Did You Know That There Are Some Benefits of Feeding Your Cat Wet and Dry Food?

Some cats are very finicky eaters and will only eat a certain kind of food.  Some cats like wet food better while others like dry food better.  There are benefits of both wet and dry food, but if your cat is not a finicky eater, the choice is yours and your cats!  So what’s a cat owner to do?

What is the real difference between wet and dry food?

Both canned and dry foods are (if you buy a high quality food) nutritionally complete. The biggest difference between the two is moisture content with canned food having a much higher moisture content.  Many cats do seem to find wet food more palatable and this can be especially important if you have a cat with a finicky appetite.

Wet food is beneficial as it has a higher water content

Due to its higher water content, wet or canned food can be of particular benefit for cats with kidney problems (it helps keep them better hydrated) or lower urinary tract disease (it helps produce more dilute urine that can alleviate or reduce the frequency of symptoms).

The higher water content may make it easier to put your kitty on a diet (if necessary) because most cans of cat food contain roughly the same number of calories as 1/4 to 1/3 cup of dry food, but in a larger volume of food, so the cat may feel fuller at meal time.

The benefits of dry food are the following:

Dry food is good for your cat’s teeth

Dry kibble can be more convenient and many vets feel that dry food is better for a cat's teeth. However, dry food is not a substitute for dental care and most cats, regardless of whether they have eaten canned food or dry food, will need professional dental care at some point in their lives.

Dry food can be left out all day

Dry food is also convenient for cat owners who leave their cats at home alone every day and want them to be able to graze during the day.  Some cats that are not big eaters will nibble at it all day until they are full.  However, if your cat is overweight or tends to eat a lot, only leave out a certain amount of dry food during the day so that he doesn’t gorge when you aren’t around!

If you feed your cats’ dry food, make sure that your kitty drinks water

If you feed your cat dry food, he or she should drink at least one cup of water for every ten pounds of body weight daily. In warm weather, your cat will need even more. Cats on canned food diets only need to consume one-third to one-half that amount of water.

Ultimately, wet or dry food is up to you and your kitty

The real decision should come down to your cat and your lifestyle.   If your cat is happy with both, feed your kitty wet food in the morning and leave dry food out all day.   If your cat only likes dry, then just make sure to have plenty of water for your cat due to the lack of water in the dry food.  If you feed your cat a premium cat food, with very few additives and enough crude protein, he or she is likely to thrive whether the food is wet or dry.

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A Nationwide Voluntary Recall Has Been Issued for Five Varieties of the Rachael Ray Nutrish Wet Cat Food

Five varieties of Rachael Ray Nutrish wet cat food have been voluntarily recalled by manufacturer Ainsworth Pet Nutrition of Meadville, Pennsylvania.

The nationwide recall is due to an elevation in vitamin D levels, which is due to the natural levels of vitamin D found in some of the fish ingredients used in the cat food, according to a press release posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website.

While vitamin D helps cats regulate phosphorus and calcium, too much of it can be detrimental to their health, the press release states. Cats exposed to high levels of vitamin D may experience increased thirst and urination, diarrhea or vomiting and seizures or tremors. If your cat has ingested any of the products listed below, seek immediate veterinary assistance. Symptoms may occur 12 to 36 hours after ingestion.

The varieties that are being recalled are:

Single Packs:

PAW LICKIN CHICKEN AND LIVER (2.8 oz)

UPC Code: 071190007032

Best By Dates Thru: AUG 17 2015

OCEAN FISH AND CHICKEN CATCH-IATORIE (2.8 oz)

UPC Code: 071190007049

Best By Dates Thru: DEC 1 2016

OCEAN FISH A LICIOUS (2.8 oz)

UPC Code: 071190007056

Best By Dates Thru: DEC 1 2016

TUNA PURRFECTION (2.8 oz)

UPC Code: 071190007063

Best By Dates Thru: DEC 1 2016

LIP SMACKIN SARDINE AND MACKEREL (2.8 oz)

UPC Code: 071190007070

Best By Dates Thru: DEC 1 2016

Multi Packs (12 count):

CHICKEN LOVERS VARIETY PACK (12 count pack of 2.8 oz cups)

UPC Code: 071190007773

Best By Dates Thru: DEC 1 2016

OCEAN LOVERS VARIETY PACK (12 count pack of 2.8 oz cups)

UPC Code: 071190007780

Best By Dates Thru: DEC 1 2016

No other Rachael Ray Nutrish products are affected by this recall.

If you have purchased any Rachael Ray Nutrish product, check the package for the UPC code (found at the bottom of the cup) and the Best By date (found on the side of the cup).

Eleven illnesses have been reported to date, according to the press release.

“At Ainsworth Pet Nutrition and Rachael Ray Nutrish, the safety and quality of our products is our top priority,” CEO Jeff Watters said in a statement. “For the time being, we recommend disposing of any of the affected wet cat varieties. Rest assured we have implemented additional operating procedures to prevent an issue like this from occurring in the future. We sincerely apologize to our loyal consumers everywhere.”

If you have any concerns or questions about this recall, contact the customer care team at Ainsworth. They can be reached at (877) 650-3486, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST and Saturday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. Additional information is available on the Nutrish for Pets website http://nutrish.rachaelray.com/news.

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Purina vs Blue Buffalo: Now the Results of this Year-Long Legal Battle Are Out, and it Appears that Purina is the Victor

A year ago, pet owners watched as Purina and Blue Buffalo, two pet food manufactures, slapped each other with lawsuits. Purina sued Blue Buffalo for false advertising, claiming the contents of their food was not accurately reflected on their packaging – that they did not disclose the presence of poultry by-product on their label. Blue Buffalo responded with a counter suit, saying that Purina was engaging in a smear campaign and defaming the brand.

Well, now the truth is out.  Here’s a news story covering the controversy when the cases were filed a year ago:

Now the results of this year-long legal battle are out, and it appears that Purina is the victor.

According to Nestlé Purina PetCare, Blue Buffalo admitted that “’substantial’ and ‘material’ portion of Blue Buffalo pet food sold to consumers contained poultry by-product meal, despite pervasive advertising claims to the contrary.”

The claims that the pet food was free from poultry by-product meal, corn, or grain often came at a higher cost to consumers who were led to believe they were making an informed choice regarding what their animals were consuming.

“Only when faced with undeniable evidence from the lawsuit has Blue Buffalo admitted the truth to the court: a ‘substantial’ and ‘material’ portion of Blue Buffalo pet food sold over the past several years contained poultry by-product meal. It is unclear to us if or when this practice stopped, or whether any Blue Buffalo pet food containing by-product meal is still on store shelves,” said Keith Schopp, a spokesperson for Nestlé Purina Petcare.

As news spreads about Blue Buffalo’s misleading claims and false advertising, a number of class action lawsuits have sprung up around the nation. 
Poisonedpets.com recently compiled a list of the current lawsuits. Click on the case for more information:

Fisher et al v. The Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd. et al, CaseNo. 14-cv-5937, C. D. CA.

Keil et al v. Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd., Case No.14-cv-880, E. D. MO.

Hutchison et al v. Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd., Case No.14-cv-1070, E. D. MO.

Andacky et al v. The Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd., Case No.14-cv-2938, E. D. NY.

For more information on Purina’s false advertising lawsuit against Blue Buffalo, visit petfoodhonesty.com.

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Purina Says Blue Buffalo Is 'Built on Lies': The Fighting Begins

At the executive offices of Blue Buffalo, in Wilton, Conn., Labradors and golden retrievers wander the halls, nosing around for lunch leftovers, and members of William Bishop’s 300-person workforce all call the 75-year-old founder and chairman Bill. A basketball and lacrosse player at Ohio-Wesleyan University in the late 1950s, Bishop, 6-foot-5, walks with a slight slouch but retains the loping gait of a college jock. His white hair thinning, he wears an open purple shirt over a black tee, blue jeans, a cloth belt decorated with skulls and crossbones, and running shoes the size of rowboats. He notes proudly that his sons, Billy and Chris, have senior executive jobs, making “the Buff,” as he calls the company, “a real family operation.”

Started in 2002 and propelled by advertising techniques the elder Bishop honed hawking Kool-Aid, Tang, and later SoBe, a beverage company he co-founded in the 1990s, Blue Buffalo last year tallied $1 billion in sales, making it America’s fastest-growing major purveyor of dog and cat food and the largest specializing in the all-natural kibble niche. 

He named his latest company in memory of Blue, a beloved family Airedale. The Buffalo part reflects his affection for cowboys, Indians, and Western kitsch. “Also it’s good to have a strong icon that people will remember,” he explains. “SoBe had the lizard. The Buff has the American buffalo.” Undercutting the Great Plains motif, orange-labeled bottles of Veuve Clicquot Champagne line shelves outside Bishop’s corner office. “You have to like to drink to work here,” he jokes. “We’ve had a lot to celebrate.”

The company’s rise can be measured not only by its near-ubiquitous retail presence but by pervasive advertising that Bishop boasts is deliberately “in-your-face,” and encourages “pet parents” to compare the Buff to the competition. Blue Buffalo’s television spots and Internet videos have become so familiar they’ve been parodied on Saturday Night Live. The mock commercial for “Blue River” dog food aired on NBC in April. Guest host Seth Rogen and SNL cast member Cecily Strong played the sort of overwrought consumers who philosophize about pet nutrition in Blue Buffalo’s actual ads. The characters suffer an emotional meltdown as they discuss what they’ve fed their bug-eyed pug mix, Peanut.

Purina is notably not amused. The St. Louis-based company, owned by the Swiss conglomerate Nestlé (NESN:VX), has manufactured feed and animal chow for 120 years. It controls about a third of the $20 billion-a-year pet food market but lately has seen customers lured away by such premium brands as Hill’s, Merrick, and Blue Buffalo.

Competition is one thing, but executives at Purina headquarters say they can’t abide Bishop’s advertising, which they claim is misleading. Contrary to its carefully cultivated reputation for authenticity, Blue Buffalo “is built on lies,” alleges Steven Crimmins, Purina’s normally even-tempered chief marketing officer for U.S. pet food. Although Bishop stresses his company is family run, “they’re owned by a big Wall Street firm [and] outsource all their manufacturing,” Crimmins says, not trying to disguise his indignation. “Their key ingredient claims aren’t true, and they have a history of exaggerating what their products do.”

In May, Purina sued Blue Buffalo in federal court in St. Louis for false advertising, commercial disparagement, and unjust enrichment. Bishop’s lawyers fired back with equally heated counterclaims about an unlawful Purina “smear campaign” seeking “to stem the exodus of Nestlé Purina customers to Blue Buffalo.” In a taunting open letter posted on his company’s website, Bishop accused the larger company of relying on “voodoo science” when it cited in its court papers lab tests supposedly showing that Blue Buffalo used poultry byproduct meal—an ingredient Bishop’s company promises “never” to include.

Purina v. Blue Buffalo has riveted vets, retailers, and everyone who follows the expanding market for fancy pet eats, says Jennifer Larsen, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of California at Davis veterinary school. “The emotional appeals to treat dogs and cats like human children have gone to an extreme,” she adds. “This case shows how far the manufacturers are willing to go to try to persuade consumers they’re right and the other guys are making it up.”

At a more basic level, the litigation illuminates the success of Bill Bishop, a classic ad guy who unapologetically cashes in on the market’s latest whims—human, canine, or other. Setting aside the merits of poultry byproduct meal (to which we’ll return), one can’t help but speculate that the wily Bishop has lured Purina into a fight where attention is the real prize.

 Before sweetened beverages and pet food, Bishop first had to sell himself. Just out of the U.S. Marines in 1962, he took the commuter train from Westchester County, N.Y., to Grand Central Terminal. Armed with a roll of dimes, he stood at a pay phone in the lobby of the old Pan Am Building, cold calling ad agencies in hopes of landing a job interview. BBDO said yes, he could come in for a tryout.

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The Pet Food Swindle: Popular Brands Contain High Quantities of Meat that is Not on the Label Including Cans of 'Beef' that Are Really Up to 63 Per Cent Chicken

Whether it is tasty beef or succulent chicken, only the best will do for our beloved pets. But many dog and cat foods are not all they seem.

Research by vets has shown many popular canned foods contain high quantities of meat not on the label.

One beef stew dog food was found to be predominantly chicken.

Of the 17 pet foods subjected to DNA testing at Nottingham University, 14 contained meats that were not spelled out on the can.

Researcher Kin-Chow Chang, a fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, said misleading labeling could put dogs and cats at risk of serious allergic reactions.

Latest figures show Britons spend 1billion a year on more than 400,000 tons of canned pet food. More than three quarters of the nation’s eight million cats and almost half of the nine million dogs eat canned food.

Professor Chang tested ten popular dog foods and seven types of cat food for DNA of cows, pigs, chickens and horses. 

None of the cans had horsemeat in them, but most contained beef, pork or chicken despite it not being mentioned on the label. Some of the ‘beef’ foods actually contained more pork or chicken.

For instance, 63 per cent of meat detected in Bakers As Good As It Looks Succulent Stew ‘with beef’ was chicken and 22 per cent was pork. Only 15 per cent was beef.

Pedigree dog food labeled as being ‘with beef’ had far more chicken and pork than beef, and 81 per cent of the meat detected in Felix Complete cat food was chicken or pork – despite it being the ‘beef’ version.

But not all brands were criticized – all of Encore’s chicken breast cat food was determined to be the meat labeled. 

Professor Chang said the research suggested ‘a considerable mismatch in the labeling standard of the pet food industry and what the purchaser would reasonably expect’.

He added: ‘In a human situation, this would be completely unacceptable. If I was to buy a tin of ham, I wouldn’t want to be eating rabbit as well.’

The foods complied with the law, which allows the phrase ‘with beef’, even if beef is not the main meat.

But writing in journal Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, Professor Chang called on manufacturers to make labels clearer, allowing ‘more informed choices … particularly important for pets with food allergies, reduce the risk of product misinterpretation … and avoid potential religious concerns’.

Cats Protection’s Maggie Roberts said pet food makers follow guidance laid down by the EU, adding: ‘It may be beneficial for these guidelines to be amended so the information is clearer … to allow people to make a more informed choice.’

The Pet Food Manufacturers Association said makers may use meat from different animals as supply levels fluctuate but the nutritional quality does not vary.

As good as it looks? 63 per cent of meat detected in Bakers As Good As It Looks Succulent Stew ‘with beef’ was chicken and 22 per cent was pork. Only 15 per cent was beef. FOLLOW US!

Blue Buffalo is Getting Slammed by a Multitude of Lawsuits Alleging Deceptive Advertising Practices

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company (Purina) aren’t the only people suing Blue Buffalo, now consumers have jumped on the litigation bandwagon and Blue Buffalo is getting slammed by a multitude of lawsuits alleging deceptive advertising practices. The growing number of lawsuits filed against Blue Buffalo keep growing and they are claiming, among other things, that the company falsely represented that their pet food does not contain ingredients – such as chicken/poultry by-product meals and corn – when it appears as if Blue Buffalo’s pet food might actually contain those ingredients.

Because of the number of class action lawsuits involved the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation has agreed to consolidate seven false advertising class action lawsuits filed against Blue Buffalo Co. Ltd. for misleading customers about the ingredients in its pet food. They alleged that Blue Buffalo misled its customers by claiming its pet food products did not contain any chicken by-products, corn or grain and led them to pay premium prices for the pet food. The class-action lawsuit was transferred to another court where several related lawsuits making the same allegations will be heard together.

The smoking e-mails

It is safe to assume that Blue Buffalo was aware, at some point, that their pet food did contain the vilified ingredient they based their marketing claim on, when during pretrial discovery—the process by which litigants demand internal documents and communications that could become evidence—e-mails revealed that Purina claims reinforce its allegations. 

In May, e-mails between a Blue Buffalo ingredient broker (Diversified Ingredients) and a major supplier (Wilbur-Ellis) suggest strongly that they did indeed sell pet food containing by-product meal. In an e-mail to Diversified Ingredients, a broker working for Blue Buffalo, a sales manager for supplier Wilbur-Ellis wrote that it did include “some by-product meal” in shipments from a Texas plant intended for Blue Buffalo.

Realizing that the inclusion of by-product meal now has potential legal consequences, Diversified Ingredients expressed alarm to Wilbur-Ellis and a way to respond to the kibble crisis:

“I think if we work together, we can band-aid this situation,” Diversified’s Collin McAtee wrote on May 15 to Darwin Rusu of Wilbur-Ellis. Referring to a “smoking gun,” McAtee added, “If you are going to fill these contracts for any reason, then I’m going to have to go to Blue Buffalo to address the breach of contract and undoubtedly divulge the details of what was shipped and the possibility that Rosser’s material is the smoking gun for their problems. That I do not want to do. If the finger is pointed in that direction and then later verified to have been the cause, then Diversified and Wilbur will both have to answer to this in litigation with Blue. The liabilities in this could be enormous. You are talking about massive product recalls, potential market share loss, etc. That would undoubtedly be in the several million dollar range.”

Blue Buffalo then claimed they were duped by their supplier, by publicly revealing that contrary to prior assurances, Blue Buffalo admitted that ingredients from their supplier did in fact contain poultry by-product meal after all — proving that the central allegations in Purina’s false advertising lawsuit against them. Despite Blue Buffalo’s admission, no mention was made about taking steps to recall the mislabeled pet foods, nor to compensate the millions of consumers that purchased the falsely labeled products.

Purina claims that testing of Blue Buffalo’s pet food were conducted in a “highly sophisticated, independent lab“, while Blue Buffalo calls their testing “junk science” and claims the testing was performed with a rudimentary microscope under less than optimal conditions with questionable methods. Regardless, the results of testing and analysis reveal that, in some instances, 9 out of 10 Blue Buffalo products tested contained poultry by-product meal, even though the packaging indicated otherwise. Instead, tests indicated the products contained several signature elements of poultry by-product meal: eggshell, raw feather and leg scale. Further, that quantities of grain were found in samples of Blue Buffalo’s pet food that were labeled “grain-free.”


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Ever Wonder Why Your Dog Eats His Food Away From His Bowl?

After you put food in your dog’s bowl, he takes a mouthful, walks across the room, drops it onto your carpet and then munches away. And he repeats this curious ritual until his chow is all gone.

It doesn’t seem like an efficient way to eat, not to mention that he's getting crumbs on your rug.

So what gives?

Possible Reasons Behind the Curious Mealtime Behavior
The answer to this propensity lies in two words: pack mentality.

When dogs in the wild make a kill, the outranked animals drag pieces of food away so they don’t have to fight the leader or a more dominant canine for it, says Dr. Julie Albright-Keck, DVM, MA, DACVB, an assistant professor of veterinary behavior at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine https://vetmed.tennessee.edu/Pages/utcvm_home.aspx.

“Fighting is obviously very risky, so most animals, especially subordinate ones, will go to great lengths to avoid an altercation,” says Dr. Albright.

Although the competition in your house may not even be real, particularly if you only have one dog, it’s his evolutionary instinct taking over.

Another possibility: If you use a metal bowl, the noise of the food moving around in the dish or even his collar tags hitting the side can be frightening or annoying, notes Dr. Albright, so he may be taking the kibble away from the trigger of the sound.

How to Put the Kibosh on This Kibble Ritual
If you want to curb this unusual eating behavior, Dr. Albright suggests swapping metal bowls for plastic versions or paper plates to rule out issues with noise.

“If the dog still takes the food away, find a more secluded or confined area for him to eat,” she says. “And if there are other dogs in the house, separate them at feeding time to allow for privacy, so there’s no threat of competition, either real or imagined.”

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With Thousands of Pet Foods on the Market: How Do You Make the Optimal Choice?

With thousands of pet foods on the market, how do you make the optimal choice? Pet food labels are a good place to start. Understanding the label information can help you make informed decisions about what you are feeding your pets.

Which Parts of the Label Help Assess Food Quality?

The following key components of a pet food label can help you evaluate nutritional information:

• A nutritional adequacy statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) 

• A list of ingredients (in descending order by weight)

• A guaranteed analysis

What Does the Nutritional Adequacy Statement Reveal?
The AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement declares if the product or treat is complete and balanced, and whether it should be fed under veterinary supervision. The following types of nutritional adequacy statements can appear on a pet food label:

• Animal feeding trials using AAFCO procedures show that the product provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages or a particular stage.

• The product is formulated to meet the nutrient levels established by AAFCO for a particular life stage or for all life stages.

• The product is intended for intermittent or supplemental use only.

The presence of either of the first two statements means that a food can be used as the sole source of nutrition. “Complete and balanced” means that a food has all the recognized, required nutrients in the proper proportions, when fed appropriately.

In a feeding trial, a product is fed to a certain number of dogs or cats for a specified period of time to determine whether it provides adequate nutrition. By conducting feeding trials, pet food companies ensure that animals in a particular life stage (i.e., pregnant, nursing, growing, adult maintenance) will obtain proper nutrition from a food. Feeding trials also provide some assurance of palatability (how good the food tastes to pets) and the availability of nutrients.

When a food is formulated by calculation or chemical analysis, the nutrients may meet the maximum or minimum levels established by AAFCO, but because the finished product is not fed to animals, availability of nutrients and palatability are not assessed.

The nutritional adequacy statement regarding intermittent or supplemental feeding applies to treats, or to special diets that require a veterinarian to monitor the pet.

What Should I Know About the Ingredients?

Here are some important facts about pet food ingredients:

• The ingredient list is of little practical use when determining nutritional value.

• Each ingredient, including additives, must be listed in the ingredients statement.

• Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. However, this does not reveal the amounts of the ingredients. For example, wheat germ meal, wheat bran, and wheat flour are all components of wheat, but they may provide different nutrients. The ingredient list can be valuable when a pet has a confirmed food allergy and must avoid certain ingredients.

• AAFCO defines how ingredients are named. For example, according to AAFCO, corn gluten is defined as the part of the commercial, shelled corn after removal of the larger portion of the corn’s starch and germ.

What Do the Percentages on the Label Mean?
AAFCO regulations require pet food manufacturers in the United States to include a guaranteed analysis that lists percentages of certain nutrients on pet food labels. These percentages (i.e., minimum protein and fat; maximum fiber and water) are listed on an “as-fed” basis. That simply means the percentage of each nutrient, including water or moisture, contained in the final product consumed by the pet. 

To compare products on a level playing field, it is necessary to convert the information listed in the guaranteed analysis to a “caloric basis”. When not measured on a caloric basis, canned food appears to have a lower concentration of nutrients than dry food because dry food contains approximately 10 percent water, but canned food contains approximately 75 percent water. Even the comparison of the information in the guaranteed analysis of two products that contain the same amount of moisture can be inaccurate if the products differ in caloric density.

What Are the Chemicals in the Ingredients?
Pet owners may be concerned to see “phylloquinone,” “α-tocopherol,” “cobalamin” and “ascorbic acid” listed on their pets’ food until they learn that these are the technical names for vitamins K 1, E, B 12 and C, respectively. α-Tocopherol is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants are added to foods to balance the nutrient profile and preserve fats. Preservatives are not universally bad for pets and, in fact, help prevent foods from becoming rancid.

What Are the By-Products on the Label?
Many questions about pet food result from a misunderstanding of particular ingredients. Pet owners may incorrectly think that by-products are solely the undesirable parts of animals, such as hooves, feathers and beaks. However, as defined by the pet food industry, meat by-products are clean parts other than meat, such as lungs, kidneys and spleens. Therefore, by-products can be an excellent source of amino acids, protein, vitamins and minerals.

Who Ensures the Quality of Pet Foods?
Several governing agencies have a role in regulating pet food. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authority over pet foods. The FDA establishes certain labeling regulations for animal food and enforces regulations about contamination. Feed control officials from the state departments of agriculture work with the FDA to inspect facilities and enforce regulations within each state. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines ingredients and has an agreement to work with FDA scientists to ensure the safety of ingredients. Consumers can voluntarily submit reports using the FDA Safety Reporting Portal: www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov.

Are Organic or Natural Ingredients Better?
Pet food labels are factual, but they are also used to attract consumers. Terms such as organic and natural, and unregulated terms such as human grade, premium and holistic are of little use when determining nutritional value. As more pet foods are manufactured to meet the demand for organic and natural ingredients, pet owners need to understand these terms. 

AAFCO defines natural as “originating from animals or plants.” AAFCO has no regulatory definition for organic, which refers to the procedure by which organic ingredients are grown, harvested and processed. 

There is no evidence that organic food is more beneficial to animals than nonorganic food. Pet foods that meet the human standard for organic (at least 95 percent of the content by weight, excluding salt and water, must be organic) may display the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic seal on their packaging. The FDA uses natural to describe food, and organic to describe both the food and the way in which it was processed.

Are the Feeding Guidelines Right for My Pet?
Complete and balanced pet foods must include feeding directions on their labels. However, one set of feeding guidelines cannot account for the great variation in metabolic rates and nutritional needs among individual pets. In addition, breed, temperament, environment and many other factors can influence food intake. Feeding guidelines provide a good starting point but may overestimate the needs of some pets, leading to weight gain. Therefore, pet owners (with guidance from a veterinary professional) may have to adjust the feeding guidelines on a case-by-case basis to achieve a healthy, lean body condition for their pets.

Why Aren’t Calories Listed on All Pet Food Labels?
Caloric content is not included on most pet food labels, but that may be changing. The format of pet food labels was derived from large animal feed packaging, which does not legally require the inclusion of caloric content. AAFCO has voted to mandate the inclusion of caloric content on pet food labels. In January 2013, the rule was approved, and the transition to revised labeling will occur from 2016 to 2017, for full enforcement.

For more information on pet food labels, visit the FDA website:  www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/resourcesforyou/ucm047113.htm. FOLLOW US!

Two Senators Are Urging the Food & Drug Administration to Open an Investigation into the Purina’s Beneful Brand Dog Food Allegations

A lawsuit filed in California claimed that thousands of dogs became ill or died after eating Purina’s Beneful kibble. Two senators are urging the Food & Drug Administration to open an investigation into the allegations.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, along with California Senator Dianne Feinstein, sent a letter [PDF] to the FDA calling for the agency to quickly investigate claims that Purina PetCare Company’s Beneful brand dry dog food contains toxins.

The senators also called for immediate updates on the implementation of FDA
requirements that could prevent such harmful contamination from occurring in pet foods.

In late February, it was revealed that a California man had filed a class action-seeking lawsuit against Purina saying the company’s dry dog food contains substances that are known to be toxic to animals and can lead to internal bleeding and other serious health issues for pets.

The man alleges that less than a month after beginning to exclusively feed his dogs Beneful dry kibble, all three became ill and his 8-year-old English Bulldog eventually died.

According to the lawsuit, illnesses experienced by thousands of dogs across the country were a result of toxins in Beneful such as, but not limited to, Propylene glycol and Mycotoxins.

Propylene glycol, the lawsuit states, is an automotive antifreeze component that is a known animal toxin. However, the substance is also an FDA-approved food additive for humans.

As for Mycotoxins, the lawsuit states they are a group of toxins produced by fungus that occurs in grains.

Representatives for Purina have said that the lawsuit was “without merit” and that the company would vigorously defend itself.

In their letter to the FDA, Durbin and Feinstein are asking for updates to the agency’s implementation of a 2007 law enacted to help prevent contaminated pet food from reaching animals.

Under the 2007 law, the FDA is required to ensure that pet food companies report to the agency within 24 hours of determining they have an adulterated product in their supply chain.

Additionally, the law requires the FDA to set ingredient and processing standards for pet food, strengthen labeling requirements, establish early warning systems for contaminated products and mandate that companies report contaminated food and make key records available during investigations.

“The components of the law that FDA has implemented are important to the public and veterinarians, namely the searchable online recall list posted on the agency’s website,” the letter states. “We appreciate that FDA has implemented an online database to inform consumers of pet food recalls. However, eight years later, most provisions of the pet food safety law have not been implemented and protections Congress enacted are not in place.” FOLLOW US!

Americans Spent $58 Billion on Their Pets in 2014

Pets are a member of our family these days. They protect us, love us, make us happy, and love spending time with us. Not only this, but our pets love us unconditionally when it seems no one else does. This is why, according to a report by the Columbus Dispatch on March 6, Americans spent $58 billion on their pets in 2014. This not only includes buying pets but pampering their pets as well as making sure they are healthy and happy.

The $58 billion was spent on 397 million pets in this country alone.

So where did the money go? The money went on many different things to make peoples pets healthier and happier. Here is a rundown of what the money was actually spent on according to the American Pet Products Association.

The American Pet Products Association measured the money spent on five different areas for pets. These five different areas included $22 billion on food, $15 billion on vet care, $14 billion on supplies for pets which includes beds, bowls, collars, and over-the-counter medications to help prevent fleas, ticks, and colds. Also, $4.8 billion on other things for their pets and $2 billion on buying pets themselves.

Although vet care is included in this equation, according to the Mansfield News Journal, vet care was either unchanged from the year before or down just a little bit from the previous year. However, these expenses range from lifesaving to the exotic which means plastic surgery.

The ‘other’ category included grooming, walking, boarding, day care, training, not to mention trips to the spa. Yes, trips to the spa! People are spending more and more money on these things since the ‘other’ category is the one that increased the most since last year when it comes to spending money on pets.

People are spending more and more money on exotic things for their pets. However, there is another thing that people are spending more money on for their pets and that includes new types of food. This new type of food that people are now spending on their pets is as high grade as human food.

As well as people spending more on better tasting and more high quality food for their pets making this category increase in sales from the previous year but pet sales itself was down last year. This is actually a good thing because it means that people are no longer buying from puppy mills or at least not as many people are buying from puppy mills and the like. This is also good because it means the cracking down the Humane Society and other animal services did on these puppy mills is actually working.

How much money did you spend on your pet in 2014? How much money have you spent on your pet or pets this year already? Sound off with your comments in the comment section below and let everyone know how much you love your pets.

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Healthy Weight Calculator For Cats And Dogs - Use To Find Out If Your Pet Is At Their Ideal Weight

Do you know your pet's weight? Use this healthy weight calculator to find out if your pet is at their ideal weight.

Obesity in pets is common in many countries. Rates of overweight and obesity in dogs in the United States ranges from 23% to 41% with about 5.1% obese. Rates of obesity in cats was slightly higher at 6.4%.[1] In Australia, the rate of obesity among dogs in a veterinary setting has been found to be 7.6%. The risk of obesity in dogs but not cats is related to whether or not their owners are obese.


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Considering Your Taxes? Don’t Forget Your Foster Pets

Do you need another excuse to foster a homeless pet? Love the idea of fostering but fear the potential costs? How about a tax deduction?

You read that correctly. Some of the expenses of fostering a pet for an adoption organization can be deducted as services rendered to a qualified 501(c)(3) organization. Things like pet food and supplies, veterinary bills, and even the paper towels you may need to clean up after your foster-furball can qualify as expenses for fostering a pet. If your foster operation is large enough you may be able to claim a portion of your home utilities as well. You can even deduct 14 cents per mile for trips made solely for the organization.

To read more on this story, click here: Considering Your Taxes? Don’t Forget Your Foster Pets
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The 3 Surprising Ways 'Pet Parents' Are Treating Their Pets Like Humans

Could today's children experience "sibling rivalry" -- with the family dog?

As an increasing number of Americans consider their pets to be like children -- and themselves to be "pet parents" -- the concept of sibling rivalry is taking on a whole new dimension.

According to a 2011 survey by Harris Interactive, over 9 in 10 pet owners (91 percent) say they consider their pet to be a member of their families. It turns out the tendency to perceive pets as family members may even have a biological basis -- a recent study by the Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital found mothers' brains showed similar responses to their babies and their dogs.

To read more on this story, click here: The 3 Surprising Ways 'Pet Parents' Are Treating Their Pets Like Humans
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Dog Food Recall - J.J. Fuds Raw Pet Food Recall

January 23, 2015 — J.J. Fuds of Valparaiso, Indiana is recalling a select lot of J.J. Fuds Chicken Tender Chunks Pet Food because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

To read more on this recall, click here: Dog Food Recall - J.J. Fuds Raw Pet Food Recall


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The FDA Issued a Warning Letter to a Purina Pet Food Canning Facility Finding 'Significant Deviations' from Pet Food Regulations

The FDA issued a Warning Letter to a Purina Pet Food canning facility finding 'significant deviations' from pet food regulations. Though no recalls have been issued, FDA had serious concerns about this pet food plant.

The FDA Warning Letter stated their inspection lasted for two weeks – from September 15, 2014 through October 1, 2014. Inspection revealed “that your facility has significant deviations from the LACF (low-acid can food) regulations.”

The inspection found that this Purina plant deviated from the required processing of the pet food – and further did not document the deviation (as required by law). The FDA Warning Letter stated “your firm did not provide documentation associated with the evaluation of the entire lot of product affected by the process deviation and did not provide documentation and/or the specifics of your corrective action plan in order to ensure that your firm will prevent these occurrences in the future.”

FDA also found temperature drop concerns with the pet food manufactured at this plant. Law requires canned pet food to be heated to specific temperatures and any variations of these required temperatures are required to be noted in a log. This Purina plant did not document the drop in temperatures.

FDA “observed” that the conveyor system in this plant did “not have adequate protection in place to prevent an unprocessed can” from ultimately reaching the consumer. An ‘unprocessed can’ of pet food would be an uncooked can of pet food – uncooked can of feed grade ingredients that could be full of dangerous bacteria. Purina responded to FDA they are in the process of correcting this issue, however FDA stated “We do not consider this response acceptable because you did not provide specifics of your corrective action plan in order to INSURE that your firm will prevent these occurrences in the future.”

The public FDA Warning Letter to Purina  – posted on the FDA website – does not provide lot numbers of products involved. The only information consumers have is product names – listed below. All of these products are canned/moist foods.

Alpo PRIME Cuts with Beef
Alpo Chop House Originals Filet Mignon
Alpo Chop House Originals roasted Chicken
Friskies Mariner’s Catch
Friskies Mixed Grill
Friskies Gravy Sensations with Turkey and Giblets
Friskies Supreme Supper
Friskies Indoor Chicken
Friskies Salmon Dinner
Mighty Dog Chicken Egg & Bacon Country Platter
Mighty Dog Chop House Originals Filet Mignon
Mighty Dog Lamb and Rice
ProPlan Senior Beef and Rice Entrée

If you are feeding your pet one of these products – please pay close attention to your pet’s health. Should any illness occur, notify your veterinarian first, the FDA second.

You can report a pet illness to the FDA here: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm182403.htm

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Santa Will Be Visiting Coolridge Animal Hospital To Take Donations of Any Unopened Pet food, Pet Accessories and Even Money to Be Donated to a Local Rescue or Shelter

Camp Springs, Maryland - We are very excited to announce that Santa will be visiting Coolridge Animal Hospital this year! He will be taking donations of any unopened dog or cat food, litter, toys, beds and even money. All proceeds will be donated to a local rescue or shelter! In return for this donation you will receive a picture of you and Santa!!

Stayed tuned for date/times TBA next week.

Santa has asked that all the fur babies write to Santa via Facebook or by email coolridgeah@gmail.com, and let Santa know if you have been naughty or nice this year, and what your little heart desires from Santa.

The best Dear Santa Letter will receive a special gift from Santa!

The Pet Tree House will post the date and time next week!

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Fitzgerald Auto Mall "Fall In Love" Adoption Event - Washington Animal Rescue League - October 18th

Washington, DC  -- Fitzgerald AutoMall in North Bethesda and the Washington Animal Rescue League will team up once again for a special “Fall in Love” pet adoption event on Saturday, October 18th from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  Adoptable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens will be on-site, hoping to go home with a new forever family.
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“This is the season when we gather as family and friends, and we want our four legged friends to be included” said Dottie Fitzgerald, President at Fitzgerald Auto Malls.  “At Fitzgerald, we are proud to partner with WARL to continue to find excellent homes for our furry friends.”

The Washington Animal Rescue League will have adoptions counselors on site to help adopters meet their perfect match.  All available pets have been spayed/neutered, microchipped and are up-to-date on vaccines.

The event is open to the public and all are invited to come out and meet the animals.  In addition, the public is encourages to bring pet food and pet supplies for the Washington Animal Rescue League’s “Rescuer’s Food Bank.”  The food bank helps families facing financial difficulty hold on to and care for their pets

“We’re thrilled to once again partner with our friends at Fitzgerald Auto Mall on a great adoption event,” said Bob Ramin, CEO of the Washington Animal Rescue League.  “Our shelter is absolutely full of great dogs and cats who desperately need homes, and we’re once again thankful to Dottie Fitzgerald and her fantastic staff for providing the opportunity to showcase our animals and collect food for our pet food bank.  We hope everyone comes out to ‘Fall in Love’ with a new furry friend.”
                                                   
Fitzgerald Auto Mall is located in North Bethesda at 11411 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, Md.  For more information, visit www.warl.org.  All currently available animals can be seen on the website.

About the Washington Animal Rescue League
Celebrating its Centennial Anniversary in 2014, the Washington Animal Rescue League is the oldest animal shelter in the District of Columbia.  Its mission continues to evolve as conditions change and animals face new and different challenges, but the core of that mission remains unchanged:  to honor and strengthen the human-animal bond by providing the best quality care for homeless dogs and cats, and supporting companion animals in their homes through affordable veterinary care, community outreach, and education.

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Choosing the Right Pet for You

Sharing your life with an animal has great benefits and can bring you great joy. If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, it’s best to learn about the needs of different types of pets to find one that will best suit your lifestyle.

Each type of pet is different in terms of care, feeding, behavior, cost, housing and demands on your time. If you know what you’re getting into, you’ll be more likely to have a happy animal, a good relationship with your pet, and an easier time dealing with any challenges that might arise.

To read more on this story, click here: Choosing the Right Pet for You

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9 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Pet

Is it okay to toss your pet a grape? How about the skin you just pulled off your baked chicken? We know it’s hard to resist those big eyes and wagging tongue, but beware: The very thing your pet’s dying to eat may just do more harm than good.

Here, Dr. Samantha Klau, veterinarian for the doggy-care center Biscuits & Bath, shares 9 types of food that are bad for your dog or cat.

Onions and garlic
Whether fresh, cooked, dried or powdered, these veggies cause damage to red blood cells and gastrointestinal problems in pets. "The small amounts found in dog food and supplements usually don't cause a problem, but we recommend not giving it to your pet," Klau said.

Signs that you should call your vet: weakness, shortness of breath, loss of appetite or vomiting

Alcohol
Make sure you keep alcohol far away from your pets, advises Klau. Beer, liquor or wine damages your pet’s liver, brain and can cause diarrhea, disorientation, dehydration and put your pet in a comatose state if not treated quickly.

Signs that you should call your vet: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, disorientation, stupor and, in severe cases, coma, seizures or the inability to stand up.

Caffeine
If consumed in large enough quantities, anything caffeinated can kill your pet. That includes coffee (even the grounds), tea, energy drinks and medications.

Signs that you should call your vet: rapid heartbeat, muscle tremors, bleeding, restlessness, rapid breathing or seizure-like symptoms.

Grapes and raisins
These snacks are perfect for people, but not so much for pets. Small amounts can make your sidekick sick, while larger amounts can cause kidney failure.

Signs that you should call your vet: non-stop vomiting, exhaustion or depression.

Unbaked bread dough
If it’s made with live yeast, raw dough can expand in your pet's stomach. Small amounts can lead to gastrointestinal upset, bloating and a belly ache.

Signs that you should call your vet: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, disorientation, stupor and, in severe cases, coma, seizures, swelling belly or the inability to stand up.

Raw eggs, meat and fish
Uncooked food may be contaminated with salmonella or E. coli, which can upset your pet's gastrointestinal tract.

Signs that you should call your vet: vomiting, fever or enlarged lymph nodes.

Fat trimmings and bones
Sure, they’re delicious for pets, but fat trimmings and bones just as dangerous. Fat, whether cooked or raw, can cause pancreatitis, and bone splinters can get lodged in your pet's mouth and throat and even block or perforate the digestive system.

Signs that you should call your vet: diarrhea, blood in the stool, abdominal pain or loss of appetite.

Dairy
Milk and other dairy products are not well tolerated by cats and is particularly rough on dogs. "Dogs don't posses a significant amount of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down milk," Klau said. Dairy products also predispose pets to food allergies.

(To subscribe to The Pet Tree House, click on this icon
in the black drop-down menu on your right. Thank you.)

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 at: www.whispersoftheworld.com

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Vending Machines Encourage Recycling, Feed Stray Animals in Istanbul - The Bottle-Powered Dispensers Dish Out Pet Food Every Time Someone Places a Plastic Bottle Inside the Machine

Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city with a population of 14 million, but it also has one of the world’s largest stray animal populations at around 150,000. Instead of overlooking the problem as is all too common, the Turkish company Pugedon has struck a deal with the government to place food dispensaries around the city. Not only do these provide food and water, but they also help to promote recycling.

The bottle-powered dispensers dish out pet food every time someone places a plastic bottle inside the machine. It also has a container where you can pour the remainder of your water to make sure stray cats and dogs also have something to drink. Apart from keeping the urban animals alive, the vending machine also makes people stop and think about their plight and could perhaps be enough to make some consider adopting an animal to help deal with the problem.

As far as solutions go, this one is a much more humane option when you consider those that have occurred before. In 2012, the government drafted a law that allowed city dogs to be sent to “wildlife parks” on city outskirts. This outraged animal rights activists who referenced a brutal act of animal cruelty in 1910 when the city’s stray dogs were sent to an island and forced to eat each other for survival.

While the solution is a good one, it’s worth noting that it only targets the symptoms of the stray animal problem. Animal smuggling, illegal pet shops, and the desire to have the latest “fashionable” animal are all factors. As pointed out on BigThink by Ahmet Senpolat, an Istanbul-based animal rights lawyer:

Animal smugglers only face a fine of a few hundred euros at worst, they continue to bring expensive pure-bred puppies and sell them to pet stores. People often buy the puppies from pet stores, and abandon them when they become too tough to handle.

Facing up to problems is harder because it usually requires doing something about them, but it’s still a better option than ignoring them altogether.

Plastic for pet food is a better option than sending dogs to isolated islands.

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