Are you concerned that what you are feeding your cat is making him/her sick? Are you worried with all the pet food recalls that have happened in the last year? More and more animals today are getting sick, and some of the causes are directly linked to the commercial pet food that we are feeding them.
If your cat has symptoms such as: bad breath, itchy skin, dull dry coats, and intestinal gas, then chances are it is coming from the food they eat. A common disease that can be attributed to diet is diabetes in cats.
Not all commercial pet food provides all of the nutrients our pets need to be healthy at different times in their lives. Some pet food has ingredients that our pets do not need and can cause them to be extremely ill. A common ingredient found in pet food is a preservative called propylene glycol. It is used to keep pet foods moist. This preservative has been linked to anemia and bloat in animals, as well as other conditions.
What is propylene glycol? A petroleum derivative acts as a wetting agent. Propylene glycol is a colorless, vicious, hygroscopic liquid, CH3CHOHCH2OH, which is used in anti-freeze, laundry detergent, deodorant, floor wax, processed foods, and Pet Food.
Factory workers are warned by the FDA to avoid direct skin contact with propylene glycol because it penetrates the skin quickly and can cause brain damage, skin irritation, and kidney malfunction. The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for propylene glycol says that it may be harmful by ingestion or skin contact.
The philosophy here is that if used in small amounts, and with other chemicals, that it will not produce harm to our bodies or our pets. Perhaps a small teaspoon or a quarter of a teaspoon will not produce serious side effects if given once. What is ignored is that it is not given once. In addition, most preservatives that are ingested DO NOT pass their way through the body. It is a foreign substance that builds up and stays in the body. Each teaspoon that may remain in the body is added by another -teaspoon, and another, and so on.
If you are using commercial cat food, check the ingredients. If propylene glycol is listed, do yourself and your pet a favor and stop giving it to them.
If this toxic substance is not present, other things to consider to determine if your commercial pet food is quality food are how the ingredients are listed. The ingredients will always be listed in descending order. That means what is listed first, is the primary ingredient.
A whole animal-based protein should be listed first. Stay away from by-products, these are left over's from processing human foods. Avoid other ingredients that are fraction of a whole; wheat middlings, corn gluten, anything that is not a whole grain.
You will want natural preservatives like ascorbic acid, Vitamin E or mixed tocopherols. Cats do not need artificial food coloring or flavors to be healthy. Essential fatty acids are a must; they help to prevent cancer, skin problems, and allergies. Taking these out, as is done in some special formulas will actually harm our pets in the long run.
We as humans are beginning to be more cautious about our own diets and what we ingest. Isn't it time we start considering the same for our furry friends?
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