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Why Should I Feed Dry Dog Food?

26 9:21:48
All veterinarians will tell pet owners to avoid feeding their dogs from the table. Many people look on their pets as family members and believe human food is healthy for their pets. Dogs and cats have very different dietary requirements from humans and a diet of table scraps is not healthy. Dogs are healthier when fed dry dog food in appropriate amounts.

Dry pet food has several benefits - including improved oral health; reduced expense for the owner; and self-feeding without fear of spoilage. The texture of dry food satisfies the dogs need for chewing. Except for high-end options, canned food has the same basic content as dry food with added moisture being the primary difference. There is no nutritional benefit in feeding canned food over dry.

Dogs inherit the carnivorous food requirements of their wild ancestors and healthy food is centered on animal protein that meets the animals' needs. In order to expand the volume of the kibble and to help the animals feel sated. Fillers are added to the animal protein. The type and amount of fillers in a commercial pet food affects both the price and nutritional value of the product. Low-price products can include fillers such as: corncobs, straw, peanut hulls or cotton hulls. These have no nutritional value and can cause allergic reactions in some dogs. High-end products use only quality wheat or rice-based fillers. Fiber content is important for stool formation and high quality beet pulp is one good fiber source.

The protein component in pet food is almost always derived from animal sources, although there are some vegetarian brands available. In meat production for human consumption there are many animal parts that are considered by-products. These not-for-human-consumption by-products are a major source of animal protein in pet food. Chicken, beef, pork and fish packing processes produce by-products in large quantities. Some small specialty slaughterhouses provide meat specifically for dog or cat food.

The animal by-products are processed into a form of protein better suited for blending with the fillers in the product. The source of the protein is not recognizable but it is generally a healthy component of the final product. There are various binders, flavors and additives that make the food more palatable. The quality of the fillers and additives as well as the control of the processes determines the differences in cost. Mass produced, price-oriented products have the least control. Small producers generally place a greater priority on pet health and happiness.

Many pet owners who take the time to research pet food will be upset about the actual ingredients in the food. It is important to remember that several government agencies police the production of pet food to assure a minimum quality. Consumers can be sure that most mid-priced products meet government standards. High-end products normally exceed requirements. Producers targeting the low-price end of the market often use lower quality ingredients and exercise less control over the processes. Educated consumers learn to read and understand the ingredients labels when selecting food products.

All pet care experts will recommend staying with one brand and type of dry dog food as much as possible. Frequent changes in diet will cause digestion issues. If a pet is healthy and happy with the food, there is no reason to change. The same principle applies to the treats given to the animal.

Copyright (c) 2010 Nick Travis