ADORING PETS

Kosher Pet Food-Meat/Dairy & Your Pet’s Observance During Passover

Now that we have your attention, we would like to  help clear up the mystique and legitimate concerns many have throughout the year and during Passover (Pesach) if they are observant Jewishly and have pets.  Many who are observant realize that there really is no such thing as Kosher Pets or Kosher Pet Food.  There are restrictions that observant Jews face year round regarding certain food items which also have implications during Passover that affect their pets indirectly.  We have had people get downright belligerent that pets are somehow being exploited because of the dietary restrictions of their owners, but Jewish law that affects what Jewish petowners can keep in their house really does not have an impact on any pet’s well being in any negative way.  In fact, Jewish law actually has specific provisions that reflect a deep concern and respect for animals.  That aside, the idea of “Kosher Pet food” appears to stem from having only a passing familiarity with the dietary restrictions of Jewish pet owners that affect what they can have in their possession and thereby what they can purchase for their pets. 

Some may be aware that observant Jews do not mix meat and dairy.  This would not appear to affect what pets eat since they are not Jewish people, but the actual Jewish law prohibits observant Jews from benefitting  from mixtures of meat and dairy.  So, since feeding their pets would be a benefit, having meat and dairy pet food is something observant Jews need to avoid.  This is not a burden because many, many pet foods do not contain meat and dairy.  Many do not even contain dairy products because milk ingredients are a known allergen for some pets.  Fortunately, also, because we are now sensitive to the fact that pets can suffer allergies as much as humans, our pet ingredients are usually prominently displayed on packaging so we can see if there are dairy and meat products in the food item.  Few dogs or cats are allergic to meat, so there are many meat only products that we can feed our pets.

What does any of this have to do with Passover?  Well, observant Jews rid their houses each year of wheat products.  If pet foods have wheat, for a week, Jews pass on such products as they do other wheat products for the week of Passover.  Again, wheat is a common allergen for many pets as it is humans, so the ingredients should help pet owners figure out what pet foods have wheat and which do not. 

• Observant pet owners should check the ingredients of their pet food for wheat, wheat starch, wheat gluten, barley, oats, oat fiber, pasta or rye. 
  
• One way around this is to feed your pet human food during Passover/Pesach.  For some, this would be an exception that may stir things up for the rest of the year from a training perspective.  –We do not want our pets getting used to the dinner table and scraps.  It could also make them a little runny in the toilet department depending on what is on the menu for supper. 

Here are some of the pet foods that the CRC of Chicago notes are approved for Passover 2009. 

One should introduce such foods slowly and check with a veterinarian before changing the diet.  Check with a Rabbi for additional information or feel free to contact us for other food options.  One of the things we recommend is that if you pet adapts well to any of the following diets, avoid the hassle of looking for wheat droppings all over the house by feeding your pet a wheat free diet all year round.  Of course, check the ingredients again each Passover to see that the ingredient list has not changed.

Cats:

• Evanger’s:  100% Buffalo, 100% Duck, 100% Organic Chicken;
•  Friskies (Canned) Special Diet Ocean White Fish Dinner, Special Diet with Salmon, Turkey and Giblets Dinner;
•  Prescription Diet: a/d. c/d (dry only), d/d (except duck);
  
• Science Diet  (dry) Adult Optimal Care Ocean Fish & Rice Recipe, Adult Indoor, Indoor Mature, Adult Hairball Control, Adult Sensitive Skin.

Dogs:

• Evanger’s:  100% Venison for Dogs, 100% Duck, 100% Organic Chicken; Senior Dinner for Dogs; 
• Prescription Diet: a/d. c/d , d/d , g/d; z/d (low allergen) 
• Science Diet  (dry) Adult Active, Adult Large Breed, Adult Light, Adult Light Large Breed, Adult Sensitive Skin (canned);
• Nutro:  Natural Choice Lamb & Rice Formula, Natural Choice Lite.