“It’s hard to believe the FDA would send a team of inspectors to China without first getting permission to bring samples back,” said U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, an outspoken consumer advocate in the House of Representatives who has been tracking the jerky problem. “They’re doing nothing of consequence. The FDA’s tone- deaf on this one.”
Healthy Treating Guidelines: Feed treats very sparingly, especially if your pet is less than 20 pounds. Treats should not make up more than 15- 20% of total diet. Use treats to reward good behaviors. Don’t indulge your pet with treats or give treats“just because.”
What to Look For: Read the list of ingredients. If you don’t know what an ingredient is, chances are you don’t want to feed it to your pet.
Calories should be low to moderate. Whole grains (oats, barley, rye, quinoa, spelt.)
Whole foods like chicken or beef, fruits, berries, veggies. Made in USA.
High fat/High sugar content. Junk food treats (if it sounds like junk food, it probably is junk food). Rawhide of any kind. Preservatives and chemical additives. Made in China (inspect labels carefully).
Stay Away From:
Questions? Ask your pet’s veterinarian and local independent pet store for guidance. Purchase your pet’s food and treats from a local independent pet store. You’ll get good information and the reassurance that they are looking out for your pet’s health.
ing less than the healthiest and safest food and treats we can give them.” Yvonne told us that the FDA report
confirmed that in the past 10 years, impor- tation of pet food from China has had an 85-fold increase. “86 million pounds of pet food came from China in 2011 alone. And pet treats, including the jerky treats, are the fastest growing segment in the pet food industry,” said Yvonne. Indeed, imports from China have a
growing share of the American treat market. Virtually all of the largest companies in the mass market pet treat segment have made these products a key part of their retail strat- egy. “I know from personal experience in operating Clear Conscience Pet that it is far more expensive to use only American sources and make every product we sell here in the USA. We and other small family- owned manufacturers are struggling to be profitable in a highly competitive market- place, and I am sure it is tempting for some to be lured by the dramatically lower costs of these imports. I could buy finished products ready to put in a pretty bag and virtually double my profit margins overnight, but I won’t ever compromise animal health and safety for higher profits.” Selecting the treats we feed our pets is
just as important as choosing the food we put in their bowls. “It is even more impor- tant if your pet already has a health condi- tion,” said Yvonne. She and other pet profes- sionals emphasize the importance of reading the food labels of each product. “Never compromise your pet’s health by choosing cheap, low quality treats. As consumers, we must realize that better quality products— clean, wholesome,made in the USA—com- mand a slightly higher price,” said Yvonne. “Pet owners should educate themselves, and then decide whether a few more dollars for food that’s safe to eat is worth it.How much is your dog’s life worth?”U
Anthony Bennie, who has been
The New Barker go-to guy over the years for information on health and diet,weighed in: “My advice to pet lovers is to buy American made treats and support our own farmers, ranchers and manufacturers. If an American made product was suspected of causing pet illness, its manufacturer would be held accountable in a heartbeat. And that’s the way it should be. Our companion animals are family members and they deserve noth-
www.TheNewBarker.com
Special thanks to Yvonne Guibert, owner of Groovy Cats & Dogs Holistic Pet Boutique, and Anthony Bennie, owner of Clear Conscience Pets for contributing to this article, and continuing to keep us updated.
www.GroovyCatsnDogs.com 813.265.1333
www.ClearConsciencePet.com 203.762.8620
THE NEW BARKER 103
Should I Have Pet Health Insurance on My Pets?
Over the last few years, big strides
have been made in
veterinary medicine, with more sophisticated treatments and technology. The costs for this care have escalated as well. Having pet health insurance in case of something catastrophic is being advised by veterinari- ans. But no one insurance provider stands out, or is being recommended over the other. As with any insurance policy, what is covered and what is not are the two biggest questions in pet health insurance. We have it on good
authority – Deborah Turner, president of Dean Insurance Agency in Altamonte Springs – that a website is helping con- sumers. Pet Insurance Quotes has become the number one independent source for pet owners to obtain quotes and compare plans from all of the leading pet health insurance
companies.The company’s mis- sion is to help elevate awareness of pet insurance so that more pets are insured. The informa- tion on the site is based on unbiased facts and research. “Personally, my thought is that this site is a gift to all dog owners considering pet health insurance,” said Deborah. “As you will see, all of the policies have different underwriting, so any dog owner would need to review the general comparison to see which policies would work for them based on their dogs. Then they can compare pricing side by side.” Pet Insurance Quotes:
www.PetInsuranceQuote.com
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