etc. Red meat by-product includes the rendered bones, blood, dead on arrival (DOA), deboning residue, hair, hoofs, horns and farm waste. 4-D Animals and the dangers they present. 4-D Animals is a class of mammal for pet food which includes meat of dead, euthanized, dying disabled or diseased animals from farms, local animal shelters, zoos, restaurants, etc. 4-D animals are sold to salvagers or rendering plants. The carcasses are boned and the meat may be frozen or packaged without being heated. It is the handling and temperature the meat is kept at that makes the difference between Feed and Pet Food and other issues. What is “Edible” Edible food is approved for human consumption by the FDA. Summary (pgs 22-23) 1. AAFCO Defines Meals (Meat, Poultry and Fish) by percentage and process 2. Meal, Meat Meal and Ash 3. The grizzly detail of poultry by-product meal 4. 4-D Animals and what that is 5. What is ‘Edible’ Next time: By-Products ******************************************************** So far there have been at least 5 dog food recalls this year. In section 10 of 'What’s in Your Dog Food??' we look at the importance of minerals, acids, vitamins and water. How can an ingredient interfere with the absorption of a vitamin? Is your pup or dog really getting all the label says? Find out more about minerals in dog food in the following section. MINERALS Minerals are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes and meat. Essential vitamins and minerals include 12 minerals: Calcium, Chlorine, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Sodium and Zinc. Minerals are needed in large, medium and small (trace) amounts. Better choices include amino acids (protein) chelate and complex, Chelated, proteinate (compound protein) and sequestered .Chelated (identified by suffix -ate) is a process meaning an inorganic mineral is attached to an organic compound/amino acid and is supposed to be more digestible such as copper chelate or iron glycinate. Minerals are necessary to all normal functions of the body. Harder to digest and perhaps cheaper choices include oxide, sulfate, or phosphate as ingredients. Minerals break down into two groups: 1) macrominerals (large scale need) versus 2) microminerals (small scale need also referred to as ‘trace’ minerals). Macrominerals are inorganic, a daily minimal requirement more than 100 mg, and the most important macrominerals are calcium (dairy or bones), chloride (grains and fruit), magnesium (whole grains and beans) , phosphorus (eggs and all animal tissues), potassium (grain or vegetables), and sodium (milk and grains). The most important trace minerals are iron (found in poultry, soybean, offal*), iodine (seafood, egg), chromium (whole grains and meat), selenium (seafood and red meat) manganese ( whole grains and leafy vegetables), copper and zinc (organ meat or whole grains). Two acids of this include phytic acid found in beans, whole grains and soy products and oxalic acid found in potatoes, grains and pumpkin. It is important to understand that oxalic and phytic acid may interfere with manganese absorption. When there is too much grain, potato, soy resulting in filler it also impairs mineral value in the dog food. VITAMINS Vitamins are found in fruits, vegetables and other sources. Essential Vitamins include vitamin A and E (both found in eggs) which are necessary Antioxidants. Other important vitamins include B-12 (whole grains and beans), C (organ meats or vegetables) and D (beef or fatty fish), iron (legumes, lean meats). The remaining list includes B1, B6, K, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid and Riboflavin. WATER Water. Havanese need access to water when they are awake. In our experience they drink more per pound than the Great Danes, Labradors, and other dogs we have had the pleasure to know. Water keeps them hydrated and all systems moving along by regulating body temperature, moving nutrients and is necessary for defecation. Water is used as a filler in some pet food. At this point it is a very good place to take a break. Understanding the ingredients up to this point is very important when we continue into the next section. We will breakdown these ingredients via various processing techniques that will require more of your attention as we look closer into slaughterhouse practices. If you have a weak stomach you may want to quit here. The next section is better taken in small doses. In the next and last section it explains how the worse of the by-products gets recycled into pet food along with working terms around the topic. It truly is a grizzly trek into the pet food industry. * Offal refers to organ meat such as the stomach, intestines and other vital organs but does not include bone or muscle. Summary (pgs 17-18) 1. Minerals - Essential 12, Quantity and Digestibility 2. Finding Macro- and Microminerals and Why 3. Acids and understanding why they can interfere with absorption 4. Vitamins and where, why and which 5. The roll of water in dog food and break time before entering the Slaughter House world Next time: The Slaughter House: Dog Food Connection *********************************** 2/7/2017 The FDA announced Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Company issued a voluntary recall on Friday after it was discovered that specific lots of its 'Hunk of Beef' product may be contaminated by pentobarbital. It is not expected in any product sold in Texas. How can pentobarbital be in dog food? Sodium Pentobarbital is the injection used in euthanasia. Again, how can this be in dog food? Answer: 4-D Animals. What is ‘4-D Animals’? 4-D stands for Dead, Dying, Diseased or Destroyed Animals which come from zoos, animal shelters, veterinarian offices, farms, restaurants, etc., allowed by the FDA, and sold to rendering plants. A rendering plant recycles carcasses. Discussed in Section 11, 12 and 13 (to come - grizzly business). THE MYSTERY OF DOG FOOD INGREDIENTS SECTION 9 MEAT Meats means slaughtered mammals but this is not always the case. We have learned that there are many ways to boost the protein value in dog food. China used melamine in dog food (2007) to boost the protein level. Melamine is a chemical with many industrial uses. It is used in fertilizer outside of the United States and melamine resin, shortened to just ‘melamine’ is a key ingredient in kitchen ware. Unfortunately melamine kills dogs and works better in creating resilient kitchen ware such as plates and plastic ware but it did give a higher protein level in dog food that was very cost effective for a while. U.S. Manufacturers of dog food use a variety of protein product. The sliding scale of quality protein, fiber and carbohydrate product for each ingredient is why this becomes a complex buyer beware issue. By-products become a term to learn about and discussed later. There are multiple types of by-products such as meat or vegetable by-products which can increase the protein percentage but have lesser nutritional value while being a cheaper source of protein than a meat or poultry product. Corn gluten meal, wheat gluten meal, rice protein concentrate and soy protein are considered poor choices and incomplete proteins. What is an ‘incomplete protein’? An incomplete protein is “any protein lacking one or more essential amino acids in correct proportions as necessary for good nutrition and health, true of many plant foods; also called partial protein” ( http://www.dictionary.com/ browse/incomplete-protein). AAFCO defines meat as "Meat is the clean flesh derived from slaughtered mammals, not rendered, and is limited to that part of the striate muscle which is skeletal or that which is found in the tongue, in the diaphragm, in the heart, or in the esophagus; with or without the accompanying and overlying fat and the portions of the skin, sinew, nerve, and blood vessels which normally accompany the flesh. It shall be suitable for use in animal food. If it bears a name descriptive of its kind, it must correspond thereto.” It is the equivalent of ground beef. Meat is limited to about 35% by weight maximum including water weight because of factory equipment problems when processing. Which means the actual fresh meat content is relatively low but high in carbohydrates. Other forms of protein have to be used to increase protein content. Those forms may include plant based proteins such as a pea protein, corn gluten meal or other meals. These choices are not the best for dogs. Fats. Fats should include 0.3% Omega-3, 2.2 % Omega 6 (AAFCO does not recognize). Fats are found in the oil of fish, cottonseed, soybean, safflower and vegetable. Chicken and pork fat is used. Of course it is separated from the meat source during rendering. Essential fatty acids are a category the body cannot make necessary for the growth and health of muscles, nerves and much more. Fat to protein ratio should be around 50% for puppies. The concern is whether or not the fat is a healthy fat. Carbohydrates. There are three type of carbohydrates: fiber, starches and sugars. Starches are found in vegetables (corn, peas, potatoes, etc.) and grains (wheat flour, barley, oats, etc.). Sugars are found in fruits (beet sugar, molasses, corn or maple syrup, etc.) and milk. The third carbohydrate is Fiber. Carbohydrates have the same digestibility issues as proteins with the additional concern being that too many carbs cannot be absorbed properly and at some point simply become a ‘filler’ product resulting in more stools, diarrhea, fat and other maladies. Carbs are technically unnecessary to a dog’s diet according to the National Research Council but dog food manufacturers cannot make the kibble without them! Carbs also allow for a longer shelf life and are cheaper to produce than protein or fat per calorie. Consider the increase in carbohydrates today and increased diabetes in dogs, allergies and other maladies on the rise! Carbs are cheaper to produce than protein or fat per calorie. Fruits and grains such as barley, oats, soy, sweet potato, etc., are common carbs. Whole grains are very digestible but become less so as by-products or food fractions. If there are two or so food fractions it is alright and the lower on the ingredients list, the better. More than two food fractions and higher on the ingredients list it is not good. Food “fractions” is another term for by-product or part of something. Tomato pomace and rice bran are food fractions. Grains are an inexpensive source for carbohydrates and metabolize as sugars leading to sugar issues as problem behavior, cancers, diabetes, allergies, increase arthritis problems and other sugar related conditions. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate from plants. Animal products do not have fiber. It is not listed as a necessary part of a dog’s diet but it is needed. Fiber helps with steady glucose (blood sugar) levels, weight control, lower cholesterol levels and filling full. It aids good digestion and colon health. Fiber is in grain and plants. Too much fiber takes us back to becoming filler resulting in being difficult to digest and digestive problems already mentioned. Whole Grains, beans and nuts are excellent sources of fiber. Peas are the # 1 natural fiber and all legumes are rich in natural fiber but legumes having a high estrogen level may be of concern. Split peas, black beans, green peas, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, and red beans are estrogenic. Hulls should be avoided such as peanut, rice soy, or oat hulls. Corn bran should be avoided. There can be found a lot of abuse with carbs overly used as fillers and especially with using bad carbs. Summary (pgs 15-16) 1. The sliding scale of what qualifies as protein 2. AAFCO defines Meat 3. Fats and Carbs: the good, the bad and the ugly 4. Fiber defined, too much, too little and choices Next time: Minerals, Vitamins and Water ********************************************* In this article ‘What’s in Your Dog Food??’ there are a lot of twists and turns. Section 8 is 'The First Five Ingredients'. From grizzly aspects to simply baffling ones information on your dog label should be transparent. But it is not. The sections to come will continue to explore the complexities and the information of how too much or too little of a product can affect the absorption or not of vitamins and other unexpected consequences of how ingredients are blended together. What would seem as simple and basic as healthy elements in the first five ingredients may not be the case. It is the consumer’s understanding of more than simply a list of product on a paper label that will shed light on this murky subject and what your dog is really eating. Go to http://www.2cutehavanese.net/our-blog-kiwis-korner.html. SECTION 8 : THE FIRST FIVE INGREDIENTS Of course the first five ingredients are the most important because on a label the order of listed ingredient is by weight. The tough thing about labels these days is that they seem to go on, and on, and on. If that was not enough some of ingredients appear to be escapees from chemistry lab rather than a kitchen, farm or market. It is unfortunate that in order to read the label this writer had to not only define the words but have some understanding of the process or significance associated with the item rather or not it was good, bad or conditional. Understanding the label led to a lot of notes. This cannot be easily boiled down to a simple answer because of the interaction between the components: if there is too little, too much, heated too much or not enough, processed once or twice or twisted around to be recycled. Some of the side effects of the ingredients are just now coming to light as there is constant change in the industry as newer, better ingredients take center stage on a regular basis to appeal to the greatest number of consumers searching for the better product. Another aspect is that an ingredient may be better in lesser quantity than in the first five listed. The example below is only a comparison of labels information and not a reflection of quality with the exception of the Unnamed column which shows a truly awful product composition of a true and existing dog food. Highlighted are some of the ingredients in question. First Five Ingredient Example: (8/16) Fromm Gold Adult 1. Duck, 2. Chicken Meal, 3. Chicken, 4. Brown Rice, 5. Pearled Barley Wysong Epigen Adult 1. Organic Chicken, 2. Chicken Meal, 3. Turkey Meal, 4. Potato protein, 5. meat protein isolate Royal Canin Mini Adult 1. Chicken Meal, 2. Turkey Meal, 3. Corn, 4. corn gluten mean, 5. chicken fat Blackwood Original 1. Chicken Meal, 2. ground corn, 3. brown rice, 4. chicken fat, 5. oats groats Unnamed 1. ground yellow corn, 2 meat and bone meal, 3. soybean meal, 4. chicken-by- product (chicken flavoring) , 5. animal fat (preserved with BHA & citric acid) Check out your dog food at https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/ Reviews. Wonderful site. Best Protein. Proteins can come from several sources but the most digestible protein comes from eggs, organ meats and muscle. With proteins meat is more digestible and has a better biological value over vegetable protein which makes offering pets a vegan diet a very serious challenge. The best sources for amino acids (protein foundations) are egg, meat and fish. Quick Look Value: 100 lbs of chicken = 18 lbs of protein vs. 100 lbs of chicken meal = 65 lbs of protein The cost of using chicken vs. chicken meal is at least 3.6 x and higher according to other sources because of the handling cost (raw product). This explains why an increase in ‘meals’. The shell game of ingredients begins. Summary (pgs 13-14) 1. The importance of the first five ingredients on a label 2. Reading a label and understanding what is not printed 3. Real Label Examples with better and lesser choices 4. Best Proteins and the ingredient ‘shell’ game into Next time: The Mystery of Dog Food Ingredients **************************************** SECTION 7 of our series, ‘What’s In Your Dog Food??’ is about blood sugar and verifying information on your dog food label regarding how your dog food affects your dog. Really this section should be called ‘The Mores’ which has to do with more carbs equating to possibly more systemic problems for your dog now and as he/she ages. This section is an introduction to why looking at the carbs, blood sugar and considering why this nutritional information is so important while remembering everything is about source, purity and processing. Thank you for reading on! http://www.2cutehavanese.net/our-blog-kiwis-korner.html GLYCEMIC LEVEL (Blood Glucose/Sugar) – What is it and why is it so important. One measure of the degree carbohydrates raise the blood sugar compared to pure sugar/glucose (100) is called the glycemic index or (GI). The scale is 1 - 100. The faster a carbohydrate breaks down the higher the GI - the greater the GI the ‘mores’. More possibilities exist for diabetes, weight issues and other diseases related to the body having to produce a higher rather than lower insulin level when the GI is higher. This index is not based on a canine metabolism but a human one; however, it is used because of the similarities in glucose reactions to the breakdown of carbohydrates. The glycemic load (GL) is the measurement of the amount of carbs in a food and its GI to measure more accurately the blood glucose increase than just the GI where the glycemic index is a number assigned to how quickly/slowly a food can increase blood sugar (blood glucose level). When looking at glycemic information it is important to remember the two major aspects of this subject 1) the effect of high/low glycemic levels on the body and 2) the levels of high/low glycemic levels found in pet foods. Things that affect the GI include the type of fiber ingredient, how processed the grain, beans or seeds are. The combination of foods (protein, fat, etc.) and the even the dog’s premeal blood sugar can further affect the GI. Fiber levels/control becomes really important with regards to glycemic control. There is a lot of controversy about how dry dog food kibble is made and sugar effects. “As a species, dog and cats are evolutionarily designed to utilize animal proteins and fat as their primary fuel, with Low Glycemic fruits and vegetables as a secondary fuel. It is important to include Low Glycemic species-friendly fruits and vegetables in the canine and feline pet foods” (for more on this topic go to http://www.gripetfoods.com/index.htm). Meat or fat alone does not increase blood glucose. Fat slows down digestion but for heart health the kind of fat needs to be considered perhaps without regard to the GI level which is why it is important to consider the source or purity of the fat origin. When looking at dog food it is critical to remember “the form of an ingredient and the process used to prepare it have a direct effect on the GI of a food” - Low Glycemic Pet Foods: Help or Hype? October 10, 2013 by smileydog. This is true for not only carbs like potatoes but also meats and grains such as oats. Free feeding with regard to Havanese helps the dog to eat on his/her schedule and we believe that with a good dog food, the dog’s blood sugar will stay on a more even keel since Havanese usually nibble throughout the day. SOME NUTRITION FORMULAS Here are some of the formulas regarding different aspects of nutrition: Calorie content = 3688 kcal/kg; If a treat weighs 10 grams apiece, the calories per treat = 3688/1000 X 10 = 36.9 kcal/treat; If a food weighs 120 grams per cup, the calories per cup = 3688/1000 X 120 = 442.6 kcal/cup Digestibility - Reference egg white is ‘1’. There are charts available listing digestibility food ratings. Glycemic Load = GI x Grams of Carb/100 (the higher/more: over 20 and more increases less healthy) Metabolizable Energy (ME) = [(3.5 X crude protein) + (8.5 X crude fat) + (3.5 X nitrogen-free extract)] x 10 Nitrogen-Free Extract (NFE) = 100 – (crude protein + crude fat + crude fiber + moisture + ash) Resting Energy Rate. For those who want to pin down specific details of your dog’s nutritional needs, look to the Dog Food Guru’s article for more details but Carlotta Cooper introduced me to “daily maintenance energy requirements” and the formula to figure that out being dog’s weight (kg) x 70 = RER (Resting Energy Rate). To get your dog’s weight in kilos use a conversion program on your computer or lb/2.2=kilo. She deals with additional factors other than age in a Table. Biological Value. This is an important formula to understand “how nutritious a protein is to the animal.”- http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/judging-protein-quality/ . This formula: BV = (protein used/protein available) x 100 This formula allows you to look at the dog food you choose and understand how digestible the protein is in the dog food because the higher the BV, the more digestible. A table with all the BV of eggs, fish meal, beef, milk and more is found in the above mentioned article Judging the Biological Value of Dog Food Protein. Summary (pgs 11-12) 1. Glycemic Level 101 and its importance 2. What affects the GI 3. The purity or form of ingredients 4. Nutritional Formulas Next time: The First Five Ingredients ************************************************** SECTION 6 This section begins with digestibility of dog food. It is more than how well the dog food is absorbed. It is actually one of the keys to a healthier life for your dog. Exploring this one aspect of dog food gives you foundational information about what you are really feeding your dog. Hopefully if you understand why digestibility is important, you will begin to have a better opportunity to help your dog have the best senior days including all those days between now and then. ASPECTS OF DOG FOOD DIGESTIBLITY Digestibility is a term to become familiar with if you do not know it now. It would be easy to assume that if it was sold as dog food it is digestible, right? For the lay person (like me) simply being digestible is misleading because digestibility by itself really does not necessarily equate to an acceptable quality food. Why? For many reasons. A major reason for good digestibility has to do with glycemic index (GI) or how a food affects the blood glucose/sugar level. It means how quickly a food is absorbed into the bloodstream. Secondly, nutrient bioavailability is the amount of nutrients absorb and available. A number between 1- 100 is assigned for digestibility. The higher the number the ‘mores’ happen – more rapid rise in blood sugar, more insulin needed by the body and often, more weight for the animal to carry. The less processed a food, the greater digestibility and the lower the G.I. which means a lower sugar for the pet. It is not a number given on the label but a term that encompasses the manufacturer’s choice of product, source and processing and the quality of their choices. If a food is easily digested, it has a lower effect on the blood glucose level which in turn can relate the level of insulin production connecting the process to the likelihood or not of diabetes, an increasing occurrence in dogs so much so as to be considered a canine epidemic. Dog food companies employ several formulas for digestibility along with food trials. The formula uses the percentage of crude protein on the label and the rest of the ingredients. The article, ‘The Importance of Pet Food Digestibility and Palatability’ by the Cameron County, PA, S.P.C.A., details how one formula is used with excellent other information. The problem involves the source or quality of the protein and the other ingredients so it is possible to have a high protein level and a low digestibility score or very little nutrition. Egg white is numbered as 1 in digestibility and there are tables that list different food and their digestibility numbers. A basic, very simple universal thought here is to buy a quality dog food that gives information about quality sources used. The metabolized energy (ME) is the energy value and requirements of dogs and cats. It is the amount of energy your pet needs after it has digested and eliminated (pooed, etc.) all that it has initially absorbed from eating. This is another term to be aware of since a higher ME means a better use of the food with less waste (poo) but although a higher number means a higher concentration of calories and protein source matter should always be examined. OBESITY & EPIDEMIC CONCERNS Over 55% of dogs and 57% of cats are overweight according to a BAERC staff blog (http://baerc.com/blog/recognizing-the-early-warns-signs-of-pet-diabetes/[2015].) Some numbers regarding obesity have been lower but the undeniable truth is that many of our pets are facing a health crisis. Healthy weight management is only one part digestibility, too. The greater Glycemic Index reflects the wider range and depth of difficulties which may occur as your pet ages such as weight issues. Dogs and cats do not digest or metabolize some things the same as humans. Other canine epidemic concerns are cancers, heart, kidney and liver disease. Some of the higher glycemic problems in our pets today can be laid directly at the door of how the carbohydrates are managed in dog food. The ‘Why?’ to this concern of increased ailments is something we are going to keep in mind as we look into the pet food industry. This is by no means a medical article but escalating maladies regarding our pets is a seemingly systemic relationship to manufactured product of the pet food industry today and higher carbohydrates and/or poor protein selection. Summary (pgs 9-10) 1. Why digestibility is important 2. Quality/Source of Protein Issue 3. Obesity Epidemic and other silent epidemic concerns 4. Source of nutritional Glycemic Problems Next Time Section 7: Glycemic Level and Formulas *********************************************** Section 5 We began a series titled “What’s in Your Dog’s Food?” This is Section 5 and very brief. This does not mean the street address of the company you purchase your dog food but a broader peek at where the product originates and is assembled. This is a very short introduction to forth coming information which delves into exactly what is the origin of product and looking more closely at its location and its organic source. Taking a moment to look at dog food recalls can be an eye opener. ORIGIN of PRODUCTION Having 100% product made in the U.S.A. is doubtful these days. It is very important to us to support American manufacturers. Not only is buying American patriotic it is a better product generally. One problem with this is the way manufacturers can bring component product from sources outside of the United States and incorporate it into their product for a final sales and claim made in the U.S.A. Many companies are in fact distributors of overseas entities or companies who have resided in the U.S. but moved off shore. There are a few countries such as Ireland which has a very high standard for their pet products. Knowing the wrong places is as important as the right places out of the U.S. We are not providing an in depth coverage of dog food component production here because it is a huge subject. Please examine carefully any product for your dog steering away from “Distributed by . . .” and examine the sources of the U.S. manufacturer. Treats are particularly subject for undesirable ingredients. RECALLS The number of recalls throughout the year in the dog food industry is surprising. No company is exempt from issuing recalls so it is a good idea to check it out for yourself the most recent information via the internet regarding this topic. You probably will never hear of many recalls specifically. Recently a well-known brand (7/16) was taken to task for advertising longer life with their product. The claim is reportedly false. Sometimes the company involved with the recall or issue will be a surprise. How many recalls, if any, has your dog food company had and why? Summary (pg 8) Section 5 1. Origin of component 2. Where product is put together 3. Distributors 4. Recalls - check them out Next time: Aspects of Dog Food ****************************************** Section 4 MARKETING ‘Human Consumption’ is not actually a FDA term but a marketing one. ‘Human grade’ edible product goes through 100 manufacturing and quality control regulations. Feed is the term and product used for our livestock and some dog food that is not for human consumption which contains things further discussed under “By-Products” and undergoes through only 15 manufacturing and quality control regulations. It is important to remember, as it seems with so much involved with the dog food industry, things may not be what they seem. While the comparative number of manufacturing and quality control regulations either of these products undergo is interesting, it is only a small part of the differences between ‘food’ and ‘feed.’ It is a very wiggly line between the two and it blurs. In 2003 Animal Feed Safety Program was launched for improving livestock feed. In August 2015 the FDA declined to continue to review or enforce pre-market claims of “human grade” on pet food labels. The AAFCO established new guidelines in January 2016 for handling “Human Grade” ingredients in accordance to existing guidelines/FDA regulations for human edible foods (see 21 CFR 117). Rules were upgraded for handling meat for pet food. On some brands there is a notation stating “100 % Complete and Balanced” by the Assoc. of American Feed Control Officials - AAFCO - it must meet the guidelines of having been through actual AAFCO Feeding Trial Protocols to provide proper nutrition. Initially it may seem that this is a validation to attain, well, maybe not so much. It is only a six month program where the product provided undergoes testing. The general product is ‘Complete and Balanced’ or may not be for all stages of a dog’s life unless specifically labelled for puppies or other life/breed information. The formula may match the label only at that time. As of 11/10/15 the FDA enacted Current Good Manufacturing Practices and Hazard Analysis and Preventive Controls for Food for Animals under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) listed important points of the huge new rule including FDA changes based on AFIA recommendations and other industry related parties. Where there are developing and evolving practices to improved pet food, this article deals solely with today’s product and standard practices. It has come to pass for this writer that there is a great confusion and misdirection for the consumer by the pet food industry to hide or avoid the issues of source quality, digestibility, nutritional value, some out and out fraud with regards to labeling or overall product quality. Part of the problem is the way the material is written. It is difficult to decipher the ingredients on a label for this layperson. There is a slippery slope of processing, selection, origin and choice of ingredient between the quality pet food producers and the lowest of the low pet food producers greased with the financial bottom line of profitability. Next time we will take a closer look at why it is important to consider the processing and origins of the ingredients. Summary (pgs 6-7) 1. Marketing and “Human Grade” 2. Matching the label to the ingredients 3. The FDA (11/15) launches new practices 4. Misdirection, fraud, origin of ingredients Next time: Origin of Production and Recalls*********************************************** SECTION III MAKING DOG FOOD THE PET FOOD INDUSTRY ( A small look into this complicated world.) BEGINNINGS: FDA AND ASSOCIATED AGENCIES Understanding some of the history of animal feed in the United States has bearing today. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Nutrient Profiles sets the minimal standards for pet food and feed for livestock today. Under Abraham Lincoln in 1862, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was created. In 1909 the Association of American Feed Control Officials was established to create a uniform model of minimally required daily nutrition (feed) for livestock. This model has a bearing on pet food today. Part of that original model was mindful of fatting up ‘product’ quickly to go to the slaughterhouse in a minimal fashion such as in weeks. It was a model for a process mindful of time restrictions, production and cost. This limited view of nutrition comes into play one way today because by itself, it did not look at several things with regard to longevity or several years in a pet’s life of good health, nutrition based of life stage, breed, etc., and other things that were not part of the model years ago. As an offshoot, the Pet Food Committee began in the 1950’s establishing a new variant of livestock feed to be determined as ‘pet food’ detailing differences in ingredients, sources and especially the handling of those ingredients. It was heavily influenced by the pre-existing standard for feeding livestock. Today there has been change to support various life stages, etc. LABELING There is a surprisingly fascinating and an unsuspectedly action packed article about the history behind labeling at http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WhatWeDo/History/Overviews/ucm056044.htm. It is about the struggle and at times ugly fights through the 1900’s for a more realistic label we take for granted now. The history includes public outrage at the deaths involved with false labelling, scientists fighting for poisons to be recognized in product, a “poison squad”, exposure of the unsanitary meat-packing industry in Chicago and lot more. The article is ‘The Story of the Laws Behind the Labels’ by Wallace F Janseen. There are several interesting smaller stories in the article including a reference to William Carter, a black man, who began in 1902 as a cook with the FDA, earned his degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and continued to work for the FDA. He was with the FDA for 43 years. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began under another name in 1848 but became the FDA in 1931. It had started regulating food, more so, with the passage of the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act. If you have the time to read Mr. Janseen’s article, it is well worth the read. Today it is the AAFCO seen in references and it is the AAFCO model for a dog food label. The AAFCO has an Official Publication (OP) regarding dogs and cats where nutrient needs and feeding protocols are detailed. It is the standard pet food manufacturers must use. The AAFCO operates under and works with the FDA, USDA and state regulations but it is not a government agency but rather referred to as a volunteer agency. The National Research Council of the United States National Academy of Science (NRC) has differing views from the AAFCO and is influential regarding pet food nutrition. It is the FDA which regulates pet food although the dog food companies have a lot of leeway. It is their responsibility to have their product match the AAFCO standards. Pet food companies have the choice of how and where the components of their ingredients are found or chosen. There is also the practice of substitution of ingredients that is common and the label will not reflect the change. Changing the label to be accurate is not immediately required. The state regulates rather or not a pet food is in compliance and correctly labeled. Summary (pgs 4-5) 1. Making Dog Food: Industry Beginings 2. Original uniformed model, limitations, etc. 3. The establishment of labeling and the colorful history 4. Roles: The AAFCO and its role. The role of pet food companies (intro) and regulation/choices Next time: Marketing ************************************************************* SECTION II PORTION The Havanese is part of the Toy Class of dog which means it is not a bigger dog like a Labrador and does not have the same nutritional needs. The calorie content of dog food is dependent upon three parts: carbohydrate count, the amount of crude fat and crude protein. The carbs are estimated by using a formula to calculate the nitrogen-free-extract (NFE) in a product. NFE consist of the carbs, starches, sugars and most plant based sugars for fiber used as thickeners. It is interesting there is not a nutrient formula for the pet food. Dr. Jennifer Coates has a great article about this in PETMD and sums up the differences succinctly, a “small dog requires 40 calories/pound, while his large breed friend needs only 22.5 calories/pound.” With small stomachs the food has to be richer in calories and of course, a nutritionally rounded food. Portion wise it is about ½ - 1 ¼ cups twice daily, the recommended amount but we feel differently about portions given on a schedule. Excess calories can come from protein, fat or carbohydrates resulting in fat and other problems for the dog especially if badly sourced ingredients in the form of fillers for the manufacturer. Puppies need protein to be about ¼ or 22 - 32% of the calories. We suggest about 28 - 30%. Adults need about 15 - 30 % protein. Today it is popularly suggested adults need about 48% carbs. Fiber (less digestible* carbs) can be a concern because too many carbohydrates become a filler (intense problem) causing diarrhea, more poos, and a host of physical issues long and short term which are largely sugar related. Adult Havanese need about 16% fat . These numbers change some as your dog ages. Essential Vitamins and Minerals round off the list of ingredients. Dogs cannot produce their own vitamins or minerals so they must get them via their dog food. We free feed our dogs meaning they have access to food whenever they want it 24/7. Why? Havanese’ metabolism is like a hummingbird’s, very high, and our Havanese nibble all day long without a weight issue. Secondly, low blood sugar or hypoglycemia is not a problem because they eat on their schedule and no one else’s. They eat when they want to so they are not prone to scarf down food, inhaling air at the same time resulting in flatulence and other digestive issues. Summary (pg 3) 1. What a portion means nutritionally for a Havanese 2. Puppy vs. Adult nutritional needs 3. Free Feeding and why Next time: Making Dog Food********************************************************* “What’s In Your Dog Food?” THE BEGINNING SECTION I We wanted to answer some questions about our dog food because we get asked all the time which brand we use. Of course it is not just about the brand. This article was supposed to be a fairly straight forward support piece about commercial dog food but it has become one of the most disturbing, informative articles we have given. Things like how fast a dog’s temperature can get out of hand when left in a hot car is disturbing but it is factual information based, straight forward and simple components. The dog food industry is not a simple starting point. Some dog food components are not transparent or even factual in some cases. This is an article about sleuthing. There are questions of transparency, the money trail and core choices. I wish accountability could be incorporated in this article but it is not. We have taken two approaches to looking at dog food. One approach examines the recipient - the dog - and the other takes a look at the commercial process of making dog food and resulting product. The trail is a long and convoluted path I hope you will follow all the way through to its end. For those of you who are only looking for a short answer here it is: Protein 30% Fat 16% Fromm’s is our best choice. https://frommfamily.com/retailers/usa/#progress=3 (Hollywood Feed, Paws Dog, Pet Supplies Plus, Woof, Pappy Pet Lodge to name a few. The manufacturer can direct ship to your home. See home page.) The details of ingredients to avoid are further in this report. THE DOG We are looking at Havanese, of course, and concentrating on the 1st year of a healthy, intact or altered dog. Havanese belong to a group of dogs referred to as a ‘Toy’ which means a smaller dog usually under 20 lbs. with the great majority of dogs under 12 lbs. World-wide there are over some 380 smaller breeds. AKC recognizes only 180 of them but it is in the process of adding to the list. From the smallest of the small called ‘Teacup’ to the larger of the Toy breeds these dogs have nutritional needs not shared with their larger cousins. TYPES OF DOG FOOD There are several different basic types of dog food. We considered freshly made food, raw food, vegetarian diet, commercial (general) , grain-free or some of other the multiple choices. Did you know there are over 4100 of dog food varieties to look at? You could spend a major part of time just looking at all the choices. The next alternative choice about dog food is whether or not to have a grain or grain free food. Some dogs have grain allergies. Many people believe grain free food eliminates some of the trouble with food allergies, rise in cancer and diabetes over a dog‘s lifetime. We narrowed our parameters to include mostly a better quality, regular and grain-free commercial made dog foods. We looked at lower grades for comparison purposes. NUTRITION Let’s start with what any a dog needs in a dog food. Dogs need protein (20-32%), Fats (8-20%), Minerals, Vitamins and Water. Notice anything missing? Yes, carbohydrates are not in the list because your dog does not actually need them. What is interesting is that in today’s commercial dog food the carbohydrates are about 46-74% where in the past the percentage was closer to a 14% rate. So today most references will say yes, dogs need carbohydrates in their diet from fruits, grains and veggies. It is really important when looking at ingredients to keep in mind the importance of digestibility, how they affect the sugar glucose and the purity of the source by examining how processed an ingredient is including the quality and advisability of the source. These aspects of component ingredients affect the long term health of your dog. The way the ingredients are chosen, handled and processed is a large part of how a company will manage their profit margins extending their expense to you. The whole product becomes a reflection of the manufacturer’s choices and standards. A healthier dog food label would have a lot of high quality of protein meaning only muscle meat; fresh veggies would be there with no grains! Dogs do not need grains, especially potatoes or other starches to compensate for meat/protein content. A little bit of fresh veggies and fruit and high moisture content is alright. A level of animal fat and protein percentage appropriate to the breed in our opinion is 16% fat / 30 % protein. While this is our opinion there are certainly other differing opinions about grains, fruits and a host of other ingredients, each with their own qualifiers. By using a commercial product there is the whole product you get versus picking out only the best parts. The choice you have is one unit that will be so important over a multi-year period. Nutritionally, smaller dogs need more quality calories, higher level of fats and protein than their larger friends. Nutrition should not just be left to size alone because there are other serious factors that will affect the choices made. For the Toy Group those factors include stage of life or age, activity level, intact or not (spayed/neutered), pregnant or nursing, and overall health. We are also looking at a commercial dry dog food (kibble) versus canned (wet), homemade or raw food. Summary (pgs 1-2) 1. Our choice for best dog food: Fromm’s Protein 30% Fat 16 % 2. Looking at the nutritional needs of a Havanese. 3. Choosing to examine a better quality, regular and grain-free commercial dog food. 4. Increased carbs, component ingredients, digestibility and good health Next time: Portion ***********************************
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