Don’t like what I’m writing?  Read the ingredients on that can of food you’re about to put down for Fluffy and then see if you still take issue.  Let’s look at some common ingredients in dog foods that you should avoid and why you should avoid them.

Corn: ( including corn meal and corn gluten)Dogs don’t have digestive systems suitable to process large amounts of vegetable material.  They especially do not produce enough enzymes to completely break down corn.  It’s tough for them to digest.  Corn has very little nutritional value and is used mainly as a filler.

Cellulose: Purified, mechanically disintegrated cellulose prepared by processing alpha cellulose obtained as a pulp from fibrous plant materials.The most common source for cellulose is dried wood.  It is processed into a fine powder and used to add bulk and consistency to pet foods.  Negligible nutritional value.

BHA and BHT:  Phenolic antioxidants, used to preserve fats and oils.  Many countries have banned these from human use, but they are still permitted in theU.S.  They are possible human carcinogens and have been demonstrated carcinogenic in animal experiments.

Ethoxyquin: An antioxidant.  Developed by Monsanto as a stabilizer for rubber, it has also been used as a pesticide for fruit and a color preservative for spices, and later for animal feed.  It has been linked to thyroid, kidney, reproductive and immune related illnesses as well as cancer.

Fish Meal:  The clean, rendered, dried ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish or fish cuttings, either or both, with or without the extraction of part of the oil.

The type or source isn’t specified, nor is the quality of the fish used.  According to US Coast Guard regulations, all fish meal not destined for human consumption must be conserved with Ethoxyquin.  If the dog food you are feeding your dog contains fish meal, you can bet it also contains Ethoxyquin.  A double whammy of bad news for your dog.

The list goes on.  If you are going to feed your dog commercial food, carefully read the ingredients.  If you don’t know what an ingredient is, look it up.  Don’t assume that the manufacturer wouldn’t put something in the food that has no nutritional value or would otherwise harm your pet.  Unfortunately, most commercial pet food manufacturers are more concerned with their bottom line than they are with the health and well-being of your dog.  You are your dog’s caregiver and caretaker.  He gives you unconditional love. In return, give him the healthiest, most nutritionally balanced food you can.

Most grain-free pet foods will naturally be lower in carbohydrates than a food containing corn, wheat, oats or rice. This doesn’t mean that grain-free foods are carbohydrate free. All dry pet food requires that the ingredients include some form of starch so that the kibble can be hard and crunchy. Grain-free pet foods replace the grain-based starch with other types of starch like potato, sweet potato, tapioca, or green peas.

 Grain-free dry foods do contain lower levels of carbohydrates which more closely resembles the natural diet of a carnivorous animal. Dogs are descendents of wolves and a wolf would only encounter grain in the stomach contents of prey animals they consumed.

 What’s wrong with grain?

Some dogs develop allergies to the ingredients in pet food. Corn, wheat, and rice are frequently found to be the cause of the allergic reaction. Some say that it’s not the grain that’s the problem but more so the pesticides that were used on the gr ain while it was growing that causes the sensitivity. Feeding a grain-free diet may help if your dog has chronic skin or digestive problems.

 Can puppies eat grain free food?

This depends on the brand of grain-free dog food you select. Some brands only recommend their grain-free food for adult dogs, while other brands formulate the diet to be complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages. The label will indicate if the food is recommended for all life stages or just for maintenance of adult dogs.

Are there other health benefits?

Studies have shown that many dogs live healthy lives on diets that are high in carbohydrates although some dogs tend to gain weight on such diets. Just as there has been some evidence in human diets that low-carb/high-protein diets can help to promote a healthier weight, the same may be true for some dogs.

While reducing obesity in dogs, low-carb/high-protein diets have been shown to reduce the incidence of diabetes in cats. There fewer studies proving the same for dogs but studies showing successful weight loss when feeding low carb/high-protein foods suggest that similar benefits may be seen.

Grain-free, high-protein diets are highly digestible which results in decreased stool volume.  High-protein diets also contain higher levels of fats and amino acids resulting in radiant coat quality for most pets. Grain-free foods are more calorically dense, allowing smaller portions to be fed.

Grain-free dog food may not be the best choice for your particular pet, but if you are noticing problems with digestion, skin/coat or weight gain, your dog may benefit from one of the many brands of grain-free pet food available on the market.

There are a host of dog food products available commercially labeled healthy dog food, organic dog food, canned dog food and natural dog food.  The top dog foods may not be suitable to all dogs, as what works for one may not work for another.  A great idea is to mix and match the foods to provide a more holistic dog food diet. Here is a look at SOME commercially available ‘top 10 best dog foods’, ranked in no particular order.

Orijen: If there is a list of the 10 best dry dog foods, then Orijen would certainly feature on it. This premium dry food is recognized by experts and pet owners as a very high grade dry dog food. Containing 70 percent meat and 30 percent fruit and vegetables, this dog food has fresh and natural ingredients that keep your dog in top shape. One of its key advantages is that it contains no grains at all, relying instead on potatoes for carbohydrates. This eliminates the problem of grain intolerances in dogs (discussed later).

Taste of the Wild:  Made with real roasted meats and supplemented with fruits and vegetables, this food is grain-free, and has highly digestible energy and natural antioxidants to support a healthy immune system and overall health.

Canidae: Offering a diet of complete amino acids, containing four major proteins and whole ingredients, Canidae is a canned dog food.  Although they have more grains than other premium dog foods, it is more than compensated by the human grade meat and the absence of cheap fillers. Priced on the higher side, this food can be fed as a sole food or can even mix with other dry dog food.  Also available in Grain free formula.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul: is a dry dog food, which though less expensive than the other supermarket brands, contains top quality ingredients like chicken, turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal, whole-grain brown rice and whole-grain white rice.

Merrick Dog Food: Regarded as one of the best quality dog food brands available commercially, Merrick dog food uses the best quality dog food ingredients and is a human grade dog food. It is hormone and antibiotic free and contains no artificial chemical preservatives, additives or even by-products.

Wellness Dog Food: The popular product, Wellness Super5Mix, contains three main proteins right at the top of the ingredient list. They use filtered water in the production of this food and probiotics are also added afterwards. With a promise that all lamb is hormone free, this dog food should really be higher up on the list.  Wellness also offers their CORE grain free food.

Innova EVO: Priced around $1.32 per pound, Innova has whole ingredients, with the three main proteins, right at the top of the list. Containing meat, fish and vegetables, this product ensures that all dietary needs of your dog are met. It is rich in vitamins, chelated minerals, omega three and omega six fatty acids. It also contains probiotics.

Blue Wilderness: a grain free, high-protein, ultra low-carb natural dog food that will help maintain high energy levels for all life stages.  Blue Basics is also a good choice that has a limited source of protein for those dogs allergic to chicken or beef but it does contain grains.

Nature’s Variety Instinct: 100% free of corn, wheat, soy, chemicals, and artificial colors & preservatives. Each diet is rich in meat, poultry or fish proteins to give your dog everything he needs for a long and happy life.  As well it contains loads of healthy good doggie gut bacteria to aid in digestion.

Other notable winners:  Artemis,  Nutrisca,  Halo,  Acana,  Wysong

Dehydrated Whole Foods for Pets

Dehydrated raw foods are made using a technique that involves a slow, gentle method of very minimally processing the food, which removes the moisture from the raw ingredients. Dehydration takes several hours, and uses warm air to ‘blow away’ the moisture. This means that the food in your pet’s bowl is free of artificial preservatives – nutrients and enzymes intact.

Dehydration is much gentler than canning or extrusion, which generally involve very high heat and pressure, which means that many of the natural nutrients in the raw ingredients are actually destroyed, so the manufacturer must replace them with dozens of artificial vitamins and minerals, in order to make the finished product meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles.

How does dehydration work?  Dehydration takes several hours, and uses a giant, low-temperature ‘convection oven’ with warm air to ‘blow away’ the moisture. The dehydration process for meats and eggs takes place at temperatures above 120 degrees, which technically ‘cooks’ them very gently, to ensure that any pathogens present, are destroyed.  All other ingredients are dehydrated below 104 degrees and are still considered raw after drying, with the exception of potato flakes; these are dried using a slightly different process at 284°F for 5 seconds which helps to break down the cellulose and make them more digestible.  Grains undergo ‘flaking’ in which heat (210°F)  is applied to soften and stabilize them.

A few of the main companies that specialize in this technique are:

• The Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw
• Artisan Grandma Lucy’s freeze dried raw
• Stella and Chewy’s freeze dried raw

• Stay away from corn, wheat and soy. When was the last time you saw a dog eat a soy bean or ask for tofu in the wild?
• If your dog has a grain mite or storage mite allergy then stay away from rice as well.
• Fresher is always better. If buying large quantities of dry dog food then individually repack them in freezer bags and freeze 2 week portions to avoid mold contamination.
• Do not buy any food when the first 3 ingredients do not sound like a whole meat from a specific animal, a fruit or a vegetable.
• Do not buy any food that has obscure ingredients such as “animal meat” where the animal in question can belong to one of the 4 Ds: dead, dying, diseased or down (disabled) at slaughter.  These labels will usually have vitamin K added to aid in coagulation of blood since there may have been poisons or pesticides in this “animal meat.”
• Coloring and forming different shaped dog kibble is only for the owner’s benefit.  The dog really does not care what color his/her food is.
• The ingredient “sugar” does not belong in a dog’s diet.  For that matter, sugar does not belong in a human’s diet either.
• If you thought that you were a bargain shopper and brag to your friends about the great deal you got on your 40 pound bag of dog food for $15… you will only be making that defecit up at the veterinarian on medical bills in a few years or sooner.
• And… if in doubt, throw it out.  If the food looks or smells funny, close it up and return it to the pet store.  They will usually always give a money back guarantee or exchange.

Stefanie Scheff BVSc MRCVS CVA (IVAS)

January 20, 2011

Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine: These products all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee and in the nuts of an extract used in some sodas. When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest.

Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.

Avocado: The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Birds and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado poisoning, and can develop congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart. Some ingestions may even be fatal.

Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts are commonly used in many cookies and candies. However, they can cause problems for your canine companion. These nuts have caused weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.

Grapes & Raisins: Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. In pets who already have certain health problems, signs may be more dramatic.

Yeast Dough: Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach or intestines to rupture. Because the risk diminishes after the dough is cooked and the yeast has fully risen, pets can have small bits of bread as treats. However, these treats should not constitute more than 5 percent to 10 percent of your pet’s daily caloric intake.

Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones: Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets. In addition, raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems. Feeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural and healthy option that might occur if your pet lived in the wild. However, this can be very dangerous for a domestic pet, who might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract.

Xylitol: Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release in most species, which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to recumbancy and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.

Onions, Garlic, Chives: These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed. Toxicity is normally diagnosed through history, clinical signs and microscopic confirmation of Heinz bodies. An occasional low dose, such as what might be found in pet foods or treats, likely will not cause a problem, but we recommend that you do NOT give your pets large quantities of these foods.

Milk: Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Salt: Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. In other words, keep those salty chips to yourself!