100%AMEN...right there with ya!! Wagging Tails in the Dog Park! Deanna and the Dog Park Gang: Nugget, Shuai Li, Mable, Mouse, Myrtle, Madison, Caleb and Maxine >From the mountains of CA
http://swlf.lilyslim.com/v3T7m8.png?h9j6wId9 On Feb 3, 2011, at 12:34 PM, "Mare" <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 product—and every processing > method—meets 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 >
