Dog Food Comparison - Ingredients to Avoid

Your health and your dog's health are both significantly impacted by what goes in your mouths. This probably has more of an impact on overall health than any other factor since proper nutrition allows the body to fight off or eliminate many diseases and disorders. Unfortunately, as a society, we are still very ignorant when it comes to being aware of what is actually in the food we are consuming. We are even more ignorant when it comes to what our dogs are eating.

dog food for dogs with allergies

When choosing the food we will feed our dog it is important not only to see that their are specific nutritionally rich ingredients, it is also important to avoid ingredients that are harmful to our dog's health and well being.

Dog Food

The most obvious ingredients that can be harmful in dog food are chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT, propyl gallate, and ethoxyquin. Unfortunately, in a dog food comparison, you will still find these chemicals in many dog foods. These are cancer causing toxins that can be very harmful to your dog over time.

Sweeteners are another harmful additive. There is no good reason to add sweeteners to dog food. They add no nutritive value and can cause, or aggravate, other health problems in your dog.

Other dog food ingredients that seem appropriate on the surface may also be harmful to your dog's welfare. Check to ingredient label carefully when comparing different dog foods and be aware that the names of ingredients are often misleading.

For instance, meat by-products may seem like a reasonable ingredient, but often includes parts that have been condemned. It also may include parts that are difficult to digest such as feet, heads, ligaments and feathers. Meat meal is another misleading term that refers to meal from bones, etc. that are difficult to digest and provide very limited nutritional value.

Animal fat is another term that seems reasonable but is really just a generic term referring to fats that may have come from restaurant grease, renderings, beef tallow or oils that are deemed too rancid for human consumption. If fat is included the source should be named, such as beef fat, chicken fat, etc.

Fragmented foods, such as wheat bran, corn products, etc. should also be avoided as they are difficult to digest and often provide an unbalanced source of limited nutrients. These types of ingredients are typically a waste product from another food manufacturing process that the dog food manufacturer can buy at low cost.

As you can see there are a lot of considerations when comparing dog foods, not only to make sure it has good nutritional ingredients but also to make sure it does not have harmful ingredients. Remember, your dog's health depends on it.

Dog Food Comparison - Ingredients to Avoid

Dog Food

Ingredients In Wellness Dog Food Is Nutrition

While some pet food manufacturers use every scrap of meat from animal renderings, Wellness dog food limits ingredients to only quality sources for what the animals need for good nutrition. A balanced combination of protein, grains for fiber and fruits for antioxidant protection are included in all varieties of Wellness dog food to help the pet remain healthy and active.

dog food bin

Many of the less expensive pet foods utilize all of the parts of meat and eat byproducts in their foods, allowing the inclusion of products that may include added hormones and potentially diseased animals. Wellness dog food does not use animals in their dog food with questionable health, which could possibly contain allergens, animal fats, soy, wheat and other products that may be hazardous to canines.

Dog Food

By using only quality protein sources, Wellness dog food promotes strong muscles and the grains included promote healthy fiber and provides energy for the pet. Antioxidant protection for the dog's blood health is included with fruits and vegetables and the inclusion of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids provide for the animal's skin and coat. Many dogs can develop joint problems but Wellness dog food contains Glucosamine and chrondroitin to help healthy joints and taurine help prevent heart problems in pets.

No Room For Bad Foods In Wellness

With all the nutritional products packed into Wellness dog food there is no room for fats and processed foods. It contains no meat byproducts or rendered animal fat, white rice, dairy, egg or soy products that can have ill effects on many dogs. Wellness dog food products respect and promote the overall health of all canines and only products proven to be beneficial to the well being of the pet is included in the food products.

Ingredients In Wellness Dog Food Is Nutrition

Dog Food

7 Dog Food Ingredients that could be Hurting Your Dog!

What ingredients make for good and bad dog food?

dog food container

With so many dog foods available on today's market that are commercially prepared, it is often quite difficult as only a dog owner to tell which ones are better than others and why.

Dog Food

First of all, many of the big companies are paying really slick marketers and advertisers millions of dollars per year to advertise their dog food. The amount of money they are spending on marketing has no relationship to the quality of the dog food. This is unfortunate for you as some of the best advertised dog food is inferior.

There is one way for you to guess the quality of dog food however it is not fool proof. You can normally use the price of the food as an indicator as to the quality. Low priced foods are not always, but most often, the lowest quality foods on the market and likewise the more expensive are normally better quality.

When feeding your dog you want to make sure that the adult dog food you are feeding is 22-25% protein and 15-19% fat. The protein should come from a good quality source. Some dogs such as puppies, large breeds, and active breeds have different protein and fat requirements so make sure to discuss this with your vet to ensure proper feeding of your dog.

When making an informed decision, you must know which ingredients are better than others. When you look at the dog food label, the following are the kinds of ingredients that you are looking for:

- Human Grade Ingredients Chicken meal

- Turkey meal

- Fish meal

- Rice

- Potatoes

- Lamb meal

- Potatoes

- Rice

- Sunflower Oil

- Vegetables and others.

For a good dog food, the first four ingredients on the dog food label should not be grains. Instead they should consist of things like meat and proteins.

You also want to make sure it says chicken meal and not chicken as the primary ingredient. If it says chicken only, this means that the manufacturers are counting the entire chicken toward protein value. This includes all of the pieces they have probably scraped of the ground such as beaks, feathers, and feet. With chicken meal, they are only counting the cooked down version of the protein. This will ensure that your dog is getting the appropriate kind of protein and not by products.

Vitamins and fatty acids are also good ingredients in dog foods. Some examples include Vitamin E, Omega 3 and 6, etc. These are very important for a healthy looking skin and coat.

Make sure your dog food is not laden with preservatives. Some of the ingredients that you don't want to see on your dog food label are the inferior protein's which consists of but are not limited to variations of the following: Wheat, Corn, Chicken by-products, Soy, Gluten.

These ingredients are hard to digest and can cause health problems later on if used for a long period of time. Sugar is another ingredient that you want to stay away from.

You are always better off making your own dog food and dog treats from recipes such as those you can find at http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au, however if you are purchasing dog food you really should only purchase from a company that spends time and money field testing their products.

You can always be sure that companies such as Purina, the Iams Company (which also includes Eukanuba), Royal Canin, Nutro, Diamond, and Hill's Science Diet are constantly testing their foods to provide the optimum quality ingredients. These companies offer different grades of food, however, from lower quality to premium quality so make sure that you always read the labels.

These are not the only companies by any means who make good quality dog food. The important thing is to read the label, do your research, ask questions of your veterinarians and pet professionals and always be informed. People who work at feed stores are usually a good resource and can help you find good quality pet food. Breeders can also be a good source for finding a quality food for your dog. Dog trainers will also often have a good knowledge of proper nutrition.

You should always follow your veterinarian's recommendation on food as well. Many times dogs of certain ages or with certain health conditions need to be on a prescription diet. While these diets are often expensive, they do contain the proper nutrients that dogs in these categories need. Many times owners will switch to a commercial food because of cost or palatability concerns and the dog's health will go in to a decline. Your veterinary staff know what is best for your particular dog.

While it is often confusing, proper dog nutrition is vital to the health and longevity of your dog. By knowing what consists of good quality ingredients and which ingredients to avoid, you can be assured that you will choose the proper food for your dog. As always, if you have questions, ask your veterinary staff for more information.

7 Dog Food Ingredients that could be Hurting Your Dog!

Dog Food

The Good Dog Food, The Bad And The Ugly Dog Food Ingredients

How many dog owners know something about good dog food when they buy their pet dogs? Having a dog can truly brighten up and enhance a person's life and their family too. When dog owners are not informed about quality dog nutritional needs, their dogs are very likely to be confronted with all sorts of health problems that results from the sub standard food they feed them. Most dog owners will attest to loving their dogs. Of course caring for them becomes a priority as their health affects their well being. Proper dog nutrition is the most important thing that you can give your pet. Our dogs depend on us to feed them, as such, it becomes our responsibility as owners to provide them with good dog food that they will need to eat in order to live a happier and disease-free lives.

dog food for sensitive stomachs

First of all, in order to meet the dog nutrition requirements, you have to make sure that there are minerals, calcium in particular and quality protein in the diet. Another tip many people don't know, is that for a balanced good dog food, not only are proteins necessary, vitamins are also important. By treating your dog to a diet made from all natural fresh ingredients, you are ensuring that they eat nothing but the very best hypo allergenic foods balanced with the right amount of nutrients and vitamins. This small sacrifice ensures that our dog nutrition is balanced and healthy. There are special food nutritional tips that your veterinary can tell you about, since you may not know very much about the digestive system and the food needs of your pet. As it is very comfortable, we usually feed our four-legged canine friends canned dog foods, but this is not always good dog food.

Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs

Sometimes animal by-products can be worse in canned dog food. These are the parts of many animals that no one wants, such as; lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, and stomach and intestines. Somehow they end up in your dog's canned food. It is always very important to read those ingredient labels to understand what they mean, and also to know what your dog food is made of. If you invest in buying a premium good dog food, you can be rest assured that your dog is eating right. One other tip you may not know is that on the label, the components are listed by weight, and the first few ingredients comprise what makes up the majority of the food. Avoid too much carbohydrate as this can seriously shorten your dog's lifespan. It can lead to digestive problems and obesity, along with all the obesity-related health problems. A lot of grain and grain-related ingredients may increase the amount of carbohydrates in your dog's food, by up to seventy percent, while your average dog only needs less than thirty percent carbohydrates. Canned dog food and dog treats make feeding our pets easier, but what is really in those cans and plastic bags?  

If the food is sub standard, or lacking in any nutrients or vitamins, the dog will equally be devoid of the said nutrition. Selecting a healthy diet for the family pet, you would expect, shouldn't be so difficult, but getting it wrong could cost you a lot on veterinary bills or worse still, losing your beloved pet. You should know what you feed your pets because what they eat can have a direct impact on their health.

Being able to feed your dog only the good dog food is a sign of care and love you have to put into your four-legged companion's health. I think that is a commitment and sacrifice worth making.   

The Good Dog Food, The Bad And The Ugly Dog Food Ingredients

Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs