The latest US news indicates that melamine, a chemical used to make plastics and pesticides, has been found in wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate and corn gluten imported from China. One positive result of this pet food recall is that it's prompting pet owners to call veterinarians when their pets get sick — and now instead of problems from the tainted food, owners and their vets are finding all sorts of other maladies. Doctors say they are seeing more cases of hypothyroidism, bladder disease, bladder stones, liver disease and even diabetes that have no connection to the recall. Another great side effect here is that people are finally becoming motivated to feed their pets natural foods instead of lower quality brands that are cheaper because they use fillers.

**The most up-to-date product information can be found with the American Veterinarian Medical Association's AVMA PET FOOD RECALL LIST and the FDA's UPDATED NOTICES of recalls and market withdrawals are regularly posted as a service to consumers.

You can get specific wheat gluten information from Menu Foods (CAT Products), Menu Foods (DOG Products) and Purina PetCare (Mighty Dog and Alpo) — plus Del Monte and Sunshine Mills. Please note that brands like Iams, Eukanuba, and Hills Prescription Diet — which were all affected by the recall — are NOT healthy nor natural foods. Even a pet food company that prides itself on using "human-grade" ingredients, The Blue Buffalo Company said some of its Spa Select Kitten dry food contained rice protein concentrate that was contaminated with melamine. This same tainted rice protein went into products from Natural Balance Pet Foods, Doctors Foster & Smith Adult Lite Dog and Cat, Lick Your Chops Lamb, Rice & Egg Cat, SmartPak Adult Lite Dog Food and, most recently, several of Diamond Pet Foods Canned Products. In addition, there been a recall of A.B Bully Stick puppy and dog chews from American Bullie because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

DIET IS THE FOUNDATION OF HEALTH — Feeding a very high quality food is the best thing you can do for your dog or cat’s health. Grain byproducts are inexpensive fillers and inferior sources of nutrition which have been used for decades. They may make the food less expensive and good tasting, but in the case of pet foods, you truly get what you pay for. For complete information on choosing a top-quality pet food please see What You Should Know About Your Pet’s Food. Following is a summary of the basic fundamentals of natural pet care:

1. Freshness — The more fresh and less processed the food, the better. As with human food, the more pet food is processed, the more nutrients are lost.
2. Meat — Dogs and cats are natural carnivores, so it is important that the main source of protein in their diet is meat. Grains are inferior sources of protein and cats especially do not tolerate grains well. Diets with higher grain and carbohydrate content can lead to weight gain and other potential health problems.
3. Vegetables & Fruits — Vegetables and fruits contain beneficial vitamins and antioxidants and should be included in the diet as well -- to a greater extent for dogs than for cats. Cats are almost exclusively carnivores, so this portion should be smaller for them.
4. Variety — It is a good idea to feed your pet different types of food, either through rotation or mixing them together. Try different brands and/or different flavors of the same brand. Feeding your pet the same dry food all the time would be like you eating only corn flakes - sure you could survive, but it wouldn't be very healthful or enjoyable. Every meal does not need to be perfectly balanced. Feeding a variety of healthy meals will create balance over the course of the week.
5. Supplements — Most healthy food contains additional ingredients to add vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients. However, even the best fresh raw foods diet for our dogs and cats can be lacking in some essential vitamins and minerals. This is why a basic vitamin and mineral supplement is a good investment for most of our pet companions.
6. Digestive Enzymes — Every dog or cat that is eating a processed food (anything other than raw or lightly cooked) diet should receive digestive enzymes with every meal. This will not only improve digestion and the assimilation of nutrients, but it may also help protect against the development of allergies and immune disorders. Improving digestion and utilization of nutrients can help to prevent and eliminate a host of diet related problems such as eating stools, body odor, excessive shedding, flatulence and itchy skin.
7. Essential Fatty Acids — Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are necessary for proper formation of cell membranes, are precursors for prostaglandins (hormones involved in pain regulation among other things), aid in proper cardiovascular function and nourish the skin and coat as well as the lining of the digestive tract. The best source of omega 3 fatty acids for most animals is cold water fish oils like salmon oil or cold water fish blends. Animals do not necessarily convert the fatty acids in plant oils very efficiently, such as those in found in flax, to the form most readily utilized by the animal’s system.

Here's a "Quick Guide to Natural Pet Food" ranked according to nutritional value. Raw food is the best, followed by dehydrated and freeze dried, then canned and rolls, then dry kibble. Of course your budget is a factor, because the better quality the food, the more expensive it tends to be. This guide shows safe and healthy brands which are available at www.OnlyNaturalPet.com ... these same natural food manufacturers are available elsewhere, of course, on the Internet and in quality pet supply stores in most cities. The important thing to note is that these specific companies produce the types of food that your pet will thrive on ... AND if you already feed these natural products to your pet, you do not need to concern yourself over the recall.

PET FOOD RECALL — Get AVMA Consolidated Product List Here — Check Here For FDA Notices: Stop feeding recalled pet food to your pet and return it to the store where you purchased it for a refund. If you cannot return the pet food immediately, store it in a secure place where pets and children cannot get to it. The recalled pet foods are causing kidney failure in dogs and cats. Signs of kidney failure include: Increased water consumption / Increased urination / Nausea and vomiting / Weight loss / Constipation / Lethargy and low energy / Loss of appetite. The recent recall involving DRY cat food might have a worse effect because cats have a greater sensitivity to chemicals and do not digest grains well. The digestion of grains creates more waste products for the animal’s system to process than it is naturally accustomed to, placing a constant stress on the organ systems.

Kidney (Renal) Failure — If your dog or cat is diagnosed with kidney failure, please read Diet Suggestions for Kidney Problems. The kidneys function is to filter out and excrete toxins from the body through the urine. One of the first signs of kidney failure is an increase in thirst and urination. This is why: A healthy kidney can concentrate toxins into a smaller amount of liquid to be urinated away. When the kidneys are damaged and become less able to concentrate the urine, more fluid is used by the body. As the kidneys become less efficient and the disease progresses, other signs of kidney failure begin to emerge such as weight loss, nausea, vomiting, constipation, low energy / fatigue, and poor appetite.

Most animals do not show signs of kidney failure until about 70% - 75% of kidney function has been lost. In order to diagnose kidney failure and determine the extent of the disease, a blood test and urinalysis is needed. Always contact your veterinarian promptly if your animal shows signs of illness. For more information about kidney disease please see Dealing with Kidney Failure. If you have fed your dog or cat any of the recalled foods, it is wise to have your pets tested. If the test results come back without signs of kidney failure and you are still concerned, we recommend using a detoxifier such as Newton Homeopathics Detoxifier, Animals Apawthecary Detox Blend or Only Natural Pet Blood & System Herbal Formula, and possibly a kidney tonic remedy such as Renal Essential for Dogs or Renal Essentials for Cats or the Chinese Herbal Formula Six Flavor Tea Pills.

HOW TO PICK SAFE PET FOOD — Read the ingredient labels! For dog food find the AAFCO stamp (Association of American Feed Control Officials). In addition, the pet food — can or bag — should have an expiration date and it should have a phone number and/or Web site, so you can call the company and ask questions. Avoid these controversial preservatives: BHA and BHT – common ingredients in floor cleaners and paint products, Ethoxyquine and Propylene glycol. Avoid generic-label or store-label brands — This food is probably from bulk suppliers. Don't pick products that have unidentified meat or bone meal. It's got to specify the protein (i.e. chicken, turkey, salmon).

HOME-MADE DIETS — PetDiets.com says that making homemade foods ... requires knowledge, motivation and additional financial resources, as well as careful and consistent attention to recipe detail to insure a balanced intake of nutrients. There are six simple questions you should ask when assessing the nutritional adequacy of a particular homemade diet — (1) Are all five food groups included in the recipe? (2) What is the source of carbohydrates? (3) What kind of protein is included? (4) Are adequate calcium and other minerals present? (5) Is the protein source lean or fatty? (6) Are micronutrients properly balanced?

The best recommendation to pet owners wanting to make their own pet food is to be sure a recipe has been properly formulated and to get regular veterinary checkups for your pet. Two of the most highly vet-recommended cookbooks are: Reigning Cats & Dogs: Good Nutrition Healthy Happy Animals written by Pat McKay and Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative by Dr. Donald Strombeck. Here are two pet cookbooks available in downloadable eBook format: PAMPER YOUR CAT- 100 Recipes for Your Feline Friend and PAMPER YOUR DOG- 130 Recipes for Your Canine Friend.

~Carefully Compiled From www.OnlyNaturalPet.com
AND a Multitude of Other Web Sites

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