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Is it Safe for People to Eat Pet Food?

Ferndale, WA: Sometimes I do strange searches around the Internet and this question probably takes the cake, but its a very interesting one (and I like to think sideways anyway) and in a funny sort of way rather relevant because so many people are talking about raw food diets and vegetables are edible and nutritious right? So bottom line strange is in the eye of the beholder. Let’s plug forward and have a look-see what this is all about, and in the process I think we all will learn quite a bit about the different nutritional needs of dogs, cats and us humans.

District 9

The first thing that pops into my mind about the safety of eating pet food is the scene from the Hollywood Blockbuster film, District 9, where the stranded aliens buy and eat cat food from food stalls scattered throughout their refugee camp. Villers, the main protagonist in the story, about one third of the way into the film, gets transformed into an alien and begins to crave cat food. Its awful as he takes great handfuls of tinned cat food and eats it. Is it possible for humans to eat cat food safely?

The answer is its not recommended, animal and human nutritional requirements are very different (which we are going to explore) especially those of an obligate carnivore like a cat. We’ll get to the safety thing in a minute.

Obligate Carnivore

Now an obligate carnivore is described as an animal that can only sustain itself buy eating the flesh of other animals. Your cat was built by Mother Nature to get her nutritional needs met by the consumption of a large amount of animal-based proteins (meat/organs) and derives much less nutritional support from plant-based proteins (grains/vegetables). It means that cats lack specific metabolic (enzymatic) pathways and cannot utilize plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins.  On the other hand, dogs and humans can get nutrition from plants and thus live on a vegetarian diet but cats cannot.

The safety question.  The answer is it depends on the pet food. I can’t see it in my mind eating kibble nor tinned cat food, but if one did I believe a persons stomach would probably reject it but as far as I’ve been able to research, a person can’t die from ingesting dog kibble or wet pet food.  One reason is that most pet foods are made from scraps and leftover foods that humans wont eat and also, many dry and wet dog pet foods also contain rice, wheat and other plants, not to mention added vitamins and minerals.

What’s rather unsavory about this whole discussion from the 50,000 foot level looking down, is that what goes into pet food falls between the regulatory cracks between the FDA and AFFCO¹ (Association Of American Feed Control Officials), so even though its commercial grade pet food you buy from a store, the labels (and the ingredients) are less stringent so anything can be used. If you look carefully or test commercial pet foods you find they contain high percentages of cooked starches and things like re-processed human made restaurant waste, slaughterhouse scraps and other fun stuff. Yuck!

What about the Recall?

One important point to make lest we forget is the major U.S. pet food recall in March of 2006, in which the FDA issued a major recall on some “cuts and gravy” style of canned pet food that evidently caused rapid kidney failure and death in hundreds of animals. The FDA later recalled more animal edibles, tracing the problem back to wheat gluten, a component used to thicken pet foods.  The scientists who tested the pet meals in question say an ingredient called melamine (a fire retardant and plastic-producing chemical) was to blame for the deaths, and further investigation found that the melamine came from a Chinese manufacturer of wheat gluten. Because melamine “looks” like protein when tested, adding it to pet food could deceptively boost protein levels—a major selling point for consumers. This, some allege, may be why it ended up in pet food.

Is Pet Food Safe?

So coming full  circle, if  people do eat pet food these days, is it really safe? The jury is out in light of the pet food crisis, but sticking to food intended for humans would be a wise choice.²

On the other hand, there are bright manufacturers out there (AND WE ARE ONE OF THEM!) and some of the modern pet foods these days do have food grade ingredients and are probably very nutritious. Some people do eat some of the food grade raw³ (usually they do cook them for human consumption which we would definitely recommend) and cooked dog foods that are available and claim to enjoy them greatly!

You Can Eat Our Natural Dog Treats

At AllPetNaturals we have our own nutritious dog treat brand called Doggie Deli Treats and I 100% know what we put into our treats and its HUMAN GRADE! In fact the bacon is truly bacon, so is the chicken, its all cooked and chopped up and the peanut butter is exactly that and we use dried banana slices (which anyone can get from the health food store) and we then take all these ingredients and mix them in a special batter then double bake them. They are then frosted with rosemary to enable the proper taste to permeate through all the natural ingredients. You can actually eat them. You wouldn’t want to mind you because the double baking process works to squeeze all the moisture out and the treat therefore hardens something close to a rock – great for the teeth of a dog!

I think in this blog post we’ve covered a lot of ground but I think the take away for everyone is two-fold. Yes its possible for something quite toxic to happen  if you eat pet food since the ingredients are not known and perhaps something strange has been included. But for the most part the jury seems to suggest that eating pet food will not be great for your body but you can do it. But don’t. Its not the right nutritional mix.

by William Greenbaum, President & Founder of AllPetNaturals

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Feeding your dog can be filled with stress.

Many dog owners take a zealous approach to how they feed their dog and can be judgmental of other dog owners when the issue of a dog’s food comes up.

The reality is that what you feed your dog is a personal decision. It will be guided by how you have always fed your dogs and what you think is right for your current dog or dogs.

A dog’s food is only one part of raising a healthy and happy dog, but it’s a very important part, and worth some careful consideration.

How to Choose a Dog Food

If you go shopping for dog food, you quickly see that there are many options. There’s premium dog food, low-cost dog food and so many dog food brands your head can spin.

Here are some tips for finding the correct dog food:

* Begin your search before you go the store. If you make your choice in the store, it could easily be the incorrect one.
* Ask friends and family for recommendations. If they use a particularly good dog food, consider that as one of your viable choices.
* Ask your vet for a recommendation. Based on your dog’s age and health, your vet may have a specific recommendation for your dog.
* Remember that the best dog food for one dog isn’t necessarily the best for another. Consider your own needs and budget before settling on a dog food choice.
* Read dog food reviews. If they are reputable and published in well-known publications or web sites, you can usually trust them.
* Remember that puppy dog food is a completely different beast than food you feed an older dog. Don’t feed a puppy regular dog food, and don’t feed an adult dog puppy dog food.

When looking at learning more about Dog Food Brands, read as much as you can.

The health of your dog depends on it!

What About Homemade Dog Food?

Recently, the safety of pet food was called into question when many dogs became ill and died after eating commercial dog food. Some of the brands in question were even considered premium dog food brands, so it seemed that no brand was safe.

This safety scare led many people to decide to give their dog a homemade dog food diet. It’s an excellent option if you have the spare time and money. Feeding a dog a homemade dog food diet can be expensive and somewhat time consuming, though it does get easier the longer you do it.

If you are thinking you might skip the dog food brands and go for the homemade dog food, consider these tips:

* Make sure the dog food you make is nutritionally balanced. Dogs need a good amount of carbohydrates, fat and protein. Do some reading ahead of time to make sure that you get just the right proportion of nutrients for your size and breed of dog.
* Be willing to cook animal body parts that you might not consider desirable. Dogs can eat necks.legs and organs. In fact, many believe that one of the main advantages of a homemade dog food diet is that your dog can get more raw meat and bones, which many consider to be the ideal dog food diet.
* Don’t forget that if you start Rover on a homemade dog food diet, it can be hard to switch to a more traditional diet. You can’t just throw down a bowl of kibble just because you are too tired to make your dog’s dinner. To that end, it’s best to do a lot of preparation ahead of time so there are packages in the freezer you can pull out and thaw.

Conclusion

The best dog food diet for your dog is the diet that proves to be best for you. Depending on your budget and time available, you might make a choice that’s different from your neighbor. The key is to find dog food brands that are accessible, affordable and that feed your dog healthfully. Or make your own. It really is your choice.

Further Information

More information about Dog Food or Dog Food Reviews can be found here.

Just like any growing child, our pets need toys to play with. Similarly, just as we have certain furniture and other accessories that may be appropriate for children, there are also certain accessories that would be of great benefit to them. Toys such as balls, chewy materials and rubber bones can bring an enormous amount of joy and happiness into your pet’s life. Additionally, these toys will also provide you with the opportunity to spend some quality time with them and also engage in fun activities with them.

Pet furniture could be extremely simple to look at, but simultaneously highly functional for them. It is amazing to think that the simplest of furniture can bring your pet a whole new level of comfort. Seeing your pet relaxing or taking a snooze in furniture specially designed for them will also bring you a great feeling of happiness and make your relationship with them even better. So remember, even the simplest of things, no matter how small they may be, have the ability to drastically increase the joy and happiness of your beloved pet.

Pookinuk is an Australian company that is committed to giving you access to the highest quality products and services for your pets. You can order all kinds of dog food online including other pet food. Our range of products, apart from advance dog food, Eukanuba dog food and Artemis dog food, also includes pet loo, Eagle Pack and Royal Canin products. We also arrange for the home delivery of dog food. Pookinuk is an Internet-based service provider of premium pet food, pet insurance, pet accessories and even their furniture. Pet owners who have used Pookinuk services are unanimous in their feedback, namely, “If you love your pet… you’ll love Pookinuk!” For more information, please visit http://www.pookinuk.com.au

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If you are a pet owner then must understand the value of pet food, pet products, accessories, and toys. Pet accessories help in offering good services to your pets. There are many online shops who are indulge in providing pet supplies, and pet products worldwide. It is advisable to buy pet accessories from these webshops. We need beds, pillow, and other types of pet related items for daily purposes. All the pet lovers check out all the latest offers of pet accessories online, so that can offer safety and security. Many pet accessories shops are there who are indulge in providing all the basic needs of a pet such as food, clothes, leads, and so on. People like to keep varieties of pet at homes, and this is the reason why they take due concern about their security. All these sources offer qualitative products of pets. They have stocks of discounted pet supplies and food for all types of pets. So it will be better if you will go to buy pet supplies online such as toys, clothes and so on.

Similarly if you have rabbit at home then its important to take care of your loveable rabbit. You will definitely need rabbit hutches. They are wonderful wooden houses and are best for your little rabbit. You can keep them in your home and make them part of your family. Rabbit hutch is a beautiful home for your pretty rabbit available in different shapes and styles. You can search best rabbit hutch cover online and can also give order then and there only. This will keep your hutches secure from all types of climatic effects. Many websites are updating all the latest rabbit hutches for sale in reasonable rates. You can have any one of them for your good looking rabbit. It is important that you serve your pet an exotic pet food only, and should be hygenic also. Similarly if you are a dog lover and have them at homes then must check out all the dog accessories from online such as dog food, dog leads, dog coats, dog cages, and dog clothes. So just click your mouse and protect your pet.

There are many foods available for almost every pet one could own and this fact can create confusion when searching for the right food to meet your pet’s needs. However, by keeping some general questions and guidelines in mind, a trip to the pet food store no longer has to be a struggle. Pet health is essential to a fully functioning active pet, and while many brands claim to be more healthy, there is little evidence to suggest a huge difference.

What Type Of Pet Do You Own

Knowing the type of pet you own can be very helpful when determining the correct diet he or she needs. This may sound obvious, and in some respect it is; however, simply knowing the animal’s name and their breed may not be enough. For instance, if you have a female dog that is pregnant, you should research the special needs that accompany a dog that is carrying a pup. Pregnant dogs’ diet is far different than that of a male dog of the same age and even a non-pregnant female of the same age and size. Pregnant dogs need a different regiment of vitamins and minerals and it is suggested that you feed your pregnant dog puppy food. Not only do you fee the dog puppy food, but her dietary needs will be greater than that of a non pregnant female, which is why she needs to be fed more often.

Food Is Made Based On Both Healthy, Young And Mature, Pets

Pet food is usually made for the healthy pet. Pet health means that your dog or cat is the proper size and weight for its particular breed. It also means that your dog or cat leads an active lifestyle and does not take in account any disorders or diseases. That being said, a both healthy pets, young and old, have specialize food that is created to meet their needs. If your pet is older, he or she will need food that caters to weakening bones and mineral absorption. Just the opposite for young pets in the sense that they need food for an active lifestyle that promotes growth and development. One issue that many tend to rely on is the price of the food. Some may think that just because they buy the most expensive food, their dog will have a better pet health and lifestyle status than dogs that eat less expensive food. However, this is not the case. When choosing pet food, a general rule of thumb is that one shouldn’t buy the cheapest food available, but you should not feel the need to buy the most expensive food either. A food that falls somewhere between cheap and expensive is most likely what your pet will need.

Special Foods For Special Needs

There does come a time when one may need to purchase pet food that is specially formulated for their animal. In the case that your pet symptoms has a chronic disorder or is on the mend from an accident or sickness, you may have the need for special food. For situations such as this, it is recommended that you speak with your veterinarian so that he or she may assist you in finding the right food for your beloved friend.

Is it not ironic that animal metaphors have turn out to be so common in our language? We lead a dog’s existence; we are all in a rat race… but we all adore our pets! If you personal a pet, you know the joy there is to appear residence to an animal that genuinely cares for you and is eager as ever to see you. Whilst getting pets is a good factor, pet food can be a pesky enterprise. If you are constantly bothered about the expense of pet food, pet food coupons are just the factor for you!

The money you preserve can then go to treating oneself or your pet to something other than that mundane necessity that is pet food!

The very best portion about pet food coupons is that they are not restricted to a particular class of folks. You don’t have to belong to any club or “pet lovers’ societies” – I mean, what else would you do but love your pet! Anyway, all pet food coupons are available for free to anybody and every person. They can be downloaded from the net at the click of a button. All you have to do is look up pet food coupons and go straight to our site and get your self as several as you desire – free!

We know that sometimes even the whole research and download routine can get to you… but there is great news there too! If you are the types who don’t genuinely hang around the internet as well much, you can basically get your pet food coupons in your e-mail! Yes, just sign up to acquire the pet food coupons in your inbox and the subsequent time you go pet food buying, just print the pet food coupons off your printer and take pleasure in assured savings!

The good part about the full point is that it is free. Practically all pet food coupons are accepted by each main retailer who stocks pet food, so you needn’t be concerned about that. Even more, most pet food coupons have great time validity so you needn’t rush to your nearest pet food shop for redeeming your coupons.

But even so, you can use pet food coupons as a gift to close friends who have pets. We’re sure your buddies will tremendously appreciate that!

Pet food might the most important thing that you should think about if you have pet. Since there are many options of pet food that you can find, you should be very careful in choosing it so that you can fulfill your pet’s needs.

You will find that choosing food for your pet might not be an easy job. Although it is not easy, you must do this very carefully in order to give your pet the right food that he/she wants. You will find that each pet has a kind of food that he likes. In this case, there are many things that you should pay attention such as the age of your pet, his psychological conditions, his activity level etc.

However, there are some selections that you should take to find the correct kind of food for your pet. The followings are some things that you should pay attention when choosing pet food for your pet.

Firstly, you should choose the food that has label from the Association of American Feeding Control Officials (AAFCO) and Animal Feeding Trials. This will ensure you that the food is guaranteed to be healthy for your pet.

Secondly, you should look at the food nutrients. You have to make sure that the food has balance nutrients for your pet that is set in a proper proportion. You must also make sure that the food has all nutrients that your pet needs. Minerals, energy, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, etc. are some nutrients that should be contained in the food. Additionally, you have to make sure that the food is easy to digest.

Thirdly, look at the manufacturer of the pet food product. Make sure that you choose one that has high reputation so that you will get the best pet food for your pet. In this case, you might find that pet food from a high reputable manufacturer costs more.

Finally, look at the directions given on labels. Make sure that you give your pet proper proportion. It might be modified to fulfill your pet’s needs. You can do this by consulting it with your veterinarian.

Attempting to keep pet food away from creatures that aren’t supposed to be there, eating food on the floor or ground has been an issue since people started storing food. In the past people would put their food and bags and hang them from ropes tied outside on a tree or inside from the ceiling to safeguard it from predators. Leaving food out and exposed on the ground in your house or out in the yard is just asking for uninvited insects and rodents to pay a long visit. Hanging pet food dispensers have been in existence quite a long time, because they keep food from any rodents or insects looking for a meal. Whether you feed your pet outside within the backyard, or indoors leading food and readily available for your pets also can make it accessible to anything just simply passing by. By hanging your pet food in bowls mounted to the wall you’ll have avoided the majority of the trouble.

Not simply are hanging food dispensers environmentally friendly by keeping the rodent and insect population at bay, they’re physically easier for your pet to eat and provides your pet with a much healthier means of eating their meals.  It also provides you with comfort understanding that your pet is not consuming food swarmed with pesky insects or chewed on by rodents, keeping your pet healthier. It also discourages any kind of insect making their way into the house to savor the continual food supply supplied by your dog’s bowl.

It’s not natural for a pet to eat with its head all away down at the ground while it is eating. Most veterinarians highly recommend raising your dog ‘s bowl up to the height that’s suitable for their particular breed to allow them to chew and digest their food easier. Not only is the added height more comfortable to your pet when they’re chewing and swallowing, it keeps their feeding area cleaner. And for those dogs with back or neck problems hanging the pet food dispenser from the wall makes swallowing easier for them. It also helps lessen excessive air intake, gulping, gagging and choking, and helps to maintain the overall health of your pet.

By using a hanging pet food dispenser your pet is going to be healthier and happier when you give them a hanging pet food dispenser attached to your wall. You will be certain the insects and rodents have gone somewhere apart from your pet now cleaner feeding area for their food supply.

When making the decision to buy dry food dispenser for the family pet which mounts to your wall make sure that the bowl is the appropriate size for your specific breed of pet that you have. Also, just be sure you hang it at the height of most comfortable for the pet. Using a hanging dispenser is really a smart way to make the environment cleaner and healthier for both you and your pet.

A recent article posted on The Consumerist website brings up a very good point (and lesson) that pet owners should take note of…

The article comes from a pet owner whose Yorkie became ill, and after a couple of days in the vet’s office, the owner looked at her Eukanuba canned food and realized it had expired 3 years ago. When she checked the cupboard she discovered several other cans of dog food – all recently purchased at PetCo – had expiration dates from 2004.

What happened to this pet owner (and pet) can easily happen to anyone. How many times have you purchased something and never looked at the expiration date?

With pet food – somewhere on the can or bag, usually on the side or back of the bag – is the ‘Best By’ date. With most of the manufacturers that I have spoken with, this date does NOT mean the food is officially expired – it just means that the food does not provide the nutrition as stated in the Guaranteed Analysis. The ‘best’ nutrition for your pet has expired – but again in most cases – per what the manufacturers tell me – the food is still ‘good’.

Shelf life is one of the questions I ask manufacturers about and provide in Petsumer Report. It varies greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. The shelf life of dry pet foods can vary from 4 months to 3 years – canned and/or pouched products vary from 1 year to 5 years. Treats usually have the same shelf life as the manufacturer’s dry food – but just to keep things confusing, that can vary too. The ‘Best By’ date provided on the food – does NOT tell you how old the product is – it does NOT tell you when the food was manufactured. It only tells you the date that particular manufacturer has determined the food no longer provides the pet with the proper nutrition. While some ingredients in the food might still provide adequate nutrition – other ingredients have faded over time.  Read the rest of this entry »

Pet supplies, which might include pet food, pet medicines, vaccines, and pet accessories, are all available on the pet supply stores that are getting better and better than ever. The present boom in online marketing has propelled the quality of these pet supply stores. However, it is almost imperative that you shop around quite a bit before you take the decision to buy pet supplies, as there are many chances that you can come across some discount pet supply store. Cost on pet supplies can be easily reduced if you can check out the following things:

* You should check whether the pet supply stores allow the customers to bring their pets in the shop itself. This eliminates the need to go through the lengthy pet supply catalogues, and you can try the accessories, cages, food, flea controls, tick collars, vaccines, toys, and products that fit best to your pet, in real time.

* Some pet supply stores also like to give some discount pet supply options, or to provide some free service to your pets. This may include free shampoos or clipping the nails, etc., when you buy some of the regular products of those pet supply stores.

* When you prefer to buy pet supplies online, you have better chances of getting discount pet supply offers along with detailed pet supply catalogues. Whether you want to buy food items, medicines, products related to cleanliness of the pets, cages, accessories, or special products like Pet Supply Plus, you can always ask for discount pet supply. Some sellers also offer to provide pet supplies on a scheduled basis, which further opens the chances of discount pet supply.

* If you buy your pet supplies by screening the pet supply catalogue, make it sure that you know the exact details of the products. Suppose you are buying Pet Supply Plus, you must ensure that the pet supply stores provide you with an original product. Some unscrupulous stores might have it duplicated! It is also noticed that some stores do not follow the guidelines and practices that are imperative for running such stores. You should avoid buying pet supplies from such low quality pet supply stores.

Question about Quality of the products in pet supplies stores

Once you have checked how to shop for the best pet supplies, you come to the last but most important factor about pet supplies—quality. If you love your pets, you should consider their shopping as if you are doing it for yourself. Check almost every detail that you can fathom and ensure that the products are suitable to your pet’s health and life; and that you are getting the value for what you are paying.

It makes a good sense to check for customer’s references and testimonials. Pet supply catalogues and discount pet supply offers can often lead you astray with their appeal, but you must know what you are looking for! Also, you can choose to join some forums and message boards related to pet supplies that can provide you information and support about various products and pet supply stores. Remember, you must care for your pet like you care your own self—you can’t afford to be unconcerned towards its needs! Visit http://www.petsupplyonlinestore.com for the ultimate in pet supplies.