5 Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Food

Carbohydrates are the first ingredient on the list.

Carbohydrates can be eaten and digested by dogs and cats, but they should not be the first item listed. Dogs and cats require more protein in their diet than carbohydrates or fibre to maintain normal growth and metabolism. Aside from the nutritional benefits, animal protein is simply more appealing to dogs!

Meals made from by-products of the meat industry.

Meat by-product meals are meat rendering plant leftovers that have been crushed and dried. Bones, cartilage, feathers, and viscera are among the by-products of meals. These ingredients aren't nearly as digestible as entire meat meals like chicken or fish meal for dogs and cats. Using these meat meals is generally less expensive, allowing pet food manufacturers to save money while reducing quality.

This isn't to argue that all meat by-products aren't undesirable. Healthy organ meats such as liver, heart, and gizzard provide pets with nutritional benefits such as iron and B vitamins. These digestible organ by-products are also wonderful for encouraging sustainability because they encourage the use of rendered goods that would otherwise be thrown away.

Grain with a lot of starch.

In both human and animal medicine, diabetes is a major issue. This is why fast-digesting carbohydrates like corn and wheat should be avoided in pet food. These quickly digested carbohydrates make sugars like glucose more readily available. Sugars that are readily available cause excessive blood sugar and, as a result, diabetes diseases.

Grains such as rice, quinoa, barley, and millet are better since they digest more slowly and have a lower glycemic index. Grain-free diets are another option for lowering blood sugar levels. Peas, legumes, and sweet potatoes are excellent carbohydrate substitutes for grains, and they have been scientifically demonstrated to reduce the glycemic index.

Colors, sweeteners, and flavors that are artificial.

To appeal to humans, artificial additives are used. Dogs and cats don't mind if their kibbles are a different colour or if their chow smells like a backyard barbeque. Pets may be poisoned by these extra colors and palatants. Some artificial components, such as red and yellow dyes, have even been shown in scientific research to be carcinogenic and cause cancer.

Palatants are ingredient systems that are specially designed to make pet foods, treats, and supplements taste better, ensuring that pets receive the vital nutrients they need.

Certain types of preservatives.

Many foods that are kept at room temperature require preservatives, yet not all preservatives are harmful. Finally, using safe preservatives in pet food is preferable to allowing it to grow rancid and risk microbial infection.

Some preservatives, on the other hand, should be avoided because they might be harmful to pets. While ethoxyquin, BHT, and BHA are no longer commonly used preservatives, they should not be fed to anyone. Ethoxyquin is a substance that has been linked to liver and kidney damage, while BHA and BHT have been classified as carcinogens by the US Food and Drug Administration.

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