Many Factors to Consider When Choosing Food for Felines and Fidos

Originally published in the Jan. 8, 2014, issue

 

By Dallas Duncan

 

Pet foods run the gamut – raw, dry, wet, organic and more – so there’s a lot to choose from when trying to decide what diet is best for the furry friend Santa left under the tree.

 

“Nutritionists believe that ingredients do not matter. What matters is nutrients,” said Dr. Susan Wynn, nutritionist at Blue Pearl Georgia Veterinary Specialists in Sandy Springs, Ga.

 

The one exception is in felines: nutritionists would not recommend vegetarian diets for cats.



Meat and meat meals are the primary sources of protein in dry and wet cat
foods. Because cats are "obligate carnivores," meaning some of their essential
nutrients come from animal proteins, nutritionists do not recommend
vegetarian diets for felines. Photo by Dallas Duncan

 

“Cats are obligate carnivores. They must have animal protein. In the wild, they will die without animal flesh. Animal flesh contains unique amino acids and fats that you cannot get from plant proteins,” she said.

 

Dogs, on the other hand, are omnivores.

 

Two important nutrients in feline diets are the amino acids arginine and taurine, said Associate State Veterinarian Dr. Wendy Cuevas-Espelid. Arginine prevents toxic ammonia buildup in the bloodstream, and without taurine, cats could suffer from blindness, deafness, heart failure and a host of other diseases, she said. For dogs, protein needs vary by breed, age and activity level.

 

“Kittens need large amounts of energy provided by their food. Their energy requirements are about two to three times more than an adult cat. About 30 percent of their energy should come from protein,” Cuevas-Espelid said. “Puppies need to be fed accordingly for growth to be at an average rate, not a maximum rate, for the breed. This helps to prevent skeletal deformities.”

 

She said puppies and kittens should be on a growth formula until they reach adulthood, and adults should be on a maintenance diet. Older pets should eat a senior diet formulated to provide nutrients for aging animals.

 

Cuevas-Espelid said the primary source of protein in canine and feline diets comes from meat or meal.

 

“A byproduct meal just means they throw a lot of scrap pieces together and they grind them up into a flour, or a meal,” said Alan Lowman, Department ag inputs program director. “The fat content will probably be higher because fat is one of those things that’s discarded, but fat is a high-energy compound. It’s going to make that coat look really shiny.”

 

Meat meal, according to the Associationof American Feed Control Officials, is a more concentrated source of protein because it doesn’t contain the same water content as whole meat. It can be added to dry foods to increase protein content.

 

But not all byproducts are created equal, Wynn said. A large pet food company has come under fire in the past for using byproducts, but what blogs might not tell pet owners is that this company’s byproducts are entire chicken carcasses.

 

“That’s about as Paleolithic and natural as you can get,” Wynn said. “There are cheaper companies who use the cheapest parts, feet and head and things like that, because they are cheap.”

 

Because AAFCO regulations do not allow pet food labels to disclose specific byproducts, Wynn recommends pet owners contact companies to learn more about their byproduct ingredients, and said reputable companies will disclose what they use.

 

The concept of byproducts can turn some pet owners to a raw foods diet, but some experts caution that raw or refrigerated foods can be more susceptible to potential foodborne pathogens and mishandling. Pet foods can be recalled because of bacterial contamination, such as Salmonella, said Jessica Badour, recall outreach specialist for the Department’s Food Safety Division.

 

“Anything that comes refrigerated should be properly held at 41 degrees or colder,” she said. “And again, when you’ve got that raw component, there’s just a higher risk that you could cross-contaminate by handling it and touching something else in your kitchen.”

 

Contaminated pet food is a human safety risk as well, as people can get sick from handling it. Badour advises consumers to keep the bags pet food comes in, or cut off the brand name, UPC code and lot code to keep in case that food is recalled.

 

“Studies that have been done on both commercially available and homemade raw protein diets have found a high percentage, 30 to 50 percent, of them contaminated with pathogenic organisms, and up to 30 percent of the dogs fed such diets may shed pathogenic organisms in their stool,” Cuevas-Espelid said, quoting a statement from the American Animal Hospital Association.

 

Because of these potential health risks, it’s recommended to not feed therapy dogs a raw protein diet. These are animals most likely to be in contact with humans who have compromised immune systems and could be more susceptible to illness, Cuevas-Espelid said.

 

Lowman said cooked food and those which has a “kill step” will be less likely to contain foodborne bacteria. Typically this is a heating step to ensure that pathogens are killed.

 

Wynn said reputable raw diet companies will test products to make sure there are no pathogens as part of their quality control procedures.

 

“Raw diets are typically higher in protein and fat. They tend to be – they don’t have to be – but they tend to have low starch or no starch in them. That’s a very calorie-dense diet and high in fat,” Wynn said. “If you’re talking from a nutrient point of view, it’s a very efficient way to keep weight on a dog with high metabolism.”

 

She said raw meat can help keep weight on some show breeds of canines and felines, as well as those with high activity levels, such as herding breeds and sled dogs. Overweight animals and those with certain diseases, however, should steer clear of raw and other high-fat diets.

 

“There is no proof that a raw diet is better than a processed diet,” Wynn said. “There are raw diets that are dangerous, but there are raw diets that could be good. Raw diets come with problems because there are so many types of raw diets.”

 

Possible problems include injury from whole bone ingredients, though Wynn said reputable companies will finely grind bones ingredients, and diets not being properly balanced. The latter is a problem in homemade raw diets, she said.

 

Making homemade pet treats is a popular trend, and Lowman said consumers should be aware that the sale of pet food and treats is regulated in Georgia.

 

“They all need to have a license and it’s going to have a product registration associated with it,” he said. “If you’re a baker, and you use the leftovers to make dog treats and you put those for sale on your counter, it’s regulated. If you give it away, that’s not. But the first time you sell it or barter it, you need to be licensed.”

A fictional pet food label demonstrates some key requirements
for licensed products. By Dallas Duncan

 

The license is to make sure pet foods and labels meet AAFCO standards. Required label components include name and purpose, such as Beef Dog Food or Beef Flavor Dog Food; name of animal species the product is for; net quantity of both weight and volume; a guarantee analysis, which lists the percentage of each nutrient in the food; an ingredient statement, listed in order of predominance by weight; a nutritional adequacy statement showing food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage; feeding directions; and the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor.

 

Wynn said to research the company thoroughly.

 

“I’m looking for a company that has been around for a long time. They must have a nutritionist formulating all the foods, preferably a veterinary clinical nutritionist that they work with or on staff,” Wynn said. “You can’t make a determination of how good a food is just by the label.”



Visit with a Vet: Six-Year Tuberculosis Test Eliminated

Originally published in the Nov. 27, 2013, issue

 

Visit with a Georgia veterinarian in this monthly feature. This edition comes from State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb in Atlanta, Ga.

In March 2013, I received a request from Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. to conduct a review of Georgia’s Whole Herd Tuberculosis Testing Program. This request was made because of several reasons: it has become increasingly difficult to locate veterinarians who will conduct whole-herd tuberculosis testing; the amount of labor involved; the veterinary fees for the testing; and the considerable financial loss for the dairy owner due to the disruption of the cattle’s daily routine.

In an effort to work with our dairy industry, I consulted with other state veterinarians concerning their state regulations for dairy tuberculosis testing, considered the Bovine Tuberculosis Free status of all 50 states; and determined that most states rely upon import testing and slaughter surveillance. The greatest risk of introduction of bovine tuberculosis comes from imports from Mexico, commingling of cattle with Mexican-origin animals and specific areas in the country where tuberculosis is endemic in the wildlife.

After careful review of slaughter surveillance records, tuberculosis import testing requirements and the fact that Georgia has been Bovine Tuberculosis Free since 1986, I wish to announce the elimination of the required six-year Whole Herd Tuberculosis Test for Georgia dairy producers.  The effective date of the change to Georgia Department of Agriculture Rule 40-13-4-.04 BovineTuberculosis Eradication Requirements is Oct. 7, 2013. 

I wish to emphasize that by eliminating the six-year tuberculosis test, our state and the dairy industry will depend wholly upon import tuberculosis testing and slaughter surveillance as a means of detecting tuberculosis in dairy animals. Individual official identification will greatly aid in disease control and prevention. I encourage all dairy producers to utilize official identification in all their dairy animals. Official metal ear tags can be obtained from the Department. Official electronic tags are encouraged and available at your vendor of choice. 

Although the required six-year tuberculosis herd test has been eliminated, the Department shall conduct tuberculosis tests on any dairy herd suspected of being infected with or exposed to Mycobacterium bovis at such times as deemed necessary by state or federal animal health officials. The Department’s animal health officials reserve the right to supervise and monitor any tuberculosis testing and the associated control and eradication activities.

For questions about the elimination of this tuberculosis testing, or to obtain official identification metal ear tags, contact the Department’s Animal Health Division at 404-656-3667.

Visit with a Vet: Monitoring for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus to Begin This Month

Originally published in the April 30, 2014, issue

 

Visit with a Georgia veterinarian in this monthly feature. This edition comes from State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb in Atlanta, Ga., and follows up on a previous Visit with a Vet story on Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus from the Oct. 30, 2013, issue.

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus is highly contagious in swine.
It has not yet been found in Georgia, but producers are
encouraged to take biosecurity and other measures to prevent
PEDv from making its way to their farms. File photo

The US Department of Agriculture recently announced it will be instituting a monitoring and control program to prevent the spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, a viral disease of swine associated with fever, severe diarrhea and vomiting. Right now, PEDv is considered a production disease, and is not regulated by the World Health Organization or the Department. However, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will issue a federal order in May that requires mandatory reporting of all herds diagnosed with PEDv. Herds will be required to identify themselves and provide location information. In addition, animal health laboratories that receive diagnostic samples will be required to provide positive tests and location information to USDA.

The disease is highly contagious and is caused by a coronavirus. PEDv mimics a common pig disease called transmissible gastroenteritis, or TGE, which is also a coronavirus. Only lab tests can tell the difference between the two. PEDv is not a zoonotic disease, meaning it does not affect people. It does not affect other domestic species and is not a food safety concern. 

The disease is most severe in young piglets, but can affect pigs of any age. The disease can cause death and loss of production. Introduction of PEDv into a swine herd with no previous exposure to the virus typically results in acute outbreaks of abortion, severe diarrhea, vomiting, high morbidity – often 100 percent – and variable mortality, as high as 100 percent in pigs younger than 3 weeks of age. The incubation period is short, three to four days, and natural immunity develops. Pregnant sows often abort due to fever; however, older pigs usually recover from the disease within seven to 10 days.

PEDv exists in many parts of the world. The disease is very common in China, Korea and other Asian countries. In May 2013, the disease was first diagnosed and confirmed in the US, in Iowa.  It is unknown how the virus entered the US. There is some concern that feed products, such as porcine plasma products sprayed on pellets in certain rations, was responsible for introduction or spread of the disease. PEDv is not a listed disease of the World Organization for Animal Health, or OIE; is not considered a foreign animal disease in the US; and there are no international or interstate trade restrictions pertaining to PEDv in US swine.

The disease has spread to 28 states and to Canada, causing millions of dollars of damage due to losses from abortions, mortality and poor feed conversion. The number of confirmed cases is more than 5,500. In the Southeast, only Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas have not had a reported case of PEDv.

There is no specific treatment or commercially available vaccine for the disease. Supportive therapy is useful in the treatment of older animals, and sows that have recovered from the disease pass immunity to their offspring. Recovered animals can shed the virus for up to a month after recovery. 

PEDv can be spread in several ways. The fecal-oral route involves healthy animals ingesting the fecal matter of infected pigs. Fomites, which are inanimate objects such as trailers, chutes, buckets and waterers, clothing, boots and contaminated feed have all been shown to spread the virus as well. The virus is hardy and can survive for long periods of time, especially in cold, damp weather.

A strict biosecurity program is the only way to prevent introduction of the virus. Thorough cleaning and disinfecting of trailers and equipment are essential to keeping the virus out. Be diligent about personnel and visitors, but also consider supplies, feed ingredients, food items, etc. that might be of international origin. To check the origin of a product or ingredients, contact the supplier and request that information. The creation of a “clean crossing line” will help to prevent contaminated personnel or products from entering the farm. 

Additional biosecurity recommendations include thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting anything coming onto the farm; enforcing downtime requirements and maintaining a log of visitors; properly disposing of dead livestock; isolating new animals; continue vet-to-vet discussion about animal health at the herd of origin; and showering into the facility and changing into clean boots and overalls. Veterinarians should also be careful not to transport the virus between herds on their person, equipment or vehicles.

All hog farmers are encouraged to monitor the Department website for news and updates on PEDv.

Some information in this column comes from the National Pork Board, American Association of SwineVeterinarians and USDA-APHIS. For more information on PEDv, visit www.agr.georgia.gov, www.pork.org/pedv or contact the State Veterinarian’s Office at 404-656-3671. Veterinarians can send samples to the two state diagnostic labs for confirmation of PEDv. The Athens lab can be reached at 706-542-5568 and the Tifton lab at 229-386-3340.

Take 5: Addressing Animal Welfare Concerns

Originally published in the Aug. 7, 2013, issue

Cobb

Featuring Dr. Robert Cobb, state veterinarian

1. What do you think the most common misconceptions are about farming and animal welfare?

Most people today are several generations removed from the farm and do not understand what is required to provide good food for the table. They are trying to compare what happens in an apartment patio or a small backyard garden to production farming. They do not understand their dog that they treat as a member of the family cannot be compared to a herd of cows or pigs. If they were able to spend some time on a working farm, a lot of the issues of today revolving around animal welfare and food costs could be resolved.

2. What are some things the Department does to ensure all livestock, poultry and companion animals are treated properly by owners and caretakers?

The Department has numerous inspectors that regularly visit all licensed facilities and respond to complaints. Working with local law enforcement and animal control, they are responsible for ensuring animals are treated humanely and that current law and rules are followed. The Department inspectors monitor livestock markets and inspect animals at shows and exhibitions. 

3. What should consumers do if they suspect a producer is treating animals improperly?

They should contact their local sheriff’s or animal control office. Also, they may contact the Department’s Animal Health Division at 404-656-3667 or the State Veterinarian’s office at 404-656-3671.

4. How can farmers prevent their employees from mistreating animals?

Farmers as well as their employees that handle animals should get training in animal handling. Certifications such as Beef Quality Assurance, Pork Quality Assurance and The National Dairy FARM Program are great programs to ensure that good animal handling is followed. These programs are beneficial to the animals, but they can help to increase production which benefits the farmer. In addition, the National Chicken Council has standards for their farmers and trains third-party auditors on these standards. For more information, contact Georgia Cattlemen's Association, Georgia Milk Producers, National Chicken Council or University of Georgia Extension Service.

5. If producers or farm workers are found to be mistreating animals, how is that situation handled?

Cruelty to animals is punishable by law. The sheriff's office can press charges. If the facility is licensed by the Department, the license can be suspended or revoked and administrative hearings could result in fines.