If you are like me, you want to know what you are eating and what is in it. Granted there might be a time or two when we are better off not knowing, but those times are few. However, with all the past problems with our pet foods, I have become rather curious about what my pets are eating.
Currently, I have cats, but I have two very favorite "grand dogs" that I love dearly and I am as concerned as my daughter is, about what they eat and how it affects them.
So as a result, not only because of the past pet food crisis, but also due to some digestive problems our "Sadie" dog was having, I decided to delve into the mystery of dog food.
In recent years the packaging of pet food has become a race between pet food manufacturers, as to who is going to have the classiest packaging. It is almost like the "American Idol" contest, with new packages coming out every month or so. New formulas, new verbiage and eye-popping packaging have become the norm.
And due to the recent pet food situation, many pet owners have taken a stance to prepare their own pet's food with the attitude, that if you are not truly concerned about what your pet is eating, you are a fur-mother version of the "mean mommy dearest, Joan Crawford."
That all said, let us get down to basics and learn more about what is in those lovely to look at packages.
First of all beware of such grand words such as "Organic" and "holistic" in the world of dog food, what do they mean?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has determined what the word "organic" should mean in regard to human foods, but has not a clue as to what it should mean in relation to pet food. They are still working on that one.
This goes for the word "holistic," too; they have no clue as to what should be included in "holistic" dog food.
The best way to solve that problem is to call the manufacturer and ask them, what do they mean by those words.
Understanding the labels on dog food packages is another interesting occupation when you are searching for what is good for your pet.
The words "guaranteed analysis" means what? Pet food manufacturers are required to list minimum percentages in their foods for protein and fats, as well as maximums for moisture and fiber. Most labels do not carry any information on carbohydrates, which is as important to know for our pets as it is for us. Therefore, you have no idea how much of each major nutrient is in the package, the mystery of how many carbs, proteins or fats remains just that, a mystery.
This makes comparing dry food to wet food or to other packaged foods of the same kind almost impossible to figure out.
Pet food manufacturers are required to list ingredients by descending order, which means the first listed ingredient should be the largest in quantity, with each other ingredient getting smaller. Right? Not necessarily so!
The pet food manufacturers have a wonderful way of ingredient "splitting." Meat generally is listed as the first ingredient, with grains coming in descending order; however, the grains can be listed in several ways so that you are not aware of how much grain is really in the package. For instance, a manufacturer can list corn, as corn gluten meal and again as ground corn and you have no idea how much is in it.
Many labels say the food is "complete and balanced" that is also not necessarily true. Look at the label and see if the food has been used in a "six month feeding trial," this means it was tested on a group of live animals and the animals are still alive and doing adequately well, at the end of the six month trial period. It is my feeling that any pet food should be tried out on at least one dog or cat before it leaves the manufacturer.
The next interesting thing is "by-products," these words bring about a great deal of contention and I am not going to get into the middle of the debate.
Quoting the Association of American Feed Control Officials, who defines by-products as "the non-rendered, clean parts other than meat," including lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood and bone and excluding hair, horns, teeth and hoofs. I have to say this in defense of by-products, even though to some, these parts may sound gross, you have to keep in mind, that before dogs and cats were domesticated, they ate all the parts that are included, when they caught their prey. We as humans eat liver; kidneys, brains and some people even eat blood sausage.
Therefore, by-products are not necessarily "less than human grade," and are
in fact, a good source of nutrition in pet food.
Preservatives are another point of contention, saying a preservative is "natural" does not mean it is naturally produced, it means it occurs in nature. Such preservatives as BHT, BHA and ethoxyquin have been known to cause health problems in pets. So much so that now most pet food manufacturers have switched to natural antioxidants to prevent food spoilage.
Is wet or dry food better? Some dogs do well on dry food and live long happy lives, some need a mix of both and others will only eat wet (canned) food. Like humans, dogs have their likes and dislikes and we have to live with their choices.
In deciding what to feed your puppy, feed it only food made for puppies, this food contains all the nutrients puppies need for growth. If you have a puppy that is going to be a large dog, talk to your vet or other health care provider for information on feeding. Some experts say for puppies that are going to grow into large dogs, it is better to feed them half puppy food and Adult dog food so they will not grow too fast and cause some health problems
Here are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing pet food:
If you are in doubt about what you are feeding your dog, talk to your vet. I agree that most vets are not nutritional experts, but if you say, "this is what I am feeding my dog. What do you think about it?" You just might get a good informative answer.
My feeling is if you buy the best you can afford, read the labels the best you can and give your pet a loving home, you cannot do much better than that.
Keeping our pets healthy is very beneficial not only to the pet, but to our pocketbooks. If the only time you need to visit the veterinarian is for yearly check ups and necessary shots you are saving money. Nutrition is very important in keeping a dog healthy, proper quality food that contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals is a good way to start. If this article has been of benefit, please visit my web site and blog at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Audrey_Frederick
For More Information on What You Should Be Feeding Your Dog Go To Dog Food Secrets
