Dog Food Can Get Confusing
Purchasing dog food is perplexing even when times are good, but in today's troubled economy it raises many more questions. There is inexpensive dog food and then there is pricey dog food. There are numerous brands, like sojos food. How is a customer to know what is the best type to purchase?
Of course, price is foremost on buyers' minds. They might ask if it is truly worth it to pay more for organic, healthy, or premium dog food. The answer all depends upon how much you care about the pet. Would you give your child any bad food? Certainly not. So why should it be any different for your dog?
Always read the label and especially the ingredients when you buy dog food. You will often find things in there that you wouldn't feed your dog yourself. These are called fillers and they contain no nutritional value and may even be dangerous to your pet. Here are some things to watch out for.
Corn is a cheap and indigestible substance, attributing to number one filler in any dog food. May it be in any form (ground corn, corn meal, corn husks or even corn syrup). Obviously it isn't doing any good to your dog other than bloating the poor thing. It would be advisible to avoid completely, check the ingredients before you pay!
Be aware of ingredients labeled as "by product." They are not supposed to eaten. It includes feet, brains, diseased meat, and even road kill. These maybe hazardous to your health. Why risking your life? Another is "mill run" which is as bad as the other. This means that it is waste from mills. Basically, it is just hulls.
Anyone buying any dog products should always pay attention to their quality. In many instances, dog treats are packed with more filler than their regular food and since it's considered a treat, manufacturers can claim it doesn't have to be that healthy. However, this is going to be eaten by your dog and should still be of the highest quality.
You may wonder if it is worth the effort to analyze the ingredients in your dogs food. Many dogs eat cheaper food and they seem to be fine. However, these dogs are at risk for health problems, including digestive issues. If you feed your dog cheaper food, you may end up paying more over time in veterinary bills. Besides the possible expense, you should care about the type of food you are feeding your dog. After all, he or she is your best friend.
Purchasing dog food is perplexing even when times are good, but in today's troubled economy it raises many more questions. There is inexpensive food and then there is pricey food. There are numerous brands, like Sojos food. Examine the quality of other dog products as well. Dog treats and snacks are often made with mostly fillers. It is often the case that dog treats contain more filler than food, because people view the treats as "just a snack". Be careful not to accept this mindset. Dog treats should have nutritional value as well.
Published January 29th, 2009
Filed in Family
