Oh how terrible. How in the world did that happen?

You’ve got to be kidding. I’m stunned. This kind of cr*p is why I am so picky about the foods I feed our pets. Thank you for posting the link Mamapinky, I hope people who use these products see this.

I feed my dogs wellness core grain free in the blue bag. I had been feeding costco grain free, but they seem to love the sample of wellness core I got them, so I switched. I have it on auto ship from Chewy. It's expensive, but so worth it.

How did it happen? I will tell you how it happened. Very often euthanized animals are sent to rendering plants...when you see a can of food that is labeled, "meat by products" that could be by products of the "non useful for humans parts" and "meat" could be any animal....including road kill.

This book was written years ago. Author was interviewed a couple of times on a radio program I listen to, and went into great detail about the pet food industry, and according to her, at that time, many of the well known and popular brands were doing this.

Food Pets Die For

I don't see how one can trust ANY manufacturer. Dd's picky dog will absolutely not touch certain foods I've tried, and these are supposedly 'good' brands from smaller pet stores. I wish someone would do an analysis of the various foods. Thanks for the info, Marilyn, terrible as it is.

That is revolting, Marilyn.

It's good to bring this subject up. Thanks for posting it mama.

I see cat food on the list as well. Maybe that's why my cat kept throwing up & had itchy ears when we first got him. He used to love Meow Mix. We thought it was nerves & a grain allergy. Since no by products are listed in his food(if they're being honest listing everything accurately) ......now.....he's not in any danger. I hope....I hope...I hope....

We have been using Meow Mix. Guess that will get thrown out and we will stick with Fancy Feast cat food.

All the undesirable stuff in commercial pet food is exactly why I buy and feed my animals real meat. I have never trusted the packaged pet food, so have always fed ground up meat and vegetables. My animals have lived long and healthy lives. I now have a 10-yr. old Chi, a 4-y.r old Bichon and a 4-yr. old Maine Coon cat - their vet is very happy with their health. Yes, it's a bit more expensive to feed real food, but you save money when you have happy pets, imho.

Another story.

http://wkbn.com/2018/02/09/fda-plans-investigation-after-euthanasia-drug-found-in-dog-food/

Oh Marilyn, I had never thought of that. Oh geez that is horrible. I still cook and grind boneless skinless chicken breast for Mia and this is just one of the reasons why. She does get crunchies food by Halo and the chicken and vegetables Stew is by luvables which is a Kroger company. I just don't trust any of them.

It comes in colorful, pretty packaging with nice words like “nest laid eggs,” but we all suspect if we saw the food prepared we would not wish to feed it to our dear pets.

I don’t have the confidence that if I cooked for my dog it would be complete nutrition. I don’t know everything a healthy dog needs.

The pet food industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries on earth. This is an anomaly.

I have always fed Purina food, as they are one of the few companies who actually manufactures their own food - most are make elsewhere by contract - yes, even some of the fanciest brands. Purina had one product they did not make - it was the ONLY one that had a problem in the big pet food outbreak a few years ago. I believe they now make it, too.

I lived in St Louis for many years, and new the Danforth family, who founded the company. It is now owned by Nestle. But they still have a HUGE research facility and many veterinary nutritionists (yes, it IS a really specialty) on staff. One doesn't pend that kind of money and then produce crap. My dogs have eaten PurinaOne Lamb & Rice since it was first introduced at least 20 years ago. They thrive on it.

Making ones own food is foolhardy. The nutritional needs of dogs and cats are different, and very different from those of humans. Dogs don't read recipes, Food & Wine magazine, and could care less if they are fed the same food day in, day out.

"Human Grade Food" is a real misnomer: human grade in WHAT COUNTRY? We're not particularly fond of tripe, organ meats, or tongue in this country, but even in many First World country, they are considered delicacies. Dogs like them A LOT! And then of course there is the Third World where they'll eat everything but the squeal of a pig.

I trust Purina and my dogs do well on it and live healthy lives to very old ages. What's not to like? I'm not eating it - they are and they love it!

A huge anti-kibble and anti-processed food is Dr. Karen Becker. She's a vet and a wild animal and bird re-habber. She gives lectures, etc. A remarkable woman.

She firmly believes in feeding your pets species-appropriate food. Pets are fed kibble for our convenience, not for the health of the pet. No one sees dogs, cats and coyotes foraging in wheat fields for their food.

Oh, there is an entire "anti-commercial pet food" industry out there, with many "experts"! Sorry - I've had pets since I was 10 years old, and always fed them high quality commercial food and they have thrived.

There is nothing wrong with something being "convenient". Dry cereal for children is convenient, too. And my two local DGS eat tons of plain old Cheerios. Both are very, very bright, one plays a sport at a level that he will be playing for his Ivy college next year and has muscles that just amaze me. They are both quite tall and very healthy, so Cheerios must be doing something right. And it's more convenient than a hot breakfast.

The entire idea that dogs and cats are total carnivores is a fallacy. In the wild, they get their grains (which they need!) by eating the stomach/intestine contents of animals that DO forage in wheat fields. There are many grains that are excellent nutritional sources for dogs and cats.

Purina used to have the most wonderful web site with lengthy scientific articles about canine and feline nutrition. Alas, they are gone now - I doubt many actually read them. But they had excellent explanations about what ingredients were needed for a balanced diet. These were written by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, not the sales dept.

I've been deeply involved in my dog breed club now for 34 years. Yes, there are some breeders who feed only "raw diets", but they all quickly learned that they must buy COMMERCIALLY PREPARED raw diets in order for their dogs to get their nutritional needs met - no throwing raw chicken wings on the floor, or making up mountains of ground raw meet with eggs added etc. It's NOT like feeding ones human family. But many top breeders in my breed, with top winning dogs who are producing lovely, beautiful, very healthy puppies, do feed kibble. They just make sure it's the RIGHT kibble. Even then, I think there are some dogs who would thrive on ground up cardboard.

I am deeply devoted to my now only dog and would never compromise their health or safety for my convenience. But they are dogs, not people. I don't care for tripe but I'm sure my dogs would love it. It stinks to high heavens when being cooked, so this is a delicacy they will never enjoy, and they're just fine with that. Heck, they sometimes eat cat poop (sometimes in cold weather, even their own), worms, and dead things they find in the yard. They are not picky!

The best way to have a dog or cat that is a picky eater, is to constantly be cooking up "something special" for Fluffy or Fido. And these will be the animals that end up with Irritable Bowel Disease.

Sorry...this is a subject about which I feel VERY strongly.

I guess you do feel very strongly, but I would never EVER feed my dogs Purina.

I consider most cat and dog food that can be purchased in a regular grocery store to be equivalent to junk food. I have my doubts about how heavily regulated the industry is. It seems there are constant recalls on pet food.

Anglo, a 'commercially' prepared raw diet is indeed better than giving them hamburger, chicken wings etc. There has to be a balance of bone, organ, minerals, etc which commercial diets provide.

Dogs eat vegetables.......many people I know who feed raw, give them chunks of carrots, raw eggs and shell, blueberries, smelt......all in the same bowl.

Cats are carnivorous. Mine won't touch any canned food with peas and other vegetables in it.

The first thing noticed about a raw diet is the poop. It's not smelly at all. Both dogs and cats.

Even if people don't want to go 100% raw, even some is better than nothing.

Oh how terrible. How in the world did that happen?

This is why it happens:

"In a 2004 report to Congress, sources for rendered materials were
identified as, among other things, "dead animals from farms, animal
shelters and other facilities."

Under federal law, these are adulterated ingredients.

Adulterated ingredients, which are defined partly as: “an animal which
has died otherwise than by slaughter,” are illegal in all food for
humans and animals.

Yet in its own compliance policy, the FDA acknowledges it is violating the law and states: “pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, which is in violation of 402(a)(5) …will be considered fit for animal consumption.”

Source:

FDA to investigate after ABC7 exposes euthanasia drug in dog food

by Lisa Fletcher/ABC7 Thursday, February 8th 2018

I have fed all my animals Purina, all my life(and theirs). Never have had a problem, not once. We are talking about 8 dogs and 9 cats over the last 35 years.

I don't have the confidence, nor the time, to provide them with everything they need nutritionally from a "raw" diet. I let Purina do it for me.

Jasdip, that is new to me. I had heard of raw food for dogs, but not cats. My neighbor often simmers skinless chicken for her cat. What kind of raw food is suitable for cats and wouldn't bacteria be a problem? Not debating - I am just curious.

I sure wish I could settle on one or two kinds of dog food and cat food. I don't give any of them grocery store food, but there are so many different professional opinions about what food is "best". I'm sure there are many, many factors.

IMO, people could live on a constant diet of McDonald's food, but that doesn't mean that they'd be healthy.

Well, my dogs and cats were/are healthy! Purina is NOT the equivalent of fast food/junk food/empty calories. And their prescription foods are fabulous - pets will actually eat them.

A company does not spend millions each year on animal nutrition research and then produce garbage. They could that far more cheaply with no research.

Purina is one of the few brands of pet food that actually manufacturers the foods sold under their label. Many of the costliest, fanciest (with claims of "organic", "human grade") are made under contract with huge animal feed manufacturing plants. This is where the trouble comes in. They may have a contract, but they're not on-site and running the operation. They are at the mercy of the integrity (or not) of the company making the food. Purina had only one re-call- the one product they did not, themselves, make.

Do the research folks, and not all on these "pet foods are garbage" web sites. They have an agenda - you want to read unbiased, scientific information.

Irma, Turkey, salmon, chicken, pork, lamb, beef, duck, rabbit, kangaroo, are all good for cats. Pork is high calories though, so use in moderation.

Mine are fussy, chicken is a regular favourite, and it's the lowest taurine, so I sprinkle taurine powder on it. Dark meat....duck, rabbit, livers and hearts are loaded with taurine, and of course they don't like it.

A lot of dogs with allergies, do well with pork and lamb. Many dogs are allergic to fowl.

This is Bud when I tried to give him a thawed sardine as a treat

jasdip, the Dr. Karen Becker you cite is a general vet with a flashy website on which she sells products. True experts don't have or do either one.

There is a hard to be selected for training path and, for those who pass the difficult exams, ultimately Board Certification for successful completion to be recognized as a trained veterinary nutritionist. Those with these letters after their name - ACVN (American College of Veterinary Nutrition) - are the real experts. Dr Becker doesn't have this training or certification.

Imagine you're diagnosed with some form of cancer. Would you rather go to a specialist in family medicine who has a "keen interest in cancer treatment", or a board certified oncologist who has the training and focused practice to bring real expertise to the task? Same thing here. A generalist with a doctorate in any area of health practice (MDs, vets, dentists, etc) can practice in most any area they want but it's up to their prospective patients to be careful by not giving them more creds than they deserve. In many areas, there are specialists who have done years of extra and rigorous training to develop their knowledge and skills. Generalists without same are often hacks by comparison, as I suspect is the case with Dr. Becker.

LOL...Bud is saying...ain't eatin dat mom...bring on da beef

I'm glad to learn turkey is ok for cats. At Thanksgiving visits, my late FIL's cat would sit at the refrigerator, giving you "the look" until you gave her some. I always worried that it wasn't good for her.

I really have no clue about what dog food is nutritious and what is junk. I remember Anglo mentioning Purina before and questioned my 2 vets. Both told me some Purina dog foods are pure garbage and some although not a high quality are fine for a normally healthy dog. How the Vets came to that conclusion I didn't ask.

Little Lil spent a long time eating boiled boneless skinless chicken breast. Occasionally I'd try a small amount of different brands of kibble as my vet felt I needed to try. The female vet said with gastro issues like Lil has sometimes it takes a very long time of trial and error and sometimes its the cheapest dollar store foods that end up being the winner as far as the dog not vomiting it back up. Lil has been strickly on Wellness now for about 6 months. And what a difference..her coat and skin is much more healthy, she has a ton more energy...she's 8 years old but acts like a puppy again. Is Wellness a high quality food...the vet says its a fine food...but but I don't know if he or her understands pet foods any more than I do.

This is what Lil eats

My dogs eat Taste of the Wild. Zoey had a UTI a couple of weeks ago. The vet (not my favorite one) wanted to send me home with a 25 pound bag of the Purina prescription diet for urinary health. I told her I will just take the smallest one they have and see. I was appalled by the ingredients (and actually posted here on the pet forum). Saw my favorite vet at her recheck. He got out all his folders he has about pet food. Since he admitted he doesn’t understand why these foods dissolve the crystals, just that they do, he couldn’t give me a natural alternative. She has to go through one small bag of Royal Canine (a bit better in my opinion) than go back to the normal food and check after a couple of weeks. There were no stones, she is 13 and this was the first UTI, so I am not to worried to go back to the food that worked well for us.

Dogs can have sensitive stomachs and once a type of food is found they tolerate well, you should stick with it. It's not always clear why one food is tolerated and another isn't. When changing from one food to another is necessary, it needs to be done gradually over many days in a mix. like 90-10 then 80-20 then 70-30, etc. until you get to 0-100.

Commercial dog food is much healthier for a dog than feeding a single one or two source type of other food (chicken, hamburger, etc) because the non-dog food things people often give their dogs are usually lacking in the various trace nutrients dogs need and are often too protein-heavy.

Nutrition topics don't get a lot of coverage during vet school. I find it borderline offensive that so many vets sell food, and of course if your dog is having a problem, what it needs is what they sell. On the other hand, most vets in general practice don't earn as much as their health care peers who treat humans so I guess they get their income however they can.

Mamapinky as long as you see your pet is thriving on that food it must be good for her. Several of our pets in the past have been on what was considered "inferior" food yet it was necessary due to health conditions. Just like people, some pets can't tolerate certain foods yet need a balanced diet.

Elmer was posting at the same time and stated my sentiments much more eloquently.

Mamapinky, that's a good brand. I used to feed it to my cats.

According to the veterinary nutritionists I spoke with at Purina a few years ago, ALL their food meet the nutritional requirements needed for dogs/cats. The more expensive foods are marketed to HUMANS - it's what THEY like to feed their dogs. The lovely woman swore to me I could feed their cheapest and I'd be fine. I've stuck with the more expensive PurinaOne Lamb & Rice as the size of the kibble is good for my small dogs.

To me, who is actually MAKING the food matters the most.

Sorry mama pinky, I know this is actually about food that might kill your dog. But I can’t resist replying with the ingredient list of the Purina prescription food. At 23 dollars for a 6 pound bag no less. Maybe the nutrinial requirements are met, but this really is not something I would feed my dog in the long run, Animal digest? It actually made me cringe every time I put it in her bowl.

I can't imagine that nutritionists who work for Purina would say anything different, though. It's in their best interest to keep you as a customer. It seems a pretty biased source of information.

I believe all pet food is legally required to meet nutritional minimums.

Corn and rice are the two main ingredients? Yikes.

Chi, I was not happy. Zoey has allergies, too. Honestly I would rather feed her the Taste of the Wild and bring a urine sample to the vet every month or so to check for crystals. They didn’t say what kind they were. I made a very handy collection tool with a broom handle and a little saucer, so that is no problem.

I know what you mean. I had a cat with urinary crystals a few years ago, and he had to have surgery to unblock him. I had to put him on urinary cat food as well, and I didn't like the ingredients. With my vet's approval, once he was healed, I continued his regular food, but added water to each serving. He prefers dry food and I soak it in water. The extra hydration has really helped and he hasn't had any more crystal issues in 3+ years.