WHAT I NEED TO KNOW TO HELP CHOOSE THE CORRECT
FOOD
FOR MY PET
By Alfred J. Plechner, D.V.M.
Please realize
that the first three ingredients on the food label usually represents 90% of
that diet.
Also realize
that the longer the ingredient list, the worse the diet as good nutrition is not
only simple but also healthy.
Beet pulp is an
inexpensive roughage, as opposed to tomato pumice.
Which chemical additives should not be in
the food? Try to avoid foods that contain BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin.
These chemicals may be added to protect the color of the food and
antioxidants, but why?
Also realize that years ago, it was said
that to feed your pets “left overs” from your meals, was a NO NO. Today, it may
be to your pets advantage to eat High Quality left over food, as long as you are
eating right.
Very lightly seasoned pasta, rice and
white potatoes are usually of value as are meats and vegetables and fruit. Heavy
seasoning will often cause an upset
stomach.
Did you realize
that there are good byproducts and bad byproducts.
If only
byproducts are listed on the label and not a detailed description of them, do
not consider this food.
What is a good byproduct when listed? A
listed good byproduct can be any organ meat that humans do not normally eat like
kidneys, lungs, spleen, heart and
gizzard. These are all healthy food additions that we may not eat, but they are
healthy for our pets.
What is a bad
or questionable byproduct? These can be feet, ears wattles, feathers, horns or
skin.
Beware of chicken or beef meal
because if their origin is not identified, than do not consider the food
for your pet.
Many years ago
I did a nightly news program that featured a meaty beef diet of which beef was
the fifth ingredient on the label. What they didnt realize was that if beef was the
fifth or sixth ingredient on the label then the bull must have walked by and
waved, since there was very little beef in this diet.
Hopefully
this will give you some insight to selecting a healthy diet for your pet.
You may then
ask, “who am I to make these suggestions”?
I am the veterinarian that created
the first commercial nonmeat diet in this country including the first lamb and
rice, and the first to create cat food with taurine to help avoid enlarged
hearts in cats called cardiomyopathy.
I also
created the limited antigen diets of duck and potato, venison and potato, rabbit
and potato, and fish and potato. My diets have been copied by many however you
need to be aware of the fact when some of the ingredients are replaced, many
times the new ingredient will be higher in estrogen than the original ingredient
which definitely can cause that patient further problems.
Hopefully I
know a little bit about diet, but I definitely do not know it all. I really
would appreciate you making comments on this website so I can also learn from
you.
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