Recently in pet food Category

OK, maybe a little bit TOO healthy.  

Biscuits from "Barkwheats" with SeaVeg & Chamomile.

Really. They're dog biscuits made with "organic sea vegetable (bladderwrack) powder straight from the cold ocean off the Maine coast." Wow.  

$9.50 for a box of 40 biscuits. 19 calories per biscuit.

Lots of claims by the makers of these treats -- "Known for its detoxification properties and weight control abilities (due to the stimulation of the thyroid), bladderwrack has been a staple in coastal culture for centuries as both a food and a medicine. Chamomile also works to calm inflammation and as a treatment for nerves and stomach ailments."

If nothing else, "bladderwrack" is kind of fun to say. Like talking Pirate.

No endorsements here, I lean on the skeptical side of some of this stuff that's being marketed. But that's me. Figured some of you might like to know bout it. If you have extra $$$ and all that.

(But you can probably find less pricey yet healthy treats from our own local San Pedro Dogs.)

H/T: Barkability

I posted an item on Tuesday about discount pet food and supply prices at Global Pet Food Outlet in Torrance.

On a related issue, Dogster recently wrote about how to find a good, quality dog food -- citing a Consumer Reports article that pricier foods aren't necessarily better.

From the article:

The bottom line, says Consumer Reports: It's more important to look for the overall nutrient profile of a particular pet food brand than it is to shop by price or even individual ingredience. "As a pet owner, your main goal is to ensure that your animal is active and healthy," says Jaime Hirsh, associate health editor at Consumer Reports. "That suggests that the food you're buying is doing its job. But it's also important to know that you don't have to choose the most expansive food to get what's best for your pet. Look for food labeled 'complete and balanced,' which indicates it can be the pet's sole nourishment.

Hirsh advises pet owners to look for labels stating that the food's nutritional adequacy was validated by animal-feeding tests based on protocols from the American Association of Feed Control Officials, a regulatory group. That statement is a step above the other one that AAFCO allows -- that a food was formulated to meet the group's nutrient profiles. "In addition, make sure the package has contact information for the food's manufacturer, in case you have questions," Hirsh says.

Consumers should also take into consideration the age of their pet and whether he or she has special needs. For example, cats with kidney or urinary problems might benefit from the moisture in wet food, while animals with dental issues might do better with dry food.

Dogster has posted the entire article.  

If you're like me, the household budget is getting pretty tight these days. But you don't want to scrimp on your pet when it comes to their basic needs.

Some things are easy to cut out -- that extra holiday collar that's so cute (but clearly frivolous and unnecessary), a box of treats (that probably aren't that good for your dog anyhow).

But what about the high-quality food you want to make sure your dog or cat continues to have? My dogs both eat Innova, I use coupons and buy the 30-pound bag at a local chain pet store. But after years of hearing the buzz about Global Pet Food Outlet in Torrance, I decided to check out their prices to see if I could find a better price.

The store, at 20210 S. Normandie (at Jon Street, just south of 190th), touts the "lowest overall prices in the nation." They also deliver and say they carry "every major brand or natural dog and cat food, including organic and raw." The store advertises that it has a full stock of Eukanuba/Iams.

Besides food, they stock a large selection of toys (including Kong products), an array of nutritional supplements, treats, grooming tools and pet accessories. I didn't price check a lot of items (and wouldn't know if many of those things were cheaper without a direct comparison). But I did see a 6-foot long, heavy leather leash marked at around $20, which seemed like a pretty low price for leather.

So the bottom line is I can't vouch for their overall prices. But I can tell you this -- I saved about $10 on my bag of dog food. That's enough of a savings to send me back again. The store seems to have a very loyal clientele.

If you want to check on prices before taking a trip out there, you can call Global Pet Food Outlet at 310-327-3330. The owner was quite helpful and very willing to check prices for me in advance when I called ahead to make sure it would be worth the trip.

Hours are limited, however: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week, but extended hours (until 6:30 p.m.) are offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

I found these consumer reviews online.

If you're familiar with Gobal and have been shopping there, let me know what you think.

Celebrity Chef Rachael Ray is the latest star to launch her own pet food line (Nutrish) based on recipes she's come up with for her pit bull, Isaboo. The new enterprise is charity-driven, with all proceeds from sales going to Rachel's Rescue, which she founded to help animals.

"It seemed like a lot of extra time to donate to something that could potentially raise millions of dollars for championing these little creatures that can't speak for themselves," Ray said.

A line of food for cats also is being planned.

But not everyone is giving the new food a five-paw rating. Dog Food Project, a web site devoted to analyzing commercial pet foods, finds Ray's recipes lacking. 

You be the judge. 

First gas, now pet food.

For the past three months, consumer watchdogs -- not to mention pet owners -- have seen pet food costs rise. According to the U.S. bureau of Labor's Consumer Price Index, pet food prices are up by between 8 and 9.5 percent over the same time last year and represents the largest pet food increase in years.

A story this week in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cites several factors contributing to the spike, including the higher cost of ingredients such as grains and meats that manufacturers are having to pay.

And, yes, there's also a gas pump link -- delivery costs, way up.

High gas prices and other rising expenses are also hitting animal shelters hard, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Soaring fuel costs are biting into the budgets of Central Florida's animal shelters. ... And taxpayers are bearing the brunt of it as the price for everything from dog kibble and flea dip to gasoline and medicine keeps going up. 

Meanwhile, there's also new demand for help at pet food banks and discount vets, according to this MSNBC story.