Grains? In Commercial Pet Food?

Most commercial diets are not well-suited to the dog's and cat's physical make up and metabolism.
In other words, they are not 'biologically appropriate.'  They are primarily made up of grain products. 

Contemporary canine nutritionists explain that dogs do not process complex carbohydrates (grains) well.  Studies demonstrate that unlike humans, dogs do not 'carbo-load,' that is, store up energy from meals high in complex carbohydrates.  While human athletes successfully practice this technique, it results in an accumulation of lactic acid in dogs (which causes the muscular pain experienced after unaccustomed exercise). 

Grains are also full of carbohydrates which can be easily converted to sugars. Cancer cells feed on sugars, and it is believed that by decreasing the amount of carbohydrate in the diet, we may greatly reduce the risk of cancer (which is a growing problem among modern dogs and cats). 

The makers of prescription dog foods advertise the use of high-quality, whole grains in their food. 
They say these provide and "excellent source of protein" for dogs.  Large amounts of grain may be an appropriate source of protein for some species...but NOT so for animals primarily designed to eat meat! 

Which brings me to what 'grains' in commercial pet food really are.  When whole grain is used in dog food (and even cat food), it has often been deemed unfit for human consumption due to mold, contaminants, or poor handling practices.  Some brands reportedly contain damaged, spilled, and spoiled grain known as "the tail of the mill."  This can include the hulls, chaff, straw, dust, dirt, and sand swept from the mill floor at the end of each week, which are totally unnatural nutritional ingredients!  Most of these ingredients, such as peanut hulls, are used strictly for "filler" and have no nutritional value at all!  They are also economical for the pet food companies! 

Imagine AAFCO approving 'the tail of the mill' as acceptable grains in your pet's diet! Unbelievable!!! 

GRAINS - Could this be why my pet scratches constantly?

Yes, grains (mainly wheat and 'the tail of the mill' ingredients) are one of the most common causes of allergies in pets.  Grains can also be responsible for "gunky" ears, yeast infections in the ears or on the skin, ear infections, head shaking, allergies, skin irritation, itchy feet and genitals.  Other symptoms of grains and yeast infections may be as broad ranging as: malabsorption of food nutrients, joint problems, arthritis, diabetes, colitis and kidney or bladder infections. 

Too much money has already been spent by American pet owners to their veterinarians, to find out the cause of the above-mentioned symptoms.  It's a shame that most veterinarians do not take their patient's diet into consideration FIRST, when, in fact, most of these symptoms are directly related to what the pet is eating.  Instead, great amounts of needless money are spent on pills, creams, antibiotics, injections, blood work and frequent vet visits.

Be a step or two ahead of your veterinarian...look at the ingredients in the food you're presently feeding, study them and see just what particular ingredient could be causing your pet's allergic reaction(s). If you're still feeding one of those popular commercial pet foods, I can almost guarantee that more than one ingredient is the culprit!

Judys Health Cafe.com is proud to represent the all natural line of HealthyPetNet, the formulator of Life's Abundance Holistic Dog and Cat Foods, which are all wheat and corn-free!  For complete product details, to listen to an online presentation by Dr. Jane Bicks (product formulator) and to compare your brand of pet food to Life's Abundance, please click here!