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Buster’s Vision Education Tool

PET Nutrition

By Dennis Lubrano & Bobbi Evenson
Editor, Meet Gulati,

December 21, 2017

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Learn how to select a healthy pet nutrition diet today.

There are many things you need to know to protect your new pet. Most important is your pet’s diet. There are many dangers to consider for your pet’s food and treats.

Manufactured Pet Food

Manufactured food is a processed food. Many “natural or organic pet foods” can be manufactured or processed. Simply put, manufactured or processed food is a packaged food that is not in its absolute organic state. Most manufactured foods come in a box, bag or can and has a slew of ingredients. My rule of thumb, if you can’t pronounce one or more ingredients, seek Google Goddess . The worst ingredients in manufactured foods: additives, preservatives, and dyes . They are known as carcinogens. Carcinogens is a substance that can cause cancer in living tissue.

Pet Food Company Requirements

A pet food company is not required to list how much of each ingredient is in the food. Ingredients are in order from the highest to the lowest weight denomination. AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control officials) is one agency providing nutritional adequacy. Nutrition adequacy states the food is balanced, complete, and meets any mineral requirements for a pet’s daily needs. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates, certifies, tests, and approves pet foods. Really?!! Why so many pet food recalls? More on recalls below.

A pet’s meal should be balanced and complete, with the food having the necessary ingredients, with the right amount of each one, for the pet on a daily basis, per serving. It depends what is in the food because a pet might gain weight by eating the same amount of one, yet not eating the same amount of another. 100% natural food cannot contain any synthetic vitamins or minerals. It is important to consult with your veterinarian for answers regarding pet food.

Standards of Business Practice

It is stressful for small businesses to complete in a worldwide marketplace. It is even harder to compete with large corporations. How to keep up? Most look to their balance sheet for expenses and profit. USA small businesses can’t cutback the rent, neither the employees’ wages, nor taxes. One of the few cutbacks is the quality of pet food ingredients.

Important pet food questions? Where and how is your pet food made? What is your pet food made of? Many businesses outsource from foreign countries. Sadly, you can find pet food rendering factories worldwide.

What is a pet food rendering factory?

Simply put, it is a factory that uses dead pet bodies in processing pet food and sold on the market. Many pets put-to-sleep in kill shelters go to rendering factories. They are made into pet food. There are also bad veterinarians that send there dead animals to rendering factories too. It is inconceivable feeding your pet manfactured dead pets. UGH! Here is an excellent article by PetMD (reputable website with high standards of business practice), The Truth About Pet Foods and Rendering.

What is a sweat factory?

A “sweatshop” is defined by the US Department of Labor as a factory that violates 2 or more labor laws. Sweatshops often have poor working conditions, unfair wages, unreasonable hours, child labor, and a lack of benefits for workers. Unfortunately, many businesses worldwide outsource businesses from foreign countries that could be a sweat factory. Do not support a company that uses sweatshops. Companies using sweatshops have NO standards of business practice. More than likely you are also buying poor quality pet food. You also need to consider manufacturing sanitation for pet food. Research is a MUST for pet food for many different reason; especially morals.

What is a pet food recall?

Pet food recalls comprise the contamination and wide recall of many brands of cat and dog foods. Here is the link for FDA, U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Recalls & Withdrawls. Be sure to research the pet archive list to help select safest pet food possible. There are also many other recall websites. Many websites give you more detailed information on pet food than FDA.

I had a frightful experience where my dog almost died because of contaminated pet food. The vet bills and medications were not covered. Worse yet, my dog’s suffering should have never happened. Always report bad pet food. You can save many pets. For more about pet food contamination information, OMG! Bugs, Worms & Parasites!

There are many pet food recalls (bad or deadly) on the market. Do a monthly check at “Pet Recall” websites for your pet’s food. Help keep your pet safe. There is absolutely no excuse to spot check pet food or treat recalls. You have a smartphone. You can key in your pet’s food or treats in search engine for possible recalls.

Pet Food Marketing & Advertisements

Don’t get sucked in with the overwhelming amount of marketing and advertisements for pet food. It will only stress you out. Confusion can also easily misled you in your decision making and cause you to buy poor quality pet food. Keep it simple. Buy organic and the best. You still need to research your pet’s new food ingredients and recall lists. Even the best pet food on the market can have recalls. Refer to at least two recall websites for up-to-date information. You will save money on vet bills, meds, pet suffering, or worse yet, death, and heartache.

Be sensible with your new pet’s diet.

Every animal needs a well balanced nutritious diet. Every animal also has different needs for diet and well being. You must research diet to keep your lovable fur-baby healthy and happy.

Simple Steps to Follow:
  • Weight (Manufactured pet food feeding instructions do not apply to an overweight pet. Meaning, don’t overfeed an overweight pet. You will only increase their weight and endanger their health. Talk to your vet if your pet is overweight. Your vet will be able to suggest a healthy pet food or diet for your fur-baby. It is important you give your pet the proper amount of food for a well balanced nutritious diet. Pet food package instructions only lists daily dietary calories for healthy average weight by size.)
  • Age
  • Health or Medical Condition (I.E. Allergies)
  • Active Pets (Usually require more food.)
  • Type of Pet Food. (Manufactured or prepare your own pet food.)
    • Dry
    • Wet
    • Raw
    • Make or prepare your pet own food.
    • Combination
    • There is also broths and meal toppers you can add to pet food.
  • Vitamins & Supplements
Things to Consider for Pet Diet:
  • Puppy vs Adult Dog Food or Kitten vs Cat Food (Don’t buy adult pet food for a young pet even though it may be cheaper. A young pet needs additional nutrition for development.)
  • Older Pet Food Diet
  • Pet Food for Medical Condition (I.E. Allergies)
  • Breed of Pet Food Diet

Whatever food you decide for your pet’s diet. Buster’s Vision suggests 100% natural or organic food. Buster’s Vision does not suggest feeding a pet table scrap food or left overs from a meal. There is an abundant amount of research on the dangers of people foods and pets. Many people foods can be toxic or deadly to a pet. Be sure to consult Google Goddess before you give your pet people food.

I also wrote a book called “My Doggy Eats My Greens!” Here is a link to the trailer for HD Ebook Movie Trailer.

We hope this pet nutrition article is beneficial for your fur-babies.

Bone Appétit’ Fur-Buddies!