Kibble Confusion-You’re feeding what?

1. Kibble Confusion-You’re feeding what?

2. Disclaimers • I am not a dog nutrition or label reading expert. • I don’t feed the perfect diet, not by a long shot, but I do the best I can to educate myself about what I am feeding them • What I feed depends on how busy I am and what article I read the night before • Be wary of what you read and hear • This is not an all you need to know…never stop learning!

3. Types of Diet • Dry • Canned • Mostly water so can’t be sole source • Does not cause adverse dental health • Higher amounts of meat, poultry, fish • Can not be sole source for big dogs—you’d be feeding 8 cans a day! • Semi-moist—Do not feed, loaded with chemicals • Raw • Homemade Diets

4. Dog Food Content • Meat, poultry, seafood, feed grain • By-products • Not fit for human consumption but still must meet federal standards for safety and nutrition • Vitamins/Minerals-to complete nutritional needs • Preservatives-for shipping and to extend shelf-life • Coloring-to make it pretty • Approved by the U.S. FDA and U.S. Dept of Agriculture

5. Myth: Dog food is a self-regulated industry • FDA (Food and Drug Association) • FTC (Federal Trade Commission) • USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) • State Government • Pet Food Institute • AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials)

6. But wait…. • Never know the true quality of ingredients • Predicting recall is impossible • Ingredient quality can vary daily • Not required to disclose the origin of their ingredients • Good companies use trusted sources, but some use brokers, middlemen or even 3rd party suppliers

7. There is good news! • Lots of information! • Consumer driven huge industry • Knowledgeable staff in specialty stores • Don’t trust that fancy artwork or manufacturer claims, its all marketing hype! • Merrick vs. Proctor and Gamble

8. Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) • Set standards for animal feeds and pet foods in the U.S. but have no regulatory authority • Work with FDA • Must meet “Complete and Balanced” standards • Adult Maintenance • Growth/Reproduction • Feeding trials and Lab Analysis • Fed and monitored for six months • It isn’t perfect, but it’s a good starting place

9. Your pup’s needs • Water • Protein-Meat protein better than veggies • Fats • Minerals • Vitamins • Variety • Dogs have fewer taste buds than we do • Nothing’s perfect so rotate diet • Some pets can’t tolerate changes • No study that says its unhealthy or detrimental to change food

10. “Complete and Balanced” • Look for this label • The product contains all nutrients known to be required by a dog or cat • Must contain minimums of nutrients required by AAFCO • Does not cover treats, snacks or other products for supplemental feeding

11. What to feed? • Depends on • 1. Medical Condition • 2. Lifestyle (active or couch potato?) • 3. Size • 4. Growth or Maintenance? (puppy or adult?) • Puppies should be switched from Growth to Maintenance around 9 months or when they reach 80-90% of anticipated weight • For puppies, should meet “Growth” or “All Life Stages”

12. What to feed? Continued • Food that is stored appropriately • Cool, dry place • Pour out of the bag • Canned in the cupboard • Food high in meat content and free of plant-based protein boosters • USA registered and manufactured food • Fresh Veggies www.dogwalkeretc.com

13. Marketing Mumbo-jumbo • “Holistic”-no legal definition • “Natural”—assumed synonymous with “good” “healthy” • Organic? • No scientific research supporting this but do Mother Nature a favor • Raleigh Farmer’s Market • Probiotics

14. What not to feed • Cat Food—too high in fat/protein • Some Table scraps or bones • Too fatty, vomiting, diarrhea, obesity • Bones can get lodged or splintered • Anything from China • Added supplements • Not adequately researched Homemade diets

15. What not to feed, cont. • Labels that say “meat entrée”, “meat dinner”, “Meat platter” “meat flavor” • Senior or weight loss diets • Supermarket brands • All food in one meal • Split to at least 2 feedings

16. Beware the Media • Whole grains and antioxidants • Gluten free • “Green Movement” • Rendering • Pet Food Institute—made of 98% of commercial pet foods prohibit rendered ingredients • “Toxins” • Water • Oxygen

17. How to feed • Ask around • Look at their dog • Monitor your own dog • One to three meals a day (average for adults) • Puppies • < 3 months 4x a day • 3-5 months 3x a day • No free feeding • Can cause anorexia • Most dogs can’t self-regulate • Gradually change food • Change made over 5-7 days or longer if your pup is sensitive

18. How to feed cont., • Guaranteed analysis • This is the minimal amount present • Ingredient List • Look for protein sources and carbohydrate sources • Complete and Balanced • The less processed the better • Protein, protein, protein! • Deficiencies = Roxanne • Slow your dog down to prevent Bloat • Do not elevate bowls

19. Alternative Diets • Homemade • Usually not well balanced • Vegetarian • Dogs are omnivores, Cats are carnivores • Must be well-balanced and are usually not • Raw • Controversial • Not formulated to meet AAFCO standards • AAHA, AVMA, and CVMA, discourage raw diet

20. Ok I am still lost! I thought you were going to help us! • Foods that contain: • Whole Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, Pork and meals made from whole meats (beef meal, chicken meal, etc.) • Whole grains, vegetables and fruits • Foods with as much animal protein as possible • Identified ingredients (instead of “liver” should say “beef liver”) • Foods that contain: • Animal fat, animal digest, meat meal • Foods with artificial colors • Products without expiration dates or those past their expiration • Products containing meat or bone meal • Foods that are sweetened • Wheat Gluten (“gum”) • Products with protein derived from meat “by-products” Good things to look for Do Not Buy

21. One more note about by-products • Sometimes, by-products are ok • You eat them! Well I don’t… • Sweetbreads, chitterlings, etc • Still have to be approved for use and must be safe and meet nutritional requirements • Make sure they aren’t the main source of protein

22. An Example: Beneful Chopped Blends with Chicken Water sufficient for processing, chicken, wheat gluten, carrots, liver, peas, meat by-products, corn starch-modified, wild rice, rice, artificial and natural flavors, calcium phosphate, salt, soy flour, potassium chloride, added color, zinc sulfate, choline chloride, Vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, niacin, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, manganese sulfate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin A supplement, potassium iodide, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin, sodium selenite.

23. Another Example: Merrick • Deboned Chicken, Chicken Broth, Dried Egg Product, Natural Chicken Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate), Carrageenan, Cassia Gum, Guar Gum, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Glucoheptonate, Sodium Selenite), Lecithin.

24. Where to Buy • Sorry, I won’t recommend Brands of dog food • You can do it! • Animall • Phydeaux • Unleashed • Barnes Supply • Pet Pantry • www.feedyourpets.com

25. References • www.dogfoodadvisor.com • www.fda.gov • Go to animal and veterinary • www.whole-dog-journal.com • www.petfoodinstitute.org • The Healthful Alternative Dog and Cat Diets • Donald R. Strombeck, DVM, PhD