Sudbury Living - Spring 2008 - 45

Canadians spend more than $1 billion on pet food he recall of pet food last spring has pet owner Theresa Giroux thinking more seriously about cooking homemade meals for her cats. Giroux has lost conﬁdence in pet food manufacturers, and is wary of how the food for her four-legged friends is made, and how the industry is monitored. “I use my diet proactively, why not for my pets?” said Giroux. She recently purchased The Cat Lovers Cookbook with recipes such as A Dandy Omelette with spinach and mushrooms, and Bengal Cat, a dinner made with brown rice, lamb and spinach. In addition to the worries about tainted pet food, owners are reading labels carefully and researching feline and canine nutrition because they want their pets to live longer and healthier. According to The 2001 Ipsos-Reid Paws and Claws Pet Ownership Study, Canadians spend about $1.6 billion a year on pet food. There are a smorgasbord of options in the marketplace including organic products, breed-speciﬁc foods, gravy and desserts. Susan Reid, manager at Pet Food Warehouse in Sudbury, said prepared pet food has all the nutrients animals need, but it’s Pet Food Nation up to owners to make smart choices. “There has been lots of research done on pet nutrition,” said Reid. “Owners treat their pets like family members and only want the best for any family member. This is driving the research and pet food industry.” There may be times when it is necessary to cook for a pet. Reid said she suggests talking to a veterinarian to determine health issues and how a pet may react to certain foods before getting the cookbook out. Dr. Jim Hysen, a veterinarian with Lockerby Animal Clinic, said he believes the recall of pet food was a tragic but isolated incident. “The industry has gone to great lengths to control and ﬁnd better sources for their food.” Hysen also recommends pet food over table scraps or homemade meals for a healthy diet. Donna Smith, owner of three dogs and several cats, has operated a pet-sitting service in the Warren area for more than 10 years. She has noticed her dogs have more energy when they eat better quality food. She always checks the side of the can for ingredients and stays away from anything ■ pets T BY HEATHER CAMPBELL that has too much corn. She usually adds some “people” food into her pets’ dishes. “It’s probably more about me wanting them to have something tasty that I add extra meat to their dishes,” said Smith. Pet food comes in three forms: canned, semi-moist and dry. No one type is healthier than another. The choice of food should be made in consultation with a veterinarian, taking into account the pet’s lifestyle, age and overall health, according to The Pet Food Association of Canada. Pet food manufacturers say safeguards are in place throughout the manufacturing process to prevent food becoming contaminated with bacteria such as E. coli or salmonella that can make a pet sick. The Canadian Veterinarian Medical Association has had a volunteer pet food certiﬁcation program since 1976. SL Last spring’s recall has raised concerns about what Fido and Fluffy are eating for dinner. Zoey, a mini pin chihuahua, lives in Blezard Valley. PHOTO BY MARG SEREGELYI Spring 2008 Sudbury Living 45

Sudbury Living - Spring 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sudbury Living - Spring 2008