I`d trrustt your local pet treatt artisan for fresh qualityy.

contiinued
d from page 9
Add Pegetables ® to your pet's Christmas
stocking…naturally.
All natural REAL vegetables in every gourmet chew.
»
Check the Use by or Best by date on
the package. Just like I reach into the
back of the cheese, dairy and meat racks
at the supermarket to get the freshest
produce, you should check for the
longer date in each instance. In buying
treats, I’ve frequently encountered items
on special that are short dated and
occasionally ones that are out of date.
Smell them. Make sure they’re not
rancid if they have oil or fat content or
if they are stale smelling.
Look at them closely. Is there evidence
of weevils or flour moths? You’ll often
see small moths flying around pet shops
and they’re a good indication of the
pantry moth problem you’ll soon have
this summer if you get treats infested
with weevils. There are also critters that
infest dried meat products and mould
can be an issue with product that are
wrapped and left in the sun where the
moisture can condense on packaging
and cause mould or bacteria to develop.
Though we’ll talk more about them
below, I’d trust your local pet treat
artisan for fresh quality rather than
items shipped from the US and Canada
under multinational brand names or
dried meat treats from China and other
countries that may have been on the
seas and in storage for months. It’s great
to have a relationship with the treat
maker if you meet them at the markets
(like a few of my favourite folk at Good
Living, North Sydney, Orange Grove and
Eveleigh markets or at council pet days).
With the concern for being green,
lowering your carbon paw print and
buying locally, why buy a Chinese or
Thai manufactured dried chicken treat,
Sri Lankan or Malaysian hide product
or Pommie dog biscuit when you
could easily buy local or even make
it yourself. It’s partially about food
kilometres as well as freshness and
certified ingredients.
Whatt To Avoiid
Avoid most supermarket pet treats. With
a few exceptions, they are made to a
price which often guarantees inferior
ingredients for lower costs and you
pay for the mass marketing and TV ads
when you see Schmackos on the TV,
radio, billboards and bus shelters as an
“I'dd trrusst yourr local pett treat
arrtisaan for frresh qu
ualitty...”
Contact [email protected] to discover more today!
urban animal.OVEMBERTHs
Discover more at www.vcaworld.com
example of a huge advertising campaign for a questionable treat in terms
of quality and ingredients. There are some great treats that are sold in
supermarkets from reputable mass-market and pet channel distributors,
like Starvin Marvins as an example, but you really need to read the label
and do your homework before being dazzled in the aisles by colourful
packaging, marketing hype and advertising investment as well as eyelevel or end cap placement.
Be careful shopping in pet chain stores when buying treats. Turnover
and dating can be an issue with treats just as it is with kibbled product.
In one instance, a major NSW chain was caught selling ‘Kennel Packs’ of
a variety of mixed kibbles from various brands. The kibble had expired
dating and was combined in clear plastic bags or sacks. The stores
had received credit for the bags of kibbles from the manufacturers by
cutting off the dates on the bags and returning the clipped corners but
not disposing of the food. Of course this isn’t disclosed to the gullible
customer looking for a bargain product.
While supermarkets are much more vigilant on turnover and dating,
you may find that the pallet loads of treats that go through pet chain
stores often get discounted more because of age than the generosity of
company. So make sure to check the dates of product and don’t buy
unbranded treats, especially ones that are sold in bulk in baskets, open
or sealed bins, boxes or crates. The likelihood of new product being
combined with old and cross infestation by pests or bacteria are greater.
Add IQ™ Treats to your pet's Christmas
stocking…naturally.
Fun to feed and delicious to eat, IQ™ Cross Bones and Stars are
the clever, all natural, way to look after your dog's canines.
No sugar and if possible no salt. Remember that sugar can be called by
many names, sucrose, fructose, lactose, maltose, corn syrup, etc. And
definitely no artificial sweeteners—your dog does not need unbranded
Sweet n Low, Equal, Splenda or other chemical sweeteners.
Of course, no chocolate, it’s toxic for dogs. Though you would probably
never find it in a pet treat, this means you not sharing your Mars Bar or
using M&Ms and Smarties as a quick fix. Same goes for human cookies
and pastries.
No animal ‘by products’. This is a seemingly innocent designation for
items such as hoofs, horns, offal, eyes, digestive tract, reproductive or
other organs, beaks, feet, bone, tendons, connective tissues and other
dubious off-cuts. In some cases this can include the Three Ds—dead,
contin
nued on page 12
TM
The Clever Chew
»
Contact [email protected] to discover more today!
Discover more at www.vcaworld.com
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A dog’s sense of smell is 40
times more powerful than
humans. The Lickables
dehydration process locks
in the strong natural aroma,
driving dogs wild.
Every pac
packet of Lickables is high
in protein and low in fat, and has
DSRZHUIXOÀDYRXUDQGDURPD
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that drives dogs wild.
Beef Cubes and Roo
Bites contain zinc,
which helps boost
the immune system.
Available From:
Jazzy Dog Salon
Northside Pet Grooming
The Muttropolitan
K9 Kutz
Peto
Stefmar Petcare Centre
St Ives Purrfect Pets
Doonside
Manly
Woollahra
Rosebery
Brookvale
(Q¿HOG
St Ives
Lamb Liver is gentle on
the stomach for dogs
with
w sensitive stomachs
and food allergies.
Fish Biscuits and Roo
Bites contain essential
fatty acids to improve
coat appearance.
Lamb Liver
‡ Sweet Smelling
‡ Easy on the Stomach
‡Contains iron, zinc and
B-Group vitamins
Fish Bicuits
‡Essential
ntial fatty acids
‡ Low in cholesterol
‡ Rich in iron and calcium
Porky Chews
‡ A longer lasting treat
‡ A great source of energy
Beef Cubes
‡‡Contains
Contains iron
iron, zinc
and phosphorus
‡ Vitamin B6 & B12
Roo Bites
‡ Very low in fat (2%)
‡ Contains Essential
Fatty Acids
‡ Contains Iron and Zinc
Lickables are available from all good pet stores and vet clinics. 7R¿QG\RXUQHDUHVWVWRFNLVWSOHDVHFDOO1800 032 139 or visit www.gofetchinternational.com
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sNovember 15th, 2009 urban animal