Question: The dog food market is so extensive. How can I sort out what’s best for my dog?
Answer: Trying to figure out the best food for Fluffy is a daunting task today exactly because of the money-grubbing nature of the dog food biz.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is the independent group that issues guidelines for pet food. Those guidelines are approved by the FDA, but to say they’re “loose” is the understatement of the century.
I mentioned last week some ingredients in Fluffy’s food that you definitely want to avoid: The preservatives BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, food dyes Blue 2, Red 40, yellow 5 and 6, Propylene Glycol, rendered fat and meat “by-products”. Also, absolutely no corn, soy or wheat.
You will have to look at a lot of food labels to find a really good quality dog food. Pet food manufacturers spend a ton of money on packaging and label subterfuge to get you to buy their product. And by “subterfuge” I mean trickery. Because when when a major dog food company has on their label “made with high quality chicken” but when you look closer at the ingredients, you see the first one is "chicken by-product meal," you know they’re basically lying to you.
Or when a package says something like “promotes healthy skin and coat” but when you read the ingredients, it starts with ground corn, poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal and animal fat. All of which are simply crapola. Another misnomer perpetrated by these guys is when they tout a food that provides “complete and balanced nutrition.” Sorry, folks, there’s no way you can provide a complete and balanced nutrition in one bag of dog food! So start with a basic mistrust of your dog food manufacturer.
And how many of us eat exactly the same food day after day? But that’s what we force Fluffy to do. For her entire life! The best solution would be to feed your dog food that you make for him out of all sorts of raw vegetables, fruit, greens, eggs and meat. Along with beans, lentils, rice and potatoes. I recommend cooking the meat if you’re going to go this route. My Australian shepherd eats this way and she’s pushing 17.
People who pride themselves on never giving their dog "people food” have kind of missed the mark. Random food items are exactly what their first cousins (wolves) eat. But most of us aren’t going to take the time to prep food for our dog because, frankly, it’s a headache.
What you can do, first of all, is talk to a holistic vet. He’ll have good ideas on better food. And when you look at dog food ingredients, you want to be thinking “I could eat this!”
When a label’s list of ingredients looks something like: Turkey, whole ground barley, brown rice, whole raw sprouts, eggs, garlic, green peas, carrots, cottage cheese, safflower oil, etc., you’re on the right track. These types of food will undoubtedly be more expensive.
But if your dog lived an additional 4 years because he was on a great diet his whole life, wouldn’t that be worth it?
Originally from Louisiana, Gregg Flowers is a local dog trainer who “teaches dogs and trains people.” Contact him at dogteacher7@aol.com or dogsbestfriendflorida.com.
