| Dogs don't get to choose their own diet we do that | | | | nutritional value. Because the ingredients they are |
| for them. Our choice of food for our dog depends | | | | using are not wholesome, their quality may be |
| on our own education of what is best for our dogs, | | | | extremely variable, and the harsh manufacturing |
| with our information predominantly gathered from TV | | | | practices destroy many of the nutrients the food |
| commercials by pet food companies and vets who | | | | had to begin with. Cereal grains are the primary |
| recommend certain products because of product | | | | ingredients in most commercial pet foods. These are |
| alliance. These TV commercials on dog food fill your | | | | often the result of an allergy or intolerance to pet |
| screen with plump chickens; fresh vegetables and a | | | | food ingredients. And to top that off, sometimes a |
| selection of grains and all show a happy, healthy dog | | | | manufacturer may not have added any |
| on the advertisements. They are generally beautiful | | | | preservatives, but the meat or other ingredients may |
| ads, emotional marketed to YOU. Dog food | | | | have had preservatives added to them by suppliers. |
| commercials are not for your dog, they are produced | | | | So, by the time the food gets to your dogs plate |
| and marketed for you. Dogs are colour blind, so pet | | | | the good quality that may have been slightly present |
| food manufacturers only change the colour and | | | | in the beginning has disappeared. And not every |
| texture of dog food to make it look better to YOU, | | | | batch of dog food is the same because meat |
| not your dog. I hope that in this article you discover | | | | by-products and meat and bone meals vary from |
| some interesting pieces of information that you can | | | | batch to batch creating an unstable source of |
| put into play in the way you select the food for your | | | | nutrition for pets. |
| dog and enlighten you as to how the pet food | | | | The multinational pet food companies have increased |
| companies cater to you, alone, and not your dog. | | | | bulk-purchasing power; those that make human food |
| Dog food labels are intentionally made confusing so | | | | products have a captive market in which to capitalize |
| that pet owners don't realise that they're feeding | | | | on their waste products, and pet food divisions have |
| their dog some awful, terrible, disgusting ingredients. | | | | a more reliable capital base and, in many cases, a |
| Dog food companies heartlessly exploit loopholes | | | | convenient source of ingredients. The ingredients |
| which allows them to add a very cheap form of | | | | listed on the label are very much less as to what is |
| protein that has almost zero nutritional value to a dog | | | | actually present in the food - they are tiny; and the |
| instead of essential animal protein your dog needs to | | | | items themselves are usually scraps and rejects from |
| survive. Did you know that dog foods that claim to | | | | processors of human foods-certainly not the whole, |
| be come from bone, blood and animal fat are often | | | | fresh ingredients they want you to picture. The |
| derived from animals suffering from various ailments, | | | | labeling of dog food is a confusing discussion to say |
| and probably not the best choice for your dog. | | | | the least and very much a tell half-truth scenario. |
| These multi-billion dollar companies are actually allowed | | | | Many label rules exist such as; the "Flavour" Rule that |
| to mix in euthanized bodies of various animals into | | | | states that a food may be labelled as "Beef |
| the food you might be buying for your dog. Would | | | | Flavoured Dog Food" even if it does not contain any |
| you eat meat that came from a euthanized animal? | | | | beef, as long as the flavour is "sufficiently detectable. |
| Didn't think so! So why should your dog be subjected | | | | When a label reads "With Real Turkey," a consumer |
| to this? Dogs can have food allergies from | | | | may assume that he is purchasing quality turkey dog |
| commercial dog food which long term for your dog | | | | food for his pet. If the label reads "Beef and Liver |
| can make them very uncomfortable, sick and weak. | | | | for Dogs," the food must contain a combined amount |
| These euthanized various animals found in dog food | | | | of beef and liver to total 95%, and again there must |
| and the animal by-products commonly found can | | | | be more beef since it is listed first. However, as I |
| include feathers, hair, leather, gristle and fecal waste. | | | | outlined above the amounts in there are based on |
| Pretty disgusting isn't it? | | | | tiny morsels and weight - weight is inclusive of water |
| Dogs, being scavengers, also thrive on eggs, berries, | | | | content too. |
| fruit and the food that they might find in the preys | | | | Now, of course, not all pet food companies operate |
| stomach, such as grains and vegetable matter. But, in | | | | this way. Today there are a few all natural |
| saying this, dog's bodies are unable to process whole | | | | companies and dog diets on the market which pride |
| vegetables. So with pet food companies ads showing | | | | themselves on human grade ingredients in their dog |
| plump chickens and whole vegetables it makes you | | | | food, but remember the definition of "natural" is very |
| wonder if they really know that much about a dogs | | | | broad, and allows for artificially processed ingredients |
| nutritional needs and digestive system. Manufacturers | | | | that most of us would consider very unnatural |
| are masters at getting a dog to eat something it | | | | indeed. You have to be very careful in your selection |
| would normally turn up its nose too. Do you know | | | | and educate yourself on the harmful ingredients and |
| how they do this? Fat is sprayed directly on the | | | | preservatives on the labels of these dog-canned |
| morsels of food, and that is what you and your dog | | | | foods. I always go by the rule that if there are no |
| smell and think would taste wonderful - It's just an | | | | nutrients in the soil = no nutrients in the plants = no |
| illusion. And those wonderfully shaped and coloured | | | | nutrients in the dog food and I cant imagine they |
| treats and morsels are not for your dogs benefit, | | | | would be getting their plant sources from the same |
| they are for yours. Don't be fooled by pretty shapes | | | | crops as humans do. |
| and rainbow colours and smiling dogs on the packets | | | | Quality dog food is crucial for your dogs well being as |
| - Its emotional marketing at its best. All your dog | | | | it is their one source of nutrition. Nutrition is defined |
| cares about is the way the food smells, tastes and all | | | | as the organic process of nourishing or being |
| you should care about is that it is getting its | | | | nourished, the processes by which an organism |
| nutritional needs. | | | | assimilates food and uses it for growth and |
| Dogs, just like everyone else, have specific nutritional | | | | nutriment: a source of materials to nourish the body. |
| needs and they need proper vitamins and minerals | | | | The food your animal eats should provide all of the |
| every day. Low quality ingredients, excessive | | | | nutritional components that are necessary for all |
| chemical additives, and poor labelling standards all | | | | organs and systems of a healthy body to perform in |
| result in problems for your companion pet, from skin | | | | harmonious unison. So, please when your searching |
| allergies to cancer. Commercial pet foods and some | | | | through all the dog food at the supermarket, forget |
| pet food ingredients have been implicated in a | | | | the ads and ignore the glossy pictures and fancy |
| number of diseases in companion animals. One | | | | titles on the cans and packages and always look for |
| potential problem with commercial pet food is | | | | natural organic dog food with" natural" preservatives. |
| pesticide residues, antibiotics, and mould contained in | | | | Given the high possibility that your favourite pet |
| pet food ingredients and manufacturers will not | | | | foods may be slowly poisoning your dog, it's crucial |
| disclose very much information about the sources of | | | | that you find brands you can trust to be animal |
| ingredients, how they are processed, their quality | | | | friendly and have natural ingredients and low additives |
| control standards, or, in some cases, even where the | | | | and colouring. Many listed ingredients don't provide a |
| food is made. Doesn't that make you have some | | | | significant health benefit and are really a marketing |
| doubt as to how trustworthy a company is if it | | | | gimmick. Remember you are looking for ingredients |
| cannot even tell you those things? It makes me very | | | | that you recognize and you would eat. In fact, just |
| doubtful! | | | | as is true for humans, fresh foods can provide much |
| Think about this... have you ever seen your dog | | | | better nutrition for pets than highly processed "fast |
| enjoy commercial dog food the way he/she enjoys a | | | | foods. " |
| good meaty bone? I never have and I have had a lot | | | | The reality is that there are only two nutritional |
| of dogs in my lifetime and through my business care | | | | standards against which all pet foods are measured |
| for all different breeds of dogs, sizes and ages. Do | | | | (adult and growth/gestation/lactation)-everything else |
| you know why? It is because bones are fresh meat, | | | | is marketing. Don't fall into the marketing trap and a |
| exactly as you purchase them is exactly what you | | | | side note, generally, the purchase price of pet food |
| give your dog. However, with commercial dog food | | | | does not always determine whether a pet food is |
| some companies may list real meat as their number | | | | good or bad, the price is often a good indicator of |
| one ingredient, but they may actually have more | | | | quality. Dogs may not need the most expensive |
| fillers, which reduces the ratio of quality ingredients to | | | | foods out there to survive... but they do need the |
| useless ones. Ingredients, such as peanut hulls, are | | | | correct nutritional value in their diet everyday. |
| used for filler or fiber, and have no significant | | | | |