Third Opinion

Many a pet owner has lost his or her most favorite of dogs at a ridiculously young age. I have worked with thousands of dogs over the years and there are many dozens of absolutely wonderful dogs that I would consider in the upper echelon of best pups ever. My one-off favorite dog, Dunsany, died at the age of four. The vet said it was kidney failure but was not able to identify a specific cause. He was a handsome Golden Retriever, it is his photo on the homepage of this web site. I had done my homework, researching the breed and breeders and drove from Central Illinois to Chicago to pick him up. The breeder had done her homework and provided all kinds of information on proper breeding, his formidable ancestry and impeccable medical records from generations past. She grilled me like a children’s adoption agency to see if I was worthy of one of her pups. Up until the very end he was in marvelous health. I have no recollection of what I fed him, back in the late 70’s, being unaware of nutrition for dogs at the time. It was a premium brand. Today, I often wonder if the food I fed him could possibly have been a factor that led to his premature death. There is no way to know for sure.

Many clients ask me, “What is the best food for my dog?” I am not a nutritionist, much less a vet, so I cannot dispense advice. Even vets and nutritionists cannot agree on what advice to give regarding the nutritional value and safety of dog food ingredients and additives. So I am, like everyone, at least entitled to an opinion, which I keep to myself, for the most part. What I do tell people is to read the labels of food and treats and find out what really goes into their dog’s food. Research the ingredients. It will startle many people, who, like I was in the 70’s, are unaware of what their furry family member is eating. Generally, as in the case of Dunsany, it is difficult, if not impossible, to directly ascribe poor health conditions to a particular dog food. There was one exception, which awakened my awareness of the importance of providing the best nutrition.

In 1991, when I was working with service dogs at CCI, the National Office signed a lucrative deal with Science Diet to feed their foods exclusively. At the NW Regional Office, where the kennels were located at that time, we had been feeding Nutro Max. There had never been any problems with Nutro. Shortly after the switch, a multitude of maladies arose. The dogs were distressed with itchy, dry, flakey skin, gas, loose and runny stools. In addition to the discomfort of the dogs in training, puppy raisers and graduates also reported problems. It became serious enough that many of the dogs could not be taken into public for field trips. Diarrhea is not good PR. After weeks of back and forth with the National Office, Science Diet sent two veterinarians to meet with the Regional staff and we gathered in the upstairs training room.. We were informed of how much effort, time and money went into the development of Science Diet- the high quality of ingredients, including the by-products, the nutritional value of corn and that the preservative, ethoxyquin, used at then present quantities, actually had beneficial effects. Has the loose stool been tested for coccidia? Has it been tested for giardia? There had to be a cause other than the food, the vets assured us. We were at a loss to debate with them, so sure were they of their science and their products.

But our vet had tested for coccidia and she had tested for giardia. Both negative. The Science Diet vets were then given a tour of the kennels. The Regional Director had instructed the kennel staff not to clean the kennels that morning. Three fourths of the kennels contained extremely loose stools or diarrhea. In any event, we were soon allowed to feed the Nutro Max again. Within a short time period, all the problems disappeared. Of course, some might say there was but anecdotal evidence that the Science Diet caused all the problems. Those of us caught in the middle of this anecdote, all who helped scoop and clean the kennels and bathe the dogs were not believers in the facts as presented by the SD veterinarians. Instead, we felt entitled to our own humble opinion about what comprises a good dog food. I was extremely grateful for the change in food as I was scheduled to fly with a dog. On this flight I was bumped up to first class because my traveling companion was a service dog in training- it could easily have been The Nightmare At 30,000 Feet.

Science Diet is presently owned by Colgate-Palmolive and is one of four brands sold by the corporation. According to Green Acres Kennel Shop Blog, in 2018, Colgate Palmolive was one of six major corporations that account for just shy of 88% of total US dog food sales. (1). Colgate Palmolive ranked # 4 on the list and sold 5.26% of all dog food. Mars topped the list with 41 brands on sale- including Pedigree, Eukanuba, Royal Canin and Nutro. Mars accounted for a whopping 41.08% of total sales. In addition, Mars also owns Banfield and VCA veterinary chains. (This opens another huge can of concern. (2) Nestle Purina Petcare, in 2nd place, includes in its 30 brands- Beneful, Purina One, Purina Pro Plan, Mighty Dog, Waggin’ Train, Zukes, etc. Nestle Purina Petcare tallied 29.98% of total sales.They also own Petfinder, by the by. (3)

GMO’s cannot be blamed for Dunsany’s health issues. He died in 1981. The first GMO creation, the Flavr Savr Tomato, appeared in grocery stores in 1994. (4) Calgene first rolled out these tomatoes and was later bought out by Monsanto. In 2018, a number of crops that are widely used in dog food were almost totally GMO. Corn was 92% GMO, soybeans 94% and sugar beets 99.9% GMO. Some potatoes are now GMO grown. (5) There are scientists with arguments and lists of facts for and against GMO use in human and dog food. (6) (7 Ibid 4). Some folks consider Bill Gates our fairy godfather, who will save the world from hunger and climate change. Others are not so sure. Mr Gates owns 269,000 acres of American farmland and at one point purchased 500,000 shares of Monsanto stock. Jeffrey M. Smith, who wrote Genetic Roulette- The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Food, does not find Bill’s motives all that altruistic. At any rate, “More animal feeding studies are needed, experts say, and a recent long-term, peer-reviewed report points out why. It found that a diet of GM corn and soy led to higher rates of severe stomach inflammation in pigs, which are physiologically similar to dogs.” (8 Ibid 4).

Glyphosate, a second Monsanto offering, was developed and introduced by the Monsanto Company in 1974. ”Most glyphosate is sprayed on “Roundup ready” corn and soybeans genetically engineered to withstand the herbicide. Increasingly, glyphosate is also sprayed just before harvest on wheat, barley, oats and beans that are not genetically engineered. Glyphosate kills the crop, drying it out so it can be harvested sooner than if the plant were allowed to die naturally.” (9) In 2019 the “EPA stated it “ will no longer approve product labels claiming glyphosate is known to cause cancer – a false claim that does not meet the labeling requirements.” (10) Glyphosate found in Kibbles n’ Bits measured 660 ppb, 421 ppb in Rachel Ray Nutrish and 293 ppb in Purina Beneful. (11) Problems may occur at lower levels of exposure than numerous assurances that glyphosate is safe. (12)(13) Monsanto assures everyone not to worry, its very own research shows glyphosate is perfectly safe and getting a bad rap. Is the jury still out? Actually, three juries have been of one opinion that glyphosate causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This cost Monsanto a few pretty pennies. (14) Continuing to claim that glyphosate is harmless, Monsanto recently settled for close to an additional 10 billions of dollars to others who claim otherwise.

Ethoxyquin, a third Monsanto formulation, is not as widely used to preserve dog food these days. It is banned for human consumption in the US, except for use with chili powder, paprika, and ground chili (15). If you look hard enough, you may find some used in fish meal and chicken feed (16). “Ethoxyquin was initially registered as a pesticide in 1965 as a deterrent of scald in pears.” (17). It has also been used to stabilize rubber. (18) The Environmental Protection Agency’s own toxicity documentation states that “The primary target organs affected by ethoxyquin in experimental animals are the liver and the kidneys.” (19) ”Due to the increased use of this antioxidant it was nominated by FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) for carcinogenicity testing. The tests were carried out by Monsanto Company (USA), EQ producer, and after that in 1977 FDA requested for optional lowering of the maximum level of EQ in complete dog foods from allowed 150 ppm (0.015%) to 75 ppm” (20) Optional? Not at all comforting or convincing- the US government allowing amoral Monsanto to monitor itself. “Yet today, most food safety experts agree that when used properly, the synthetic additive is not toxic.” “For healthy pets, a trace amount of ethoxyquin is probably safe” (21). Snowflake that I am, these experts, like the SD vets, fail to convince me that EQ is “probably safe,” much less “non toxic.” The article just cited proceeds from “non toxic” to “probably safe” to best avoid it. Good advice, but only if you read to the end.

So, let’s say you read ”Environmental Benefits Of GMOs vs Organic Crops” and are not all that convinced by the truths and advice presented. (22) You may not “vilify” GMOs but yet remain skeptical. Your proletarian opinion is there may be a better way to feed your dog. Just Label It counters the claims of the pro GMO benefits. (23) Avoiding the above three questionable Monsanto enhancements: GMOs, Glyphosate and Ethoxyquin is a good place to begin. Learning to read a dog food label is critical for your pet’s well being. A recent Homes Alive Pets Blog is a great place to start (24). Dog Food Guide has another excellent blog on how to read a label. (25) There is much information to be gleaned, in addition to the list of ingredients. For example- are all by products bad? It depends. It depends “upon the source of their raw materials, there are two ways to identify by-product meals.” (26). The source is “named” as in beef, turkey, chicken etc. Or it is “generic”- such as meat meal or animal by-product meal. The latter can “contain roadkill, dead zoo animals, diseased and dying livestock and euthanized pets from animal shelters.” Not convinced that it may not be in your dog’s best interest to trust the experts at Monsanto, the big dog food manufacturers and those who regulate them when they are too busy to regulate themselves? Watch the short clip in this blog from Pet Food Advisor. (27)

The AKC website states “corn is not just a filler in dog foods, it also has nutritional benefits. It is a good source of protein, carbohydrates, linoleic acid, and antioxidants. Despite that fact that carbs get a bad rap, certain sources of carbs (like corn) also provide essential nutrients, such as protein, fat, fiber, and vitamins. Carbohydrates also can be a good source of fiber, which promotes gut health and motility.” (28) Royal Canin, owned by Mars, signed up in 2019 to sponsor the nation’s largest dog show, The AKC National Championship. (29) Not that this could possibly lean the opinion of the AKC in any direction. Royal Canin has 84 recipes which include corn. Corn gluten meal is used in 76 recipes, brewers rice in 114 recipes and powdered cellulose in 73. (30) Pet Food Advisor has a different take on the “Truth About Corn In Dog Food,” well worth reading. (31) And remember, corn is 92% GMO and sprayed with glyphosate.

Nutro Max was bought by Mars in 2007. (32) The Nutro Max line of foods has since been discontinued. Mars does offer a Nutro Natural Choice™ line, whose Adult Beef and Brown Rice lists the following ingredients: beef, whole grain brown rice, whole grain sorghum , pork meal, whole grain barley, brewers rice, split peas, chicken fat, chicken meal, natural flavor, rice bran, dried plain beet pulp, etc. (33) (34) This list of ingredients is fairly good, compared to many products. We have to factor in that beef contains up to 70% water, as ingredients are listed by weight. With moisture removed, beef may be lower on the list. Pork meal is about 10% water. There are a lot of grains and a legume in this food. A very important listing on the bag is that it is GMO free. The big six companies do cover all bases with a few non GMO and organic products.

Pedigree is a highly popular but lower end food with questionable ingredients. High Protein Beef and Lamb Flavor™ marketed by Mars, has the following on its label: ground whole corn, meat and bone meal, corn gluten meal, animal fat preserved with BHA, soybean meal, natural flavor, chicken by-product meal, dried plain beet pulp… Red 40, Yellow 6, blue 2, yellow 5, etc.(35) The unnamed meat and generic “animal” fat are extremely dubious additions to a dog’s diet. Notice the wording Beef and Lamb Flavor in the title. (36) Chicken, in the by-products, is the only named meat in the bag.There is no beef or lamb listed in the ingredients. Another ingredient that raises an eyebrow is BHA, as a preservative. (37) Is the corn, which makes up two of the first three main ingredients GMO? Does the chicken by product meal contain ethoxyquin? I cannot say for sure. What about the food colorings? Are they OK? (38) For a short list of ingredient definitions, see Whole Pet’s list (39). For a more comprehensive list, delve into All About Dog Food’s ingredient glossary. (40)

Gigantic corporations, with gargantuan appetites for profit, shape our lives and the lives of our pets. These companies have invested incredible fortunes into developing and marketing dog food. With Dunsany, I blindly trusted a company with a premium brand. That blind trust may not have been deserved. You will not come across a homemade dog food recipe that calls for corn, much less GMO corn, as the main ingredient. For some reason, cellulose, soybean meal, animal fat, dried beet pulp and brewer’s rice are also not readily available to people preparing their dogs’ meals at home. Corporate vets can glibly extol the use of an ingredient like ethoxyquin as a preservative or cellulose as a top notch source of dietary plant fiber, without pesky calories. For a prosaic civilian, there is no gainsaying their science and research. But fortunately, there are qualified professionals who provide a second opinion. Their advice is to avoid the use of GMOs, glyphosate and all other controversial ingredients.

There is a complex array of issues surrounding the feeding of our pets. There are huge sustainability and climate problems with the amount of acreage planted to feed animals that serve as human food as well as pet food. Factory farming has its own set of horrors. There are movements to turn away from the use of animal protein altogether. Insect and plant based protein sources are in the works. (41) (42) In the meanwhile, put on your +3.00 reading glasses and scrutinize the fine print on the food labels. Become well informed as to what you are serving up to your best pal twice a day, every day. How eager would you be to return for seconds of human food made with the ingredients of Pedigree? The pet food corporate experts can tout their advice, based on all their research, studies and facts- but your dog deserves a second opinion. And the third opinion, the most important, is yours.

(1). Pet Nutrition – Which Companies Are Behind Your Pet’s Food? – Green

Acres Kennel Shop Blog

(2). The High-Cost, High-Risk World of Modern Pet Care - Bloomberg

(3). FIVE MEGA-CORPORATIONS CONTROL THE PET FOOD INDUSTRY |

COAST+RANGE

(4). GMO: Are genetically modified crops safe in your dog food? | The Bark

(5). GMO Crops, Animal Food, and Beyond | FDA

(6) Environmental Benefits of GMOs vs. Organic Crops | GMO Answers

(7). Ibid (4

(8). Ibid 4

(9). Glyphosate Contamination in Food Goes Far Beyond Oat Products | Environmental Working Group

(10). EPA Takes Action to Provide Accurate Risk Information to Consumers, Stop False Labeling on Products | U.S. EPA News Releases | US EPA