We should be able to trust the food we buy for our pets is safe and wonāt hurt them, but a number of pet food products have been linked to death and life-threatening illnesses.
Thereās currently a Senate Inquiry into the safety of pet food underway, and we want to make sure the Government fixes this industry for good.
Signed, and a pic of our kelpie sent in.
Signed and added some comments and sent it in .
Signed. My little pomeranian had to go to the vets after eating Baxter.
The pet food industry is another example of how well self regulation worksā¦
Noted Choice did a wet cat food road test updated in Jan 2017?
We no longer have our pet dog but followed the Vets advice on diet including fresh foods.
We do have several āferalā cats and have a supply of cheap cat food and sardines to tempt them to the trap for the local council to assess. The products we have purchased all come from the bargain end of the cat food range, including the exclusive Woolies - āYour Majestyā label made in Thailand. The tins seem to be mostly water or when drained leave a half full tin of loose meaty stuff.
Is this not only a rip off for every day cat lovers but also a symptom of an industry skirting responsible regulation?
A petition regarding pet food was started on Change.org on 14.05.2018 which I signed and it appears to have been instrumental in getting the Government to address the issue.
Whilst pet foods should definitely be safe, there is also a need for owners to provide hygienic conditions for their petsā feeding requirements.
Clean bowls, fresh food and water, and protection from vermin.
I empty the remaining water and food out of our puppyās stainless steel bowls each morning. There is often pieces of dry food or grains of rice in the water bowl, and leftover dry food and grains of rice in the food bowl.
I then scour the bowls in the laundry tub before filling them with fresh water and food. The bowls are in their holder in the kitchen away from cane toads, mynah birds and such like, and any flies inside our home are very promptly disposed of.
If pets become ill from consuming contaminated food or water, there is no point in blaming the pet food manufacturer.
I canāt reveal exactly where, but I work in part of the pet care industry. If anyone wants any tips on buying safer pet foods give me a shout.
Weād love to hear your perspective @Peterchu. Your profile is anonymous here, but if you have any worries or youād rather just speak to us, feel free to send me a PM or email to bmays@choice.com.au.
Honestly the best advice I can give people is go to different Pet specialist shops/vets until you find one you trust and are comfortable with. Most staff in those areas are just as concerned about pet food safety as everyone else (most having pets of their own).
Any pet food ultimately could have issues, just like human food. The companies who are likely to respond quicker are those who sell based on reputation (Hills, Royal Canin etc). Thereās no definitive way to say for sure though.
The other thing is ask if a food is made in a dedicated facility, and if it contains any mixed byproducts. A good pet supply shop should know this. Some foods are produced in their own facilities to minimize contamination. Some production lines meet voluntary inspection guidelines, whilst some foods even meet human hygiene guidelines.
signed
