Search Results for: cat food

Thimerosal–Should I worry about mercury in vaccines for my dog or cat?

Many health concerns among pet owners reflect concerns regarding human health that have been extrapolated to the health of our pets. It is natural to assume, or at least suspect, that factors which influence human health also influence the health … Continue reading

Posted in Vaccines | 49 Comments

JustFoodForDogs Brings Us Some Classic Marketing Masquerading as Science

I have written about the issue of homemade pet diets here several times (1, 2, 3, 4). They are appealing to some owners because they appear more “natural” than commercial dry or canned diets, which is supposed to imply they … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 82 Comments

European Food Safety Authority Rejects Prostora, a Probiotic Product for Dogs

I have written frequently about probiotics,(1,2) and the health effects of microorganisms seems a promising area of research. The current evidence for meaningful beneficial effects, however, is quite limited. There is reasonable evidence for some benefit in treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 20 Comments

Evidence Update-Review of Risks and Benefits of Raw Meat Diets for Dogs and Cats

A nice new review of the evidence concerning raw meat-based diets appears in the most recent issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Freeman LM, Chandler ML, Hamper BA, Weeth LP. Current knowledge about the risks and … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 14 Comments

FDA Study Shows Raw Pet Diets Contaminated with Potentially Deadly Bacteria Much More Frequently than Cooked Pet Foods

Numerous studies have demonstrated that raw diets are likely to be contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, E. coli, and others that can cause serious disease. (1, 2) Though cases of illness have been documented caused by these organisms … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 31 Comments

Zoopharmacognosy–Do Animals Self-Medicate?

Before becoming a veterinarian, I did a master’s degree in animal behavior, working primarily with chimpanzees. These are fascinating creatures, with many of the cognitive abilities of a young human child (and with a similar emotional temperament as well, which … Continue reading

Posted in General, Herbs and Supplements | 11 Comments

USDA Confronts Misleading Hype about Antioxidants in Foods

I have commented a few times on the issue of antioxidant supplements. While the theory that some diseases are caused by, or at least involve in some way, oxidative damage is reasonable, and there are lots of in vitro studies … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | Leave a comment

Raw, Cooked, and Dry Cat Diets–A New Study Examined

The debate about raw diets for pets is an ongoing “hot button” topic in veterinary circles. There is also a less heated but still vigorous debate about cat nutrition in particular and what form and composition constitutes the optimal diet … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 18 Comments

Homemade Diets for Cats and Dogs with Kidney Disease–Most Recipes are Wrong

A new study has been published adding to the evidence, which I have discussed before(see articles listed below), that homemade diets are frequently nutritionally inappropriate and less consistent or reliable than commercial diets. Larsen, JA. Parks, EM. Heinze, CR. Fascetti, … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 31 Comments

Misleading Advertising for Raw Pet Food (again)

H.G. Wells is credited with saying, “Advertising is legalized lying,” though I cannot imagine he is the first person to have thought so. Of course, the difficulty with identifying actual lying in advertising is that it is impossible to know … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 11 Comments