Just as with human medicine, there are a variety of opinions about veterinary care. And pet food is no exception. Not every grocery-store pet food will have the kind of toxins described in Foods Pets Die For. But at the same time, even some organic foods don’t agree with various animals. You know how your animals react when they eat certain foods. Consult with a veterinarian or pet foods store that you trust, but also be aware of how your companion animals react to what you feed them. The vet isn’t there to see whether they chew their tails or get mean after eating something. Tell the vet what you observe, and if the vet doesn’t listen, find a vet who will.

Please remember that I, personally, am not an expert. The folks I’ve interviewed are very knowledgeable, however. One is a veterinarian who is highly respected in her city. One is a pet groomer who carefully observes the skin and coat of the pets she cares for. And one is a pet foods store owner who works with many, many pet owners. I defer to the experts here, as always.

All best wishes,
Julia

I’ve also had vets who warned me about feeding too much meat, yet your articles say no grain at all is best. One of my cats liked raw eggs and my vet warned me about feeding them to her. I pointed out she was the healthiest cat I’d ever had, but the vet said I was lucky. I wish we had a holistic health vet where I live–but I have not found one.

Thanks for writing. I’m not an expert, but perhaps some of our other readers will chime in to answer your question. In the meantime, check the ingredients labels for any reference to substances such as “meat by-products” or “meat meal.” Those are ingredients I’d personally want to stay away from.

Julia