Why does canned dog food have to smell so bad?

Answer 1

Usuallt only the cheaper brands or even some expensive brands that insist on using by-products and tons of preservatives. If you tried an all natural moist food, usually in pouches, you will notice that it smells much more pleasent. My dog by the way-won't even touch the other stuff, I think she hates the smell of it as well.

Answer 2

If your dog food smells bad you should probably not be feeding it to your dog. Why would you feed anything to your pet that smells awful?

There are many good dog foods out there. Look at the ingredients before buying. There should be meat products (and meat meals are better than just plain chicken or beef being listed because there is less water content) listed for the first ingredients. Also avoid dog foods that have corn products in them as they can cause issues with skin health amongst other things, corn is used as a cheap filler. Barley is a good grain to have but again meat should be first on the list.

I am still learning about dog nutrition but those are the basics I have found so far...

Answer 3

Because it's made with all the nasty leftovers they aren't allowed to put in human food.

If you get GOOD dog food, it actually smells like stew or roast beef!

I feed Canidae dry dog food exclusively. Dogs don't need canned food and it's not good for their teeth. Dry food helps keep the teeth clean and keeps them regular. But ANY food should be high quality. I personally look for foods that don't contain any by-products or chemicals and that contain meat as the first several ingredients. I also avoid corn. I am blessed to have a small pet food store that ONLY sells such foods. You won't find Purina or Atta Boy sold here! Basically, if you can guy a food at the grocery store or mass merchandiser (including most of the larger chain stores), it's not worth feeding.

Answer 4

Because most of them are made of garbage! Try a dog food made from good, wholesome ingredients, not from by products and leftovers from the human food industry.
Try going to petfooddirect.com and take a look at the canned foods. Look for foods which identify fresh, whole animal such as 'chicken' or 'trout' as the first (or more) ingredient. Ingredients with the first listing such as corn or wheat should put the food on the 'do not buy' list. Anything like corn meal or gluten should make you run, not walk away.
I like brands like VeRUS, Nature's Variety Prairie, Merrick.
There is great dog food out there, you've just got to check the ingredients.

Answer 5

I agree! If dogs have such a great sense of smell, why does their food have to be so pungent?!

XD

I guess it's just like cooking smells in the house...it only smells good to you if you're the one that is going to eat it.

Answer 6

It could be the ingredients or it could be just can some foods we buy in a can dont smell too apealing cause its in a can.

Answer 7

Because they aren't really the best ingredients in it. It's usually beef byproducts or stuff like that, which is the part of the cow no one wants like their hooves, lips, tongue, and other unmentionables.
But dogs seem to love it, but i bet they wouldn't if they knew what was in it lol.

Answer 8

Because its by-products of other animals, sometimes including euthanized pets.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0106-03.htm

This actually isn't a one-sided horror story, it explains the pros and cons with a minimal shock factor.

Answer 9

Read the ingredients!