• Home

DOG SUPPLIES

ARTICLE TOPICS

SITE RESOURCES

RECOMMENDED

SEARCH IT!

GIFT IDEAS

RELATED INFO

RECOMMENDED

Premium Dog Food

What's In Your Dog's Food?

Interpreting A Manufacturer's Label Ingredients for Premium Dog Food

Do you choose a brand from the shelf and trust that manufacturers of your dog food have your dog's best interest in mind? Learn how to unravel an ingredient label and discover what's really in your pet's food. You will be highly motivated to make a change for the better. Understanding the ingredients will not only benefit you, but your new little buddy will reap the same benefits from your choices!

What Dog Food Ingredients Do You Look For
and Which Do You Avoid?

The product labels on premium dog food can reveal some very important decision making data. Start by taking note of the first 3 ingredients.

Those first three ingredients often make up the principal components of a premium dog food. These can be ingredients like: corn, wheat, gluten and soy which generally are inferior sources of protein and are often difficult to digest which renders them useless to your dog's body.

.................................................................................. Dog food manufacturers are in a very highly competitive market. They capture consumers' interest by adding descriptive words such as, "gourmet, premium, all natural", and other catchy words, in hopes of capturing a bigger share of this lucrative market. ..................................................................................     Be aware that these terms have no standard           definition or any regulatory meaning.

Ingredients Premium Dog Food SHOULD INCLUDE:

Probiotics:  These are good for your dog. Chelated Minerals:  These types of minerals are better absorbed. Antioxidants:  Essential to Good Health. If Grapeseed Extract listed all. the better. Research has found this to be good source for antioxidants. Vegetables:  Excellent Source of antioxidants and phytonutrients.

Ingredients Premium Dog Food SHOULD NOT INCLUDE:

Meat and Bone Meal:  May contain an unknown quantity of bone, which is another inferior source of protein. Meat or poultry by-product meal will contain parts of animals not normally eaten by people. Preservatives:  Some premium dog foods add "Preservatives" to their products and can be very harmful. Artificial Dyes:  Some vets believe the use of artificial dyes might be linked to health problems in dogs.

Facts To Know When Purchasing "Premium" or "Natural" Dog Foods
When purchasing dog food, base your decision on the following:

1.  The First Ingredient on a Label is Always Your Main Ingredient
Make sure the first one or two ingredients are not fillers. Fillers are a red flag and are usually made up of corn or wheat. These grains are cheap to purchase and although these are rated excellent for human consumption, animals have a completely different set of needs and reactions to these foods. Foods with a high level of fillers do not give your pet a well-balanced healthy meal. They are the number one cause of of food related allergies and intestinal upsets in animals and may cause digestive complications, distension and organ disease.

2.  A Good Meat Source Should Avoid All Beef or Chicken "By-Products"
By-products include hair, feet, ears, noses, tails, fat undeveloped, diseased organs and worse. Healthy ingredients of a good premium dog food should include meat such as lamb, beef, turkey or chicken. Chicken "meal" is also a good source of meat, with water and fat removed in processing, allowing a much more pure source of protein. Most preservatives and additives are known to cause cancer over long-term consumption for animals and humans. Cumulative effects take hold especially if your dog eats twice a day, every day, year after year.

3.  Avoid Chemical Preservatives and Additives
Both chemical preservatives and additives are known to cause cancer in animals and humans.

Benefits of a Good Natural Dog Food:

Price-wise you get more for your dollar. When shopping for natural brands, consider the value of your purchase. Natural brands seem higher in price at first glance, however, these foods are nutrient DENSE. When natural products are nutrient dense you feed LESS than cheaper commercial brands! Natural brands are actually "cheaper per serving" and your pet actually gets more and better nutrition in the process!

Nutrient dense. No chemicals or preservatives. Increases your dog's health resulting in saved vet bills. Reduces pet waste your dog produces. (Pet waste is direct result of fillers.) Dogs absorb and utilize food nutrients better. Lasts longer due to feeding less than commercial brands.

Feeding your puppy or dog is the single most important thing you can do for their health and your wallet. Learning how to read the manufacturer's label of premium dog food or natural dog food ingedients label will certainly draw attention to the next food you do buy for your pet.

---

Please Note:  Always consult your dog's veterinarian before making any dog health care decisions. Your veternarian will be able to help you decide the best course of action when it comes to caring for your dog.

Return to Dog Health