Some of Your Iams Questions are Answered
For those who are waiting, I promise that a ton of cat Q and A is forthcoming.
But first, let’s talk a bit about Iams.
Procter and Gamble, the Parent Company of Iams and Eukanuba, recently flew me (and seven other pet bloggers) to Dayton, Ohio to tour the Iams facilities. They treated us very well, and I would like to thank my hosts for their kind hospitality.
I also would like to reassure my readers that I think for myself. A trip to Rio or Hawaii or Vegas would not be enough to turn me into a shill for any company. Dayton is a nice enough place, but I am not now an Iams spokesperson.
During the trip I met several Iams executives. I sincerely appreciate the many questions my readers submitted prior to my meeting with the head of the Procter and Gamble pet food division, Dan Rajczak. During the course of the meeting in Dayton, most of them were answered by Mr. Rajczak or by other representatives.
I intend to pass along the answers to most of your questions, interspersed (of course!) with feline Q and A over my next several posts. But today let’s start with the most prevalent topic submitted by readers of this blog: animal testing at Iams. I didn’t actually ask Mr. Rajczak about this matter, because I toured the Iams animal testing facilities myself.
Iams maintains a large animal testing facility in Louisville, Ohio. Like all animal lovers, I am ambivalent about animal testing. Animal tests generally can benefit pets and humans, but those benefits may not be apparent to the individuals involved in the tests. The ethics are complex, to say the very least.
What I saw in Louisville may have been smoke and mirrors (although it would have been one very complex system of smoke and mirrors). But the facilities I saw truly surprised me. In a good way.
The animals were kept, essentially, in cage-free systems. They had large play spaces, and their social, mental, and physical needs appeared to be well tended to. Veterinarians, behaviorists, groomers, socializers, and play companions were on staff to tend to the dogs and cats. Proper biosecurity measures were in place. It was clear that a great deal of thought had been put into creating a system that attempted to be kind to the animals.
The animals seemed happy. Does that mean they truly are happy? I don’t know. Hopefully they are, but only the animals know for sure.
The Iams representatives claim that animals deemed unsuitable for research are adopted out rather than culled. All animals are eventually adopted into homes. Except in instances of grave medical conditions, the facilities are kill-free.
I specifically asked whether any other research facilities existed where standards were lower. The answer I received was no.
I always will remain ambivalent about animal research. However, for what it’s worth the facilities I saw in Ohio were nicer than the many other animal research facilities I have witnessed in universities and at some other companies.
Next on the Iams thread: the answer to one of my personal questions. Where did the names Iams and especially Eukanuba come from? (Don’t worry, we’ll also talk about some serious questions too.)
But the cat question and answer thread is next in line for discussion.
You have questions. 
Dr., what kind of animal tests are run in this facility? If you could let me know, I would appreciate it – http://www.thedailytail.com/contact-us/. I am a journalist, and I cover the pet beat on my blog, The Daily Tail. Thanks!
What about their food. Is there food human grade food? And I, like you do not condone using animals to test on. It is inhumane, it should be outlawed.
Also, im sure they prepared for your visit. I would have had many many questions to ask them.
We have to jump in here, as mommy worked in research for 10 years, and some of that involved animals. Those that think these animals are abused are very under-educated on the topic. Because of all the laws out there, animals being used for research are treated at a MUCH higher standard than even humans receive. Mommy was in a position where the same procedures were done on humans and animals and many of them the human patients were forced to endure awake and without pain meds (as part of their treatment) yet the animals had to be sedated and/or medicated. Human patients in hospitals are left to just lie around for hours at a time, animals in research have to have stimulation and other things provided to them. If humans are deemed to be suffering we keep going with treatment, if animals have even small issues they must be removed from the studies/treatment.
I realize with what the media has brainwashed people with many believe these are animals being tortured and harmed, but that is not the case.
yes it would be great if there was a better way, but the reality is those that fight against animal research have lived long enough to protest because of vaccines and treatments and other improvements to life that at one point were tested on animals. Every time your family members are helped with a medication or procedure you have many animals to thank for that cure!!!!!
My father has Diabetes and now has to take insulin. If it weren’t for animal testing then my father might not be alive.
I don’t believe everything I see, hear, or read. I know far too many people have an agenda and push it.
As the good doctor said animal testing is a complex subject. I am happy when I hear of the companies that follow the law and have the wellfare of the animal in mind if not in heart; and am furious when I hear of those that don’t.
Both are out there.
Hello everyone! First of all, I want to let you know that I’m a Veterinary Technician that works for Iams and had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Barchas during his visit to Ohio.
The studies we perform are governed by our animal studies policy. This policy directs that only studies for which a healthy human would volunteer are to be conducted. The only exception to this policy is spays & neuters (I don’t know many men that would volunteer to be neutered!) So this can include feeding trials, which involves providing different food to the cats & dogs to see which they prefer, and collecting urine and/or fecal samples to analyze. And much of our data is collected by simply observing the appearance of our dogs & cats i.e. looking at the coat, shedding, or weight changes.
I hope this answers some of the questions. If you would like to read more about our Pet Health & Nutrition Center, please feel free to visit http://www.iamstruth.com.
I am not ambivalent at all about animal testing or research as I don’t believe either is ever justified. Just surprised this entry didn’t get more comments!
Dr. Barchas, yes, I am an animal activist and believe in God. And even at the core level of life, we all have the right to live, and who gave you the right to make that decision. If it meant not having a vaccination that resulted in my death or testing an animal that resulted in developing a vaccination that saved my life, I choose the first. I choose a society in which we all live free, free of torture and inflicting control and pain and suffering on another for self gratification. That’s the problem with this society–it’s an all about me society. As the Bible says,
Job 12
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
8 or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
10 in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
As a scientist, you should know too that the results obtained from animals are different as they would be from a human anyway. So to torture and waste a life for nothing–I wonder how you sleep at night.