Spratt’s Innovation Coincided With A Cultural Revolution In The Way People Saw Their Pets
Meanwhile in Victorian London, dogs that were lucky enough to be looked after were either given table scraps or gruel. Even specialist exotic animals were fed everyday human food the 20,000 or tortoises imported from Morocco each year were mostly expected to survive on ordinary garden vegetables or bread soaked in water. Cats were considered street animals and rarely fed.
But Spratt had hit upon something entirely new. Over the coming months he developed the “Meat Fibrine Dog Cake”, a biscuit-like concoction of beetroot, vegetables, grains and beef of dubious origins that claimed to meet all the nutritional needs of his customers’ hounds.
Read recipes and more in BBC Good Foods Beyond Natural section
Spratt’s innovation coincided with a cultural revolution in the way people saw their pets dogs and cats went from being viewed as mere utility animals or borderline-vermin to beloved family members to be coddled. Consequently, the Meat Fibrine Dog Cake was marketed as a luxury food for aristocratic pets.
The husky dogs taken on early Antarctic voyages had to be fed with freshly killed seals
The adverts labelled them “Dog’s Delight” and included gushing testimonials from wealthy customers. Ironically, Spratt’s also promoted the fact that they were chosen to feed the sled dogs on Captain Scott’s 1901 trip to the Antarctic, though we now know they would much rather have eaten seal.
Disgusting smells
What Is The Best Dog Food
It seems like a simple question until you actually get into the meat and bones of it which is exactly what we plan to do. Choosing the best dog food to buy for a dog is a more complex process than many dog owners realize especially if you really want to give your dog the best of the best.
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You could read all of the top dog food reviews out there and still not be able to answer this question because every dogs needs are slightly different. A better question to ask is, What are the healthiest dog foods because that will point you toward the products that are made with high-quality ingredients and formulated to meet your dogs unique nutritional needs.
This article is designed to provide you with an in-depth guide to understanding the different types of kibble and their benefits, so you can make the right choice for your dog. Because well be covering a lot of topics, and because you may simply be looking for recommendations, wed like to start you off with our top 5 picks for the best dog food dogs like.
Acana Classics Dry Dog Food
Acana produces several lines of dog food including both wet and dry food varieties. The Acana Classics line includes several formulas for small-breed puppies and dogs, large-breed puppies and dogs, senior dogs, active dogs, and overweight dogs. This line of dry dog foods is made with 55% to 65% meats like cage-free chicken, wild-caught fish, and whole eggs it also includes sun-ripened fruits and vegetables. Acana Classics dry dog food is high in protein but low in carbohydrates, free from high-glycemic grains and inexpensive filler ingredients. The Acana Classics dry food diet is designed to mimic the natural diet of wild dogs and it is delivered fresh, not frozen, and made without any preservatives.
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The History Of Commercial Pet Food: A Great American Marketing Story
For as long as most of us can remember, pet food has lived in a bag. But before they became domesticated in the mid-1800s, dogs primarily lived outside and ate raw meat or table scraps. It was only after the Industrial Revolution that the growth of a more affluent middle class led to cats and dogs becoming house pets who were considered more civilized companions than their outdoor, working counterparts. Lets take a look back at how the commercial pet food industry got its start.
1800s: The Early Years
The worlds first commercial pet food was developed in 1860 by an electrician named James Spratt. After journeying from Ohio to the United Kingdom to sell lightning rods, Spratt noticed dogs along the riverbanks in Northern London eating leftover hardtack, the dry biscuit sailors ate on long trips. Made of flour, water, and occasionally salt, these inexpensive crackers were used by sailors in need of long lasting, imperishable food during lengthy sea journeys. Spratt reasoned that dog owners were similarly in need of a shelf-stable option for their pets, so he ditched the electrician gig and set out on a new career path, creating the first biscuit for dogs.
1900s: A New Market
2000s today: The Next Frontier
How Dry Pet Food Is Made
While there are numerous ways to making dry pet food, the most commonly used process is extrusion. This process was adapted for making pet food in the 1950s based upon technology used to make puffed breakfast cereals. The diagram on Making Pet Food by Extrusion illustrates the process:
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Petcurean Canadian Made Pet Food
Petcurean is a family owned business, and is still owned by the two people who originally founded the company in 1999. Petcurean is mainly produced in Canada. Their dry pet foods are produced in Ontario. Their canned products are primarily produced in Ontario. Their GO! Meal Mixers are manufactured in British Columbia, Canada.
Tricks To Find Who Makes Their Own Pet Food/treats
If the package says made for, produced for, distributed by, or distributed under licence by its a marketing brand, produced under contract as a private label. That means the company that owns the brand didnt actually produce the food it just markets it.
If the package says made by or produced by, youve found an authentic pet food. The company that owns the pet food brand is the same company that produced the food itself. We always suggest you contact a pet food representative to confirm where the food is made.
This useful information was found on Acanas website and I thought it was useful to share.
Acana produces treats made in Canada for dogs and cats. They have their own kitchen where they use locally sourced ingredients to produce their dog and cat treats. They use biologically appropriate ingredients to ensure our pets stay as healthy as possible. Visit their website for a list of local pet stores to you, they are sold almost everywhere. Acana is owned by Champions Pet Foods and is based out of Edmonton Alberta.
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Dog Food Quality Control
Again, the food is brought up to 180 degrees F. and well-mixed. A sample is taken to the laboratory so that the elements in the guaranteed analysis can be checked: protein, fat, fiber, and moisture content. The level of ash in the food is also checked. Before a sample of the food can be poured onto the plate for the near-infrared analyzing unit, the sample is ground in a food processor, so the nutrients in the chunks of ingredients can be integrated in the foods average values. With a good formula and ingredients that have all met the companys quality inspections, there shouldnt be any surprises.
Recommended Serving Size For Homemade Dog Food:
The amount of homemade dog food that your dog will require is dependent upon how much your dog weighs and how active he or she is. This amount varies from dog-to-dog. I suggest talking to your vet and getting their advice on a good starting point.
You can also monitor your dog to make sure they are maintaining their weight and staying happy and active.
This recipe makes about 6 cups of food, which is 3 days worth of food for Charlie who is about 45 pounds. You can easily adjust this amount based on the weight of your dog. Also, feel free to scale this recipe up and double or even triple it, if you wanted to cook less often.
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How Kibble Is Affecting Your Dog
The scariest thing about kibble is that its like an unhealthy diet, even our own the implications are rarely obvious in the short-term, though undeniable in the long term. When we wonder why so many dogs are suffering from cancer at a young age, or why food allergies and reactions to different kibble are so high, many dog owners rarely look at the one daily factor in their dogs life to be able to identify their kibble as the cause.
Its hard to say that, as a whole, kibble causes x, y, and z diseases. However, many ingredients in kibble have been linked to a range of conditions, and research has clearly shown the benefits of alternative diets such as home cooked dog food diets, in reducing the incidence of these.
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How Commercial Dog Food Is Made
Because pet food has different rules and regulations than food made for human consumption, reading the label can be really confusing. However, the Association of American Feed Control Officials do have minimum standards that pet food companies must adhere to, and once you know them, youll be much more confident when perusing the pet aisle.
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The AAFCO requires all dog foods to be nutritionally balanced in terms of fat, protein, carbohydrates and essential vitamins and minerals. This standard makes it easy for owners to know that their dog is receiving everything he needs. Most brands will also have recommended daily feeding amounts on the label, depending on your dogs age, weight and activity level.
The AAFCO requires that any dog food that doesnt meet the nutritional requirements to be classed as dog food should be marked instead as a treat or supplement.
To understand how commercial dog food is made, you need to understand that the words on the dog food label mean not exactly what you think they mean. The AAFCO states the term meat must be the muscle tissue of either cattle, sheep, pigs or goats .
Meat may include fat and gristle and organ meat. It does not include bone, and fish or poultry must be identified as such on the label as well. Some dogs have sensitivities and allergies toward certain protein sources, so be careful of this when you’re reading the dog food label.
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Foods Not Safe For Dogs:
The most important thing to know when making homemade dog food for your dog are the foods they should NOT eat.
You can do a quick google search for an all inclusive list or buy a doggie cookbook for reference. Heres a list from the Humane Society of foods that can be poisonous to pets. Be sure to take the necessary precautions if you plan to start cooking for your dog, but also know, theres really not that much to worry about!
Here are some common human foods that should not be fed to your dog:
- Garlic
While Cats Are Particularly Drawn To Japanese Food Which Is Rich In Meat And Seafood You’re Unlikely To Find Them Stealing Ice
The sixth taste is thought to be particularly popular with carnivorous animals, which may discern it via receptors in their mouths that evolved to detect calcium. And as you would expect, pet food companies have already begun targeting it with cocktails of flavour-enhancing chemicals.
But there are some flavours that you will never find in certain pet foods.
For example, most wild carnivorous animals lack the receptors for tasting sugar or carbohydrates. And unlike dogs, which have been living around humans and feasted off our scraps for up to 40,000 years, domestic cats have only been around for about 4,300. For the majority of that time, they were considered a kind of free pest-control that could fend for themselves.
So, while cats are particularly drawn to Japanese food, which is rich in meat and seafood, you’re unlikely to find them stealing ice-creams or doughnuts unlike dogs, they simply haven’t been around humans for long enough to have evolved the ability to taste sugar.
Cats are irresistibly drawn to the chemical compounds found in rotting fish
On the other hand, because vegan animals eat exclusively vegetable matter, which is often rich in fibre and carbohydrates, they tend to prefer sweeter pet food.
Pet obesity is a growing problem in the developed world, with one survey of veterinary professionals at a vet show in London suggesting that around 51% of dogs, 44% of cats and 29% of small mammals are now overweight or obese.
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How Do They Affect The Environment
Not only are animal by-products a nutrient-dense ingredient in your dogs food, but using them can also benefit the environment.
The use of these co-products is an environmentally and socially responsible practice because it uses all the protein sources of a farm animal without competing with the human food chain.
Rather than contributing to waste and greenhouse gases by casting aside organ meats and other edible parts of cows, chickens and more, they play an important role as part of a healthy dog food.
Nrg Pet Products Canadian Made Dog Food
NRG Pet Products specializes in raw dehydrated dog food. Weve used this brand to feed our dogs when travelling to avoid having to keep raw cold and dealing with any mess. It could also be useful for people who routinely want to avoid any mess associated with a raw butcher block style dog meal.
They offer three different meal types: Dehydrated Wild Caught Salmon with Market Fresh Fruits & Vegetables and Oats, Dehydrated Free Range Roast Chicken with Market Fresh Fruits & Vegetables and Oats, and Dehydrated Range Beef with Market Fresh Fruits & Vegetables and Oats.
NRG Pet Products is based out of Armstrong British Columbia. Visit their website to find a local store that carries their products.
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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.
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!
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