Exploring Cat and Dog Nutrition

02/13/2025

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/how-its-made-the-most-common-animal-ingredient-in-dry-pet-foods/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIaKENleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVRnzdJHUxEW-itXrh0mySSpnJK3maddJHnrFtAecKEiiIr1gm74YluREw_aem_PHu4oWATZQoHfOGCcnBLxw

What you need to know about chicken meal, beef meal...

02/05/2025

https://youtu.be/VaVC3PAWqLk?si=7TgxwQ_ie4jMgRPh

Dr Thomas Seyfried is a Professor of biology, genetics, and biochemistry at Boston College. He has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and is also the author...

02/04/2025

https://animaldietformulator.com/blog/ground-flaxseed-how-much-can-we-and-our-companion-animals-safely-eat

Crushed or ground flaxseed produces cyanide, which is a toxin that can bind to proteins in cells and inhibit cellular energy production. This is a concern for pet food formulators, who should carefully evaluate their flaxseed for cyanide toxicity.

01/14/2025

THE ONGOING DECLINE IN THE HEALTH OF CATS AND DOGS

Over the past 40 years, the health of cats and dogs has declined. A 2024 study of 40,000 dogs shows that their health is now three times worse than it was 40 years ago. This really stands out to me because, growing up in the 1970s, I clearly remember that the dogs and cats from my childhood and early adulthood were much healthier and didn’t have many of the health problems we see today.

When I was growing up and in my early adulthood, I remember most of the dogs, even large breeds, in our community living into their teens, and cats often living for decades.

Just like human medicine, veterinary medicine has made great progress thanks to the education, experience and dedication of those in the field.

THE ONGOING DECLINE IN THE HEALTH OF CATS AND DOGS

Studies show that the genetics of cats and dogs can strongly affect how long they live and how likely they are to get certain diseases, just like in humans. This could be partly caused by irresponsible breeding driven by ignorance or greed. Responsible breeding of cats is even less common. The reality is, dogs are mostly bred for their looks or behavior (temperament), not for their health or ability to live a long life.

Environmental factors are important: If something isn’t good for humans, it’s likely even worse for cats and dogs! Common things in our environment today, like lawn treatments, pesticides, air fresheners, detergents, and many other chemicals that didn’t exist 40 years ago, are definitely contributing to health problems. This affects humans, but it’s even more significant for the health and lifespan of our cats and dogs. Just like with humans, not getting enough exercise can lead to poorer health and a shorter lifespan. In fact, even a long daily walk might not be enough for dogs. Most cats are also not active enough.

WE ARE WHAT WE EAT – CATS AND DOGS ARE WHAT THEY EAT

What we feed our pets and what we allow them to consume is just as important as any other factor. Fortunately, we have the most control over what our cats and dogs eat and how we nourish them with biologically appropriate, species-specific nutrition.

Unlike humans, our cats and dogs rely entirely on us to decide what they eat. Their health, happiness, and lifespan depend on the choices we make for them, which is why it’s crucial to seriously think about nutrition.
In human nutrition, we know that junk food—like Twinkies—isn’t good for us, even if it’s readily available at the store.

Humans often choose healthy foods like salads, thinking they're making the best choice for their health. However, salads can have risks like harmful bacteria, pesticides, and too much dressing that adds extra sugars and fats. Similarly, dogs and cats that eat processed pet food might unknowingly be exposed to hidden sugars, highly processed fats, and potentially harmful ingredients not listed on the label. While processed pet food is marketed as healthy, it often lacks the quality we expect and may contain harmful ingredients. Both humans and pets can fall short of getting the full health benefits they expect, even with good intentions.

The pet food industry often promotes processed products as the healthiest option. Advertisements and shiny labels with pictures of whole meats, fruits, and vegetables are common. However, the truth is that most pet foods are rarely made from real whole foods. They are usually made from synthetic vitamins and waste products from the human food chain. To make things worse, it’s very difficult to figure out what’s really in most foods for cats and dogs.

While many informed pet owners are advocating for feeding real, whole, fresh foods to cats and dogs, most of the pet food and veterinary industries promote processed products. The pet food and veterinary industries downplay the nutritional significance of real, whole foods and demand that kibble and canned food are the only safe options.

It's important to note that two large companies make over 90% of all pet food on the market. One of these same companies also owns more than 50% of all veterinary practices in the U.S.

References:

Ogden, L. E. (2022, July 27). Inside the brains of aging dogs. Knowable Magazine. https://doi.org/10.1146/knowable-072622-1. Retrieved August 10, 2022.

Dog Aging Project. (n.d.). Our team. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://dogagingproject.org

Matchar, E. (2016, August 29). The Dog Aging Project wants to help your pet live longer. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved June 8, 2017, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com

Harmon, A. (2016, May 16). Dogs test drugs aimed at humans' biggest killer: Age. The New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com

Vogelsang, J. (n.d.). Rapamycin: A real fountain of youth? veterinarynews.360dvm.com. UBM Life Sciences, Veterinary. Retrieved June 9, 2017, from https://veterinarynews.360dvm.com

Golbeck, J. (2015, April 3). Sick as a dog? Slate. The Slate Group. Retrieved June 9, 2017, from https://slate.com

Doughton, S. (2014, November 2). UW scientists seek to extend dogs' lives with anti-aging drug. The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.seattletimes.com

Filler, L. (2016, May 18). It's a dog's life. That could be great. Newsday. Retrieved June 9, 2017, from https://www.newsday.com

Kim, A. (2019, November 15). Wanted: 10,000 dogs for the largest-ever study on aging in canines. CNN. Warner Media. Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.cnn.com

01/12/2025

05/16/2024

What's In The Bowl Pet Shop will have a limited number of copies of The Forever Dog Life for sale on June 4th!

In "The Forever Dog," Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Becker explain that feeding your dog the right foods is essential for its health and long life. Their book, "The Forever Dog Life," offers easy ways to help your dog live longer and healthier, inside and out. They provide simple tools, recipes, and tips.

The book includes over 120 recipes for tasty food bowls, fresh food toppers to enhance any pet food, and yummy broths and stews even fussy eaters will enjoy.

However, a healthy diet is just one part of keeping your dog well. "The Forever Dog Life" also shows you how to make your home a healthier place for your pet. It includes instructions for making your own safe cleaning products, natural disinfectants, and lawn care items that are better for your pet than chemical-based products. The book also offers natural recipes for pet shampoos, conditioners, skin rinses, and products for dental and ear care, as well as chemical-free solutions for fleas and ticks.

"The Forever Dog Life" is not just informative, but also full of wonderful stories about dogs and practical advice. With science-based tips, lots of photos, and colorful instructions, it's a complete guide to helping your dogs and cats live their best lives.

04/15/2024

Going for a record number of Zoom meeting in one day!

02/26/2024

Animal and veterinary products make up 6% of FDA recalls:

Most recalled items by the FDA are food and beverages, making up 64 percent, followed by drugs at 22 percent, animal and veterinary products at 6 percent, medical devices at 4 percent, dietary supplements at 2 percent and cosmetics at 1 percent, with allergens being the most common reason behind FDA recalls.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already issued 51 food-related recalls this year.

02/18/2024

https://www.facebook.com/DogsFirstIreland/posts/pfbid02JrHsdreqTwVFumCLt7synYf6kkLuE52jzFhsHdTsN3n6rcbjv9C8rHJYNDBiBnUgl
Researchers compared the health markers in client-owned dogs fed a raw diet to markers in dogs fed a high-quality extruded kibble.
To measure their health on the outside, they used a composite clinical health score, (CCS) of dental score + otitis score + integument (external health) score.
The raw-fed dogs scored significantly higher (as you might expect but now we have a study to prove it!).
To assess their health on the inside, they measured serum alkaline phosphatase activity, where an elevation is correlated with disease of the liver and bone, among others.
The raw-fed dogs scored significantly lower in the worrying markers than dry-fed dogs (while the dry-fed dogs were significantly higher they were still within accepted boundaries).
They also measured their globulins levels. These are antibodies. They are elevated in inflammatory conditions, infections, and some cancers. You don't want them raised.
In the dry-fed dogs, they were (again though, there were considered within accepted maximums).
In fact, in both cases, the p-value was less than 0.001 which means highly significant.
An almost complete whitewash.
Interestingly, the raw-fed dogs had more lymphocytes, raised when fighting infection, which was just about significant with a p-value of 0.05.
There were only 25 dogs in each group. The authors note more research is urgently needed to determine the impact of diet processing and nutrient content on canine health.
That was 3 years ago.
Wouldn't you think a veterinary department somewhere would have repeated this study using a lot more dogs by now?! Just in case they were recommending a product that was making the world's dogs ill?
Sadly, comparing the health of fresh and dry-fed dogs is not something the veterinary industry has any interest in doing.
Mad, eh?!
Let's recap the score for them:
3 studies showing raw meaty bones SAFELY clean teeth
2 studies show dry-fed dogs have more inflammatory markers
2 studies showing dry-fed dogs suffer more gut disease
1 study showing dry-fed dogs suffer more atopy (skin disease)
1 study showing dry-fed dogs have more histamine release in the skin layers.
1 study showing dry-fed dogs suffer more ear disease
1 study showing raw-fed dogs are healthier
1 study showing raw-fed dogs see the vets less
ZERO studies suggesting dry dog food is better for any health condition whatsoever.
Hard to get away from that last one.
Add to these awkward facts - KIBBLE poisons far more humans with Salmonella than raw dog food (the majority of them toddlers under two years of age) and the fact complete dry dog food has killed tens of thousands of dogs and cats over multiple instances in the last few decades alone (complete raw dog and cat food? Less than 10 pets) and you have to wonder.....the veterinary industry recommends against feeding pets real food beecaaaause...
"More research is needed more research is needed".....says absolutely nobody with half a brain.
Forgive, but never forget.
***
REF: Hiney et al. (2021). Clinical health markers in dogs fed raw meat-based or commercial extruded kibble diets. Journal of Animal Science, 99(6): 1–10
LINKED IN ARTICLE BELOW
Need more science on raw V dry debate? Check out my book Feeding Dogs, the top-rated manual on canine nutrition.
Want to jump straight in? Here's a handy free article on how to change your dog to real food
https://www.dogsfirst.ie/everything-about-raw-dog-food/
Want a mix of the two, the science and the how-to, then you can check out my popular masterclass on how to feed dogs here
https://www.drconorbrady.com/feeding-dogs-masterclass-1

02/09/2024

https://fb.watch/q6jBkKSid0/

02/09/2024

https://petsplusmag.com/hills-accused-of-coordinated-scheme-to-convince-consumers-that-grain-free-pet-food-increases-risk-of-dcm/

The case was filed on behalf of KetoNatural Pet Foods, a Utah-based pet food startup that manufactures low-carbohydrate dog food products.

01/30/2024

Here’s a free downloadable PDF about the hormonal effects of neutering. Know more, sterilize wiser 😻

https://foreverdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dexsexing-pdf.pdf

01/28/2024

Interesting: Long-term effects of adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy can be significant according to various studies. A comprehensive study conducted on Danish children found that these surgeries were associated with an increased relative risk of later respiratory, allergic, and infectious diseases. The research indicates that while adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy are common pediatric procedures aimed at treating obstructed breathing or recurrent middle-ear infections, they also have a role in immune system development and function. The surgeries were linked to a 2- to 3-fold increase in diseases of the upper respiratory tract, and there were also smaller increases in risks for infectious and allergic diseases. This suggests that long-term risks of these surgeries should be carefully considered when making treatment decisions​​.

Another study from Australia highlighted that adenotonsillectomy (ADT) and adenoidectomy (AD) in children are increasingly being performed at a younger age, and while they can help alleviate upper respiratory symptoms, they are not without risk, especially for children under 2 years old. This study supports a more conservative approach to the management of upper respiratory symptoms, with surgery being reserved for cases where potential benefits most likely outweigh the harms​​.

Furthermore, the Melbourne-led study echoes the finding that removal of these lymphatic tissues in childhood could be associated with higher levels of allergic, respiratory, and infectious diseases later in life. The adenoids and tonsils act as a first line of defense in the immune system, and their removal might have implications on the immune responses throughout life. It's suggested that delaying the removal of these tissues, if possible, could help in normal immune development in children and possibly reduce the risk of diseases in later life​​.

It's important for parents and healthcare providers to weigh the immediate benefits of these surgeries against these potential long-term risks. Always consulting with a healthcare professional for personalized advice is recommended.

Anyone know more about this?

01/16/2024

Chicken by-product is most likely spent carcasses, and dried beet pulp is wood. This ingredient, 'natural flavor,' could be many different things, but at least it came from planet Earth.

🚨🐾 BEWARE OF KIBBLE MARKETING TRICKS!

Don't be fooled by pet food labels! They should prioritize animal protein, right? But some kibble marketers play tricks with ingredient lists.

Here's the scoop: Ingredients are listed by weight when added, not in the final product. Meats, like chicken, contain lots of water, so they seem heavier. Imagine a bag with "Chicken" as the first ingredient. But here's the catch...

Chicken is about 70% water, and the panel lists ingredients by initial weight. After processing and drying, most other ingredients stay dry, making it look protein-packed.

Example: If they add 40% chicken and 25% corn meal (among others), with chicken losing 70% of weight when drying, it's just 12% chicken in the final kibble.

So, that "Chicken" kibble? It's more like "Corn Meal" kibble!

Educate yourself and choose wisely for your dog!.

👉Read more here https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/3-bullhit-moves-revealed-pet-foods-hide-crappy-proteins/

01/12/2024

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/the-facility-smells-intensely-of-rotting-animals/?fbclid=IwAR2KyvIL9bijpEhey4k1psagIrGJJIeWxggl6xTxXCwX4lvpP3S9fgrifhM

This is rendered pet food ingredients.

01/11/2024

Seek Nature's Most Nourishing Foods For Your Dog - From Sean B. Jones
At Foodynamics, we're inspired by the robust health of our canine friends' ancestors, who thrived in natures harshest environments for thousands of years. Unlike modern dogs, these ancestors led active lives, fueled by a diet nature intended—consuming animals from nose to tail, wasting nothing. This practice of eating every part of the animal, especially nutrient-packed organs like liver, heart, and kidney, was their secret to vitality.
These organs are nutritional powerhouses, providing canines with essential nutrients—vitamins, minerals, peptides, proteins, and growth factors—that are 100 times more concentrated than in other meats. Despite changes in appearance and behavior, the fundamental biology of our dogs remains unchanged from their ancestors. These resilient creatures flourished in harsh environments, thanks to their nutrient-rich diet.
At Foodynamics, we're committed to bringing this ancient wisdom to your dog's bowl. We advocate for a nose-to-tail nourishment approach, which we believe is crucial for your dog's health and longevity. The mainstream pet food industry, unfortunately, often overlooks this, opting for processed carbohydrates and other subpar ingredients. This shift in diet is a primary contributor to the chronic diseases prevalent in today's canines.
We urge you to prioritize the quality of your dog's diet. Embracing a nose-to-tail feeding philosophy can lead to significant improvements in their health and well-being. Just like humans, dogs flourish when they consume the highest quality foods. At Foodynamics, we're passionate about empowering you to make the best dietary choices for your canine companion, ensuring they live a long, healthy, and happy life.
www.foodynamics.com

12/29/2023

January 2023 the University of New Mexico published a paper finding dog DNA in two pet foods. Of the six dog foods they tested, two different foods contained 17 ingredients that were not listed on the label.

All six pet foods analyzed contained multiple ingredients NOT listed on the label.