If you have a dog, you probably also have a monthly pet food bill. Is this really best for your dog though? Let’s explore what is actually in that bag or can and you decide.

So, exactly what is in dog food? Most commercially prepared dog foods consist of animal byproducts unfit for human consumption. This includes intestines and even diseased animal parts. When swine, lambs, chickens, or cows are slaughtered, the choice cuts are trimmed for human consumption. After that, the rest of the animal is used to make animal feed or pet food. These are referred to as byproducts, or meat and bone meal on the label. These ingredients vary in nutritional quality from batch to batch.

The term “meal” refers to rendered byproducts. For example, when you make a chicken soup, the thick layer of fat that forms at the top is a condensed version of this process. In other words, these are not fresh. Then there is animal fat. Restaurants will keep 50-gallon containers of animal fat which is too rancid for humans to eat. Fat blenders then pick it up and sell it to pet food manufacturers. This fat is then sprayed directly onto the kibbles to make it taste better

All foods have to be preserved to maximize their shelf life. As a result, many additives and preservatives are added. Additives simply make the food taste better, keep the fat from spoiling any further, and maintain the appearance of the kibbles. They add no nutritional value. To make the product more attractive to the buyer, artificial color is another very common ingredient.

If you have ever canned anything yourself, or know how this process works, you know that it acts as a way to preserve food. As a result, canned pet foods have fewer preservatives. Some may be added to raw ingredients by suppliers, and others will be added by the manufacturer. In order to keep that long shelf life after shipping and prolonged storage, synthetic or natural preservatives are added to dry foods. Synthetic preservatives include but are not limited to propylene glycol, which is a less toxic version of automotive antifreeze, propylene gallate, and butylated hydroxytoluene (Bht.) there is little information regarding safety, toxicity, or chronic use in pet foods you may be feeding your furry companion every day. Some manufacturers use natural preservatives such as Vitamin C, vitamin E, and oils of spices like rosemary as preservatives.

Many pet foods also contain grains such as corn, beans, and wheat. For example, Pedigree Performance Food for Dogs has ground corn, chicken byproduct, and corn gluten as its primary ingredients. Soy is also very common as a source of protein and to add bulk.

Now that you know exactly what is in that bag or can, you make the decision about what is in the best interest of your treasured four-legged companion.

Dog Information: What You Really Need To Know About Dog Food Products
Not all dog food products are the same; every package or brand has certain qualities that sets them apart from each other. However, what is truly alarming to know is that the cliche garbage in, garbage out does apply to some of the dog food products that we know. With all the choices available in the market, making an informed decision can truly be a daunting task. As such, it is imperative to take time to look at dog information in order to be educated about the appropriate food for your dog.

Health Benefits of Natural Dog Food for Dogs
Natural dog food is heavily promoted and there is little doubt that it is a much healthier choice than the commercial dog food made of poor quality meat including so-called "4D-Meat" (for "dead, dying, diseased and disabled" animals) and poor-quality grains which are difficult to digest for dogs. In addition to being low in nutrient content, commercial dog food contains preservatives, flavor enhancers, artificial colors and variety of other substances which do not belong to "natural" dog food not to mention traces of pesticides and even natrium pentobarbital which is used for animal euthanasia.

Does Your Dog Need Dog Treats?
There are many dog treats (http://HealthierDogs.com/Dog_Food/) which we may feed to our pets. There are those which we can buy from the market or alternatively, we can opt to create them ourselves. Whenever we personally prepare our dog food, it bears many built in advantages. The biggest advantage is that we are able to supervise what our dogs are really taking.