What is in your dog food?

Question

Every pet owner needs to make their own choices about what to feed their pet but honestly I’ve been shocked by what some folks here consider to be “quality” foods for their pets and strongly recommending to others. After reading many of the answers I really found myself wondering if you know what is in your pets food?

Do you know what “by products” include?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_by-product

Do you know that much of the “meat” used in pet food manufacturing is treat with toxic chemicals?

http://www.belfield.com/article3.html

Do you know how to read a pet food label?

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=betterproducts

Did you know there are options to commercial pet food?

http://dogandcatworld.blogspot.com/2007/12/all-about-dog-food.html

Answer 1

Yes, I know exactly what's in my dogs' food. I could probably name at least the first 10 ingredients off the top of my head. I am always on the hunt for better and better foods. As soon as my current bag of Canidae is gone, I'm going to be switching to Innova EVO. Grain free!

It makes me cringe when I see people recommending trash like Purina, Beneful, IAMS, Eukanuba, etc...! It doesn't take a genius to figure out that corn isn't going to do a dog any good! And my favorite line has got to be, "Well, MY dog is fine, so it MUST be good!" Right! I bet if they could see what was going on inside their dog and how little nutrition he was really getting, they wouldn't be thinking their dog was fine! As if the dull fur and dry skin often caused by inferior foods isn't enough of a hint!

The problem is that most people go with the food that has the cutest commercial, or the food their vet recommends (and coincidentally sells), or the well-knows brands. I have even seen people say, "If they are allowed to sell it, it can't be THAT bad!"

There is no better way to find a good dog food that to educate YOURSELF and READ THE LABELS.


*****Tom K, the difference between "bad people food" and "bad dog food" is that we have a CHOICE in what we put in our bodies, and every single thing that makes it into our stomach was knowingly put there by ourselves with full knowledge of any consequences (good or bad). Our dogs don’t have any such choice or knowledge of nutrition; they rely on us to choose the right things for them. Choosing bits of corn, "reject meat," and dangerous chemicals is not a responsible decision, especially because quality foods really DO NOT cost all that much more than the garbage foods.

Answer 2

I have a maltese mix and an elderly doberman mix, neither of them are pigs with thier food and i feed mostly a dry coprice dog food. Rice with chicken,kelp and garlic is printed on the label. The ingredients state that the only 'by products' from animals are, Chicken and chicken by-products and animal fat(from the chicken) everything else is vitamins and minerals, some citric acid, iodine, zinc, copper etc. I tend to pay more attention to what the protein, energy and salt levels are mostly in designed dog foods. I have done nutrition courses for dairy cattle and it is important to know what the animals diet is if you expect performance from them for whatever reason. My dogs just lay about mostly but i think they have a balanced diet. They get a quality dry food plus selected leftovers (meats AND vegetables) once a fortnight they also get raw chicken frames. The frames are a real treat and easy to digest raw. Its a hard issue, a lot of pet owners can't afford great quality food, but can afford a lot of love and attention, someone who is in that position should not have thier dog taken. A well balanced personality is as important as diet. If someone doesn't feed thier pet adequatly as it needs require, then its likely they don't spend much time with it either.

Answer 3

I feed my two yorkies Canidae All Life Dog Natural Dog Food
The food is made from Four human-grade meats (Chicken, Turkey, Lamb and Fish) and has 10 skin and coat conditioners as well as balanced Omega 6 & 3 fatty acids. This is a great all natural food.
Heres the full list of ingredients http://www.blacknose.com/stores/blacknos/images/products/zoom_f0220.jpg

Answer 4

Great question. I always get heaps of thumbs down for my answers but Im sticking to my guns here. I feed raw, so I have no real need to read packets. Raw chicken necks, frames, wings, all free range/hormone free, raw bones, roo meat, eggs, vegies/fruit organic (my left over scraps), ripe fruits, some organ meats, some fish, i prefer sardines. No grains. All human grade food. I also give fish oils, a clean variety without mercury/pcbs/dioxins, cod liver oil, brewers yeast (for fleas and mozzies). There is nothing my dog is missing in his diet here, in fact the above foods with a bit of kelp occasionally is nutritionally balanced food for a dog. My vet learnt nothing on nutrition in vet school so she went on to study canine nutrition and this is what she reccommends. My dog is glowing with good health and all the dogs that she puts on this diet become more youthful, skin allergies dissapear, athritis dissapears etc. The way nature intended. Anyway thanks for taking interest, I too gasp at what I read people feed their dogs!

ADD ON; I would like to say of one very, very important element all commercial pet food whether it be of top quality or not is missing and that is the 'living aspect' of it. Dogs need to eat live food and even tho we cant feed them exactly what they are meant to eat we can recreate it the best we can. Raw food also has high oxygen and moisture levels which is very important to a dogs health, something even the finest factory made dog food cannot provide. To quote Dr Claire Middle DVM; "Fresh real food will provide essential nutrients in a more usuable form for youre dog than as seperate additives artifically incorporated into heated and pressurised process food" Makes you think!!!

Answer 5

On any given day I could tell you exactly what my dogs ate for breakfast and a p.m. snack. I raw feed my dogs and buy their food at the grocery store or a raw food co-op. I have found that telling people who insist on feeding low grade commercial pet food that the food they are giving their dogs daily is awful it makes them angry, in their mind you're telling them they are neglecting their dogs. My daughter-in-law is currently feeding her 2 beautiful young Mountain Dogs Beneful, both she and my son are well educated, have plenty of money, no children, love these dogs and could afford a good brand of kibble, go figure. Keep putting out info., if it makes only 10 people rethink what's put into the popular grocery store brands, it's worth your efforts. Happy Holidays.

Answer 6

dog food

Answer 7

I feed MaxCat or Natural Choice to my little babies. Read the ingredients, nothing bad, no by product, vitamins...the works. I've been feeding my cats this stuff and they love it. I imagine dog is equally good. But every animal differs.

Answer 8

Yes good point! People think just because its a recognizable name brand of food its good! Yikes! Really if you are going to spend the money on good dog food.....make sure its really good quality not just expensive. You really get your moneys worth out of holistic foods, like Wellness, Innova, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul, ect. Eukanuba and Iams are really not what people think....read the ingredients people!

Answer 9

hmm, meat, bones and organ meat. I feed raw.
If i feed ground anything, i take mix in some alfalfa and kelp powder, and some salmon oil. They also get eggs, yogurt, and different kinds of cheeses.
When i board them, or go camping however, they eat Innova Evo, and there is nothing but goodness there. No byproducts of anything. No grains period. Just turkey, chicken, herring, apples, and other good stuff.
And the only junk food they get, is well, those nasty pig ears and raw hides, but i figure i can cheat and give them those things.

Answer 10

Keeping our pets healthy is not only a huge industry, but largely studied as well. Grain and meat products are blended into a food that is appealing and good for your pet. What you may consider "yucky" is actually a delicacy to animals. They don't even mind eating the same thing every day.

By the way, the things you mentioned about by products and chemicals are in people food too! Commercial pet foods will give your pet all the nutrients that is needed. Any alternative methods of feeding can actually be harmful.