Whole Foods Market

Friends, companions, always eager to see you no matter what mistakes you
made that day...the unconditional love from pets knows no bounds. Good
friends deserve the best, and that includes providing them with the best
food possible. 

A good, well-balanced diet must supply sufficient energy to meet the
pet's needs, be nutritionally adequate, provide balanced nutrients in
proportion to calories, consist of usable nutrients, and, of course, be
acceptable to the pet. Nutrient needs vary according to the specific
type of animal, its age, weight, activity level, environment,
temperament, and health status.


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Reading The Labels

Commercial pet foods became available about 70 years ago in the United
States partly as a way to use products generally considered unsavory for
human consumption. Early dog foods based on horse meat were sold
straight from a town's local rendering plant. Since then, minimum
standards of nutritional requirements for pets have been set by the
government National Research Council (NRC). Foods labeled "nutritionally
complete and balanced" indicate that the NRC's minimum requirements have
been met or exceeded. Of even more significance is the product's claim
to have passed the voluntary feeding tests approved by the Association
of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). These tests insure that
beyond supplying certain percentages of nutrients, the food is
nutritionally adequate and usable to match the amounts listed for each
nutrient. 

By law, each ingredient must be listed on the product label in
descending order by weight to provide a general indication of the
product's contents and quality. Other listings which may appear on the
label include: "guaranteed analysis" which indicates the minimum/maximum
tolerances established for those nutrients, "average analysis" which
lists the actual percentage of each key nutrient, and "metabolized
energy" (ME) which measures the percentage of food content that can be
utilized by the pet. Ingredients used within the products are added
according to a "lease formula" or "line formula". Lease formulas are
made according to specifications demanded from the company under whose
label the pet food will be sold. A line formula pet food is made from a
variety of sources, chosen by the manufacturer, to maintain the label
requirements of the distributor. 


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Homemade Meals

Of course, all pet owners could take the time to make fresh, homemade
meals for their pets based on high quality, easily digestible foods.
However it would be very time consuming and involves a great deal of
knowledge and adherence to a nutritionally sound guide designed
specifically for pets. A diet of more than 10% table scraps (i.e.
leftovers from your plate) is not recommended since, even though it may
sustain you, it most likely lacks the nutritional balance needed by your
pet. Dedicated pet owners who even occasionally want to take the time
can find specific recipes for the particular age and situation of a pet
in books such as Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for
Dogs & Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M., Ph.D., and Susan Hubble
Pitcairn, or The Natural Cat by Anitra Frazier with Norma Eckroate. Rich
gravies, sweet desserts and candy, soda pop, alcohol, and spicy foods
must be avoided as they are very harmful to an animal's digestive
system. Even milk may cause diarrhea in both cats and dogs. Do not let
your pets chew on small bones since they may break and splinter
resulting in choking or internal injury. Avoid using too much
liveralthough an excellent food, too much can lead to vitamin A
toxicity. And, although cats are wild about tuna, too much of it can
cause vitamin E deficiency.


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Protein

Protein is necessary, but not the most important aspect in a pet's diet.
Even in the wild, the bones, hair, fat and grains within the stomach
would be eaten with as much gusto as the muscle tissue of its prey. Fats
and carbohydrates are needed to supply sufficient energy. Proteins, in
absence of fats and carbohydrates, can be converted into an energy
source, but only at great expense both to the digestive system of the
pet and the pocketbook of the animal's owner. 

What is important is that the supplied protein be of the utmost quality
and usability. The higher the biological value, the less amount of
protein is actually needed. As in human nutrition, biological value is
measured by the amount and proportion of essential amino acids, the
building blocks of protein that must be supplied by food. In addition to
the 8 or 9 essential amino acids required by humans, current thought is
that arginine (needed only in puppy stages) and taurine (needed by cats
to prevent degeneration of the retina) are considered essential in pet
nutrition. 

Both digestibility and biological value are important when evaluating a
source of protein. The "crude protein" listed in the guaranteed analysis
states the total amount of protein, but not necessarily how much is
utilized or of what value it is. Feathers and hair, which have 0%
digestibility are not allowed to be used. "Meat by-products" is a common
inexpensive protein source based on bonemeal and leftover meat products
that are not sold for human consumption. It may have between 50-100%
digestibility and varies in its nutrient proportions and bioavailability
due to its composition. "Poultry meal" or "poultry by-product meal"
refers to whole processed chickens (including feet and beaks, but no
feathers), that are dried and ground. There is nothing inherently wrong
in using these types of sources since an animal would normally eat
almost all the parts of its prey. In all states except California and
Florida, 4D animals (dead, disabled, dying, or diseased) may be used on
pet foods, though certain standards of safety must be met. Diseased
animals are used only if inspection shows the disease or damage is
isolated in certain areas which are then removed. The rest of the
material is rendered and cooked at extremely high temperatures to make
it virtually sterile, free of harmful bacteria and organisms. Since some
animals receive drugs such as antibiotics during various stages of their
lives, drug testing is done to detect the amount still present in the
meat.


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Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate quality and usability are also important. Sugar is often
used as a preservative and for palatability. Although sugar, corn syrup,
and other simple carbohydrates can supply calories, they are "empty
calories" devoid of any nutrient value and can result in hyperactive
pets as the sugar is quickly metabolized. Devitalized, partial grain
sources such as brewer's yeast and wheat middlings provide starch but
little vitamins and minerals. In contrast, complex carbohydrates as
found in cooked whole grains and vegetables provide sustained energy,
fiber, B vitamins, and trace minerals. 


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Fats

Fats, another energy source, need to come from quality, usable,
rancid-free fats. Essential fatty acids are important for healthy skin,
shiny coat, and for proper maintenance of the nervous system. Both
saturated and unsaturated fats are important. Chicken fat is higher in
essential fatty acids than fats from beef or lamb. Unsaturated fats from
corn oil and safflower oil are more suited for dogs, while cats, who
don't metabolize unsaturated fats as well, do better with olive oil.
Old, rancid fats create unstable chemical reactions in cell membranes
and alter cell duplication, resulting in decreased immunity and
premature aging. Fats oxidize quickly and need to be stabilized somehow,
but all too frequently, pet foods will include preservatives such as
BHA, a chemical shown to cause cancer and behavioral changes in rats.
Natural, effective alternatives to chemical preservatives include
vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E (d'alpha tocopherol), and the herb
rosemary.


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Additives

Other additives seen on some pet food labels include sodium nitrite,
artificial flavorings, and artificial colors. Sodium nitrite is used to
preserve color and inhibit the growth of bacteria that might otherwise
cause spoilage. Nitrites can react with other chemicals in foods to form
nitrosamines which, even in extremely small amounts, have caused cancer
in laboratory animals. The addition of vitamin C to a product containing
sodium nitrite appears to help prevent the formation of nitrosamines.
But, since pet foods can be made without sodium nitrite, it is easy to
avoid products containing it. 

Like sugar, artificial flavors are added to "hook" the animal on the
product's palatability. Many artificial flavorings have not been tested
for their long term effects which may include cancer, birth defects, and
mutations. A product will have no need for artificial flavors if it
actually includes the foods that the additive is trying to match.
"Poultry digest", "liver digest", and similar terms are natural
flavoring powders that are made by drying the liquid residue from
cooking the source material. 

Lack of research is also the reason to avoid artificial colors. The
presence of artificial colors is simply for owner appeal; dogs and cats
are color-blind.


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Dry or Canned?

Dry or canned food can be used equally as well. Pets will prefer the
type of texture they are most conditioned to receive. In fact, after a
steady diet of soft canned food, most animals will refuse dry kibble.
Canned food contains between 75-78% water. Because it is more easily
digestible than the dry, it is good for small puppies. Since it is the
most expensive source of pet food, many people use canned food as an
occasional treat or to act as a carrier for a supplement or medicine
that may be unpalatable on its own. Canned food can also be extended by
thinning it with more water to form a gravy to pour over dry kibble that
is being ignored. Dry kibble is the least expensive and the most
convenient pet food. Unlike canned food which will spoil if left in a
food bowl during the day, dry kibble can safely be left out for your
pets. Dry food is made in two basic waysexpanded (extruded), or baked.
The expanded process is a more modern, improved version of the hard
pellets that were originally used in dry pet foods. The protein and
grain sources are mixed with a vitamin/mineral premix, ground, and then
sent to the extruder. Within the extruder, steam is added to cook the
ingredients and to make them moist enough so that the resulting dough
can be pushed against a die to form the particular shape desired. Cats
are especially fond of star shapes while dogs, who are not as
particular, like virtually any shape. At this point, the kibble is dried
and screened to move excess crumbs from the whole material. Animal fat
and, quite often, flavorings are then sprayed on the dried kibble and it
is sent on to the bagging unit.

Baked kibble is make by mixing the ingredients into a dough and
spreading it on long sheets. After baking, the "biscuits" are broken up
into bite sized pieces. Because baked kibble has a lower moisture
content than expanded kibble, it is best to soak with a small amount of
hot water for a few minutes before serving to your pet. Soaked baked
kibble retains its firm texture without changing to a mushy consistency.


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Feline Facts

A diet too high in mineral content ("ash"), especially if it produces
high levels of magnesium in the presence of alkaline urine, is one of
the contributing factors of a serious group of disorders called feline
bladder disease or F.U.S. (Feline Urologic Syndrome). F.U.S. is a
serious disorder in which the excess minerals crystallize and irritate
the lining of the urinary tract, causing an inflammatory condition
called cystitis. In turn, the inflamed bladder produces mucus that binds
the crystals into extremely hard material which can plug the urethra. If
the urethra is not unblocked, the cat will die of toxic conditions
called uremia. Good quality cat food will address this potential problem
by keeping the ash and magnesium content to a minimum and by providing a
more acidic internal environment. The amount of mineral needed and
tolerated by dogs and cats is different, so in households which contain
both cats and dogs, cats should be discouraged from eating food left out
for the dog.

Unlike most animals, cats depend on protein as their primary energy
source and consequently need a great deal more protein than dogs and
less carbohydrates. Cats have different dietary needs during different
stages in their lives. Kittens need more of some nutrients and more
calories pound per pound than adult cats. Pregnant and nursing cats
require more protein and 2-3 times the calories needed by adult cats.


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Poochie Particulars

Similarly, dog dietary needs vary according to age and activity. A puppy
needs twice the nutrients and calories of an adult dog. Pregnant and
nursing females need more protein, vitamins, and certain minerals while
old dogs need more digestible foods, less vitamins, minerals, and
protein and lower sodium levels. Most dog food companies offer specific
formulas for puppies, adult foods for maturity to age 7, and senior
formulas for older dogs.


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Vegetarian?

Is it possible to feed a vegetarian diet to pets? Dogs and cats are
carnivores by nature and require concentrated sources of protein. Too
much food may be required for an animal to obtain all their protein from
plant sources. Cats, especially, will have a problem with a total
vegetarian diet since they are unable to convert beta-carotene from
vegetables into usable vitamin A. Their requirement for taurine is much
higher than can be supplied in plant protein. For guidance in preparing
healthy vegetarian meals that meet your pets nutritional requirements,
refer to the books listed under "Homemade Meals".


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Supplementation

If a complete and balanced commercially prepared food is used 90% of the
time, extra supplementation is unnecessary and could create imbalances.
However, certain conditions may require more nutrients. When homemade
pet food is prepared, it may be necessary to add extra vitamins and
minerals if specified in the advice given in the recipe or guide.

A tablespoon of corn oil or safflower oil can be added to both
commercial and homemade dog foods daily to help alleviate dry skin and
produce a shiny coat. A daily teaspoon of olive oil will achieve the
same purpose in cats. Small amounts of grated or finely chopped fresh
vegetables can "wake up" both dried and canned foods nutritionally and
flavor-wise. Take a hint from your cats and dogs who love to graze on
your household plants or garden. Sprouts, grated carrots, cooked root
vegetables- especially sweet potatoes are welcome additions. Instead of
tossing leftovers that seem too minuscule to bother storing for another
meal, puree and add them to your pet's next dinner. Figure on about 1
tablespoon of vegetables for cats and up to 1/4 cup for dogs. 

Brewer's yeast and garlic, a good source of B vitamins and protein, is a
famous combination reported to help deter fleas and other parasites by
both boosting the immune system and creating a smell that vermin hate!
If preferred, the combination is available in a pre-mixed powder and in
tablets which serve as a delicious treat that helps deter fleas at the
same time. 

Feed your pet nutritious, delicious foods free of sugar, artificial
flavors, colors, and preservatives that are based on high quality
proteins and whole grains. Read your labels. Pet foods that are too much
of a bargain are suspect. Support companies that are sincere enough
about quality control to check their source to insure only the best
quality, disease free meat and meat by-products. Along with plenty of
love, exercise, water, fresh air and sunshine, a good diet is what your
good friends deserve. 


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Whole Foods Market web pages (http://www.wholefoods.com/wf.html)
are maintained by The Whole Foods Market Communications Team

Copyright Whole Foods Market, 1995, wfm@wholefoods.com

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Reprinted (October 1995) with permission from Whole Foods Market

