Dog Food Nutrition-What You Should Know

Dog Food Nutrition-What You Should Know
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Steer Clear of Dog Foods With Grain Additives

Russell Swift, D.V.M. suggests that grains inhibit the immune system. Grain proteins are less digestible than animal proteins. He feels the presence of these "foreign, non-nutritive protein and carbohydrate particles" may lead to allergies and immune system problems. Dogs do not contain the digestive enzyme in their saliva, amylase, needed to begin the digestion of grains. Chewing, another factor in grain digestion, is not something canines are designed to do. Rather they catch, tear, crunch then swallow their foods in an instinctive way. Digestion occurs in the stomach and the small intestine. It does not begin in the mouth as it does in humans. Depending on the dog, two or three chomps may be all they give, while others might savor their food a little more. Grains are most thoroughly digested in animals with long digestive tracts. Compared to animals who regularly eat plant matter, a dog's digestive tract is about one third of the size. In order to even begin to be digested grain must be either cooked, soaked, fermented or sprouted. Undigested or the poorly digested portion of grains is expelled in the form of large, semi-soft stool. Some cheap grain-based commercial foods will produce almost as much stool volume as food fed, leaving one to wonder what quantity of nutrients have been absorbed from this food? Grains, which are glue-like and break down into sugars, are likely to be a contributing factor in the formation of dental calculus and periodontal disease. Dogs who are fed a diet of kibble that includes large amounts of grains (and does not provide the cleaning action that raw meaty bones have) suffer from periodontal disease, tartar build up and bad breath. Anecdotal evidence suggests that dogs who eat a grain free diet are relatively free of the periodontal disease that plagues many of our kibble eating pets. Author and nutritionist Kymythy Schultze points out that "grains break down into sugar within the body and can supply nourishment for yeast overgrowth". She lists the problems that may be associated with grains as: "allergies, ear infections, skin problems, bloating, joint problems, malabsorption, and digestive disorders". Pat McKay in "Reigning Cats and Dogs" discusses Candida Albicans or chronic yeast infections, describing the symptoms of this serious condition as: "excessive scratching, licking, chronic eye and/or ear infections, rashes, hot spots, colitis, chronic cough, vaginitis, kidney and
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infections, rashes, hot spots, colitis, chronic cough, vaginitis, kidney and bladder infections, arthritis, hypothyroidism, and even diabetes". In lecture notes from a seminar given by Dr. Ian Billinghurst B.V.Sc. [Hons], B.Sc.Agr., Dip.Ed., he points out that hip dysplasia was unknown before 1935 when cooked grains and artificial calcium were introduced. By this I am assuming he means the introduction of processed and prepackaged pet foods as opposed to feeding whole grains as a part of a home prepared diet. He feels there is a genetic disposition to hip dysplasia but there is also a huge environmental impact. In his book, Give Your Dog a Bone, Dr. Billinghurst writes: "Dogs that eat grains as the major part of their diet suffer premature ageing and the early development of degenerative diseases, such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and other pancreatic problems. Many skin problems, allergic problems and arthritic problems respond to the withdrawal of grains from a dog's diet". He also points out "Unfortunately, rice, the most popular of the grains that people feed to their dogs, is the one with the lowest levels of protein, and possibly the poorest quality protein". Dr. Billinghurst believes that most allergies are developed due to feeding young puppies unsuitable foods, setting it up for an allergy later in life. Whole grains and other seeds have phytic acid in their shells. Phytic acid binds to minerals like calcium preventing absorption by the body. In the 1930's a study found that dogs became ill with rickets when they were fed a diet of oatmeal. Phytates prevent mineral absorption in both dogs and humans. Techniques such as soaking and fermenting reduce the amounts of phytic acid in grains by utilizing the natural enzymes found in grains, phytases. Unfortunately, phytases, like many enzymes are fragile and destroyed by commercial processing. Another factor that inhibits nutrient absorption is the lack of the amino acid lysine. Lysine is the amino acid that ensures calcium absorption and distribution in the body. The lack of lysine in combination with phytates makes minerals such as calcium, zinc, selenium and chromium less or unavailable to your dog on a diet that is high in whole grains. Soy is another common ingredient that is sometimes used as a protein and energy source in pet food. Manufacturers also use it to add bulk so that when an animal eats a product containing soy he will feel more sated. While soy has been linked to gas in some dogs, other dogs do quite well with it. Vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source.
How Nutritious is Your Pet's Food?

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If you believe your dog may be suffering with food related allergies, before trying him on anything new, you may opt for some down time from the commercial dog food and make your own nutritious food. Once he has stabilized, then you can gradually reintroduce him to a new brand of food. Until then, try the chicken and rice diet. Here's how:
Chicken and Rice Diet

Boil a whole chicken and when finished boiling, pour the broth into another large pot allowing the chicken to cool on its own so you can remove the bones. Once that is done put the chicken into the pot containing the broth and pour in a 1 lb bag of brown rice. When the rice is done, add fresh or frozen green beans and/or carrots to the mixture. We sometimes add a few cubes of chicken bouillon to give it more flavor. This also makes it a bit saltier so that your dog will drink more water. Once all has cooled, put in portion sized freezer bags. This is not only healthy but a meal that is easy to serve. Just pop into the microwave or put the bag into a bowl of hot water to thaw before feeding. If you can find a dog food like this, you are doing a great service for your dog. Whole Dog Journal voted Kirklands brand (made by Costco) the best, Beneful the worst. Here is the breakdown and notice there is no wheat or corn but lots of vegetables. Lamb, Lamb meal, whole grain brown rice, rice flour, white rice, egg product, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and Vitamin E), beet pulp, potatoes, fishmeal, flaxseed, natural flavor, millet, brewers dried yeast, carrots, peas, choline chloride, rosemary extract, parsley flake, dried chicory root, glucosamine hydrochloride, taurine, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, copper proteninate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteniate, manganous oxide, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite (source of vitamin K activity), riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 23% minimum Crude Fat 14% minimum Crude Fiber 4% maximum Moisture 10% maximum Zinc 200mg/kg minimum Selenium 0.4 mg/kg minimum Vitamin A 15000 IU/KG minimum
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Vitamin A 15000 IU/KG minimum Omega-6 fatty acids 2.2% minimum Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.4 % minimum Glucosamine HCl not less than 300 mg/kg Chondroitin sulfate not less than 100 mg/kg
Principal Display - Product Name

First, let's look at understanding the label. As with human food labels, pet food labels are strictly regulated by the federal government, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture, and must follow stringent guidelines. Pet food labels are typically divided into two separate sections: the principal product display and information about the food. This part of the pet food label contains the brand name of the food as well as the specific food or formula contained in the can. It lists which meat is primarily used in the food and may indicate for which age group the food is intended (growing, maintenance, adult). The product weight, in grams and ounces, is also included. The principal display also includes the type of animal the food is meant for - dogs or cats. How the product is listed on the label is also strictly regulated. In order to call something "Beef for Dogs," at least 95 percent of the product must be the named meat, without counting the moisture content. If the moisture content is included, at least 70 percent of the product must be the meat listed. If the name has a combination of meats, such as "Chicken and Liver," the two products together must be 95 percent of the product with the first ingredient listed more prevalent. If the amount of the meat is over 25 percent but less than 95 percent, a qualifier must be added. The word dinner is a commonly added qualifier but platter, entre, nuggets and formula are also common. Also, just because the product name says "chicken formula" doesn't mean beef or fish are not added. Check the ingredient list to find out which meats are also included. Another rule regarding product name is the newly approved use of "with". In pet food such as "Dog Food with Chicken," since the word "chicken" follows "with," that food must have at least three percent of the food as chicken. This wording can fool some people. "Beef Dog Food" is very different than "Dog Food with Beef." The first has 95 percent beef. The second only has three percent beef.
Informational Section
In addition to displaying the product name, brand name, weight and intended species, the pet food label also includes a more complex
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intended species, the pet food label also includes a more complex section. The informational section contains a list of ingredients, the guaranteed analysis, feeding instructions and nutritional adequacy claim. This is the part of the label that is most important when comparing different foods and determining the nutrients in the product.
Ingredient List
The list of ingredients must be in descending order. This means that the most prevalent part of the diet is listed first and then followed by each ingredient in order by weight. If your pet needs a diet low in protein, considered getting a food with several carbohydrates listed in the top five ingredients. If your pet needs high protein, get a food with the first two ingredients as meat products.
Guaranteed Analysis
This section of the pet food label lists the amounts of each ingredient contained in the food. Typically, the minimum amount of the ingredients is listed and not always the exact amount. When comparing one product to another, you must take moisture content into account. The ingredients should be compared on a dry matter basis. This means that if 82 percent moisture is present in the food, the remaining items comprise 18 percent of the diet. The minimum values listed for each ingredient (besides water) should be divided by 0.18 in order to get a dry matter amount. Now two products can be compared fairly.
Nutritional Adequacy Claim

This section of the information area lists the life stage for which the food is made, such as "for maintenance," "for growth" or "for all life stages." If the pet food follows the guidelines set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the label will include a statement that says the food provides complete and balanced nutrition for a particular life stage. It will also list if the food is meant as a treat or a supplement and should be fed in combination with other foods. --From Dr. Jon newsletter
The Problem Is Your Dogs Food

Basically, your dogs food has had the life cooked out of it. Dry and canned dog foods are subjected to extreme heat in the production process. This heat obliterates the digestive enzymes, beneficial bacteria and delicate vitamins and nutrients your dog desperately needs. Your dogs "good health" account is always running at a deficit because his diet is full of deficiencies. These deficiencies or gaps cause real issues with your dogs digestive tract and immune system. Over time,
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issues with your dogs digestive tract and immune system. Over time, these issues in your dogs body show up as symptoms such as itchy red skin, hot spots, ear infections, excess shedding, dull coat, allergies, funky odors, and on and on.
WHAT'S REALLY IN PET FOOD? from the Animal Protection Institute

Plump whole chickens, choice cuts of beef, fresh grains, and all the wholesome nutrition your dog or cat will ever need. These are the images pet food manufacturers promulgate through the media and advertising. This is what the $11 billion per year U.S. pet food industry wants consumers to believe they are buying when they purchase their products. This report explores the differences between what consumers think they are buying and what they are actually getting. It focuses in very general terms on the most visible name brands -- the pet food labels that are mass-distributed to supermarkets and discount stores -- but there are many highly respected brands that may be guilty of the same offenses. What most consumers don't know is that the pet food industry is an extension of the human food and agriculture industries. Pet food provides a market for slaughterhouse offal, grains considered "unfit for human consumption," and similar waste products to be turned into profit. This waste includes intestines, udders, esophagi, and possibly diseased and cancerous animal parts. Three of the five major pet food companies in the United States are subsidiaries of major multinational companies: Nestl (Alpo, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Mighty Dog), Heinz (9 Lives, Amore, Gravy Train, Kibbles n Bits, Recipe, Vets), Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Science Diet Pet Food). Other leading companies are Procter & Gamble (Eukanuba and Iams), Mars (Kal Kan, Mealtime, Pedigree, Sheba), and Nutro. From a business standpoint, multinational companies owning pet food manufacturing companies is an ideal relationship. The multinationals have a captive market in which to capitalize on their waste products, and the pet food manufacturers have a reliable source from which to purchase their bulk materials. There are hundreds of different pet foods available in this country. And while many of the foods on the market are virtually the same, not all of the pet food manufacturing companies use poor quality and potentially dangerous ingredients.
Ingredients
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Ingredients
Although the purchase price of pet food does not always determine whether a pet food is good or bad, the price is often a good indicator of quality. It would be impossible for a company that sells a generic brand of dog food at $9.95 for a 40-lb. bag to use quality protein and grain in its food. The cost of purchasing quality ingredients would be much higher than the selling price. The protein used in pet food comes from a variety of sources. When cattle, swine, chickens, lambs, or any number of other animals are slaughtered, the choice cuts such as lean muscle tissue are trimmed away from the carcass for human consumption. However, about 50% of every food-producing animal does not get used in human foods. Whatever remains of the carcass -- bones, blood, intestines, lungs, ligaments, and almost all the other parts not generally consumed by humans -- is used in pet food, animal feed, and other products. These "other parts" are known as "by-products" or other names on pet food labels. The ambiguous labels list the ingredients, but do not provide a definition for the products listed.
The Pet Food Institute

The trade association of pet food manufacturers acknowledges the use of by-products in pet foods as additional income for processors and farmers: "The growth of the pet food industry not only provided pet owners with better foods for their pets, but also created profitable additional markets for American farm products and for the byproducts of the meat packing, poultry, and other food industries which prepare food for human consumption."1 Many of these remnants provide a questionable source of nourishment for our animals. The nutritional quality of meat and poultry by-products, meals, and digests can vary from batch to batch. James Morris and Quinton Rogers, two professors with the Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California at Davis Veterinary School of Medicine, assert that, "There is virtually no information on the bioavailability of nutrients for companion animals in many of the common dietary ingredients used in pet foods. These ingredients are generally by-products of the meat, poultry and fishing industries, with the potential for a wide variation in nutrient composition. Claims of nutritional adequacy of pet foods based on the current Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient allowances ('profiles') do not give assurances of nutritional adequacy and will not until ingredients are analyzed and bioavailability values are incorporated."2 Meat and poultry meals, by-product meals, and meat-and-bone meal are common ingredients in pet foods. The term "meal" means that these
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are common ingredients in pet foods. The term "meal" means that these materials are not used fresh, but have been rendered. What is rendering? Rendering, as defined by Webster's Dictionary, is "to process as for industrial use: to render livestock carcasses and to extract oil from fat, blubber, etc., by melting." Home-made chicken soup, with its thick layer of fat that forms over the top when the soup is cooled, is a sort of mini-rendering process. Rendering separates fat-soluble from watersoluble and solid materials, and kills bacterial contaminants, but may alter or destroy some of the natural enzymes and proteins found in the raw ingredients. What can the feeding of such products do to your companion animal? Some veterinarians claim that feeding slaughterhouse wastes to animals increases their risk of getting cancer and other degenerative diseases. The cooking methods used by pet food manufacturers - such as rendering and extruding (a heat-and-pressure system used to "puff" dry foods into nuggets or kibbles) -- do not necessarily destroy the hormones used to fatten livestock or increase milk production, or drugs such as antibiotics or the barbiturates used to euthanize animals.
Animal and Poultry Fat

You may have noticed a unique, pungent odor when you open a new bag of pet food -- what is the source of that delightful smell? It is most often rendered animal fat, restaurant grease, or other oils too rancid or deemed inedible for humans. Restaurant grease has become a major component of feed grade animal fat over the last fifteen years. This grease, often held in fifty-gallon drums, is usually kept outside for weeks, exposed to extreme temperatures with no regard for its future use. "Fat blenders" or rendering companies then pick up this used grease and mix the different types of fat together, stabilize them with powerful antioxidants to retard further spoilage, and then sell the blended products to pet food companies and other end users.3 These fats are sprayed directly onto dried kibbles or extruded pellets to make an otherwise bland or distasteful product palatable. The fat also acts as a binding agent to which manufacturers add other flavor enhancers such as digests. Pet food scientists have discovered that animals love the taste of these sprayed fats. Manufacturers are masters at getting a dog or a cat to eat something she would normally turn up her nose at.
Wheat, Soy, Corn, Peanut Hulls, and Other Vegetable Protein

The amount of grain products used in pet food has risen over the last
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The amount of grain products used in pet food has risen over the last decade. Once considered filler by the pet food industry, cereal and grain products now replace a considerable proportion of the meat that was used in the first commercial pet foods. The availability of nutrients in these products is dependent upon the digestibility of the grain. The amount and type of carbohydrate in pet food determines the amount of nutrient value the animal actually gets. Dogs and cats can almost completely absorb carbohydrates from some grains, such as white rice. Up to 20% of the nutritional value of other grains can escape digestion. The availability of nutrients for wheat, beans, and oats is poor. The nutrients in potatoes and corn are far less available than those in rice. Some ingredients, such as peanut hulls, are used for filler or fiber, and have no significant nutritional value. Two of the top three ingredients in pet foods, particularly dry foods, are almost always some form of grain products. Pedigree Performance Food for Dogs lists Ground Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, and Corn Gluten Meal as its top three ingredients. 9 Lives Crunchy Meals for cats lists Ground Yellow Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, and Poultry By-Product Meal as its first three ingredients. Since cats are true carnivores -- they must eat meat to fulfill certain physiological needs -- one may wonder why we are feeding a corn-based product to them. The answer is that corn is much cheaper than meat. In 1995, Nature's Recipe pulled thousands of tons of dog food off the shelf after consumers complained that their dogs were vomiting and losing their appetite. Nature's Recipe's loss amounted to $20 million. The problem was a fungus that produced vomitoxin (an aflatoxin or "mycotoxin," a toxic substance produced by mold) contaminating the wheat. In 1999, another fungal toxin triggered the recall of dry dog food made by Doane Pet Care at one of its plants, including Ol' Roy (Wal-Mart's brand) and 53 other brands. This time, the toxin killed 25 dogs. (That were reported ~Mel) Although it caused many dogs to vomit, stop eating, and have diarrhea, vomitoxin is a milder toxin than most. The more dangerous mycotoxins can cause weight loss, liver damage, lameness, and even death as in the Doane case. The Nature's Recipe incident prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to intervene. Dina Butcher, Agriculture Policy Advisor for North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer, concluded that the discovery of vomitoxin in Nature's Recipe wasn't much of a threat to the human population because "the grain that would go into pet food is not a high quality grain."3
Additives and Preservatives

Many chemicals are added to commercial pet foods to improve the
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Many chemicals are added to commercial pet foods to improve the taste, stability, characteristics, or appearance of the food. Additives provide no nutritional value. Additives include emulsifiers to prevent water and fat from separating, antioxidants to prevent fat from turning rancid, and artificial colors and flavors to make the product more attractive to consumers and more palatable to their companion animals. Adding chemicals to food originated thousands of years ago with spices, natural preservatives, and ripening agents. In the last 40 years, however, the number of food additives has greatly increased. All commercial pet foods contain preservatives. Some of these are added to ingredients or raw materials by the suppliers, and others may be added by the manufacturer. Because manufacturers need to ensure that dry foods have a long shelf life to remain edible after shipping and prolonged storage, fats included in pet foods are preserved with either synthetic or "natural" preservatives. Synthetic preservatives include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, propylene glycol (also used as a less-toxic version of automotive antifreeze), and ethoxyquin. For these antioxidants, there is little information documenting their toxicity, safety, or chronic use in pet foods that may be eaten every day for the life of the animal. Potentially cancer-causing agents such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are permitted at relatively low levels. The use of these chemicals in pet foods has not been thoroughly studied, and long term build-up of these agents may ultimately be harmful. Due to questionable data in the original study on its safety, ethoxyquin's manufacturer, Monsanto, was required to perform a new, more rigorous study. This was completed in 1996. Even though Monsanto found no significant toxicity associated with its own product, in July 1997, the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine requested that manufacturers voluntarily reduce the maximum level for ethoxyquin by half, to 75 parts per million. While some pet food critics and veterinarians believe that ethoxyquin is a major cause of disease, skin problems, and infertility in dogs, others claim it is the safest, strongest, most stable preservative available for pet food. Ethoxyquin is only approved for use in human food for preserving spices, such as cayenne and chili powder, at a level of 100 ppm -- but it would be very difficult to consume as much chili powder every day as a dog would eat dry food. Ethoxyquin has never been tested for safety in cats. Some manufacturers have responded to consumer concern, and are now using "natural" preservatives such as Vitamin C (ascorbate), Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), and oils of rosemary, clove, or other
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Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), and oils of rosemary, clove, or other spices, to preserve the fats in their products. Other ingredients, however, may be individually preserved. Fish meal, and some prepared vitamin mixtures used to supplement pet food, contain chemical preservatives. This means that your companion animal may be eating food containing several types of preservatives. Not all of these are required to be disclosed on the label. However, due to consumer pressure, preservatives used in fat are now required to be listed on the label.
Additives in Processed Pet Foods

Anticaking agents Antimicrobial agents Antioxidants Coloring agents Curing agents Drying agents Emulsifiers Firming agents Flavor enhancers Flavoring agents Flour treating agents Formulation aids Humectants Leavening agents Lubricants Nonnutritive sweeteners Nutritive sweeteners Oxidizing and reducing agents pH control agents Processing aids Sequestrants Solvents, vehicles Stabilizers, thickeners Surface active agents Surface finishing agents Synergists Texturizers While the law requires studies of direct toxicity of these additives and preservatives, they have not been tested for their potential synergistic effects on each other once ingested. Some authors have suggested that dangerous interactions occur among some of the common synthetic preservatives. Natural preservatives do not provide as long a shelf life as chemical preservatives, but they do not carry the unanswered questions about their safety.
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The Manufacturing Process- How pet food is made

Although feeding trials are no longer required for a food to meet the requirements for labeling a food "complete and balanced," most manufacturers perform palatability studies when developing a new pet food. One set of animals is fed a new food while a "control" group is fed a current formula. The total volume eaten is used as a gauge for the palatability of the food. The larger and more reputable companies do use feeding trials, which are considered to be a much more accurate assessment of the actual nutritional value of the food. They keep large colonies of dogs and cats for this purpose. Dry food is made with a machine called an expander or extruder. First, raw materials are blended, sometimes by hand, other times by computer, in accordance with a recipe developed by animal nutritionists. This mixture is fed into an expander and steam or hot water is added. The mixture is subjected to steam, pressure, and high heat as it is extruded through dies that determine the shape of the final product and puffed like popcorn. The food is allowed to dry, and then is usually sprayed with fat, digests, or other compounds to make it more palatable. Although the cooking process may kill bacteria in pet food, the final product can lose its sterility during the subsequent drying, fat coating, and packaging process. Ingredients are similar for wet, dry, and semi-moist foods, although the ratios of protein, fat, and fiber may change. A typical can of ordinary cat food reportedly contains about 45-50% meat or poultry by-products. The main difference between the types of food is the water content. It is impossible to directly compare labels from different kinds of food without a mathematical conversion to "dry matter basis."5 Wet or canned food begins with ground ingredients mixed with additives. If chunks are required, a special extruder forms them. Then the mixture is cooked and canned. The sealed cans are then put into containers resembling pressure cookers and commercial sterilization takes place. Some manufacturers cook the food right in the can. There are special labeling requirements for pet food. The "all meat" product is covered by AAFCO's "95% Rule": "When an ingredient or a combination of ingredients derived from animals, poultry, or fish constitute 95% or more of the total weight of all ingredients of a pet food, the name or names of such ingredient(s) may form part of the product name of the pet food; provided that where more than one ingredient is part of such product name, then all such ingredient names shall be in the same size, style, and color print. For the purpose of this provision, water sufficient for processing shall be excluded when calculating the percentage of the named ingredient(s). However, such named ingredient(s) shall constitute at
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least 70% of the total product." Because all-meat diets are not nutritionally balanced, they are uncommon today. The "dinner" product is defined by the 25% Rule: "When an ingredient or a combination of ingredients constitutes at least 25% but less than 95% of the total weight of all ingredients of a dog or cat food mixture, the name or names of such ingredient or ingredients may form a part of the product name of the pet food if each of the ingredients constitute at least 3% of the product weight excluding water used for processing and only if the product name also includes a primary descriptive term such as 'dinner', 'platter,' or similar designation so that the product name describes the contents of the product in accordance with an established law, custom or usage or so that the product name is not misleading. If the names of more than one ingredient are shown, they shall appear in the order of their respective predominance by weight in the product. All such ingredient names and the primary descriptive term shall be in the same size, style and color print. For the purpose of this provision, water sufficient for processing shall be excluded when calculating the percentage of the named ingredient(s). However, such named ingredient(s) shall constitute at least 10% of the total product." The "flavor" product is formulated to have a specific flavor: "No flavor designation shall be used on a pet food label unless the flavor is detected by a recognized test method, or is one the presence of which provides a characteristic distinguishable by the pet. Any flavor designation on a pet food label must either conform to the name of its source as shown in the ingredient statement or the ingredient statement shall show the source of the flavor. The word flavor shall be printed in the same size type and with an equal degree of conspicuousness as the ingredient term(s) from which the flavor designation is derived. Distributors of pet food employing such flavor designation or claims on the labels of the product distributed by them shall, upon request, supply verification of the designated or claimed flavor to the appropriate control official." In essence, the "flavor rule" allows a food to be labeled as "beef flavor" without actually containing any beef meat at all.
What happened to the nutrients?

Dr. Randy L. Wysong is a veterinarian and produces his own line of pet foods. A long time critic of pet food industry practices, he said, "Processing is the wild card in nutritional value that is, by and large, simply ignored. Heating, cooking, rendering, freezing, dehydrating, canning, extruding, pelleting, baking, and so forth, are so commonplace that they are simply thought of as synonymous with food itself." Processing meat and by-products used in pet food can greatly diminish
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Processing meat and by-products used in pet food can greatly diminish their nutritional value, but cooking increases the digestibility of cereal grains. To make pet food nutritious, pet food manufacturers must "fortify" it with vitamins and minerals. Why? Because the ingredients they are using are not wholesome, their quality may be extremely variable, and the harsh manufacturing practices destroy many of the nutrients the food had to begin with.
Contaminants
Commercially manufactured or rendered meat meals and by-product meals are frequently highly contaminated with bacteria because their source is not always slaughtered animals. Animals that have died because of disease, injury, or natural causes are a source of meat for meat meal. The dead animal might not be rendered until days after its death. Therefore the carcass is often contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli. Dangerous E. Coli bacteria are estimated to contaminate more than 50% of meat meals. While the cooking process may kill bacteria, it does not eliminate the endotoxins some bacteria produce during their growth and are released when they die. These toxins can cause sickness and disease. Pet food manufacturers do not test their products for endotoxins.
Mycotoxins
These toxins comes from mold or fungi, such as vomitoxin in the Nature's Recipe case, and aflatoxin in Doane's food. Poor farming practices and improper drying and storage of crops can cause mold growth. Ingredients that are most likely to be contaminated with mycotoxins are grains such as wheat and corn, cottonseed meal, peanut meal, and fish meal.
Labeling
The National Research Council (NRC) of the Academy of Sciences set the nutritional standards for pet food until 1974, when the pet food industry created a group called the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). At that time AAFCO chose to adopt the NRC standards rather than develop its own. The NRC standards required feeding trials for pet foods that claimed to be "complete" and "balanced." The pet food industry found the feeding trials too restrictive and expensive, so AAFCO designed an alternate procedure for claiming the nutritional adequacy of pet food. AAFCO also formed "expert committees" for canine and feline nutrition and developed its own standards in the early 1990s. Instead of feeding trials,
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developed its own standards in the early 1990s. Instead of feeding trials, chemical analysis will determine if a food meets the standards. The problem with chemical analysis is that it does not address the palatability, digestibility, and biological availability of nutrients in pet food. Thus it is unreliable for determining whether a food will provide an animal with sufficient nutrients. To compensate for the limitations of chemical analysis, AAFCO added a "safety factor," which was to exceed the minimum amount of nutrients required to meet the complete and balanced requirements. The digestibility and availability of nutrients is not listed on pet food labels.
What Is a Prescription Dog Food Diet?

Nutrition is an important part of your dog's life. Without needed proteins, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients, your dog's health can suffer. Providing the proper balance of nutrients can also help in certain disease processes. Prescription diets are specially made diets which help in the treatment and care of dogs with certain ailments or diseases. Some of these diets are only intended as a temporary change in food, while others are recommended for the duration of the pet's life. Since these diets are prescribed for particular disorders, they may have extra amounts of some nutrients while removing others. This makes the diet unhealthy, and possibly even harmful for healthy dogs. This is why they are available by prescription only. These diets are set up for dogs which may have a one major problem or a host of things going on with their system such as food allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, arthritis, diabetes, urinary tract disorders, kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease and even some forms of cancer. By combining the nutrients needed for each specific case, diets can aid in recovery or slow down the progression of disease. For example, diets formulated for heart disease have lower protein and lower sodium than is recommended for health adult pets. Diets for food allergies have proteins that the pet may have never had such as kangaroo, duck, potato or venison. Diets for diabetes control have a higher fiber and may have a higher protein than what is considered appropriate for healthy adult dogs. There are also diets for dogs with arthritis that contribute to healthy joints and improve mobility in dogs.
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Nutrition for your dog, Canine Nutrition, Dog Nutrition
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nutrition.htm
Dog Food Nutrition

There are many varieties of dog food on the market, but that does not mean they are all good for your dog. When we go to the grocery store to buy food for our children, most of us are very careful about reading the labels. But when it comes to dog food, most people just buy the cheapest and never once look at the label. If you are paying $10 or less for a 50-pound bag of dog food, you have to wonder how they are making it so cheap. Ads by Google Dog Guide Get Free Pet Advice, Health Tips & Adoption Info-All in One Toolbar!
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I was as guilty of this as anyone until I began rescuing large numbers of dogs. And then my girls became interested in obedience, breeding and showing. I began to wonder if there was something I could feed them which they would utilize betterso I would not have to poop scoop ALL THE TIME. Now that may sound terrible, but when you are caring for 40 dogs and cleaning up after them because you want their environment to be clean, you start thinking of things like this. Dogs are carnivores and need meat. I know there are people out there feeding their dogs a vegetarian diet, and I say to you that is your prerogative. But we are omnivores and they are carnivores. Hold up a carrot and a steak and see which one Spike goes for. If you feed your dog a can of corn, you will find that he does not digest it. It will all pass through him. The proof is in the poop. Having said all that, let me tell you what you need to look for in regard to dog food for your pet. The first ingredient should be a specified meat or specified meat meal, whether that is lamb, beef, chicken etc. Make sure the meat is specified and not just listed as a "meat" or "animal." You want to know exactly what type of meat is being used. See Rendered Products in Dog Food. If you read the labels of some dog foods you will notice that some do not even contain real meat in them. They are mainly corn with sprayed on animal fat to enhance the smell and attract dogs. Second, make sure the food contains no meat by-products such as: hooves, feathers, eyes, beaks, skin, fur, etc. Meat by-products are not meat. They are what is left after all of the good meat is taken off. In other words, the slaughterhouse waste that humans do not eat. When a meat is not specified and is listed as "meat" or "animal" instead of telling you what kind of animal the meat came from be aware that could mean the meat came from a rendering plant. Rendering plant meat can be any kind of meat such as road kill, euthanized animals, diseased animals
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Nutrition for your dog, Canine Nutrition, Dog Nutrition

any kind of meat such as road kill, euthanized animals, diseased animals that died of who knows what and so on. I know of a farmer whose llama died of unknown causes. He took the body to the rendering plant after it had been lying in the barn stall for a day. Where the llamas meat will end up is unknown. The rendering plants often sell their meat to dog and cat food companies as "bone meal," "meat by-products," "animal by-products" and "animal fat." Beware when they do not tell you what kind of "meat" or "animal" it is. Third, make sure it is soy-free. Many dogs are allergic to soy and this can manifest through skin problems, breathing problems, and/or diarrhea, etc. Corn can also cause many issues. Dogs were not meant to eat corn and other grains. Corn has been linked to skin allergies, joint swelling and bloat in dogs, among other things. See Corn in Dog Food. Really?
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nutrition.htm
As for canned food, you need to make sure that the first ingredient is meat, not water. If the first ingredient is water you could save yourself some money and give him tap water. You are buying mainly water. Whatever the first ingredient is listed as should be what will make up the majority of the product. However...be aware that a lot of dry dog foods will list the first ingredient as simply "chicken" and the second as, lets say, "corn." This leads one to believe that there is more chicken in the food than corn. However they are weighing the chicken before the water is extracted out of the food and before it is cooked. Raw meat contains about 80% water. After it is cooked and the moisture taken out to make the dry dog food you are left with only about 20% of the meats original weight. Therefore these dog foods really contain much more of the second ingredient than the first. In a lot of cases that ingredient is corn. Whereas when the meat is listed as a "meal," for example "chicken meal," that is the meat AFTER the water has been extracted, giving you more meat.
The first ingredient should be a specified meat or meat meal. Grains, by-products, bone meal, animal fat (added for flavor), animal digest, sugar, corn syrup, added colors or dyes or any "meat" or "animal" that is not specified should be avoided. It is far better to pay a little more for a good dog food than it is to buy cheap stuff. They will eat more of the junk dog food because they are not getting what they need. It passes right through them. On the other hand, if you feed your dog a good dog food, it is going to eat less because it is satisfied. It is utilizing more. That means less poop and fewer health problems down the road. A poor diet can also cause a dog to shed more, have a duller looking coat and have body odor. When is the last time you read the ingredients on the type of dog food that you use?
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Rendered products in dog food - What's your dog really eating?
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/care/renderingplantscatsdogs.htm
Rendered Products in Dog Food: What's your dog really eating?
The farmer up the street had a llama die of unknown causes. It took him a day or so to get a tractor down to the barn so he could drag the body out of the stall and get it into his truck. He said he was taking the body to the rendering plant. Ads by Google Companion Animal Hospital Early am & late pm Appointments, walk in,house call,home euthanasia
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A rendering plant is a processing operation where dead animals are recycled into products such as human food, pet food and industrial materials. They accept and collect animals condemned at slaughterhouses (diseased or dying livestock or poultry with ID tags still attached), slaughterhouse waste, road kill, euthanized cats and dogs from animal shelters and veterinarian offices (including their flea collars containing toxic pesticides, ID tags and a variety of powerful drugs), horses, dead animals from farmers, dead zoo animals, rats, mice, spoiled and unsold grocery store meat still in their plastic and Styrofoam wrappings, butcher shop trimmings
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meat still in their plastic and Styrofoam wrappings, butcher shop trimmings that the butcher did not see as fit to sell and even used restaurant grease. The dead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased animals are classified in the trade as 4-D meat.
There are many uses for rendered products, but one of the widespread uses in the United States is to make low cost meats for dog and cat foods. This means your dog or cat could be eating other dogs and cats among other inferior 4-D animals not fit for human consumption. How can you tell if your dog or cat food contains rendered products? Read the ingredients. If the food uses words such as "meat," "animal" or "poultry" without specifying what type of meat or animal it is referring to, there is a good chance that it came from a rendering plant. Some of the ingredient lingo to watch for is...
Meat and Bone Meal Meat Meal Bone Meal Animal Fat Tallow Animal Digest Digest Poultry by-product meal Poultry by-products
Below is what those ingredients mean.
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Below is what those ingredients mean.
Meat and Bone Meala dry rendered product from mammal tissues made from slaughterhouse waste and other dead animals not suitable for human consumption. It often contains 50% protein, 35% ash, 8-12% fat, and 4-7% moisture. It includes bone, but does not include blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. The type of animal is not specified and therefore it can come from any of the sources taken in and processed by the rendering plant including the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased animals classified as 4-D meat. Meat Meala rendered product from mammal tissues unfit for human consumption. It does not include blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. The type of animal is not specified and therefore it can come from any of the sources taken in and processed by the rendering plant including the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased animals classified as 4-D meat. Bone Meala rendered product unfit for human consumption (steamed) dried & ground product sterilized by cooking un-decomposed bones with steam under pressure. Grease, gelatin and meat fiber may or may not be removed. The type of animal is not specified and therefore it can come from any of the sources taken in and processed by the rendering plant including the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled and diseased. Animal Fatthe greasy debris left over after rendering, deemed inedible for humans. It is obtained from the tissues of mammals and/or poultry in the commercial processes of rendering or extracting. It consists predominantly of glyceride esters of fatty acids and contains no additions of free fatty acids. If an antioxidant is used, the common name or names must be indicated, followed by the words "used as a preservative." Where the fat comes from is not specified so it could be any of a combination of the sources taken in and processed by the rendering plant including the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased animals. Tallowanimal fats with a titer above 40 degrees Celsius. Tallow is classified by regulators as inedible to humans. Where the fat comes from is not specified so it could be any of or a combination of the sources taken in and processed by the rendering plant including the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled and diseased. Animal digesta rendered product material of cooked-down broth made from unspecified body parts from unspecified animals unfit for human consumption. It is the results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and un-decomposed animal tissue. Materials treated with heat, enzymes and/or acids to form concentrated natural flavors. It is usually sprayed onto the kibble to make it smell and taste more appealing to the pets eating it. It is an extremely poor source of protein. Since the type of animal is not specified it can be anything accepted and processed by the rendering plant including the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased animals. Digesta rendered product material of cooked-down broth made from unspecified body parts from unspecified animals unfit for human consumption. It is the results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and un-decomposed animal tissue. Materials treated with heat, enzymes and/or acids to form concentrated natural flavors. It is usually sprayed onto the kibble to make it smell and taste more appealing to the pets eating it. It is an extremely poor source of protein. Since the type of animal is not specified it can be anything accepted and processed by the rendering plant including the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased animals. Digest is a flavoring, not a meat. For example only a small amount of a "chicken digest" is needed to produce a "chicken flavored cat food," even though no actual chicken is added to the food. Digest is unfit for human consumption. Poultry by-product meala dry rendered product of slaughtered poultry
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Poultry by-product meala dry rendered product of slaughtered poultry consisting of things deemed not fit for human consumption (no muscle meat included), which can include heads, beaks, necks, intestines, undeveloped eggs, viscera, free from fecal content and foreign matter (except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices), but does not include feathers (except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices). Including the dead, destroyed, dying, disabled, diseased birds.
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Corn in Dog Food. Really?
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/care/corndogfood.htm
If you look at the ingredients of the vast majority of major brand dog foods sold in your local grocery store you will see most of them contain some type of corn such as cornmeal. Fact: dogs are meat eaters; even their teeth tell us this. They do not have grinding molars, they have ripping canines. Have you ever heard of a farmer having issues with dogs raiding their corn fields? No, what we might hear is a dog raiding the chicken coop for meat. Ads by Google PEDIGREE Dry Dog Food Great Tasting & High in Nutrition. No Artificial Flavours or Colours.
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Corn has been linked to many dog ailments such as allergies, joint swelling, bloat and there have been some cases of aflatoxin contamination associated with corn in dog food. The corn that is used in dog food is sometimes contaminated with mycotoxins (toxins from mold or fungi). Corn metabolizes in dogs similar to the way sugar metabolizes in humans. It's like feeding a child foods high in corn syrup. The dog is not going to be as healthy and may experience energy rushes, crashes, hyperactivity and a hard time concentrating. Studies have also shown that high doses of corn can inhibit serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is an important chemical that reduces stress and anxiety.
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A dog's body cannot process corn properly. It is difficult for them to digest it. Corn is a cheap filler, a starchy energy which serves little to no nutritional value. A lot of it comes out in their waste.
All of this was brought to my attention when my very keen Pit Bull puppy started refusing to eat his food. After doing some research on the ingredients in his dog food it didn't take long to realize between the grains and the by-products, among other unhealthy ingredients, he was being asked to eat something that was not good for him. When I switched my dogs over from a corn-based dog food to a grain-free dog food I noticed that their poop was smaller. I quickly realized I had to start feeding them less food or they were going to gain weight. Their bodies were using what they were eating instead of pooping it out.
So why is corn being put in their dog food? Back in the days of the Great Depression the first farm bill was passed. The Agricultural Act of 1938 mandated price supports for corn along with cotton, and wheat. To this day corn is still subsidized by the government. What that means is for every bushel of corn a farmer grows in America, the government pays the farmer with taxpayer money. A lot of corn farmers only make money from corn because there are a few different subsidies from the government they get for every bushel of corn they grow. So they grow more and more. It does not even have to be a good quality corn, just corn. They don't have to compete; they get money for whatever they grow, guaranteed. They don't even have to make it taste good or be good for you. They genetically modified it to be resistant to a pesticide, to grow tall and close together and to grow fast and starchy. Its not the same type of corn the Indians used to grow that had more nutrition and protein. This corn is genetically modified.
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As a result America has an overabundance of corn. The government, along with some private industries, is always working on what they can use the corn for. It is put in a high percentage of human and animal foods in many different forms. It has been said that if you test a human hair you can find traces of corn produced carbon.
This genetically modified corn is put in not only dog food but also cat food, horse feed, goat feed, chicken feed and even fed to cows. Since cows are grazers and should be eating grass they have a hard time processing the corn. They need to be given antibiotics to keep them from getting sick long enough for them to go to slaughter. As a result of the cows being fed corn the meat they produce has a higher fat content than it would if the cows were fed grass. Corn-fed cows produce meat that is higher in the bad fatty acids and lower in the good fatty acids. Whereas grass-fed cows produce the opposite effect. Grass fed is higher in the good fats and lower in the bad fats. E. coli (Escherichia coli) live in the stomachs of corn-fed cows as the corn diet makes the cows digestive track more acidic. Whereas the digestive track of a grass-fed cow is not acidic enough for E. coli to live. Some owners claim their dogs are sensitive to beef, chicken and turkey. In reality it is not the animal itself the dog is having a reaction to, but the corn the animals were fed prior to slaughter. Although feeding a dog or cat an animal that grew up eating corn is not nearly as bad as feeding them corn directly, most cats and dogs can handle it. Corn has also been linked to colic in horses.Corn is even being made into ethanol and put into gas for cars. Ethanol is not as fuel efficient as gasoline and has been known to be bad for engines and other equipment. Since there is a high tariff on cane sugar, making it artificially more expensive, almost everything that is sweetened has corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup in it, including things like bread and yogurt. The list of things that contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is overwhelming, even some dog foods and dog treats contain corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup has been linked to the rise in obesity and diabetes in the United States. Our bodies do not process HFCS the same way we process cane sugar. Fructose consumption does not cause an insulin response. Since HFCS is in just about everything we eat this can be a huge problem. Large dog food companies will go to veterinarian schools to offer their services. Some vet students claim they have given them free samples, supplied food for their own pets, gave them large discounts, bought them notebooks, doughnuts, breakfast, text books, gave them jobs and even taught their nutrition classes. All to influence the young vet students that corn, by-products and other junk ingredients are OK for your pet to eat. When the vet opens up their own practice they offer the vet the chance to sell their foods, providing them with lots of free samples and literature to give out to their patients along with a rep that will answer any nutrition questions people might have. People see the foods inside the vets office and assume it must be good. These same companies put out articles
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and assume it must be good. These same companies put out articles claiming that corn and other junk ingredients are actually good for your pet. There are many great grain-free brands of dog and cat food to choose from, but unfortunately you usually must go to a pet or feed store to buy them as they are rarely found in the average grocery store in the USA. What's in your dog's food?
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Basic Feeding Guide for Dogs, How much should I feed my dog?
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/feeding.htm
Basic Feeding Guide: Puppies and Adult Dogs

The first ingredient in your dog's food should be a specified meat. Not a meat by-product, but the real thing. Puppies and adult dogs were not meant to eat corn and wheat. If the first ingredient in your dog food is a corn, wheat, meat by-product, bone meal or anything but a real specified type of meat, steer clear. By-products are the leftovers, such as the eyes, hooves, skin, feathers and feet, that are not good for human consumption (unless the dog food specifically states otherwise.) Beware of ingredients that do not list exactly what it is, such as words like "animal" and "meat" as opposed to "chicken," "beef," "duck," etc. See Rendered Products in Dog Food. Ads by Google Natural Dog Food New Harringtons Premium Dog Food from UK Exclusive to Walmart Canada
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The first ingredient on the label should represent what the dog food is most made out of, but beware, as this is not always the case... Using chicken as an example, when a dog food lists a meat in the ingredients such as "chicken" it is going by the weight in the meats raw state, before it was cooked. Chicken in its raw state weighs about 80% more than it does once it is cooked and processed into a dry pellet. Once it is processed you are left with only 20% of the actual meat. The word "meal" in an ingredient is something that was weighed after the water was taken out. For example "chicken meal" is chicken which is weighed after it has been cooked and the water has already been taken out, giving you more meat and protein per weight volume. Therefore be aware that if the ingredients read "chicken" first and "corn meal" second, the food may contain more corn than chicken. Corn is a filler that a dog's body does not utilize well, if at all. The corn gets pooped out and the dog must eat more food in order to get enough protein and nutrients that their bodies can use from the other ingredients in the food. Corn can also cause many issues. Dogs were not meant to eat corn or other grains. Corn has been linked to skin allergies, joint swelling and bloat in dogs, among other things. See Corn in Dog Food. Really? Take a look at your dog's teeth. Notice that he does not have any grinding molars. They are all ripping canines. This tells us that dogs were not meant to eat grains, as they lack the teeth to grind them up. Dogs have pointy canines for ripping into meat. A lot of dogs develop skin problems and other health issues, including bloat, due to the grains they are being fed in their dog food. It is best to feed dogs a grain-free diet. While the better quality dog food may cost more, the dog can eat less of it since their bodies use more of
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may cost more, the dog can eat less of it since their bodies use more of what they are eating, producing less waste. Not to mention the vet bill if your dog develops issues from consuming a low quality food. Be sure to read the ingredients label of the dog food you are using. You may have trouble finding a good quality food at a grocery store and may have to go to your local pet store to find a higher grade food. A poor diet can also cause a dog to shed more, have a dull coat and have body odor.
How much should I feed my dog? Below is a daily basic feeding guide for puppies and adult dogs. An individual dog's requirements may differ from this chart. It is best to consult with your vet about the specific needs of your pet. . Puppies should not be separated from their mother before they are 8 weeks old. Puppies that leave their mothers sooner have a rougher time adjusting and a higher incidence of illnesses. I do not know if it is due to weakened immunity or mourning the premature loss of their family. Their mother's milk provides them with the nutrition and antibodies they The need to become healthy dogs. At three to four first 8 weeks, puppies should begin eating some solid weeks food. You can try mixing three parts food with one part water or puppy replacement milk. This will make the food easier for the puppy to digest. If your puppy begins eating a little solid food before it leave its mother it will have an easier time adjusting when you bring it home. One way to tell if a puppy is ready to come home with you is if it prefers human company over its mom or siblings. Feed your puppy 3-4 times a day. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs. Choose a puppy food that provides the appropriate balance of nutrients your puppy needs. Be sure it is getting 6 to 8 the right amount of protein and calcium, and the weeks proper amount of calories. Check the label to determine if you are feeding your puppy a balanced diet. A specified meat should be the first ingredient on the label. After 8 Feed your puppy twice a day. weeks Your puppy will be teething. He may become a finicky eater or lose his appetite. Keep feeding him 3 to 6 nutritious food twice a day. If he has an upset months stomach for more than one or two days, take him to the veterinarian. Your puppy may look all grown up but he is still a puppy. He should still be fed a highquality food for the added nutrition. Note, in some very high quality foods the company does not make a separate food for puppies because the food is of such a high 6 quality that it provides for both puppy and adult months equally. For example, a real human grade chicken is to 1 what it is for all ages. If you are feeding a puppy year food ask your veterinarian when you should switch to adult food. Make sure the adult food you switch to
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is still a balanced high quality diet with the first ingredient being a specified meat that is not a by-product. 8 to 9 Feeding should be twice a day. months 1 year In most breeds feeding should be twice a day.
Below is the daily basic feeding guide for adult dogs. An individual dog's requirements may differ from this chart. It is best to look at the directions of the food you are feeding for their recommendations. This chart is a general reference. The feeding directions are based on using an 8 oz. measuring cup. Puppies can be fed up to one time the highest amount listed in their category. It is sometimes best to split the amount into two or more separate feedings rather than just one big meal, often twice a day. Puppies should be fed more often than adult dogs. When adding in canned food, cut the dry by up to half the amount and substitute the same volume that you cut with canned food, so the dog is getting the same amount of food, some dry and some wet. Note, if you are feeding a good quality dog food you will be able to feed less as the dog's body will utilize more and poop out less. If you are feeding a food that contains a lot of fillers (grain fillers such as corn are often used by some companies) you may have to feed more in order for the dog to get the proper amount of protein. Typical Breed Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle Miniature Poodle, Scottish Terrier Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, Springer Spaniel Collie, Boxer, Labrador, Golden Retriever Great Dane, Malamute, St. Bernard, Mastiff Weight as an Adult Dog Up to 10 pounds 10-25 pounds 25-50 pounds 50-75 pounds Over 75 pounds Dry Food Dry Food Mixed with Can Food
Cut dry up to the amount 1/4 to and substitute the same 3/4 volume with a can Cut dry up to the amount 3/4 to & substitute the same 1 cup volume with a can 1-2 cups Cut dry up to the amount and substitute the same volume with a can
Cut dry up to the amount 2-2 and substitute the same cups volume with a can 2-4 cups Cut dry up to the amount and substitute the same volume with a can
Good Basic Feeding Tips
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Good Basic Feeding Tips Dogs should be fed at the same time every day. Feeding at the same time will keep your dog on a bathroom schedule. Ask your vet how many times a day you should feed your dog. Feed your dog the same type and brand of food every day. Unlike humans, a dog's digestive system cannot handle changes in food. It can cause upset stomach and diarrhea. When switching to a new food gradually transition him to the new food by mixing portions of both foods until you slowly phase out the old food. Your dog may experience diarrhea if his food is suddenly changed. If you are mixing water into dry food you should mix 4 parts dry food to 1 part water. Keep fresh drinking water available at all times. Change the water at least once a day, more for dogs who drool. Keep food and water bowls clean. Don't overfeed your dog. Follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts. Monitor your dog's weight and activity level, and make feeding adjustments as necessary.
If your dog has loose stool feeding sweet potatoes is a natural stool hardener. Unlike some medicines, giving too many will not make them constipated. They sell sweet potato chips for dogs in a lot of pet supply stores.
Interesting bits of info... Dogs have about 1,700 taste buds. Humans have about 9000 taste buds, and cats have about 470. Dogs have water taste buds, something humans do not have. Dogs do not crave salt the way humans do.
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Dog Food Nutrition-What You Should Know

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Steer Clear of Dog Foods With Grain Additives