Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/693894
Below are the 3 most common questions I hear from clients when discussing modern day pet food/nutrition and the relationship to dis-ease, and my responses: Q: But my dog/cat has been eating this all their life and they have been just fine until now… A: e foods we are feeding are pets today are significantly more toxic than the foods 20 years ago or even 5 years ago. Since 1941, there have been over 75,000 synthetic chemicals developed and released into our foods, plants, and animals! Example: Roundup, active ingredient glyphosate, (the highly controversial weed killer made by Monsanto) creates a pesticide factory in the gastrointestinal tract of our pets (and us) when consuming foods that are contaminated with it! e result is severe leaky gut, a compromised immune system and a myriad of inflammatory diseases. Another issue is the overuse of antibiotics. In the United States, 80% of the antibiotics are used in the food animal industry to help get animals to market faster. Q: e "government" wouldn't allow food to be sold if it were not healthy, or stated another way… Why is "unhealthy pet food" marketed and sold if it is bad for my pet? A: e pet food industry is a multi trillion-dollar industry. ese pet food producers have a huge influence in our government. eir motive is to make money. As an example of how influential the food industry is, the cereal and bread manufacturers are responsible for creating the food pyramid and vilifying healthy fats, all of which has lead to an obese population that suffers from exceedingly high rates of inflammatory diseases, including cancer, diabetes and heart disease. THE FIVE BIGGEST PET FOOD CORPORATIONS ARE: Mars Nestle SA Colgate-Palmolive Co. Proctor & Gamble Co. Del Monte Foods Co. Mars ( the chocolate company) has net sales of more than $33 billion dollars and has six business segments including Pet care, Chocolate and Wrigley. ey own Banfield Pet Hospitals and Blue Pearl Veterinary Referral Specialists (a national chain of veterinary specialty hospitals). ey also own Iams, Eukanuba, Sheba, Nutro, Greenies, Whiskas, Pedigree, and Royal Canin. Other Mars products include Skittles, Snickers, Twix, Mars, M&M, Dove and Uncle Bens. It seems painfully obvious to me that the companies that are leaders in the food industry have not been focused on producing healthy foods for people, let alone for pets! Many of these companies also produce the drugs that are needed to treat the resulting unhealthy population, is that a coincidence? Q: Why hasn't any other vet ever told me this information? A: Veterinarians (DVM) and Medical Doctors (MD) are given minimal courses in nutrition during their medical education. What little training they do receive is biased by the large pharmaceutical corporations and the food giants (like Mars and Hills). ese corporations donate large sums of money to the colleges. I asked my professor in vet school why they used 1 particular diet or antibiotic over others and he answered "because the manufacturer donates the food or drug to the university for free". ese drug and food companies bank on students continuing to use products they become familiar with in school. It is no surprise that the graduating doctors heavily promote the products that they were taught were "the best". ese same companies spend thousands of dollars at veterinary conferences and ongoing continuing education venues to convince veterinarians their products are safe and effective. Malnourished PETS IN America Page 30 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysHealthAndNutrition.com