Pet news...

Something a little local: The Coast 'Bone Appetite'

http://www.thecoast.ca/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2006-11-30&-token.story=150072.113118&-token.subpub=

Nutrition and Cancer in Pets

http://web.archive.org/web/20010213234901/

Dog Treat May Carry Danger

http://www.kirotv.com/investigations/5325021/detail.html

Salmon Poisoning Disease...

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/salmon.asp

Cats and Raw Fish - the reason why we need to make sure our pets receive a balanced diet with various meats:

http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/people/TabathaHoltz/cats/feed_how.html

CBC Marketplace looks into the debate over

what to feed your pets.
www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/rawdogfood

Just some final thoughts on bacteria and raw: this is what finds its way into the "sterile" kibbled commercial foods:
"Meat products not intended for human consumption, such as inedible tissues, condemned portions of carcasses, and entire carcasses of condemned animals (eg, animals found to be dead, dying, disabled, or diseased at the time of slaughter), are also used for dog food. Because of the inherent nature of these products and the less stringent handling requirements, compared with products approved for human consumption, these products may contain high levels of bacterial contamination." (LeJuene, J.T. and D.D. Hancock. 2001. Public health concerns associated with feeding raw meat diets to dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 219(9): 1222.)

And as for commercial foods being "bacteria free" (an assumption that is often inferred when people put down raw diets because of the bacteria):
"Pet foods, commercial or homemade, provide an ideal environment for bacterial proliferation." (LeJuene, J.T. and D.D. Hancock. 2001. Public health concerns associated with feeding raw meat diets to dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 219(9): 1224.)

Additives in Processed Pet Foods

Anti-caking agents                       Antimicrobial agents
Antioxidants                               Coloring agents
Curing agents                             Drying agents
Emulsifiers                                  Firming agents
Flavor enhancers                        Flavoring agents
Flour treating agents                   Formulation aids
Humectants                                Leavening agents
Lubricants                                   Nonnutritive sweeteners
Nutritive sweeteners                   pH control agents
Processing aids                           Sequestrants
Solvents, vehicles                       Stabilizers, thickeners
Surface active agents                  Surface finishing agents
Synergists                                  Texturizers

Oxidizing and reducing agents

While the law requires studies of direct toxicity of these additives and preservatives, they have not been tested for their potential synergistic effects on each other once ingested. Some authors have suggested that dangerous interactions occur among some of the common synthetic preservatives.4 Natural preservatives do not provide as long a shelf life as chemical preservatives, but they are safe. 4. Cargill, 36; "What’s Really in Pet Food" American Pet Institute

Please remember that the information contained in this site should not be construed as veterinary medical advice or as a substitute for veterinary care.