Veterinarians field frantic phone calls, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues press releases, manufacturers pull some products from store shelves and leave others, reporters describe affected brands and product codes, and consumers scramble to find safe foods.

Too Many Contaminants

In recent years, the nation’s largest pet food recall has disrupted the lives of millions of pets and their owners. A growing number of American dogs and cats have died from eating foods containing wheat gluten imported from China. At first the contaminant was thought to be a rat poison, but FDA and researchers at the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center announced that the contaminant was melamine, a chemical used in plastics and slow-release fertilizers. However, a 1953 study fed dogs similar doses of melamine for a year with no adverse results, so research on this contamination’s source continues.

“Some very well-known brands have been recalled,” says Nancy Kerns, editor of Whole Dog Journal, a holistic canine health magazine that frequently ranks canned and dry dog foods for quality, “and that gets everyone upset.”

Choose Quality

“It really is true that you get what you pay for,” she says. “Premium foods don’t contain wheat gluten, which is a cheap meat substitute used to boost the protein content of processed foods.” Kerns encourages consumers to study labels carefully and select foods whose first ingredients are meats (preferably human-grade): whole chicken or chicken meal rather than chicken byproduct meal. Remaining ingredients should also be whole (rather than fragmented) foods: whole wheat rather than wheat gluten, wheat bran, or wheat mill run.

Jean Hofve, DVM, former editor in chief of the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, also suggests avoiding foods containing corn products, artificial dyes or flavors, chemical additives, or preservatives. “Feed several brands and flavors with different protein sources that your dog or cat tolerates well, and rotate them frequently,” she adds. Dr. Hofve advises calling the manufacturer’s toll-free number if you have questions about what’s in any products.

Holistic veterinarian Stacey Hershman, DVM, of Rockland County, New York, recommends organic pet foods. “Several news articles have reported an increase in organic pet food sales as a result of the recall. I think this trend will continue as people realize that they’re making an investment in their pets’ health. Organic foods might cost more, but a healthy pet enjoys an active life and doesn’t have expensive vet bills.” Be sure the package includes the USDA certified organic label or the certifying agency.

Homemade Meals

Dr. Hershman also advocates home-prepared foods for dogs and cats. “When you make it yourself from ingredients that you yourself would eat,” she says, “you add an extra layer of protection against industrial contaminants.” For centuries, everyone fed their pets raw meat and table scraps. Now the old methods go by new names like BARF (which stands for Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) or simply “raw feeding.”

Cats have a higher protein requirement than dogs, but both species thrive on a changing variety of meat (including organ meats), bones (raw, meaty bones, bone meal, or another source of calcium and other minerals), small amounts of vegetable matter, and supplements as needed for balanced nutrition. Some stores sell frozen raw pet foods, as well.

“Most pets enjoy raw foods,” says Dr. Hershman, “and in many cases chronic health problems like allergies, skin and coat disorders, digestive problems, or arthritis improve or disappear as a result of the diet change.” Judy Leclerc, DVM, a holistic veterinarian in Concord, New Hampshire, agrees. “I feed my cats raw organic chicken,” she told the North Andover, Massachusetts, Eagle-Tribune after the latest pet food recall. “When I fed two of my cats a raw chicken diet, their coats improved a lot. When I switched to organic chicken, they got even better.”

If you’re interested in switching your pet to a raw or home-prepared diet, an easy way to begin the transition is to add small amounts of raw beef, chicken, lamb, or other meat to the animal’s regular food. Gradually increase the amount of raw meat and decrease the amount of canned food or kibble. “This is an excellent way to improve your animal’s health,” says Dr. Hershman, “and you won’t ever have to worry about the contamination problems that lead to pet food recalls.”