A Few Things You WANT to See on a Dog Food Label
Human grade (USDA approved) ingredients. This can be a tricky area, because
the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has very
effectively prohibited the use of the term 'human grade' on pet food
packaging. As a result, very few pet food labels contain the phrase.
According to TheBark.com:
AAFCO says "human-grade" is false and misleading, and constitutes
misbranding, unless every ingredient in the productand every processing
methodmeets FDA and USDA requirements for producing, processing and
transporting foods suitable for consumption by humans, and every producer of
the ingredients is licensed to perform those tasks. Few pet food companies
can meet these criteria.
What you want to find out is whether the ingredients in the brand you buy
are fit for human consumption. Despite the fact manufacturers can't list
human grade' on the ingredient panel, if they are using ingredients fit for
human consumption, you'll know by the information provided on the bag, as
well as their marketing materials. The company will want you to know why
their food is more expensive.
The better the brand (and higher the cost), the more likely it is the
ingredients are human grade. If all else fails, you can visit the
manufacturer's website or call their toll free number to get your questions
answered.
Even better is if the protein source is either free-range or pasture-raised
and hasn't been shot full of hormones and antibiotics.
A whole food protein source at the top of the list of ingredients. The key
here is to look for named meat, typically one-word descriptions of the
protein in the formula, for example: beef, turkey, lamb, chicken, etc. Avoid
any product with non-specific descriptions like 'animal,' 'meat' or 'poultry
'
Most commercial pet foods also contain meat meal, which is fine as a
secondary ingredient to a whole food protein source. Meal consists of meat
with the moisture removed, with or without bones and has the right
calcium/phosphorus balance. Like the primary whole food protein source, meal
should be from a named, specific meat.
Grain-free. Your carnivorous pooch has no biologic requirement for grains.
Many grain-free formulas use potatoes instead, but potatoes or other
starches should not be added in excess simply to offset meat content.
AAFCO guarantee. AAFCO has established minimum standards for complete and
balanced pet nutrition. Most of us concerned with animal health realize
there's room for improvement in the AAFCO guidelines. However, you can be
reasonably sure a pet food meeting those guidelines will provide all the
elements of nutrition your dog needs to sustain life. A formula without
AAFCO certification will likely be deficient as a sole source of nutrition
for your pet.
And a Few Things You DON'T
Meat by-products, digest. Meat by-products, especially those not specified
as a certain kind of meat (chicken, beef, turkey, etc.), contain unsavory
ingredients ground into the mix during processing like beaks, feathers, feet
hooves, hair, entrails even tumors. The exception would be by-products
derived from human grade organ meats like liver and kidney.
Poor quality, incomplete proteins. These include corn gluten meal, wheat
gluten meal, rice protein concentrate and soy protein.
Formulas containing corn or soy. Corn is a cheap filler ingredient with no
nutritional value. It is also a known allergenic. Soy is estrogenic and can
wreak havoc on your dog's endocrine system.
BHT, BHA, ethoxyquin, propyl gallate. These are all artificial preservatives
Ethoxyquin is banned from use in human foods, but is used to preserve the
fish meal found in many pet food formulas. You won't find it on your pet
food label because it is added before the fish meal arrives at the
manufacturing facility. When considering dog foods containing fish, look for
written manufacturer assurance on the label or web site that the fish meal
does not contain ethoxyquin. Otherwise, assume that it does or contact the
manufacturer directly to inquire.
Look for foods preserved with vitamins C and E, also called tocopherols.
Artificial colors, flavors, sugars, sweeteners or propylene glycol.
How to Avoid Contaminated and Poor Quality Pet Food
The very best nutrition you can feed your dog won't be found in a bag or can
of processed food.
As I discussed in 13 Pet Foods Ranked from Great to Disastrous, your best
bet is to feed your dog a balanced, raw, species-appropriate, homemade diet.
It's really the only way to exercise complete control over what your pup
eats.
If you're tired of worrying about the next pet food recall and sick of
trying to understand confusing pet food labels, maybe it's time to consider
making your dog's meals from scratch right in your own kitchen. If so, I've
co-authored a cookbook you should find useful, Real Food for Healthy Dogs
and Cats.
This book explains how to buy and prepare fresh foods in quantity, and it
also contains recipes both raw and cooked so you can fix worry-free,
ultra-healthy meals for your favorite four-legged family member.
http://healthypets.mercola
com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/02/03/choosing-a-healthy-dog-food-for-your
pet.aspx
