| Health, energy and lifespan of your dog all depend on | | | | Do not buy food that has meat meal or meat |
| two things. One is how well taken care of your pet is | | | | by-products either. The protein required by dogs is |
| and the second directly related thing is the dog food | | | | not present in these ingredients. Nutritional value can |
| you purchase. Not all dog foods contain the same | | | | be affected by using these products as well as soy, |
| ingredients. Knowing which ones have the correct | | | | wheat and corn. Preservatives are another ingredient |
| vitamins and nutritional value for your dog will ensure | | | | you should beware of in your dog's food. There are |
| that he is around for a long time. | | | | certain ones that can be extremely hard on dogs. |
| The Recall of Dog Food | | | | This is especially true if this is what the dogs eat for |
| The dog food recall in 2007 that was the result of | | | | an extended time period. |
| companies in China and the U.S. using melamine in | | | | One of the things you will learn is to never take the |
| their pet food products was directly responsible for | | | | word of the manufacturer when they label their food |
| the deaths of 2,200 dogs. This is a chemical that is | | | | 'complete and balanced'. Dogs can even look |
| used to manufacture plastic. | | | | outwardly healthy unless examined by a veterinarian. |
| About 800 tons of wheat gluten that contained this | | | | This is when they will notice the coats that are not |
| chemical was found in China. Not only was it found, | | | | healthy looking and often dry or oily skin. In addition |
| but it had been mislabeled to avoid inspection. | | | | they may have excessive itching and ear infection. |
| The melamine was added to boost the protein | | | | The 'complete and balanced' food they were eating |
| content of the gluten used in the dog food. The | | | | contained corn as the main ingredient. |
| reason behind this was the cost. It was merely | | | | This used to be hard to diagnose because the dogs |
| cheaper to use melamine than it was to add real | | | | would appear healthy and some even looked to be |
| protein. | | | | overfed. However, the reason for the constant |
| This is where a lot of companies cheat on the | | | | problems with coats and ear infections was the grain |
| products being sold. Consumers read the label and | | | | diets they were consuming and the absence of meat. |
| think it contains a certain ingredient. In fact, they do | | | | Combined with itchy, flaky skin and the overweight |
| not contain that product at all; they often contain | | | | condition, the grain fed diets were not providing the |
| ingredients that are dangerous and may even cause | | | | proper nutrition. |
| death as in the case of the tainted food. | | | | When purchasing a truly 'balanced and nutritious' food |
| How Do You Know What Product to Buy? | | | | for your dog, meat-based is the choice. The meat is |
| So how are you supposed to know if a dog food is | | | | an essential part of the dog's diet as long as it is the |
| good for your dog or not? This is not something you | | | | correct type. |
| can tell by looking at the food. The ingredients used | | | | Dog food companies should stop worrying about |
| to make the food will be one way of discovering if | | | | making fancy commercials to try and get the public |
| the food has the right combination of nutrients to | | | | to buy their product. Instead, spending this money on |
| keep your dog healthy. This is found on the bag | | | | quality ingredients will tell the public far more readily |
| itself. | | | | that this is a dog food that will be nutritious and |
| Look for the first ingredient listed. The first ingredient | | | | beneficial for their dog. A fund for the owners of |
| is extremely important as this will be the ingredient | | | | these animals was started in 2008. Documented |
| that makes up the largest percentage of the dog | | | | proof of the owner's expenses related to the tainted |
| food. If the first ingredient listed is an animal protein, | | | | food can allow them to be reimbursed. What, |
| such as chicken meal, you are on the right track. | | | | however is supposed to happen for the families that |
| Keep in mind that if it says poultry protein, this is not | | | | lost beloved pets that were a part of the family for |
| the same thing. | | | | years? |