Dried Without Heat: Freeze
This method of dog food production uses a classic law of physics.;
As we learned in grade school, the higher we go up the side of a mountain, the easier it is to boil water. At higher altitude, theres less air pressure so water boils at a lower temperature. If you go high enough, water will actually boil at room temperature .;
Even better, the frozen water in dog food will effervesce in a freeze dryer. It goes directly from a solid to a gas, without passing through a liquid state if the air pressure is low enough.;Thats why I said a freeze dryer machine is more correctly called a vacuum dryer.;
Drying without heat avoids protein denaturation . And it allows the best palatability.;
Its every bit;as convenient as kibble and even more tasty than frozen.;It is an expensive choice but the low level of carbohydrates is a distinct plus and worth a premium.;
True to form, the North American marketplace offers a wide array of options for dog food. Optimum nutrition comes from freeze-dried. This is the product type to emphasize to the extent that budget allows.;
Whats In Dry Dog Food
Fortunately, companies cant just use any ingredients in their food. Pet food is highly regulated with a long list of requirements that need to be met by pet food manufacturers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates pet food products and their ingredients and is involved with rules around pet food labels, ingredient definitions, and ingredient approvals.
In addition, there are state regulations which are often more strict than federal rules. States typically follow the guidelines set by the American Association of Feed Control Officials and are responsible for overseeing the nutritional guarantees of each product as well as the information included on the packaging itself. All of these regulations are in place to define the requirements for pet food production.
Starting with high-quality ingredients is important to producing a high-quality food. Every dog food starts with a recipe of ingredients and every brand has its own proprietary blend of ingredients. These typically include some form of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals. Each of these ingredients are included to provide the necessary nutrition and taste to support your dog.
Its also important to note that some pet food companies do not make their own food. Instead, they contract with an outside manufacturer to make and package the product for them. Meanwhile, other companies make their own dry dog food in their own plant.
How Kibble Is Made
HOW KIBBLE IS MADE
The increase of pet deaths leading to pet food recalls, both here and overseas, has prompted conscious pet owners to take a closer look at their dogs food.
As rightly they should.
The incidence of skin allergies and digestive problems has increased ten-fold over the last few decades and now, horrifyingly, 1 in every 3 pets will suffer from some form of cancer.
Ask an independent vet or animal nutritionist why this is so and theyll likely tell you it stems from heavily processed kibble food which contains biologically inappropriate ingredients.
Its the most widely used pet food on the planet, due mainly to its convenience, and yet many people dont know how kibble or dried dog food is made.
And if you dont know this information, you cant make informed decisions on what to feed your pet.
So heres a quick overview that simply states the facts on how kibble is made and what it is made of.
Firstly, lets look at the ingredients. Kibble contains the following:
- Meat Meal made from rendered meat by-products
- Cereals and Grains
- Corn Gluten Feed .
- Palatability Enhancers like yeast, fat, sweeteners or concentrated flavours
A quick note about Rendering:
Rendering is a process that uses heat to separate fat and water from meat solids.
In the case of pet food, the initial product used for rendering can be anything from meat trim to euthanised pets.;
The resultant product is what is known as Meat Meal.
Cereals and Grains
Processing:
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Turkey Rice And Greens Dog Food
Ingredients:
- ½ cup carrots
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 340F.;Cook the peas, carrots and corn on the stove until tender. Peel the apple and chop. Cook rice according to package directions. Use a potato masher to mash the vegetables. Add the egg to the vegetables WITH shell and mash completely.
Mix the chicken apple together in a clean bowl and combine thoroughly. Add cooked rice to the vegetable mix. Grease cake pan and layer half the chicken mix in the bottom of the pan.
Layer 2/3 of the vegetable mixture over the chicken. Use the leftover chicken to make another layer. Top the cake with the leftover vegetable mix. Cook for 35 min or until cooked through. Cool before slicing and serving.
We Arent The Only People That Have Converted To Making Homemade Dog Food And Are Loving The Results Check Out The Links Below For More Homemade Dog Food Recipes Your Pup Will Love
Easy Crockpot Dog Food from Damn Delicious || This simple homemade dog food recipe combines ground beef, brown rice, kidney beans, butternut squash, carrots, and peas in the slow cooker so you can set it and forget it!;
Homemade Dog Food Recipe from College Housewife || Elizabeths sweet dog Rascal suffered from all sorts of health issues which led them to having him allergy tested. Turns out Rascal was allergic to all sorts of things even beef! So, Elizabeth developed a;homemade dog food recipe that is just perfect for Rascals sensitive belly that is filled with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots, and zucchini squash and macaroni noodles!
DIY Homemade Dog Food from Damn Delicious||Chungahs dog Butters battle with stomach issues led her to start making dog food at home. This recipe is easy to make and super good for your pups too! It combines a delicious blend of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains and is made of ingredients like ground chicken, brown rice, shredded zucchini, spinach, carrots, and peas.
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Stick To A Feeding Schedule
While were on the subject, most dogs are okay with just two meals a day. If your dog hasnt touched his food for more than 30 minutes, remove the bowl until the next feeding. That way, he will learn that there are certain times when he can eat.
Its also possible that your dog prefers not to eat his breakfast in the morning. This is why I highly suggest giving smaller meals, several times throughout the day. If youre a busy pet parent, an automatic pet feeder is an ideal way to set up feeding schedules and meal portions ahead of time.
Quality Digestibility And Energy Density
There are a few key components to consider when evaluating dietary needs. These factors include the quality and digestibility of the protein provided in the diet, as well as the composition of the amino acids included, and finally the energy density provided in the diet. Diets containing proteins that are high in quality, composition, and digestibility require less of that protein to be present. The same can be said in regards to the energy density. In contrast, high-protein diets will provide excess protein content after meeting maintenance demands; this can therefore lead to the protein being utilized in fat and energy storage. This ultimately increases the risk for developing obesity and other health related issues. However, higher protein in the diet helps reduce lean body mass loss, but will not lead to an increase in size of muscle unless paired with resistance exercises or anabolic steroids under maintenance conditions.
In the United States, dog foods labelled as “complete and balanced” must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials , either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. The Dog Food Nutrient Profiles were last updated in 2016 by the AAFCO’s Canine Nutrition Expert Subcommittee.
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Dietary Supplements For Home
Some supplements are required in addition to natural food for dogs. Others may be needed if you are not able to feed a variety of foods, or if you leave out one or more of the food groups above. In addition, the longer food is cooked or frozen, the more nutrients are lost. Here are some dog supplements to consider:
Calcium
Unless you feed RMBs, all homemade diets must be supplemented with calcium. The amount found in multivitamin and mineral supplements is not enough. Give 800 to 1,000 mg calcium per pound of food . You can use any form of plain calcium, including eggshells ground to powder in a clean coffee grinder . Animal Essentials Seaweed Calcium provides additional minerals, as well. And here is a good list of calcium-rich foods your dog may like. Just please note this list is for humans and includes orange juice, which is not a good thing to give your dog as the acidity can cause stomach upset.
Oils
Most homemade diets require added oils for fat, calories, and to supply particular nutrients. Its important to use the right types of oils, as each supplies;different nutrients.
Fish Oil: Fish oil for dogs provides EPA and DHA, omega-3 fatty acids that help to regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. Give an amount that provides about 300 mg EPA and DHA combined per 20 to 30 pounds of body weight on days you dont feed fish. Note that liquid fish oil supplements often tell you to give much more than this, which can result in too many calories from fat.
How Pet Food Is Made A Culture Of Safety
PFI members provide more choices than ever to feed Americas 180 million dogs and cats, including dry , wet , semi moist, fresh, dehydrated, freeze-dried and raw-infused food, treats and chews.;
Our member companies drive continuous improvement in the safety of ingredients and finished product.;Their safety programs are forward-looking and employ practices such as applying advances in technology, adhering to strict testing protocols practicing a zero tolerance for the presence of Salmonella and other harmful bacteria, and continual monitoring throughout the manufacturing process to ensure the safest possible food products for our pets.
U.S. pet food and treat makers work closely with their ingredient suppliers.
Hygienic and Secure Design of Pet Food and Treat Manufacturing Facilities
Smart facilities for safe food and treats.
Inspecting and Testing Ingredients during Arrival and Unloading
When ingredients arrive at the pet food or treat manufacturing facility, procedures in place during unloading help to ensure that material meets the companys quality and safety specifications.
Continuous Monitoring during Manufacturing
Grinding, mixing, cooking, shaping and drying: steps to review and assess food throughout the process.
Safety and Traceability Assurances during Packaging
Pet food and treat makers are also committed to safety once the food is on its way to retailers, following specific steps during the packaging and distribution of the final product.
Regulatory Oversight
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The Truth About Kibble
If you randomly polled people on the street and asked about what their dog eats, most wouldnt have much to say on the subject. We know because weve done it. Youll hear everything from, whatevers cheapest at Costco, to whichever brand my vets office sells. Few people have actually researched their dogs food, and most blindly trust the opinions of veterinarians, pet store employees, or whichever price is right.
But have you ever thought about your dogs food the way you think about your own? Have you ever wondered why every piece of kibble is the exact same shape? Or why it can sit in your hall closet for years at a time, without going bad? Have you ever questioned why so many dogs you know have battled cancer, allergies, fatty tumors, or any other host of illnesses?
Dog food, like our own food, comes in all shapes, sizes, and levels of quality, and weve all been living in a dont ask, dont tell kind of world. Well, we made the mistake of asking a few years ago, and were ready to share. Any loving pet owner has a right to know whats in their food, and were here to share our findings. And no, you shouldnt feel bad that youve never asked most people dont. Good thing youre here now!
Homemade Dog Food Can Actually Deprive Pets Of Essential Nutrients
If you want to prep your pups meals, you need expert guidance.
BySara Chodosh | Published Jul 12, 2019 10:31 PM
Dogs are too good for usthis much we know. So it makes sense that many of us want to treat our pups like the angels they are by giving them the best of everything. For some people, that means feeding their canine pals home-prepared meals replete with fresh burger meat and tasty carrots.
The rising number of homemade doggy diets reflects a general trend that vets have pointed out in academic papers for years: more and more pet owners dont want to feed their companions dry food manufactured by a big company. Natural dog food sales shot up 43 percent in 2018 compared to the previous year, and there was a 27 percent increase in sales of kibbles without artificial colors. Every time theres a large pet food recall, more people become interested in making their own food, says Rebecca Remillard, a veterinary nutritionist who founded a consultation service for other vets. Plenty of folks just look for a commercial alternative , but many decide to prepare their own.
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Not All Foods Are The Same
Knowing how to read a label is an important part of choosing the right food for your pet. Some brands will use more grains and animal by-products than actual meat products. The ingredients are listed in descending order, from most to least. If you wish to feed a kibble with more meat than grain, and this is generally suggested, you will need to find foods that list meat as the first ingredient, with grain ingredients following. It is also important to note that dogs are more tolerant of grain ingredients. It has long been noted that dogs are omnivorous and thrive on a combination of meat, vegetable, and grain.
Conversely, cats are carnivorous animals and will not do well on diets that consist of high quantities of grain or vegetables. While some amount of grain may be used as a binder for kibble so that it holds its shape, it should be as minimal as possible. It is also possible to avoid grains altogether in your cat food by only buying foods that are labeled grain free.
Crickets Are A Food Resource Well Worth Turning To
Those who hesitate to feed animals a completely plant-based diet but who still want to bring the carbon footprint down might have other options, however.
The pet food company Chippin was founded by Haley;Russell and Laura Colagrande. While studying at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, the pair stumbled upon the extraordinary nutritional make-up of their pet foods most notable ingredient: crickets.
Crickets are a food resource well worth turning to. Already, millions of people mostly in east Asia eat crickets as part of the daily diet. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, insects such as crickets are a particularly good form of alternative protein.
Crickets are up to 65% protein by weight, and are also rich in unsaturated fat, dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals.;
Wild Earth’s dog food includes fungi such as koji, which helps give it a meaty taste
Crickets have very real benefits when it comes to sustainability, too. It has been calculated that beef cattle need 8g of feed in order to grow 1g of protein whereas insects only need 2g to create 1g of protein. Crickets also require much less water, which is already an increasing concern to farmers in many regions.
It gives you all 10 of the essential amino acids your dog needs theyre the 10 building blocks your dog cant make itself without, says Russell. And dogs love the taste of crickets. We wanted to create a food that was healthy and delicious but also nutritious.
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Guidelines To Creating Balanced Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Following are guidelines for feeding a raw or cooked home-prepared diet to healthy dogs. No single type of food, such as chicken, should ever make up more than half the diet.
Except where specified, homemade food for dogs can be fed either raw or cooked. Leftovers from your table can be included as long as theyre foods you would eat yourself, not fatty scraps.
Meat and Other Animal Products: Should always make up at least half of the diet. A raw diet for dogs can be excessively high in fat, which can lead to obesity. Another potential hazard of diets containing too much fat: If an owner restricts the amount fed too much, the dog may suffer deficiencies of other required nutrients.
Unless your dog gets regular, intense exercise, use lean meats , remove skin from poultry, and cut off separable fat. Its better to feed dark meat poultry than breast, however, unless your dog requires a very low-fat diet.
Raw Meaty Bones : If you choose to feed them, RMBs should make up one third to one half of the total diet. Use the lower end of the range if you feed bony parts such as chicken necks and backs, but you can feed more if youre using primarily meatier parts such as chicken thighs. Never feed cooked bones. Read a full report on raw meaty bones here.
Boneless Meat: Include both poultry and red meat. Heart is a good choice, as it is lean and often less expensive than other muscle meats.