The Ten Unhealthiest Dog Food Ingredients

You scrutinize the nutrition label on a new box of cereal and you scour the ingredient list to make sure your beloved cookies don't contain any trans fats, but when it comes to your dog's pet food, you simply toss a huge bag in your cart with little regard to what it contains.

Part of the reason for this is because many of us don't want to know what our friendly four-legged beast is feasting on. In fact, many of us are downright scared to learn what meats, fillers and additives goes into the mix that we pour into his bowl two times a day.

But just as your health depends upon you selecting the right foods and ingredients to nourish your body and keep it healthy, your dog requires the same effort.

When it comes to properly reading the labels on most commercial dog food packages, it is not so clear as to what all of those mysterious terms mean. With words like "by-product," "meal," and "digest," it is no wonder that confusion quickly gives way to a fast purchase.

So before you head out to the pet supply store, take this list of the ten unhealthiest dog food ingredients with you.

1.Digest: Also called poultry digest or meat digest on the label, digest refers to road-kill animals or euthanized pets.

2.Cellulose: Another name for sawdust, it is the pulp that is discarded from certain fiber-rich plants.

3.Egg Product: Refers to egg shells, eggs that have gone rancid or those that have spoiled, rather than the entire egg, which is nutritious for dogs.

4.Brewer's Rice: Brewer's rice refers to the broken shells of rice that lack nutrients and have been discarded. These are the parts of the rice kernels that are either going to get swept off from the floor after the milling process is complete.

5.Wheat: This grain is the number one allergy in dogs. In addition, because of its high carbohydrate content, it also contributes to canine obesity, a rapidly growing problem. Wheat may also be referred to as by the following names: Wheat flour, wheat germ, wheat mill run, middlings or mid.

6.Corn: The number two allergy in dogs and another dense source of calories because of its high sugar content.

7.Soy: Another allergen, soy may also be referred to as soybean meal or soy flour. The soybeans used in dog food are a highly processed form that is void of the essential fats, antioxidants and minerals.

8.By-Product Meal: By-product refers to the head, feet or feathers parts of the animal or any part of the animal other than its muscle tissue.

9.Ethoxyquin: This deadly preservative is banned for use in human foods but is commonly added in commercial dog foods.

10.Preservatives: Additives may be listed as a host of different names but BHA is one of the most common. Used to prolong the shelf-life of dog food or to add color to it, such preservatives offer no nutritional value and may actually harm your pet.

If you want to feed your dog with the healthiest and safest food, consider making your own or using a natural pre-made mix so that you know exactly what it contains and you can control the quality of the ingredients.