Your puppy requires food that is made up of a minimum of 22% protein to grow into a healthy dog. But what is in puppy food you buy from the store and does it contain the necessary nutrients and protein for puppies as they grow?
To find out who makes The Best Brand of Dry Dog Food, scroll to the bottom of the page to see the Kibble Pet Food Review…
What Meat Is Your Puppy Really Getting?
I don’t know about you but I find the wording on the dog food packets very confusing and almost misleading! What I have discovered is that when a manufacturer uses a term such as “chicken dinner” the product only has to contain 10% chicken.
Understanding how to interpret the list of ingredients in your puppy’s food gives you insight into the quality of food your dog is getting and makes sure you are getting value for money!
If you were to read the list of ingredients for your puppy’s food you might notice lots of different terms that seem to describe the same thing.
I recommend that you choose foods that provide protein from animal sources, and are meat or meat by-products, rather than rendered meat meal or plant products. I hope this will help you pick out the best products, and avoid those made with subpar ingredients!
Delicious Sounding Puppy Food
Have you ever looked at the name of your puppy’s food and thought that it actually sounds pretty delicious? Turkey dinners, salmon, and rice, your puppy has some great choices!
Protein is an essential nutrient for your puppy’s growth, however with SO many foods available it can be hard to choose the food that will give them the best protein.
However, the phrases on these tins can be misleading! In actual fact, when a manufacturer uses a term such as “chicken dinner” the product only has to contain 10% chicken.
Understanding how to interpret the list of ingredients in your puppy’s food gives you insight into the quality of food your dog is getting, and makes sure you are getting value for money!
Not All Meat is Created Equal
If you look at the ingredient list you may notice some pretty complicated jargon – meat, meat byproduct, meat meal – it’s hard to know what the difference is! When using the term meat, there are careful guidelines the manufacturer must follow.
These titles must meet requirements monitored by The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The definitions of the ingredient titles must not vary from the AAFCO definition.
- Meat – This is just what most of us would think of when we read the term meat. This is mainly normal muscle as well as fat, skin, gristle/cartilage, nerve tissue, and blood vessels. And although this meat may include less desirable cuts there is no bone included.
- Poultry (which includes chickens, quails, and turkeys) – this is primarily the muscle, skin, and bone of the animal minus the feathers, heads feet, and entrails. However, it may include backs, neck, and bones.
- Meat by-products – This is mainly made up of offal. These are the organs of the animal such as the intestines and stomach, as well as blood and bone. Meat by-products are often not considered fit for human consumption however are safe and nutritious for dogs (just not particularly appealing for us!).
- Poultry By-Products- these are the non-rendered clean parts of the carcass including heads, feet,
and viscera.
Rendered Meat
Rendered meat is the tissue that has been processed using heat and pressure. This destroys bacteria and removes water and fat
Meat Meal – tissue that has been rendered from muscle, skin, fat, and nerves.- Meat and Bone Meal – tissue that has been rendered from mammal tissues and may include bone
- Animal and poultry by-product meal is made up of the tissue that has been rendered from mammal tissues and may include bone and may include blood, hoof, and hair.
- Poultry By-Product Meal is made up of the tissue that has been rendered and ground clean parts of the carcass including heads, feet, and viscera
- Poultry Meal- this is primarily the muscle, skin and bone, backs, neck, and bone
Although rendered meats contain high levels of protein, they are considered unfit for human consumption.
This begs the question, if it’s not safe for us to eat, should our pets? Rendered meats often have low palatability and are difficult for dogs to digest.
The Deadly Secret of The Dog Food Industry
I know I’ve mentioned this video in other articles, and it doesn’t matter how many times I watch it, it shocks me every time.
If you’ve ever worried about the health of your dog, you need to watch this amazing video right now…
Discover The Deadly Secret The Dog Food Industry Is Spending Millions To Make Sure You Never Find Out
Inside, Andrew Lewis, the author of “Dog Food Secrets,” reveals some startling facts about the dog food industry.
Is he telling the truth? You decide.
Then if you are still not convinced that you should be making your own dog food watch this video.
Related topics:
What Foods Are Toxic To Dogs
What Can Dogs Eat Besides Dog Food
How Much Should I Feed My Dog