If you are a pet owner, It is now more important than ever to be certain you are feeding your animal a premium dog food or a holistic, premium cat food. When I first heard about the horrors of the rendering plants, I thought it was an exaggeration. But upon hearing the recent news of the dog and cat food recalls I see that what I heard may have been just the tip of the iceberg. At the time of this writing, there are some 53 dog products which have been recalled and another 42 cat products. And this list is likely to grow. If your dog or cat has eaten any of the food listed on this rather extensive recall list and they are showing signs of illness, be sure to contact your vet right away, because with treatment it may not be too late.

The FDA states that contaminated dog food that was sold in twenty-three states has already killed nearly two dozen dogs in the country and sickened some eighteen others. The final tally will almost certainly be higher, unfortunately. CBS News has reported on it's website that some of the dog food may contained aflatoxin. This is basically a chemical which comes from a fungus sometimes found on corn or other crops, and may cause severe liver damage in some instances. What are the symptoms to look for in your pet? Keep an eye out for general sluggishness or lethargy, diminished appetite and in extreme instances heavy vomiting, fever and jaundice.

According to an article on USA today's website by journalist Liz Szabo entitled Pet food recall affects 90 brands?, Laurie Miller, who is a veterinarian at the Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Virginia., states that she has received many phone calls regarding the recall and that she now is treating a two year-old

German shepherd who developed diarrhea and vomiting after eating a particular type of Iams dog food which is included in the recall. Most of the products listed are marketed around the country by retailers like Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and PetSmart, to name a few. In fact, consumers kept a phone line (866-895-2708) set up by Menu Foods busy all weekend. A big part of the problem seems to be that many of these mainstream type brands are owned by the same parent corporation. The pet food in question has not only been widely distributed in the United States but also in Canada and Mexico, according to Mathew Verrinder, an Associated Press journalist, as reported in Yahoo news.

How can you make sure that your dog or cat is eating Healthy, safe food? I would choose a true premium dog or cat food. Not just the "natural" version of the mainstream brand found in your local grocery store.According to my research Premium Dog food from Life's Abundance may very well be the best choice in this regard. This food is formulated by renowned holistic veternarian Dr. Jane Bicks. This Premium Dog Food does NOT contain corn, wheat, dairy, by-products, artificial colors or flavors found in most mainstream brands.

If fed a diet that it is optimally balanced, your dog can live to his or her maximum potential lifespan. Hopefully this will get you started in the right direction.