Ralston Purina
Are Expensive Dog Foods Better?
Is Highly Advertised Dog Food Really Better?
When you go to buy dog food?
You might be surprised at who’s been manufacturing and selling your dog food to you.Once upon a time a pet food company was a pet food company, not a handy division that creates profits out of by-products and waste from the other product manufacturing going on under their stock market symbol.
Two of the most visible pet food manufacturers stand out as examples: Ralston Purina sold out to British Petroleum in 1986, to the Sterling Group in 1993, then was acquired by Koch Industries in 1996 and is now a subsidiary of the Nestle corporation. Waltham, a name that includes Pedigree, Nutro, Royal Canin and Cesar among its stable of pet foods, is owned by the giant Mars Corporation. Mars was already the largest dog food packer in the world, back in 1968, when it acquired KalKan. Oh, and by the way, the chain of veterinary hospitals, Banfield, the Pet Hospital, the one that operates clinics in many PetSmart stores, is now partially owned by Mars, Inc., since 2007 when the CEO sold his shares.
On the FundingUniverse site, Ralston Purina’s statement of company perspective reads:
The corporate philosophy of Purina Mills is to continue our tradition of providing both the necessary nutritional products and the value-added services that producers, processors and retailers need to satisfy the demands of a growing end-consumer market. We remain committed to expanding our research and development to enable American agricultural entrepreneurs to capitalize on the opportunities ahead.
Not seeing anything there about taking care of the consumer and delivering a safe, quality product . . .
So, what do these mergers and acquisitions and subsidiaries mean to you? To your dog?
One of the areas of largest impact is marketing.
Consider all those Beneful ads on TV. “You only think you’re getting spoiled . . .” Well, that much is true. All of the sponsorships, from Pedigree to Eukanuba to Iams, plastered over every major dog sporting event; the inferences “top breeders recommend,” are the power of marketing bucks. Stop and think of how many bags of dog food and packages of treats have to be sold to pay for the Pedigree’s sponsorship of Westminster or Eukanuba’s AKC National Championship. By 2000, Mars, Inc. was spending over $850 million a year in advertising their brands. That’s a lot of kibbles and bits to sell to keep those companies’ — and others like them — gravy trains delivering.
But none of those ads gives you any good, concrete reasons why you should feed your pet their products. They don’t talk about protein sources or give you any real information on digestibility. They show you a nifty Border Collie or a roly-poly puppy digging into a bowl of their food like it hasn’t seen food for a week, or a Golden Retriever puppy — when there just happens to be a high profile movie being released based on a runaway best selling book about a Golden Retriever — ripping into a bag of kibble then scarfing it up as fast as he can. The ads give you the “Awwww” factor — what they don’t give you is the “Ewwww” factor. That’s why it’s so important to learn to understand what’s on the label, and it will be as obscurely described as allowable by legal standards, for example*:
Eukanuba, the first dozen ingredients: Chicken, chicken by product meal (ground, rendered parts of carcass, i.e. necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, intestines, etc.), corn meal, ground whole grain sorghum (low in digestibility), ground whole grain barley, chicken fat, fish meal (dried ground tissue of whole or fish cuttings from unspecified fish sources), brewer’s rice (milled fragments of rice kernels), natural chicken flavor, dried beet pulp (residue from sugar beets extracted during sugar manufacturing), dried egg product (obtained from egg breakers, hatchery operations, egg graders, etc., frozen, dehydrated or liquid), brewer’s dried yeast (by-product of brewing ale or beer).
But wait! It gets more interesting!
Pedigree’s “Complete Nutrition:” ground whole corn, meat meal/meat and bone meal (rendered “product” from non-specific mammal tissues, with or without bone, exclusive of added hair, hoof horn, manure, etc, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices), corn gluten meal, animal fat (obtained from non-specific mammal and/or poultry), wheat mill run/middlings, ground wheat, natural poultry flavor, wheat flour, salt, potassium chloride, caramel color, vegetable oil.
Where’s the beef? Oh wait, that was another catchy ad campaign . . .
*Italicized information not included on packaging.
About the Author
This article was written by Tony Cooper at Pet-super-Store.com, where you can find attractive prices on Pet Safe products and shock collars for dogs.
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Ralston Purina Chairman William H Danforth I Date You ! Motivation HC 1953 $9.00 |
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TYCO Ralston Purina Billboard 40′ wood reefer MWKD $4.99 |
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1954 ad Ralston Purina Company Instant cereal CUTE Girl art blocks artwork AD $5.24 |
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1987 RALSTON PURINA DAVE WINFIELD YANKEES $5.00 |
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HO Scale Tyco Ralston Purina Billboard Car Co ( Checkerboard Chows And Cereals) $14.98 |
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MIKE SCHMIDT—CARD #22–RALSTON PURINA CO. BASEBALL CARD–SEE SCAN CONDITION $0.99 |
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MIP1999 RALSTON PURINA BeanBag IKE 5″ Bulldog ADVERTISE $4.78 |
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MIKE SCHMIDT — 1984 TOPPS — RALSTON PURINA COLLECTOR’S EDITION $1.95 |
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GARY CARTER METS 1987 RALSTON PURINA COLLECTORS’ EDITION #9 of 15 $2.49 |
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1970 FREAKIES CEREAL PREMIUM SNORKLEDORF MAGNET-RALSTON PURINA EUC $19.99 |
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VINTAGE 1970′S FREAKIES FIGURES -GOODY GOODY-RALSTON PURINA $19.99 |
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1989 BATMAN CEREAL BANK RALSTON PURINA SEALED NEW VINTAGE NEVER OPENED $12.99 |
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Tyco Ralston Purina Co Checkerboard chows MRS 4554 Box car, HO Scale, Used $0.99 |
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1901 RALSTON PURINA BREAKFAST FOOD CEREAL AD-MAMA $13.99 |
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1984 Ralston Purina Collectors Edition 13 George Brett Royals $0.99 |
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Vintage CHEX PARTY MIX TIN BOX CONTAINER FOUR SEASONS 1980 RALSTON PURINA $13.45 |
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Advertising Paper Poster Ralston Purina Cereals Antique Clothing Ads * Soap $24.50 |
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Ralston Purina ViewMaster reels View Master $125.00 |
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TYCO TRAIN BILLBOARD REEFER RALSTON PURINA BOX CAR $12.00 |
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1950 RALSTON PURINA CHEX CEREAL SPACE PATROL CARD – SECRET CODE MASTER – HEROES $29.99 |
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1984 TOPPS RALSTON PURINA CARD OF MIKE SCHMIDT $0.05 |
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1984 TOPPS RALSTON PURINA CARD OF NOLAN RYAN $0.05 |
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Lionel Train Ralston Purina Reefer $9.50 |
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5 cereal ads 1940-54 nice lot of ads make save money kellogg ralston purina $3.50 |
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ANCHOR HOCKING Fire King RALSTON PURINA CHECKERBOARD TALL COFFEE MUG $9.99 |
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1942 Fruehauf Truck Trailer Ralston Purina Company Ad $8.79 |
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1919 AD Ralston Purina Branzos Wheat & Barley $9.99 |
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1989 Ralston Purina “BATMAN” Brand Sweetened Cereal Unopened Box w/ BATMAN BANK $7.99 |
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I Dare You! by William Danforth – Founder of Ralston Purina Company $7.49 |
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N Scale 40′ Ralston Purina Box Car seen in Photo $0.99 |
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N Scale Rolling Stock seen in Photo Ralston Purina Box Car $0.99 |
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1902 ad a ralston purina cereals $39.99 |
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1984 Ralston Purina #2 Ozzie Smith $0.97 |
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1987 Ralston Purina #13 Ozzie Smith $0.97 |
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1935 RALSTON WHEAT CEREAL TOM MIX FOOD COOK EAT PURINA ST LOUIS RADIO CHILD AD $21.95 |
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1917 PURINA CHICKEN CHOWDER RALSTON SCRATCH FOOD FEED ST LOUIS HEN MOULT FARM AD $21.95 |
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1921 PURINA HEN CHOW CHICKEN CHOWDER FARM BARN BAG ST LOUIS RALSTON EGG FEED AD $21.95 |
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1987 Ralston Purina Collectors #14 MIKE SCHMIDT Philadelphia Phillies EXMT $0.99 |
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OLD TOM MIX STRAIGHT SHOOTER PIN RALSTON PURINA CEREAL “MIKE SHAW” RADIO SHOW $12.99 |
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Vintage 1930s PURINA Poultry Book Fall & Winter Edition 1937 Ralston Purina $14.95 |
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1984 Ralston Purina “PETE ROSE” $2.25 |
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Vintage Ralston Purina P-16 Metal Tube Chicken Feeder, No Reserve $47.67 |
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American Flyer S Gauge 1992 TCA Convention Car 6-48477 Ralston Purina $8.51 |
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Addams Family Cereal Flashlights Ralston Purina $15.00 |
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Vintage Ralston Purina Box w.Pencil $12.50 |
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VINTAGE/NEW ~ RALSTON PURINA MAJOR MOONSTONE CEREAL WATCH $75.00 |
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FIRE KING FLAT BOTTOM D-HANDLE MUG-RALSTON PURINA RED CHECKER-HARD TO FIND!! $24.99 |
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HO RALSTON PURINA 40′ REEFER CAR 4554 $0.99 |
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Ralston Purina Co. Plug Door Boxcar HO Scale Train Road Number 11492 C6 VGC $2.95 |
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Ralston Purina Cereals Franklin Mint Porcelain Corner Store Mug Collection $10.00 |
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1984 RALSTON PURINA #15 RICKEY HENDERSON AUTOGRAPH CARD $0.99 |
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Ralston Purina Box Car – HO Scale – Noise Maker – Clickety Clack Roller $9.99 |
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Horse Book Ralston Purina Co 1979 Caring for Horses Nutrition Feeding $11.50 |
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1984 Topps Ralston Purina #21 Robin Yount Oddball $1.00 |
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1984 Topps Ralston Purina #21 Robin Yount Oddball $1.00 |
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1984 Topps Ralston Purina #9 Jim Rice Oddball $1.00 |
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1984 Topps Ralston Purina #6 Andre Dawson Oddball $1.00 |
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Eddie Murray Autographed Signed 1984 Ralston Purina Card PSA/DNA #83117639 $49.00 |
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TOM MIX MAGIC TIGER EYE RING RALSTON PURINA CEREAL PREMIUM $23.50 |
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1984 Ralston Purina #13 George Brett Oddball $1.00 |
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1989 OFFICIAL AIBF SPONSOR RALSTON PURINA CO. BALLOON PIN $10.99 |
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EDDIE MURRAY 1987 RALSTON PURINA #8/15 $2.00 |
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Don Mattingly – 1987 Ralston Purina – NY Yankees $1.99 |
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HO Scale TYCO Ralston Purina Chow 40′ billboard reefer train box car advertising $0.99 |
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1984 Ralston Purina #23 Jim Palmer Orioles $1.99 |
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1984 Ralston Purina #8 Tom Seaver Mets $1.99 |
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Yankee Ron Guidry 1984 Topps Ralston Purina 31 $2.49 |
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Yankee Dave Winfield 1984 Topps Ralston Purina 7 $2.29 |
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MODEL POWER N SCALE RALSTON PURINA REEFER # 3401 ( RPCX 11492) $6.99 |
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Atlas Evans Double Plug Door Boxcar Ralston Purina # 197 $9.95 |
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1990 THE JETSONS Cereal Hanna Barbera AD PRINT ONLY ralston purina $10.99 |
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BEV-BEL {1110-2} RPCX – RALSTON PURINA CO $10.99 |
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1917 RALSTON PURINA MUFFIN BREAD WHEAT GRAIN BOX SACK $21.95 |
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1917 RALSTON PURINA WHEAT DOLL CHILD STOVE BOX FOOD AD $21.95 |
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1918 RALSTON WHEAT BARLEY BRAN ZO CEREAL BREAKFAST FOOD COOK PURINA TOY TRAIN AD $24.95 |
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Chex Create-a-Recipe Book, Ralston Purina Company $2.00 |
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Chex The Natural Way to Good Cooking, Ralston Purina Company $2.00 |
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FERNANDO VALENZUELA- RALSTON PURINA Card- #10 – 1984 $1.00 |
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Vintage Wizard of Oz Scarecrow 1965 Ralston Purina Chex Cereal Promo Doll 23″ $44.99 |
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The Bran Chex Plan for Good Cooking, Ralston Purina Company $2.00 |
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1984 Ralston Purina Cereal Box Back Panel $24.95 |
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1984 TOPPS RALSTON PURINA BASEBALL 33 CARD SET RYAN, BRETT, SCHMIDT $4.49 |
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THE TRAIL OF THE TERRIBLE 6,Tom Mix; Ralston Purina Co.; Illust.; 1935 $27.00 |
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RICKEY HENDERSON – 1984 RALSTON PURINA CARD #15 $2.00 |
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RYNE SANDBERG – 1987 RALSTON PURINA CARD #15 – CUBS $4.95 |
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MODEL POWER N GAUGE RALSTON PURINA 40′ BOXCAR 3401 $1.00 |
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1953 Turkey Plan Booklet Ralston Purina Company Poultry Management Feed & Care $13.00 |
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1975 Chuck Wagon Dog Food ad, Ralston Purina, boy chasi $5.49 |
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RALSTON PURINA SHEET FIRST EDITION 1984 COMPLETE SET $9.99 |
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Your Cats Care and Comfort. 1963 Ralston-Purina booklet $3.95 |
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Collectible Franklin Mint / Heirloom / Ralston Purina Porcelain Doll $49.99 |
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1984 RALSTON PURINA COMPANY 6 CARD LOT $1.49 |
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Ralston Purina Teachers Materials 1939 promo $40.00 |
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1984 RALSTON PURINA RICKEY HENDERSON A’S $1.00 |
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1984 Ralston Purina Co. Baseball #6 ANDRE DAWSON $1.00 |
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84 Topps Ralston Purina Rickey Henderson OAKLAND A’s $2.49 |
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1984 RALSTON PURINA HAND CUT #21 ROBIN YOUNT POP 3 PSA 10 B1056671 $49.99 |
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Vintage Original TYCO NIB HO BOX CAR RALSTON PURINA New in BOX NJ 91-0-108 $5.00 |
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50’s Laconia Car Kit Original Unassembled, 4553 Ralston Purina AMAZING SHAPE! $27.99 |
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1902 PURINA MILLS Ralston Breakfast Cereal magazine Ad food grain wheat s457L $7.95 |
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Ralston Purina – Tom Mix – Vol. 1 … |
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The Adventures of Tom M Mix – Original Radio Broadcasts … |
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Ralston Purina – Tom Mix – Vol. 2 … |
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PUPPY CHOW: Incredible Puppy Care Video $0.01 Incredible Puppy Care Video by Purina Puppy Chow: Puppy Training Tips from the Puppy Pros at Purina. Video Includes: General Puppy Care, Training, Nutrition, Veterinary Care, Problem Solving…. |
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Cat Care & Training Tips, by Purina Pets for People $1.09 … |
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Cat Care and Training Tips (Open Your Heart and Home to a Shelter Pet) [Litter Box Training, Cat Proofing and Problem Solving] $24.99 Thanks for opening your heart and home to a shelter pet. Owning a cat is a very rewarding experience but those rewards come with certain responsibilities. This video gives you tips on what to do before bringing your new cat home; litter box training; cat proofing your home; and problem solving…. |
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Energizer 335 (SR512SW) Low Drain Silver 1.55V Oxide Batteries (5 Per Pack) $7.49 About Energizer: The company has its foundation in the Eveready Battery Company, which in 1986 had been sold to animal and human food manufacturer Ralston Purina. In 2000, Ralston spun off Eveready, and it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange as Energizer Holdings, Inc….. |
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Ralston Hot Cereal 20 oz. – 6 Unit Pack $21.99 For over 100 years, generations of American families have been waking up to a delicious and nutritious breakfast that includes Ralston Hot Cereal. From the original checkerboard packaging to the 1940’s favorite of straight-shooting cowboy Tom Mix, the taste remains the same. Made with 100% whole grain wheat, Ralston is high in fiber, cholesterol free and Smart for your Heart. Cooks instantly, micr… |
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Purina secondnature Dog Litter, 25 lbs. $11.99 Train your dog to use a litter pan!secondnature Dog Litter is a natural, instinctive option for dog elimination that will ensure your pup can lead a “dog’s life”.secondnature Litter is made from recycled newspaper (70% post consumer waste) and wood pulp formed into super-absorbent pellets. It also contains a highly-effective odor control system and is non-tracking and non-staining. You just scoop … |
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Purina Tidy Cats Scoop Small Space Litter 14lb $8.49 Small Spaces is a perfect fit for less-than-spacious multiple cat places. Its special power pieces are moisture-activated to neutralize odor on contact, helping to keep even the most crowded kitty corners smelling fresh and clean. And clay granules clump strong for easy maintenance. Power Pieces neutralize odor on contact with moisture. Strong clumps, easy clean-up, controls odor in tight places a… |
