If you had 5 cups of coffee and a couple of donuts for your daily meal, would you feel a bit off-balance? If you ate this every day for years, how would it affect your health, body, energy level and behavior? Most dog owners don’t realize that many dog food brands are nutritionally equivalent to the coffee and donut scenario.
Dog food manufacturers spend millions of dollars a year in advertising campaigns to make their brand known to you. When you hear “Pedigree” or “Science Diet” or “Purina,” don’t you automatically trust the name because you know the name so well? It’s normal human behavior to automatically trust someone or something we know. It’s what you don’t know that can be harmful for your dog.
Why is good nutrition for dogs important?
Proper nutrition results in a healthier coat, stronger bones and muscles, and healthy vital organs. Healthy ingredients in a dog food result in fewer digestive and allergy complications, less intestinal gas and firmer and fewer stools. Mood and behavior are also affected by food intake- the better the food, the better the behavior.
Food Ingredients and their order on dog food labels
On food labels, ingredients are listed in order of highest content. The first ingredient listed is used the most; the second ingredient is the second highest component in the recipe and so on.
The first five ingredients on the label are the most important as they comprise the bulk of the recipe. The first ten ingredients should be well scrutinized as they typically make up 90% of the recipe.
The first ingredient in your dog’s food should always be a specifically named protein, such as chicken or salmon. Meat by-products (also known as meat or bone meal, by-product meal, animal by-product, chicken by-product, etc) are not the same as meat. They are the leftovers of slaughter once the meat has been removed and can include some pretty nasty things.
Wholesome Whole Grains should be in the top five ingredients. Grains supply the carbohydrates your dog needs for energy. Try to avoid processed or altered grains such as brewers rice, wheat glutens, wheat flour, shorts or middlings. These are inexpensive fillers, which are hard to digest and offer little nutritional value.
Try to avoid foods that list corn, in any formulation, within the top five ingredients. Corn is an economical carbohydrate for manufacturers to use but it is virtually indigestible and offers little nutritional value.
Healthy Veggies and Fruits- Whole vegetables are nutrient-rich and easy to digest. Vegetables are important, because they are a great source of antioxidants, which are essential to your dog’s good health. Whole fruits are healthy but experts state that they are not necessary in your dog’s diet. Additionally, if they are listed after the fifth ingredient, the portion is too small to impact the pet’s health.
Preservatives- Two particular preservatives to avoid are “BHA” (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) and “BHT” (Butylated Hydroxytoluene). Research shows that these chemicals have caused cancer in laboratory animals. Natural preservatives such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (tocopherols) are much safer and healthier.
Dog Food Manufacturers- who can you trust?
We are inundated with marketing messages, purposely misleading words on product packaging, and ingredient terminology that we don’t understand. Industry does not do these things accidentally! Being an educated consumer is critical to ensuring your pet’s health and the integrity of their food. You should only trust yourself so do your research.
1. Read your pet food label/ingredient list to familiarize yourself with the contents. Using what you’ve learned, how do the ingredients look to you?
2. If you are unfamiliar with an ingredient, look it up so that you can make informed choices. Two reference sites are included at the end of this article.
3. Refer to manufacturer’s websites, brochures and claims on their dog food bags. Don’t be afraid to contact them and ask questions. Just remember, it is your responsibility to validate the information they give you.
Do your own feeding trial
The highest quality food will not be beneficial if your dog won’t eat it. Don’t be afraid to select more than one brand and see how they work out for your dog. Virtually all manufacturers allow you to return unused portions to your place of purchase if your dog does not like it.
How much to feed your dog
Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines to calculate how much to feed your dog. The nutritional value of each recipe directly affects the quantity your dog needs in order to meet the recommended daily allowance. The better the food, the less of it you will have to feed.
Paws in Training currently provides professional dog training and dog education in Raleigh, Cary and Durham, N.C.
© Paws in Training, Inc. 2009
http://www.pawsintraining.com
Paws in Training provides dog training, dog behavior evaluations, dog consultations and dog education services in Raleigh North Carolina.
