For the past few weeks I have been following some information coming out about dog food. What started as a small discussion about food safety, has now morphed into all kibble is bad, only feed raw and has left pet parents confused, fearful and scrambling to feed their pet on a budget. I do believe that there are some cases of sick dogs due to product not living up to what it should be. However, researching food ingredients for years, has left me with the knowledge to choose the best food with the best ingredients.
Let's break down some ingredients and identify what is permissible and what you really don't want in your pets food.
Here is a list of ingredients to consider, I will go through each one and define each ingredient:
Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Fresh Chicken, Whole Grain Barley, Whole Brown Rice, Millet, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols, a Natural Source of Vitamin E), Salmon Meal (Preserved with Vitamin E and Rosemary Extract), Green Peas, Whole Eggs, Chicken Liver, Potassium Chloride, Salmon Oil (Source of DHA), Quinoa, Flaxseed, Lecithin, DL Methionine, Chicory Root (Inulin), Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Niacin, Vitamin C, Inositol, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin Bl, Riboflavin, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Tomato (Natural Source of Vitamin K), Glucosamine, Choline Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-carnitine, Mannan-Oligosaccharides, Carrots, Apples, Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Cranberries, Green-Lipped Mussels (Natural Source of Chondroitin And Glucosamine), Probiotics (Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casei, Enterococcus Faecium, Bifidobacterium Thermophilum), Thyme, Cassia, Anise, Horseradish, Juniper, Ginger, Yarrow, Rosemary Extract.
The first ingredient you want in your dogs food is meat, it's normally in the form of a meal. For instance, any meat meal is not the same as a meat by-product. In this ingredient list, both lamb and chicken, only the meat portion, not the hooves, feathers, beaks and other things is included. The meat only has the water taken out of it, the protein is still in it, which is the easiest for your pet to digest. Oatmeal is a carbohydrate and a protein, it's easy to digest, it's both heart healthy just like for humans. Fresh chicken is the next ingredient, more protein. Salmon meal, whole eggs, chicken liver, Quiona, Flaxseed are all healthy foods that we can eat and help with our nutrition. When you move down to the rest of the ingredients you will find vegetables, fruit, and other healthy additives. Probiotics, a number of herbs and extracts round out this kibble.
Whole grains are next; Barley, Brown Rice and Millet. There was this big thing a few years ago where dog parents were told to not give your pet grains. Healthy grains are good for your pet, they do help with heart health. The argument against them revolves around what dogs would have eaten in the wild, however does your dog live in the wild? No, he doesn't! Healthy carbohydrates are not bad in moderation and does help your dog.
The next thing to question is who manufactures your food? Is it a big corporation that puts less than quality ingredients? Is it filled with corn? Corn will just go through your dogs digestive system with absolutely no nutrition. Big corporations are out for profit, not necessarily optimal ingredients. Find a small privately owned company that sources their ingredients from good companies.
Parents are ultimately in charge of their pets health, no-one else. I don't ask for opinion any longer, I look for myself at ingredients and research the best ones.
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