http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/allComments/ XML Feed en Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:44:14 +0200 http://static.blogr.com/tenants/com/modSiteIcon/tdy-dummy-site-icon.icon.jpg http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/allComments/ 48 48 http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8152349/#8152384 cool http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8152349/comments/8152384/ Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:44:15 +0200 ashsah (anonymous) http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/#8094524 What I find very interesting about this blog, is that this was originally an article that was run in the Baltimore Sun-Times. What I want to know, does the article's author own this blog; and if not, do they know it is on the Internet somewhere else? There is a problem with plagiarism if not. It is sad, because this means to me that the person who owns and writes this blog, if not the author of the original article, has probably not even tried any of Wendy's recipes for their own pets. Not only would plagiarism come into play, it seems to me that there could be a case of fraud involved here as well. Does this person realize that over 75% of American consumers are no longer feeling safe about the products they buy. This isn't just due to the pet food recall either, this is due to all the recalls in the last several years. I know I feel better cooking for my dog and cats, because I know what is going into their foods. I have control over how much "junk" and by-products are going into their food, because I am making it. Not only that with corn prices soaring and everything else going up, pet food prices are going up as well because of all the grain that is routinely used for ingredients. So the argument about cooking for your pet being too expensive is about to go out the window as well. As an owner of multiple pets, it is easy to cook one day a month and just freeze what I make until I need to use it. As the ingredient prices used in pet foods go up, the manufacturers will begin trying to change the ingredients they use. A pet food manufacturer can alter their formula by as much as 25% without changing the bag labels. So, although the bag says one thing, you could actually be feeding something completely different. You can bet your bottom dollar that Proctor & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive and the other large conglomerates are doing just that. With all this information in front of you, how could you not try to make the life of your four-legged friends better, by cooking their food yourself? http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/comments/8094524/ Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:28:34 +0200 Ruthie Bently (anonymous) http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/#8093449 Before commercial pet food (50+ years ago), pet lovers went to the butcher to get bones/scrap meat and fed table scraps to their pet. Before commercial pet food, pets lived to be 15-20+ years old and rarely got the degenerative diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes, chronic renal failure, auto-immune disease and cancer) they get today. It was not uncommon for cats to be 20+ years old and still be relatively healthy. Now that we have 50 years of feeding commercial pet food, what do the statistics show? Our pets are living to half what they did 50 years ago. The average life of a Golden Retriever is just 7 years. 50% of older pets WILL GET CANCER (Morris Animal Foundation). Older pets are confronted with an epidemic of “human” degenerative diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes, chronic renal failure, auto-immune disease and cancer) they rarely got 50 years ago. So, if you’re happy with your pet living to be only half of its expected life and you don’t mind the expense and suffering (by pets and people) of modern day degenerative diseases, then by all means do what everyone else does by feeding commercial pet food. I would agree with Dr. Tony Buffington that there’s inherently less risk in serving premium quality (not cheap generic) commercial pet food, than people mixing up dishes willy-nilly in their own kitchens. Feeding straight ground meat is not balanced and lacks calcium, minerals, enzymes and critical amino acids pets need. But that’s why we need experts like Wendy Nan Rees to educate us on balanced homemade food options for those that love our pet like members of our family. I personally would not feed my child vegetable- and fruit-flavored cookies for ten years and expect it not to be obese, have diabetes and other health challenges. Cheap commercial dry kibble is nutritionally equivalent to meat-flavored cookies to a carnivore with its 50-80% carbohydrate, sugar, filler fiber, synthetic vitamins and chemical preservatives. It is a far cry from the 60-90% meat protein biologists say are in a carnivore’s native diet. If one fed a child hot dogs, potato chips, French Fries and ice cream every day for ten years, what is the likelihood of putting down carrot sticks and a salad in front of them and getting them to eat it? To expect a cat to accept new food cold-turkey, shows a lack of knowledge of feline behavior. Dogs, who are scavengers, might accept new food but not a cat. Feline experts, animal behaviorists and holistic vets will tell you not only to slowly transition a cat to new food for the sake of success but also as a health precaution. Any pet that is fed the same flavor, same brand of food every day will not have the necessary enzymes or friendly bacteria (probiotics) in their gut to be able to properly digest any new food. So, the fact that Leo, the cat, batted the newly introduced homemade kibble around the floor is more a lack of understanding of proper feline behavior than an editorial comment about the recipe. As far as dogs and cats caring about the quality of food, a child will happily eat hot dogs, potato chips, French Fries and ice cream every day for ten years if that is what we put on the table for them. But I care too much for our pets (and children), to subject them to the epidemic of degenerative diseases that will prevail after ten years of feeding generic commercial pet food. I treat our pets as members of our family and am willing to take the time to research what their nutritional needs are and how to give them a healthier, longer life. If you think spending $80 for nutritious home-made ingredients is too much for your wallet, what will you think when you have to shell out $$$ for a month’s worth of diabetic insulin, chemotherapy or radiation treatment for your hyperthyroid cat before the age of 15. http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/comments/8093449/ Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:46:12 +0200 Russell Louie (anonymous) http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/#8093299 The author of this critical piece fails to mention that Wendy Nan Rees co-wrote the book with Kevin Schlanger DVM. Although the everyone is entitled to their own opinion... failing to mention this vets inclusion in the book is worth mentioning. The recipes are not only found to be tasty be all my four-legged friends, they are also nutritious and found to be sound by the co-author, a DOCTOR... In my opinion this reviewer felt the need to discredit the work of pet lifestyle expert, a celebrity chef and a doctor, but doesn't even know what yeast is... I guess anyone can write a blog these days regardless of experience talent, knowledge or research.. http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/comments/8093299/ Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:28:33 +0200 Mary Thompson (anonymous) http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/#8092865 I found this article to be a bit harsh as I love to cook for my dog with recipes from Wendy's book. I love to cook and am surprised that author of this article would have such little experience cooking and grocery shopping and feel qualified to scorn the talents of a pet authority as well as renowned television chef. Maybe the author should start over with the right attitude; one of love and patience rather than being cheap and bitter. http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/comments/8092865/ Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:58:48 +0200 Faye Garrow (anonymous) http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/#8092155 I was shocked to read your review. If you spent as much time cooking and preparing the food for your animals as you did writing this they might have been happy with the food. It is obvious that you are not skilled in the kitchen so why would you think animal food would turn out better than regular food. My dog Sabrina has special dry food from the vet but she loves the recipes that I make from Wendy's cook book. She is worth the time and effort. Lynne C. Schulthess http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/comments/8092155/ Sat, 31 May 2008 22:50:04 +0200 Lynne C. Schulthess (anonymous) http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/#8092136 There is no question that fresh ingredients are better for any pet - mainly because there are no preservatives or by-products. High preservatives can lead to vital organ issues. Try reading a food label on Science Diet, Nutro, Eukanuba, and especially Fancy Feast, etc. - By-products can be listed generically as "chicken" which could include intestines, feathers, nails, beaks, and any other crap they decide to get in there....also, most of the ingredients are not even pronounceable let alone understandable. You have absolutely no idea what has been put into this food. When you give your pet unprocessed food, they will eat less primarily because there are no fillers, will have firmer and less smelly poop, and fewer visits to the vet! There isn't one food for every pet...just like humans, they have to have favorites. Experiment and have fun. That is one of the greatest things about Wendy's book...choices. She gives guidance on tried and true recipes. Some ingredients can be harmful to dogs and cats that people don't even know about when they are cooking for their pets. Wendy knows. She has had so many years of experimenting, experience and cooking for her dogs. If a pet has been given crappy, cheap foods, such as those found in the supermarket, then obviously it would be a slow transition to a more healthy line. Just as if we were hooked on MacDonalds' high fat, high salt burgers. Do you think it would take us a couple of days to enjoy eating better quality and healthier foods? Of course not. Same for your pets. I got a chuckle out of the first person's comment about "smelly cookies". Have you ever taken a whiff from a can of cat food? Now...that's smelly!!! This person also did not take the time to slowly add Wendy's recipe into the existing kibble.... naturally the cats didn't take to it because their crappy food was all of a sudden gone! She should try some of Wendy's other recipes - especially now that she has plenty of brewer's yeast! http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/comments/8092136/ Sat, 31 May 2008 22:05:30 +0200 Paula Turner (anonymous) http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/#8091973 It is apparent that this reviewer doesn't have a clue of what are basic cooking ingredients, as well as supplements. I don't even cook, but I not only know what brewer's yeast is, but what aisle to find it in. Wendy Nan Rees's books are meticulously researched and written. She has few rivals in the pet food world, and is a well respected pet authority. Do your homework before criticizing! http://uebtoosui.blogr.com/stories/8091332/comments/8091973/ Sat, 31 May 2008 18:03:43 +0200 Lyn Henderson (anonymous)