Feeding Fido
Many conventional pet-food brands are made from the inedible waste from beef and poultry farms that is produced using 4-D meat (in other words, the animals that are Dead, Dying, Diseased, or Down — unable to stand — when they are prepared for slaughter). How healthy would you be if you ate diseased food at every meal?
Natural and organic pet foods use higher quality meats that are raised humanely without added drugs or hormones. The foods are minimally processed and preserved with natural substances. Certified-organic pet foods must adhere to strict USDA standards that ban pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and artificial or genetically engineered ingredients.
If protecting the health of your pet is not enough to convince you to switch, just remember that no matter how closely you supervise, it is almost guaranteed that at some point in the future, your precious baby will wind up with that pet food in his mouth.
Go Organic
It may seem pretentious to purchase organic pet food for your furry friend (who is content to lick himself clean and drink from curbside puddles), but the crops and livestock raised to produce Fido's food can be just as harsh on the environment and on your pet as the food humans eat.
Cats and dogs can enjoy a feast of natural and organic ingredients in Newman's Own Organic Pet Food. If you want to go for the gold, try Castor & Pollux's Organix line of organic cat and dog foods or the dog food from Karma Organics that carries the 95-percent-Certified-Organic label.
Early in 2008, 1,950 dogs and 2,200 cats were killed by exposure to melamine-laced pet food. The contaminated products were subsequently recalled, but the incident left many pet owners shaken. Organic pet foods are not exposed to any of the contaminants found in conventional pet foods.
Making Your Own Pet Food
One inexpensive way to ensure that your pet is eating healthy, all-natural food, is to make the pet food yourself. Talk to your veterinarian about the vitamins, minerals, supplements, and proteins your pet needs in its diet each day. For dogs, you can also check out the list of homemade dog food references compiled at DogAware.com.
Recycle
No matter what brand or type of food you choose to buy for your pet, it is likely that it comes in some type of can, bottle, or bag that can be recycled. Contact your local recycling center if you have any questions about the resources that can be recycled in your area.
