What I think of dog food and today's way of raising pets

Janet · Bossman Moderator Posts: 1760 Join date: 2008-10-15

Back 40 years ago, it seems we had healthier pets, and I mean both dogs and cats. We never had vets say by age 7, they needed a senior formula of food, we just fed them, and if they were less active, we cut back a bit....we didn't change brands that much, just tried the new flavors from time to time, and that was it.

The dogs and cats, got good table scraps, not junk food, by that I mean choice cuts of meat, added to the dry kibble, and they ate it, no problems....today's formulas are a pain in the butt. There's so many additives, and ingredients, is it any wonder our pets get sick? For example, the corn, wheat and soy, and other fillers?

If they had an upset stomach, we let them eat grass, took them off food, for 24 hours, until the system was cleansed, and they survived. Still, we never overfed.....they got plenty of excercise, and walks, no problem....

As the pets aged, we didn't cut back on the protein content of the food, provided they stayed active....once again, they lived long lives. If you take the time to read the labels, you will see the protein content in some brands cut in half, which is not enough in my way of thinking for an active animal.

Forty years ago, we never heard, "come back for a yearly checkup, or for annual shots." All they got was a first time rabies, and the diptheria/hepatitis shot, nothing more....as time progressed, drug companies came out with more vaccines, to cause us more worry. If we stop to think, we don't take children in every year for a booster, so why our pets? To this day, I still say the vaccines are the root of the many health problems our pets are acquiring today. The result: More special diets shoved off on us, whether they actually help or not.

A good diet, aka grade of food yes, but one with no fillers or additives....the senior formulas state they have gluocosimine and chondroitin for the aging pet. What they don't tell you is that it's not enough to do any good....to achieve improvement, you need to supplement.

For cats, it's the same way....the more vaccines, and special diets shoved off, I see an increase of diseases. It's not so much the contact with each other, but the lifestyle as to what is spreading the conditions or disease.

Forty years ago, my aunt had 17 cats, and they were inside and out. None ever had vaccinations, and lived to ripe old ages....they received table scraps and bones, no problems. i believe as years passed, food companies, vets, and drug companies really did a number on the pet owning public.....use our products or your pets will die.....

Anyone with common sense really knows what's best for their pets, and how they think and they know when something is wrong healthwise.....I guess what I'm trying to say is that with proper nutrition, it's time we regained control on the health and welfare of our pets....I'd love to go back to those days.....but lawmakers now have their hand in the pot, saying do as we say, or else....(referring to vaccination laws).

There, did my pet vent....

Janet