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Evaluating Canned and Dry Food for Your Companion
In evaluating a dog or cat food there are
a variety of points we look for including the quality of the protein source,
amount of grain, the presence of any grain or meat by-products, and any
artificial ingredients such as preservatives, colors, or flavors - among other
things.
The ingredients listed on a dog or cat food labels must be listed in order of
predominance by weight. The ingredient listings are regulated and defined by the
Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). AAFCO is not a
governmental organization; it is an independent corporation whose stated purpose
is to aid industry and government representatives in setting standards for and
supervising the animal feed industry. Pet foods are not required to follow AAFCO
standards, but most do and will state this on their label.
Here are some things to look for when analyzing a pet food.
Canned food:
- Look for a named meat as the first ingredient, followed by a named meat broth.
Water is acceptable, but broth is better.
- The meat should be listed by name; i.e. chicken, beef, salmon, lamb, etc – not
the generic term “meat” or “meat by-products.” Meat by-products of any kind are
an inferior source of protein and may contain animals from the “4-D” category:
dead, dying, diseased or disabled.
- If fat is listed as an ingredient, then it too should be named: i.e. chicken,
beef, etc – not the generic term “animal fat.”
- Grains should be whole grains such as rice, millet, oats, etc. Not grain
by-products (like modified corn starch or wheat gluten).
- Grains are not necessary in canned foods – especially for cats, and there are
many grain-free varieties available now. Many are 95 – 100% meat.
- No artificial preservatives should be listed (BHA/BHT or Ethoxyquin) – in fact
canned foods do not need preservatives as they are cooked and in the can under
pressure.
- No artificial colors should be listed, (cats and dogs do not care what color
their food is anyway).
- Sugars or sweeteners – these are unnecessary for animals and a food containing
high-quality meat ingredients should not need sweeteners for palatability.
Dry food (kibble):
- When determining the main ingredients in a dry food it is helpful to look for
the source of fat or oil in the food – the ingredients listed before the fat or
oil source make up the majority of the food (including the fat or oil), those
ingredients listed after the fat or oil are present in much smaller amounts.
- Again, look for one or more named sources of meat and/or meat meal as the
first ingredients. The term “meal” simply means that the ingredients have been
“extruded” – cooked at high temperatures and pressure to remove moisture.
Chicken meal or beef meal or lamb meal; any named source of meal, are a
desirable ingredient in dry pet foods. Whole meats, such as an ingredient listed
as “chicken” or “beef” contain 75% water, so if a whole meat is listed there
should also be a meat meal to insure the protein in the food is from animal
sources, not grains. The top-quality pet foods on the market use USDA sources
(human grade) for their meat meals.
- Grains, of course, should be whole grains, preferably not grain by-products
such as soy flour, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, oat groats, etc. Consider
that soy is the most genetically modified food of any and has a higher level of
pesticide use. Corn is not far behind. If soy or corn are used, they should not
be in the first several ingredients, and organic is much preferred.
- Dry foods will always have a fat source – so make sure it is a named source
such as chicken fat, beef fat, sunflower oil, flax oil, etc. Avoid generic
listings such as vegetable oil, animal fat, poultry fat.
- Fruits and vegetables can provide some additional nutrients and minerals in a
food. Whole, fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, apples,
blueberries, etc. are preferred over more processed ingredients such as tomato
pumice, apple pumice, dried peas, dried carrots, etc.
- Avoid foods with artificial preservatives such as BHA/BHT or Ethoxyquin. High
quality foods use natural preservatives such as mixed tocopherols, vitamin c
sources such as ascorbic acid, rosemary extract and other herbs or antioxidants.
- Sweeteners are not a necessary ingredient in a high quality dog food; avoid
sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, sorbitol, glucose and other sweeteners.
- Colorants and dyes are not necessary – especially artificial versions such as
Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, or any “numbered” food dye.
Keeping these key points in mind will give you a good basis for evaluating pet
foods for your companion. Paying a little extra each month for your best
friend’s food will go a long way to preserving his or her health and saving you
lots of money in vet bills in the long run.
Additional advice when feeding processed foods:
Rotation: We highly recommend you rotate the brand of food and main protein
source in your companion’s diet on a regular basis. A more diverse diet is far
more likely to provide complete nutrition than the same “formulated” diet fed
over and over again. While pet foods may meet the AAFCO standards for
“nutrition”, that does not mean that any one of them are the ideal food for the
life of your companion. Consuming the same food repeatedly over long periods of
time can contribute to the development of food sensitivities and allergies,
inflammatory bowel disease and other health issues.
Digestive Enzymes: Every dog or cat that is eating a processed food diet should
receive
digestive enzymes with every meal. This will not only improve digestion
and the assimilation of nutrients, but it may also help protect against the
development of allergies and immune disorders. Improving digestion and
utilization of nutrients can help to prevent and eliminate a host of diet
related problems such as eating stools, body odor, excessive shedding,
flatulence and itchy skin. Digestive Enzymes are a crucial part of improving
digestion and gastrointestinal health. Click to view
digestive enzymes for dogs
or
digestive enzymes for cats. All enzymes that naturally occur in the
food are destroyed during the cooking and processing of canned and dry foods.
Essential Fatty Acids:
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are required in the diet;
they cannot be produced by the body. Essential fatty acids are necessary for
proper formation of cell membranes, are precursors for prostaglandins (hormones
involved in pain regulation among other things), aid in proper cardiovascular
function and nourish the skin and coat as well as the lining of the digestive
tract. In addition, omega 3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA act to reduce
inflammatory processes in the body.
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