As with her breakthrough movie "The Rider," director Chloé Zhao straddles a line between fiction and reality with "Nomadland," parachuting Frances McDormand into what almost feels like a documentary about those living a rootless
Showing posts with label Foods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foods. Show all posts
Saturday, February 20
Friday, February 19
3 Statistics on How Millennials Are Choosing Restaurants
If you’re under the age of 35 and have eaten in a restaurant lately, chances are you asked a specific group for help to make your choice. Choosing where to eat isn’t easy for anyone, regardless of generation or geography. And, perhaps not surprisingly,
Friday, February 12
'Just not equal at all:' Vaccine rollout in Chicago a microcosm of racial disparities nationwide
CHICAGO — Angelina Zayas has turned her Grace and Peace Church, which serves the greater Belmont Cragin community on the city's northwest side, into a food bank. Instead of Sunday services these days, she hands out winter coats and canned goods.
Advertisement: Last-Minute Valentine's Day Gifts,Valentine's Day Celebrations And Gifts For Your Lovely Personality
Monday, February 8
Invasive Asian carp is getting a new name and a public makeover to draw more eaters
Advertisement:Valentine's Day Celebrations And Gifts For Your Lovely Personality
Tuesday, December 14
Cat food
Cat food is food intended for consumption by cats. As with all species, cats have requirements for specific dietary nutrients, rather than ingredients. Certain nutrients, including many vitamins and amino acids, are degraded by the temperatures, pressures and chemical treatments used during manufacture, and hence must be added after manufacture to avoid nutritional deficiency. The amino acid taurine, for example, which is found within meat, is degraded during processing, so synthetic taurine is normally added afterwards. Long-term taurine deficiency resulting, for example, from feeding taurine-deficient dog food, may result in retinal degeneration, loss of vision, and cardiac damage.
History
The idea of preparing specialized food for cats came later than for dogs (see dog biscuits and dog food). This was very probably due to the idea that cats could readily fend for themselves. In 1837, a French writer critiqued this idea:
It is... thought wrongly that the cat, ill-fed, hunts better and takes more mice; this too is a grave error. The cat who is not given food is feeble and malingering; as soon as he has bitten into a mouse, he lies down to rest and sleep; while well fed, he is wide awake and satisfies his natural taste in chasing all that belongs to the rat family.
In 1844, another French writer expanded on this idea:
Normally in the country no care is taken of a cat's food, and he is left to live, it is said, from his hunting, but when he is hungry, he hunts the pantry's provisions far more than the mouse; because he does not pursue them and never watches them by need, but by instinct and attraction. And so, to neglect feeding a cat, is to render him at the same time useless and harmful, while with a few scraps regularly and properly given, the cat will never do any damage, and will render much service.
He goes on to say that it is all the more unreasonable to expect a cat to live from hunting in that cats take mice more for amusement than to eat: "A good cat takes many and eats few".
By 1876, Gordon Stables emphasized the need to give cats particular food:
If then, only for the sake of making (a cat) more valuable as a vermin-killer, she ought to have regular and sufficient food. A cat ought to be fed at least twice a day. Let her have a dish to herself, put down to her, and removed when the meal is finished. Experience is the best teacher as regards the quantity of a cat's food, and in quality let it be varied. Oatmeal porridge and milk, or white bread steeped in warm milk, to which a little sugar has been added, are both excellent breakfasts for puss; and for dinner she must have an allowance of flesh. Boiled lights are better for her than horse-meat, and occasionally let her have fish. Teach your cat to wait patiently till she is served—a spoiled cat is nearly as disagreeable as a spoiled child. If you want to have your cat nice and clean, treat her now and then to a square inch of fresh butter. It not only acts as a gentle laxative, but, the grease, combining in her mouth, with the alkalinity of her saliva, forms a kind of natural cat-soap, and you will see she will immediately commence washing herself, and become beautifully clean. (N.B.—If you wish to have a cat nicely done up for showing, touch her all over with a sponge dipped in fresh cream, when she licks herself the effect is wonderful.)
Remember that too much flesh-meat, especially liver,—which ought only to be given occasionally,—is very apt to induce a troublesome diarrhoea (looseness). Do not give your pet too many tit-bits at table; but whatever else you give her, never neglect to let her have her two regular meals.
In the same year, an ad for Spratt (better known for making dog food) said that their cat food entirely superseded "the unwholesome practice of feeding on boiled horse flesh; keeps the cat in perfect health." And in another book on cats Stables recommended the company's food:
Attend to the feeding, and, at a more than one-day show, cats ought to have water as well as milk. I think boiled lights, cut into small pieces, with a very small portion of bullock's liver and bread soaked, is the best food; but I have tried Spratt's Patent Cat Food with a great number of cats, both of my own and those of friends, and have nearly always found it agree; and at a cat show it would, I believe, be both handy and cleanly.
Spratt, which began by making dog biscuits, appears to also have been the first commercial producer of cat food.
Commercial cat food
Cat food for sale at an Istanbul animal market
Most store-bought cat food comes in either dry form, also known in the US as kibble, or wet canned form. Some manufacturers sell frozen raw diets and premix products to cater to owners who feed raw.
Dry food
Dry (extruded) cat food example
Dry food (8-10% moisture) is generally made by extrusion cooking under high heat and pressure. Fat may then be sprayed on the food to increase palatability, and other minor ingredients, such as heat-sensitive vitamins, which would be destroyed in the extrusion process, may be added.
Major brand-name dry cat food formulations consist of grain and animal material. The food labels 'premium', 'natural' or 'holistic' currently have no legal meaning. Products labeled "grain-free" may use potato or tapioca in lieu of grain. Starch allows the kibble to hold its shape.
Wet food
Wet (Canned) cat food example (Fish flakes in jelly)
Canned or wet food (75-78% moisture) generally comes in common can sizes of 3 oz (85 g), 5.5 oz (156 g), and 13 oz (369 g). It is also sold in foil pouch form by some manufacturers.
Dry vs Wet Food
Studies have not shown any difference between a dry or wet food diet for dental health. Cats generally do not 'chew' their food and usually only crunch once or twice before it is swallowed. Cats also lack the enzymes that humans possess inside their mouths to help breakdown the food they eat.
Vegetarian or vegan food
There are vegetarian and vegan cat foods available. Vegetarian cat food usually is fortified with nutrients such as taurine and arachidonic acid. Some vegetarian cat food brands are labeled by their manufacturers as meeting AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profile while other manufacturers recommend their products be supplemented and not used as a complete diet.
Labeling
Further information: Pet food:Labeling and regulation
In the United States, cat foods labeled as "complete and balanced" must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. Cat Food Nutrient Profiles were established in 1992 and updated in 1995 by the AAFCO's Feline Nutrition Expert Subcommittee. The updated profiles replaced the previous recommendations set by the National Research Council(NRC). Certain manufacturers label their products with terms such as premium, ultra premium, natural and holistic. Such terms currently have no legal definitions.
Energy requirement
The energy requirement for adult cats range from 60-70 kcal metabolizable energy/kg body weight per day for inactive cats to 80-90 kcal/kg BW for active cats. Kittens at five weeks of age require 250 kcal/kg BW. The requirement drops with age, to 100 kcal/kg BW at 30 weeks and to the adult requirement at about 50 weeks. Gestating cats require about 90-100 kcal/kg BW and lactating cats 90-270 kcal/kg BW depending on litter size.
Nutrients and functions
Vitamin deficiencies can lead to wide ranging clinical abnormalities that reflect the diversity of their metabolic roles. Twelve minerals are known to be essential nutrients for cats. Calcium and phosphorus are crucial to strong bones and teeth. Cats need other minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium, for nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and cell signaling. Many minerals only present in minute amounts in the body, including selenium, copper, and molybdenum, act as helpers in a wide variety of enzymatic reactions.
The table below lists the AAFCO nutritional profiles for cat foods along with the roles of vitamins and minerals in cat nutrition according to the National Research Council.
Diet and disease
Vegan and vegetarian diets
The feeding of vegan or vegetarian diets to cats remains controversial, even among vegan, vegetarian, animal, and scientific advocacy groups. According to the National Research Council, "Cats require specific nutrients, not specific feedstuffs.". The International Vegetarian Union, the Vegan Society and PETA are some of the organizations that support a vegan or vegetarian diet for cats. The Animal Protection Institute does not recommend a vegetarian diet for cats, and neither does the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Not all animal advocacy groups take a firm position either way. The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (now Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association) accepts that it is possible for a plant based diet to be nutritionally adequate but stated that they "cannot at this time be reliably assured". This position was based on a study demonstrating that two commercially available vegetarian cat diets contained nutritional deficiencies. However, broad conclusions cannot be drawn from this study, because (i) it examined only two of many available diets, (ii) for one of these diets, the formulation error responsible was promptly identified and corrected,and (iii) this 2006 study is increasingly dated. Nevertheless, it remains likely that formulation errors will result in nutritional deficiencies in a wide range of commercially available diets from time to time, whether meat-based, vegetarian or vegan. Hence, regular (at least, annual) veterinary checkups of all companion animals is recommended, and brands may be occasionally varied.
Vegan activist Joanne Stepaniak wrote "... If we [believe] that it is wrong for natural vegetarians to be force-fed meat, the inverse should be equally morally objectionable".
In 2006 the first study of the health of a population of long-term vegetarian cats (most, in fact, were vegan), was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Most were clinically healthy, barring minor blood value changes in three cats, who were fed partly on table scraps.
Homemade food
Further information: Raw feeding
Many pet owners feed cats homemade diets. These diets generally consist of some form of cooked or raw meat, bone, vegetables, and supplements, such as taurine and multivitamins.
bisphenol A
Recently it has been reported that food packaged in cans coated with bisphenol A has been correlated with the development of hyperthyroidism in cats.
Food allergy
Food allergy is a non-seasonal disease with skin and/or gastrointestinal disorders. The main complaint is excessive scratching (Pruritus) which is usually resistant to treatment by steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The exact prevalence of food allergy in cats remains unknown. In 20 to 30% of the cases, cats have concurrent allergic diseases (atopy / flea-allergic dermatitis). A reliable diagnosis can only be made with dietary elimination-challenge trials. Allergy testing is necessary for the identification of the causative food component(s). Therapy consists of avoiding the offending food component(s).
Malnutrition
Malnutrition can be a problem for cats fed non-conventional diets. Cats fed exclusively on raw, freshwater fish can develop a thiamine deficiency. Those fed exclusively on liver may develop vitamin A toxicity. Also, exclusively meat-based diets may contain excessive protein and phosphorus whilst being deficient in calcium, vitamin E, and microminerals such as copper, zinc, and potassium. Energy density must also be maintained relative to the other nutrients. When vegetable oil is used to maintain the energy balance cats may not find the food as palatable.
Recalls
Main article: 2007 pet food recalls
The broad pet food recalls starting in March 2007 came in response to reports of renal failure in pets consuming mostly wet pet foods made with wheat gluten from a single Chinese company beginning in February 2007. Overall, several major companies recalled more than 100 brands of pet foods with most of the recalled product coming from Menu Foods. The most likely cause according to the FDA is the presence of melamine in the wheat gluten of the affected foods. Melamine is known to falsely inflate the protein content rating of substances in laboratory tests. The economic impact on the pet food market has been extensive, with Menu Foods losing roughly $30 Million alone from the recall.
Nutrient chart
Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Cat Food Nutrient Profiles a
with Role of Vitamins & Minerals
Nutrient Units
(Dry Matter Basis) Growth and
reproduction
minimum Adult
maintenance
minimum Maximum Functions Signs of deficiency/Excess
Protein % 30.0 26.0
Arginine % 1.25 1.04
Histidine % 0.31 0.31
Isoleucine % 0.52 0.52
Leucine % 1.25 1.25
Lysine % 1.20 0.83
Methionine + cystine % 1.10 1.10
Methionine % 0.62 0.62 1.50
Phenylalanine + tyrosine % 0.88 0.88
Phenylalanine % 0.42 0.42
Threonine % 0.73 0.73
Tryptophan % 0.25 0.16
Valine % 0.62 0.62
Fatb % 9.0 9.0
Linoleic acid % 0.5 0.5
Arachidonic acid % 0.02 0.02
Minerals
Calcium % 1.0 0.6
Formation of bones and teeth
Blood coagulation
Nerve impulse transmission
Muscle contraction
Cell signaling
Deficiency
Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
loss of bone mineral content, which can lead to collapse and curvature of lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones
bone pain, which can progress to pathological fractures
Excess
Depressed food intake
Decreased growth
Increased bone mineral density
Increased need for magnesium
Phosphorus % 0.8 0.5
Skeletal structure
DNA and RNA structure
Energy metabolism
Locomotion
Acid-base balance
Deficiency
Hemolytic anemia
Locomotor disturbances
Metabolic acidosis
Potassium % 0.6 0.6
Acid-base balance
Nerve-impulse transmission
Enzymatic reactions
Transport functions
Deficiency
Anorexia
Retarded growth
Neurological disorders, including ataxia and severe muscle weakness
Sodium % 0.2 0.2
Acid-base balance
Regulation of osmotic pressure
Nerve impulse generation and transmission
Deficiency
Anorexia
Impaired growth
Excessive thirst and drinking
Excessive urination
Chlorine / Chloride % 0.3 0.3
Acid-base balance
Osmolarity of extracellular fluids
Deficiency
Increased sodium concentration in renal fluid
Excess potassium excretion
Magnesium c % 0.08 0.04
Enzyme functions
Muscle and nerve-cell membrane stability
Hormone secretion and function
Mineral structure of bones and teeth
Deficiency
Poor growth
Overextension of the carpal joints
Muscle twitching
Convulsions
Excess
Urinary tract stone formation in the presence of high pH
Iron d mg/kg 80.0 80.0
Hemoglobin and myoglobin synthesis
Energy metabolism
Deficiency
Poor growth
Pale mucous membranes
Lethargy
Weakness
Diarrhea
Excess
Vomiting and diarrhea
Copper (extruded food) e mg/kg 15.0 5.0
Connective tissue formation
Iron metabolism
Blood cell formation
Melanin pigment formation
Myelin formation
Defense against oxidative damage
Deficiency
Reduced weight gain
Longer time to conceive
Copper (canned food) e mg/kg 5.0 5.0
Manganese mg/kg 7.5 7.5
Enzyme functions
Bone development
Neurological function
No studies of deficiency in cats
Zinc mg/kg 75.0 75.0 2000.0
Enzyme reactions
Cell replication
Protein and carbohydrate metabolism
Skin function
Wound healing
Deficiency
Skin lesions
Growth retardation
Testicular damage
Iodine mg/kg 0.35 0.35
Thyroid hormone synthesis
Cell differentiation
Growth and development of puppies
Regulation of metabolic rate
Deficiency
Enlargement of thyroid glands
Excess
Excessive tearing, salivation, and nasal discharge
Dandruff
Selenium mg/kg 0.1 0.1
Defense against oxidative damage
Immune response
No studies of deficiency in cats
Vitamins
Vitamin A IU/kg 9000.0 5000.0 750000.0
Vision
Growth
Immune function
Fetal development
Cellular differentiation
Transmembrane protein transfer
Deficiency
Conjunctivitis
Cataracts, retinal degeneration, and other eye problems
Weight loss
Muscle weakness
Reproductive and developmental disorders
Excess
Skeletal lesions in kittens, particularly outgrowths of the cervical vertebrae
Osteoporosis
Vitamin D IU/kg 750.0 500.0 10000.0
Maintenance of mineral status
Skeletal structure
Muscle contraction
Blood clotting
Nerve conduction
Cell signaling
Phosphorus balance
Deficiency
Rickets
Abnormalities in skeletal development
Progressive paralysis
Ataxia
Lack of grooming
Reduction in body weight and food intake
Excess
Anorexia
Vomiting
Lethargy
Calcification of soft tissues
Vitamin E f IU/kg 30.0 30.0
Defense against oxidative damage via free radical scavenging
Deficiency
Anorexia
Depression
Pain sensitivity in abdomen
Fat tissue pathology
Vitamin K g mg/kg 0.1 0.1
Activation of clotting factors, bone proteins, and other proteins
Deficiency
Prolonged blood clotting times
Hemorrhaging
Vitamin B1 / Thiamine h mg/kg 5.0 5.0
Energy and carbohydrate metabolism
Activation of ion channels in neural tissue
Deficiency
Neurological impairments including altered reflexes and convulsive seizures
Heart-rate disorders
Pathological changes in the central nervous system
Severe learning deficits
Riboflavin mg/kg 4.0 4.0
Enzyme functions
Deficiency
Cataracts
Fatty livers
Testicular atrophy
Pantothenic acid mg/kg 5.0 5.0
Energy metabolism
Deficiency
Stunted growth
Fatty changes in liver
Small bowel lesions
Niacin mg/kg 60.0 60.0
Enzyme functions
Deficiency
Anorexia
Weight loss
Elevated body temperature
Fiery red tongue, with ulceration and congestion
Vitamin B6 / Pyridoxine mg/kg 4.0 4.0
Glucose generation
Red blood cell function
Niacin synthesis
Nervous system function
Immune response
Hormone regulation
Gene activation
Deficiency
Stunted growth
Convulsive seizures
Kidney lesions
Folic Acid mg/kg 0.8 0.8
Amino acid and nucleotide metabolism
Mitochondrial protein synthesis
Deficiency
Decreased growth rate
increased iron levels in blood
Biotin i mg/kg 0.07 0.07
Vitamin B12 mg/kg 0.02 0.02
Enzyme functions
Deficiency
Weight loss
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Intestinal disorders
Cholinej mg/kg 2400.0 2400.0
Taurine (extruded food) % 0.10 0.10
Taurine (canned food) % 0.20 0.20
Nutrient Units
(Dry Matter Basis) Growth and
Reproduction
Minimum Adult
Maintenance
Minimum Maximum Functions Signs of Deficiency/Excess
NOTES
Presumes an energy density of 4.0 kcal/g ME, based on the modified Atwater values of 3.5, 8.5, and 3.5 kcal/g for protein, fat, and carbohydrate (nitrogen-free extract, NFE), respectively. Rations greater than 4.5 kcal/g should be corrected for energy density; rations less than 4.0 kcal/g should not be corrected for energy.
Although a true requirement for fat per se has not been established, the minimum level was based on recognition of fat as a source of essential fatty acids, as a carrier of fat-soluble vitamins, to enhance palatability, and to supply an adequate caloric density.
If the mean urine pH of cats fed ad libitum is not below 6.4, the risk of struvite urolithiasis increases as the magnesium content of the diet increases.
Because of very poor bioavailability, iron from carbonate or oxide sources that are added to the diet should not be considered as components in meeting the minimum nutrient level.
Because of very poor bioavailability, copper from oxide sources that are added to the diet should not be considered as components in meeting the minimum nutrient level.
Add 10 IU vitamin E above minimum level per gram of fish oil per kilogram of diet.
Vitamin K does not need to be added unless diet contains greater than 25 percent fish on a dry matter basis.
Because processing may destroy up to 90 percent of the thiamine in the diet, allowance in formulation should be made to ensure the minimum nutrient level is met after processing.
Biotin does not need to be added unless diet contains antimicrobial or antivitamin compounds.
Methionine may substitute choline as methyl donor at a rate of 3.75 parts for 1 part choline by weight when methionine exceeds 0.62 percent.
(source:wikipedia)
Dog food
 |
| Dog food, |
Dog food is food intended for consumption by dogs or other canines. Some people make their own dog food, feed their dogs meals made from ingredients purchased in grocery or health-food stores or give their dogs a raw food diet. Many others rely on commercially manufactured dog food.
History
A rare classical reference to dog food appears in Virgil's Bucolics:
" sed una
Veloces Spartse catulos, acremque Molossum,
Pasee sero pingui :"
annotated as "Sero pingui : ' nutritious whey,' which Columella, vii. 12, speaks of as dog's food."
In France, the word pâtée (the modern word for dog food) began to appear in the 18th century and referred to a paste originally given to poultry. In 1756, a dictionary indicates it was made of a mixture of bread crumbs and little pieces of meat given to pets."
In 1781, an encyclopedia mentioned an earlier practice of removing the liver, heart, and blood of a downed stag and mixing it with milk, cheese, and bread; and then giving it to dogs.
In 1844, the French writer Nicolas Boyard warned against even giving greaves (tallow-graves) to dogs, though the English favored them (see below), and suggested a meat-flavored soup:
By a misguided economy dogs are given meat scraps and tallow graves; one must avoid this, because these foods make them heavy and sick; give them twice a day a soup of coarse bread made with water, fat and the bottom of the stew pot; put a half-kilogram of bread at least in each soup.
In England, care to give dogs particular food dates at least from the late eighteenth century, when The Sportsman's dictionary (1785) described the best diet for a dog's health in its article "Dog":
A dog is of a very hot nature: he should therefore never be without clean water by him, that he may drink when he is thirsty. In regard to their food, carrion is by no means proper for them. It must hurt their sense of smelling, on which the excellence of these dogs greatly depends.
Barley meal, the dross of wheatflour, or both mixed together, with broth or skim'd milk, is very proper food. For change, a small quantity of greaves from which the tallow is pressed by the chandlers, mixed with their flour ; or sheep's feet well baked or boiled, are a very good diet, and when you indulge them with flesh it should always be boiled. In the season of hunting your dogs, it is proper to feed them in the evening before, and give them nothing in the morning you take them out, except a little milk. If you stop for your own refreshment in the day, you should also refresh your dogs with a little milk and bread.
(Greaves, which was often recommended for dogs, is "the sediment of melted tallow. It is made into cakes for dogs' food. In Scotland it is called {cracklings}.")
In 1833, The Complete Farrier gave similar but far more extensive advice on feeding dogs:
The dog is neither wholly carnivorous nor wholly herbivorous, but of a mixed kind, and can receive nourishment from either flesh or vegetables. A mixture of both is therefore his proper food, but of the former he requires a greater portion, and this portion should be always determined by his bodily exertions.
Sportsmen in the country use various mixtures for food ; in some kennels meal and milk are constantly given, and dogs will thrive on this diet during the season they do not hunt; but, when their exertions are required, this food will not be sufficiently nutritious. All the meals are used for this purpose, but wheat-meal is the most preferable, when it can be procured, it being the least likely to produce a heated skin ; barley-meal and oatmeal are most frequently given, and are sufficiently nutritious when mixed with either milk or broth; but, when constantly used, they may be productive of the mange. Potatoes, without meal, will be a wholesome food for dogs which are not exercised, and are sufficiently nutritious when mixed with milk or butter-milk.
When circumstances render it absolutely necessary to feed dogs principally on barley or oatmeal, the heating effects will be greatly obviated by mixing it with butter-milk. Indeed, butter-milk is an excellent cleanser in all cases of foulness, the mange, canker, &c. When it is most convenient to feed them on potatoes, and the food is not sufficiently relished, let them be mixed with greaves, or other fatty matter, and they will then be greedily swallowed. Greaves are, indeed, a convenient food, and, when mixed with a sufficient quantity of vegetable matter, form a hearty meal for large dogs, who are kept in yards, and are in continual motion.
Animal food should never be given to dogs more than once a day, as he digests his food very slowly, a full meal of flesh not being digested in less than twenty four hours. If full fed with meat, once a day will be sufficient, except the allowance per day be divided, and which will be more salutary, as a dog swallows his victuals very greedily. Hard-worked dogs, as soon as fed, should be shut up, to encourage sleep, for digestion is promoted more by sleeping than by waking. Parsnips, carrots, cabbages, and, indeed, all vegetable matter, will feed dogs sufficiently well for the purposes of their existence. Damaged ship-biscuit is often bought for the purpose of food, and it makes a very good one, when soaked in broth or milk. The broth, or liquor, in which salted meat has been boiled, should never be used for this purpose; dogs, who have been confined on ship-board, during a long voyage, have contracted a very bad kind of mange, owing to their being fed on salt pot-liquor.
No meat should be given to a dog raw, as it is productive of the distemper, and many other dangerous disorders. The best food for kennels near cities, or large towns, is tripe, or haunches of sheep, which, after being thoroughly cleaned, should be boiled half an hour or forty minutes, in a moderate quantity of water. When taken from the water they should be hung up to cool, and the boiling liquor they came out of poured on bread raspings, if possible those of French bread. The quantity of raspings should be so regulated, that when soaked and cold, the mess may be of the consistence of an ordinary pudding before boiling. The paunches, being also cold, but not before, should be cut into fine pieces, and mixed with the soaked raspings. When raspings cannot be got, meal, or biscuit, may be substituted. The mixture may (be made to contain more or less animal matter, by increasing or lessening this proportion of paunch, or by adding other animal matter; though the tripe, of all animal substances, is allowed to be the purest food, and tends least of all to make a dog gross. If deemed necessary to render this mixture more nutritious and enticing, the offal, or intestines, of chickens and other fowl, may be procured from the poulterers, and boiled with the tripe Of all substances in general use, except horse-flesh, the entrails of chickens is the one most eagerly sought after by dogs, and fattens them soonest. The venders of baked sheep's heads sell the trimmings for dogs' food, which is exceedingly wholesome and nutritious. In feeding dogs, their size and strength should be considered, and their allowances should be accordingly. All kinds of bones, except fish-bones, may be thrown to them at any time; indeed, the stomachs of these animals are often benefitted by the action of these bones.
In the feeding of favorites, much error is frequently committed; for their tastes being consulted, they are too apt to be wholly fed on flesh, and this in great quantities too. It may always be in the power of those who feed them to bring their dogs to live on vegetables entirely, if they wish it. Let the usual quantity of meat a dog eats be minced exceedingly fine, and a small portion of mashed potatoes be mixed with it; it will not be possible for the dog to separate the animal from the vegetable portion, and if he will not eat the mixture, let it remain till hunger obliges him to relish it. At the next meal, let an additional quantity of potatoes be added, and, by these gradual means, the animal may be brought to live entirely on potatoes, or any other vegetable. In a medical point of view, a vegetable diet is often very important. In many cases, a complete change of food forms the very best alternative, and, in others, it is an excellent auxiliary to a medical course. The cases that require a change from a meat to a vegetable diet are eruptive diseases, and other affections arising from too full living; also coughs, and various inflammatory complaints.(429)
In later years, dog biscuit was sometimes treated as synonymous with dog food:
The first three prize winners at the late coursing meeting at Great Bend were trained on Spratt's Patent Dog Biscuit. This same dog food won no less than three awards, including a gold medal, at the Exposition in Paris which has just closed. It would seem that the decision of the judges is more than backed up by the result in the kennel. Another good dog food is that manufactured by Austin & Graves, of Boston. They, too, seem to be meeting with great success in their line.(1890)
Commercial dog food
 |
| There are many varieties of commercial dog food to choose from., |
Most store-bought dog food comes in either a dry form (also known in the US as kibble) or a wet canned form. Dry food contains 6-10% moisture by volume, as compared to 60-90% in canned food. Semi-moist foods have a moisture content of 25-35%. Pet owners often prefer dry food for reasons of convenience and price. Although dry food can be left out for long periods of time, pet owners typically portion control and feed their pets fresh food twice a day, as they would with wet food.
Dry dog food
Many dry foods can be less expensive, per pound, than their canned (wet) or semi-moist counterparts, and do not spoil as quickly as an open can. In addition, dry food is more nutritionally dense than canned food because of the canned food's high moisture content (anywhere from 60%-90%, depending on brand).This means that more canned food must be fed to meet the dog's requirements, compared to dry. However, dry food generally contains a higher percentage of fillers such as corn and wheat. Generally less expensive dry dog and cat foods have more fillers and less meat.
Manufacturing process
Pellets of dry dog food, called kibble in the US, are produced by one of two methods, extrusion and baking. During the extrusion process, cut dough or a mixture of raw materials is fed into an expander, while pressurized steam or hot water is added. When removed from the high pressure that results, the pellets puff up like popcorn. The resultant kibble is allowed to dry, then sprayed with vitamins, fats and oils, or any other ingredients that are not heat-tolerant.
If extruded kibble is exposed to air for too long or not properly stored, the fats and oils added after cooking can become rancid, and vitamins and minerals in the food may be destroyed by heat during storage or shipping.
Dry food labels
Apart from nutritional value and feeding instructions, dry food labels serve as an important source of information about overall quality of product.
The dog food product name is the first identifier of its ingredients. If a product names a specific food in its product name, the Center for Veterinary Medicine requires that the ingredients meet certain requirements. If the ingredient in the product name is used without the words "dinner" or "flavor", at least 95% of the food must be made up of that ingredient (not including water and "condiments") and at least 70% including the water. For example, a product that includes "Chicken Dry Dog Food" in its name must include at least 95% chicken. If the word "dinner" is used, the product must have at least 25% but less than 95% of the ingredient named. If the word "flavor" is used, the product must have at least a measurable amount of the ingredient named. It should also be noted that product names using words such as "premium" or "gourmet" are not required to have ingredients of higher quality than dog foods that do not use these words.
Ingredients are listed in the descending order by amount, therefore a variety made of "corn, barley, rice and beef" will contain substantially less meat than one featuring "beef, corn, barley and rice". The former is likely to be of questionable value, as three main ingredients are grains which do not represent a part of natural canine diet, and are often allergens in dogs. Protein ingredients in meal form (for example chicken meal) contain very little moisture as compared to fresh meat, thus a product containing "beef, corn, barley and rice" will contain less beef protein than one made of "beef meal, corn, barley and rice". Some manufacturers choose to add nonanimal ingredients, such as soy, to boost total protein content. Another variety of very low quality protein is meat and bone meal and meat by-products. Quality and composition of such ingredients is difficult to determine.
Very often, ingredient lists are very long. A rule of thumb for determining whether or not an ingredient (except for vitamins and supplements) is present in a sufficient quantity to represent a meaningful contribution is to disregard any components listed after the first pure fat ingredient (usually chicken fat, animal fat, fish oil or vegetable oil).
"Splitting" is a widely used practice of dividing an undesirable ingredient into components to place it lower in the ingredient list . A product made of "lamb, corn, corn flour and corn meal" is likely to contain less lamb than corn.
According to the standards in place by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), ingredients are listed by weight before cooking. If a meat protein is listed, such as chicken or lamb, when it is cooked, it will make up substantially less of the food than before cooking. A meat meal ingredient, such as chicken meal or lamb meal, is meat protein without moisture and ground into a powder similar to flour. Five pounds of fresh chicken makes one pound of chicken meal. The bulk of the food is made up of the first five ingredients listed. Vitamins and minerals in the food are in much smaller quantities than the meats, vegetables, and fruits used; they are always the last ingredients in the list, but they make up most of the ingredient list.
Wet dog food
Wet or canned dog food is significantly higher in moisture than dry or semi-moist food. Because canned food is commercially sterile (cooked during canning); other wet foods may not be sterile. A given wet food will often be higher in protein or fat compared to a similar kibble on a dry matter basis (a measure which ignores moisture); given the canned food's high moisture content, however, a larger amount of canned food must be fed. Grain gluten and other protein gels may be used in wet dog food to create artificial meaty chunks, which look like real meat.
Alternative dog food
In recent years, new types of dog food have emerged on the market that differ from traditional commercial pet food. Many companies have been successful in targeting niche markets, each with unique characteristics. A non-alcoholic "beer" for dogs (Kwispelbier) is made in the Netherlands from beef extract and malt.
Popular Alternative Dog Food Labels:
Frozen or Freeze-Dried, comes in raw or cooked (not processed) form. The idea is to skip the processing stage traditional dry/wet dog food goes through. This causes less destruction of the nutritional integrity. To compensate for the short shelf life, products are frozen or freeze-dried.
Dehydrated, comes in raw and cooked form. Products are usually air dried to reduce moisture to the level where bacterial growths are inhibited. The appearance is very similar to dry kibbles. The typical feeding methods include adding warm water before serving.
Fresh or Refrigerated, produced through pasteurization of fresh ingredients. Products are lightly cooked and then quickly sealed in a vacuum package. Then they are refrigerated until served. This type of dog food is extremely vulnerable to spoiling if not kept at a cool temperature and has a shelf life of 2–4 months, unopened.
Homemade Diet often comes in a bucket or Tupperware-like package. In the past this was thought to be a diet that owners create themselves. However, recently, many small companies have begun to home-cook dog dishes and then sell them through specialty stores or over the Internet. Many pet owners feed dogs homemade diets. These diets generally consist of some form of cooked meat or raw meat, ground bone, pureed vegetables, taurine supplements, and other multivitamin supplements. Some pet owners use human vitamin supplements, and others use vitamin supplements specifically engineered for dogs..
Vegetarian dog foods are manufactured by several companies. They are usually balanced and contain ingredients such as oatmeal, pea protein, and potatoes instead of meat to supply protein. A dog owner may choose to feed a vegetarian food for ethical and/or health reasons, or in cases of extreme food allergies.
Contents
Many commercial dog foods are made from materials considered by some authorities and dog owners to be unusable or undesirable. These may include:
Meat and bone meals
Offal (wild canines, however, do eat offal as a vital part of their diets)
Grain byproducts
Less expensive dog foods generally include less meat, and more animal by-products and grain fillers. Proponents of a natural diet criticize the use of such ingredients, and point out that regulations allow for packaging that might lead a consumer to believe that they are buying a natural food, when, in reality, the food might be composed mostly of ingredients such as those listed above. More expensive dog foods may be made of ingredients suitable for organic products or free range meats. Ingredients must be listed by amount in descending order.
According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), animal by-products in pet food may include parts obtained from any animals who have died from sickness or disease provided they are rendered in accordance to law. As well, cow brains and spinal cords, not allowed for human consumption under federal regulation 21CFR589.2000 due to the possibility of transmission of BSE, are allowed to be included in pet food intended for nonruminant animals. In 2003, the AVMA speculated changes might be made to animal feed regulations to ban materials from “4-D” animals – those who enter the food chain as dead, dying, diseased or disabled.
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| Dog treats are special types of dog food given as a reward, not as a staple food source., |
Special varieties
There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs allergic to common ingredients such as chicken, wheat, or corn. These foods usually contain "novel proteins" and substitute uncommon starches for the usual grains. Meats used in allergy formulas can range from the mundane, such as lamb, beef, or whitefish, to the unusual, such as venison or duck. Carbohydrates in allergy formulas are usually a less common grain, such as rice or barley, but such ingredients as potato and quinoa are sometimes used. Allergies are more likely to develop with consistent exposure to certain proteins (i.e. prolonged feeding of the same food).
The commercial approach to allergies in dogs is not the same as the veterinary approach. Prescription diets, purchased from a veterinarian, will often contain common ingredients that have been hydrolyzed to prevent them from triggering an immune response.
Some foods are designed for dogs with maladies, such as urinary tract infections, and some are tailored to the dietary needs of especially young or aging dogs. There are also vegetarian dog foods, for owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products, as well as for dogs who have experienced allergic reactions to a number of animal-based ingredients.
Raw dog food
Main article: Raw feeding
Supporters of raw feeding believe that the natural diet of an animal in the wild is its most ideal diet and try to mimic a similar diet for their domestic companion. They are commonly opposed to commercial pet foods, which they consider poor substitutes for raw feed. Opponents believe that the risk of food-borne illnesses posed by the handling and feeding of raw meats would outweigh the purported benefits and that no scientific studies have been done to support the numerous beneficial claims. The Food and Drug Administration of the United States states that they do not advocate a raw diet but recommends owners who insist on feeding raw to follow basic hygienic guidelines for handling raw meat to minimize risk to animal and human health.
Raw dog food is distributed by various small suppliers.
Raw foods produced for dogs and sold in pet stores are commercially safer than raw meats purchased in grocery stores. The acceptable level of bacteria in meats sold at grocery stores is 30% or less because it is meant to be cooked. The acceptable level of bacteria in a produced raw foods for dogs is 2% or less because it is meant to be fed raw.
Labeling
Further information: Pet food#Labeling and regulation
In the United States, dog foods labeled as "complete and balanced" must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. The Dog Food Nutrient Profiles were last updated in 1995 by the AAFCO's Canine Nutrition Expert Subcommittee. The updated profiles replaced the previous recommendations set by the National Research Council (NRC).
Critics argue that due to the limitations of the trial and the gaps in knowledge within animal nutrition science, the term "complete and balanced" is inaccurate and even deceptive. An AAFCO panel expert has stated that "although the AAFCO profiles are better than nothing, they provide false securities."
Certain manufacturers label their products with terms such as premium, ultra premium, natural and holistic. Such terms currently have no legal definitions. There are also varieties of dog food labeled as "human-grade food". Although no official definition of this term exists, the assumption is that other brands use foods that would not pass US Food and Drug Administration inspection according to the Pure Food and Drug Act or the Meat Inspection Act.
The ingredients on the label must be listed in descending order by weight before cooking. This means before all of the moisture is removed from the meat, fruits, vegetables and other ingredients used.
Recalls
Main article: 2007 pet food recalls
Dog food at a supermarket in Brooklyn, New York.
The 2007 pet food recalls involved the massive recall of many brands of cat and dog foods beginning in March 2007. The recalls came in response to reports of renal failure in pets consuming mostly wet pet foods made with wheat gluten from a single Chinese company, beginning in February 2007. After more than three weeks of complaints from consumers, the recall began voluntarily with the Canadian company Menu Foods on March 16, 2007, when a company test showed sickness and death in some of the test animals.
Overall, several major companies have recalled more than 100 brands of pet foods, with most of the recalled product coming from Menu Foods. Although there are several theories of the source of the agent causing sickness in affected animals, with extensive government and private testing and forensic research, to date, no definitive cause has been isolated. As of April 10, the most likely cause, according to the FDA, though not yet proven, is indicated by the presence of melamine in wheat gluten in the affected foods.
In the United States, there has been extensive media coverage of the recall. There has been widespread public outrage and calls for government regulation of pet foods, which had previously been self-regulated by pet food manufacturers. The economic impact on the pet food market has been extensive, with Menu Foods losing roughly $30 Million alone from the recall. The events have caused distrust of most processed pet foods in some consumers.
In 1999, another fungal toxin triggered the recall of dry dog food made by Doane Pet Care at one of its plants, including Ol’ Roy, Wal-Mart’s brand, as well as 53 other brands. This time the toxin killed 25 dogs.
A 2005 consumer alert was released for contaminated Diamond Pet Foods for dogs and cats. Over 100 canine deaths and at least one feline fatality have been linked to Diamond Pet Foods contaminated by the potentially deadly toxin, Aflatoxin, according to Cornell University veterinarians.
Dangerous foods and toxic substances
Dog health#Dangerous foods and Dog health#Common household substances
A number of common human foods and household ingestibles are toxic to dogs, including chocolate solids (theobromine poisoning), onion and garlic (thiosulphate, sulfoxide or disulfide poisoning), grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, as well as various plants and other potentially ingested materials.Green tomatoes should be avoided in a dog's diet because they contain tomatine, which is harmful to dogs. As the tomato ripens and turns red the tomatine disappears, and the tomato become safe for the dog to eat. The tomato plant itself is toxic.
(source:wikipedia)
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