Susan Thixton
If you are looking for straight forward pet food information that can have an almost immediate impact on your pet's health - subscribe to the free newsletter, and subscribe to Petsumer Report to see reviews on close to 600 dog and cat foods and treats (adding 40+ each month).
Susan Thixton's 'truth' will help you find a safer, healthier dog or cat food that could add years to your pet's life. http://www.TruthAboutPetFood.com
Contact Information
Articles by Susan Thixton
August 25, 2009
Do you know that the FDA is partially responsible for countless deaths of dogs and cats during the 2007 pet food recall? This is not a feeling or hunch, this is FACT according to a report from The Office of Inspector General.
May 11, 2009
Senator Robert Byrd took the questions of one concerned pet owner to the FDA. Four months later, the FDA responded. Make sure you are sitting down before you read what Stephen Mason, Acting Assistant Commissioner for Legislation of the FDA told Senator Byrd.
February 10, 2009
Every major pet store has them, Frequent Buyer Cards. Pet owning subscribers to these programs receive discounts in exchange for a few bits of personal information. Could these Frequent Buyer Programs become an early alert program in the event of another pet food/pet treat recall?
February 06, 2009
Del Monte Foods, producer of Pup-Peroni Dog Treats announces an $8 million national ad campaign. You decide about the quality of this soon to be highly advertised pet treat.
January 29, 2009
The March 2009 Consumer Reports is telling pet owners Pricey Pet Food Not Necessarily Better; don´t buy what they are selling you. The inaccurate and misleading Consumer Reports story seems to be merely a marketing piece, supporting low quality pet food manufacturers instead of protecting consumers.
January 05, 2009
Since dogs and cats have no real interest in what color a food is, colors added to pet foods and treats are solely for the pet owner´s benefit. However, food dyes are heavily linked to serious disease. So why dye pet food?
January 05, 2009
Packaged Facts, a market research firm, says that sales of natural pet food in the United States reached $1 billion in 2007; a 50 percent growth since 2003. The dilemma for pet owners is that ´Natural´ doesn´t always mean natural.
January 01, 2009
A Christmas Day post on ´A China Blog´ tells a sad story of a pet owner in China whose dog is dying, suspected poisoned from aflatoxin contaminated U.S. made pet food imported into China.
December 30, 2008
Similar to Hollywood´s Worst Dressed List or (if you´re old enough to remember) Laugh In´s Fickle Finger of Fate Award, Truth about Pet Food announces the first annual Biggest Stupid Act in Pet food Award. The Award will be given to the organization or manufacturer that during the year showed the most disgusting display of stupidity in the manufacturing of pet foods and treats, or in the regulations of pet foods and treats. After many stupid acts were considered, the 2008 Biggest Stupid Act in Pet Food award winner has been decided.
December 12, 2008
The first news involved cats in Australia, the only connection was a cat food to six cats dying of a mysterious disease. Shortly after came news that dogs were becoming ill and dying. Although many feared the dog and cat deaths were related, further information tells otherwise.
December 12, 2008
No paragraph should begin with ´Renderers convert dead animals into…´ and end with ´crayons.´ Yet this is exactly how the Introduction Paragraph started and ended in a report provided to the 108th Congress in 2004. The report provided to Congress discusses dead animals rendered into various products such as pet food and crayons.
December 07, 2008
Orijen Cat Food was the only common link in the mysterious illness and subsequent death of five cats in Australia. Orijen Pet Foods, a Canadian company, is well known and trusted to provide high quality dog and cat foods, thus the Australian pet deaths is a mystery to many. The suspected cause is the mandatory irradiation of the pet food required by Australian law.
December 07, 2008
Melamine continues to make headlines worldwide. The latest news has discovered the chemical in baby formula in the U.S., and more reports of melamine tainted eggs in Hong Kong. Even more startling is a report from a Chinese Veterinarian reporting melamine is just the tip of the iceberg of chemicals routinely added to animal feed ingredients exported to a world of pet food and animal feed manufacturers.
November 21, 2008
A report from the Royal Veterinary College in London, Professor D.L. Chan, points out that veterinarians should begin to look at nutrition to play a larger role in the health of pets. Similar to human doctors, most veterinarians don´t write ´prescriptions´ of nutritional supplements for their pet patients. However, Professor Chan believes nutritional therapies need further veterinary exploration.
November 20, 2008
Many U.S. consumers are dismayed at the actions of the FDA. Most citizens find various acts or lack of action by the FDA to be not only in the best interest of the public, but deplorable and unethical for a government agency. In most cases, consumers do not have legal ground to stand on. However, with the help of a tool the FDA commonly uses, consumers could finally have the legal footing to demand changes.
November 17, 2008
The near future is bringing many changes to your family, including the addition of a family dog. Becoming a new dog owner adds another responsibility to your family, including deciding on which dog food is right for the ´First Dog´. The dog food decision might be more of a challenge than you think; before you select a dog food, the following will provide you with some necessary information.
November 13, 2008
The FDA announces 11/12/08 detention of all Chinese imported milk products; nationwide. People and pet foods are at risk. Close to two years after melamine tainted wheat, rice, and corn protein additives began to make thousands of pets sick across the US, the chemical continues to make news around the world; bad news.
November 12, 2008
Almost every Veterinarian Clinic across the country offers dog and cat food for sale. Some only offer prescription foods specifically for pets needing a diet to address a disease; however, many others offer for sale maintenance dog and cat foods to their clients. Do veterinarians know enough about pet food to ethically recommend a particular brand of food to their clients?
November 11, 2008
If the worst would happen, and the pet food you provide your pet is recalled, do you have a back up pet food? Getting prepared for a recall isn´t being paranoid; it might prove to be the safest move you can make for the health of your pet.
November 11, 2008
Genetically Engineered grains have been in existence for several years, amidst many concerns from various organizations and individuals. Now, the FDA is set to approve Genetically Engineered Animals to be introduced into the food chain.
November 10, 2008
Millions of laboratory animals are used each year to test new drugs yet to be approved by the FDA for safety. But have you ever thought about what happens to those test animals once the research is over?
November 06, 2008
The United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is a set of laws passed by Congress giving authority to the FDA to oversee the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics. However, the FDA is blatantly ignoring these laws with pet foods.
October 21, 2008
A new report from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases states chronic kidney disease is up 30 percent in the US; consumers have to wonder if melamine contamination plays a role in the dramatic increase.
October 17, 2008
The first deadline required by the Amendments Act law, requiring an Early Warning and Notification System during a pet food recall, has come and gone seemingly ignored by the FDA.
October 16, 2008
If you think it´s challenging sorting through slick marketing to find a nutritious dog food or cat food, it´s even worse with dog and cat treats.
October 09, 2008
Wellness Pet Products initiated the poll which showed pet owners are not feeding the ingredients they think they are. There is a very good reason for these unsettling poll results…pet food industry regulations.
October 02, 2008
The president of the Pet Food Industry thinks it´s time for left over ingredients from the processing of ethanol to be utilized in pet food. Being more concerned with rising costs of grain products instead of quality nutrition, Greg Aldrich, PhD feels it´s ´time´ pet food manufacturers use spent-fermentation leftovers.
September 26, 2008
Here we go again...Pizza Hut Taiwan cheese packets tested positive for melamine and have been recalled. Tests reading showed 28 times higher than legal limits allow in Taiwan. This time the cheese power came from New Zealand.
September 13, 2008
Mars Pet Food announced a voluntary recall of many brands of dog food and cat food on 9/12/08 due to "potential contamination with Salmonella". The recall only affects products sold in the United States.
September 12, 2008
Melamine stikes again, this time in baby formula in China.
September 10, 2008
Regardless whether you discover a ´present´ left on the living room rug or a broken vase from the cabinet they aren´t supposed to be up on, pets can´t lie – they tell us the truth every single time. Pet food on the other hand can lie and keep a straight face about it; every single time.
September 05, 2008
While it´s a little noticed pet food ingredient, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate (and it's many named variations) is one ingredient to look out for and avoid. This ingredient is commonly found in many dog foods, cat foods, and treats. Unfortunately, it doesn´t have the best reputation for being a safe or useful pet food ingredient.
September 03, 2008
As if it isn´t difficult enough for pet parents to decide on which brand or variety of dog food or cat food to choose, you also have to decide if you are feeding dry or canned pet food. Walk into any pet store and you are staring at aisles and aisles of possible choices, and then you get to multiply the options by two.
September 02, 2008
Bisphenol A or BPA is an ingredient used to make hard, clear plastics and is also found in the lining of many canned products including pet foods. BPA is known to seep into food or liquids. The FDA, in typical fashion has waffled on its stance regarding the safety of BPA...
August 20, 2008
60% of pet owners said that "natural ingredients" are the most important issue to influence a pet food purchase. The problem for pet owners is that searching for a pet food labeled ´Natural´ can be like finding fools gold.
August 12, 2008
A recent article in the Leaf Chronicle, Clarksville, TN newspaper has got the fur flying. The Leaf Chronicle reported on euthanizing procedures for the county Animal Control. Horrendous standard procedures flatly euthanize particular breeds regardless of the dog´s history or circumstances.
August 11, 2008
Limited recall of Pedigree Dog Food in California and Nevada.
August 06, 2008
As much ´fun´ as it is to clean the litter box or pick up the ´land mines´ in the back yard, the clean up provides you with an opportunity to monitor your pet´s health. The trick is to first learn what normal elimination behavior is, and then any changes in normal are an early alert to a possible problem.
August 04, 2008
No it´s not that I have gone to reporting on energy these days. But I have discovered a possible means for the inferior garbage that gets dumped into pet food to be turned into valuable energy. Something that seems to be a far better method to discard of left over animal waste materials than becoming dog food or cat food ingredients.
August 01, 2008
The law specifically states no diseased animal or an animal which has died other than by slaughter is allowed for use in food. Enter the FDA looking out for the interest of some pet food manufacturers. Our FDA friends have provided an official loophole to allow pet food to by-pass the law.
July 22, 2008
We all do it; we give our pets treats as a reward or just because we love them. And many times pet owners don´t think about the extra calories in treats or worse yet consider if the treat contains harmful ingredients. ´It´s a treat, it won´t hurt anything – right? Well, it could.
July 16, 2008
Our friends at the FDA typical lack of performance protecting the health of humans and pets.
July 15, 2008
Remember that game you played as a kid - hide & seek? Trying playing it with your pet!
July 14, 2008
Which is four times as expensive - hot dogs or cheap pet food? If you're still feeding your dog or cat cheap pet food, you might want to read this.
July 09, 2008
This is one of those things that nobody is going to believe at first glance. Many will probably dismiss it completely as a hoax. But if you are a pet owner AND if you want to save money, this is something you will find very interesting.
July 07, 2008
How much do you know about the food your pet eats every day? You might be surprised...
July 03, 2008
I am sick and tired of lame excuses by the FDA, fed up with the garbage left-overs of human food being turned into pet food...
July 02, 2008
Do you pay attention to the signs your pet tells you? Do you notice the signs that pet product suppliers show you?
July 01, 2008
Recent study shows pets are suffering from household pollutants. What can you do to keep your pet safe?
June 30, 2008
Recently the U.S. and China announced "progress" has been made for assuring the safety of Chinese imports. Yet pet owners still doubt that. With sky rocketing prices in the U.S., are more pet food manufacturers looking to China for cheap ingredients? Can China keep up?
June 28, 2008
What you don't tell your Kennel or Vet or Groomer might be information they REALLY need to know.
June 26, 2008
Actions speak louder than words. While you won´t find this list on the FDA web site word for word, a little reading on fda.gov will prove it´s a more than fair interpretation of how the FDA feels about pet food safety.
June 24, 2008
That can of dog food or cat food says ´with Beef´ in big bold letters blazoned across the label; along with pictures of prime cuts of meat and vegetables. Yet when the truth is revealed, you might be VERY surprised to learn how much beef is actually in that can of dog food or cat food.
June 23, 2008
In recent years over 100 Bald and Golden Eagles have died - yet the FDA has determined it's safe for our pets to consume.
June 21, 2008
Not that you are going to eat pet food, but do you know how to tell if the ingredients are 'people' safe? Human quality ingredients or pet quality ingredients? There is a HUGE difference.
June 19, 2008
Warehouse conditions at one of the largest pet store chains in the U.S. were so filthy and unsanitary, the FDA seized pet food products stored there.
June 18, 2008
Susan Thixton is internationally known as an educator to concerned pet owners. To learn more about pet food, visit her website www.TruthAboutPetFood.com, read some pet food articles in the pet food library Paws Club, subscribe to the free newsletter, and subscribe to Petsumer Report Online.
June 16, 2008
It´s difficult to imagine that cigarettes and lies have any connection with pet food – but when you look closely at the advertising tactics of some pet foods, look closely at the ingredients in those pet foods – you´ll find cigarettes, lies, and pet food fits perfectly together.
June 16, 2008
While there is no way to be 100% certain that a pet food is not tainted or will be recalled, there are some important things to look for – and to avoid when selecting your dog´s or cat´s food.
June 16, 2008
It's something most pet owners don't know to pay attention to, but as you'll learn it vital to your pet's health.