We often regard our pets as "part of the family" but when it comes to feeding them we don't give a second thought to the type of food we're putting on the floor in front of them.
Concern in a Can
Canned food is the animal food equivalent of what processed foods are for humans - we know they aren't the healthiest choice yet many of us eat them anyways. The problem of processed foods containing hormones, pesticides and antibiotics are the same for canned pet food, although you would never know it based on looking at their labels.
According to the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), supermarket pet foods are a cause for concern because they can contain ground up parts of animals that were deemed "unfit for human consumption" by the Food and Drug Administration - this means the animal fell under one of the categories of: Dead, Dying, Disabled or Diseased.
And the scary thing is, it is not illegal for pet food companies to purchase these unwanted animal pieces. A 2007 USA Today article entitled Pet Food Mystery Puts Head on Industry (written by Elizabeth Weise and Julie Schmit) stated that, according to an FDA employee, the unrendered protein in canned pet food can come from the heads and feet or other body parts of these animals.
Not to mention canned pet foods also contain harmful chemicals and are chock-full of unnecessary ingredients that really don't do your pet any good. It's easy to remember the large pet food recall of a few years back that left thousands of pets sick or worse, dead.
With these recalls, and the growing concern over the ingredients found in canned pet food, it can be disconcerting to feed your beloved pet any old can of food.
What You Can Do About It
You don't have to resort to feeding your beloved furry friend junk out of a can. There are many options for healthy food choices for all animals.
Just as if it were your own health, or even your child's health at risk, you can take matters into your own hands and do something about the food choices you provide for your pet. Although it's the easier and more convenient choice you don't have to settle for feeding them canned foods.
A great starting point for those of you who aren't sure if you're ready for the commitment of changing the way your pet eats is to visit renowned veterinarian Dr. Richard Pitcairn's website to learn more.
Dr. Pitcairn also has a great book, Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, that really breaks down in simple terms the importance of healthy eating for animals.
For more reading material on the subject, check out the Fact Sheet for meatless meal options, provided by HelpingAnimals.com. If you do not want to make the food yourself this information sheet also lists companies that sell vegetarian food for animals.
So even though it may seem like a lot of work at first, the question that remains is, how much does the furry friend mean to you and how far are you willing to go to take care of it?
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