Archive for the ‘Dog Nutrition’ Category

Dog food ingredient = Glyceryl Monostearate

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

What the heck is Glyceryl Monosterarate?  I can’t even pronounce it.

According to The Dog Food Project, it is

a lipophilic non-ionic surfactant with HLB of 3.6 – 4.2. It has effects of emulsification, dispersion, foaming, defoaming, starch anti-aging and fat agglomeration control, and is widely used in foodstuffs, cosmetic, medicine and plastic processing industries. It is an emulsifier used the most widely and in the largest quantities in the foodstuff industry.

A thickening, emulsifying, antisticking and antistalant agent. Can contain up to 200 ppm butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a preservative (see also BHT). Depending on method of manufacture, it can also contain glyceryl distearate (42-44%), glyceryl tristearate (20-23%), free glycerol (3-5%). Other impurities include mono-, di-, and triesters of related fatty acids as well as unreacted fatty acids. Due to the uncertainty of chemical additives, this ingredient should be avoided.

Amen!

MSU Links Pet Food to Dog Illness

Monday, October 11th, 2010

As reported on WWJ.950 ,  a team of researchers at Michigan State University has linked  a dog illness to a specific brand of dog food from Blue Buffalo Company.   Sixteen dogs fed Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe in the sates of Michigan, Texas, Colorado, Wisconsin, California, Illinois, North Dakota and Utah  suffered from increased thirst and urination.  Some had weight loss, loss of appetite and signs of kidney damage.    They all have very high levels of Vitamin D in their blood.       On    October 8, 2010  Blue Buffalo issued a voluntary recall of  several Blue Wilderness Chicken, Basics Salmon and Large Breed Adult Chicken with specific manufacturing dates.

According to the press release by Blue Buffalo Company

These are the ONLY code dates being recalled:

Product Bag Size Best Used By Dates
BLUE Wilderness Chicken (Dog) 4.5 lb., 11 lb., 24lb. JUL1211B, JUL1311B, JUL2611Z, JUL2711Z, JUL2811Z
BLUE Basics Salmon (Dog) 11 lb., 24 lb. AUG2111B, AUG2211B
BLUE Large Breed Adult Chicken 30 lb. SEP 22 11 P, SEP 23 11 P, OCT 26 11 P

If you feed this product, please check to be sure  your bag.      If your dog is exhibiting any unusual symptoms, please notify your vet of this recall and the information available at the Michigan State University on Hypervitaminoisis D.