The Real Truth About Commercial Dog Food

By Dawn Smith
They say dog is mans best friend. What if he’s just eaten the arm of your sofa or helped himself to the roast turkey in the kitchen? But seriously, this is all part of raising your pet and all part of the fun (not at the time but you can look back and laugh). Just like any other member of your family you love your dog in spite of (and because of) his or her quirks, this is just part of their personality and what makes them so special.

Now obviously you wouldn’t want to give your pet roast turkey as a menu option but what should you be feeding your dog? Have you given it much thought? Many people are very quick to pick up the cheapest can of dog food off the supermarket shelves and not batter an eyelid. On the front of the tin it may say "succulent turkey and diced rabbit", but have you turned it around to see what’s really in it? This is something I am now very careful of and I’ll tell you why.

I once owned a cat named Billy. I used to buy him pouches of food and biscuits (brand named) from the supermarket without much thought until one day, I was absentmindedly reading the ingredients lists on the back of one of the pouches. That’s when I read "3% ash"! I re-read it just in case I’d made a mistake but there it was plain as day, ASH. It was then that I decided to pay far closer attention to what I fed Billy. This prompted me to do a little research into cat and dog food and find out what other surprising ingredients could be found in certain varieties. The first thing that came to my attention (and I didn’t have to look very hard) was the fact that it isn’t just the cheap label dog food that contains some awful ingredients. Large well-known and respected companies are using some of the things you are about to read in their pet food, which is why I developed www.yourdogsdiet.com to offer pet owners advice on how to feed their pets correctly.

First of all we have butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytolulene. These two chemicals are known to cause kidneys problems. Next we have Propylene glycol. This can destroy red blood cells. We also have things like Coloring agents ,drying agents, flavoring agents, lubricants, and texturizers.

What is often referred to, as "meat and bone" meal is actually the leftovers from meat used in human food products. All the left over parts of the dead animal are (along with all the other mess and waste is around) made into dog food. This could be lungs, teeth, chicken feet, intestines and even diseased animals. So what happens to all this before it is tinned and labelled "succulent tender healthy dog food"? Well, the whole pile of mess is cooked up on a high heat for up to an hour and left to cool. At this point the animal fat is skimmed from the top and what’s left over will be dried and pressed. It is not my intention to scare any pet owner but it is important to educate yourself with regards to your dog’s health and welfare. By feeding your dog the right kind of food instead of the rubbish that companies are somehow still allowed to sell, you will not only keep your dog healthy, but besides – You could save a fortune in vets fees.

If you want to know more about the reality of pet food or how to avoid feeding your dog the awful mix that is bags and tinned for supermarket shelves then visit Dogs Diet for helpful and practical advice.

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