Cooking for Your Dog - Changing Your Mind About the Way You Feed Your Best Friend

Horrors like the current pet food scare should be taken as a warning. As of today, over 500 animals have died because of contaminated food. The recalled foods cover 91 brands of wet dog and cat food, in cans and pouches. They account for about 1% of pet food sold in the U.S. the FDA says. As of today, no dry foods are included. As time passes the animals that survive this will suffer long term affects from consuming rat poison.

Over sixty million cans of pet food have been recalled because of an unknown contaminant. One in every six dogs that the manufaturers tested their food on, died before the products even hit the shelves. But that didn't stop them from putting your beloved pet at risk.

I started feeding my dog steady diet of real meat, along with natural dry dog food over two years ago. At the ripe old age of 15, for all practical purposes, she's old enough to be my grandmother. I would never feed my dear old granny junk from a can, so why would I treat my geriatric pup to a meal of road kill, seasoned with pesticide? The majority of dog and cat food on shelves everywhere is simply not fit for consumption by our best friends. No matter which vet or celebrity the manufacturer gets to endorse it, what's in those cans and pouches is bad news.

Before you shop for Fido or Fifi again, here are a few facts you should consider:

• The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO,) a non-governmental organization, maintains the standard for nutrition when it comes to pet food. They are not affiliated with the USDA which governs human foods. If the food analyzed in their labs is found to contain the specified levels of protein and vitamins agreed to by the brand, it can be sold without testing.

• If a dog food is labeled "Dog Food with Real Beef," under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA) labeling laws, it only has to contain 3% real beef. However, if dog food is labeled "Beef for dogs", it must contain 95% beef. "Beef dinner dogs" only has to contain 25% beef. Check your labels!

• Under USDA labeling laws, food labeled "Chicken flavored" doesn't have to contain any chicken at all.