Although they have pet feed "standards" in place, I think it is very blatant that they are faulty and not in the best interest of animals. The ingredients must be considered "safe" and there is no pre-market approval. If there are any claims on the packaging, they must be approved but are not exactly "strict." Food colorings must also be considered "safe," along with any additives and/or preservatives.
After having a decent number of animals, I have absolutely noticed a difference in my animals' health. I have fed all of them different diets, all considered "safe," with dog food and cat food being the least healthy of all of them. They all lived almost identical lifestyles, and the food choices were for the most part chosen by my animals, except for one. Of the 4 cats that I have had, one ate strictly cat food and died at the age of 10. (She had a heart attack). The next cat was hit by a car and died at a young age. The third cat died at the age of 14 (she got hit by a car) but had some health problems, including those of the thyroid. She ate strictly cat food (multiple brands and types). Her son is now 14 and eats a diet that is strictly meat-based, with an occasional bowl of cream. (His food varies in brand and meat type). He has no health concerns at the moment. Two of my Australian Shepherds eat fresh meats and blended steamed vegetables, with some herbal supplements. They at first started off with dog food but hated the taste, so we started cooking for them and the male cat. They have become leaner and in better health once the grains were eliminated from their diet. One of the canines was battling a drug-resistant yeast infection on one of her paws for 2 years on and off, and it actually completely went away once her diet was changed. (Yeast and bacteria thrive off grains, which originally should have never been a part of the canine diet, as it is extremely unnatural). Lastly, my ten year old Aussie was diagnosed with nasal cancer 2 months ago (who also consumed a hybrid diet between meat and dog food prior to the diagnosis) and I immediately put her on an organic, grain free diet, rich in vitamins, herbs, steamed vegetables, and fresh meats. She was given less than one month and I believe that as a result of the radiation therapy and extremely nutritious diet, her body was able to begin healing itself, way more efficiently than if she has only received radiation treatment and a dog food diet.
Also, after researching about ferrets (we had 2 that died of endocrine-related cancer), it is evident that this species is one of the most negatively effected by their extremely unnatural diet than all other species. The majority have a very shot lifespan and are subject to cancers related to digestion / endocrine function. This is clearly a result of their diets.
After extensive research I have found many articles proving that dog food causes cancer. This is because the fat:protein:carbohydrate ratio is not reflective of their natural diet. As a result, their bodies cannot function the way they are built, and many negative health effects are a result. The FDA allows for a large range of acceptable ratios between the three necessary sources of survival. This is a huge problem, and I believe that a new and better standard needs to be set in place so that pet owners are limited to healthy options, because many are unaware of this issue. Grains should be eliminated almost entirely from dog foods and the protein to fat ratio should be altered based on optimal nutrition for canines. this is an important issue that is often overlooked, and it is especially sad because animals unfortunately cannot make these decisions for themselves, which is what makes the importance of these standards so great. It is kind of similar to baby food, if you think about it.. but that's a topic for another time.
http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/products/animalfoodfeeds/petfood/ucm2006475
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