Most pet owners don't give a second thought to what they feed their cat or dog. In fact, many pet owners don't give a second thought to what they feed their children or even themselves.
Let's face it--we're not doing a really good job of taking care of ourselves. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other nutrition-related diseases have reached epidemic proportions in the United States.
These diseases are also taking a toll on our pets. In fact, in the United States, obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in dogs and cats. If we can't even take care of ourselves, how are we supposed to take care of our pets?
While the first commercially available pet food was created in 1860, the modern era of dry pet food manufacturing began in 1957 when the Raltson Purina Company of St.Loius, MO introduced the first extruded dog and cat foods called Dog Chow and Cat Chow.
Depending on who you ask, the beginning of commercially available pet food can be positively related to the increased lifespan and reduced mortality rates of our companion pets. However, there are others who believe these same commercial diets have played a major role in the increased incidence of diseases such as feline diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
Many owners appreciate the convenience and simplicity of commercial pet food. For the majority of us, it can be hard enough to prepare a balanced meal for our human families on a daily basis, let alone one for our pets. Dogs and cats also have different nutrient requirements than humans which can make things a bit more complicated.
During the past seven years I've worked as veterinary technician, I've always had a strong interest in dog and cat nutrition. I thought I was doing enough to benefit the lives of companion animals by studying the many types of diets recommended by those pet food manufacturers associated with the veterinary industry.
It wasn't until I began learning more about the human food industry that I realized how limited my previous education on pet nutrition had been. I quickly learned that there is more to pet nutrition than what Hills, Purina, and Waltham have to offer. Very few veterinarians have yet to experience this epiphany.
Anyone interested in how health relates to nutrition should take the time to read Marion Nestle's book, Food Politics. Although written for the human food industry, there are many sections that remind me of the pet food industry.
On page 30, Nestle writes (she's not related to the famous name), "Nutrition advice might be less confusing and far less controversial if it were based solely on scientific knowledge, but research studies are subject to interpretation. Dietary guidelines necessarily are political compromises between what science tells us about nutrition and health and what is good for the food industry."
Granted, I've never worked within the pet food industry or claim to know everything about its politics. However, I've worked in the veterinary industry long enough to see how the major pet food manufacturers market their products.
I'm not writing this book with the goal of bashing anyone's reputation or to make the large pet food manufacturers appear greedy or selfish. There's enough of that happening already. I'm creating this book with the goal of helping pet owners make more educated decisions when it comes to feeding their pets commercial pet food. I also want to use the book as a tool and credible resource to help veterinarians learn and teach their clients about nutrition.
Pet owners often receive advice like, "Feed your pet a high-quality diet."
The problem is, "high-quality" means different things to different people and leaves a lot open to debate. At a recent nutrition conference when asked for a definition of "high-quaility", an accredited veterinary nutritionist responsed with, "A high-quality diet is one that is complete, balanced, palatable, digestable, and safe."
While this does seem to cover all the bases for those who are already knowledgeable about the subject, it hardly helps a pet owner who may be standing in the middle of the pet store staring at hundreds of labels of pet food! I hope by reading this book you'll gain a better understanding of commercial pet food. While many believe that home-prepared diets are the only way to go--this option simply isn't pratical for many pet owners.
It's also important to remember that there simply isn't a pet food out there that offers high-quality nutrition to all pets. Like people, pets are individuals and have different needs. ONE DIET DOES NOT FIT ALL! Our beloved Internet can be a virtual breeding ground for nutritional misinformation and I'll dispel many myths associated with commercial pet food. We'll also learn how pet food is regulated and marketed and how this can influence the choices you make for your pet.
You may even learn a thing or two about how to improve your own health through proper nutrition! If you'd like to learn more about pet nutrition while I finish writing the book please visit the Pet Food Bible blog for more information.
Please note:
I am not a veterinarian nor do I claim to have knowledge equivalent to that of a veterinarian or an accredited veterinary nutritionist. My advice is not to be used as a substitute for a discussion with your personal veterinarian but instead should be used in conjunction with his/her professional opinion.
