Most Americans don’t appreciate the impact food has on their well-being. We are a fast food nation that values food based on its cost rather than the nutritional effect on our bodies. So, I am not surprised that many pet owners give less consideration to their dog or cat’s food. Most pet owners love their animals and want the best for them, but do little research with regards to food and nutrition. They don’t value the impact food has on their dog or cat. This is most evident when a dog dies at a young age and an owner tries to find reasons. I’ve heard pet owners speculate that it was the lawn treatment chemicals, household chemicals, or over breeding. These may be factors, but pet owners infrequently speculate food may be the issue. I believe this is true for several reasons:

1. Food quality is not valued or questioned.
2. The guilt that food choices may have shortened the dog’s life causes denial.
3. The misguided belief that dogs can eat anything; i.e., they are the garbage disposals of the animal kingdom.
4. The misunderstanding of a dog and its natural history; i.e., dogs are mini-humans on four legs.
5. The misguidance and information provided by a trusted veterinarian.
6. The misguided belief that “my dog food” is of high quality.

It is more likely that the agent the dog was exposed to and ingested every day, i.e., dog food, affected his/her well-being to a greater extent than the lawn chemicals. Recently, a study from Indiana State University found flame retardant chemical concentrations to be 10X higher in the blood of dogs than previously observed in humans. The dog food of the test subjects contained concentrations of these chemicals greater than those found in human food. Because of the lifestyle of the tested dogs, it was assumed that the food was the source of the chemical blood concentrations. More disturbing, the toxicological effects of these compounds are largely unknown. Commercial dog food is subjecting our companion animals to non-natural chemicals, which the effects are unknown. Can we really afford to be complacent about our dog’s food?

Food and life have a real simple association, food supports life. When we love our companion animals so much, why are many dog and cat owners unaware of the consequences of food? I don’t know, but it is time to start blaming food and appreciating the effects it has on our furry friends.

Indiana University (2011, April 26). Flame retardants at high levels in pet dogs, study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 28, 2011