By Products In Dog Food

There Are Many Quality Choices Regarding Organ Meats And Beef By

Are beef by-products good ingredients for pet food? Short answer Yes. But some critics would have you believe they are vile, evil and unfit for consumption. Consider this though: Some people like liver and onions, natural beef hotdogs or blood sausage in the traditional casing , tripe soup

What Dog Foods Are Killing Dogs

A pet food recall is widening after the Food and Drug Administration announced that more than two dozen dogs died after eating Sportmix brand dry kibble. The statement issued on Monday said that the suspect is aflatoxin, a byproduct of a corn mold Aspergillus flavus, which at high levels can kill pets.

A Word About Sustainability Of The Environment

Did you know that using chicken by-product in pet food is good for the environment! As mentioned above, these parts of the chicken that humans don’t eat contain some great nutrients for dogs. If we didn’t feed these to our pets then this would be wasted food that would mostly be thrown into the trash. If all we fed to our pets were chicken breast and thighs and we wasted the by-products, think of the effect on the environment! Millions of extra chickens would need to be bred and so much food would go to waste!

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Whats The Beef With By

This month weve been focusing our attention on nutrition. Weve learned that keeping your pet at a healthy weight and feeding a high-quality pet food can quite literally add years to your pets life. Weve also tackled the Grain-Free myth regarding pet foods. Today we are going to finish our month of nutrition discussing another common myth that by-products in pet food are a bad thing. We dont hear it hyped quite so much anymore, now that grain free is the newest fad, but many people get hung up on by-products in food. Why? There is nothing wrong with by-products in pet food. Utilization of by-products allow fuller use of the whole animal, leading to less waste. By-products are those parts not usually consumed by most people, although some people do eat them. AAFCO, the organization that regulates pet foods, defines by-products as:

The non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially de-fatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hoofs.

Heat Treating Processed Pet Food For Non

If you are making processed pet food, other than dog chews, which wont be sealed in an airtight container, you must treat ingredients derived from animal by-products, or the final product, at 90°C.

If you meet this heat treatment condition, you can use the following ABPs:

• milk and milk-based products
• tricalcium phosphate
• flavouring innards / digests

You can also make processed pet food by drying or fermentation provided your method poses no risk to public or animal health.

Talk to your local APHA office if you want to check that your own method is legal.

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Best Overall: Purina Pro Plan

• Wide range of formulas for all life stages

• Brand employs team of nutritionists and vets

• Products made in USA

• Can be pricey

Purina Pro Plan offers more than 80 dog food varieties and Dr. Frione often recommends them for her patients. In addition to wet and dry options, Purina Pro Plan formulas include food nutritionally designed for adult dogs, puppies of various sizes, senior dogs, and specialized diet support for overweight dogs, sensitive stomachs, and more.

Various formulas also include up-to-the-minute nutritional research, incorporating ingredients such as gut-health promoting probiotics, vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids that can help promote a healthy coat. Purina Pro Plan’s puppy formula incorporate extra calcium for bone health, while its “Performance” formula for active dogs incorporates a 30% / 20% blend of protein and fat, designed to maintain lean muscle mass.

In addition to well-researched and certified formulations, Purina Pro Plan also incorporates high quality ingredients, with real meat often appearing as the top ingredient.

Purina Pro Plan dog food meets FDA regulatory standards, and also adheres to nutritional guidelines laid out by the Association of American Feed Control Officials . The brand also uses responsibly sourced ingredients and makes 99% of its pet products in Purina-owned facilities in the United States.

Value Of Healthy Foods

Just as humans feel better when eating healthier, dogs thrive on healthy dog foods. They improve coat and skin quality, energy level and general overall health. Because many dogs are allergic to grain or byproducts, removing those ingredients from food can reduce itchy skin and ear infections.

In addition, dogs can’t digest meat byproducts. These can include hair, teeth, feet and other undigestible animal parts that your dog’s body can’t use as a protein source. The parts your dogs doesn’t digest then turn into sugar in their system, causing your dog to have more nervous energy than he would on a healthy diet.

Though higher quality foods are more expensive, owners feed less because their dogs need to eat less to receive the same nutrients. In addition, a healthier dog means lower veterinary bills.

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Dealing With Raw Pet Food

Raw meat can be contaminated with harmful bacteria such as salmonella, campylobacter, listeria and Escherichia coli.

Producing raw pet food does not include a process for killing bacteria. These bacteria can cause serious illness in people and pets.

To prevent this, you must take the following precautions.

The Real Reason Dog Food Companies Use Animal By

Theres one glaring and indisputable reason animal by-products remain so popular with some manufacturers and not others.

Animal by-products are simply cheaper notably cheaper than most any other comparable meat product. Theyre used for making dog food because they save money. Not because theyre more nutritious.

Why is this important to a pet food shopper?

Although finding animal by-products in a recipe doesnt guarantee youve discovered a good or a bad dog food, their presence must always be considered a reliable clue the food is made with cheaper ingredients.

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The Pros Of Animal By

There are actually a few benefits that come along with using animal by-product meal. First of all, you will find that fresh meat is actually a high percentage of water. With meat meal, the water is extracted, therefore your pup gets more protein out of the meal. This is why there are so many pet owners out there that insist that animal by-products in dog food arent necessarily a bad thing.

Shopping for the Best Dog Food for Your Pup

Now that you know more about animal by-products in dog food, it is time to take a look at your dogs food label. If you are trying to determine whether or not you should buy foods that contain these by-products, here are 2 tips that will help you out:

So, while you may think that animal by-products should always be a no-go, it doesnt always mean that it is bad. Just make sure that you read the label and stay knowledgeable when it comes to what you are feeding your pup.

Which Meat Is Best In Dog Food

The Most Popular Meats for Dogs Chicken. Chicken is a popular protein for pups for many reasons. Beef. Another high-quality protein source that is widely available for dogs is beef. Salmon. Yes! Lamb. Lamb is another great meat choice for pups. Turkey. Not just for Thanksgiving, your pup can enjoy turkey all year.

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What Should You Look For In Dog Food

The best dog foods for sensitive dogs are those that are clean free from artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors and contain ingredients that are easy on sensitive stomachs. Limited ingredient diet formulas are also recommended because these make it easy for you to keep track of whats in your dogs food.

Look for special ingredients that provide support for the skin, like omega fatty acids. These are responsible for giving your pup healthy skin, reducing inflammation, and maintaining coat health. Meanwhile, antioxidants like vitamin C and E are excellent in supporting your dogs immune system.

Active dogs require a high-protein formula that can supply them with lots of energy. Check the fat source too. Its where your pup gets the essential fatty acids he needs. Salmon oil and sunflower oil are two healthy fat sources.

Chicken fat is good too, because it does not contain the allergen that triggers a negative reaction. But its still best to consult your veterinarian before giving your pooch anything that has chicken in it. Canola oil is okay as well, but do remember that this kind of oil is highly processed if its not labeled as organic.

Generally, high-quality dog foods and limited ingredient dog foods are more expensive than your usual doggy diet. But as pet parents, we are responsible for supporting our furry friend live a healthy and long life. Even when it somewhat hurts our wallets.

Transport And Store Raw Pet Food Safely

Make sure your approved, registered ABP transporters meet the vehicle hygiene and storage requirements and label containers and vehicles clearly

You should check material has been stored appropriately. Follow the ABP hygiene on your site guidance.

Tell suppliers and distributors the correct storage temperature for your finished pet food product.

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Things Your Vet Wants You To Know About Dog Food

Most dogs will eat anything, from trash on the sidewalk to scraps from your table. Theyâre not picky when it comes to nutrition. So, how do you know if the food youâre buying for them is healthy?

The FDA regulates all commercial pet food, so most products on store shelves do have safe and nutritious ingredients. But it helps to know some basic facts before you choose a brand and dish it out.

How To Read A Dog Food Label

The first few ingredients on a pet food bag or label can tell you almost everything you need to know about the quality of the food you feed your pet. Every pet lover wants the best for their best friend, which means feeding them the highest quality food that meets all their nutritional needs and is made with the very best ingredients.

The reality is, many owners arent reading the ingredient labels on their pets food. Those that do often cant make sense of the long, complex list of ingredients on so many labels.

And this is where they get you. Pet food labels arent always what they appear to be, and many brands use misleading or intentionally vague language to mask low quality ingredients. While you may buy what sounds like real chicken or beef kibble for your pup, are you certain its not chicken by-product meal or beef by-product meal? So how can you be sure your best friend is getting the vital nutrients they need and not being fed nutrient-sparse, powdered meat?

Heres what you need to know to make sure your pup gets the best.

The resulting powdered protein lacks many of the key nutrients that fresh meat and poultry provide. To make up for that, brands will add synthetic supplements to boost nutrients, which is a much cheaper product for manufacturers to produce. These synthetic additives often make up the long list of chemical-sounding ingredients you may not recognize on your pet food label.

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What Are Animal By

Animal by-products in dog food and cat food arent fillers like most people think. Many believe by-products are low-quality or even inedible parts of an animal, such as hooves, hair or feathers.

When it comes to wet food, by-products are basically organ meatsthe liver, kidneys, lungs and spleen. Rather than being bad, its actually the first choice of animals when they eat. Theyre nutritious and palatable, according to Dr. Marty Becker, Americas Veterinarian and founder of Fear Free Pets.

In dry food, by-product meal is a common ingredient. By-product meal can include organ meats and other edible parts of an animal, such as tissues and bones.

These are rendered cooked to eliminate bacteria, evaporate water and separate protein from fat. Meals are ground down to create a uniform size and shape.

Animal by-products are the co-products of food ingredients, including parts of an animal not usually used in the U.S. human food chain, such as the heart or liver, but which can provide important nutritional benefits.

Dont Rule Out Byproducts Or Grains

Chicken and meat byproducts get a bad rap, thanks to companies that claim âreal chickenâ or âreal meatâ ingredients are better. The terms âbyproductâ and âbyproduct mealâ refer to ground-up parts of the animal carcass, including bones and organs. But they can be very nutritious, Sanderson says — even more nutritious than the muscle meat that we, as humans, enjoy.Grains and cornmeal are also common ingredients in commercial dog foods — and thatâs OK, says Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, an associate professor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. âGoing gluten-free may be a trendy diet for people, but we rarely see dogs with gluten sensitivities.âIf you do think your pal might be allergic to something in their food, donât make a diagnosis yourself. Ask your veterinarian how to figure out exactly which ingredient to avoid.

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What Are Chicken By

If youve ever read a dog food label, you might have seen chicken by-products or “poultry by-products” listed in the ingredients. If you had no clue what those

meant, youre not alone. For starters, chicken by-products can vary from one dog food brand to another or from one flavor to another, so it can be hard to track down exactly what youre feeding your dog.

Lets take a stab at it, though, and look at some of the most frequently asked questions about chicken by-products in dog food

The One Type Of Animal By

On the other hand

Generic by-product meals are different. They do not identify the source of the meat.

Instead, they use vague and non-specific names like

• Meat meal

• Diseased and dying livestock
• Euthanized dogs and cats

Because you can never know the source of the meat used to make generic by-product meals, purchase of pet food products containing anonymous names should be avoided.

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Best For Puppies: Purina One

Amazon

• More affordable than Purina Pro Plan

• Brand employs team of nutritionists and vets

• Products made in USA

• Limited number of products

The brands above all offer high-quality puppy food, but another top choice for puppies is Purina One. Similar to Purina Pro Plan, Purina One is a science-based food that offers premium nutrition for growing dogs. This brand offers three puppy-specific foods, including a regular dry food, large breed puppy dry food, and wet food option, and you can typically find these products at big name retail and grocery storesnot just specialty pet stores.

Like other Purina brands, Purina One formulas are created by the companys team of nutritionists, veterinarians, and scientists, and they provide balanced and complete nutrition for growing puppies. The food follows AAFCO guidelines, and its made without any unnecessary filler ingredients.

What Are By Products Examples

Some common examples of byproducts are: Food fines from the cereal processing. Molasses in sugar refining. Fruit oils recovered during the peeling of processed fruit. Straw from grain harvesting. Salt yielded during the desalination of water. Ash from fuel combustion. Buttermilk in the manufacture of butter.

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To Make Processed Pet Food

To make any processed pet food, in airtight containers or wrappers or otherwise, the ABPs you can use are:

• category 3 ABPs from carcasses passed fit for human consumption
• slaughterhouse by-products, like hides, skins, horns, feet, pig bristle, feather or blood
• heads of poultry
• ABPs from aquatic animals from factories that make food for humans
• factory-rejected pet foods of animal origin, containing ABPs or derived products
• shells from shellfish with soft tissue or flesh
• sea or land invertebrates once they dont carry diseases that can be passed on to humans or animals
• rodents and lagomorphs unless they are from zoos, experimental animals, or diseased wild animals
• blood, placenta, wool, feathers, hair, horns, hoof cuts and raw milk from live animals
• aquatic animals, and parts of such animals, except sea mammals

Look For The Nutritional Guarantee

The food that makes up a dogâs main meals should have a statement on the label from the Association of American Feed Control Officials that the product âprovides complete and balanced nutrition,â or that the product âis formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.âThe main ingredient you choose for your pooch — chicken, lamb, beef, or something else — doesnât make much of a difference, says Sherry Sanderson, DVM, an associate professor at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. The important thing is that they can eat it with no problems.

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Natural Beyond The Regulatory Definitions

Inconsistencies in the definition of natural among international regulatory agencies and the lack of visibility and understanding of regulatory definitions by pet owners have contributed to misperceptions about natural pet food products. Therefore, many natural pet food consumers seek out products or ingredients with claims of human-grade, organic, holistic, ancestral, or instinctual and avoid ingredients perceived as fillers or byproducts however, these terms are not addressed in the current regulatory definitions of natural.

Each step of the manufacturing process of pet food can positively or negatively affect the naturalness of the final product, including crop and livestock production activities, ingredient processing and preservation, and kibble extrusion or canning of final product . Consequently, various steps of the manufacturing process are considered by pet owners, manufacturers, nutritionists, or regulatory agencies when determining if an ingredient or product is natural. For example, the AAFCO definition of natural primarily considers ingredient processing, whereas consumers may impose additional selection criteria based on opinions and beliefs, such as exclusion of ingredients perceived as having low nutritional value. On the other hand, consumers, nutritionists, or manufacturers that determine a natural diet based on pet physiology or pet preference may consider nutrient composition, food format, or ingredient origin .