Numerous ingredients, from meat meals to artificial additives, are harmful to your pet. Read on to learn about other such ingredients to avoid in dog food.
Our health and well-being are significantly influenced by what we eat. And the same is true for our furry friends. Dog treats and food are the only items that come to mind when thinking about what to feed one's dog. Even though it's a great food option, only some of the ingredients in these pet foods are safe for your dog. Furthermore, many dog foods today could still have dangerous additives and ingredients despite being marketed as healthy and nutritious. Are you baffled as to why?
It is due to the possibility that these dogs' food contains ingredients that could threaten your dog's health and even jeopardize his life. Therefore, when deciding what to feed your dog, you must read the dog dry food label for any potentially harmful ingredients and stay clear of them at all costs.
If you have absolutely no idea what these ingredients are, you must educate yourself.
This article will help you by listing the top 10 food ingredients you should avoid in dog food. Let's examine them closely.
BHT/BHA
Both butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are harmful to your pet. These two are typically present in human food as well. BHA and BHT are additives that prevent the oxidation of fatty substances and the alteration of color and other qualities of the products to which they are added. However, they are incredibly harmful. BHA is a preservative known to cause kidney failure. BHT is known to be even more dangerous than BHA. Both canine and human cancers have been directly linked to BHT. Thus avoiding foods with such ingredients is crucial.
Propylene Glycol
As a pet owner, you would know that your dog needs gut microbes to aid food nutrient absorption and digestion. Some dog treats and foods contain propylene glycol as a moistening agent to minimize moisture, retain texture, and stop bacteria from multiplying. However, this ingredient lessens the growth of bacteria while also lowering the required "good" growth. Furthermore, it reduces moisture, which seeks to promote digestive health. Due to these ingredients, most dogs may consequently experience intestinal blockages or cancerous lesions.
Ethoxyquin
Some pet food contains ethoxyquin, an artificial antioxidant, to prevent fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins from becoming rancid. Without the antioxidant function of ethoxyquin, food might acquire an unpleasant flavor and foul smell.
Since it is a preservative, ethoxyquin is typically present in most canned dog food. However, ethoxyquin, a substance used to preserve fat, is also a pesticide.
According to one study, it tends to increase the liver's production of hemoglobin pigment and blood levels of liver enzymes. The progression of kidney and liver damage, cancer immunodeficiency syndrome, blindness, and malignancies are also frequently linked to ethoxyquin. Remain far away when you see this ingredient on a label!
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
MSG or Monosodium glutamate is a natural flavor enhancer made from the amino acid L-glutamic acid, also known as glutamate, which can be found in foods such as meat, fish, vegetables, milk, and mushrooms.
Both human and dog food contain MSG, which can be problematic for both. As a flavor enhancer, it fills in the flavor gaps left by inferior ingredients. It is unnecessary, offers your dog no real advantages, and might even give them allergies. Additionally, veterinarians have discovered that glutamate or MSG in dog food can cause seizures in canines.
It is crucial to note that MSG is not required to be listed on dog food labels by law, but it is frequently one of the undefined ingredients.
Carrageenan
Many human and pet foods contain carrageenan, a natural additive. A substance made from red seaweed, carrageenan is used as a thickening agent to retain consistency, especially in wet dog food. However, it has been discovered that carrageenan is hard to digest and has no nutritional value.
The digestive systems of humans and dogs have been known to become irritated by it. Furthermore, when dogs consume foods that contain carrageenan as an additive, they frequently experience gastrointestinal inflammation.
Manufacturers of dog food often claim that the grade of carrageenan is perfectly safe for human and pet foods and is used by many upscale producers in their food products. However, the fact that carrageenan has been linked to intestinal damage, inflammation, ulcers, lesions, and potentially cancer in laboratory animal studies cannot be denied and thus must be avoided at all costs.
Meat Meal
A significant portion of commercial dog food brands includes meat meals as an ingredient. Furthermore, meat meals are a popular and reasonably priced alternative for dog owners. The most popular varieties of meat meals are lamb, beef, and chicken. But why is it included on the list of avoid ingredients?
Meat meal, in contrast to fresh substitutes, and actual chicken, is produced from animal parts that are not permitted for sale as human food. It results from a procedure called rendering, which involves heating dead animal waste that has been infected with disease or killed.
These ingredients are effectively dehydrated to an arid, dry, brown powder and cooked at very high temperatures. Products that have been rendered are undesirable and are not fit for human consumption. In light of this, you might also not want to give it to your pet!
Corn syrup and corn
Made from cornstarch and glucose, corn syrup is a refined sugar substitute. Due to the risk of diabetes and obesity brought on by corn syrup's high sugar content, dogs should not consume it. Studies on diabetes have also shown that one in 300 dogs have diabetes, which can further be aggravated by added sugar in corn syrup. Additional health problems caused by excessive corn syrup consumption include dental decay, eye problems, and food allergy in dogs.
Synthetic Colors
Colors may be interesting to add to human foods, but they can harm animal health. So dogs shouldn't eat food that has artificial preservatives and colors added to it. The food dyes are intended to appeal to pet parents. But you should know that extreme food allergies and hyperacidity have been linked to the most popular food colorings (Blue 2, Red 40, and Yellow 5 and 6).
Additionally, some chemical reactions and hyperactivity have been linked to artificial dyes. Therefore, it is best to avoid colorants and artificial additives and only choose natural ingredients.
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
This additive is included in dog food to prevent tartar buildup for dental health. However, its potential for adverse effects upon ingestion causes the main problem. Therefore, brushing your dog's teeth and giving them food that doesn't have this discomforting ingredient is preferable. Don't buy dog foods that can lead to indigestion or long-term effects on a dog's health because there is nothing that must substitute routine dental care for your pet.
Melamine
Melamine is a filler element to make pet food with the necessary protein. However, in actuality, it's a nitrogen-containing plastic type. The food you give your dog may contain this harmful substance, and your furry companion will get sick if they consume this.
Its consumption can result in kidney failure depending on the size and the quantity of melamine added. It led to one of the worst pet food recalls of 2007 as a result.
Finding Good Pet Food: What to Look for
Here are some good things to watch out for now that you know what to avoid in dog food. You can use these indicators to determine whether your dog's food is high-caliber.
Simple and limited Ingredients
Like human food, the fewer ingredients in your dog food, the better. Typically, fillers and preservatives are present in dog food with more than nine ingredients. Fillers serve only to deceive you into believing that the food has a fantastic value. However, you are getting less for your money.
Ingredients in Order
The ingredients in dog food must be arranged according to the quantity added to the food. So, if the grain is the first ingredient in dog food, grain will also be the main ingredient. This is why it's essential to read the ingredients list to determine what your dog food is primarily made of. Always keep a close eye on these things to ensure you're giving your dog the best possible life!
Bottom Line
Everyone wants to provide their dog with the best. Many high-quality, ultra-premium, minimally processed dog foods are overflowing with nutrient-dense ingredients like chicken, organic produce, whole fruit, and antioxidant-rich vegetables. Sadly, some of these foods may contain harmful components for your dog's health. The straightforward recommendation is to avoid including any of the top ten artificial additives and questionable ingredients listed in this article at all costs in your dog's diet. However, you do not need to worry anymore. It is because you can buy dog food at Pet Supplies Inc with natural ingredients that are safe and healthy for your pet.
