Pet food scams

So last week dragonfly ended up getting a urinary blockage that nearly killed him, fortunately I researched his symptoms and was able to get him to the vet in time (they usually kill cats within 3-6 days). They fixed him all up, kept him overnight and we picked him up. He is doing well.
I am very happy that my little furball is well but this isn't what this blog is about.

No, this note is about a very serious matter.
Scams.
Now I don't know if it is driven by greed or maybe the vet is just unaware of nutrition (apparently vets only are required a one hour class in nutrition) So maybe it isn't the vets fault (although I find it hard to believe that a regular person would know more about pet nutrition then someone who is supposed to be a doctor of pets)
However, if it is indeed driven by greed that they push these so called "prescription" diets, shame on them! I don't know whether this is true but apparently hills science diet gives them money to push their overpriced garbage food.
Now why is it garbage you ask? They say its one of the best foods for them!
Well lets look at the first few ingredients on the bag:

Science Hill Diet "prescription"
Number 1
Brewers Rice
Brewers rice is a byproduct from milling rice, (from beer mostly) it is not fit for human consumption as most of its nutritional value has been stripped away. It is only sold for pet food and horses because of this. It is a filler, and is a reason why a lot of pets are overweight.

Number 2
Corn Gluten Meal
Corn gluten meal is a by-product from the manufacture of corn syrup or starch, it is also the dried residue after the removal of the germ, starch and bran. Cats are carnivores, grains are horrible for cats.
(it is also used as a "natural weed suppressant haha)

Number 3
Chicken by product meal
Oh now this one is lovely, it's the by products of chicken that isn't fit for human consumption. This can include Blood, Feet, Beaks, Bone, Feathers, Intestines, spleen, lungs you name it, any of the scraps that are deemed unfit, and you thought what they put into hot dogs was bad... yuck.

Number 4
Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid)
This one is the closest thing your getting to meat on this bag (and I thought cats where carnivores!!) and it is filled with perservatives. Also pork isn't well digested by cats or dogs. So they hardly get any protein from it as it is.

Number 5
Chicken Liver Flavor
Oh man I almost got excited! But they just had to tack "Flavor" onto it. Are they really so cheap that they can't possibly put actual liver in it?

Alright well, now on to the food that I feed my cat currently!

Merrick Grammy's Pot Pie

Number 1
Chicken
Well that one is self explanatory! Also it is human grade meat.

Number 2
Chicken Broth
Once again self explanatory!

Number 3
Turkey Liver
I don't see "flavor" tacked onto this liver!

Number 4
Fresh Red Jacket New Potatoes
I know cats are carnivores, but vegetables aren't horrible for them if matched with meat, and the potato skins deliver necessary vitamins and minerals. A highly digestible carbohydrate source. Carbohydrates provide energy for everyday activity.

Number 5
Fresh Carrots
Again yes cats are carnivores but vegetables are a whole lot better then grains. Since these are fresh carrots they also have lots of nutrients. A natural source of B vitamins and beta carotene, an antioxidant.

I also feed him a supplement canned food, Merricks Before Grain which is 100% meat with some water for processing for example Merricks Quail ingredients are:

Quail, Water for processing

But cats need other vitamins so that is only supplemental!

So all in all you can see which is better, I mean which would you prefer to eat? By products and brewers rice or chicken and potatoes?

Yes some cats live long lives on these crap foods, because they are strong and are given the minimal protein necessary to live but cats tend to be very strong and suffer in silence I can only imagine what some of these foods do to cats later in life!

I think it is utterly shameful what veterinarians and corporations are doing! I have read so many testimony's online about people cats being put on "prescription" diets and the cat getting diabetes or other illnesses.

So I say no thank you! I will not give my cat with URINARY issues dry food with corn and rice in it! I will give him wet food, low in ash and magnesium with extra water mixed in!

Please read your pets ingredient list! Especially the first five ingredients, if most of it isn't meat please consider changing to a cat/dog food that is! One of the most affordable cat/dog foods that is very healthy for them is Chicken Soup for the pet lovers soul:
http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/

Another good food is anything from naturapet line.

Naturapet




Beware especially of by products and corn!!