Purina Dog Chow Complete With Real Chicken
Its proudly tagged as having 23 vitamins and minerals as well as containing real chicken, so youd expect it to be a healthy chicken-based dish for your pup. But that would be wrong.
There is no chicken to be found within the first five ingredients. But wheres the chicken? Its in the 7th slot, after the corns and legume.
Well list down the first five ingredients here: Whole Grain Corn, Meat And Bone Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Fat Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Soybean Meal. Thats a significant amount of corn and soybean when put together.
We dont have a problem with corn. We recognize that corn contains nutrients and is not a filler. In most cases. However, for a recipe thats not formulated to target specific canine medical conditions, wed expect the corn to be merely a supporting ingredient and not the main one. Quality dog food should always contain more meat than carbohydrates.
The second thing weve noticed is that most of the meats are unnamed. Thats a red flag in dog food. While an unspecified meat ingredient will not harm your pup, its kind of worrying that you dont know whats going in your pets food. Itll even be more worrying if your pet turns out to be sensitive to the ingredient included.
Theres Meat And Bone Meal and Poultry By-Product Meal. What meat do these refer to? Pork, beef, chicken? What kind of poultry? Turkey or chicken?
When In Doubt Avoidance Is Best
Also on the bad dog food list is raw bread dough, although not poisonous, if ingested the heat from the dogís stomach can cause the bread to raise, causing extreme discomfort. Additionally, during the raising process bread dough creates alcohol which can cause health problems for canines.
Do not share your morning coffee with your dog, or a soda or other drink containing caffeine as it works as a stimulant and has been known to cause seizures in animals, some have been fatal. Should your dog be eating the following?
Okay, so how do you think you did? Obviously, this is not an all-inclusive list, but it does give a sample of items our pets may be consuming at home. If you are unsure, make sure to do some research before feeding your dog something you are not sure about. Lets look at the correct answers to the question asked above:
If you answered yes to numbers 1, 2 and 5, you are correct! The other items listed should be avoided as they can be harmful to your dog, especially given in excess. Your dogs digestive system is not equipped to handle these foods for various reasons, so make sure to eliminate them from your dogs diet.
Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula
Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula is a mid-priced canine formula that does little to impress, but also does little wrong.
It only comes in one size, but at $36 for a 40-lb bag, this food fits comfortably between a budget and mid-range price point.
Diamond Naturals take a holistic approach to crafting dog food, aiming to meet every pet’s needs with the use of proprietary probiotics and the inclusion of superfoods.
They believe that by making their dry dog foods contain 10-20% superfoods , your dog will be able to properly absorb all of its required vitamins and minerals.
These superfoods replace common fillers such as corn, wheat, and soy . It contains 25% protein and 15% fat which is pretty average in this price range.
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What Ingredients Should You Avoid In Dog Treats
Of course, I dont want to write this article without explaining important information. You need to know what criteria I used to compile my list of worst dog treats.
Basically, treats should be chosen in the same way as dog food. Be sure to take the time to study the ingredients. Dog food and treats brands tend to convince customers that their product is perfect. However, its just marketing that you shouldnt fall for.
In fact, if you are aware of what ingredients are worth avoiding, you will have an easy time. This section will help you with that.
Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor
Source: pedigree
Pedigree Adult is a very unpopular brand among dog owners. Many accusations were raised against this product. They mostly came from the pet owners who stated that their canines vomited after eating this food and that they had some issues with their intestines as well. Pedigree even confirmed that their kibble has pig hair. We dont recommend this product for your canine.
| Guaranteed Analysis | |
| Vitamin E | 100 IU/kg |
Ingredients: Ground Whole Grain Corn, Meat And Bone Meal , Corn Gluten Meal, Animal Fat , Soybean Meal, Natural Flavor, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Brewers Rice, Ground Whole Grain Wheat, Choline Chloride, Dried Peas, Dl-Methionine, Natural Grilled Steak Flavor, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Tryptophan, Red 40, Yellow 6, Dried Carrots, Blue 2, Yellow 5, Copper Sulfate, D-Calcium Pantothenate , Sodium Selenite, Niacin , Potassium Iodide, Riboflavin Supplement , Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride , Thiamine Mononitrate , Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.
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Chocolate Coffee And Caffeine
Never give chocolate, coffee, or anything containing caffeine to dogs.
These products contain chemicals called methylxanthines, which are highly toxic to dogs. The chemicals can cause vomiting, an abnormal heart rate, seizures, and sometimes death.
Chocolate treats are available for dogs, but these contain a special chocolate substitute that is safe for them to eat.
Video Answer: 10 Best Canned Dog Foods 2020
Here are the best kinds of dog food you can buy:
- Best dog food overall: Orijen.
- Best dry dog food: Canidae.
- Best wet dog food: Blue Buffalo cans.
- Best grain-free dog food: Taste of the Wild.
- Best freeze-dried dog food: Primal Pet Foods.
- Best affordable dog food: Whole Earth Farms.
We suggest starting with this list of the healthiest dog foods available, and see which works best for your four-legged friend!
- Ollie’s Healthy Turkey Fare.
On December 18, 2018, Sunshine Mills, Inc. voluntarily recalled certain lots of Old Glory dog food, which contained approximately three times the intended amount of vitamin D. FDA determined that this lower, but still elevated level of vitamin D is not an acute health hazard that would qualify as a Class I recall.
- You also want to consider a dog food that is high in omega 3 fatty acids such as Tuna and Salmon, and plant based Omega 3 such as Flaxseed. Omega 3 fatty acids are very beneficial for helping reduce shedding, because they provide your dogs skin and coat with the moisture it needs to be healthy.
- 2.1 Hill’s Science Diet Dry Food.
- 2.2 Royal Canin Dog Food.
- 2.3 Purina Pro Plan Pet Food & Nutrition.
- 2.4 NomNomNow Fresh Dog Food.
- 2.5 Wellness CORE: Wellness Natural Pet Food.
- 2.6 Castor and Pollux Organix Dog Food.
- 2.7 Hill’s Prescription Diet for Dogs.
- 2.8 Nutro Ultra Dog Food.
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Pro Pac Performance Puppy
This recipe is designed for puppies from weaning until the 12th month. Its also billed as an excellent feed for pregnant or nursing canines.
We dont find anything wrong with the ingredients because it starts with chicken meal, an animal protein. Ground yellow corn as the second ingredient may be a little bit off, but still not bad. Whats more concerning is the recent recall of this product.
The maker of this recipe is Midwestern Pet Foods, the same manufacturer of Sportsmix, Nunn Better, and Splash Fat Cat.
The company is currently embroiled in one of the worst pet food recalls to date concerning aflatoxin, a possibly fatal type of toxin that was found in Midwestern Pet Foods Sportsmix products.
Included in the recall are two Pro Pac recipes. This particular formulation and the Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk.
Recall Info: On January 11, 2021, and FDA alert was issued on the Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk, 40 lb. bags and Pro Pac Performance Puppy, 40 lb. bags manufactured in Midwestern Pet Foodss Oklahoma plant with expiration dates of July 9, 2022 or earlier.
This is an expanded recall that was issued out of caution since the Pro Pac recipes were produced in the same plant as the Sportsmix foods that have caused the deaths of more than 70 dogs and the illness of around 80 at least.
Problem Ingredients: none
Sportsmans Pride Professional Formula 30/20
Sportsmans Pride is a dog food line geared towards canine athletes and is billed as supportive of the endurance and energy requirements of working dogs and active pups.
While that sounds good, we need to take a look at the recent recall of one of its products and the ingredients it contains.
On June 3, 2021, the FDA issued an alert regarding one lot of Professional Formula 30/20. Sunshine Mills, Inc., which manufactures Sportsmans Pride and the brands Sprout, Intimidator, and FRM Gold Select , issued a voluntary recall of this recipe for potential salmonella contamination.
But looking past the recall alert, wed have to say that this recipe doesnt meet our standards either. The main ingredient in this food is chicken byproduct meal, a rather dubious ingredient with regards to quality.
Chicken byproduct can mean any leftover part of the chicken, and not just its organs. With quality recipes, manufacturers generally state chicken liver, chicken heart, and so on.
When a manufacturer lists byproduct only, that means its probably a combination of a lot of unsavory things that wont sound as good when listed down and specified.
Lastly, this food uses more carbs than protein to supply the energy needs of dogs because there are three grain and corn ingredients within the first five slots.
The potential for contamination was noted after a sample of 5 lb. Sprout Sporting Dog Food product was collected and tested positive for salmonella during routine surveillance.
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What Makes A Dog Food Bad
Dry dog food products are more complex than most people give them credit for. In each individual morsel, there are tons of components packed in.
Manufacturers can utilize a wide variety of ingredients to create their product and there can be tons of things wrong with the formula.
However, there are a few important categories that have the biggest impact on your dog’s health.
Here are some key considerations that could turn an otherwise decent food into something that you should avoid at all costs.
What Dog Food Should Be Avoided
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Purina Beneful Dog Food
Ingredients: Chicken, Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Barley, Whole Grain Wheat, Soybean Meal, Soybean Hulls, Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Egg And Chicken Flavor, Oat Meal, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Flavor, Salt, Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Apples, Dried Carrots, Dried Green Beans, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Iron Oxide , VITAMINS , MINERALS , L-Lysine Monohydrochloride. M409120.
Why this dog food is bad:
- Too much corn, wheat, and soy
- Colors
Pet Worshiper rating: 4.6/10.0
Unfortunately, for another dog food made by Purina, I have to say it doesnt live up to my expectations. Beneful has been around since 2001.
This brand offers several types of dry and wet dog food for canines. However, looking at the ingredients in the recipes, I am not satisfied. Although it contains real meat, it has plenty of fillers in it.
Almost all Beneful products contain wheat, corn, and unspecified meat by-products. Undoubtedly, this is the most positive brand on my list so far. But I think its better to choose something different for your dog because of the ingredients mentioned above.
Choose this instead:
How To Choose The Best Foods For Dogs With Bad Breath
Dogs may suffer from bad breath for a number of different reasons. Sometimes, there is an underlying health condition resulting in breath that smells far less than minty fresh. Other times, it is a dental issue at play.
Prior to addressing any dietary change for dogs with bad breath, it is a good idea to visit a veterinarian for a thorough wellness examination and assessment of the dogs teeth and gums. The best foods for dogs with bad breath typically have a crunchy outer coating that helps to remove any accumulated plaque or tartar to help reduce unpleasant smelling breath and promote better oral health.
Among the problems that could be plaguing dogs with recurring bad breath are:
- Poor oral hygiene habits
- Metabolic disorders
- Certain foods
Some dog breeds are naturally predisposed to having bad breath. For owners of these breeds, it is even more important to stay on top of proper oral care to prevent dental-related disease from occurring and to help keep bad breath at bay.
Because of their small mouths, toy breeds are particularly prone to tartar build up. Greyhounds also are known for dental issues and bad breath due to the narrowness of their muzzle.
Since wet foods easily stick to a dogs mouth and gums, they are best avoided for dogs suffering from bad breath issues.
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The 8 Ingredients To Avoid In Dog Food
As humans, weve been conditioned to read food labels closely We need to train ourselves to look just as skeptically at our dogs food label. Commercial brands often contain ingredients that arent healthy for pupsthey are generally used for one of two reasons, because theyre inexpensive, or because they help the food stay fresh longer. Either way, you dont want your pup to consume these potential toxins on a regular basis. Before you open another bag , review the label and if you see any of the following ingredients you may want to reconsider:
Bha Bht And Ethoxyquin
These are artificial preservatives found in some traditional dog foods and treats, used to extend their shelf life. There are concerns that these chemicals can be harmful with long-term exposure and ingestion, says Richter, who recommends avoiding any artificial ingredients in food or treats. For example, ethoxyquin, which is used as a fat preservative, is also utilized as a pesticide. One study found that it elevates liver enzymes in the blood and raises hemoglobin pigment in the liver. If you see these on a label, back away!
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Ways To Decode Dog Food Labels
1. Check for the order of ingredients
Take PEDIGREE® Dry Dog Food Adult Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor. Sure, the packaging has pictures of chicken, peas and a happy dog. Looks good enough, right? But lets check out the order of ingredients:
So, what does it all mean? Pet food companies are not required to disclose what percentage of the total pet food is chicken or rice or any ingredient. That information is considered a recipe and would be proprietary. Instead, ingredients of pet food are listed in order of pre-cooking weight, heaviest ingredient to lightest ingredient.
Simply put, whatever is #1 on the list is what the dog food is made up of most, and it descends in weight from there. As you can see from the list above, chicken isnt even mentioned until ingredient #9, yet their marketing promotes the fact that chicken is the main ingredient. Not to mention that the chicken is actually chicken by-product meal. This brings us to our next decoding tip.
2. Not all protein is created equal
Common meats are listed under many other aliases and forms. The short of it is that you want your dog to be eating chicken not chicken by-product or chicken meal.
Meat Meal
- Not easily digestible
- Has no real nutritional value
- Creates ash in the food
Canola Oil/Canola Meal
Digest
The big takeaway, if by-product and meals are the first ingredients in your dogs food, your dog is not getting healthy nutrition.
What To Look For In A Dog Food To Prevent Gas
If youre concerned that your dog might have a food allergy, the best thing you can do is switch him to an elimination diet. An elimination diet should consist of a high-quality source of animal protein and digestible carbohydrate ideally, one your dog hasnt had before. It is also a bonus if the recipe contains a limited number of ingredients because this will reduce the risk of triggering a negative reaction in your dog.
After feeding your dog the elimination diet for 8 to 12 weeks, you should be able to tell whether his symptoms have resolved or not. If they have, its a good bet that your dogs diet was the problem. From there, you can ask yourself whether his gas issues were caused by a specific ingredient or by the quality of his diet as a whole. If you want, you can re-introduce common proteins into your dogs diet to see if he has a reaction or you can simply keep feeding him a high-quality, limited ingredient diet.
Another option for dealing with flatulence in dogs is to simply switch to a dog food that doesnt cause gas. But what should you look for?
Here are some things to look for in a dog food that doesnt cause gas:
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