Not all brands of dog food are created equal; some use cheap fillers, artificial preservatives and unidentified meat sources in their formulation.
Other brands use dyes and flavorings to make their food more appetizing to dogs; however, these chemicals don’t offer any nutritional benefit for pups.
Contents
1. Soy
Soybeans are an ingredient commonly found in low-quality, inexpensive food items. While soybeans can be beneficial to humans, dogs may struggle with digesting it properly and experience symptoms like gastrointestinal upset, allergic reactions and seizures. Soybean protein also contains phytoestrogens – estrogen-like compounds which when eaten over an extended period can contribute to issues like infertility or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
If soy appears in your dog’s food, look for higher quality brands that incorporate meat-based proteins instead. Furthermore, avoid foods containing fillers like corn, wheat and soy as these can contribute to digestive issues and decrease essential amino acid intake needed for good health. Likewise, be cautious of artificial preservatives and colors; certain soy products (hydrolyzed soy) are fine for sensitive dogs.
2. Meat By-Products
Purina dog food contains animal by-products as fillers in some recipes, which includes organs, hooves, teeth and cartilage that would normally be inedible to humans. Many pet owners shy away from these ingredients; however they’re actually an invaluable source of protein and other important nutrients essential to your dog’s wellbeing.
When shopping for dog food, opt for “meat meal” as its first ingredient instead of meat by-products. Meat meal is cooked and rendered, and contains high-quality animal proteins which provide essential nutrition to your pup. Meat meals mimic what cats and dogs would consume naturally in the wild; making it an optimal choice over regular muscle meats which often lack essential minerals and vitamins.
3. Unknown Meat Sources
As soon as you see “meat and bone meal” listed as an ingredient on a dog food label, take it as an indicator. This processed meat by-product comes from leftover parts and organs which provide little or no nutritional benefit to your pet.
Same goes for poultry meals and wheat middlings, both cheap fillers that may include animal products hydrolyzed from hydrolysing equipment or rendered from animal sources that may include euthanized animals. Therefore, it’s crucial that you read labels carefully when shopping for premium dog foods to find one with high-quality animal proteins as first ingredient – this includes organic foods, limited ingredient diets or homemade food made under advice of a canine nutritionist.
4. Artificial Colors & Flavors
Many cheap dog foods contain artificial colors and flavors to appeal to humans; however, dogs do not require these additives and they could have negative impacts on their health. Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 dyes derived from petroleum-based sources may pose risks that pose risks.
Carmine and cochineal, two natural dyes made from crushed female beetles, may trigger allergic reactions in dogs that have an allergy to insects. Meanwhile, artificial additives like propylene glycol and ethylene glycol commonly found in human food and drinks offer no nutritional value to your pet.
Low-quality pet foods such as Sportmix and Kibbles ‘n Bits often contain unlabeled mystery meat products as well as cheap fillers such as wheat middlings, corn gluten meal and urea that may not be good for your pup and have led to numerous recalls by both the FDA and other agencies. These ingredients are harmful for their health as well as being responsible for numerous recalls by these agencies.
5. Artificial Preservatives
Chemical preservatives in dog food should be avoided, as they do not support canine health. Instead, look for natural preservatives like rosemary or eucalyptus which may extend shelf life without harm to your canine companion.
Ol’ Roy, another food often seen at grocery stores, contains several red-flag ingredients to avoid. These include empty fillers such as wheat middlings and ground corn among its first five ingredients as well as unnamed meat-by products which could come from roadkill or animals who have been euthanized.
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), an artificial preservative often associated with cancer-causing chemicals in laboratory animals, should also be avoided at all costs as well as being associated with heart disease, liver problems and cataracts in cats.
