Home & Family Facts and Notes

In the past couple years there have been well over a dozen different dog food recalls. The dog fod industry has been under a lot of heat as it has become quite clear that commercial dog food is produced with such low quality standards that it has the ability to cause extreme illness in your pooch.

The pet food industry did not just taint themselves, they also caused concern and heartbreak among many dog owners that will never be able to regain the faith that most of us all took for granted with this industry.

With all these recalls it is going to be difficult for the dog food industry to ever regain the trust of thousands of dog owners. Many people lost their pets because of tainted food that made it into their house.

Unfortunately, even if the dog food isn’t “tainted”, it is still not a healthy choice for your dog. There are so many horrible ingredients in commercial dog food that can have long term affects on your dog’s health.

It’s no mystery that there has been a huge trend in healthy eating. As humans we are becoming more aware of the benefits of eating a healthy diet and eating nutritious food to keep our bodies well fueled.

Yet, do we consider what foods we purchase for our dogs to eat? Are we simply buying certain dog food based on what we think our pets like the best to eat? You owe it to your pooch to pay close attention to what you are putting in it’s precious tummy.

The companies that produce commercial dog food rely on some of the worst possible ingredients when they put together their “formulas”. They look for the cheapest ingredients that just meet the laws in order to make the most money. The health risks are horrendous.

Corn gluten meal is a by-product. This is added to absorb the toxins of the food as it is being cooked and processed. Unforunately dogs don’t digest corn very well. In fact, corn is one of the biggest causes of allergies in dogs. The reason many commercial dog food companies use corn is because it is a very cheap source of protein and is used as filler in the food.

One of the worst ingredients found in commercial dog food is something called ‘chicken by-product meal’. This is a combination I hate describing - it’s nothing but ground up chickens feets, necks, bones, intestines etc. The companies use it because it’s cheap but it has the potential of being toxic or tainted. It sure doesn’t do your dog any good!

Soybean meal is an ingredient that is used in order to provide a source of protein. It’s cheap and is found in many dog foods. The problem is that soybean is the number one cause of allergies in dogs. It annoys me that they would include an ingredient that they know so many dogs will have a reaction to.

There are other ingredients to consider, but I think you have gotten the gist of why some of the major brands of dog food that are on the supermarket shelves should be avoided.

When you do your research about feeding your dog the right foods, you will be amazed at the changes you see. Your dogs mood, energy levels, skin, bathroom habits and even their behavior will improve. It’s amazing what a change in diet will do.

This article isn’t supposed to scare you off of commercial dog food entirely, but you do need to know what to look for. Use the link at the bottom of this article for more information about finding the right foods for your pup.

There are resources available to begin feeding your dog with food that is not only tasty, but also nutritious to their dietary needs. You want your dog to live a long, happy and healthy life - do what you can to help them out by feeding them the right diet.

Tags: home improvement, home repair