While many people deeply care for their pet, they may not be aware of what is in their food. Animal health and dieting are not considered in the same way as they are for humans. It’s true that human beings and animals have different physiology but there are some similarities in body function, including a reaction to food.
Human-grade ingredients are exactly what they sound like: The compounds inside them are held to a human standard. It does not mean that these pet items are for human usage. Rather, the manufacturing process and ingredients of them are similar to how human products are produced. So, instead of making a product approved for animals, the company would make one approved for humans. This would increase the caliber of a commodity that isn’t often dealt with. Pets are loved and cared for in many homes. They can be our best friend. However, regardless of how much you love your pet, they are still animals. The state of care given to their products will be limited due to that fact. Human-grade ingredients offer a chance for your pet to get better products than what is usually provided to them.
The value of human-grade ingredients can be seen in the distinction between pet and human products. Pet products are at a lower standard than human products when it comes to safety. For example, instead of “wholesome chicken meat,” they have substituted chicken heads, feet, feathers, and intestines. “Choice” cuts of beef are actually cow brains, tongues, esophagi, and fetal tissue high in hormones. “Whole grains” have had the starch removed for cornstarch powder and the oil extracted. Actual whole grains have been deemed unfit for human consumption due to mold, contaminants, or poor quality. In fact, most pet food recalls result from toxic grain products like corn or wheat.
In addition to its misleading ingredients, pet foods often contain bacteria like salmonella due to the raw components in the food. Various cases of salmonella poisoning in dogs were linked to dog food in a study conducted by the CDC. This year alone, multiple pet-food manufacturers have had to recall their food because salmonella was found in them. As for human food, on the other hand, there are much fewer cases of salmonella discovered in them. That is because human goods are better tested and regulated than pet goods.
This same logic can be applied to other pet products as well. Cannabidiol (CBD), an increasingly common treatment for pain in humans, is now being used to help pets with arthritis, diabetes, and seizures. Since there are a variety of ways in which a pet can ingest CBD, such as CBD cream, tincture, topicals, and gummies, it is a practical choice for pet owners. And retailers are noticing; the products are now being sold anywhere from animal groomers to doggie daycares. However, it is still a highly controversial industry. While California physicians can recommend but not prescribe cannabis products for human patients, they are not allowed to even broach the subject with pets. Additionally, many traditional vets disapprove of the growing but unregulated industry. So while it may seem “extra” to treat pets to 100% human-grade CBD oil, it may actually be smart, particularly in an industry that is just burgeoning.
