Pet Food Myths

Webvet

By WebVet.com


2120080606164850catanddog2
2120080606164850catanddog2


PREPARING YOUR PETS' MEALS YOURSELF IS BETTER FOR THEM: In the wake of the pet food recalls in 2008, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) issued a statement saying, "The AVMA does not recommend that people attempt to prepare home-cooked meals for their pets because pet nutrition is very complicated and unique to species and individual animals.'' One AVMA expert added, "Commercial pet foods are thoroughly tested. I don't know of any homemade recipes for pets that are put through tests before they are marketed.''

STORE-BOUGHT PET FOOD MAKES YOUR PET FART A LOT: Feeding your pet soybeans, peas, beans, milk products, or fatty or spicy foods commonly causes flatulence. Dairy products are especially a problem, because adult dogs and cats are lactose intolerant and often experience digestive upset and flatulence when given milk, cheeses, or similar foods.

'NATURAL' AND 'ORGANIC' FOODS ARE THE SAME: Organic foods are a subgroup of natural foods. In other words, all organic foods are natural, but not all natural foods are organic. To be considered organic, a food must comply with standards established by federal law that are overseen by the National Organic Program of the United States Department of Agriculture. If a pet food is labeled "natural,'' it cannot contain artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, artificial fats, or any other artificial ingredient -- but it does not mean unprocessed or unrefined. Basically, as long as it comes from nature and not a chemical plant, an ingredient is considered "natural.''

IT'S OKAY FOR YOUR PET TO GET DRUNK WITH YOU: Depending on how much alcohol your animal ingests, it can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, depression, difficulty breathing, coma, and possible death.

'CAT FOOD WITH TUNA' MEANS YOUR KITTY IS GETTING A HEARTY HELPING OF FISH: If a pet food label contains the word "with" in its product name, there only has to be 3% of that product - not 95% or 25% - in the package. For example, while a product called "Tuna Cat Food'' must contain 95% tuna, a product labeled "Cat Food with Tuna'' only has to contain 3% tuna. So, it's important to read the label carefully.

SUGAR IS WORSE FOR YOUR PET THAN ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER: While sugar is not good for your pet, sweetener is even worse. Xylitol -- a sweetener used in many products including mouthwash, chewing gum, toothpaste, and various foods -- is toxic to pets, and products containing xylitol should not be given to your dog or cat.

Check out the original article: http://www.webvet.com/main/2011/11/01/pet-food-myths