Pet Food Ingredients - Names - m/d, n/d , Weight Loss, Cancer(chemo)

m/d- Weight Loss Low Carbohydrate

Ingredients - 

Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Pork Fat, Brewers Rice, Wheat Gluten, Powdered Cellulose, Pork Protein Isolate, L-Lysine, Chicken Liver Flavor, Lactic Acid, Whole Grain Corn, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, Calcium Carbonate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Taurine, DL-Methionine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, L-Arginine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Phosphoric Acid, Beta Carotene, Natural Flavors.

How it is stated to help - 

• Clinically proven low carbohydrate, high protein nutrition helps your cat burn fat and maintain lean muscle
• Clinically proven weight control plus glucose management
• High level of taurine to help maintain normal levels of insulin
• High level of arginine to support insulin secretion
• Added antioxidants to control cell oxidation and promote a healthy immune system

Really? 

Why do you think these animals are fat in the first place?

Have you ever seen a fat panther? 

Yes house cats lead a much more sedentary life. 
They no longer have to hunt for their food. 

They hunt stuffed mousies and chase balls. 

There are so many pet food brands out there that have products dedicated to over weight animals. 

Those same brands could be the ones generally causing the weight gain with their carbohydrate loaded, unhealthy fat harboring foods!

Again it's like selling a salad at a Fast Food Joint. 

Except these 'salads' are the ones filled with rice and a big ole cob of corn.

A burrito salad? 

From Taco Bell?. 

But the wrap is flavoured and coloured. 

And then its all crunched up and mixed together.. Heated.. Then extruded into fun shapes. 

Burrito puffs! 

If I start seeing Mexican themed pet food, I am going to know where you got that idea.

Their first bullet -
Clinically proven low carbohydrate, high protein nutrition helps your cat burn fat and maintain lean muscle

• I am sure that high protein and low carb foods are clinically proven to help your cat burn fat and maintain lean muscle. 

I just have a hard time believing this food could be considered as a high protein and low carb food. 

• If corn had not been split into 'gluten meal & whole grain' would it still be second on the list? Or could it possibly get bumped up into first place?

How can a food with -
Corn Gluten Meal,  Brewers Rice, Wheat Gluten, & Whole Grain Corn
Be considered low carb? 

That is a lot of carbs!

How can a food with -
Chicken By-Product Meal, Pork Fat, Pork Protein Isolate, & Chicken Liver Flavor
Be considered high protein?
 

Maybe it is - but is it a good high protein?

• Chicken By-Product is 4-D

• Pork Fat is Lard

Of course I had to go on a search for the meaning of-
Pork Protein Isolate.

Go ahead... type it in google. 

Get This?
Yippy - the only listing is in Ramen noodles.

This was a rather confusing search. I kept reading about the wonderful protein available from a protein isolate. 

• We are talking like 90%

Well that is fantastic! 

Except - after being led down a dark hallway.. under the stairs and into an old box of files ( metaphorically speaking )

• I found that using a protein isolate is not a healthy way to get protein. 

• We need a balance - you have to get the fat intake you would get from eating actual meat. 

• Also - chances are that during the process of creating this isolate - MSG can also be created.

• The heating process also basically  kills off the nutrients of the protein as well. Even in the types that say - low heat - it can still kill off some of the nutrients, leaving it useless or semi useless powder. 

Chicken Liver Flavor can not be truly considered- by most humans with a brain - as a source of protein.


Okay this is just getting long and annoying  - lets check the calories 

m/d - 490 a cup 
Directions for a 10 lb cat for weight loss - 3/8 cup or 1/2 cup for weight control 

Wellness Core Indoor  - 391 a cup
7-10 lb - 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup 
No direction for weight loss because this is not a weight loss food - it's simply a food. 

Natures Variety Instinct- Chicken

I had fun with this one - I tried to match how much a cat could have to weigh to match the calories in m/d
488 calories will maintain a 23 pound cat. 
Seriously  Check it Right here

If you are looking for a food that will help your cat lose weight - you may want to try a grain free high protein - high quality food. 
Just saying...
It has to be about monitoring your feline.
Apparently they are not suppose to free feed (I will continue to free feed anyways)

*Follow the feeding guidelines on the back of the bag - they exist - dumping a bunch in a bowl is not part of the guidelines (I'm a rebel)


********************* 


n/d- Nutritional - Given to Dogs undergoing Chemotherapy

aww sad for sick puppies :(

Ingredients - 

Beef By-Products, Water, Pork Liver, Fish Oil, Rice, Chicken, Chicken Liver Flavor, Powdered Cellulose, Dried Beet Pulp, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Carbonate, L-Arginine, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Iron Oxide, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, Niacin, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite.

This is only available in Canned - that may be the reason this actually looks like it contains protein.


How it is stated to help -

• Clinically proven to help improve quality of life for dogs undergoing chemotherapy
• High level of protein to meet energy demand and to avoid muscle wasting
• High level of fat to increase caloric density and palatability to help acceptance by inappetant pets
• Low levels of carbohydrates
• High level of arginine and omega-3 fatty acids to help stimulate the immune system

A 60lb dog can have up to 3 cans a day. 12.7oz cans
n/d is 483 calories

A Dog with Cancer - undergoing chemo or not - needs a calorie and fat dense food.
Simple carbohydrates feed the tumor

We do not want to feed the tumor. We hate the tumor.

No simple carbs!!!
Even if they are healthy simple carbs - they are not wanted!

• Frucose 
• Lactose
• Lactulose
• Maltose 
• Maltulose
• Sucrose
• Galactose
• Glucose
• Arabinose
• Arabitol
• Allose
• Altrose 
• Galactosamine hydrochloride
• Acetylgalactosamine 
• Hammelose 
• Lyxose 
• Levoglucosenone 
• Mannose
• Mannitol 
• Mannosamine hydrochloride 
• Acetylmannosamine
• Deoxy-L-ribose
• Ribose 
• Rhamnose 
• Threose 
• Talose
• Xylose 
• Galactose
• Galactose-6-O-sulfate sodium salt
• Acetyl-D-glucosamine-6-O-sulfate sodium salt 
• Glucosamine-3-O-sulfate
• Glucosamine-2-N, 3-O-sulfate sodium salt 
• Acetyl-D-galactosamine-4-O-sulfate sodium salt 
• Galactosamine-2-N-sulfate sodium salt 
• Mannose-6-O-sulfate sodium salt
• Acetobromo-D-xylose
• Phenylethyl-β-D-thiogalactoside
• Isopropyl-β-D-galactopyranoside
• Nitrophenyl-α-D-xylopyranoside
• Acetylneuraminic acid
• Arabino - 1,4-lactone
• Lyxono - 1,4-lactone
• Ribono - 1,4-lactone
• Threono - 1,4-lactone 
• Methyl uronate
• GlcNAc L- asparagine
• Xylosylated L- serine
• Manosylated L- serine 
• Galactosylated L- serine 
• Galactosylated L- tyrosine

Foods with Simple Carbohydrates

• Baked goods (including bread) made with white flour
• Bananas
• Blackberries
• Black currants
• Blueberries
• Cake
• Candy
• Candy bar
• Carbonated drink
• Cherries
• Chocolate 
• Cookies
• Corn syrup
• Cranberries
• Fruit juice
• Fruit preserve or jam
• Fudge 
• Grapefruits
• Honey
• Kiwis
• Lemons
• Lychee 
• 2% or Regular milk
• Melons
• Most packaged cereals
• Oranges
• Pasta made with white flour
• Peaches
• Plums
• Raspberries
• Table sugar
• Full fat yogurt
• There may be more.. 

Well that was a fun search - I found a few - but they had Cranberries ..or Bluberries. Jerks. 

This one is 500 calories - Natural Balance Lamb

I am sure there are many more out there. 

• A problem could be with your pet not wanting to eat - so regardless of what you find him - it will not help unless he eats it. 

• If you have a food you know he will eat - but it has some of those bad carbs  - split the difference 

Get a can that does not have any and mix it in with the can he already likes. 

Warm it up a little ( just a bit )

• Try and make it as appealing as possible - and in an environment that is as calm as possible. 

There are anti nausea medications available - talk to your vet about these and supplements. 

When it comes to medical issues - like this or any disease - learn as much as possible in regards to nutrition. 

You can't seem to avoid Cancer - it's everywhere. It seems to be in everything!

You can however, give your dog the best chance at fighting these battles.    


It makes me sad when I think about animals having to deal with people illnesses. 
They are not the ones creating the foods
They are not the ones making GMO's
They are not the ones adding MSG
They are not the ones causing these issues to be so prevalent - We are. 

Sometimes Humans Suck. 

Pet Food Ingredients - N - Names - k/d ,l/d - Kidney - Liver

Names continued-

k/d-Renal Health   


        Kidney Disease Information
                  More Information


Ingredients - 

Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Pork Fat, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Egg Product, Dried Chicken, Powdered Cellulose, Fish Meal, Lactic Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, DL-Methionine, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Taurine, Iodized Salt, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, L-Tryptophan, Phosphoric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Natural Flavors.

How it is stated to help-

• Reduced levels of protein to help minimize kidney workload
• Reduced phosphorus to help maintain healthy kidney function and minimize stress on kidneys
• Reduced sodium to help maintain normal blood pressure
• Increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids to support kidney health
• Increased levels of B-complex vitamins to compensate urinary losses
• Added antioxidants to control cell oxidation and promote a healthy immune system

Wait a second.. you want to give a cat with kidney issues a dry food?

Am I missing something here? 

Isn't protein rather important for all aspects of kitty life?

Could it be that your version of protein sucks??

Could you possibly be selling a product that has ingredients in it that are the possible main reason for the rise of Kidney issues in felines?

Is it possible. 

But I could be totally wrong. 

•  After taking a little walk on the web, I have learned that low vs high protein is under debate. 

In order to repair kidney cell damage and increase blood flow and volume - protein is needed.  

• Carnivores need protein.

•  Many of these cats are under weight and anemic 

•  They need protein 

• Carnitine becomes depleted in cats with renal failure  - red meats are high in Carnitine, so are other lean meats and fish.

Read this

I am sticking with my instinct on this one... and ..

Natures Variety - Instinct Grain Free Chicken 


High quality protein
Low Phosphorus
Available in Rabbit, Duck, Beef, Venison, Salmon, Lamb, Pork.

Betcha Fluffy could find one it likes. 

*One of the main things I read on all the sites  - Kitty needs to eat!
If kitty will only eat MeowChow in Gravy - then give kitty MeowChow in Gravy!


Figure it out, try things - start with the good stuff - then add a bit of the not so good. 
Kinda like ordering a salad on the side of Chicken Nuggets..
What ever works. 

Sadly, most kidney diseases are not caught early. You can blame their body for that one.. they seem to have a back up plan that fails to alert the animal or human  - after that - Kitty may have irreversible damage.

So how can someone try to prevent this? 

Wet Food or a Raw Food Diet may be helpful.

A chronically dehydrated cat ( which is basically what happens to a dry food fed only kitty) has a higher chance of kidney issues - that makes sense right?


Feed Fluffy wet food..Fluffy probably wants wet food. 
Fluffy may want really cheap wet food.
Fluffy will have to at least meet you half way - go for a mix of high and medium quality wet food. 
Low quality only if Fluffy goes on hunger strike. 

A medium quality food to me would be Canidae, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Natural Balance, Nutro. Stuff like that.

******************

l/d - Feline Hepatic Health (Liver)

Ingredients - 

Brewers Rice, Chicken by-Product Meal, Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Soybean Meal, Pasta Product, Pork Protein Isolate, Soy Fiber, Dried Egg Product, Fish Meal, Lactic Acid, Chicken Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Powdered Cellulose, Taurine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Dimethylypyrimidinol Bisulfite (source of vitamin K)), DL-Methionine, Calcium Sulfate, L-Carnitine, minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Arginine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Rosemary Extract, Beta-carotene.

How it is stated to help - 

• High quality and highly digestible protein in moderate quantities to help reduce liver workload and helps maintain liver function
• Added L-Carnitine to help maintain normal fat metabolism in the liver
• Reduced in sodium to help maintain normal blood pressure
• Added antioxidant nutrients like vitamin E and C to control cell oxidation and promote a healthy immune system

High quality proteins?
Where? I see 4-D chicken and lard. 



Different sites have been stating that it is important to have a low copper - high zinc diet. 
Copper and Zinc Biological Role

I am not sure what I just read... but I did catch -

• When the liver is not functioning properly  - copper accumulates

• Meat is high in copper but it is also high in zinc which needs to be available along with manganese for proper absorption and metabolism of Copper.

• Though it is best to avoid foods that are high in copper - it is smarter to avoid foods that are high in copper but not also high in zinc. 

I found some sites that talk about Wilson's Disease  - this is not the same but copper is restricted so it gives good information on what to eat and what not to eat.

• A Chicken and Oatmeal formula may work - maybe ask your vet about the possibility of a food like that.

• Beef and Rice is also an option. 

• A home made meal might be the best course for your kitty - ask your vet if that is an option. 

* since water is very important- water can have a high copper content. Copper pipeing also adds to the levels in water.

Think about filtered water- ask about the options other than tap water.

There are certain things we can not change - genetics, birth defects, aging - all beyond our ability to control. 

We can control what we put down in front of our pets to eat. 
That is up to us. 

Pet Food Ingredients - J - JUNK

J

Junk

Flea Collars

Plastic Bags

Ear Tags

Pesticides

Styrofoam

Plastic packaging

Spoiled Grocery Store Meat

Restaurant Grease

Ethoxiquin

Melamine

Propylene Glycol

E coli

Salmonellaa

Amantadine

Feathers

Hooves

Beaks

Mold

Myotoxins

Cancerous Tumors

Carcinogens

Decaying animal parts

Worms

Bowels

Hair

Fur

Excrement

That is a small list of what could possibly be in some pet foods. 

But don't worry! It's all rendered. 

I mean seriously.. Opening up a bag of ol roy and finding a flea collar would even deter the cheapest of cheap. 

At least the worms would add protein. 

I am just kidding. 

The rendering process would remove all of that. 

How do they get away with any of these items being included in your pets lunch?

Unethical companies. 

These are just my thoughts - my ideas of what constitutes bad food, junk food or an unethical company.

I am going to list two bags of Dog food - because I have a story to tell.


Purina. 

I personally think this company is filled with a bunch of money grubbing, unethical jackasses. 

Every day I am learning more and more about the pet food industry - and it is making me angry. 

I heard a person talking about their dog, he was not acting like a young dog should. Not enough energy it seemed. 

What was this dog eating?

Pro Plan Puppy


Ingredients: Chicken (20%), wheat, maize gluten, dehydrated poultry protein, rice (8%), animal fat, maize, digest, beet pulp, dried egg, fish oil, calcium phosphate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, minerals, colostrum, calcium carbonate, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine.

In red are the ingredients that I currently consider to be filler or junk.

DL - Methionine is added to pet foods that are low on the meat protein and heavy on the cereal grains - chances are you will not find this in an actually high protein food, because it can be found naturally in meat and fish. 

Recall the ingredient splitting information? 
Do you see what I am seeing?
I see a low quality bag of cereal with meat sprinkles. 

Maize - Fancy words for Corn does not make it contain less corn!

Dehydrated Poultry Protein? - me thinks that is - Poultry by-product meal.

Not chicken.. poultry. 

A pretty way of saying - rendered- feet, undeveloped eggs, intestines and necks of unidentifiable origin.

 





But hey, the bag is kinda nice looking. Just under $40 for a 7kg bag

*Chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal (natural source of glucosamine), whole grain corn, whole grain wheat, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), pea fibre, fish meal (natural source of glucosamine), dried egg product, animal digest, salt, potassium chloride, fish oil, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, dried colostrum, choline chloride, zinc sulphate, Vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulphate, manganese sulphate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulphate, garlic oil, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, Vitamin D-3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.*

Same Bag - but this is not off their website. This is off their bag.


Dogs and Cats need protein. 
A growing puppy needs nutrients to keep it going - they burn a lot just being silly !

That bag of food could absolutely be the reason for his lack of energy. 

 - I of course am not a vet - I do not make pet food - I am not an animal nutritionist - I am just a random person listening in on a conversation and biting my tongue in regards to my own opinion. 
 
How I have a tongue left at all is a miracle.

***********************************


For just under $40 for a 13.6kg bag


Lifetime Large Breed Chicken & Oatmeal

 Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Whole Barley, Whole Brown Rice, Chicken & Turkey Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Canola Meal, Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Rice Bran, Natural Flavours, Flaxseed, Herring Oil (source of DHA/EPA), Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Mannanoligosaccharides (MOS), Chicory Inulin (FOS), Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Chondroitin Sulphate VITAMINS Vitamin Supplements (A,D,E), Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid MINERALS Zinc Sulphate, Ferrous Sulphate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Chelated Minerals (Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Iron), Manganese Sulphate, Copper Sulphate
 
 ***************************

Do you see the difference ? Cuz I see a difference. 


You will also notice a difference in their web sites. One is much more put together - bright and very professional. 

The other is a bit basic - a no frills kind of site. 

Would you rather have money spent on marketing, or creating a higher quality product at a price that is affordable. ( That also happens to be a Canadian company *bonus)


** I am not stating that Pro Plan contains any of the Junk list..I am also not saying it does not**

Would you be happy with pouring a bowl of cereal for your dogs breakfast every morning?

You may be doing that without even realizing it. 


Read read read read read read... read the damn bag! 
Weird looking word?
Look it up!

Ask me, I will do the digging  - it makes me feel like a detective. 
A detective with horrible grammar and punctuation ...that has conversations with cats. 

Pet Food Ingredients - E = Ethoxyquin

E

Ethoxyquin


Why couldn't I just have picked Eggs?


Ethoxyquin is used as a preservative in pet food. It helps prevent oxidization and rancidity in fats.

If you have been playing along, chances are you will already assume that half of the people hate it and the other half think it's just fine and dandy..

Who knew posts on pet food ingredients would become more like a choose your own adventure series.

The door on the left = Confusion
The door on the right = It's locked - Monsanto hid the key. You're screwed.

 Looks like we need to make another door. 


Other door

Scary Room with no lights

If you would like to skip those chapters - I don't blame you!

The gist of that babble - Ethoxyquin is used as a pesticide - it stops pears from browning..

It is used to keep the preserve the colour of chilli pepper and paprika 

It is used as a preservative in animal feed and pet foods

It is used to stop rubber from breaking down due to degradation

* It has never been tested for exposure to outdoor environment or water because apparently when it is used on pears their water drainage is recycled.

This does not seem like a valid reason not to test..but that's just me.

* It has never been tested for its carcinogenic potential.

Why not? 
 
I wonder if the EPA believes if they do not test it then it can't be possible? 
Magic!

-Its chemically super close buddy - like lives next door kinda close - is :
1,2- Dihydro -2,2,4-Trimethylquinoline 

Ethoxyquin is - 1,2- Dihydro-6-Ethoxy-2,2,4-Trimethylquinoline
 
Granted I have no idea what either of them actually mean ...but the EPA said it was close - and visually...it's damn close!

Why does that matter?
 Because the Buddy is considered Carcinogenic  
( meaning a possible cause of Cancer)

I have been seeing different sites listing Ethoxyquin as 'Highly Carcinogenic'

So far I have not seen that listed anywhere accept sites that probably mean well, but also probably have a pet food bone to pick with some of the players in the game. 
 

Then again... if it has never been tested for its Carcinogenic possibilities ??? It could be the absolute worst in the world...or the least.. it's a chemical mystery.. Mostly because most of us do not understand Chemicals.

If a pet food has fat in it.. and they all do, they need a preservative.
Without one a pet food can become toxic - and that will kill your pet. 


Think of an Avocado - you cut it open and in no time at all it turns all yucky and brown. 

They are not the same but the idea of a food destabilizing is the same.

There are natural and synthetic forms of preservatives - it seems like that natural ones in the food tend to maintain a shorter shelf life than the synthetic.

BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin would be considered synthetic. They tend to extend the shelf life due to their ability to do the job without depleting any of the Vitamin E. 


**It is important to note that all items containing fat have been preserved prior to their arrival to the place allocated to make the pet food.**

Your naturally preserved pet food most likely is not. 

In order for a natural preservative to be used in the meat, it would have to be done at a certain stage in the game.

By the time it gets to the pet food making destination it would be useless. Rancidity would have already set in and natural stabilizers can not reverse what has happened.



What do people think Ethoxyquin guilty of causing?

Skin issues
Liver problems
Kidney problems
Problems with a females ability to go into heat
Problems with becoming pregnant
Problems in utero
Deformed puppies
Still born pups
There is a long list of reproduction issues  
Cancer 
Issues leading to death



Why do these things never cause beneficial things like - Dog will learn to scoop its own poop. 
Cat now sees owner as equal. 


This may be another case of risk over reward. 

The companies have their own idea on how many sick animals they would be okay with - actually same with the EPA, FDA and many other 3 letter people.


They risk your pet for their reward.

I have to just state again that education is key. 
Learn for yourself what is good or bad - try and stay off the band wagon - it's difficult when they have so many shiny things!

Shiny pretty things...
 
 I need to get out more..
 

 

Pet Food Ingredients

The meows are allowing me to post a series on Pet Food Ingredients. 
(Focusing mainly on cat food)

I need to start before they change their minds!

I have spent a lot of time staring at ingredient lists on bags and cans of cat food. 
Still don't understand what the hell I am reading half the time. 

Time to fix that.

How about an ingredient per letter in the alphabet? with a few extras here and there if there is a need or a horror story.

A

Animal Digest 

Sounds like a mix between stomach acid and a pet version of Readers Digest.  

Um, I can see why people get confused. You need a degree in chemistry to understand what they are saying!

Okay, I think I got it...


Animal Digest is what remains of things like muscle meat and the soft tissue of animals after a process that turns the 'meat' into a soup like state. (me thinks)

Sounds like the making of Fight Club soap...minus the human renderings and  Brad Pitt. 

Muscle meat and soft tissue? Why not just use those things just as they are  instead of rendering them into a slurry?

Because in that form they would probably not be legal to put in pet food. 
*Not fit for human or animal consumption. 


But why??

Pentobarbital, no big deal.. it's just the stuff they use to euthanize animals. 

That's very nice of the slaughter houses to humanly kill their animals. 
 - Except they would never do that. 

'Food Animals' do not go gently into that dark night. They go  - well I do not want to get into that.. lets just say it is not by a sleepy time drug. 

So where are these euthanized animals coming from? 

Industry secret I am sure..

I am not saying there are dogs or cats involved. Apparently DNA evidence stated they are not. 

But someone humanly killed these animals!. 
Their next stop was not meant to be in a can of pet food. 

*Pentobarbital in the food does not seem to be causing an excessive amount of damage - at least not reported.
Yet.
These things take time. 
 

Next in line are...

*Diseased Animals.. 
Poor things, haven't they suffered enough?? Now to be turned into pet food slurry???

Cheap ass companies using dead animals not fit for consumption- PERIOD!

*Don't forget roadkill. 

You know the saying 'I wouldn't even feed my dog that!'

No you would not!

You may be... but now you can read your pet food labels. 
*If you read:  Animal Digest

Back away from the unethical, cheap company that cares very little about your animal. 

Oh yeah, btw Animal Digest is used on some treats as well, so read my good human...read.