Most dog owners think very little about the products they feed their dogs. It is usually a trip to the grocery store, pick out the latest and greatest dog food product seen on television, and head home to dump it into the dog’s food dish. This process is repeated over and over again by millions of dog owners.
Sometimes what a dog eats has nothing to do with buying a dog food product specifically for a dog. Many people just dump the leftovers from each meal into their dog’s dish thinking it will be sufficient for their dog’s diet.
I can assure you that responsible dog owners, who love their dog, know it is just as important to plan the diet and meals of their dog as it is to do for themselves or their family. However, it is also extremely important to know which dog food product ingredients to absolutely avoid at any cost. A few of these are listed below.
Always check every product, raw, commercial or others, that you are feeding your dog (or your family) for preservatives such as: Ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT, Propyl Gallate and Propylene Glycol. Remember that manufacturers are not required to list any ingredients that they did not put in the product. This means any preservatives that were in ingredients before they were added to the manufacturer’s product will not be listed on the product label.
Also check for fillers such as corn, corn gluten, corn meal and wheat. These ingredients are often added to build up the bulk of the product with very little regard for nutritional value. These fillers are very difficult to digest by dogs (and people). Many dogs also may have allergic reactions to these types of ingredients.
The first ingredients listed on any dog food product should be either meat or poultry. You do not want to buy products with any ingredients listed as road kill, animal byproducts or animal parts. Such ingredients may come from any source, from any where and at any time without regard to any disease or parasite. These types of ingredients can also cause your dog to have allergic reactions, increased illnesses and in some cases even the death.
Never give your dog raisins, grapes (both can cause instant or sudden kidney failure), high sugar products like candy or chocolate. If you have any doubt as to the safety of the food or treats you are feeding your dog then always consult with a veterinarian. Always remember that your dog’s life may be at stake.
You may want to consider feeding your dog a raw dog food diet. It is being recommended by more and more veterinarians each day. A raw dog food diet gives you complete control over what your dog consumes. It can also greatly reduce the incidents of illness and allergic reactions while increasing the health and appearance of your dog.
You can also learn a great deal more in Maggie Rhines' eBook, called “Going Rawr! Dog Lovers Compendium.” She fully discusses the methods of feeding your dog a raw dog food diet and how beneficial it can be to the well being of our dog. The ebook is a highly recommended resource among dog owners and veterinarians alike!
