WHY FEED PREMIUM DOG FOOD

WHY FEED PREMIUM DOG FOOD?

Premium foods typically contain higher quality ingredients than standard foods. Because higher quality ingredients are used (more real meat) the foods are more nutrient-dense, which means they contain higher percentages of protein and fat so your pet eats less to obtain the same nutrition. In addition, premium foods tend to contain natural additives (natural preservatives like Vitamin E) and avoid the use of artificial colors and flavors. Many perceive premium foods to be healthier due to the use of natural additives. Premium foods also feature high quality carbohydrate sources like rice, one of the most digestible grains.

Due to the nutrient density and quality of ingredients, the average premium food is more digestible than the average standard food. This results in less backyard clean up for you. Since the ingredients are of higher quality, the cost of premium foods tends to be higher on a per pound basis. However the fact that they are of higher nutrient density and digestibility means the amount of food fed is less, so while overall feeding costs are higher it's not as much as you may think.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.......

Dog Food Ingredients

(The following commonly used terms are compiled and excerpted from sources noted at the end of the list.)

Poultry by-products- NO MEAT. (*****Products must list meat as an ingredient if they contain even 1 percent real meat.) By-products are produced in the course of making a primary food ingredient: a secondary or incidental product. Feathers can be removed from a carcass during production of poultry meat and then hydrolyzed (turned edible by using sulfuric acid and steam-pressure cooking). Hydrolyzed feathers are acceptable poultry by-products. Other by-products are the chicken carcasses, including feet, feathers, necks, undeveloped eggs, skin and intestines.

Meat by-products- NO MEAT. Do include any part of any mammal including lungs, brains, skeleton, bone, stomach, blood and intestines. Can be horse by-products or meat from any mammals. Beef by-products would be from cattle, lamb by-products from lamb, etc.

Fish by-products- NO MEAT. Do contain head, eyes, tail, fins, intestines, and blood.

Fish meal- No meat. Fish bones ground, pulverized or burnt into ash.
Poultry by-product meal- NO MEAT. Everything included in by-products except feathers-except for unavoidable minimal amounts.

Lamb/Beef/etc. meal- NO MEAT. (Basically just bones ground, pulverized or burnt to ash.) Does not include blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except for unavoidable amounts. Otherwise, it is the same stuff as by-products. Lamb meal is ground lamb bones, beef is ground beef bones, etc. Meat meal can be any combination of mammal bones. Animal by-product meal- HAS NO MEAT. Rendered animal tissue that doesn't fit any other ingredient definitions. Some kind of mixed by-product parts? Cannot contain extra bone, hair, blood, hoof, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents.

Animal digest- NO MEAT. When an animal has digested food, think about what the food has become. This is animal digest. Made by rendering animal products which aren't included in any of the other ingredient descriptions and breaking them down with chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis for use in feed. Must be made soluble with the use of heat and moisture since these ingredients are not soluble in their natural state. Does not contain hair, horn, teeth, hooves, or feathers except in unavoidable trace amounts. (Conveniently does not say it must not contain manure, stomach or rumen contents.)

Meat and Bone meal- Tissue (YES MEAT) and bones rendered from any mammal. No blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach or rumen contents except small unavoidable amounts included in processing. Can be diseased livestock or mammal meat from horse, dog, cat, etc.

Corn gluten- Corn residue. Sticky residual substance used to hold together rendered and pulverized composite of feed ingredients. The part of the commercial shelled corn that remains after the extraction of the larger portion of the starch, gluten and germ by the process employed in the wet milling manufacture of cornstarch or syrup.

Corn gluten meal- Corn residue. Sticky residual substance used to hold together rendered and pulverized composite of feed ingredients. Dried residue from corn after the removal of the larger part of the starch and germ and the separation of bran by the process employed in the wet milling manufacture of cornstarch or syrup or by enzymatic treatment of the endosperm.

Mill run or grain hulls, meal, middlings, or by-products- By-products and outer coverings of grains processed for human consumption. Does not include the more nutritious germ, flour or bran.

Brewer's rice- A rice residue. The dried extracted residue of rice that results from manufacturing liquid portions of malted grain. May contain pulverized dried spent hops in an amount not to exceed 3 percent.

Meat- The clean flesh of ANY slaughtered mammal. (Not likely in dry or canned pet foods unless from mammals that humans do not or will not consume such as diseased or condemned livestock, horse meat, dog meat, etc.) It may only be striated skeletal muscle, or tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. It may include accompanying and overlying fat and portions of skin, sinew, nerves, and blood vessels that normally accompany the flesh. If a specific single type of meat is used, it must be defined, any combination of two or more allows "meat."

Digestibility Test- A test to see how long it takes a food solid to break down in a strong laboratory acid. Some companies claim that foods passing this test in the shortest time will provide the best nutrition. But the word "digestibility" is not synonymous with the word "nutritious." Just because a food solid can break down in a laboratory acid does not mean the animal eating it can nutritionally use (bio-nutritive value) that food. And not all dogs or cats have the same nutritional acceptance of food sources. This has been established by tests cited in the 1985 Nutrient Requirements of Dogs by the National Research Council. Chemical analysis is unreliable for determining whether a food will provide an animal with sufficient minimal nutrition, as it does not take it to account or measure palatability, actual digestibility, or biological availability (bio-nutritive value).

Actual Digestibility- A process for measuring the ratio of food consumed against the subsequent waste (excrement) produced that takes into account the metabolic water ratio and other variables. Not required by the AAFCO.

Propylene glycol- Also known as antifreeze. Derived from Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether. It is used as a solvent in acrylics, stains, inks and dyes. In humans it can have an anesthetic effect, cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, central nervous system depression, convulsions, liver damage, kidney damage, coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, loss of balance, coma and death. Experimentally exposed animals suffered all of the above as well as heart arrhythmia, respiratory failure, narcosis (profound stupor), growth depression, decreased blood pressure, and death. Known to cause illness in dogs, small amounts of this compound is used in some dog foods to tie up water content and maintain texture, thus inhibiting bacterial growth.

Propyl gallate- Manufacturers add this to retard spoilage but it is suspected to cause liver as well as other types of health damage.

Ethoxyquin- A pesticide and poison, it is seen in some pet foods and is sometimes conveniently mixed in by the rendering facility without the manufacturer "knowing" so that it isn't "required" to be listed on the label.

Sodium nitrite- Used as both a preservative and a red coloring agent, when used in food it can produce powerful carcinogenic substances known as nitrosamines.

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)- These antioxidant preservatives have been linked to depression of white blood cells and to inhibition of both the immune system and glucose absorption. There are strict regulations and limits for use in human foods but not animal foods. BHT has also been implicated as a cause of liver damage, metabolic stress, fetal abnormalities and serum cholesterol increases.

Food colorings- Why are food colorings added to food for color-blind (or virtually color-blind) dogs to consume? Because pet food manufacturers believe they increase visual appeal for the humans buying the food and thus increase the sales. Artificial coloring does not require specific labeling in pet foods, which often contain Red No. 3, Red No. 40 (a possible carcinogen) Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 6, Blue No. 2 (shown in studies to increase dogs' sensitivities to fatal viruses.)

Artificial and synthetic flavorings- Synthetic flavorings are grouped under artificial flavorings in pet foods and although minimal or no research or testing has been documented on many of them, and they are not allowed in human foods, the FDA has no jurisdiction over flavorings used in pet food.

For more info: http://www.users.qwest.net/~carrielc/dogfoods.html ( READ THE COMPARISON BETWEEN SCIENCE DIET AND OL ROY DOG FOOD - MIGHT MAKE YOU LAUGH!!

IS IT REALLY ORGANIC?

http://www.mordanna.com/dogfood/index.php?page=organic

http://www.flintriverranch.org/labels.html

Dry pet food can be left out all day as long as your dog does not overeat and gain excessive weight. Even when given food all day, most dogs will generally only eat once or twice a day. However, if your pet gains too much weight, it's a good idea to feed your dog using discrete meals once or twice a day.

Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is toxic. Never feed chocolate or food containing it to your pet. Also, never feed an onion to your pet as large amounts can destroy your pets red blood cells causing anemia. While many people give their dogs raw meat, fish or poultry products these meats contain bacteria or possibly parasites, which are killed in the cooking process. For this reason raw meats are also not recommended. Softer bones such as those from pork or poultry should not be fed as they can splinter and puncture the intestines. Lastly, some people add fat to a dogs diet for a shiny coat. Sudden introduction of large amounts of fats can cause pancreatitis, so this should be avoided. One would be better off to switch to a high quality diet.


	WHY FEED PREMIUM DOG FOOD? Premium foods typically contain higher quality ingredients than standard foods. Because higher quality ingredients are used (more real meat) the foods are more nutrient-dense, which means they contain higher percentages of protein and fat so your pet eats less to obtain the same nutrition. In addition, premium foods tend to contain natural additives (natural preservatives like Vitamin E) and avoid the use of artificial colors and flavors. Many perceive premium foods to be healthier due to the use of natural additives. Premium foods also feature high quality carbohydrate sources like rice, one of the most digestible grains. Due to the nutrient density and quality of ingredients, the average premium food is more digestible than the average standard food. This results in less backyard clean up for you. Since the ingredients are of higher quality, the cost of premium foods tends to be higher on a per pound basis. However the fact that they are of higher nutrient density and digestibility means the amount of food fed is less, so while overall feeding costs are higher it's not as much as you may think. MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW....... Dog Food Ingredients (The following commonly used terms are compiled and excerpted from sources noted at the end of the list.) Poultry by-products- NO MEAT. (*****Products must list meat as an ingredient if they contain even 1 percent real meat.) By-products are produced in the course of making a primary food ingredient: a secondary or incidental product. Feathers can be removed from a carcass during production of poultry meat and then hydrolyzed (turned edible by using sulfuric acid and steam-pressure cooking). Hydrolyzed feathers are acceptable poultry by-products. Other by-products are the chicken carcasses, including feet, feathers, necks, undeveloped eggs, skin and intestines. Meat by-products- NO MEAT. Do include any part of any mammal including lungs, brains, skeleton, bone, stomach, blood and intestines. Can be horse by-products or meat from any mammals. Beef by-products would be from cattle, lamb by-products from lamb, etc. Fish by-products- NO MEAT. Do contain head, eyes, tail, fins, intestines, and blood. Fish meal- No meat. Fish bones ground, pulverized or burnt into ash. Poultry by-product meal- NO MEAT. Everything included in by-products except feathers-except for unavoidable minimal amounts. Lamb/Beef/etc. meal- NO MEAT. (Basically just bones ground, pulverized or burnt to ash.) Does not include blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except for unavoidable amounts. Otherwise, it is the same stuff as by-products. Lamb meal is ground lamb bones, beef is ground beef bones, etc. Meat meal can be any combination of mammal bones. Animal by-product meal- HAS NO MEAT. Rendered animal tissue that doesn't fit any other ingredient definitions. Some kind of mixed by-product parts? Cannot contain extra bone, hair, blood, hoof, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents. Animal digest- NO MEAT. When an animal has digested food, think about what the food has become. This is animal digest. Made by rendering animal products which aren't included in any of the other ingredient descriptions and breaking them down with chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis for use in feed. Must be made soluble with the use of heat and moisture since these ingredients are not soluble in their natural state. Does not contain hair, horn, teeth, hooves, or feathers except in unavoidable trace amounts. (Conveniently does not say it must not contain manure, stomach or rumen contents.) Meat and Bone meal- Tissue (YES MEAT) and bones rendered from any mammal. No blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach or rumen contents except small unavoidable amounts included in processing. Can be diseased livestock or mammal meat from horse, dog, cat, etc. Corn gluten- Corn residue. Sticky residual substance used to hold together rendered and pulverized composite of feed ingredients. The part of the commercial shelled corn that remains after the extraction of the larger portion of the starch, gluten and germ by the process employed in the wet milling manufacture of cornstarch or syrup. Corn gluten meal- Corn residue. Sticky residual substance used to hold together rendered and pulverized composite of feed ingredients. Dried residue from corn after the removal of the larger part of the starch and germ and the separation of bran by the process employed in the wet milling manufacture of cornstarch or syrup or by enzymatic treatment of the endosperm. Mill run or grain hulls, meal, middlings, or by-products- By-products and outer coverings of grains processed for human consumption. Does not include the more nutritious germ, flour or bran. Brewer's rice- A rice residue. The dried extracted residue of rice that results from manufacturing liquid portions of malted grain. May contain pulverized dried spent hops in an amount not to exceed 3 percent. Meat- The clean flesh of ANY slaughtered mammal. (Not likely in dry or canned pet foods unless from mammals that humans do not or will not consume such as diseased or condemned livestock, horse meat, dog meat, etc.) It may only be striated skeletal muscle, or tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. It may include accompanying and overlying fat and portions of skin, sinew, nerves, and blood vessels that normally accompany the flesh. If a specific single type of meat is used, it must be defined, any combination of two or more allows "meat." Digestibility Test- A test to see how long it takes a food solid to break down in a strong laboratory acid. Some companies claim that foods passing this test in the shortest time will provide the best nutrition. But the word "digestibility" is not synonymous with the word "nutritious." Just because a food solid can break down in a laboratory acid does not mean the animal eating it can nutritionally use (bio-nutritive value) that food. And not all dogs or cats have the same nutritional acceptance of food sources. This has been established by tests cited in the 1985 Nutrient Requirements of Dogs by the National Research Council. Chemical analysis is unreliable for determining whether a food will provide an animal with sufficient minimal nutrition, as it does not take it to account or measure palatability, actual digestibility, or biological availability (bio-nutritive value). Actual Digestibility- A process for measuring the ratio of food consumed against the subsequent waste (excrement) produced that takes into account the metabolic water ratio and other variables. Not required by the AAFCO. Propylene glycol- Also known as antifreeze. Derived from Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether. It is used as a solvent in acrylics, stains, inks and dyes. In humans it can have an anesthetic effect, cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, central nervous system depression, convulsions, liver damage, kidney damage, coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, loss of balance, coma and death. Experimentally exposed animals suffered all of the above as well as heart arrhythmia, respiratory failure, narcosis (profound stupor), growth depression, decreased blood pressure, and death. Known to cause illness in dogs, small amounts of this compound is used in some dog foods to tie up water content and maintain texture, thus inhibiting bacterial growth. Propyl gallate- Manufacturers add this to retard spoilage but it is suspected to cause liver as well as other types of health damage. Ethoxyquin- A pesticide and poison, it is seen in some pet foods and is sometimes conveniently mixed in by the rendering facility without the manufacturer "knowing" so that it isn't "required" to be listed on the label. Sodium nitrite- Used as both a preservative and a red coloring agent, when used in food it can produce powerful carcinogenic substances known as nitrosamines. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)- These antioxidant preservatives have been linked to depression of white blood cells and to inhibition of both the immune system and glucose absorption. There are strict regulations and limits for use in human foods but not animal foods. BHT has also been implicated as a cause of liver damage, metabolic stress, fetal abnormalities and serum cholesterol increases. Food colorings- Why are food colorings added to food for color-blind (or virtually color-blind) dogs to consume? Because pet food manufacturers believe they increase visual appeal for the humans buying the food and thus increase the sales. Artificial coloring does not require specific labeling in pet foods, which often contain Red No. 3, Red No. 40 (a possible carcinogen) Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 6, Blue No. 2 (shown in studies to increase dogs' sensitivities to fatal viruses.) Artificial and synthetic flavorings- Synthetic flavorings are grouped under artificial flavorings in pet foods and although minimal or no research or testing has been documented on many of them, and they are not allowed in human foods, the FDA has no jurisdiction over flavorings used in pet food. For more info: http://www.users.qwest.net/~carrielc/dogfoods.html ( READ THE COMPARISON BETWEEN SCIENCE DIET AND OL ROY DOG FOOD - MIGHT MAKE YOU LAUGH!! IS IT REALLY ORGANIC? http://www.mordanna.com/dogfood/index.php?page=organic http://www.flintriverranch.org/labels.html Dry pet food can be left out all day as long as your dog does not overeat and gain excessive weight. Even when given food all day, most dogs will generally only eat once or twice a day. However, if your pet gains too much weight, it's a good idea to feed your dog using discrete meals once or twice a day. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is toxic. Never feed chocolate or food containing it to your pet. Also, never feed an onion to your pet as large amounts can destroy your pets red blood cells causing anemia. While many people give their dogs raw meat, fish or poultry products these meats contain bacteria or possibly parasites, which are killed in the cooking process. For this reason raw meats are also not recommended. Softer bones such as those from pork or poultry should not be fed as they can splinter and puncture the intestines. Lastly, some people add fat to a dogs diet for a shiny coat. Sudden introduction of large amounts of fats can cause pancreatitis, so this should be avoided. One would be better off to switch to a high quality diet.