Dog Food Ingredients to Avoid
Doesn’t it seem counterintuitive that dog food companies would include ingredients in their dog food that are actually bad for your dog? More often than not, they do this in order to meet a certain protein requirement. To make this happen, they include protein fillers. Although this may not sound bad, all the filler does is give the food texture or density to make it look like the food is healthier to the person buying it. Fillers are not nutritious and can actually cause food allergies to crop up in your canine companion.
Dog Food Ingredients to Avoid
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs. It is not a healthy alternative to eating sugar. It hasn’t been on the market for that long, therefore more research needs to be done regarding its safety. Xylitol has been shown to give dogs hyperglycemia in addition to liver failure, seizures, and even death.
White Flour is the first ingredient that you should steer clear of. The reason is just like with humans, it causes your dog’s blood sugar to spike and then crash. Because of this, your dog will feel full for a little while, but not for long. It can cause your dog to keep going back to his bowl for more. This can lead to obesity issues.
Corn syrup is a cheap way to sweeten your dog’s food, and like white flour it causes your dog’s blood sugar to jump up and then crash. Obesity and diabetes may develop as a result.
Meat meal is the next on the list to avoid. Basically, what we are talking about here is mystery meat. Low in quality, meat meal are the leftovers that may include diseased or expired meat, fat or grease, and even dead animals from shelters. Although meat meal can be found in most dog foods, they should be avoided.
Artificial flavorings and colorings are also a problem. Although they are unnecessary, they are added to make foods look more appealing. They may cause allergies, hyperactivity, and hypersensitivity in dogs.
Monosodium glutamate or MSG is not listed as such on a dog food label. Instead, look for it to be called by any of the following names: protein isolate, sodium caseinate, monopotassium glutamate, glutamic acid, guanylate or calcium caseinate. These unnatural ingredients are all used to give dog food its flavor.
Sodium nitrate is used as a preservative in dog foods. Though they are believed to be safe, they have been linked to cancer.
Propylene glycol may be used as an ingredient in wet dog foods. However, it is also the main ingredient in antifreeze, which is known to kill pets if they drink it.
BHA is used as a preservative in many dog foods. Banned by some countries, BHA is allowed in small amounts by the USA. It is actually known to cause cancer and it also has a damaging effect on the kidneys and liver of dogs and cats.
Rendered fats are much like meat meal. They can be sourced from many different undesirable places. The fat used can come from places like dead animals from shelters and roadkill for example. Many times, the fat used is rancid and therefore can be quite toxic.
Final Thought
You might wonder if all of these ingredients are bad, is there anything left to put in the dog food at all? The answer is yes. Ingredients to look for in quality dog food include meat, vegetables, carbohydrates, grains, healthy fats, fruits, and vitamins. Perhaps the best thing you can do is ask your veterinarian for a more specific recommendation for your pet.