As you might guess, I'm in the market for suggestions on a kibble I can use as a supplement to my home prepared food for the dogs. I would like a food produced by a company who provides specifics on where their food is made, what country they buy their ingredients from and doesn't try … Continue reading Kibble Suggestions?
You Must Be Joking: Chafing at the Chaff
OK, as you might recall, I have been unlucky with my recent kibble purchases - finding thingies in two different brands. And as I said, I don't buy kibble that often so two bags of kibbles-n-mystery-bits in a row seems odd to me. Yesterday, with some hesitation, I purchased a bag of Natural Balance Sweet … Continue reading You Must Be Joking: Chafing at the Chaff
The HSUS and Prop. 2 in CA: The Big Picture
The NYT Magazine takes an in-depth look at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and their support for Prop. 2 in California. Prop. 2 would require farmers to house chickens, pigs and veal calves in less restrictive conditions. It's mainly about chickens though as CA has LOTS of chicken farmers and almost no … Continue reading The HSUS and Prop. 2 in CA: The Big Picture
Am I Losing the Kibble Lottery?
UPDATE: After posting this, I contacted Blue about the problem, explained that although I didn't have the bag because I had emptied the food into a bin and thrown the bag away, I did have photos and plenty of food to send them if they were interested. I received a response asking for the codes … Continue reading Am I Losing the Kibble Lottery?
Kennel Club Unveils Worst Idea Ever
The Kennel Club has taken a lot of flack in the UK due to a backwards system of rewarding show dogs who conform to breed standards based on looks rather than health, temperament and functionality as a pet (whether that be as a lap dog, sheepdog, hunting companion, etc.). Yup, the state of purebred dogs … Continue reading Kennel Club Unveils Worst Idea Ever
How Much Melamine is Too Much?
The Washington Post reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided that melamine is ok in foods in very small amounts:American consumers first learned of the dangers of melamine when it was found last year in pet food ingredients made in China. The Chinese suppliers of the bulk ingredients had been adding the … Continue reading How Much Melamine is Too Much?
Don’t Forget the Calcium, Mom
For a healthy adult dog being fed a home prepared cooked diet, it is important to understand the ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus and to create a proper balance. Opinions vary on what the ideal ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus should be in the canine diet. This veterinary article recommends a Calcium:Phosphorus of 1.2:1 while … Continue reading Don’t Forget the Calcium, Mom
Miteful. Maggotful. Beneful.
The Consumerist has got not one, but two reports of maggots found in Purina Beneful dog food during the past few days. The first customer contacted Purina about the problem and was told:"As soon as our food leaves our factory, it is no longer our responsibility."Which sounds eerily similar to Purina's response to the mitey … Continue reading Miteful. Maggotful. Beneful.
"Renderers take a potential hazard and turn it into something valuable"
How does this image grab you? An open dump truck pulls in to the back dock of your local grocery store. Workers toss in spoiled, stinking meat and trimmings that have been collected from the meat department because they are "inedible" for humans. The dump truck drives around southern Florida under the summer sun, flies … Continue reading "Renderers take a potential hazard and turn it into something valuable"
Nutro Pet Foods: Toxic Zinc? Toxic Denial?
For many consumers, pet food company transparency is key to earning trust in their products. Pet owners want honest answers to direct questions - not the runaround "We can't tell you, that's proprietary info" which companies used to get away with prior to the 2007 recalls. Despite this, and in response to a mounting body … Continue reading Nutro Pet Foods: Toxic Zinc? Toxic Denial?
