The FDA is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about recalls of several dry dog foods after receiving complaints that dogs eating the food experienced vitamin D toxicity. Testing found that samples of the affected foods contained as much as 70 times the intended amount of vitamin D. Very high levels of vitamin D can cause serious health problems in dogs, such as kidney failure or death. Veterinarians should be aware that vitamin D toxicity may present as hypercalcemia, similar to dogs that have consumed a rodent killer.
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Why Is There Pentobarbital In Dog Food?
Recent recalls have uncovered a new concern regarding adulterants contained in dog food. The most recent case involves the recall of Evanger’s canned beef dog food. This opens up a new discussion regarding a variety of potential adulterants that can be traced to the lower quality diets. It brings up another concern I have over the disclosure of proper labeling and the unscrupulous tactics used to pull the wool over the eyes of the public. The amount of consumer complaints, the FDA recalls, and the misguided label claims are enough…
Read MoreTravelling with your pet?
Traveling With Your Pet By Monica Samson More people than ever before treat their pets with unconditional love and care. It is very common for pets to be welcomed into families not as a pet but as a member of the family. Pet owners are eager to take their pets out on family vacations as well. With this growing number of traveling dog’s we have also seen a spike in pet friendly hotels. More than ever, pet owners are willing to take their pets on an international vacation too! Hotels.com…
Read MoreWhat to do when your pooch is a finicky eater
By Robert Mueller The majority of pet owners are used to their pet‘s gulping their meals down and begging for more, especially when it’s scraps from the table or certain kibbles (loaded with flavor-enhancing agents). They could never even imagine their pet turning their nose up at any “food” let alone a raw diet. However, it’s not uncommon for your dog to become picky when switching to a raw diet. Don’t let the cute face fool you. Let me explain. I have been raw feeding for over 40 years. I…
Read MoreCanine Cancer Cuisine
Canine Cancer Cuisine There are no ten commandments or easy-to-follow plans for feeding an animal with cancer, but healthy and tempting cuisine is a good place to start for canines with cancer. Written by Suzi Beber | Photography by Julie Austin One diet does not fit all, and what works well today may not be tolerated tomorrow. Tastes change and regular feeding schedules can be turned upside down. The guidance of a veterinarian or nutritionist can give a better idea of what to expect, but here are a few important…
Read MoreRaw Food: Truth or Fiction
By Robert Mueller Give your dog a fighting chance with a healthy diet. Concerned pet parents who are actively searching for the very best in nutrition for their dogs need to be able to discern fact from fiction when making a decision whether to switch their dog’s diet. With the recent recalls of pet food, pet owners that have been buying kibble and canned food all their life are now beginning to question the safety, value and benefits of feeding a heat processed pet food. Each side of the…
Read MorePaleo diet for dogs and cats
In a recent poll, 91% of pet owners consider their animals to be an important part of the clan,1 an evolutionary process that began over 12,000 years ago when the first hunter-gatherers began to domesticate dogs.2 In fact, Americans care so much for their pets, they spent approximately $60 billion on their pets last year, with close to $22 billion on food alone.3 However, although many commercial pet food brands market themselves as natural and organic, a Paleo style diet may truly be best for our pets. Scientific research comparing…
Read MoreIs Convenience Killing Your Pet?
“I must warn you about the use of bone meal in pet foods. Primarily because of the way it is manufactured. It is generated by a disgusting collection of dead animals, many which have been euthanized with Pentobarbital. This deadly chemical is not destroyed with high heat. These dead animals are sent to rendering plants and dried. Most uses of bone meal are to provide a Calcium source other than ground bones. The Calcium in bone meal is not readily absorbed. In addition, some bone meal contains toxic heavy metals…
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