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Most Common Dog Foods Are Jam-packed With Dangerous Ingredients
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There is a huge variety of dog foods on the market to choose from. The upsetting truth is that over half of all the common dog foods available in stores are not really healthy for your dog. Better quality dog food is usually sold by vets and online pet food companies, but they are more expensive than the store bought kind.
Wherever you buy your dog food from, it should have an approval mark on its label from the “AAFCO”. In addition, you should always read the ingredient label to see what is actually in the food. The following is a list of ingredients that should NOT be in the food you feed your precious pet.
There is a huge variety of dog foods on the market to choose from. The upsetting truth is that over half of all the common dog foods available in stores are not really healthy for your dog. Better quality dog food is usually sold by vets and online pet food companies, but they are more expensive than the store bought kind.
Wherever you buy your dog food from, it should have an approval mark on its label from the “AAFCO”. In addition, you should always read the ingredient label to see what is actually in the food. The following is a list of ingredients that should NOT be in the food you feed your precious pet.
Artificial Preservatives and Food Coloring
The most common artificial preservatives found in dog food are BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin. All three are chemicals that can cause serious health problems for your dog after consuming them over time. As a matter of fact, ethoxyquin, which is used as a fat preservative, is also an ingredient in some pesticides.
Artificial food colorings have been shown to be harmful to both humans and animals. Dog food is only colored to make it more appealing to you – your dog does not care and does not need it.
Meat "Meal"
Any ingredient labeled “meal” (such as chicken meal or beef meal) is actually rendered meat. Rendered meat is leftover bits and scraps of animal meat, which is highly heated to remove the fat. The source of this ‘meat’ is often from discarded scraps and even from diseased animals.
Added Sweeteners
Dogs do not need nor even want to eat sweetened food. Often dog food companies add sweeteners to improve the texture of the food. Also, added sweeteners, especially corn syrup, can contribute to causing or worsening diabetes.
Melamine
This is a proven toxic ingredient and should definitely not be in your dog’s food. It used to be commonly used to artificially increase the ‘protein’ content in the food.
Carrageenan
Carrageenan is a common thickening agent found in both human and dog food. However, this ingredient can sometimes degrade into “poligeenan” – which can be harmful to dogs. Therefore, it’s best to avoid carrageenan in the first place.
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
Sodium Hexametaphosphate is a chemical that helps fight tartar build-up on your dog’s teeth. However, it can be harmful if too much of it is ingested. While convenient, it’s a better idea to get your dog’s teeth brushed periodically by your vet.
Propylene Glycol
Used as food softener, it is generally considered to be safe. But, there are more natural ways to soften food and therefore this is not a desirable ingredient to be in your dog food.
MSG
Monosodium Glutamate is used in both human and dog food as a flavor enhancer. It is often shunned by humans and you should also not have your dog eat it. The presence of MSG in the dog food often indicates a lower quality and less tasty recipe.
