From: rdmiller@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Ruth D Miller)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: 'Tiel likes catfood?
Date: 28 Aug 1992 14:29:57 -0500
Organization: Kansas State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: matt.ksu.ksu.edu

In article <2A9CFA33.161B@intercon.com> ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry) writes:
>In article <17grs8INNgsl@matt.ksu.ksu.edu>, rdmiller@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Ruth D 
>Miller) writes:
>> Our vet actually recommended dog food as a good source of protein for
>> birds (if they'll eat it; ours _know_ they are not dogs! :-)  Cat food,
>> however, is higher in protein and possibly in fat than dog food.  I'm
>> sure it isn't bad for them but I don't think it's good as a steady
>> diet--standard rules for birdies!
>
>Pet peeve time (so to speak).  Dog food and cat food is made for dogs and 
>cats.  Dogs and cats eat each other's droppings.  Dogs and cats eat all kinds 
>of cruft that would kill a bird.  Consequently, the manufacturers of dog and 
>cat food do not need to be as conscious of cleanliness as should the 
>manufacturers of bird food.  According to our Zeigler distributor (note, not 
>advocating Zeigler per se, just reporting an anecdote), he's seen many 
>factories which make food for many different kinds of animals, and the filth 
>associated with manufacture of food for mammals is considerably higher than 
>for birds.
>
>Also, high protein levels are being associated with VERY VERY bad effects on 
>the kidneys of psittacines.  
>Most of the vets that advocate dog and/or cat food also happen to sell it...
>
If I'm going to get quoted I guess I can quote back.  Some background--my vet
is Dr. James Carpenter, head of the Exotics Dep't and Kansas State U. Vet
School.  He is a world-famous expert on cranes (yes, I know, cranes aren't
parrots, but he's got plenty of credentials on all manner of exotics, incl.
parrots.)  If he gives me dog food (and they don't sell any foodstuffs at
the vet school) I'm inclined to trust him.

Second, very few pet birds get enough protein--there's not too much in most
seed, ours won't touch beans or eggs or other meat recommended by the vet
and BirdTalk experts.  As it happens I don't feed dog food--ours don't like
it, and they eat Lafeber's pellets.  But bird pellets are expensive and
dry dog food is cheaper--and it was never recommended as the sole diet.

Third, _all_ brand-name pet foods are manufactured under the same quality
constraints as human cereals--if you don't believe me go and visit a factory.
Hill's isn't far from me in KS.  True, mammals keep E. coli in their guts
and birds don't--but also true that E.coli in human food will make us sick--
it's one of the bugs they treat our water to kill.  I doubt seriously that
fresh-bought dog or cat food will have detectable levels of E.coli in it.

Finally, we _don't_ know all the nutritional needs of birds.  LAfeber's have
done extensive tests--on cockatiels.  My kids are lovebirds, no closer to
cockatiels than humans are to lemurs--and no one's done extensive testing
on other bird species' needs --YET.  Meantime it behooves us all to feed
a diverse diet, and I'm _sure_ a few bites of dog or cat food every couple
of days is not going to do any harm!

Ruth

Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds