| By definition, dog food is any plant or animal material | | | | past century) contain poor-quality meats, additives, |
| intended for consumption by dogs or other canines. | | | | and other ingredients dogs should not ingest. In short |
| Dog foods, like dogs, come in a huge variety. | | | | - commercial dog food is not nutritionally sufficient for |
| Some people make their own dog food or feed their | | | | their dogs. |
| dogs meals made from ingredients purchased in | | | | Although dog food companies do not use road kill for |
| grocery or health-food stores; many others rely on | | | | ingredients (as has often been claimed), they do use |
| commercially manufactured dog food. There are also | | | | train loads of cheap corn, wheat, rice, potatoes, soy |
| vegetarian dog foods for owners who do not want | | | | and beef parts, as well as large amounts of lamb, |
| their dogs to consume meat products. There are also | | | | chicken and "meal" made from ground up beef, |
| dog foods specially formulated for dogs allergic to | | | | chicken, lamb and turkey (including bones). |
| common ingredients such as chicken, wheat, or corn. | | | | The 2007 pet food recalls involved the massive recall |
| By its water content, commercial dog food is | | | | of many brands of cat and dog foods beginning in |
| categorized into the following types: dry, semi-moist, | | | | March 2007 because of contaminated wheat gluten. |
| and moist. Wet, or canned, dog food is higher in | | | | Soon after, there were numerous media reports of |
| moisture than dry or semi-moist food. Pellets of dry | | | | animal deaths as a result of kidney failure, and |
| dog food, called kibble, are primarily produced by one | | | | several other companies who received the |
| of two methods: extrusion and baking. Special dog | | | | contaminated wheat gluten also voluntarily recalled |
| foods given as a reward, and not as a staple, are | | | | dozens of pet food brands. Overall, several major |
| known as dog treats. | | | | companies have recalled more than 100 brands of |
| There are also varieties of dog food commonly | | | | pet foods. With all the recent publicity and concern |
| labeled as "human-grade food". | | | | with the dog food recall of 2007 the spotlight has |
| Fresh dog food is a new category of dog food | | | | been aimed fairly and squarely at the big commercial |
| gaining popularity recently in Australia. It relies on | | | | dog food companies. |
| pasteurization instead of traditional methods to | | | | While it is true that some dogs may actually thrive on |
| process pet food. Fresh dog foods are very | | | | leftovers and table scraps, it is also true that many |
| palatable, contain no preservatives, and use only | | | | dogs need dog food since our food is often too rich |
| fresh wholesome ingredients. | | | | for them and can actually make them sick. Dog food |
| Critics of commercial dog food argue that dogs have | | | | is and always has been a staple of the average dog's |
| thrived off of leftovers and scraps from their human | | | | diet, whether it has been canned or dry, commercial |
| owners for thousands of years and that commercial | | | | or natural dog food. |
| dog foods (which have only been available for the | | | | |