There are more than 110 million dogs and cats in the United States, living in over half of all US households. To many people, pets are almost as important as children. We know that processed food and food additives are bad for our kids, and that chemical contaminants are toxic to wildlife. Few people realize, however, that these problems also affect our dogs and cats. But awareness is growing.
Holistic veterinarians assert that proper nutrition is essential for the health of pets.
They believe there is a link between the dearth of nutrients and abundance of chemicals in pet food, and the increase in such chronic pet ailments as cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, skin disorders, and allergies. And, unless you hold a degree in chemistry, pet food labels can be difficult to decipher. First of all, pet food ingredients are often of poor quality, with little nutritional value. These animals are exposed to powerful drugs in addition to antibiotics and hormones found in most commercially raised meat. We wouldn't eat such things, and legally, food manufacturers can't sell these items for human consumption.