Comments on: Commercial Dog Food Myth BustersThe Ingredient List http://www.petfoodbible.com/blog/2007/03/26/commercial-pet-food-myth-busters-the-ingredient-list/ by Amanda K. Jones, BS, LVT Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:55:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Ami http://www.petfoodbible.com/blog/2007/03/26/commercial-pet-food-myth-busters-the-ingredient-list/#comment-11 Ami Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:17:16 +0000 http://www.petfoodbible.com/blog/2007/03/26/commercial-pet-food-myth-busters-the-ingredient-list/#comment-11 Would you mind re-figuring these numbers for a cat? I think it is misleading not to mention that other animals may have different requirements. You have written the article about "pet foods," not "dog foods," but then only include requirements of a dog. Cats and dogs have completely different requirements. Lots of people with cats are not very aware of this (as are not a lot of vets actually). Many cat foods have as much as 45-50% or more protein (dry matter), and the ones with only around, say, 35% (depending on fat content) can have carb levels way higher than any cat in the wild would ever eat. I have a lot of experience with diabetic cats and many of them go into remission by doing nothing but changing back to one of the foods with the 50%+ protein and less carbs. (No, I haven't conducted a "study," but watching this happen hundreds of times I think constitutes some form of overwhelming evidence.) Even Hill's K/D for cats does not have protein levels as low as 20%! If this is only for dogs, stop referring to it as "pet food" and make sure you always call it "dog food" -- or make sure you include information for cats as well. (Hopefully bird owners are smart enough to realize you weren't referring to birds, but you never know.) Would you mind re-figuring these numbers for a cat? I think it is misleading not to mention that other animals may have different requirements. You have written the article about “pet foods,” not “dog foods,” but then only include requirements of a dog. Cats and dogs have completely different requirements. Lots of people with cats are not very aware of this (as are not a lot of vets actually). Many cat foods have as much as 45-50% or more protein (dry matter), and the ones with only around, say, 35% (depending on fat content) can have carb levels way higher than any cat in the wild would ever eat. I have a lot of experience with diabetic cats and many of them go into remission by doing nothing but changing back to one of the foods with the 50%+ protein and less carbs. (No, I haven’t conducted a “study,” but watching this happen hundreds of times I think constitutes some form of overwhelming evidence.) Even Hill’s K/D for cats does not have protein levels as low as 20%! If this is only for dogs, stop referring to it as “pet food” and make sure you always call it “dog food” — or make sure you include information for cats as well. (Hopefully bird owners are smart enough to realize you weren’t referring to birds, but you never know.)

]]> By: Amanda http://www.petfoodbible.com/blog/2007/03/26/commercial-pet-food-myth-busters-the-ingredient-list/#comment-12 Amanda Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:33:32 +0000 http://www.petfoodbible.com/blog/2007/03/26/commercial-pet-food-myth-busters-the-ingredient-list/#comment-12 Hi Ami, Thanks for your comments. You're right--the title is probably a bit misleading and I'm actually glad you pointed it out. I've changed the post a bit. I'll have to be more careful about that in the future. :) The protein requirement for feline maintenance is twice that of adult dogs so therefore the carbohydrate requirement would be less. As you know, because of their metabolism cats have little ability to adapt to low levels of dietary protein. However, protein in excess of needs is rapidly broken down for energy and to maintain blood glucose levels. Any excess energy will be stored as fat. So like dogs, there is no benefit to feeding large protein excesses to cats. I agree with you that some diabetic cats can be managed by simply altering the diet but of course that's a whole different ballgame than dealing with "normal" cats. Carbohydrate feeding does not cause diabetes just as feeding high protein does not cause renal disease. Yes, in diabetics and animals with renal disease, these nutrients are lowered in the diet to help manage the metabolic problem. However, at the same time, feeding a high fat and protein diet is feeding excessive calories, and cats that are already overweight/obese are at risk for developing diabetes due to the added fat weight. Just another reason to make sure our cats stay fit and trim. :) Hi Ami,

Thanks for your comments. You’re right–the title is probably a bit misleading and I’m actually glad you pointed it out. I’ve changed the post a bit. I’ll have to be more careful about that in the future. :) The protein requirement for feline maintenance is twice that of adult dogs so therefore the carbohydrate requirement would be less.

As you know, because of their metabolism cats have little ability to adapt to low levels of dietary protein. However, protein in excess of needs is rapidly broken down for energy and to maintain blood glucose levels. Any excess energy will be stored as fat. So like dogs, there is no benefit to feeding large protein excesses to cats.

I agree with you that some diabetic cats can be managed by simply altering the diet but of course that’s a whole different ballgame than dealing with “normal” cats.

Carbohydrate feeding does not cause diabetes just as feeding high protein does not cause renal disease. Yes, in diabetics and animals with renal disease, these nutrients are lowered in the diet to help manage the metabolic problem. However, at the same time, feeding a high fat and protein diet is feeding excessive calories, and cats that are already overweight/obese are at risk for developing diabetes due to the added fat weight.

Just another reason to make sure our cats stay fit and trim. :)

]]> By: Jan Smothers http://www.petfoodbible.com/blog/2007/03/26/commercial-pet-food-myth-busters-the-ingredient-list/#comment-99 Jan Smothers Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:34:46 +0000 http://www.petfoodbible.com/blog/2007/03/26/commercial-pet-food-myth-busters-the-ingredient-list/#comment-99 <strong>Jan Smothers...</strong> My wife and I stopped eating in restaurants and starting cooking at home. Two things immediately happened, we saved a lot of money and we gained weight! The food tasted so good that we ate more. Now we\'ve cut back on portion size and have started to... Jan Smothers…

My wife and I stopped eating in restaurants and starting cooking at home. Two things immediately happened, we saved a lot of money and we gained weight! The food tasted so good that we ate more. Now we\’ve cut back on portion size and have started to…

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