Участник:RinehartCaballero574
Dog Food - Are You Getting It Right?
The recent recall of commercial dog food manufactured by Menu Foods and other dog food companies continues to escalate as worried dog parents scurry for alternative, safe dog food choices. Before we look at dog food costs, let's begin with what makes a good dog food. A top quality dog food depends on the quality of ingredients and the nutritional power of the food. It should offer a balanced diet and contain superior sources of protein as one of the first two ingredients. This can include whole fresh meats or single-source meat meal like chicken meal (rather than poultry meal). A top dog food would also contain whole, unprocessed grains plus vegetables and even fruits. It would have few fillers such as corn, soy, brewer's rice and wheat bran. It would use natural preservatives instead of chemicals like propylene glycol and BHT or BHT.
The U.S pet food industry is a $15 billion a year business and the top pet food manufacturers are owned by multinational companies. Some of these companies spend millions on advertising campaigns every year and for good reasons. Pet food provides a good dumping ground for their waste products, which are unfit for human consumption, to be turned into profits. Some also contains dangerous chemical preservatives and meat by-products that may include decayed meat or even the remains of companion pet animals!
Adult dogs should be fed two meals each day. Puppies need to eat more often. They should be fed puppy food three to four meals daily until they are 12 weeks old, then three meals daily until they are six months old. Many dog trainers advise against leaving dog food or puppy food available all day, to prevent dogs developing picky eating habits. They suggest you allow 20 minutes for each meal. After this time, whatever has not been eaten should be picked up. Dry dog food can be held until the next meal, but moist food should be thrown away. It is very important to make sure your dog has plenty of clean water available at a all times.
Take the case of dehydrated raw food. This food can be fed alone, or along with raw food or home-prepared diet. It is unlike conventional cooked or processed foods. An example of this is the Honest Kitchen's dehydrated foods. Mix it with warm water, before giving them to your dog.
Although you won't see it on the label, since it is often added at the rendering plant and not by the manufacturer, ethoxyquin (EQ) is used to preserve most dry dog food. EQ is the most powerful of all preservatives and may be the most toxic.
