Home
>
Pet
>
The Truth About Dog Food

The Truth About Dog Food

These days, it's hard to know what decisions are the best ones for our beloved pets. So much information, so many conflicting theories and opinions! When it comes to dog food, is wetter better? Or should you give dry a try?

In this article, I'm not going to tell you what to feed your dog. That's something that should be decided on by you, and based on the recommendation of your vet. But it helps to know the facts before making a decision, and here are some things you may not have known about what's really in that can of mutt meal or bag of kibble.

1. Dog food was invented to make use of "food waste" that's deemed unfit for humans. Back in the old days, dogs ate the same things that humans ate: meat, vegetables and grains from the family meals. Then came food processing plants, and a set of FDA standards that had to be met for human consumption. When the government realized the amount of grain and meat that was being wasted in these processing plants, they decided to package it in cans and bags and market it as "Dog Food." Advertising did a great job of telling the public, "This is the ideal diet for your dog!"

2. Dogs only live to about half of their life expectancy. Some experts claim that the real lifespan of a canine can be as much as 35 years, yet most dogs don't get past age 17. Dogs are developing the same diseases and ailments as humans: obesity, diabetes, heart trouble, arthritis, and even cancer. Why the failing health? One theory is that dogs who eat processed dog food suffer the same fate as people who subsist on junkfood. Their bodies never get the nutrition that's needed for optimal functioning, so they age prematurely and their bodies "crap out" on them.

3. Most dog food has no nutritional value. Whether you feed your dog wet food or dry food, both wet and dry formulas of "average-priced" brands are based on very low quality standards. If your dog eats meat from a can, he's consuming mostly rendered meat or meat meal, which has been treated in meat processing plants on extremely high heat. To "render" meat is to separate the moisture the solids as well as boil all of the vitamins and nutrients out of it. If he eats kibble, he's getting runoff from the country's biggest cereal mills, which may be slightly better nutritionally, but remember that your dog was born a carnivore. His body does not digest grain easily.

4. Moderately-priced dog food usually contains harmful additives and preservatives. To make up for the lack of taste that comes from overprocessing meat and grain meal, dog food companies added artificial "meat-like" color, flavor and a spray of fat to their secret recipe, not to mention harmful preservatives like BHA and BHT to extend the shelf life. It's these very additives that cause health complications in humans leading to heart disease, diabetes and cancer, not only for humans but for dogs as well.

Make an informed decision on behalf of your dog.

So what are we supposed to do, stop paying for our children's piano lessons so we can afford the added expense of Rover's weekly meat consumption?

Many dog owners choose to feed their furry friends whole foods like beef, chicken, rice and potatoes, in an effort to keep them healthier and around for many more years. Although whole food is always the smarter choice, this may not be a practical consideration for your budget. In which case, it's worth looking into one of the top brands of dog foods such as Iams, Eukaneuba or Hill's Science Diet, for their nutritionally formulated foods that contain the proper amounts of certain vitamins and minerals that are crucial in keeping a dog's body in balance and functioning at peak performance. These foods may be slightly higher priced than the standard economy pack of Ol' Roy... but paying a little extra now can keep the vet bills down later.

Just like anything else in your life, you want to make choices that reflect your own beliefs, financial situation and personal philosophy. It's ultimately up to you to decide what to feed your dog. But it always helps to know the facts first.

Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more information.

green cleaning service Park Ridge ..

In The News:

Take control of your digital privacy with actionable tips like Facebook privacy checkup, location tracking management and data removal services to protect your personal information.

Smart TVs and streaming devices manufactured in China are being compromised by BadBox 2.0 malware before users even power them on; infections have been detected in 222 countries.

The lightweight, 15-pound Tenniix tennis robot mimics pro playing styles like Nadal and Federer, using AI trained on 8,000 hours of professional tennis data.

Oak Ridge's uranium enrichment facility supports America's AI ambitions amid concerns that China's aggressive nuclear reactor construction could give it an edge in powering data centers.

Facebook scam ads now leverage AI and deepfakes to create convincing celebrity endorsements, targeting specific demographics with sophisticated schemes.

Apple unveils iOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe and iPadOS 26 with translucent Liquid Glass design at WWDC 2025, featuring ChatGPT integration as competitors advance rapidly.

The Atom Touch prosthetic arm combines an AI neural interface with EMG sensors, allowing amputees to control individual fingers with precision at an affordable $25,000.

Aspen officials aim to have crews on the scene within five minutes — something they say would be nearly impossible without precise location data the AI technology gives.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says iPads are usually secure, but hackers can access them. Spot warning signs early to protect your data.

Tech expert Kurt Knutsson reveals how to easily move photos and videos off your iPhone or Android to securely protect your favorite moments.

The Social Security Administration is launching digital SSN access this summer. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to use it and protect your identity.

Glide underwater with CudaJet and make the ocean your playground. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses the redesigned tech that might be your next big thrilling adventure.

Protect yourself from login alert scams with five security steps, including avoiding suspicious links, checking account activity and enabling two-factor authentication

Skip the usual Father's Day gifts with personalized ideas for tech enthusiasts, home brewers, pool owners, seniors, outdoor lovers and privacy-conscious dads.

DMV text scam alert: Fraudsters impersonating motor vehicle departments nationwide are sending threatening messages about unpaid tickets and tolls to steal your information.

Fox News' AI Newsletter brings you the latest on this rapidly evolving technology.

E-BAR, MIT's mobile robot, provides physical support for seniors with handlebars that follow from behind, helping prevent falls while maintaining dignity for aging adults.

AI is changing everything – now, we can even use it to generate video. I tried OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo – here's how they measure up against each other.

Five simple phone setting tweaks that make your device work harder for you, from automatic text message deletion to scheduled focus modes.

Android users can save time with 10 simple automations, including automatic battery saver mode, location-based Wi-Fi settings and scheduled "Do Not Disturb" mode.

Personal information from 364,000 people was compromised in a LexisNexis data breach that went undetected for months, highlighting privacy risks.

The Phantom 3500 jet features a windowless design that reduces drag and structural weak points, burning 50% less fuel than conventional business jets.

An Adidas data breach through a third-party vendor exposed customer details like emails and phone numbers, raising concerns about phishing and identity theft risks.

Nurabot, an AI nursing robot, helps Taiwan hospitals address nurse shortages by performing tasks like medication delivery, allowing nurses to focus on patient care.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Google has expanded its privacy tool to easily remove personal information from search results.

The Truth About Dog Food

Pet