I'm an ethical canine journalist, so I have to tell you the dog's honest truth: my people helped me write this month's column. They have devoted a lot of time to researching pet food and I've, well, devoted most of my time to eating it. But lately, scary stuff about pet food has been in the news a lot. Even I have to admit that smart dogs and cats should be questioning what's in their bowls.

Anyway, this topic gets pretty complex, so I called in some extra help. Basically, as I understand it, human food gets a lot of attention. The same cannot be said for pet food. In fact, pet food is just barely regulated. Until recently, this discrepancy did not cause much alarm. In recent months, however, many animals have gotten sick and some have died because of contaminants poisoning a very long list of recalled popular pet food brands.

I could go on for hours about this issue, but I like to keep things short because I have pressing commitments like barking and sleeping. After narrowing down the facts, I've decided the fastest way to tackle this topic is to focus on two points: get to know the small-print ingredient list and do your research!

Get to Know the Small-Print Ingredient List: There are some very specific ingredients that I can tell you to avoid – not just because of the pet food recall, but because they simply aren't good for us. If the ingredient label on a bag or can has these words on it, do not feed it to your pet:
• By-products
• Digest
• Ethoxyquin
• BHA
• BHT
• Propylene Glycol
• Rice Protein Concentrate
• Wheat Gluten

There are a few additional pointers to keep in mind: Rice is still okay (rice protein concentrate is very different from whole rice). Wheat, even in non wheat-gluten form, is generally not a great ingredient because it is a very common allergen. Finally, avoid corn because it is usually used in inferior food.

Do Your Research:
• Find out where your pet's food is made. If the company that produces your pet's food won't tell you where it's manufactured and by whom, that's not a good sign.
• Please Google the phrase "What's Really in Pet Food" and read this highly informative article found on the Animal Protection Institute's website. It's a long article but well worth any pet owner's time.
• Keep up with the latest brands added to the recall list. The original list has been expanded. If you feed commercial brands, think about our food differently than you think about your food. Why? Because we might be eating the same thing every single day. Occasional junk food may be a harmless indulgence for you, but if our food is junk food, we're eating it exclusively!

Of course, some people choose to cook for their pets, and that's a terrific solution as long as someone familiar with pet nutrition helps to formulate a well-balanced home-cooked diet specific to the needs of dogs and cats.

I know how confusing and frightening the pet food recall has been for many people, but a little knowledge will go a long way in easing any concerns. Most importantly, take this issue seriously. Your best friend's health and well-being are at stake.

Albert, a Jack Russell Terrier, is Chairman of the Board of Wylie Wagg, a shop for dogs, cats, and their people, in Middleburg and Fairfax.