Pet Foods with Drug Claims

by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

(Page 2 of 2)

FDA is especially concerned about pet food products labeled for the prevention or treatment of disease. Such labeling, Graber points out, renders the product a drug. He says that as far as he knows, no pet foods carrying drug claims are being legally marketed in the United States.

FDA has been working with the states, through AAFCO, to make sure that pet foods are not labeled with drug claims. Of particular concern recently has been cat food labeled for the prevention of feline urological syndrome (FUS), a urinary tract problem in male cats.

In February 1990, AAFCO sent a letter to pet food manufacturers reiterating FDA and AAFCO's position that claims that a product may prevent or treat FUS are drug claims and are not allowed on feeds unless they're approved as drugs. Even though FDA gave companies ample time to make necessary label changes, some failed to make them.

Armed with FDA documentation, Missouri and Texas state officials have seized hundreds of tons of cat food labeled for the prevention of FUS, and New York state officials are contemplating similar action. At least one company whose products were seized has assured FDA that it will no longer label products for sale in the United States for the prevention of FUS.

In a similar case in 1987, the manufacturer of Purina Puppy Chow complied with FDA's request to withdraw its advertising claims that the product could ease canine hip displasia (CHD), a genetic disease affecting the hip joints of some breeds of dogs, particularly German shepherds. The supporting evidence printed in the advertising brochure provoked a strong reaction in the veterinary community, which dismissed it as scientifically inadequate. Although American Kennel Club breeders have made progress in breeding a tendency toward CHD out of some purebreds, many dogs still suffer from the complex problem, which involves not just breed but genetics, weight when young, and other factors. No dog food has been shown to relieve the disorder.

FDA allows companies to make "gray area" claims on pet food labels provided there is adequate data to support their safety for these uses. "Gray area" claims are defined as those that provide useful health-related information, but do not directly state disease prevention or treatment. Examples of gray area claims are "low magnesium" or "produce acidic urine pH."

Weighty Problems

"Low-calorie" pet foods have emerged to help pudgy pooches and fat felines reduce. A safe and effective weight reduction program, however, must recognize not just the physiological differences between humans and dogs or cats, but also those between dogs and cats.

From a fifth to over half of dogs are overweight, though the lack of agreement as to what constitutes canine obesity complicates the estimate. If your dog is overweight, in most cases a veterinarian's opinion is needed to decide what to do. Placing the dog in a hospital and starving it used to be considered an option. But, according to FDA veterinarians, this is rarely done today because it's now known to be extremely dangerous. It produced only slightly more weight loss than reducing the amount of regular food, and certainly the dogs didn't like it.

Unless your dog is so committed to its regular food that it refuses anything else, the best course is usually to switch to the same amount of "diet" product recommended by the dog's vet, rather than reducing the amount of regular food.

Putting cats on a diet can be tricky, too. A "fasting" cat can develop a painful liver condition called hepatic lipidosis. More gradual weight reduction, with enough food to maintain 60 to 70 percent of the cat's usual energy intake, is essential. A veterinarian can help you determine what this means in terms of food portions or types for Tabby.

Other Nutritional Needs

The commercial success of age-based dog foods set off widespread mass-marketing of specialty pet foods. Promoters claim these products address the particular nutritional requirements your pet encounters as its physiological makeup changes with age. Does your pet really need this costlier precision in its diet?

Some veterinarians find advantages in these products for some dogs and cats, though the nutritional benefits will likely vary with breeds as well as with individual animals. But it's also true that any "complete and balanced" food will be adequate for pets of all ages without particular health needs.

Specialized foods can make valuable contributions toward controlling pets' afflictions, though usually as part of a comprehensive therapeutic program. For example, inflammatory bowel or other gastrointestinal diseases can respond well to special diets, but the advice of a vet is essential in treating pet illnesses. Well-intentioned experimenting with a pet's diet may relieve one condition only by risking another.

Cats and dogs aren't our only pets, though they have commanded the lion's share of veterinary research. AAFCO now is devoting new attention to "specialty products" designed for gerbils, goldfish, ferrets, and other creatures. Overweight hamsters may some day find themselves doomed to reducing diets, just like dogs, cats — and people.

Though gourmet goodies may tempt you as you stroll the pet food aisle, it's wise to keep in mind that expert advice, rather than impulse and intuition, should be your guide in feeding Fido and Tabby. This approach can protect both your pet's health — and your pocketbook.

About the Author

www.fda.gov
FDA is A United States government body that oversees medical devices, including contact lenses, intraocular lenses, excimer lasers and eyedrops. In the US, these products must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed.