Animal Testing and Pet Food Feeding Trials

Wysong does not agree with animal testing of any sort, including feeding trials. Even though there is no invasive, toxic, or disease-inducing experimental abuse in feeding trials, there is nonetheless a cruelty in keeping animals in a caged environment for such tests.

Additionally, these tests do not prove what they are intended for: "100% completeness." Feeding trials are performed on caged animals and are short-term (generally 26 weeks at most). Such tests deny that nutrition can have effects beyond the few weeks used in a feeding trial. Undetected nutrient imbalance in youth has, for example, been shown to affect both animal and human, adult- and latter-age susceptibility to many chronic degenerative diseases, and even impact the health of future generations. A feeding trial does not and cannot measure this. Results from a laboratory-bred puppy raised on concrete in stainless steel cages, placed under fluorescent lights, breathing conditioned air does not necessarily correlate to real animals in homes and backyards.

Further, such tests are found to be ineffective. In an issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. David Dzanis of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine stated, "The formulation method does not account for palatability or availability of nutrients. Yet a feeding trial can miss some chronic deficiencies or toxicities." Dr. Rogers of the University of California stated, "Some foods that pass the feeding trial still won't support animals over the long term...The maintenance protocol lasts only 6 months, the effects of an excess might not cause a problem for several years."

In short, feeding trials in no way assure animal owners that optimal pet health will be achieved and maintained if tested products are fed exclusively over a lifetime. Any 'feeding trials' conducted for Wysong are with at-home, well-loved companion animals. Our proof is found in philosophical correctness (see The Truth About Pet Foods) and nearly thirty years of great results and healthy companion animals.