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Most meat in dog foods are labeled 4D - meaning dead, dying, diseased or disabled - not fit for human consumption.
All of us have seen sale dates on meat, right?
What happens to meat once it is past date of sale?
It goes to dog food companies. All those packages are sliced open and dumped in 50 gallon containers. It all goes in together - beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish - it doesn't matter. Then it sits; sometimes on a loading dock all day, waiting for pickup.
Meat By Products:
A mixture of contaminated animal heads, toe nails, bones, blood, pus, intestines, feathers, hair and lungs.
Renderings, Rendered By Products, or Rendered Meats:
(The catch phrase here is:
"RENDERED" as in "Rendered unfit for consumption")
This one should have a skull and cross bones on it.
Any and all sources of meat are processed to become this product - be it in chunks, fats slices or oils.
The source for rendered material includes "meat" from animal shelters and veterinarian offices around the country. Millions of pets are put to sleep every week. Fluffy is not buried folks unless you specifically ask and pay for it. Bodies are routinely sold to rendering plants to be made into dog food. A lot of these are full of diseases, tumors and cancers. Bodies are rendered with collars, tags and all. This adds a bit of toxic metals, plastics and nylons to your pets foods. And let's not forget the shot that put Fluffy to sleep. According to the AVA, the American Veterinary Association, the sodium pentobarbital used to euthanize pets survives the rendering process and ends up as a toxin in pet foods. Note: In the rendering process no testing is conducted to detect drugs, pathogens, heavy metals or pesticides.
READ THE LABEL
The first ingredient in quality pet food is meat.
High-quality protein is crucial for the health of dogs and cats. Cats are strict carnivores and must have meat protein in their diet. Therefore, meat is a crucial ingredient in any cat food. Dogs are omnivores, able to utilize both animal and plant proteins. Chicken, beef, turkey or other meat listed as the first or only ingredient indicates that the food is the highest quality commercial pet food you can buy. Meat by-products is the next grade down. By-products are things the slaughter house doesn't want-like chicken heads, brains, blood, lungs, bone or diseased livers. The word "meal" or "hydrolyzed" indicates that the food is bottom-of-the-barrel. This "meat" is from rendering plants, which take in road-kill, euthanized animals and other refuse.
Propylene glycol, ethoxyquin, BHT, colorings and flavorings are potentially toxic when ingested repeatedly. "Corn gluten meal" appears in some pet foods.
It conjures up visions of fresh corn. In reality, it's what's left of a corn kernel after all the good part is taken out. These and other "grains", such as "brewer's rice," are virtually devoid of nutrition.
Information on homemade pet food can be found in Food Pets Die For; Let's Cook for Our Cat (1995); Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats.
~Dog Food Info~
Dog Food ~ Decoding Fact from Fiction by Laura Presley
The great dog food debate- the good the bad and the ugly. How does one choose? If you follow your television you may believe that the companies that advertise on there have foods full of tasty meat and chock full of great vitamins and minerals, but is it true? Not so much. In the world of dog food it is buyer beware, yet the average person picking up a supermarket brand of dog food is unaware of the hazard. This does not make them bad owners – they are simply uninformed owners. Who knew you needed to research dog food more diligently than your own food?
While it is true many dogs have lived out full life spans on Ol’ Roy or a similar low-quality kibble for years, it does not mean it is the best choice. It would be like you going out to eat at your local McDonalds daily. You wouldn’t eat junk food on a daily basis and neither should your pet either.
Better quality foods are highly digestible which means there is less waste to come out! Poor quality pet foods contain fillers, like corn. It makes your dog feel full but is highly indigestible. Feeding a premium food means that your dog will eat less, IAMS suggest that you feed a 25 lbs dog 4 cups of kibble. On a holistic brand like Solid Gold, you are likely to feed 1.5 cups or less! Holistic brands cost more but last longer than any supermarket brand. Since your pet is healthier by feeding a premium brand, it also means fewer visits to the vet.
Veterinarians and the Pet Food Industry~
Veterinarians and nutrition is a touchy subject for many. I love my vet. She is great, when it comes to the overall well being of my dog. When it comes to nutrition, I respect her, but I do not want her suggestions. When I go to my doctor, and I have a nutrition based problem I see a specialist. The same is true in the animal world. While some vets can specialize in certain areas like nutrition, which require hours of research and practical work the average vet has 3-5 hours of nutrition studies per semester. A drop in the bucket in comparison to the countless hours studied on the medical health of animals. While I will not take the statistics offered from vet schools without a grain of salt, “a typical veterinary medical student spends about 4,000 hours in classroom, laboratory, and clinical study”1 That’s a lot of education, and without specializing, very little of it is on food. So why do so many people exclusively trust their vet’s opinion? They are professionals and are devoted to the care of our pets but are sorely lacking when it comes to a pet’s diet.
Without doing your own research you honestly would not know what is in the food you feed your precious cat or dog. Also, they get kickbacks in selling food whether it be IAMS, Science Diet or Hill’s Veterinary Formula (made by Science Diet). “Charles Danten was a veterinarian in Montreal for 20 years. Now he's a journalist who writes about the ethics of his former profession. He told Marketplace that the mark up on premium pet food accounted for as much as 20 per cent of his income.”2 Unless your pet has a serious problem that is untreatable in any other form, there is no reason to use Hill’s. For short term problems there are benefits, but it has a large price tag for the daily feeding of mediocre ingredients for the life span of your pet. If you understand the animal’s problem, you can often find a better food that will also help your pet. Every vet diet I have looked at contains mediocre to bad ingredients. Some have reasons for working like the K/O kangaroo and Oatmeal from Eukanuba’s Vet line (most dogs have never been exposed to kangaroo and can not be allergic to something they have never been in contact with) and others like the gastro formulas are just a load of bad ingredients that do not seem to have any calming properties. There is little reason for a dog to be on any vet formula for life. With some care and research you can find better foods that will also do the same job if not a better one without a prescription. It does not matter which brand a vet pushes, Hill’s, Medi-cal or Eukanuba’s veterinary diets. They all have a similar jumble of less than desirable ingredients.
Where to Find Better Food Choices~
Ingredients, ingredients, ingredients. While you may not read the label on the box of chocolate chip cookies you buy for yourself, it is imperative you do read the ingredients on what you feed your pet. Just because the bag is pretty and says on it “formulated by a vet” or “now with extra meat” it does not mean it is actually good. Good food does not come from the supermarket, or big chains like Walmart, and often not from large pet store chains. The big chain stores for pets are wising up, and they realize people are getting better informed. I have found great holistic brands along side poor quality brands that make me want to choke; the selection is often not so great. Feed stores are your friend. Many carry only great foods and have knowledgeable employees that can help you wade through the ever expanding world of dog food and its jargon. This does not mean that every employee working in a feed store is helpful mind you. If you go in armed with knowledge you can figure out either on your own or with some help what it is you need for Fluffy or Fido. Also, please keep in mind that not every food works with every dog. You may not even realize that the food is not ‘perfect’ until you find the one that is. When you do though, and get less stool, and firmer stool, you will be cheering so loudly the neighbours may be calling Bellevue for you. So just because the first better food you tried is not working perfectly it is no reason to get discouraged and discount all better quality foods because of it. It simply takes a little time. I should also add that no matter what you choose to feed, you should read the label from time to time. Ingredients may change a little or vary the order in which they are listed. For a sensitive dog, you may see some negative effects when you did not purposely change food on your pet. Manufacturers do not have to inform you of a change, although many do when making a significant one. Just something to think about once in a while.
Allergens: Environmental and Food~
Allergies in dogs are becoming more and more common these days. On your own without allergy testing you will not know if it is environmental or if it is the food. Even if you do allergy test and pinpoint environmental allergies some of them are near impossible to deal with alone like grass. Your dog may end up needing allergy shots to control it if it is that severe. In some cases it is not an allergy it is an intolerance, but that will not make your pet any less uncomfortable.3 The easiest thing to start with is eliminating the most common sources of allergies in food. Wheat, corn, soy, chicken, and beef are fairly common allergy causing foods. There are others, and any dog could be allergic to preservatives in food or something far less common. If you start by looking for a food without the main causes of allergies you may find you cured your problem on your own. A dog can not be allergic to something they have never been exposed to, so if you choose a food with a more obscure meat like bison, or a fish along with a grain like oatmeal you may find that your furry friend eases down on itching and paw nibbling without major intervention. Keep in mind that food based allergies can take up to 6 months to disappear from a dog’s system, even after no longer coming in contact with the allergen or intolerance. In part it may be a waiting game, along with the possibility of environmental allergens. You may be able to minimize some of the problems with a better food though which is a great step in the right direction.
What is Really in the Dog Food Bag?
What does that dog food label really mean? Your dog is a carnivore. Ideally you want a food that is high in meat and low in filler. Foods like Science diet that start with corn indicate you paid for mainly indigestible filler in a pretty coloured bag. You want a meat source, and even better if it is ‘meal’ though it is not required. Meal is meat without water weight, so there is ‘more’ meat being accounted for. Many good foods have more than once source of meat though so do not fret. A couple of meat sources at the top of a label meal or not is an excellent start. You also want to be able to identify them. Poultry is bad, it could be who knows what, versus chicken or turkey is just fine. By-products can be a touchy subject with some people. They are not just the internal organs of the animal in question. I only know of one dog food off hand that clarifies that they are using just the internal organs. While an animal in the wild would eat most everything, by-products in dog food are mighty scary. In the wild the dog would be able to eat the whole animal- organs and the meat. In "say a 40 pound bag of dog food of which the 20% animal protein included consists of only chicken feet, heads, bones and feathers and maybe some livers and hearts. If at all, because chicken livers and other organ meats are used separately as pet food ingredients or also sold for human consumption. Have a look around at the pet store some time and see how many treats and canned foods made
with chicken liver."4 So you end up with a bag of dog food that is mainly the left over garbage that had no where else to go. Your dog is not getting the usable meat they would in the wild along with the extras such as organs.
The way things are worded for definitions by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) http://www.aafco.org can be very sneaky. Read the definitions of what ingredients are and “ask yourself why something is worded in just that specific way. Words and phrases that are present in the definition of one item, but absent in another do tell a lot about what could or could not be in a product.”5 If you do not understand what something is, it is often something you wish to avoid. Unspecific ingredients such as ‘animal fat’ are pretty frightening. It could be derived from the 4 D’s of the slaughter industry- dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter and could be part of a cow or road kill from how the AAFCO definition is written. It truly bothers me to know that “companion animals from clinics, pounds, and shelters can and are being rendered and used as sources of protein in pet food.”6 Poorer quality grains that are being ‘reused’ from human industry are also common and low in nutritional value. Lastly, just because something is a ‘meal’ does not make it good. There are many that may be in poor quality foods including meat and bone meal- which is all made from parts that can not be used for human consumption, corn gluten meal – which has some protein but not enough to be anywhere near a top ingredient along with as many as 10 other really poor quality ‘meal’ choices. Just use common sense. If it sounds mysterious, or it is unspecific, walk away. This site tells you the AAFCO definitions and a little people perspective on all the worst ingredients in pet food if you would like more specific education on what pet food can be. http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients
Better Ingredient Choices~
Now that is a lot of ingredients to condemn, so what does that leave us with? You want a good source of protein as your first ingredient and possibly second and or third as well depending- for example bison, salmon meal, turkey, chicken meal. If you remember from earlier ‘meal’ is the water removed, so a few sneaky companies may put a good source of meat followed by a grain. And if it is not a specific meat meal, it means you have a food with more grain than meat. How is the average person supposed to know this? They often do not. And it is how companies get away with more fillers than meat.
A few foods contain no grains but they are higher in protein than most dogs need, so next there will be a grain. Good ones include brown rice, oatmeal, millet, barley.. There are more but that is a start. White rice is not evil, it is just not as healthy, and is preferable if it is a little further down the ingredient list. ‘Ground’ or ‘meal’ is okay too, but avoid things like ‘brewer’s rice’. It is a by-product of the brewing industry with so little nutrition it is practically worthless. You do not need 3 forms of rice in one food, it is overkill on filler. And sweeteners are not helpful either. Menadione is a vitamin many better companies are removing from their food as it may cause health problems.
Many senior dog foods and weight loss foods are often jam packed with fillers. In diet food the dog is pooping out what it can not digest and is not taking in as many nutrients or calories. You would be easier on the dog to feed a better quality food in a smaller amount, and supplementing with low calorie vegetables to fill the dog up. Senior foods are trying to give a dog less calories. But by packing it full of fillers what exactly are you paying for? Your dog to poop more than it should need to? Better companies do have better senior foods, but you really need to read the labels to find something that is worth the cost.
Multinational Corporations and the Pet Food They Make~
Many of the main stream dog food companies that are the most well known also own human manufacturing companies. Nice way to reuse your by-products for free. Food is not marketed to your pet; it is with you in mind. Your dog does not care what the bag looks like. These big businesses are making a profit from what should really be going to waste. What big businesses own pet food companies?
Nestlé - Alpo, Come 'N Get It, Mighty Dog, Chef's Blend, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Kit 'N Kaboodle, Deli-Cat, and Nestlé Purina
products such as Dog Chow, Pro Plan, Beneful and Purina One
Colgate-Palmolive - Hill's Science Diet Pet Food
Del Monte - 9-Lives, Kibbles `n Bits, Cycle, Gravy Train,
Nature's Recipe, and Reward
Procter & Gamble - Eukanuba and Iams
Mars - Pedigree, Advance, Cesar, Whiskas and Sheba
Another leading pet food, Nutro, is not a multinational
company.7
Except for Nutro, all the brands of dog food listed contain waste ingredients from human production of food. Nice cheap way to recycle and it is your pet that gets the short end of the stick. Most of these brands advertise so they are in your home and in your head. It is easy to believe that they are great from what it says on the front of the bag along with the pretty pictures of happy dogs.
How to Analyze the Label~
Tired yet? Let us look at some common foods pushed often at unknowing consumers and why they are not so great. I am picking a common bag of food from a few of the big names. Some of their foods fare a little better some a little worse, but none are actually good. So within the range of looking at these it shows you an awful assortment of what is actually made by these companies.
The first ingredient is corn which is very indigestible and the bulk of what the food is- filler. Chicken by-product meal means that there is no actual real source of meat in this food since we talked earlier about what this actually contains. And soybean meal which is a “poor quality protein filler used to boost the protein content of low quality pet foods”8 Lastly of the main ingredients there is an unspecific fat that could really contain anything. This is a food pushed on television- often pushed by vets. And it is mainly garbage.
Let us look at another. Purina has high television coverage, commercials of happy bouncing dogs. So what is actually in it?
Another food that is mainly corn. Coincidence? No, it is cheap filler. You make more money being cheap. More chicken by-products rather than real meat, and more corn in an even less protein filled form. Whole wheat flour is generally so processed most of the nutrients are gone “flour ingredients are simply the leftover dust from processing human food ingredients”9 And the last main ingredient beef tallow which is a flavouring agent for low quality food and very cheap to obtain.
How about Eukanuba. They are so large they own the Superdogs franchise. They are a subsidiary of IAMS. Vets push the food often. They have to be good, right?
Eukanuba Original (Adult Maintenance Formula)- Chicken, chicken byproduct meal, corn meal, ground whole grain sorghum, ground whole grain barley, fish meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E, and citric acid), brewers rice, natural chicken flavor, dried beet pulp (sugar removed), dried egg product, brewers dried yeast, potassium chloride, salt, sodium hexametaphosphate, calcium carbonate, flax meal, choline chloride, ferrous sulfate, dl-methionine, vitamin E supplement, beta carotene, zinc oxide, ascorbic acid, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, vitamin A acetate, calcium pantothenate, biotin, rosemary extract, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), niacin, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), inositol, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, potassium iodide, folic acid, cobalt carbonate
They actually use chicken which is a step up from the foods we have looked at, but when the water weight is removed it sits behind the corn meal. Which means this food is mainly chicken by-products like the others. It contains corn meal as cheap filler like the other foods so far. Ground whole grain sorghum is a good carbohydrate, but it has very poor digestibility making it a poor choice as a main ingredient in a dog food. The barley would be good if the food was not already full of so many fillers and the fish meal is unspecific which means the quality is anyone’s guess. And if it is not human grade it has been preserved with ethoxyquin which does not have to be mentioned on the label- it is banned from human consumption, but it is alright for your dog? “A dog is consuming up to 300 times more ethoxyquin than allowed for people. (depending upon the weight) Also many dog food manufacturers are not always listing it as an ingredient on the packaging, but sometimes merely print ‘E’.”10 Lastly chicken fat is fine. But out of that ingredient list only two of the top ingredients are actually good. And this is a food people assume is great.
How about a ‘vet diet’ for comparison of how great the ingredients are for the prices one pays. It should also be mentioned it is far more difficult to locate the ingredient lists for prescription diets than normal food.
How is corn sensitive on a stomach? It is not. They are using a mediocre quality rice, and dried egg product is a stool hardener which is really high on this ingredients list. Chicken by-products are the ‘meat’ and then more corn, but at least the fat is specific. This is barely a food in all honesty. Some days my compost bucket contains more nutritional value than what is listed here. It would be far cheaper and better food for you canine pal to cook beef and rice for a sensitive tummy.
Some of the worst of the worst. Ol’ Roy. Cheap food shows in its ingredients.
I have seen worse, but seriously, if one were to look at the ingredients they should honestly wonder without anyone’s help. Corn and meat and bone meal as discussed earlier (the 4 Ds of the slaughterhouse) that could be goats, road kill or technically euthanized pets. The wheat would be okay if it was not already full of fillers, the soybean meal is a poor by-product that is more filler and the middlings are floor sweepings with no nutritional value; super cheap filler. Last main ingredient is animal fat which has been gone over more than once and I am sure you now know what it is by now.
That was a lot of learning through bad foods. Let us look at a good one for comparison.
The differences are noticeable immediately. While the Elk is not the heaviest ingredient when the water is removed, Salmon is the number one and is an excellent protein source. Millet is a good grain highly nutritious, and sweet potatoes are a healthier carbohydrate than most. The elk is a good meat and rare enough in foods that it might help with a dog with allergies. Oats are fine, and flaxseed helps digestion and is an essential fatty acid. It should also be noted it does not have any stool hardeners. On a good food the dog should be able to produce great poop on its own. Too much fibre can also cause loose stool resulting in poorer food having more than one stool hardener in it.
So where should you go from here?
You can research on the internet or look through some books; there are some great ones on the subject of what is in dog food. If you have never been to a feed store look through your yellow pages. At least go browse, look at some labels up close and personal. You may find some decent brands in your local Petco, but you need to know your labels to decipher the good, the bad, and the ugly. Also, there are a few brands that make holistic great quality food, and a second line of mediocre food like we have just talked about. They can be sneaky about it, and I do not like the idea of the cheap food and the good food by one brand, but just keep an eye out for it. It is not all equal.
Rating Your Current Kibble~
Want to rate your dog’s current food? This kibble rating system has been sent around some. The original author is Fredalina and I hear she would like to make some changes to it, but as it stands now it easily can show good from bad. Although I would love to see a revised edition reflecting higher scores for fewer grains if she finds the time.
How to grade your dog's food:
Start with a grade of 100:
1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points
3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points
5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewer's rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points
6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points
11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points
12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef), subtract 1 point
15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point
Extra Credit:
1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points
3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points
If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points
10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but "chicken" and "" as 2 different sources), add 1 point
13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point
94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
69 = F
This is a list of some foods to give you an idea on how they score. I did not add them up, so if the math is not correct, I was not responsible, though I appreciate having the list to use.
Eagle Pack Holistic: 119 A +
Wellness Super5Mix Chicken: 117 A+
Solid Gold Bison-123 points A+
Eagle Pack Natural: 94 A
Canidae-119 points A+
Natural Balance Duck and Potato-114 points A+
Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy: 94 A
Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison-136 points A+
Innova-117 points A+
Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken-114 points A+
Chicken soup-113 points A+
Flint River Ranch: 92 (non-specific fat source) B
Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice-87 points B
Nutro Natural choice Lamb and Rice-85 points C
Nutro Chicken, Rice, & Oatmeal: 85 (non-specific fat source) C
Eukanuba Large Breed Adult: 83 C
Iams Large Breed: 83 C
Iams Lamb Meal and Rice-74 points D
Science Diet chicken adult maintainance-45 points F
Bil-Jac select-37 points F
Science Diet Large Breed: 68 F
Pro Plan All Breed: 68 F
Pedigree Complete Nutrition: 42 F
Pedigree Adult Complete-14 points F
Ol Roy-9 points F
Purina Beneful- 17 points F It is now up to you to make a decision on what to do about you and your furry friend and their nutrition. There is another world in home cooked meals, and yet another in raw. But neither subject am I very versed in, so I hope someone else will step up to either challenge. Dog food is a confusing world, but I hope you have read enough to at least get a grip on where to begin.
Please visit this site for more very valuable information on Dog Nutrition and other very great information for the well being of your beloved best friend!
Just click on the link to the left.
Checking Your Dog Food Label
Glyceryl Monostearate
A lipophilic non-ionic surfactant with HLB of 3.6 - 4.2. It has effects of emulsification, dispersion, foaming, defoaming, starch anti-aging and fat agglomeration control, and is widely used in foodstuffs, cosmetic, medicine and plastic processing industries. It is an emulsifier used the most widely and in the largest quantities in the foodstuff industry.
A thickening, emulsifying, antisticking and antistalant agent. Can contain up to 200 ppm butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a preservative (see also BHT). Depending on method of manufacture, it can also contain glyceryl distearate (42-44%), glyceryl tristearate (20-23%), free glycerol (3-5%). Other impurities include mono-, di-, and triesters of related fatty acids as well as unreacted fatty acids. Due to the uncertainty of chemical additives, this ingredient should be avoided.
Phosphoric Acid
A clear colorless liquid, H3PO4, used in fertilizers, detergents, food flavoring, and pharmaceuticals.
A harmless but unnecessary ingredient, used in inexpensive, poor quality dog food as flavoring, emulsifier and discoloration inhibitor. Used for example as a flavoring for Coca Cola.
Propylene Glycol
A colorless viscous hygroscopic liquid, CH3CHOHCH2OH, used in antifreeze solutions, in hydraulic fluids, and as a solvent.
Used as humectant in semi-moist kibble to keep it from drying out. May be toxic if consumed in large amounts, and should definitely not be an ingredient in a food an animal will eat daily for weeks, months or even years of its life. In countries of the European Union, propylene glycol is not cleared as a general-purpose food grade product or direct food additive.
Binders
Corn Gluten
I have not been able to locate an official definition of this product, but since it is contained in only one formulation of one manufacturer (Excel Chunks/Mini Chunks), I assume it is the same as "Corn Gluten Meal".
An inexpensive by-product of human food processing which offers very little nutritional value and serves mainly to bind food together. It is not a harmful ingredient but should be avoided simply for its poor nutritional value and quality.
Wheat Gluten
AAFCO: The tough, viscid nitrogenous substance remaining when wheat is washed to remove the starch.
An inexpensive byproduct of human food processing with almost no nutritional value left, serves mostly as a binder.
Carbohydrate Sources
Brewers Rice
Also appears in ingredient lists as ground Brewers Rice.
AAFCO: The small milled fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from the larger kernels of milled rice.
A processed rice product that is missing many of the nutrients contained in whole ground rice and brown rice. Contrary to what many pet food companies want to make you believe, this is not a high quality ingredient, just much cheaper than whole grain rice.
Feeding Oat Meal
AAFCO: Feeding oat meal is obtained in the manufacture of rolled oat groats or rolled oats and consists of broken oat groats, oat groat chips, and floury portions of the oat groats, with only such quantity of finely ground oat hulls as is unavoidable in the usual process of commericial milling.
A food-grade fractionated grain, byproduct from human food processing, that is not as nutritionally valuable as the product obtained from whole oats.
Grain Fermentation Solubles
AAFCO: The dried material resulting from drying the water soluble materials after separation of suspended solids from grain fermentation.
An inexpensive byproduct of human food and beverage production which adds little or no nutritional value to pet foods.
Maltodextrins & Fermentation Solubles
I have not been able to locate an official definition for this product so far.
A brewery byproduct much like "grain fermentation solubles", with some maltodextrin from malted barley. Better suited for use in short term feeding like e.g. livestock than as an ingredient in pet food.
Soy Flour
AAFCO: The finely powdered material resulting from the screened and graded product after removal of most of the oil from selected, sound, cleaned and dehulled soybeans by a mechanical or solvent extraction process.
Much of the nutritional value is lost already during processing of the grain to flour. May contain particles of hull, germ, and the offal from the tail of the mill.
Coloring Agents
Blue 2 (artificial color)
The color additive FD&C Blue No. 2 is principally the disodium salt of 2-(1,3-dihydro-3-oxo-5-sulfo-2H-indol-2-ylidene)- 2,3-dihydro-3-oxo-1H-indole-5-sulfonic acid with smaller amounts of the disodium salt of 2-(1,3-dihydro-3-oxo-7-sulfo-2H-indol-2-ylidene)-2,3-dihydro-3-oxo-1H-indole-5-sulfonic acid and the sodium salt of 2-(1,3-dihydro-3-oxo-2H-indol-2-ylidene)-2,3-dihydro-3-oxo-1H-indole-5-sulfonic acid. Additionally, FD&C Blue No. 2 is obtained by heating indigo (or indigo paste) in the presence of sulfuric acid. The color additive is isolated and subjected to purification procedures. The indigo (or indigo paste) used above is manufactured by the fusion of N-phenylglycine (prepared from aniline and formaldehyde) in a molten mixture of sodamide and sodium and potassium hydroxides under ammonia pressure. The indigo is isolated and subjected to purification procedures prior to sulfonation.
The largest study suggested, but did not prove, that this dye caused brain tumors in male mice. The FDA concluded that there is "reasonable certainty of no harm", but personally I'd rather avoid this ingredient and err on the side of caution.
Red 40 (artificial color)
The color additive FD&C Red No. 40 is principally the disodium salt of 6-hydroxy-5-[(2-methoxy-5-methyl-4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid.
The most widely used food dye. While this is one of the most-tested food dyes, the key mouse tests were flawed and inconclusive. An FDA review committee acknowledged problems, but said evidence of harm was not "consistent" or "substantial." Like other dyes, Red 40 is used mainly in junk foods. Personally I'd rather avoid this ingredient and err on the side of caution.
Yellow 5 (artificial color)
The color additive FD&C Yellow No. 5 is principally the trisodium salt of 4,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1-(4-sulfophenyl)-4- [4-sulfophenyl-azo]-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (CAS Reg. No. 1934-21- 0). To manufacture the additive, 4-amino-benzenesulfonic acid is diazotized using hydrochloric acid and sodium nitrite. The diazo compound is coupled with 4,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1-(4-sulfophenyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid or with the methyl ester, the ethyl ester, or a salt of this carboxylic acid. The resulting dye is purified and isolated as the sodium salt.
The second most widely used coloring can cause mild allergic reactions, primarily in aspirin-sensitive persons.
Yellow 6 (artificial color)
The color additive FD&C Yellow No. 6 is principally the disodium salt of 6-hydroxy-5-[(4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (CAS Reg. No. 2783-94-0). The trisodium salt of 3-hydroxy-4-[(4- sulfophenyl)azo]-2,7-naphthalenedisulfonic acid may be added in small amounts. The color additive is manufactured by diazotizing 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid using hydrochloric acid and sodium nitrite or sulfuric acid and sodium nitrite. The diazo compound is coupled with 6-hydroxy-2-naphthalene-sulfonic acid. The dye is isolated as the sodium salt and dried. The trisodium salt of 3-hydroxy-4-[(4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2,7-naphthalenedisulfonic acid which may be blended with the principal color is prepared in the same manner except the diazo benzenesulfonic acid is coupled with 3-hydroxy-2,7-naphthalenedisulfonic acid.
Industry-sponsored animal tests indicated that this dye, the third most widely used, causes tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney. In addition, small amounts of several carcinogens contaminate Yellow 6. However, the FDA reviewed those data and found reasons to conclude that Yellow 6 does not pose a significant cancer risk to humans. Yellow 6 may also cause occasional allergic reactions. Another ingredient I would rather avoid and err on the side of caution rather than risking my pet's health.
Fat Sources
Animal Fat
AAFCO: Obtained from the tissues of mammals and/or poultry in the commercial processes of rendering or extracting. It consists predominantly of glyceride esters of fatty acids and contains no additions of free fatty acids. If an antioxidant is used, the common name or names must be indicated, followed by the words "used as a preservative".
Note that the animal source is not specified and is not required to originate from "slaughtered" animals. The rendered animals can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, misc. roadkill, animals euthanized at shelters, restaurant and supermarket refuse and so on.
Beef Tallow
AAFCO: Fat with titer above 40 degrees Celsius, obtained from the tissue of cattle in the commercial process of rendering. Also called Beef Fat.
Dogs and cats like the taste of this fat, so it is often used to make low-quality food more palatable. Beef tallow is very low in linoleic acid and much cheaper for the pet food industry to use than a good quality vegetable oil or nutritionally rich chicken fat.
Poultry Fat
AAFCO: Obtained from the tissue of poultry in the commercial process of rendering or extracting. It shall contain only the fatty matter natural to the product produced under good manufacturing practices and shall contain no added free fatty acids or other materials obtained from fat. It must contain not less than 90 percent total fatty acids and not more than 3 percent of unsaponifiables and impurities. It shall have a minimum titer of 33 degrees Celsius. If an antioxidant is used, the common name or names must be indicated, followed by the word "preservative(s)".
Note how in this product the source is not defined as "slaughtered poultry". The rendered fowl can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), turkey, chicken, geese, buzzard, seagulls, misc. roadkill, birds euthanized at shelters and so on.
Vegetable Oil
AAFCO: The product of vegetable origin obtained by extracting the oil from seeds or fruits which are processed for edible purposes.
The source vegetables for this oil (and therefore the nutrient properties or lack thereof) are unknown. Wouldn't you like to know just what exactly you are feeding your pet?
Fiber Sources
Cellulose
AAFCO: Purified, mechanically disintegrated cellulose prepared by processing alpha cellulose obtained as a pulp from fibrous plant materials.
Dried wood is the most common source for cellulose (I'm not kidding.). It is cleaned, processed into a fine powder and used to add bulk and consistency to cheap pet foods. I would consider this ingredient appropriate for termites, but certainly not for dogs or cats.
Oat Hulls
I have not been able to locate an official definition for this product so far.
Most likely what is left over from dehulling the whole oat kernels after harvesting, comparable to peanut hulls. It is not the same as oat bran (the hull that protects the grain itself), which is a quality source of dietary fiber and removed prior to rolling and/or flaking. Thumbs down for this filler ingredient.
Soybean Mill Run
AAFCO: Composed of soybean hulls and such bean meats that adhere to the hulls which results from normal milling operations in the production of dehulled soybean meal.
An inexpensive byproduct of human food processing, commonly referred to as 'floor sweepings'. An inexpensive filler with no real nutritional value.
Wheat Mill Run
May also appear as "Wheat Middlings".
AAFCO: Coarse and fine particles of wheat bran and fine particles of wheat shorts, wheat germ, wheat flour and offal from the "tail of the mill".
An inexpensive byproduct of human food processing, commonly referred to as 'floor sweepings'. An inexpensive filler with no real nutritional value.
Flavoring Agents
Animal Digest
AAFCO: A material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and undecomposed animal tissue. The animal tissues used shall be exclusive of hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice and shall be suitable for animal feed. If it bears a name descriptive of its kind or flavor(s), it must correspond thereto.
A cooked-down broth made from unspecified parts of unspecified animals. The animals used can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, misc. roadkill, animals euthanized at shelters, restaurant and supermarket refuse and so on.
Digest
May also appear as dried, or spray dried. Sometimes the type and part of animals used is specified, such as in "Chicken Digest", "Lamb Digest" or "Poultry Liver Digest"
AAFCO: Material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and undecomposed animal tissue. The animal tissues used shall be exclusive of hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice and shall be suitable for animal feed. .
A cooked-down broth made from specified, or worse, unspecified parts of specified or unspecified animals (depending on the type of digest used). If the source is unspecified (e.g. "Animal" or "Poultry", the animals used can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, misc. roadkill, animals euthanized at shelters, restaurant and supermarket refuse and so on.
Flavor
A substance, such as an extract or spice, that add flavor to a product.
The manufacturer may or may not give more detailed information about what is used for flavoring and whether it is made from a natural or chemical substance.
Glandular Meal
I have not been able to locate an official definition for this product so far.
Since it is used as a "source of liver flavor" in poor quality foods, it is safe to assume that it is a meal obtained from the livers and other glands of various, unspecified animals. As with all generic, unspecified ingredients, it is wise to avoid.
Fruits & Vegetables
Apple Pomace
AAFCO: The mixture of apple skins, pulp, and crushed seeds.
An inexpensive byproduct of human food processing. Does not contain the whole complement of nutrients as whole fresh or dried apples.
Citrus Pulp
Citrus Pulp is the dried residue of peel, pulp and seeds of oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruit.
This inexpensive byproduct is mainly used as a bulk carbohydrate concentrate in cattle feed but also added as a source of fiber in dog food. Since the peel and some twigs and leaves are also included, there is a possibility of residues from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
Grape Pomace
AAFCO: The mixture of grape skins, pulp, and crushed seeds.
An inexpensive byproduct left over from pressing grapes for juice or wine. The product contributes some fiber but otherwise has little to no nutritinal value. Grapes have also shown to contain a substance that is toxic to dogs, so they should not be fed at all.
Preservatives
BHA
Butylated Hydroxysanisole - a white, waxy phenolic antioxidant, C11H16O2, used to preserve fats and oils, especially in foods.
Banned from human use in many countries but still permitted in the US. Possible human carcinogen, apparently carcinogenic in animal experiments. The oxidative characteristics and/or metabolites of BHA and BHT may contribute to carcinogenicity or tumorigenicity.
BHT
Butylated Hydroxytoluene - a crystalline phenolic antioxidant, C15H24O, used to preserve fats and oils, especially in foods.
Banned from human use in many countries but still permitted in the US. Possible human carcinogen, apparently carcinogenic in animal experiments. The oxidative characteristics and/or metabolites of BHA and BHT may contribute to carcinogenicity or tumorigenicity.
Ethoxyquin
6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline. Antioxidant; also a post-harvest dip to prevent scald on apples and pears.
Originally developed by Monsanto as a stabilizer for rubber, Ethoxyquin has also been used as a pesticide for fruit and a color preservative for spices, and later for animal feed. The original FDA permit for use as stabilizer in animal feed limited use to two years and did not include pet food, but it falls under the same legal category. It has never been proven to be safe for the lifespan of a companion animal.It has been linked to thyroid, kidney, reproductive and immune related illnesses as well as cancer, but so far no conclusive, reliable research results either for the safety of this product or against it have not been obtained. Monsanto conducted research years ago, but results were so inconclusive due to unprofessional conduct and documentation that the FDA demanded another study. There are currently several studies underway to determine whether Ethoxyquin is safe or not, and until those studies are completed, pet food suppliers may continue to use Ethoxyquin. This is how things stand after about 6 years, and no new details have emerged so far.
Propyl Gallate
Also known as Gallic Acid or Propyl Ester. It is made from natural Gallic Acid, which is obtained by the hydrolysis of tannins from Tara Pods.
Used as an antioxidant to stabilize cosmetics, food packaging materials, and foods containing fats. I have not found conclusive evidence either for or against the safety of this product, but it is suspected of causing liver diseases and cancer, so once again personally I prefer to err on the side of caution. Mixed tocopherols, citric acid and rosemary extract are effective, all-natural alternatives - just more expensive.
Protein Sources
Beef & Bone Meal
AAFCO: The rendered product from beef tissues, including bone, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices.
A byproduct made from beef parts which are not suitable for human consumption. It can incorporate the entire cow, including the bones, but the quality cuts of meat are always removed. This is an inexpensive, low quality ingredient used to boost the protein percentage.
Blood Meal
AAFCO: Blood Meal is produced from clean, fresh animal blood, exclusive of all extraneous material such as hair, stomach belchings and urine except as might occur unavoidably in good manufacturing process. A large portion of the moisture is usually removed by a mechanical dewatering process or by condensing by cooking to a semi-solid state. The semi-solid blood mass is then transferred to a rapid drying facility where the more tightly bound water is rapidly removed. The minimum biological activity of lysine shall be 80%.
An inexpensive protein booster. You have no way of knowing what type of animal the blood came from or what residues of hormones, medications or other substances are in this product. It has a better use as fertilizer than as a dog food ingredient.
Chicken Byproduct Meal
AAFCO: Consists of the dry, ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines -- exclusive of feathers except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices.
Chicken byproducts are much less expensive and less digestible than the chicken muscle meat.The ingredients of each batch can vary drastically in ingredients (heads, feet, bones etc.) as well as quality, thus the nutritional value is also not consistent. Don't forget that byproducts consist of any parts of the animal OTHER than meat. If there is any use for any part of the animal that brings more profit than selling it as "byproduct", rest assured it will appear in such a product rather than in the "byproduct" dumpster.
Corn Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles
Distillers Dried Grains with solubles (DDGS) is the product obtained by condensing and drying the stillage that remains after fermenting the starch in corn or milo in the production of ethyl alcohol.
An inexpensive byproduct used as protein filler in cheap dog foods. Its amino acids are poorly balanced, not very digestible, have a high fiber content and nutritional value can vary greatly from batch to batch. Better suited as cattle feed.
Corn Germ Meal
AAFCO: Ground corn germ which consists of corn germ with other parts of the corn kernel from which part of the oil has been removed and is obtained from either a wet or dry milling manufacturing process of corn meal, corn grits, hominy feed, or other corn products.
An inexpensive by-product of human food processing, rich in protein but sadly often used as a booster in poor quality foods. It is not a harmful ingredient but should not rank high in the ingredient list of a quality product.
Corn Gluten Meal
AAFCO: The dried residue from corn after the removal of the larger part of the starch and germ, and the separation of the bran by the process employed in the wet milling manufacture of corn starch or syrup, or by enzymatic treatment of the endosperm.
An inexpensive by-product of human food processing which contains some protein but serves mainly to bind food together. It is not a harmful ingredient but should not rank high in the ingredient list of a quality product.
Fish Meal
AAFCO: 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.
Like with all other animal sources, if a type isn't specified, you never know what type or quality of fish is used.
According to US Coast Guard regulations, all fish meal not destined for human consumption must be conserved with Ethoxyquin (unless the manufacturer has a special permit). This preservative is banned from use in foods for human consumption except for the use of very small quantities as a color preservative for spices. So unless the manufacturer either presents a permit or states "human grade" fish or fish meal is used, you can be pretty sure Ethoxyquin is present in the food even if it is not listed.
Liver Meal
AAFCO: The dried product of ground hepatic glands of mammals.
Whenever the word 'meat' or the name of an organ appear by themselves (without a species) on a pet food label, there is no way to know which kind of animal it came from. It could be horse liver, goat, duck, pig, or even skunk or other animals of questionable origin.
Meat & Bone Meal
AAFCO: The rendered product from mammal tissues, with or without bone, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices.
The animal parts used can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, misc. roadkill, animals euthanized at shelters and so on. It can also include pus, cancerous tissue, and decomposed (spoiled) tissue.
Meat Meal
AAFCO: The rendered product from mammal tissues, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices.
The animal parts used can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, misc. roadkill, animals euthanized at shelters and so on. It can also include pus, cancerous tissue, and decomposed (spoiled) tissue.
Pork & Bone Meal
AAFCO: The rendered product from pork tissues, including bone, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, skin, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices.
A byproduct made from pork parts which are not suitable for human consumption. It can incorporate the entire pig, including the bones, but the quality cuts of meat are always removed. This is an inexpensive, low quality ingredient used to boost the protein percentage.
Poultry Byproduct Meal
AAFCO: Consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcasses of slaughtered poultry, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines, exclusive of feathers except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices.
The parts used can be obtained from any slaughtered fowl, so there is no control over the quality and consistency of individual batches. Poultry byproducts are much less expensive and less digestible than chicken meat.The ingredients of each batch can vary drastically in ingredients (heads, feet, bones, organs etc.) as well as quality, thus the nutritional value is also not consistent. Don't forget that byproducts consist of any parts of the animal OTHER than meat. If there is any use for any part of the animal that brings more profit than selling it as "byproduct", rest assured it will appear in such a product rather than in the "byproduct" dumpster.
Poultry Meal
AAFCO: The clean combination of poultry flesh and skin with or without bone. Does not contain feathers, heads, feet or entrails. If from a particular source it may state so (i.e. chicken, turkey etc).
Note how in this product the source is not defined as "slaughtered poultry".The manufacturer does not disclose the species (or the mix of species) of the poultry used. The fowl can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), turkey, chicken, geese, buzzard, seagulls, misc. roadkill, birds euthanized at shelters and so on.
Soybean Meal
AAFCO: The product obtained by grinding the flakes which remain after removal of most of the oil from soybeans by a solvent or mechanical extraction process.
A poor quality protein filler used to boost the protein content of low quality pet foods. Has a biologic value lof ess than 50% of chicken meal.
Supplements
Bone Phosphate
Bone Phosphate is the residue of bones that have been treated first in a caustic solution then in a hydrochloric acid solution, and thereafter precipitated with lime and dried.
A highly processed feed-grade supplement to balance the calcium and phosphorus content of a product.
Salt
Also listed as Sodium Chloride. A colorless or white crystalline solid, chiefly sodium chloride, used extensively in ground or granulated form as a food seasoning and preservative. May also appear in ingredient list as "Iodized Salt" (iodine supplement added), "Sea Salt" (as opposed to salt mined from underground deposits) or "Sodium Chloride" (chemical expression).
While salt is a necessary mineral, it is also generally present in sufficient quantities in the ingredients pet foods include. Just like for humans, too much sodium intake is unhealthy for animals. In poor quality foods it is often used in large amounts to add flavor and make the food more interesting.
Mineral Oil
Any of various light hydrocarbon oils, especially a distillate of petroleum.
Mineral oil functions as a laxative and stool softener. I have not found any evidence of any other health benefits. Tells a lot about the product it is used in, doesn't it?
Yeast Culture
AAFCO: The dried product composed of yeast and the media on which it is grown, dried in such a manner as to preserve the fermenting activity of the yeast.
An unnecessary, feed-grade ingredient in pet foods, added mainly as a flavoring to make inexpensive food more attractive. Lacks the nutritional value of higher quality yeast supplements. The media on which the yeast was grown is not identified. Also a potential allergen for some dogs.
Yeast Fermentation Solubles
AAFCO: The soluble portion of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and the media in which is produced.
A feed-grade ingredient in pet foods, added as a vitamin B supplement. It is harmless, but lacks the nutrients of higher quality yeast supplements. The media on which the yeast was grown is not identified. Also a potential allergen for some dogs.
Sweeteners
Cane Molasses
AAFCO: A by-product of the manufacture of sucrose from sugar cane. It must contain not less than 43% total sugars expressed as invert.
Sugar or sweetener is an absolutely unnecessary ingredient in pet foods, added to make the product more attractive. Continuous intake can promote hypoglycemia, obesity, nervousness, cataracts, tooth decay, arthritis and allergies. Pets also get addicted to foods that contain sugars, so it can be a tough piece of work to make them eat something healthier.
Corn Syrup
A syrup prepared from cornstarch, used in industry and in numerous food products as a sweetener.
Sugar or sweetener is an absolutely unnecessary ingredient in pet foods, added to make the product more attractive. Continuous intake can promote hypoglycemia, obesity, nervousness, cataracts, tooth decay, arthritis and allergies. Pets also get addicted to foods that contain sugars, so it can be a tough piece of work to make them eat something healthier.
Fructose
A very sweet sugar, C6H12O6, occurring in many fruits and honey and used as a preservative for food and as an intravenous nutrient.
A monosaccharide found naturally in fresh fruit and honey. It is obtained by the inversion of sucrose by means of the enzyme invertase. Used in small quantities it serves as a nutrient for probiotics, specifically bifidobacteria, which ferment it and produce beneficial enzymes.
Sorbitol
A white, sweetish, crystalline alcohol, C6H8(OH)6, found in various berries and fruits or prepared synthetically and used as a flavoring agent, a sugar substitute for people with diabetes, and a moisturizer in cosmetics and other products.
Sugar or sweetener is an absolutely unnecessary ingredient in pet foods, added to make the product more attractive. Continuous intake can promote hypoglycemia, obesity, nervousness, cataracts, tooth decay, arthritis and allergies. Pets also get addicted to foods that contain sugars, so it can be a tough piece of work to make them eat something healthier.
Sugar
Can include sucrose, cane sugar, caramel, corn syrup and others.
Sugar or sweetener is an absolutely unnecessary ingredient in pet foods, added to make the product more attractive. Continuous intake can promote hypoglycemia, obesity, nervousness, cataracts, tooth decay, arthritis and allergies. Pets also get addicted to foods that contain sugars, so it can be a tough piece of work to make them eat something healthier.
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Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate
Synthetic vitamin E, also listed as Dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate
Only about half as effective as natural vitamin E and not as readily available to the body.
Vitamins
Menadione Sodium Bisulfate
Vitamin K3, synthetic vitamin K.
Feed grade. Also listed as Menadione Dimethyl-Pyrimidinol Bisulfate, Menadione Dimethyl-Pyrimidinol Bisulfite, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite and Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex.
Unnecessary ingredient in dog food. This synthetic version of vitamin K has not been specifically approved for long term use, such as in pet food. It has been linked to many serious health issues. More Details
Life Extension Animals Case Studies
By Terri Mitchell
Jack the cat was living the good life in Hollywood and seemed to have the world by the tail until the day he couldn't move and stopped eating. His alarmed owner rushed him to the veterinarian where he was told that Jack had serious kidney problems and nothing much could be done. No reason could be identified Jack's condition at six-years-old, young for a cat which can live 20 to 30 years. Jack's owner refused to give up, however, and took his faithful friend to another vet for a second opinion. The second vet was trained in both traditional and alternative veterinary medicine.
When Jack landed on the examining table, he was anorexic and anemic. About half his body mass had disappeared. The laboratory test results were grim. Jack's creatinine and BUN (blood urea nitrogen) were ten-times normal. An ultrasound showed bloated, water-logged kidneys. The veterinarian didn't have much hope, but offered to do surgery to clear any potential blockage and get a better grip on the situation. Jack's owner agreed, and a biopsy was taken during the procedure.
It was five long days until the results came back. By then, Jack was barely hanging on. The report showed that Jack's kidneys were inflammed for no apparent reason. Little grains created by the immune system were filling up his kidneys, blocking the delicate filtering system. Something was needed that could counteract the inflammatory process. The vet decided that Jack needed an intensive program starting with N-acetylcysteine (NAC).
NAC is a form of the amino acid, cysteine, with multiple kidney-protective actions. The research on what NAC can do for the kidney (and the liver) is scientifically well-documented. In one recent study, researchers in Italy demonstrated that NAC normalizes creatinine levels in rodents with kidney failure. It reverses inflammation and restores filtration. Similar findings are reported by French researchers when NAC is given as a pretreatment before experimental kidney damage in rats. Without NAC, there is a 68% reduction in the ability of the kidneys to do their job. With it, the loss of kidney function is only 29%. A third study confirms that an infusion of NAC before and after experimental kidney damage doubles the kidney filtration rate. NAC is strong medicine for the kidneys. It has no adverse side effects, even when small animals like cats are given a human dose.
The veterinarian started Jack on 100 mg of NAC twice a day, plus a new diet of raw beef and chicken and 100 mg of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). DHEA is critical for an important kidney enzyme known as sulfotransferase. People with kidney disease have depleted levels of DHEA. Research shows that DHEA and NAC probably work synergistically, which is why they were given together.
Within 24 hours of receiving NAC and DHEA, Jack began eating like a normal cat. He continued to vomit for several days (a side effect of kidney failure), but two weeks from the date of surgery, his BUN had dropped from 152mg/dl to 45.6mg/dl and he was up and around. At that point, the supplements were cut in half. A month later, Jack's blood tests were normal. That was over a year ago and Jack is still doing great. He is maintained on a high-protein diet along with 50 mg of NAC and 25 mg of DHEA a day.
Zoe, the hairless dog
Zoe was beginning to look more like a chihauhau than a Yorkshire terrier. The little dog belonging to Lynne and Frank Burger scratched at her back constantly, but nothing they did seemed to help. She was going bald. And not only that, she never wanted to play with her buddy, "Mr. Pug," anymore. She seemed to have nervous energy but no real energy. Smallest in a household of ten dogs, Zoe had a special treat added to her dry food: a "gourmet" food from the grocery store.
"Flea allergy" or "food allergy" is a common diagnosis for animals loosing their hair. It's a quick, eye-ball diagnosis rarely accompanied by laboratory tests. The cure is usually steroids plus one of the new pesticides that is put on the back of the animal and absorbed through the skin. The problem is that fleas are only one of many things that can cause hair loss, which is usually accompanied by some sort of skin disorder.
Researchers from Hungary recently reported that 17 dogs treated with pesticides, "restricted diets," steroids, antibiotics and other medications did not respond because they were infected with microorganisms that are not usually regarded as a problem. Yet when the bugs were eradicated with the proper drugs, the dogs got well. This points out the importance of finding the root cause of a persistent problem.
Another cause of hair loss is poor nutrition. There is considerable evidence that the nutritional requirements for dogs depends on the breed. It appears that dogs prone to certain disorders also require certain dietary needs. English setters, for example, can inherit a terrible disease called Batten disease which causes the brain to shrink. It is accompanied by abnormally low levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and the amino acid, carnitine. Researchers at Indiana University wanted to see if it would help to supplement the animals diets' with carnitine, fish and corn oil. It did. Carnitine greatly reduced cognitive decline, and the combination reduced brain atrophy and extended lifespan 10%.
In 1988, veterinarians at the University of California at Davis reported on 13 dogs that had been eating a generic dry, corn and wheat-based dog food. The dogs were depressed and lethargic. They had swollen lymph nodes and, worst of all, they had scaly, crusting areas where their fur was falling out. The dog food the owners were feeding did not state that it met minimum nutritional requirements (AAFCO). When the animals were put on a higher-quality dog food, the animals began to get better within days.
Aging and dementia in dogs
Elderly dogs can act like elderly people who aren't quite "with it." The "not with it" part is caused by damage to brain cells-damage that accumulates over time. A small percentage of dogs can go on to develop an Alzheimer's-like condition. (Although under the microscope, doggie AD does not have all of the same features as human AD.) Symptoms of brain aging in dogs include sleep disorders, forgetting house-training, lethargy, disinterest, confusion about going in or out of doors, hiding and getting lost.
There are various supplements an owner can give their animals to protect them from degenerative diseases. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), for example, is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that declines drastically with age. In a study from Purdue University, 100 mg/kg of DHEA a day given as a supplement for seven months to elderly dogs reduced the percentage of brain cells with extensive DNA damage by 42%. This shows that even an elderly animal can benefit from anti-aging interventions. In the same study, damage to the dogs' immune cells was cut in half. This is good health news for pet owners. Note that both types of cells (immune and brain) are extensively damaged in people with Alzheimer's disease. Its antioxidant action may account for DHEA's ability to protect these vital cells.
There are other methods to protect the brain as well. When the Science Diet® people went looking for a supplement that could help aging dogs stay alert, they focused on two important aspects of brain aging: energy and free radical damage.
The brain's energy is generated by sub-cellular structures called "mitochondria." When mitochondria make energy, free radicals are created. Free radicals, in turn, damage mitochondrial DNA. Damaged DNA, in turn, prevents the little power plants from producing energy efficiently. The vicious cycle is accelerated by age.
The brain is very susceptible to free radical damage because of its high fat content and high demand for energy. One of the most powerful brain antioxidants is alpha lipoic acid, also known as lipoic, or thioctic acid. Lipoic acid has multiple actions. On one level, it restores and maintains other antioxidants including vitamins C and E, and the natural antioxidant, glutathione, which is diminished in the brains of elderly dogs. Lipoic acid also enhances the level of coenzyme Q10, an energy-related enzyme, and restores arachidonic acid in brain cells to youthful levels. Arachidonic acid is absolutely critical for learning and remembering. Researchers have demonstrated that restoring arachidonic acid to youthful levels through supplements increases the ability of neurons to respond. In other words, arachidonic acid may be the key to teaching an old dog new tricks.
Additionally, lipoic acid can chelate iron and other metals, keeping them from fueling free radical chain reactions. By itself, lipoic acid is highly protective of brain cells, but there is another element that can be combined with it that makes it even more powerful: carnitine
Scientifically-proven anti-aging combination
Carnitine is an amino acid that has a special role in energy production. It transports fuel into mitochondria for conversion to energy-ATP. Carnitine levels decline with age, and so does its transport. By supplementing with carnitine, studies show that old mitochondria can have the energy production of young mitochondria. In a stunning report that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, researchers at the University of California at Berkeley showed that elderly rats given L-carnitine doubled their activity to a level approaching that of young rats. (Young rats given L-carnitine were like five year-olds on jet fuel). Researchers were able to correlate increased activity with increased energy production in the animals' mitochondria.
As great as it was to get the old mice up and going again, their increased energy came with a price: a 30% increase in free radicals. This is where lipoic acid comes into the picture. When the same researchers added lipoic acid to the L-carnitine supplements, oxidative stress was reduced to the level of youngsters and physical activity was even greater than that achieved with lipoic acid alone. Memory was enhanced, and when the researchers looked at the hippocampus-a brain structure having to do with memory-they found that the combination of L-carnitine and lipoic acid actually kept the mitochondria from aging.
For years nobody paid much attention to the diets of their cats and dogs. They got the scraps off the table, or the mice from the barn and that was about it. But when these animals began being used in laboratories, it became imperative to know their nutritional requirements. "Complete and balanced nutrition" pet food is a billion dollar offshoot of "lab chows." The industry has contributed substantially to understanding the nutritional requirements of our "best friends." But science is moving on now, beyond what it takes to keep an animal on its feet, to what it takes to keep an animal healthy in the long run. New research shows that cats and dogs respond positively to some of the same supplements we take. Lower vet bills and happier animals is our reward for optimal nutrition.
To view which brands of dog food contained detectable levels of pentobarbital in the FDA study, see http://www.fda.gov/cvm/efoi/DFchart.pdf. For a brief report of the study, see http://www.fda.gov/cvm.
For more on the American Association of Feed Control Officers (AAFCO), see http://www.AAFCO.org. The FDA can be accessed at http://www.fda.gov/cvm.
Earth Island Institute has done several reports on commercial pet food and rendering plants, including "The Dark Side of Recycling", fall 1990; "Food Not Fit for A Pet", summer 1996. "Look Inside" a Rendering Plant, summer 1996. See www.earthisland.org.
Cats are strict carnivores. Their requirement for meat protein is three times higher than omnivores like dogs. They must have meat protein to maintain health. Meat should be the first ingredient in a cat's diet. Commercial pet food made with human-grade meat is available online. Brands include Wysong, Wellness, PetGuard and Active Life.
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Books
Ann Martin looked into the pet food industry after her own dog almost died from contaminated commercial dog food. An updated version of her book, Food Pets Die For is now available for $13.95. Call, toll-free, 877-695-2211 or visit www.newsagepress.com. The book is also available through bookstores online.
Martin Goldstein is a Cornell-educated veterinarian who practices holistic vet care. The Nature of Animal Healing. (Knopf 1999).
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