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We are what we eat – that goes the same for dogs. The food we let our dogs consume directly impacts their health and wellness, and plays a vital role in their growth. However, unlike the human food industry, the pet food industry is an unregulated one. This means that there are no benchmark standards for what can be manufactured, and no system to issue recalls. 

Literally anything goes when it comes to manufacturing pet food – the worst of which are meats from 4D animals (dead, dying, diseased, disabled). These ‘unclean’ meats which are naturally rejected from human food manufacturers, are readily welcome by pet food manufacturers for being a cheap source of meat. The lack of transparency in recalls means that if a pet food is recalled, it is entirely up to the brand to share this information. You could be feeding Fido a brand of food that was recalled just last year for cancer-causing ingredients and you would never know.

With such rampant lack of regulation in the pet food industry, it is up to us as pet parents to be extra discerning of what we feed our best friends. Here are some ingredients to avoid, and what you should look for instead.

1. Meal 

Meat meal is the dried end-product of a cooking process known as rendering. In rendering, you start with meat ‘stew’ in a large vat, cook it at temperatures between 235℃ and 295℃, then bake the residue. The rendering process kills many essential nutrients, leaving the remaining product nutritionally-stripped and low in digestibility. The meats that are used in the rendering process are also highly questionable too. Think 4D animals, meats that have been left out in the sun for days, and inedible by-products (including slaughter floor waste). 

Look For: Specified Proteins

Instead of meals, look for specific proteins in the ingredients list, such as ‘chicken’, ‘duck’, or ‘pork’. Since these products were not subject to the rendering process, they are higher in nutritional value and better absorbed. 

2. Corn & Soy 

Corn and soy are typically used to boost foods that don’t contain enough animal protein. Almost all corn and soy are genetically-modified products which have been shown to cause liver and kidney damage, allergies, digestive disorders, and cancer. In addition, soy contains phytoestrogens that interfere with natural oestrogen production, leading to delayed puberty, infertility, and increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. 

Look For: Superfoods

Good pet food should be nutritionally complete in itself and should not need additional boosters to pump up its nutrition count. However, if you would like to add boosters to target specific issues (e.g. joints, heart, immunity), look for superfoods such as seaweed, coconut, turmeric and blueberry, among others. Single-ingredient treats are also a good way to give your pet a boost of nutritional goodness. Think green-lipped mussels, tuna steaks, and sustainable shark cartilage.

3. Propylene Glycol 

Propylene Glycol is used to preserve the moisture content in wet foods. Its use has been banned in cat food because it can cause Heinz body anaemia, but it is still permitted in dog food. Propylene Glycol is safe only in small, infrequent doses (e.g. in occasional treats and special occasions) whereas continual exposure to this chemical, especially if in the meals we feed our dogs daily, leads to toxic build-up. Since Propylene Glycol’s safety has not been guaranteed in dogs exposed to this chemical on a long-term basis, it would be prudent to steer away from dog foods that include it.

Look For: Fresh Frozen Foods 

Look for dog foods that were flash-frozen fresh upon manufacture. This removes the need for Propylene Glycol since the moisture would have been locked-in during the freezing process. Flash-freezing works to ensure that all the nutrients and moisture remain inside the food without the need for artificial additives and chemicals. 

The author recommends: Pet Cubes and The Grateful Dog.

Conclusion

It is up to us to do our due diligence when it comes to feeding our dogs. These three ingredients are just three in many pet food ingredients that are of questionable safety. Since it is hard to scrutinize every single ingredient on an ingredient list, it would be easier to look for brands that are ethical, value safety, and engage in continuous R&D. When we support brands that are not simply out to make a quick buck, we send a message that quality and safety should be the norm, not the exception, in dog food.