| better understanding of dog food nutrition and what's | | | | meal, meat meal, chicken fat, wheat gluten”. |
| in your dog's bowl. | | | | In this example, a meat product is not the largest |
| We all want the best for our pets, so dog food | | | | component of the food or even the second! The |
| ingredients would be near the top of the list. But | | | | meat products that are being used are the |
| what is actually in commercially prepared dog food? | | | | by-products, and do not supply an adequate source |
| The recent pet food recall added to our concerns. | | | | of meat based protein to the dog. |
| It's important to understand what goes into that big | | | | What’s In Your Dog's Dish? Do You Know |
| bag of dog food. While reading the label can be | | | | About Dog Food Nutrition? |
| confusing, with a little detective work you can | | | | Once you have the knowledge to decipher a dog |
| decipher much of the hidden content of your | | | | food label, it’s time to take a look at what |
| dog’s food. Nutrition is the key. | | | | you have been feeding your hunting dog. If that bag |
| What’s In A Name? | | | | of food suddenly isn’t looking like it’s |
| The first clue as to the content of your dog food is | | | | worth the money you paid for it, keep in mind a few |
| in the title. If the food is named for the main | | | | other things before you start looking for an |
| ingredient, such as “Lamb Dog Food”, | | | | alternative brand. |
| then the named ingredient, i.e. lamb, must make up at | | | | So-called “organic” dog food |
| least 70% of the food. But if the name of the food | | | | ingredients can fall into two groups. Foods labeled |
| is called a “dinner” or | | | | “organic” contain at least 95% true |
| “formula” such as “Beef | | | | organic ingredients. However, foods advertised as |
| Formula” or “Chicken Dinner”, | | | | “made with organic ingredients” may |
| that ingredient may only make up 25% of the food. | | | | only contain 70% organic ingredients. With the price |
| Empty fillers make up the difference in content in | | | | of these specialty diets on the rise, make sure he's |
| those types of food. | | | | getting the best dog food. |
| Looking For The Best Dog Foodpuppies eating Often | | | | How About Some Homemade Dog Food? |
| the dog food ingredients list will be accompanied by | | | | Home cooked diets have become increasingly popular |
| words such as “meal” | | | | recently, and that popularity has grown exponentially |
| “by-products”, “crude | | | | since the dog food recall. Home made dog food can |
| proteins”. | | | | be cooked, or served raw. |
| By-products are dog food ingredients that make up | | | | While there are a variety of recipes available for |
| much of poorer dog foods. Meat by-products are the | | | | making the perfect home cooked meal, most follow |
| left over parts of the animal unfit for human | | | | a standard pattern of 50% human grade meat, with |
| consumption, such as the intestines, organs, and | | | | vegetables, oats, rice or potatoes. |
| diseased animals. | | | | In addition, vitamin and mineral supplements may be |
| Crude Protein is often made from the hooves and | | | | necessary to fully attend to your dogs nutritional |
| hair of animals, as well as the feathers and beaks of | | | | demands. Homemade dog food allows you to give |
| poultry. Although this protein source may make up a | | | | back to your hard working hunting buddy. |
| strong percentage of a given dog food, very little of | | | | The food for hunting and performance dogs requires |
| it can actually be absorbed by the dog. | | | | more attention to detail. They have a greater need |
| Meal refers to cereal grains, the leftover hulls and | | | | for fats and calories in their diet, along with a careful |
| husks of wheat and corn, after being processed for | | | | balance of vitamins and minerals for optimum |
| human use. These have very little nutritional value. | | | | performance ability. Proper dog food nutrition is |
| Get Out the Reading Glasses!food label Take a look | | | | essential in the working dog. |
| at the ingredients label of your dogs’ food | | | | Despite the advantage of control over the quality of |
| often there can be twenty or more ingredients listed! | | | | ingredients in a homemade dog food diet, the added |
| The dog food ingredients are listed on the label in | | | | investment of time, money and research necessary |
| order of total volume, with the first few ingredients | | | | to create a balanced diet is often not feasible. |
| making up the main content of the food. | | | | By arming yourself with knowledge, and doing |
| A dog food with ingredients listed as “beef, | | | | research on dog food ingredients, you can find a |
| chicken meal, barley, brown rice” is therefore | | | | commercially available dog food that gives you both |
| made with true beef as it’s main ingredient, | | | | peace of mind, and will help your dog to get the |
| an important animal-protein source. | | | | nutrition he needs to live a long and happy life. |
| Another label may read, “Ground wheat, corn | | | | |