Commercial Dog Food is Safe
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Garett_Flores]Garett Flores
Chances are that you have at least once stumbled upon a website or advertisement proclaiming that your pet's commercial dog food is wholly inadequate, or worse, killing your dog. These internet smear campaigns started shortly after the dog food recall scare in 2005 due to Aflotoxins in a variety of pet foods. Aflotoxins are produced by a fungus, and in this case the fungus was growing on a bad batch of corn, which unfortunately was used in a shipment of pet food.
The company, which shall remain nameless, failed to comply with standard internal quality control and testing procedures, which resulted in the illness and death of over 100 dogs, and 1 cat. The company as since cleaned up its act, and other companies followed suit by strengthening their quality control measures.
As a result, our pet's food supply is safer, and healthier than it has ever been. Dogs are living much longer than they had just a decade ago, and much of this longevity can be attributed to the great strides made in animal nutrition. One of the lesser known reasons for the overcrowding of animal shelters is that people's pets are living much longer than they used to, and as a result, they adopt new dogs less frequently.
Critics will argue that if the food is so nutritious, then why do they have to spray it after processing to give it more nutritional value?
The answer is simply that micro-nutrients, such as vitamin-a for example, must be added evenly to the food and in precise and minute quantities. They are added in such a manner to ensure that every morsel is as nutritionally balanced as the next.
The only caveat to the commercialization of dog food is that there are loopholes in the regulation of dog food brands that are only sold instate. If the manufacturer does not ship his pet food product across state lines, then his product is not has heavily regulated as some of the larger, nationwide brands.
Companies will not profit from killing their clients pets. They want nothing more than for your pets to live for decades, so that you continue to purchase their product on a regular basis. As terrible as that may sound, it is the truth. It is the motivation behind the rapid advances in animal nutrition in recent years. There is no "dog food conspiracy".
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Dog food Ingredients
Dog Food Ingredients - Where's the Meat?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=K._C._Jones]K. C. Jones
So many of the dog foods available to us today try to lure you in by telling us about the great quality of the meat, grains, and vegetables they use. Can you believe them? To find out, you have to read the dog food ingredients list. But beware, they are tricky to navigate.
First, what really constitutes a healthy dog food? The fact is a healthy food differs for each pet. Dogs may be allergic to certain ingredients, have different levels of activity, medical conditions, and different stages in life. All of these factor into what type of dog food is healthiest for your dog.
Figuring out the type of dog food will narrow your list of dog foods greatly. Now you need to determine which has the healthiest ingredients for your dog. The first ingredient that should be listed is a meat. And that is where is starts to get tricky. Meat, meal, by-product. Huh? What happened to just a simple meat, like chicken?
Meat, Meal, or By-product? Meat is the clean flesh derived from an animal. Meal is an ingredient that has been dehydrated and ground. A by-product is what is left after all meat is removed (necks, feet, intestines, undeveloped eggs, etc).
Do You Want an Animal Meat or an Animal Meat Meal? So let's further confuse things now. You have two bags in front of you. The first one has lamb as the first ingredient. The second has lamb meal. Which is a better dog food, protein-wise? The one with lamb meal.
By law, ingredients in food must be listed in order of weight. Since meat meal has had all moisture removed, it will be lighter than meat. If you start with two identical pieces of meat, and make meal of one, it will be lighter and therefor lower on the ingredients list. So this is a rather sneaky way of listing a meat, because once the meat is processed for the dog food, it is made into a meat meal. So why not just say 'meal' to begin with? To get it up higher in the dog food ingredients list.
What Does a Generic 'Meat' Mean? All animal meats must be identified on the label. If the food is from a specific animal, such as salmon, it will be stated as 'salmon'. If the food is from an animal class, like fish, then more than one type of that animal could be in the meat - like salmon, tuna, cod - and will labeled as 'fish'. A generic 'meat' or 'meat meal' is the absolute worse - it means the actual animal meat cannot be even identified. You could have some cow, goat, fish, geese, etc.
The bottom line is that if a specific animal source cannot be identified, the dog food manufacturer is probably more concerned about their bottom line than the health and well-being of your pet.
There are lots of things that come into play when figuring out what is a healthy dog food for your dog.
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=K._C._Jones]K. C. Jones
So many of the dog foods available to us today try to lure you in by telling us about the great quality of the meat, grains, and vegetables they use. Can you believe them? To find out, you have to read the dog food ingredients list. But beware, they are tricky to navigate.
First, what really constitutes a healthy dog food? The fact is a healthy food differs for each pet. Dogs may be allergic to certain ingredients, have different levels of activity, medical conditions, and different stages in life. All of these factor into what type of dog food is healthiest for your dog.
Figuring out the type of dog food will narrow your list of dog foods greatly. Now you need to determine which has the healthiest ingredients for your dog. The first ingredient that should be listed is a meat. And that is where is starts to get tricky. Meat, meal, by-product. Huh? What happened to just a simple meat, like chicken?
Meat, Meal, or By-product? Meat is the clean flesh derived from an animal. Meal is an ingredient that has been dehydrated and ground. A by-product is what is left after all meat is removed (necks, feet, intestines, undeveloped eggs, etc).
Do You Want an Animal Meat or an Animal Meat Meal? So let's further confuse things now. You have two bags in front of you. The first one has lamb as the first ingredient. The second has lamb meal. Which is a better dog food, protein-wise? The one with lamb meal.
By law, ingredients in food must be listed in order of weight. Since meat meal has had all moisture removed, it will be lighter than meat. If you start with two identical pieces of meat, and make meal of one, it will be lighter and therefor lower on the ingredients list. So this is a rather sneaky way of listing a meat, because once the meat is processed for the dog food, it is made into a meat meal. So why not just say 'meal' to begin with? To get it up higher in the dog food ingredients list.
What Does a Generic 'Meat' Mean? All animal meats must be identified on the label. If the food is from a specific animal, such as salmon, it will be stated as 'salmon'. If the food is from an animal class, like fish, then more than one type of that animal could be in the meat - like salmon, tuna, cod - and will labeled as 'fish'. A generic 'meat' or 'meat meal' is the absolute worse - it means the actual animal meat cannot be even identified. You could have some cow, goat, fish, geese, etc.
The bottom line is that if a specific animal source cannot be identified, the dog food manufacturer is probably more concerned about their bottom line than the health and well-being of your pet.
There are lots of things that come into play when figuring out what is a healthy dog food for your dog.
Best Dog Food
Best Dog Food - 4 Proven Methods to Find the Perfect Food For Your Dog
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hal_Williams]Hal Williams
Choosing the best dog food for your pet is a lot easier if you know what to look for in a feed. These are four steps to follow when making your choice as a dog owner.
1. Read and understand the ingredients on the feed package
Reading and understanding the ingredients contained in your dog's food is the first step to knowing whether or not you are giving them the best dog food. Make sure that there are no fillers that are there to bulk out the food rather than give nutritional benefit.
Ingredients really do matter and often owners choose feeds that are cheapest or those foods that they think their dogs like the best. A dog fed on this basis is not necessarily receiving a nutritionally balanced diet nor may it be in the best interests of the dog's health.
When looking at the ingredients in dog food bear in mind that dogs, like humans, require a balanced, nutritional diet. Typically a dog's diet contains a minimum ratio of 40% protein, 30% fiber and 30% starch. Obviously this ratio would need to be flexed to take account of the age, breed and activity level of the dog concerned and this is something that your veterinarian can advise on.
Some owners do not wish to feed their dogs meat products. A well-planned diet can safely eliminate animal meat yet provide the dog with the protein that it requires and there are many vegetarian dog feeds available to choose from. As always, it is advisable to consult with a veterinarian before making changes to a dog's diet.
2. Look for food with premium quality ingredients
Understanding the ingredients in dog food is crucial to providing your pet with the best dog food possible. Once they are in the habit of reading and understanding the ingredients, many dog owners consider feeding their animals a premium feed diet.
Premium food contains a much higher quality of ingredient - often these ingredients are derived from human quality sources. Although it does cost more than standard feed, many dog owners consider that all natural dog food is the [http://www.best-dogfood.org]best dog food and they find that the benefits of natural dog food easily outweigh the costs through improved health and happiness.
All natural dog food is easier on a dog's digestion than standard feed and tends to give the dog a glossier coat. It is for this reason that many breeders and groomers choose a premium diet for their animals.
Owners who have dogs with allergies may choose an all natural diet because these foods do not contain artificial flavors, colors or chemical preservatives.
3. Consider the breed, age and activity levels of the dog
The best dog food for one dog will be different from another. A pregnant bitch will have very different nutritional requirements from a puppy or an active adult. Likewise an active breed will need a different type of food from a more docile animal. Keeping in mind the specific requirements of your dog will be crucial to selecting the correct diet for your pet.
4. Always consult with your veterinarian
Because different dogs have varying nutritional requirements, as a responsible owner you should always consult a veterinarian to confirm that the diet you are proposing for your dog is well balanced and appropriate for your pet's health.
Taking the time and trouble to find the right food is important and will ensure that you choose the best dog food. It is worth remembering that dogs that have a correct diet tend to grow happy and healthy and will likely save their owners on vet fees!
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hal_Williams]Hal Williams
Choosing the best dog food for your pet is a lot easier if you know what to look for in a feed. These are four steps to follow when making your choice as a dog owner.
1. Read and understand the ingredients on the feed package
Reading and understanding the ingredients contained in your dog's food is the first step to knowing whether or not you are giving them the best dog food. Make sure that there are no fillers that are there to bulk out the food rather than give nutritional benefit.
Ingredients really do matter and often owners choose feeds that are cheapest or those foods that they think their dogs like the best. A dog fed on this basis is not necessarily receiving a nutritionally balanced diet nor may it be in the best interests of the dog's health.
When looking at the ingredients in dog food bear in mind that dogs, like humans, require a balanced, nutritional diet. Typically a dog's diet contains a minimum ratio of 40% protein, 30% fiber and 30% starch. Obviously this ratio would need to be flexed to take account of the age, breed and activity level of the dog concerned and this is something that your veterinarian can advise on.
Some owners do not wish to feed their dogs meat products. A well-planned diet can safely eliminate animal meat yet provide the dog with the protein that it requires and there are many vegetarian dog feeds available to choose from. As always, it is advisable to consult with a veterinarian before making changes to a dog's diet.
2. Look for food with premium quality ingredients
Understanding the ingredients in dog food is crucial to providing your pet with the best dog food possible. Once they are in the habit of reading and understanding the ingredients, many dog owners consider feeding their animals a premium feed diet.
Premium food contains a much higher quality of ingredient - often these ingredients are derived from human quality sources. Although it does cost more than standard feed, many dog owners consider that all natural dog food is the [http://www.best-dogfood.org]best dog food and they find that the benefits of natural dog food easily outweigh the costs through improved health and happiness.
All natural dog food is easier on a dog's digestion than standard feed and tends to give the dog a glossier coat. It is for this reason that many breeders and groomers choose a premium diet for their animals.
Owners who have dogs with allergies may choose an all natural diet because these foods do not contain artificial flavors, colors or chemical preservatives.
3. Consider the breed, age and activity levels of the dog
The best dog food for one dog will be different from another. A pregnant bitch will have very different nutritional requirements from a puppy or an active adult. Likewise an active breed will need a different type of food from a more docile animal. Keeping in mind the specific requirements of your dog will be crucial to selecting the correct diet for your pet.
4. Always consult with your veterinarian
Because different dogs have varying nutritional requirements, as a responsible owner you should always consult a veterinarian to confirm that the diet you are proposing for your dog is well balanced and appropriate for your pet's health.
Taking the time and trouble to find the right food is important and will ensure that you choose the best dog food. It is worth remembering that dogs that have a correct diet tend to grow happy and healthy and will likely save their owners on vet fees!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Dog food
Dog food is food intended for consumption by dogs or other canine. Special types of dog food, given as a reward, and not as a staple, are known as dog treats.
Some people make their own dog food, feed their dogs meals made from ingredients purchased in grocery or health-food stores or give their dogs a raw food diet. Many others rely on commercially manufactured dog food.
There are many different recommendations on what diet is best for dogs. Some argue that dogs have thrived on leftovers and scraps from their owners for thousands of years and that commercial dog foods (which have only been available for the past century) contain poor-quality meats, additives, and other ingredients dogs should not ingest.
Most store-bought dog food comes in either a dry form (also known in the US as kibble) or a wet canned form. Dry food contains 6-10% moisture by volume, as compared to up to 78% in canned food. Semi-moist foods have a moisture content of 25-35%. Pet owners often prefer dry food for reasons of convenience and price. Besides the lower price, dry pet food can also be left out for the animal to eat at will over the course of several days; whereas canned food spoils or becomes unappetizing after several hours. On the other hand, canned food has a longer shelf life than dry food. Canned food can also contain more protein and fat than dry dog food.Wet or canned dog food is significantly higher in moisture than dry or semi-moist food.Because the food is sterilized after being canned (sometimes it is also cooked in the can), it is often easier to ensure the sterility of wet food. A given wet food will often be higher in protein or fat when compared to a similar kibble on a dry matter basis (a measure which ignores moisture). Grain gluten and other protein gels may be used in wet dog food to create artificial meaty chunks, which look like real meat.
In recent years, new types of dog food have emerged on the market that differ from traditional commercial pet food. Many companies have been successful in targeting niche markets, each with unique characteristics.A non-alcoholic "beer" for dogs (Kwispelbier) is made in the Netherlands from beef extract and malt.
Popular Alternative Dog Food Labels:
- Frozen or Freeze-Dried, comes in raw or cooked (not processed) form. The idea is to skip the processing stage traditional dry/wet dog food goes through. This causes less destruction of the nutritional integrity. To compensate for the short shelf life, products are frozen or freeze-dried.
- Dehydrated, comes in raw and cooked form. Products are usually air dried to reduce moisture to the level where bacterial growths are inhibited. The appearance is very similar to dry kibbles. The typical feeding methods include adding warm water before serving.
- Fresh or Refrigerated, produced through pasteurization of fresh ingredients. Products are lightly cooked and then quickly sealed in a vacuum package. Then they are refrigerated until served. This type of dog food is extremely vulnerable to spoiling if not kept at a cool temperature and has a shelf life of 2–4 months, unopened.
- Homemade Diet often comes in a bucket or Tupperware-like package. In the past this was thought to be a diet that owners create themselves. However, recently, many small companies have begun to home-cook dog dishes and then sell them through specialty stores or over the Internet. Many pet owners feed dogs homemade diets. These diets generally consist of some form of cooked meat or raw meat, ground bone, pureed vegetables, taurine supplements, and other multivitamin supplements. Some pet owners use human vitamin supplements, and others use vitamin supplements specifically engineered for dogs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
