Pet Food Ingredients - O- Old School

O

Old School

A look into the history of Pet Food

When was pet food invented?

•  1860 - a man by the name of James Spratt, an American in London (he was there trying to sell lightning rods)

• After watching men toss scraps off the ship to dogs, Mr. Spratt came up with an idea..a profitable one.

• The first pet food was a Dog Cake (Biscuit).

What was in it?

• A baked mixture of wheat, beetroot, and vegetables bound together with beef blood...yummy

I came across a book - The Practical Fisherman
In the book they suggest using Spratts dog cakes as fish food. 
They had no idea how ironically right they were. 

Though some would like to spin James Spratts creation of Dog Cakes as if the man wanted only to help those poor dogs that deserved a better quality of food.

It's possible. 

It is much more likely that he was an inventor who saw a money  making idea and ran with it.

How did they promote this ?

• In the beginning, Dog Cakes were sold to rich dog owners.

• It slowly began to trickle down to the average dog owner.

In 1907 another company created the same thing - but in the shape of a bone!
Say hello to Milkbone!

They say it was invented as a treat in their history - but it was actually created to be a complete meal for dogs- just like Spratts.





A complete meal.. what a farce. 
 











What came after biscuits ?

• Ken-L Rations - founded in 1922

Picture Link

• A wet dog food that contained Horse meat.

After WWI, there was an influx of dead or dying horses. 
Ken-L found a way to profit off of that. 

It worked. 
Soon they were raising Horses for slaughter.

When WWII came to town things changed. 
Meat and Tin were rationed. 

• Dry Dog food became popular again. 

Enter Purina.

After the war there was an economic boom. People were buying houses - supermarkets were created and mass marketing was on the 'to do' list. 

• In 1958 the Pet Food Institute was created. 

The members were comprised of the top pet food companies.

This reminds me of 'Big Pharma" 

A group of people who are making tons of money off what they get you to buy into. 

Much like a drug company trying to inform the public on how to take care of themselves better by buying their product. 

The Pet Food Industry, I believe -  has been trying to pull the wool over our eyes for more than 55 years.
 
"For more than 55 years, PFI has worked with its members to educate the owners of cats and dogs about pet nutrition and health. PFI is dedicated to:

• Promoting the overall care and well-being of pets.
• Supporting initiatives to advance the safety and quality of dog and cat food.
• Supporting research in pet nutrition and the important role of pets in our society.
• Informing and educating the public on pet proper feeding and pet care.
• Representing the pet food industry before federal and state governments."

The Pet Food Institute

 

• In 1964 - the Pet Food Institute began informing people about the dangers of using table scraps to feed their pets. 

Yes it would be absolutely detrimental - to the pet food industry.

If was fantastic marketing on the parts of Ken-L and PFI

Dogs have been fed table scraps for thousands of years- table scraps being used as a term for left overs or trimmings off meat - offerings from humans off their own plate or from their own kitchen. 

What they did not get in scraps, they made up for by hunting. 

There were no processed foods- these were simpler times. You grew food- you ate it. You raised a farm animal then you slaughtered it to feed your family. 

Pigs would eat the scrap potato peals and other food scraps that could be beneficial to an omnivore. 

All of the animals had biologically appropriate diets. 
Until a bunch of people got together and decided that Fido and Fluffy would benefit more from a processed diet.

Sure there were carbohydrates and starches tossed in to Fidos bowl - but generally it would have been in a stew with meat.

Looking out for their own needs, they basically created the first smear campaign.

Table Scraps are bad! 

You are putting your pets at risk! 

Warning!

By doing so, these companies have created a stead flow - from pet to vet. 

 

Fluffy does not do well on a dry diet. She needs water. She is chronically dehydrated.

Why does Fluffy have kidney problems?

 

Fido isn't feeling well. He has put on 15 pounds and is having a very hard time getting up from his naps. 

Why does Fido have Diabetes?

 

Don't worry Mr. Smith, we have a prescription for that. 

Here is also a sample of our Urinary Care dry food for Fluffy.

 

Mr. Jones, I am afraid Fido needs to go on a diet. Here is our Weight Management food.

Here are a few cans as well, you can give it to him as a treat after his insulin injection. But not too much! 

 

 

That of course is just a made up conversation.

 

 

 

How has pet food changed?

• People are starting to educate themselves on what is good and not so good for their pets. 

After years of being told that table scraps are dangerous for our pets - well most of us kinda still think that. 
It's hard to get things out of your head after years of people telling you them. 

• A holistic and natural approach is starting  to become more of the norm. 

Initially it was thought of as a phase. A gimmicky type of new wave pet parenting. 
Maybe it was, but it stuck. 

• The amount of illness in our pets has reach an all time high. Their lives are in danger and we need to get our heads out of our asses and stop taking the word of an industry over instinct. 

Gone are the days of blindly following every single thing we see on tv... now we only follow 95%

..It's a work in progress. 

How has it stayed the same?

• Corn.
• Greed.
• Myths.
• Companies twisting lies into something that benefits them.

 

More and more pet food companies are jumping on the vet wagon. 
They are getting to the students right out of vet school.

Hell they are getting to them during school!

Sometimes it's people from the company doing lectures on pet nutrition. 
Ridiculous. 

It is sad how many go into the Veterinary field hoping to make a difference .. 
Only to be preyed upon by PFI wolves.

What does the future of pet food look like?

 On a negative side:

• Shorter life spans for our cats and dogs.

• Higher vet bills.

• More suffering for these wonderful companions. 

• More profits for the large companies.

On the positive side:

• More educated pet owners.

• Raw pet food diets are becoming much more accepted.

• Less and less people are willing to take the word of a company that is being supported by the profits of pet food companies. 

We are realizing that our pets need us to be their protectors - we need to stand up and fight for their health.