Pet Parenthood Survey from Iams Reveals Opportunity to Help Consumers Understand Their Pet’s Nutritional Needs at Various Stages of Their Lives

Mason, Ohio (PRWEB) January 18, 2011

Results from a national survey* commissioned by Iams® and released today reveal that only 11 percent of U.S. pet owners take the age of a cat or dog as the most important factor when determining which formula to feed their pet. Propelled by this statistic, leading pet food maker Iams is reminding Americans to keep their resolutions to start 2011 off on the right paw by feeding pets a life stage specific diet.

“The new year is a time when we make resolutions to get healthier and improve ourselves, so why not extend that approach to our cat or dog’s overall well-being?” said Dr. Katy Nelson, DVM, emergency veterinarian, in Alexandria, VA and a member of the Iams Pet Wellness Council. “I always tell my patients that healthy checkups start on the inside. Feeding a high-quality diet specific to an animal’s age, like Iams Premium Protection, which offers specially formulated life-stage specific diets, is one of the most important ways to ensure four-legged family members lead healthy, happy lives.”

In 2011, Iams is making it easier for pet parents to keep their new year’s resolutions by bringing its most advanced nutrition ever – Iams Premium Protection – to mass retailers nationwide.

“When choosing a food for your cat or dog it is important to select a diet that has the right ingredients for that stage of your pet’s life,” continued Dr. Nelson. “Diet requirements – including protein levels, calories and vitamins and minerals – vary over the life of a pet and, in turn, an animal’s needs change as he grows from a puppy or kitten, to an adult into a senior,” said Nelson.

Oftentimes pet owners are not sure which life stage their cat or dog falls into. As a result, pets might not be receiving the nutrients or nutrients at the right levels critical for optimal health for their age. While life stage can vary between species and breeds, general guidelines include:

• One to 12 months: Kitten and Puppy formula includes DHA for brain and vision development;
• One to seven years: Adult formula includes HMP to keep teeth clean during and after meals, as well as balanced omega 6:3 ratio for healthy skin and coat;
• Seven years and older: Senior formula with L-carnitine helps burn fat and keep muscles lean.

“Iams is deeply committed to enhancing the well-being of dogs and cats throughout their entire life,” said Neelam Modi, brand manager, Iams North America. “It is this commitment that inspired our nutritionists to work closely with veterinarians to develop Iams Premium Protection for each life stage.”

Other factors the survey revealed that pet parents consider when purchasing food for their cat or dog include:

• Read Labels – Only one of out of three respondents (30 percent) rank ingredients as the most important criteria for which food to feed their cat or dog. Reading pet food labels is essential to ensure cats and dogs receive optimal nutrition.
• Listen to the Experts – Nearly four out of ten (36 percent) pet owners cite personal recommendations from trusted resources such as veterinarians, as the most important factor of diet selection. Pet parents should consider looking to their veterinarian for nutrition recommendations.
• Invest in Your Pet – Nearly one in four surveyed rank price as a deciding factor when choosing their pet’s food. Feeding pets a proper diet based on age is a lifelong investment in a cat and dog’s health.

Iams Premium Protection comes in three formulas for each species (dog and cat), which include: Kitten or Puppy, Adult and Senior. For more information about Iams and its pet food formulas, visit http://www.iams.com.

Survey Methodology
The above sourced findings are from an Ipsos poll conducted October 22 – 25, 2010. For the survey, a nationally representative sample of 1,006 randomly-selected adults aged 18 and over residing in the U.S. were interviewed online via Ipsos’ U.S. Online Express Omnibus. With this sample size, results are considered accurate within ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire population of adults in the U.S. been polled.

About P&G Pet Care
For more than 60 years, P&G Pet Care (NYSE:PG), the maker of Iams and Eukanuba, has enhanced the well-being of dogs and cats by providing world-class quality foods and pet care products. To learn more about Eukanuba® and Iams® Dog & Cat Foods or general pet care and nutrition information, call the Iams Consumer Care Center at (800) 446-3075. You can also visit us on the Web at http://www.iams.com or http://www.eukanuba.com.

About Procter & Gamble
Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 127,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

*Online survey conducted among nationally representative sample of 1,006 randomly-selected adults aged 18 and over residing in the U.S. via Ipsos’ U.S. Online Express Omnibus. Survey was completed October 22-25, 2010. Margin of error +/-3%.

Source:  PRWeb

© 2011, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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Leading Pet Nutrition Manufacturer To Implement Education Program For Animal Food Safety

Hampshire, IL (PRWEB) August 10, 2010 – PetAg today announced the creation of a comprehensive program designed to inform and educate consumers on pet nutrition safety and proper storage of their newly improved KMR and Esbilac powdered milk product for infant animals.

As part of PetAg’s Safety Education Program, they have revised the packaging to provide consumers with even clearer instructions for handling and storage. Consumers can sign up on PetAg’s website to receive emailed updates on product information and educational materials.

PetAg’s 70-year history of innovation in the manufacturing of pet nutrition products has led them to be one of the most trusted manufacturers of pet products in the USA. Their products have been used to care for millions of animals worldwide. As a trusted partner of pet owners and veterinarians, PetAg continually examines all of their products and processes to ensure best practices and best nutrition for pets.

In this economy when people are looking to trim costs in every possible corner, pet professionals and pet owners may hold onto product beyond the “best by” date, or longer than advised on labels after opening. Recent FDA announcements on infant animal nutrition safety indicate that consumers should follow labeled advice completely in order to insure their pets’ safety. It is also vitally important to store unopened or opened cans above at the recommended temperature to avoid degrading the product quality.

As with human infants, animals depend upon milk as their only source of nutrition in the early weeks of their lives. When pets are unable to nurse from their mother, milk replacement products such as PetAg’s KMR® or Esbilac® offer excellent alternatives to allow pets to get off to a good start in life. Much like formula for human infants, or any other milk product, these products have a finite shelf life, and should be used quickly once opened or prepared. This information is readily available on packaging for all products. Best-by dates only apply to manufacturer sealed products that have not been opened. The FDA advises that anyone who is concerned about the safety of a product should contact the manufacturer for further instructions and advice.

With decades of innovation and advancements behind them, PetAg brings unquantifiable knowledge to the field of pet nutrition.

“We take our place as a market leader seriously,” said Darlene Frudakis, president and COO of PetAg. “By continually testing and revising our formulas, we can bring the best alternatives to the market for our pet companions, and can educate our consumers on how best to care for their pets’ nutritional needs,” continued Frudakis.

PetAg urges consumers to review labels on stored cans to determine if they have reached or surpassed the use by date, and if so return the product to PetAg for a free replacement. PetAg also encourages consumers to contact the company at anytime if they have mixing, product storage or usage questions call 1 (800) 323-0877.

About PetAg

Founded in the 1930s, PetAg, Inc, is a leading manufacturer of high-quality pet nutrition and other pet products. Headquartered in Hampshire, Illinois, this woman-owned company has brought pets and their owners some of the most recognizable brand names in the industry.

PetAg products cover a wide range of animals through every stage of the life cycle. From newborn care including the scientifically balanced neonatal milk replacers, Esbilac® and KMR®, to senior pet care supplements including CatSure® and DogSure® which lead the category. PetAg’s health and fitness categories include dog chews Rawhide Brand® and Chunky Chews® for dogs, DogSlim® and CatSlim® weight management program of supplements and nutritional dog treats and cat treats, and Hawaiian Delights® edible treats and toys for birds. Each of the product categories has the same focus: to enrich and prolong the lives of pets worldwide. You can find tips on Health, Fitness, and Fun For Pets on their new blog. For more information on PetAg, visit www.petag.com.

# # #

Source:  PR Web

© 2010 – 2011, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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Dog food allergies are rather difficult to distinguish from other allergies like atopy, etc., because the symptoms of food allergies tend to be similar to the symptoms of the other allergies. Despite there not being one outstanding symptom that would point us in the direction of food allergy, which makes diagnosis very difficult, there are some symptoms that have been identified as being related to a dog’s food allergy.

Dog food allergies are rather difficult to distinguish from other allergies like atopy, etc., because the symptoms of food allergies tend to be similar to the symptoms of the other allergies.

SYMPTOMS

Despite there not being one outstanding symptom that would point us in the direction of food allergy, which makes diagnosis very difficult, there are some symptoms that have been identified as being related to a dog’s food allergy.

Symptoms tend to vary from case to case but I have listed some that have been identified as symptoms displayed by a dog with a food allergy:

• Dry, flaky skin
• Hair loss
• Itchy skin, feet and paws
• Persistent skin infections/ hot spots o Persistent ear infections especially yeast infections o Constant vomiting o Frequent bowel movements o Skin rashes and hives

Other symptoms like flatulence, sneezing, changes in behavior patterns and asthma can also indicate food allergies.

CAUSES

Research has shown that some dog food ingredients could be the cause of a dog’s food allergies, such as corn, dairy products, beef, eggs, wheat, chicken and soy; all common dog food ingredients by themselves.

Dog allergies are most often caused by the consumption of the same food for several years. These allergies tend to manifest themselves quite suddenly, irrespective of the fact that the dog has been eating the same thing for years. Detecting the actual cause of the dog’s food allergy can be both a frustrating and time consuming exercise, but here’s what you can do…

SOLUTION

Exclusion diet: this is probably the most effective way to find out the cause of a food allergy.

One source of protein is used for up to 12 weeks to see if the dog’s condition improves. After that, new ingredients are added (every seven days) one at a time until the problem returns so you can identify the ingredient that was causing the food allergy. This is a very slow and painstaking method but it is effective.

Make sure that you use a protein source that your dog has not been previously been given, such as tofu, venison, fish, lamb or rabbit, making sure that the digestibility percentage is at least 85%. Try to avoid additives as much as possible. Combine the protein source with a carbohydrate; one example would be lamb and rice.

A vet can give medication to help cope with the allergy and can administer a blood test to try and figure out the ingredient causing the allergy. However, such tests are not very accurate as a diagnostic tool and an exclusion diet is usually the best way to go about it.

To help relieve exterior symptoms, I suggest you consider using an all-natural product.

Tip: using distilled water or boiled tap water that has been refrigerated will help to avoid the chlorine content in the water, which is a possible factor.

PREVENTION

There is no quick fix for dog food allergies. It is up to you to find out the ingredient that is causing the allergy and eliminate it from your dog’s food. Once you have identified the food ingredient(s) to which your dog is allergic and removed them from your dog’s diet, the allergy should clear up quickly enough. Don’t forget to keep a diary to record the elimination process – this is crucial to helping your dog get rid of its food allergy.

Brandon Roe is the developer of K9 KlearUp http://k9klearup.com/amx.php?adminid=5090&id=19726, the world’s only all-natural dog balm that helps clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems… Guaranteed or your money back.

Signup today for Brandon’s weekly K9Kourier newsletter and get all the best from the canine world sent right to your inbox – http://k9klearup.com/amx.php?adminid=5090&id=19726&pid=17483. Signup today and receive a special free gift.

© 2010 – 2011, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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Before you bring your puppy home decide what you will feed your pup. Raw diet is the best. Otherwise get a quality kibble. Feed your puppy the best that you can. This will save you tons of money in vet bills; at least this has my experience.

Make sure that you bring home with your new pup enough of his old food that he is use to eating for the transition to his new food. Otherwise it will be too hard on his digestive track. Your pup is most likely to get diarrhea from a quick change in food. This will play havoc with your house training! Take about two weeks or more to make the transition, especially if changing over to raw. Watch how much raw bone you feed it will give your pup diarrhea also until his tummy gets use to it.

If you decide on kibble, remember that all kibble is dead food even the best kibble should be supplemented with raw bones, meats including organ meats, two raw eggs or cooked for five minutes only, a week, cottage cheese, veggies, nuts, and fruits.

Note: No onions, chocolate, cocoa, raisins, unless organic, or macadamia nuts.

Here are some guidelines for choosing quality kibble for your pup:

· You want to check the first 5 ingredients for protein source. You don’t want to see by-products of any kind listed.
 
· Beet Pulp: residue from sugar beets, added for fiber, is a sugar residue that may improve palatability of poor quality food. Not dangerous but not necessary in quality kibble.

· Soybean meal: the oil is removed with a solvent, not healthy. Soybean meal isn’t processed effectively by dogs or cats either. Avoid, not necessary.

· Cellulose: fancy word for indigestible plant fiber, ex: sawdust.
 
· Fish: the whole fish usually isn’t used fake source of protein or if whole fish is used usually the mercury levels are too high for human consumption. Fish needs to be identified, of human quality and know what parts are used.

· Fat: Your pup needs fat, but it needs to be identified – chicken fat is good. Fats can be rendered or rancid, also sprayed on top to entice dogs to eat poor quality food. Avoid animal fat, too vague.

· Emulsifiers, surfactants, colors and antimicrobial agents are added to almost all commercial foods to extend shelf life and enhance customer satisfaction are not recommended.
 
· BHT, BHA: from petroleum cause liver enlargement and impairing DNA synthesis. Avoid.

· Ethoxiquin: rubber stabilizer marked as poison used as preservative. Poison.

· Artificial colors FD&C red #40 (carcinogen), yellow #5 (not tested, and sodium nitrate, a red coloring that produces the carcinogen nitrosamine if ingested on a daily basis. Avoid these.

· Sweeteners such as corn syrup, sugar, maltose and dextrose all foster yeast overgrowth and overtax the pancreas are used to entice pets to eat poor quality and rancid foods. Avoid these not needed in quality kibble.
 

If a food says meat, it should be identified and I have never opened a bag of kibble and seen meat in it. It is also my understanding that this means the percentage is measured before processing the meat, so after it is made into meal (which has to happen) you are actually getting a less percentage and it shouldn’t be listed first. You also want to know that the meal is a good meal and comes from quality human grade meats and not from by-products like beaks, feet, feathers and the like.

All kibble will have some grains, it has too. Brown rice better then white rice. Again you want quality human grade grains not the scraps.

Dogs don’t have a high carbohydrate need and cats even less, if any. They both need meat protein as their number one source of food. They are carnivores, just look at their teeth.

Now as far as vaccinations go, once your pup receives his puppy shots he is pretty much set for life. If you’re not sure the following year have a titer test done. When you get the rabies vaccine get the three-year shot. The one-year and three-year are the exact same shot, same amount of serum.

Rabies is the only shot you have to have by law. One Rabies shot is actually good for nine to ten years, but at this point you still have to have one at least every three years. You will pay more for the three-year shot isn’t that a hoot.

Good luck with your puppy and happy training. I wish you a wonderful, happy, fun, and healthy life together.

Tracy Lenderink, Master Trainer
SimpleDogTrainingSecrets.com
“Master In Creating A Bridge of Knowledge Between The Animal And Human Spirit.”

© 2009 – 2010, Tracy. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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