Have you taken a good look at the ingredients on the label of your dog’s food? Do you know what all of the ingredients are? One look at the label of my dog’s previous brand of food had me shocked I didn’t know what over half of the ingredients were, some of them I couldn’t even pronounce! I was lucky enough to find the Dog Food for Life eBook, which opened my eyes to what I was really feeding my dog.
Checking The Labels
One specific thing to look out for when checking the label of your dog’s food is the source of protein, which should be a form of meat (but occasionally companies will include items such as soy, wheat, or corn). This is where dog food companies have become particularly sneaky. Some companies have simply listed meat as an ingredient. This meat could include rendered carcasses, which can consist of road kill or even the bodies of cats and dogs that have been put down in animal shelters and veterinary offices. So technically, you could be turning your dog into a cannibal and not even know it!
If the dog food label doesn t name a specific source of meat (such as beef, chicken, lamb, etc.), then you very well may be feeding your dog mystery meat! Try searching for a dog food that lists specific sources of meat as the first ingredient, as dogs derive the majority of their nutrients in the form of protein.
Other ingredients that provide important nutritional value to every dog’s diet are: carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Carbohydrates are primarily used for energy, but dogs do not require a great deal of them to be healthy. A high-protein, low-carb diet is usually best for canines.
As for fats, there are two types: animal fat (saturated) and vegetable (polyunsaturated), and your dog needs a good balance of both. Vitamins and minerals are imperative to your dog’s health, however nearly half of them are lost in the process of creating dry dog food. You may want to ask your vet about administering a vitamin & mineral supplement to your dog’s diet. Water is, of course, a vital aspect of a dog s diet. Make sure to always have clean, fresh water available to your dog at all times.
For more information, you are encouraged to visit Dog Food for Life and read the free Confidential Dog Food Report.
