An estimated 43% of dogs and 53% of cats are overweight. Excess body fat contribute to serious health problems for pets. Fat is an active organ. Fat tissues is metabolically active and constitutes the largest organ in the body with unlimited growth potential at any stage of life. Fat tissue secretes a group of proteins called adipokines which increase susceptibility to other conditions including:
- Arthritis
- High blood pressure
- Hepatic Lipidosis
- Heart disease
- Greater anesthetic risks
- Dystocia
- Respiratory disease
- Cancers
- Diabetes
- Skin disorders
- Reduced immune function
The Corn Myth in Pet Food
Myth: Corn is just a filler
Fact: Corn is not a filler. It is a superb source of nutrients for things like essential fatty acids, healthy skin & coat, beta-cerotene, vitamin E. It also helps with ensuring your pet is exposed to nature’s antioxidants called Lutein. There are also essential macros that can come from corn such as high quality digestible carbohydrates for energy and quality proteins for muscle and tissue growth.
Myth: Corn is poorly digested.
Fact: When corn is cooked, it is highly digestible. The protein in corn is more digestible than that of rice, barley, wheat or sorghum.
Myth: Corn causes food allergies in pets.
Fact: Corn is a very rare allergen in dogs and unreported in cats. In fact, beef, dairy, wheat, lamb, chicken, egg and soy together comprise 93# of the food allergies in dogs. Studies show that corn causes no more food allergies than any other grain.
By-Products as Ingredients
By-products are common ingredients in both human and pet foods. Vitamin E, gelatin, chicken stock and beef bouillon are all by-products. Lamb meal is also a by-product, as it is a secondary product derived from lamb production for human use.
Myth: Pet foods that contain ingredients listed as “by-products” are inferior.
Fact: Many by-products are excellent sources of nutrients for pets. With extremely rare exceptions, all pet foods contain by-products
Common by-products:
- Animal fats– chicken fat is a by-product of chicken processing
- Animal proteins– lamb meal, fish meal and salmon meal are all ground proteins
- Pork, chicken and beef liver– internal organs of animals
- Beet pulp– dried residue from sugar beets
- Tomato pumice– comes from tomato skins, pulp and seeds
By-product meal includes the highly nutritious organ meats such as liver, kidney and heart that are highly palatable and beneficial to pets.
For more information on whether your dog or cat’s food is the right diet for them, how to read the label, or do inquire about a veterinary idea please contact the team at Coxwell Animal Clinic.
