Why the Pet Food Industry Lacks Transparency By Meg Smart DVM, PhD

Healthy pet treats: Considerations when Buying Marion (Meg) Smart DVM, PhD

• In 2014, at the PIJAC (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Committee) trade show at the International Center. Mississauga Ontario, the number of new pet  treats is noticeably increased from previous years. This increase is in part related to a consumer fear of potentially unidentified fatal substances in treat ingredients sourced off shore. Should we also be cautious of treats made from local or north American sources? I visited many of the booths that were selling  treats (freeze dried, dehydrated, baked, extruded, frozen, raw, HPP (high pressure pasteurization). The question I asked was simple: "When you formulate your treats do you determine based on  the nutrient content of those treats how many treats can be fed without upsetting the nutrient balance of the pet's diet?" The answer was a unanimous" no " followed by "I never really thought about it."

A Proposed Research Project on the Role the Gut Microbiota Plays in Carbohydrate Metabolism in Cats By Marion (Meg)Smart DVM, PhD

This is a draft of a proposed research project that examines the role of the gut micro biota and diet in the pathophysiology of obesity and diabetes in cats. I am retired June 30th, 2014; so am sharing my thoughts with my readers, as I think it is a proposal worth considering.

Comparing Commercial or Home Made Pet Foods to AFFCO, NRC or Ancestral Nutrient Requirements -- By Meg Smart DVM PhD

During my years as a professor teaching veterinary students nutrition, the assignments they hated the most was any that involved math and the comparing  of nutrients in a diet to determine if the diet was complete and balanced based on some nutritional standards(AAFCO, NRC or Ancestral). They would generally get confused by the fact that each company would list their nutrient analysis in a different manner: e.g.. as % As Fed, as a % of Dry matter, as Units per 100 or 1000Kcal, to complicate this further they will site the Guaranteed Analysis (Min or Max), the Actual Analysis or A Typical Analysis.

In order to make valid comparisons each diet must be brought to a common denominator, including the selected requirements. Because such comparisons,  if done correctly, are time consuming. This type of time consumption does not pay much to a busy veterinarian, so is seldom done except by academics. To make a little easier for the students I developed Excel spread sheets, these are quite crude and the math is simple but comparisons can be done. I am sure any one skilled with spread sheets can take these crude sheet and improve on them. You can also use them to evaluate a client's pet's diet against the industry standards. Unfortunately, I do not have a clue how to publish them on this blog so you will have to contact me if you are interested in one. I would like to charge a nominal fee of $20.00 US; which you will donate to the WCVM Bursary fund for students who find themselves financially strapped during their DVM program. But I am not sure even how to do that except by e-transfer. If enough of my readers show an interest I am sure I can figure something out.
If interested please e-mail me at @mail.usask.ca

Diets and Periodontal Disease in Dogs and Cats Sarah Champagne and Ursula Perdrizet(2014Nutrition Elective Assignmen Final Year)

During my years as a professor teaching veterinary students nutrition, the assignments they hated the most was any that involved math and the comparing  of nutrients in a diet to determine if the diet was complete and balanced based on some nutritional standards(AAFCO, NRC or Ancestral). They would generally get confused by the fact that each company would list their nutrient analysis in a different manner: e.g.. as % As Fed, as a % of Dry matter, as Units per 100 or 1000Kcal, to complicate this further they will site the Guaranteed Analysis (Min or Max), the Actual Analysis or A Typical Analysis.

In order to make valid comparisons each diet must be brought to a common denominator, including the selected requirements. Because such comparisons,  if done correctly, are time consuming. This type of time consumption does not pay much to a busy veterinarian, so is seldom done except by academics. To make a little easier for the students I developed Excel spread sheets, these are quite crude and the math is simple but comparisons can be done. I am sure any one skilled with spread sheets can take these crude sheet and improve on them. You can also use them to evaluate a client's pet's diet against the industry standards. Unfortunately, I do not have a clue how to publish them on this blog so you will have to contact me if you are interested in one. I would like to charge a nominal fee of $20.00 US; which you will donate to the WCVM Bursary fund for students who find themselves financially strapped during their DVM program. But I am not sure even how to do that except by e-transfer. If enough of my readers show an interest I am sure I can figure something out.
If interested please e-mail me at @mail.usask.ca

Student Paper#1 Canine Joint Mobility Diets

During my years as a professor teaching veterinary students nutrition, the assignments they hated the most was any that involved math and the comparing  of nutrients in a diet to determine if the diet was complete and balanced based on some nutritional standards(AAFCO, NRC or Ancestral). They would generally get confused by the fact that each company would list their nutrient analysis in a different manner: e.g.. as % As Fed, as a % of Dry matter, as Units per 100 or 1000Kcal, to complicate this further they will site the Guaranteed Analysis (Min or Max), the Actual Analysis or A Typical Analysis.

In order to make valid comparisons each diet must be brought to a common denominator, including the selected requirements. Because such comparisons,  if done correctly, are time consuming. This type of time consumption does not pay much to a busy veterinarian, so is seldom done except by academics. To make a little easier for the students I developed Excel spread sheets, these are quite crude and the math is simple but comparisons can be done. I am sure any one skilled with spread sheets can take these crude sheet and improve on them. You can also use them to evaluate a client's pet's diet against the industry standards. Unfortunately, I do not have a clue how to publish them on this blog so you will have to contact me if you are interested in one. I would like to charge a nominal fee of $20.00 US; which you will donate to the WCVM Bursary fund for students who find themselves financially strapped during their DVM program. But I am not sure even how to do that except by e-transfer. If enough of my readers show an interest I am sure I can figure something out.
If interested please e-mail me at @mail.usask.ca

A series of student papers evaluating and comparing veterinary therapeutic and wellness diets with equilivent over the counter diets (OTC)

Introduction to The Series

Veterinary associations and  colleges have formed lucrative and mutually beneficial partnerships with the multinational  pet food companies. These affiliations leave veterinarians accountable to the public, as trained professionals, to the verify the claims made by these companies.  As a result , veterinarians have become spokespersons for the pet food industry a responsibility  that should not be taken lightly. Since the melamine disaster and the increasing popularity of alternative diets, dramatic changes are occurring within in the pet food industry as their market share is being slowly eroded.  As advocates of the industry, veterinarians must understand nutrition  and its role in wellness and in the pathophysiology and management of disease.

I asked my fourth year nutrition elective students to independently review and compare  veterinary diets and over the counter diets used to manage pet wellness and common problems diagnosed in pets.These papers reflect the frustrations the students had trying to analyze, interpret and appropriately compare "across the board "the information provided by the companies on their websites and through their customer service representatives. Often the actual science behind the diets eluded them.This exercise demonstrated to them how difficult it would be for a busy small animal veterinarian to do; but necessary in order to advise clients appropriately and  independantly.

Alternative Diet: Raw Pet Foods By Marion Smart DVM, PhD

Alternative Diets

Alternative diets are those that are not the standard canned or Kibble diets. Over 50 years ago, alternative diets would be considered a normal diet for companion animals. Since the advent of kibble, the ease of manufacturing, the economics of the ingredient sources . the convenience to the consumer, and the global economy, dry and canned pet foods have become the standard for both cats and dogs.

Pet feeding practices were examined by a telephone survey in 5 locations in the USA and one in Australia.  The survey confirmed that veterinarians are the most common sources of information about pet health and nutrition. Over 90%of pet dogs and cats were fed a commercial diet, with 25%of the diet comprised of table scrapes, raw foods and home prepared foods in 17.3% of dogs and 6.3% of cats. Australia had the most numbers feeding raw foods an only 2.5% fed therapeutic diets (Laflamme D.P., Abood S.K., Facetti A.J. et al. 2008 Pet feeding practices of dog and cat owners in the United States and Australia. J AM VET Med Ass 232(5):687-694)

Raw  Pet Foods

AVMA and AAHA Partnership
On July 18, 2012 the and American Veterinary Medical Association  (AVMA) announced the formation  of  partnerships o in preventive health care  for pets in order to address the declining health of the nation's pets. Members of the partnership include the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Association of the American Veterinary Medical Colleges, and health industry leaders including Abbott Animal Health ,Banfield Pet Hospital, their healthcare LLC animal health division, Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc, ButlerSchein Animal Health, Elanco Animal Health, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Merek Animal Health, Merial,MVVI Veterinary Supply, Novartis Animal Health US Inc., Pfizer Animal Health and Veterinary Pet Insurance all sponsoring initiative at various levels. This partnership was formed because of a decrease in regular veterinary visits and an increase in preventable illnesses in dogs and cats.

A task force assembled by the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association  developed and approved concise easy to understand  comprehensive preventive health care guidelines for dogs and cats. For more information visit the website www.PetHealthPartnership

At the AVMA 2012regular annual session  passed Resolution 5, stating  "the AVMA discourages the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal based protein source that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs as well as humans".

AAHA has come out with a similar statement indicating raw protein diets are now demonstrated to be a health risk for several groups:

Ø  the pets consuming the diet

Ø  Other animals in contact with those pets

Ø  humans, and family members

Ø  The  public

 

Evaluating Nutritional Research: The Problems Meg Smart DVM, PhD

Research Funding

A recent article “Science under Siege” although about pharmaceutical research(Discover Magazine Oct2007)) reflects what is happening in the pet food industry . Private funding to academic institutions by big pharmaceutical companies is allowing science to become a powerful tool in their fight against regulation. Research in small animal nutrition has been traditionally underfunded or more accurately seldom funded by independent granting agencies. This has left the field wide open for the pet food industry to control and direct the research done in an academic institution, and within their own facilities. Research into pet foods is seldom at “arm’s length”.

Canadian Broadcasting Cooperation documentary “Pet Food A Dog’s Breakfast”.

This documentary can be viewed on UTube.ca Pet Food A Dog's Breakfast CBC Doc Zone

Home made diets and Renal Disease in Dogs by Meg Smart DVM. PhD

The kidney is "a clearing house", conserving vital minerals, degrading and excreting harmful metabolic by-products, controlling water balance, acid-base balance, blood pressure, and producing hormones such as Vitamin D (bone metabolism), erythropoietin (red blood cell production), and renin. If clinical signs, the blood work and a urinalysis indicates your dog is showing signs of kidney failure, your veterinarian may recommend a dietary change depending on the severity of the kidney disease. Because the kidney is “a clearing house” a change in diet or increasing the number of times per day your dog is fed decreases the work load on the kidney associated with the digestion and metabolism of nutrients found in the food. Protein quantity and quality can be a major factor in controlling the blood urea nitrogen (BUN).

The Basic for a HomeMade Cat Food By Meg Smart

“DO IT AND DO IT WELL OR DO NOT DO IT AT ALL”!

 

 Basics of a Homemade Cat Food

Homemade cat foods are difficult to make not because they are complex to make, but because cats have unique nutritional requirements, which ideally are met by a “prey diet”.  Carbohydrates although apparently tolerated by cats may be  potentially detrimental to the long-term health of many cats.  Although not proven conclusively carbohydrates or dry cat foods are believed to contribute to lower urinary tract disease, inflammatory bowel disease, skin problems, obesity, chronic renal disease and diabetes mellitus.

My theory about the Jerky Treat Threat

Is protein the root of the problem with the Jerky Dog Treats? or Possible mulfactorial causes.

 By Marion Smart DVM, PhD Professor of Nutrition Western College of Veterinary Medicine

Introduction

The effect of dietary protein intake on renal function has been studied and reviewed extensively.[i] [ii]Although we have a better appreciation of the problem there is still much controversy surrounding the topic. This debate is related to:

·         external factors such as:

o    dietary protein quality, the source, the amino acid profile,

o    impact of heat processing, high pressure sterilization and irradiation on the protein structure, and digestibility

·         . Internal factors such as:

o   to the digestion and bioavailability of dietary protein

o    the gastrointestinal microbial utilization, metabolism and by-product production of the endogenous and exogenous protein that reaches the colon

 This paper explores the possible explanation of the illness in dogs associated with the Irradiated dehydrated Jerky treats originating from China and Thailand. The assumption being the cause is multifactorial.

Supplements for Joint Support and Health in Dogs and Cats By Karen Choptain DVM For WCVM 4th Year Small Animal Nutrition Elective

The Use of Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements for

Joint Support and Health in Cats and Dogs

Presented to: Dr. Meg Smart, Small Animal Nutrition Elective

By: Karen Choptain

Introduction

The use of nutraceuticals and dietary supplements, either in manufactured pet foods or as adjuncts to diet, are not necessarily new to the domestic animal world. There have, however, been more recent use of advertisements and promotions of diets and supplements being sold that tout the benefit of such products to aid in the area of joint health and stabilization.  These products have become quite popular with the public, as they allow for adjunctive therapy or alternative therapy in cats and dogs that suffer from osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease (DJD) (1).

What is a nutraceutical?  A nutraceutical, as defined by the North American Veterinary Nutraceutical Council, is “a nondrug substance that is produced in a purified or extracted form, administered orally, to provide compounds required for normal body structure and function with the intent of improving health and well-being” (1,2). More specifically, a nutraceutical used in the aspect of joint support can be referred to as a chondroprotectant.  This term has been applied to substances such as glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, combination products of the two, New Zealand green-lipped mussels (GLM), omega-3 fatty acids, anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E and other dietary compounds such as P54FP, Avocado/soybean oils, Boron, Boswellia Resin, Cat’s Claw, Creatine, and Special milk protein concentrate (3).  Chondroprotectant agents base their purpose on providing the following three primary effects: 1) to support or enhance metabolism of chondrocytes and synoviocytes, 2) inhibit degradative enzymes within synovial fluid and cartilage matrix, and 3) inhibit formation of thrombi in small blood vessels supplying the joint (1).

In humans, the use of dietary supplements is regulated under the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act (1). This is in order to allow consumers the opportunity to purchase a variety of products that are marketed for joint health and support.  The products themselves must be safe; however, they do not have to achieve pre market approval, in contrast to pharmaceuticals or “drugs”.  The aforementioned act does not apply to dietary supplements in the veterinary market. While the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association withholds the right to remove products from the market, providing the product is safe and does not pose a threat to human safety it may be sold (1). The product also may not advertise claims such as being used to treat, cure, prevent or mitigate a disease (1).

In addition, label claims and quality control of these products has been documented (1, 4, 5). Due to the lack of quality assurance, the consumer cannot be guaranteed that the product itself is of the concentration listed on the label or of its purity (1).  A large variety of products are available to consumers.  Despite the number of products, there is a drastic lack of scientific evidence that promotes any of these products over the other.  This paper serves to provide some clarity to the commercial foods and supplements that are available to consumers and critically evaluate their efficacy for the use of joint support and health in cats and dogs.

Discriminating against raw foods is it fair? A survey of raw pet food Manufacturers By Meg Smart DVM PhD

Raw  Pet Foods

AVMA and AAHA Partnership
On July 18, 2012 the and American Veterinary Medical Association  (AVMA) announced the formation  of  partnerships o in preventive health care  for pets in order to address the declining health of the nation's pets. Members of the partnership include the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Association of the American Veterinary Medical Colleges, and health industry leaders including Abbott Animal Health ,Banfield Pet Hospital, their healthcare LLC animal health division, Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc, ButlerSchein Animal Health, Elanco Animal Health, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Merek Animal Health, Merial,MVVI Veterinary Supply, Novartis Animal Health US Inc., Pfizer Animal Health and Veterinary Pet Insurance all sponsoring initiative at various levels. This partnership was formed because of a decrease in regular veterinary visits and an increase in preventable illnesses in dogs and cats.

A task force assembled by the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association  developed and approved concise easy to understand  comprehensive preventive health care guidelines for dogs and cats. For more information visit the website www.PetHealthPartnership

At the AVMA 2012regular annual session  passed resolution five, that the AVMA discourages the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal based protein source that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs as well as humans.

AAHA has come out with a similar statement indicating raw protein diets are now demonstrated to be a health risk for several groups:

·         the pets consuming the diet

·         Other animals in contact with those pets

·         humans, and family members

·         The  public

Puppy Diets Part A Kibble: Part B Raw and Homemade. by Meg Smart Sept 12,2012

Part A: Kibble

 Introduction

Growth is a complex process involving metabolic changes, environmental influences, genetics, nutrition and unknown factors. The eventual size of the dog is determined by its genetics, but  the age it reaches its adult size can be in part controlled by nutrition. The only nutritional trial to follow Labs from weaning to death was done by Purina. Although flawed,  this trial gave us insight into in the role that nutrition plays in growth. They took two groups of puppies and fed one group all the food they could eat in a 15-minute period per day, over their lifetime. The second group was fed 25% less. The initial diet was Purina Puppy Chow; the adult diet was Purina Dog Chow. The onset of hip dysplasia and arthritis was delayed in the second group; the second group lived significantly longer.