More Is Not Always Better
Ideally, the ingredient list and package labels should tell you all you need to know about the quality and nutritional value. The problem is the ingredient lists of many dog food products may be misleading.
In the drive to capture a slice of the global pet food market, which topped $90 billion in 2020, some manufacturers add more ingredients to dog food to impress consumers and drive up the price.
Dog food producers often add ingredients such as smoked salmon or kelp on the list to appeal to pet owners and motivate them to purchase their products.
But while these ingredients might sound fantastic, they might have little or no nutritional value for pets and might even be harmful in some cases. For instance, dried kelp is rich in vitamins and minerals that might benefit dogs, but kelp naturally contains arsenic that can be toxic in high doses.
Additionally, adding more dog food ingredients means the manufacturer must spend more resources to ensure the nutritional quality and safety of the end product. Unfortunately, not all products go through the desired level of quality control.
Here Is A List Of The Worst Dog Food Ingredients
1. Meat By-Products
Watch out for the term on the label that says âMeat by-products.â This is mainly a ground up remains of a livestock animal, and not high-quality meat.
Another sneaky label is the âpoultry by-productsâ. This again is just a ground up remains of chicken parts and not high-quality chicken.
In addition, âmeat byproducts frequently include waste parts as well as rejected meats,â according to Dr. Michel Selmer, DVM.
Dr. Karen Becker, DVM, says, âThere could be something beneficial thrown in, like the heart or gizzard â but because thereâs such potential for undesirable pieces and parts ⦠itâs better to avoid them altogether.â
2. Chemical Preservativeschemical preservatives are one of the worst dog food ingredients that are found in some low quality dog foods.
Here is a list of types of chemical preservativesa. Butylated Hydroxytoluene c. Ethoxyquin (this is a type of anti-freeze that cancan cause kidney damage and proven to cause cancer in both dogs and humans.
3. Bad AdditivesYou will want to avoid these additives, which are not healthy for dogs.
Sugar, Onions, Grapes, Garlic, Food Dyes such as Blue 2, Yellow 5 and 6, Red 40, and 4 MIE. Artificial colors MSG Corn Syrup Nitrates .
4. Ingredients That Can Cause Dog Allergies.Some dogs are have allergies to wheat and soy, as the popular brands now are the grain-free dog foods.
5. Salt
Dog foods labels that show added salt should be avoided, as this excessive.
6. Non Description Fat
Artificial Colors And Dyes
Some pet food companies still use artificial colors and dyes. These are usually noted in the ingredient list with a number such as Blue #2, Red #40, Yellow #5 and #6 and they stand out so its easy to avoid them. Other artificial colors are not as easy to spot. For example, you will often see caramel listed among a foods ingredients and probably dont think anything about it. This is a coloring . Its fairly common in pet foods so you can decide if you want to avoid it. Caramel is made from sugar so its not exactly artificial but its still rather questionable.
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Questionable Ingredient: Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is a food moistening agent. It is typically found in wet or semi-moist dog food and treats. PG is a component of antifreeze, although one slightly less frowned upon than ethylene glycol , which is PGs exceptionally poisonous counterpart. Rumour has it that PG is not toxic for dogs as they are unable to absorb it, but we dare say that serving dog-friendly antifreeze to your pup will hardly bring you any consolation.
Healthy And Nutritious Dog Food Brand Options
I dont want this article to be just about the worst dog food. For this reason, as I promised, here is a list of the very best dog food brands.
Having a dog is a beautiful thing and a lot of fun. However, you need to know that a healthy, long, and happy time spent together is based on proper nutrition. This is why you should give your doggie the best.
Of course, it is impossible to analyze all the right brands in the world in one article. However, if you choose food for your dog from the list below, you will definitely not make the wrong decision.
It is important to note that the following list is not in order. So the first product is not the best, and the last is not the worst among the best dog foods.
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Ingredients To Avoid In Your Dog’s Food
Many of us make conscious healthy choices for the foods we consume, but do we give as much consideration to the things we feed our pets?
Most of us know that foods like chocolate, onions, or garlic can be harmful to our furry friends, and we would avoid giving them those foods.
We should just as diligently keep them from harmful ingredients in the bagged or canned food we purchase.
Whether you leave food out for you dog all day, or you feed him/her when the rest of the family is at the dinner table, here are some ingredients to avoid when buying food for your pet:
Seven Pet Food Ingredients To Avoid
Your pets are members of your family and you want to give them the best nutrition available. To do this, you need to know which foods are best for pets and which ones are problematic. Like humans, pets do best when they eat a varied natural diet comprised of foods that are fresh, unprocessed and free of the questionable or dangerous ingredients discussed below.
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What Kind Of Snacks Can I Feed My Dog With Kidney Disease
Our dogs walk a bit on the wild side when it comes to snacks as they love thin apple slices, banana chunks, carrots, whole unsalted peanuts in the husks, and dehydrated sweet potatoes! Dog’s with kidney disease should avoid meat based chews/treats that are high in phosphorus, so you may find that you need to explore doing friendly fruit and veggies for treats like we have. We still on occasion will offer Hooch bully sticks or a jerky treat, but it is better for him if we limit his intake due to the levels of phosphorous that those treats contain.
Grapes Raisins And Currants
Recently researchers and veterinarians have found that grapes, raisins and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs. Poison occurs after the ingestion of seeded or seedless variants of grapes, commercial or homegrown, red or green types, organic or non-organic fruit, and grape pressings from wineries.
Also, foods containing grapes, raisins and currants are all potential sources of poison.
Unfortunately, there is not a well established toxic dose for these. It is known that dogs become poisoned after ingesting large doses of fruit. Also, there is significant sensitivity amongst different dogs. Some dogs demonstrate more tolerance to the ingestion and others become poisoned after ingesting just a few grapes or raisins.
Symptoms of grapes, raisin and currant poisoning are:
- Vomiting, which is generally seen within 24 hours following ingestion.
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy
- Possibly diarrhoea can be also seen within the next 12-24 hours.
More severe signs are not seen for 24-48 hours after ingestion often after acute kidney failure has already begun. Signs of acute kidney failure include nausea, lack of appetite, vomiting, uremic breath, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, excessive thirst, and excessive urination.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten grapes, raisins or currants, please call the vet immediately. Dont wait.
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Dog Food Ingredients To Avoid At All Cost
Contents
Choosing the best dog food for your dog is probably more confusing than ever today. With the recent warning from the FDA about grain free foods and their possible link to low taurine levels and dilated cardiomyopathy in various breeds not known to have a genetic predisposition to heart disease, many people are beginning to shun popular grain free dog foods. That means that ingredients that people used to avoid in dog foods are now more acceptable. And ingredients that were considered okay in grain free foods are on the do not feed list. In this article we can tell you:
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Find out here which 9 dog foods we recommend that dont contain Peas, Lentils, Legumes and Potatoes.
Iams Proactive Health Adult Minichunks Dry Dog Food
Ingredients: Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Dried Egg Product, Chicken Fat, Caramel Color, Vitamins , Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals , Potassium Chloride, Carrot, Choline Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Calcium Carbonate, Mixed Tocopherols , Rosemary Extract.
Why this dog food brand is a bad choice:
- Too much corn
- Too much fillers
Pet Worshiper rating: 3.8/10.0
The primary ingredient and the main source of protein in this dog food is chicken. This in itself is not a problem, as the chicken is very high-quality meat.
The problem is with the second ingredient, which is cornmeal. As I mentioned above, corn is a highly questionable cheap filler in dog food. The manufacturer saves a lot with it, but its nutritional value is not much. This is bad news for your dog.
Not to mention that many canines trigger sensitivities, allergies, or various digestive problems. Sorghum, mentioned as a third ingredient, tends to be included in dog food as a similarly inexpensive filler. However, it is also gluten-free and has a low glycemic index. This is definitely a plus point.
The fifth ingredient is beet pulp. It is a by-product of sugar beet processing. Its fiber content is very high.
So overall, you can see that although this product has the right amino acid profile, it is not considered good quality dog food.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
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Suspicious Dog Food Ingredients: Rendered Fat
Rendered fat is usually filled with toxins that the animal or plant it comes from came in contact with at some point. Those can be pesticides, insecticides, antibiotics, or any other chemical. If the source of the fat is unnamed, it likely came from one of the four Ds we already mentioned diseased, disabled, dying, or dead animals.
How To Read An Ingredients List
The list of ingredients on a packet of any food, human or animal, is a legal requirement and tells us what the product contains. Ingredients are ordered in decreasing amounts , such that the ones that make up the bulk of the diet are listed first, with the other ingredients following in decreasing order.
It doesnt, however, give us any details on where these ingredients came from, or their quality. There is a risk of over-analyzing these lists without them giving us a huge amount of information.
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Choose The Best Dog Food Ingredients For Your Furry Friend
Dog food provides the necessary nourishment in fuss-free packaging, making it the ideal food option for your dog. However, its still best to remain vigilant about the contents of your dogs food. Secure your pups health by scrutinizing the ingredients list and knowing what dog food ingredients you should avoid giving your pet.
For more tips and advice on your dogs health, head over to the TPLOinfo blog.
Learn
How Much And When Should You Feed Your Dog
This will vary from dog to dog, but a general rule of thumb is for every 10 lbs your dog weighs they should be fed roughly 1 cup of prepared food.
For our 80 lb Hooch, that means 2 meals a day each containing 4 cups of food. It is important to note that, dogs with kidney problems often feel better when fed several small meals throughout the dayrather than just one or two large meals, so you may find that you need to adjust your feeding schedule as time goes on accordingly to keep your pup comfy!
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Pay Attention To Dog Food Ingredients
In the past, we accepted what most dog food brands were offering our furry family members. With the advent of the internet and better research, weve learned more about the nutritional needs of pets. We now know that many companies put fillers into foods to improve their profit margin.
Increased competition and high demands in the pet market have caused companies to turn to not-so-healthy solutions for selling more of their products to consumers.
This is why its important for a pet owner to ensure that the highest quality dog food ingredients are available to your pets. You can avoid your dog experiencing many health issues by doing a little research and taking a second look at dog food labels. Also, consult with veterinarians if youre unsure of what brands offer safe dog food options. The best method for prevention of illness and disease is remaining aware.
Worst Puppy Food: Iams Proactive Health Smart Puppy
Pups are very much like human children in the sense that what you feed them early on can have a significant impact on their growth and development.
Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy Original Formula is the worst puppy food even though it may contain the phrase Health Smart on its label.
In one disturbing case, a dog owner on the Consumer Affairs website observed that her pet displayed indications of a parasite soon after eating this food.
However, a vet confirmed the digestive health issues arose due to the food, and no parasites were present in the dog, luckily.
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Kibblesn Bits Dry Dog Food
Ingredients: Corn, Soybean Meal, Beef & Bone Meal, Whole Wheat, Animal Fat , Corn Syrup, Wheat Middlings, Water Sufficient For Processing, Animal Digest , Propylene Glycol, Salt, Hydrochloric Acid, Potassium Chloride, Peas, Caramel Color, Sorbic Acid, Choline Chloride, Sodium Carbonate, Minerals , Vitamins , Dl-Methionine, Calcium Sulfate, Carrots, Green Beans, Wheat Flour, Titanium Dioxide , Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40, BHA , Blue 1.
Why this dog food product is bad:
- Too much wheat, soy, and corn
- Corn syrup
- Artificial corols and preservatives
Pet Worshiper rating: 3.1/10.0
Kibbles n Bits dog food is also quite popular as it is very cheap. On the other hand, cheapness is always a red flag for me. Thats when I know its worth looking into the recipe.
This formula was not accidentally included in the list of the worst dog foods. Looking at the ingredients, you can see that the essential nutrients that are essential are missing. Also, we can find harmful ingredients such as wheat, corn, and soy.
Besides, corn is the primary ingredient, although the brand promises delicious meats to our dog. I think thats why you better avoid this brand.
Better alternative:
Worst Dog Food Ingredients List
The label will list the exact ingredients is in their dog food starting with the largest percentage amount. You will want to look for the worst dog food ingredients that are controversial and probably not good for your dog. .Analysis ListLook for the Guaranteed Analysis label which which is listed on each dog food brand. This label will show you the percentages of protein, fat, fiber, and moisture content.
Some dog good labels will show you the calcium and phosphorus percentages as well.
The next step is to read over the ingredients and watch out for misleading phrases like: âNaturalâ, âHuman-Grade, and âHolisticâ
These are just sneaky forms of marketing, and really donât have any legal standards or guidelines.
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Stuff That Belongs In A Foodies Salad
Ingredient labels are increasingly used as marketing tools and, therefore, can be sneaky. Manufacturers include ingredients expressly to appeal to pet parents, like artichokes, kale, kelp, blueberries, apricots, or parsley, but there is no evidence that any of this is beneficial to pets. The problem? The more ingredients, the more time and expense to ensure the adheres to the nutrient formulation and avoids unsafe levels of contaminants, said Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, in a report. Some kelp sources have high levels of arsenic. Unfortunately, this degree of quality control is not always practiced.
Blood Tests Don’t Lieand Hooch’s Numbers Shifted Drastically In Just The First 6 Weeks We Made These Diet And Lifestyle Changes
He noticeably had more energy, was suffering less from inflammation, was shedding less with a more luxurious coat, and for the first time EVER he had zero bloating! NO GAS for the first time in his entire life! The best news though, was that those stage 4 kidney disease blood levels he had at his yearly checkup had climbed back up to to midrange stage 1 kidney disease blood levels! The extra time and energy invested in making his food and the other small changes we made to his lifestyle have given us more quality time with our beloved Hooch which is more than we could have ever hoped for!
If youve made our Easy Homemade Dog Food for your pup I would be so grateful if you would rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below! I just love hearing from you and your reviews and comments really help others that visit This Mess is Ours. Want to be a part of our online community outside of the blog? Its easy!! All you have to do is follow @THISMESSISOURS on , , , , or to see cooking demos, and peeks into our day to day life.
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