Got A Laugh Out Of This Analogy

[fedora]

I read this entertaining informative article(ok, parts of it) on allergies in pets by this vet. His name is Dogtor J, Dr. John Symes. He is a celiac.

"The other

[spunky]

I love reading Dogtor J's website!

There's so much research and thinking about health/diet, etc. on there! He's kinda funny too.

[silk]

I read this entertaining informative article(ok, parts of it) on allergies in pets by this vet. His name is Dogtor J, Dr. John Symes. He is a celiac.

"The other

[psawyer]

This woman, whose husband works at ALPO said that the contamination had something to do with gluten in the dog food. ????

The recalls began in March of 2007. The problem was not the wheat gluten itself, but the fact that it had been deliberately contaminated at source (in China) with Open Original Shared Link, in order to cause the testing for protein content to read higher. Melamine is nasty stuff whose toxicity is not fully understood.

I work in the pet food business, and so am very aware of the issues relating to the 2007 recalls.

[Ursa Major]

Still, dogs and cats aren't meant to eat any grain at all, and it isn't good for them, gluten or not. But there are plenty of dogs that are gluten intolerant (probably all of them to some degree). Dogs and cats are carnivores, and the only reason wheat or corn is put into their food is, that it is cheaper than actually giving them what they need.

[psawyer]

Cats are obligate carnivores, but dogs are omnivores. Dogs can survive on a vegetarian diet, and a number do.

Grain is present in dry foods, not because of a cost issue, but because to make kibble you need something to bind the chunks together.

The prey of most cats, wild and domestic, are herbivorous animals. Upon a kill, the cat first eats the internal organs, including the digestive tract and its contents. This provides essential nutrients that not found in the muscle tissue we know as "meat."

[jerseyangel]

Cats are obligate carnivores, but dogs are omnivores. Dogs can survive on a vegetarian diet, and a number do.

Grain is present in dry foods, not because of a cost issue, but because to make kibble you need something to bind the chunks together.

The prey of most cats, wild and domestic, are herbivorous animals. Upon a kill, the cat first eats the internal organs, including the digestive tract and its contents. This provides essential nutrients that not found in the muscle tissue we know as "meat."

Interesting Peter, I didn't know that

[Ursa Major]

That is true. Which is why giving cats and dogs some vegetables mixed into their food is a good idea, and fortification with naturally derived vitamins is a good idea, too. Still, grains are bad for them, period. It shortens their livespan and makes them ill.

[home-based-mom]

The recalls began in March of 2007. The problem was not the wheat gluten itself, but the fact that it had been deliberately contaminated at source (in China) with Open Original Shared Link, in order to cause the testing for protein content to read higher. Melamine is nasty stuff whose toxicity is not fully understood.

I work in the pet food business, and so am very aware of the issues relating to the 2007 recalls.

I thought it was very interesting that after stories began to fade from the nightly newscasts, I received several online surveys obviously being conducted by high-end pet food companies who were attempting to assess the damage caused by the revelation that everyone from these same high-end pet food companies to the cheapest supermarket discount brand bought the same ingredient from the same supplier! They really appeared to be sweatin' it that the general public was going to wake up and wonder, "Hey! If these guys all put the same stuff in their products, what the heck am I paying premium prices for anyway?!?!?!?!?!"

[psawyer]

There are major differences in the ingredient lists of different pet foods, but just about every ingredient is a commodity.

A commodity is a generic thing, such as wheat, where it does not matter qualitatively from whom you obtain it. Wheat is wheat, coal is coal, celery is celery, and so on. You buy them based solely on market price, since there is nothing else to distinguish them (organic produce is a special case, but even then, organic potatoes are all the same).

Angel food cake and sesame seed bagels both contain enriched wheat flour, but they are certainly not the same thing. In Canada, the wheat for the flour would be from the Canadian Wheat Pool in both cases. If that source were to be compromised both products would be at risk, as would the buns at McDonalds and the bread at your grocery store.

Wheat gluten is a commodity for which North American supplies ran short of demand in late 2006, so Asian sources became the alternative. In retrospect, China was obviously a poor choice of supply.

I'm not trying to defend anybody, as we suffered economic harm due to the problem while our business was disrupted. I am just trying to give some perspective on how the mess came to be in the first place.

[sickchick]

Very cool, M

[elye]

That is true. Which is why giving cats and dogs some vegetables mixed into their food is a good idea, and fortification with naturally derived vitamins is a good idea, too. Still, grains are bad for them, period. It shortens their livespan and makes them ill.

Yes, true, Ursula. Just like most people, methinks......

Wheat gluten is a commodity for which North American supplies ran short of demand in late 2006, so Asian sources became the alternative. In retrospect, China was obviously a poor choice of supply.

This is so interesting....I remember thinking, "This can only be a good thing, a wheat shortage on our continent--perhaps the price will jump so high that processed food producers will start looking around for non-gluten alternatives with which to bulk up and bind their products". Alas, no....they looked over at China. Sigh......

[fedora]

Wow, what a great response. I was originally laughing at the 4 horsemen, but really appreciate the wonderful feedback on animals. I pictured these grusome Middle Earth evil creatures riding in with gigantic shafts of wheat or corn in hand or strapped to their back. All to reek havoc.

My dog is 11 and in pretty good health except some aging. We have fed her lamb and rice for many years. Her last bag(not lamb and rice) has corn and wheat in it. We won't buy that again. Her new bag doesn't. I want her to live forever. Dogter J commented on the effect corn and gluten have on animals joints. Makes sense to me- I have joint pain on and off since 10. Some of the examples he gave were shocking. My dog has started to have some problems with her back hips, she is part chocolate lab. I won't be giving her corn or wheat again.

I mentioned the Irish setters to my hubby. He couldn't even remember what they were

Poor babies.

[gabby]

Interesting stuff to know. HOWEVER, that bit of info on how cats eat the 'innards' first, was WAAAY too much information!

[elye]

Interesting stuff to know. HOWEVER, that bit of info on how cats eat the 'innards' first, was WAAAY too much information!

You'll have to forgive our Peter....he's something of an Oracle.....