Picking The Right Dog Food

    The ASPCA estimates that nearly 70-80 million dogs and upwards of 96 million cats live in American homes. With a canine population so large, it’s no wonder that the pet food industry is worth over $24 billion. Like humans, it seems that our furry companions are falling victim to improper nutrition, further contributing to the heart; kidney and liver disease are epidemic.  In North America, obesity is the most common preventable disease in dogs. Approximately 25-30% of the general canine population is obese, with 40-45% of dogs aged 5-11 years old weighing in higher than normal. It’s time that we understood just how unhealthy the pet food industry can be and the long-term damage that comes with falling victim to its marketing campaigns.  Save your dog a lot of suffering, and save yourself a fortune in vet bills, by learning the truth about your dog’s diet.

Why Does Quality Food Matter?

    Animals, like humans, need a certain combination of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water every day in order to function normally. One definite way any pet owner can affect the longevity and quality of life for their pet is by providing the highest quality food they can. The quality of the food you feed makes a direct difference in your pet’s health. Better nutrition, provides an overall boost in the immune system and improved health over the long term with less stress on the pet’s organs. The kidneys and liver have to work very hard to remove toxins such as chemicals, preservatives, dyes and other non-supportive elements of the pet’s food out of their body. Without adequate nutrition, your dog would not be able to maintain muscle tone, build and repair muscles, teeth, and bone, perform normal daily activities with ease or fight-off infection.

When Quality Food Does Wonders:

1. Skin & Coat Health: Ever wonder how the pets on television have such pristine fur? It’s not the CGI, but proper balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids that promote healthy skin which produces hair with a nice sheen. Furthermore, foods with adequate omega-3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect to reduce itching and other irritations.
2. Beach Body: What’s the secret dietary ingredient that stimulates muscle growth? Protein is essential to form new skin cells, grow hair, build muscle tissue, and more. It also assists in creating body chemicals like hormones and enzymes that are needed for normal function. Quality protein sources to look for include chicken, beef, eggs, lamb, fish, and meat meals.
3. Less Expensive: You read that right! The vitamins and minerals found in every bag of dog food work together to keep your dog’s immune system and metabolism functioning normally. Because your pet will have a stronger immune system, allowing for faster recovery from illness and injures, you will save thousands of dollars in vet bills. Obesity will lead to health risks and without adequate levels of vitamins and minerals, your pet would eventually become ill.

Commercial Food = Fast Food

    Heavily-processed fast foods as a big diet component can cause major health problems in people and dogs. When animals are slaughtered for food production, the lean muscle is cut off for human consumption. The remaining carcass (bones, organs, blood, beaks, etc.) is what goes into pet food. Many of us have been convinced that the healthy, natural, premium and “recommended by” labels on pet food must mean that the food inside the bag is great for pets. Manufactures place images of fresh cut chicken breast, fresh fruit and vegetables on their packages, yet this is rarely what is actually inside of the bag. Dog food may legally contain “4-D” meat: meat from dead, dying, diseased and disabled animals. Add a little road kill, mill floor sweepings labeled as grain, and corn contaminated with high levels of pesticide and you have a recipe for ill health. Less expensive pet food contains cheap ingredients that add up inadequate nutrition.

Some Terrible Ingredients In Pet Food:

1. Carrageenan: Found in more than 70% of canned pet foods, research indicates that carrageenan causes intestinal inflammation with potential risks of cancer, even in small doses.
2. Ethoxyquin: Used as a preservative in most dog foods, ethoxyquin leads to kidney and liver damage, cancer, immune deficiency syndrome, blindness, and leukemia.
3. Corn Syrup: Used to add sweetness, this overused product will lead to weight gain, diabetes and hyperactivity. Corn, very inexpensive filler, over time may develop mold or fungus and in turn, may result in death.
4. Propylene Glycol: Found in anti-freeze, propylene glycol is placed in dog food to help reduce moisture and prevent bacteria growth. Dogs may develop cancerous lesions within their intestines or develop intestinal blockage due to lack of moisture and “good” intestinal bacteria.

What’s The Worst That Can Happen?

    Dogs are the masters of panhandling. The incredibly hard to resist puppy eyes will seduce even the toughest individual, sending them straight to the doggy treats section at the local pet store. Most Americas will do the bare minimum in terms of exercise for their pet, causing an imbalance between the energy intake and its usage, eating more than the dog can possibly expend. We make that critical mistake of catching the mistakes when it’s already too late and most refuse to say no to their pup in fears of hurting their feelings.

    Veterinarians state that processed pet food (kibbled and canned food) is the number one cause of illness and premature death in modern dogs and cats. In one animal study, performed by Dr. Kollath of the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, young animals that were fed cooked and processed foods initially appeared to be healthy. But once they reached adulthood, they began aging quicker than normal and developed degenerative disease symptoms. A control group raised on raw foods aged less quickly and did not develop any degenerative diseases!

What Harm Can a Few Pounds Do?

1. Hypertension: More commonly referred to as high blood pressure, hypertension occurs when the dog’s arterial blood pressure is continually higher than normal. Hypertension may affect many of the dog’s body systems, including heart, kidneys, eyes, and the nervous system.
2. Diabetes: Complex disease caused by either a lack of the hormone insulin or an inadequate response to insulin. The most common form of the disease in dogs is Type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes, which occurs when the pancreas is incapable of producing or secreting adequate levels of insulin.
3. Damaged Joints: Approximately 25% of overweight dogs develop serious joint complications. Extra tension on joints caused by an increased weight load can also lead to damage of certain ligaments. Hip dyspepsia will become unbearable and downright abusive if the pet is too heavy.
4. Heat Intolerance: Excessive temperatures can easily take out your beloved pet. Fat is an excellent insulator that might be the final blow after excessive play in the hot sun.
5. Liver Disease: The liver helps with digestion and blood clotting, and it removes toxins from his system. If it’s not working right, it can make your companion sick.

Popular Dog Treats That Are Actually Horrible

    Now that we understand the dangers of an unhealthy diet, lets go over some of the “crap” that may be contributing to the problem. The pet store works just like our supermarkets. Companies spend millions of dollars on research and development to determine what colors and imagines trigger YOU! to buy. They later fight for the “perfect” shelf space that they know is the most likely place you will look. Unfortunately, millions of dollars also get funneled into researching the perfect treat, adding just the right amount of delicious to trigger as much dopamine as possible, as seen in the soda, cereals, cookies, and every other product designed for children. Our pets and children become addicted to the sugar high, forcing them to beg their parents/owners to get more. Sadly, we fall for the puppy eyes and extreme happiness without considering the long side effects.

You’ve Probably Seen These Everywhere:

1. Pedigree MarroBone: One of Pedigree’s top selling dog treat products; it is also one of the least nutritional when it comes time to rewarding our dogs. Contains fine particles of wheat bran, wheat germ, and the offal from the “tail of the mill.” “Tail of the mill” means the floor sweepings of leftovers in the mill after everything has been processed from the wheat.
2. Purina Beggin Strips: When is the last you dipped bacon in sugar for breakfast? Sugar is famous for causing liver failure in dogs if consumed in high doses. Furthermore, BHA is added as a preservative that has been linked to cancer. To top it all off, wheat flour is one of the first ingredients listen on the label, a product that has zero nutritional value for your pet.
3. Snausages In A Blanket: Contains propylene glycol that is utilized in antifreeze solutions, in hydraulic fluids, and as a solvent. This is not allowed for use in Europe as the findings have shown it to be dangerous.
4. Puperoni Mix Stick: Packed with sugar, propylene glycol, salt, onion extract are all harmful to our pets. Puperoni sticks are in every retail store and dogs fall for it.

Are There Healthy Alternatives?

    Although you’re never going to find the “perfect” solution due to mass production, there are better alternatives on the market. When searching for dog food, it’s imperative that we look for companies that use real meat and vegetables and don’t use preservatives. Orijen features inclusions of fresh free-run poultry, whole nest-laid eggs, whole wild-caught fish and ranch raised meats farmed or fished in their region. Yes, you will spend a few extra dollars for the premium brands but you can sleep easy knowing that your pet is getting the best nutrition it can. Cut out the poisonous treats from the supermarket and stick with using real chicken at home. Rack up the savings and discover that paying an extra 20-30 dollars per bag will not set you back at all. Another benefit of getting high quality food is that it tames your pets munches. We found that high quality dog food actually lasts longer and keeps your pet in fantastic shape.

Here Are Some of Our Picks:

1. Orijen: There is a reason why they received more awards than any other pet food maker in the world. Local Canadian farmers, ranches, and fishermen provide fresh and custom ingredients that are GMO free, and sustainably and ethically produced. Fruit, vegetable and botanical ingredients will be of table quality, and all meat ingredients come from animals deemed fit for human consumption. Orijen is the caviar of pet food and every member at DoggyCrap stands behind it.
2. Canidae: An independent and family-owned company, Canidae sources its ingredients from other family-owned businesses throughout the US, and the company produces every one of its nutritionally dense formulas in company-owned-and-operated facilities. Specifically formulated for all life stages, one formula is great for all dogs.
3. Blue Buffalo: US-based company, wide variety of product choices, every recipe starts with high-quality animal protein, all-natural ingredients with no artificial additives. Blue Buffalo believes that we should love our pets like family and feed them life family. Company was founded when the owners dog Blue developed health problems and created pet food made with high quality natural ingredients.

    Obesity is a deadly yet preventable disease that destroys what life has to offer. Remember that you are your dog’s will power and are in control of his health. Allowing him to become obese is detrimental, and we know that you don’t want your pet leaving your side any sooner than he needs to. Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to maintaining a long, healthy life. With time and effort on your pet, your pup will be healthier and happier than ever.

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