Pet Food Labels Might Not Tell the Whole Story

Dear Dr. Fox:

Thank you for your statements on pet nutrition. A friend who works with a rescue shelter lost two dogs during the pet food scandal. She had been feeding them a nationally known name-brand food. I introduced her to my vet and the feed-store owner who educated me about canine nutrition.

My dogs are much happier on human-grade, balanced fare from the feed store (not available in grocery stores). Proper nutrition might cost more, but it also might prevent many vet bills because of poor-quality food laced with fillers, preservatives and indigestible proteins.

L.W.

Columbus, N.C.

Many of my columns deal with cat and dog food nutrition issues, but your letter is important to readers who think any old bag of pet food is fine if the label says it is "scientifically formulated" and "complete and balanced" and lists the ingredients. Most ingredients are synthetic chemical additives, many of which are made in China and imported without Food and Drug Administration inspection. Dry cat and dog food can be up to a year old before it gets from a warehouse into a bowl.

You are fortunate to have a provider who uses human-food-grade ingredients from presumably known sources. (The U.S. government is dragging its feet on labeling food ingredients as to the country of origin.) I would be happier if all local suppliers such as your feed store had some form of informed veterinary endorsement of their pet food.