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WHAT’S NEW
The ON-LINE edition of our monthly newsletter
FALL FELINE ELECTIVE SURGERY SPECIAL We want all the Summer Kittens to get off on the right paw in their
Click on any of the above procedures to go to it’s corresponding web page for detailed information on the surgery, it’s implications and/or alternatives available. [Back to Index at Top of Page]
SPECIAL FERAL CAT PACKAGE OCTOBER 15TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH Thanks to the Feral Cat altering project (sponsored by the California Veterinary Medical Association and a generous grant from Maddie’s Fund), during the six weeks of our Fall Feline Elective Surgery Special (see above for details) we can offer the following package of services for
To qualify, the cats must be feral (not pets), must have their ear notched to identify them as treated animals to animal control officials, and must be re-released back into the environment from which they were trapped. For more details on this program, its goals or its requirements, or how to obtain traps, click here. We are able to offer this special package because the amount this program reimburses the hospital for a spay or neuter (normally slightly less than what we charge), is less than our Fall Feline Elective Surgery Special prices, and we are able to add to the Spay or Neuter surgery a vaccination for distemper, a vaccination for Rabies and a dose of Revolution, which provides a month of protection against fleas, ticks, roundworms, hookworms and ear mites in cats. For more information on Revolution, click here.
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PET NUTRITION CORNER This Month’s Installment: In this series, we have discussed how pet food is tested for safety and quality and we have covered the ingredients and labeling of pet foods, but we have not reviewed the actual process by which pet food is manufactured. Prior to the commercialization of pet foods, people fed their pets table scraps, leftovers, or meat scraps purchased especially for pets. In addition, pets were generally allowed to hunt and forage for themselves. There was very little control over nutrient content and balanced diets were achieved only by coincidence. Parasitism was much more common due to the prevalence of raw meat in the diet as were food-borne toxins. The first commercial pet food, called “dog cake” was produced in 1860 by James Spratt in an effort to improve the overall quality of what was being fed to dogs. His company thrived into the 1950’s when it became part of General Mills. In 1907, F.H. Bennett introduced Milkbone dog biscuits, not as a treat but as a complete dog food. These two companies dominated pet food manufacture until the 1920’s when canned dog food was introduced by Ken-L-Ration. By 1941, canned dog food represented 91% of the dog food market but this reversed during World War II as tin was felt to be an important resource in the war effort and by 1946, dry foods became more popular. Kibbled pet foods as we know them today appeared in 1957 when the Purina company began marketing dog chow and cat chow. Today, the pet food industry is booming with sales increasing annually. We all like the convenience of buying a pet food already prepared, easy to store, proven to be nutritionally balanced, and safe. But one has to admit that the kibble poured into our pet’s food bowl bears little resemblance to the meat, corn, and wheat that it started out as. The rest of this article reviews how we get from the ingredients we might recognize in our own refrigerators to something that can be stored in a bag without refrigeration for months. The Manufacture of Dry Pet Food
Commercial preparation of pet food must meet a spectacular demand: over 12 tons of food hourly. This must be done in such a way that each batch is nutritionally and flavor-wise identical to every other batch. Precise weighing and inspection is key. The process by which the food product is put together in this controlled fashion is called “compounding.” Ingredients are purchased by the truckload. This includes dry meals, sacks of vitamins and minerals and meats. Dry ingredients must be ground to a specific particle size. The size of the particle will determine the water absorption of the dough, how it cooks, and how it will appeal to the pet. A machine called a “hammer mill” is used to grind the dry ingredients to the right size. The resulting mixes will look like flour. Next, the ingredients are mixed together specific amounts and mixed together. Computers control the weights of dry ingredients used. A special machine called a “ribbon blender” is
used to thoroughly combine the dry ingredients. Next comes the “preconditioning stage” where the dry and wet ingredients are mixed. This is where meats and fats are added in along with steam to begin the cooking process. After about one minute, the mixture is ready for “extrusion” which is where the main kneading and cooking portion of manufacture.
At the end of extrusion, the food is a spongy dough. It is forced through a die at high temperature and pressure so as to create the kibble shapes we are used to seeing. The dough hits room temperature where two important events occur: moisture flashes out of the kibble and the kibble expands about 50% in size. At this point, the kibble is still quite hot and soft. The final stage is the “enrobing” stage. The food is cooled in special dryers and sprayed with an external coat. The extrusion process inherently destroys some nutrients (vitamins A, E, and B1 are especially susceptible). These nutrients are sprayed back on to the kibbles to ensure their proper nutritional completeness. Often the spray includes special added flavorings (like the Gravy Train coating, for example). From here, the food is weighed, bagged, and sent to local grocery and/or pet food outlets for us to purchase. Next month: We will review the manufacture of Canned Pet Foods. The chief source for material in this article was “Making Commercial Pet Foods” by C.S. Cowell, N.P. Stout, M.F. Brinkman, E.A. Moser, and S.W. Crane in Small Animal Clinical Nutrition by Hand, Thatcher, Remillard, and Roudebush, 4th edition, Walsworth Publishing Company, 2000. [Back to Index at Top of Page]
Phenypropanolamine (PPA) has been an important medication in the control of canine urinary incontinence for many years. Rare side effects in humans have brought this common over-the-counter decongestant into the spotlight. The problems in humans that have been associated with PPA do not represent significant risks in the dog, and it appears that PPA will continue to be available for pets. For more information, we have included a link to the text of the official customer advisory from PlanetRX.com (a popular on-line pharmacy). To read it, click here. For general information on PPA’s use in pets, click here.
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POLICE K9 DEMONSTRATION & VENDOR FAIR If you would like to see official police K9 units up close and in action, then here is an event you might not want to miss. The Los Angeles County Police Canine Association will be presenting its 4th Annual Police K9 Demonstration & Vendor Fair on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9th, 2000 at Santa Monica College, in Santa Monica. The Vendor Fair will feature Law Enforcement, K9, and pet related booths and exhibits. You will be able to meet and speak with active police K9 handlers, vendors of pet related and pet supply companies and animal service orginizations. The kids will love having a picture taken with a K9 unit, and everyone will get to enjoy an exhibition of various training techniques of police K9 teams, which includes obedience, agility, suspect search, apprehension exercises, narcotics detection and search and rescue. These excercises will culminate with a SWAT team helicopter deployed on to the field during a demonstration felony arrest! Bring the whole family! There will also be a Guide Dog demonstration. Tickets are $35.00 per family, or group of friends. The proceeds will support:
If you would like to support these activities more than just purchasing a group ticket for $35, ticket booklets for various denominations are also available, which can be donated to local children’s orginizations to attend on your behalf. For additional information on the activities, the location, or how to purchase tickets, call the Los Angeles County Police Canine Association: (310) 390-2472 [Back to Index at Top of Page]
BRANDY Brandy is a beautiful red 6-year old Sheltie Mix. She has been spayed and is current on all her vaccinations. Brandy is a sensitive and loyal soul, with a preference for a quite home. She has been loved and well cared for all her life, but now due to family circumstances, Brandy’s owner must give her up to a new home.
CHAUSETTES Chausettes is a big, bold and beautiful 5-year old Domestic Medium Hair feline who is spayed and is current on all her vaccines. She has been in a loving indoor environment until
recently, when she was diagnosed with diabetes. Her owner is unable to keep up with her treatments, and Chausettes is boarding at our hospital until she finds a new home. She is
cuddly with people and good with other cats, and would make an ideal addition to a loving family.
PETEY Petey is a one-year old white and black American Bulldog with lots of love to share. He is neutered and is current on all his vaccines. Petey was found tied to a chain link fence with a belt under a freeway overpass. He is good with people, kids and other dogs and loves to spend his time relaxing with his chewing bone.
MITSUI Mitsui is a 7-month old female spayed Pit Bull mix. She was found wandering around a local grocery store parking lot, and happily followed one of our staff back to the hospital. She is VERY friendly and sweet, and (so far) seems fine with other dogs and children. We are tempted to call her a “mini pit bull” because at 30 pounds, she is already near her full adult weight.
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Thank-You for our New Referrals Here are the names of our clients who have referred their family or friends to our hospital in October 2000:
Thank you again for your confidence in us. [Back to Index at Top of Page]
WHAT’S NEW ON OUR WEB SITE (since last month) LOPERAMIDE Special Note to the West Los Angeles Obedience Training Club: [Back to Index at Top of Page]
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The machine is called an “extruder” and looks something
like a screw inside a barrel with the food passing through the threads of the screw from one end to the other. The food cooks as it contacts the barrel wall and changing the screw’s turning speed
can alter the character of the food. In general, higher temperatures and fast speeds through the extruder are used as these produce more complete cooking and destroy toxic microorganisms the best.
