| Your health and your dog's health are both | | | | welfare. Check to ingredient label carefully when |
| significantly impacted by what goes in your mouths. | | | | comparing different dog foods and be aware that |
| This probably has more of an impact on overall health | | | | the names of ingredients are often misleading. |
| than any other factor since proper nutrition allows | | | | For instance, meat by-products may seem like a |
| the body to fight off or eliminate many diseases and | | | | reasonable ingredient, but often includes parts that |
| disorders. Unfortunately, as a society, we are still | | | | have been condemned. It also may include parts that |
| very ignorant when it comes to being aware of what | | | | are difficult to digest such as feet, heads, ligaments |
| is actually in the food we are consuming. We are | | | | and feathers. Meat meal is another misleading term |
| even more ignorant when it comes to what our dogs | | | | that refers to meal from bones, etc. that are difficult |
| are eating. | | | | to digest and provide very limited nutritional value. |
| When choosing the food we will feed our dog it is | | | | Animal fat is another term that seems reasonable but |
| important not only to see that their are specific | | | | is really just a generic term referring to fats that |
| nutritionally rich ingredients, it is also important to | | | | may have come from restaurant grease, renderings, |
| avoid ingredients that are harmful to our dog's health | | | | beef tallow or oils that are deemed too rancid for |
| and well being. | | | | human consumption. If fat is included the source |
| The most obvious ingredients that can be harmful in | | | | should be named, such as beef fat, chicken fat, etc. |
| dog food are chemical preservatives such as BHA, | | | | Fragmented foods, such as wheat bran, corn |
| BHT, propyl gallate, and ethoxyquin. Unfortunately, in | | | | products, etc. should also be avoided as they are |
| a dog food comparison, you will still find these | | | | difficult to digest and often provide an unbalanced |
| chemicals in many dog foods. These are cancer | | | | source of limited nutrients. These types of |
| causing toxins that can be very harmful to your dog | | | | ingredients are typically a waste product from |
| over time. | | | | another food manufacturing process that the dog |
| Sweeteners are another harmful additive. There is no | | | | food manufacturer can buy at low cost. |
| good reason to add sweeteners to dog food. They | | | | As you can see there are a lot of considerations |
| add no nutritive value and can cause, or aggravate, | | | | when comparing dog foods, not only to make sure it |
| other health problems in your dog. | | | | has good nutritional ingredients but also to make sure |
| Other dog food ingredients that seem appropriate on | | | | it does not have harmful ingredients. Remember, your |
| the surface may also be harmful to your dog's | | | | dog's health depends on it. |