Hills´ site states:

Obesity is the most common nutritional disease of cats. Obesity is due in large part to the increased palatability and popularity of dry cat food, and the common practice of leaving cat food in the bowl for cats to eat at any time. Obese cats may also be at risk for lower-urinary tract disease. Urinary tract disease is caused in many cases by over-consumption of minerals, such as magnesium, which must then be excreted through the kidneys creating a nutritional risk factor. A cat prone to obesity requires a low-fat, moderate-fiber food to help keep the cat trim and feeling full without reducing their volume of food intake.

This is incorrect information - studies have shown that the best way to avoid recurrence of urinary crystals is an all-wet diet. Studies have also shown that the best dietary treatment of obesity is a low-carbohydrate (not low-fat, moderate-fiber) diet.

Another important health concern for adult cats is kidney disease. While kidney disease is the second leading cause of non-accidental death in dogs, it´s the primary cause of non-accidental death in cats. To help promote healthy kidneys, avoid excessive amounts of phosphorus, protein and salt. Other common risk factors for kidney disease are age, severe dehydration, heart failure, liver failure, kidney infections, some antibiotics, antifreeze, high blood pressure, certain cancers and obstructions of the urinary tract.

Current information indicates proper hydration, with an all-wet diet is more important for kidney health.

Fiber is key in managing the disease nutritionally because moderate to high levels of fiber lower insulin requirements and blood glucose levels. Fiber also makes the body more responsive to insulin.

Incorrect. Research has shown that a low-carbohydrate wet diet is more effective at treating feline diabetes than a high-fiber diet.

m/d® Feline - Dry: Metabolic weight loss and Diabetes Mellitus
m/d® Feline - Canned: Metabolic weight loss and Diabetes Mellitus

r/d® Feline - Dry: Obesity, FLUTD in obese patients, hyperlipidemia
r/d® Feline - Canned: Obesity, FLUTD in obese patients, hyperlipidemia
r/d® with Liver & Chicken Feline - Canned: Obesity, FLUTD in obese patients, hyperlipidemia

w/d® Feline - Dry: Diabetes mellitus, colitis, constipation, obesity, hyperlipidemia
w/d® with Chicken Feline - Canned: Diabetes mellitus, colitis, constipation, obesity, hyperlipidemia
w/d® Feline - Canned: Diabetes mellitus, colitis, constipation, obesity, hyperlipidemia

Interesting how they say their low-carbohydrate diet (m/d), their high-fiber diet (w/d), and their low-calorie diet all treat obeisty and/or diabetes though they are vastly different.

Purina

Purina claims dogs "properly fed a Purina diet" live two years longer. In fact, the study put both groups of dogs on a Purina diet. One was fed an "average" amount, and one was fed 25% less. The dogs fed 25% less were healthier, leaner, and lived two years longer. Thus, the claim. How misleading! It was feeding LESS Purina that resulted in the longer life!

Details on the study here.

One veterinarian´s thoughtful analysis here.

[url=http://www.yourpetsbestfriend.com/your_pets_best_friend/2007/07/dog-food-advert.html]

Pet Food Institute

Courtesy of Heather & Mr. Tubs

For entertainment, I decided to see what petfoodreport.com has to say about all the new recalls.

“Fortunately, some 99 percent of pet food still remains unaffected by the recall and may be purchased with confidence,” Ekedahl wrote. “But until the ultimate source of the contaminated ingredients is identified and contained, we cannot rest.”
http://petfoodreport.com/release_recall_4-26-2007.htm

Hmmm, I think we´re expanding more than 1% of the pet food products. The FDA website has over 5600 kinds of foods under the recall.

And they have a page on homemade meals, my favorite quotes:

animals consuming the raw meat are at risk of infection by organisms contained in the raw tissues,

Evidence please.

Mismanaged fat intake, often a result of feeding pets the same poultry skins and meats common in human foods, can result in pancreatic problems

Really? Guess those poor animals in the wild suffered a lot of pancreatitis back in the day

In addition to dog- and cat-specific recipes, another obstacle to homemade pet meals is in formulating diets that account for age, breed, size, and level of activity of the animal.

Breed? Size?

Also, raw meat foods tend to be high in fat.

Well, I think he just pulled this one out of his arse.
http://petfoodreport.com/homemade.htm

Class Action Lawsuit

I am absolutely THRILLED that attorney Catherine MacIvor of Maltzman Foreman PA has filed a class action lawsuit against several pet food manufacturers and retailers for false and misleading advertising. For years, pet owners and veterinarians have bought their promises of complete and balanced nutrition for our companions. We´ve believed in the claims of healthy pets and natural ingredients. It´s time for them to stand up and explain what research exists (and none does) to support all their advertising slogans and packaging.

I´ll be watching the lawsuit closely, and offering my support - and I hope you do, too!

For more information on the lawsuit, go to http://mflegal.com/petfoodlawsuit.html