Here's a very informative article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim
The Ten Worst Commercial Dog Food Ingredients
March 17, 2010
The ingredients of dog food remain a mystery, with most of us not really wanting to know the truth about what our beloved pet is feasting on.
But just as it's important to read the labels on the food you bring into your kitchen, the same goes for your dog's food. When it comes to properly reading the labels on most commercial dog food packages, you need to know the inside scoop on what is actually meant by terms like "meat and bone meal" and "poultry by-products."
Here is your guide to decoding ten of the worst commercial dog food ingredients.
What's Really in dog food?
- Wheat: Wheat is the number one allergy in dogs and because of its high carbohydrate content, is a contributing factor in canine obesity. Label may refer to wheat flour, wheat germ, wheat mill run, middlings or mid.
- Corn: Corn is the number two allergy in dogs and another source of heavy carbohydrates because of its high sugar content. While corn can be source of certain nutrients, the corn used in commercial dog food contains the entire corn plant, including the root to the stems.
- Soy: The number three allergy-provoking food for dogs, soybean meal or soy flour is a highly processed form of soybeans that are void of the essential fats, antioxidants and minerals naturally found in the soybean.
- By-Product Meal: In reference to meat, poultry or beef, by-products refers to any part of the animal other than the muscle tissue. By-product refers to the head, feet or feather parts of the animal.
Digest: Referred to as "poultry digest" or "meat digest," this term actually refers to roadkill animals and euthanized pets.- Ethoxyquin: This deadly preservative is banned for use in human foods, but is commonly added in commercial dog foods.
- Egg Product: While whole eggs are extremely nutritious for dogs, "egg product" refers to egg shells, eggs that have gone rancid or those that have spoiled.
- Brewer's Rice: Refers to rice sections that have been discarded from the rice kernel. Brewer's rice is broken shells of rice that lack nutrients and have been discarded. They are either going to get swept off from the floor and tossed into the garbage or added into the dog food mixer.
- Preservatives: Additives like BHA are meant to prolong the shelf-life of the dog food or improve the food's appearance, but they offer no nutritional value to your dog's food and may actually harm your pet.
- Cellulose: This pulp left over from fibrous plants is just another name for sawdust.
Source: http://www.k9criticalcare.com/news/26/The-Ten-Worst-Commercial-Dog-Food-Ingredients.html
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