Is dog food actually killing your dogs?

The thought is morosely appalling. We buy our dogs this food to feed and sustain them, how can something like that statement be true? Let me start at the beginning, between my lady and I, we have three dogs. A German Shepard mix named Sandy, and two red heeler / terrier pit bull mixes, named Chubby and Roy, brother and sister. All these dogs are pound dogs, which I highly suggest if you are interested in getting a dog. Used to be when I would feed them, they would scarf their food without actually tasting it. But as of the past month or so it has been a real chore feeding these dogs. We fill their bowls and distribute them accordingly. They take a whiff, and just stare at whoever soiled their bowl with a bewildered look, filling it with supposed dog food. Confused looks gleam in their eyes turning into disgust as they walk away from their untouched dinner. I hate to say it, but I think my dogs are getting snobby. The only way to get them to eat it was to keep on them and insist not letting them out of the kitchen until they eat, but this is a poor solution to a growing problem. A more effective way, is to spice up their mundane kibble with whatever is on hand at the time; nuts, veggies, gravy, and meats. They love it, the downside though is that most dogs will become spoiled and picky about their meals, always expecting something extra. Hence my thoughts as to my dogs being snobby. You will either have to keep up the habit or break them of it, which is hard once its formed.

This brings me to the question, “Why should we have to add more food to their kibble just to make it edible?” It's dog food right, no matter what the brand it still claims itself to be food for dogs. Why don't dogs like it then? We are in this boat, our dogs won't eat unless they are desperate because they know there is something better in the fridge. So we start brainstorming how to go about making our own dog food. We call up a couple different companies to find out what they put in their dog food, mostly to elaborate on their meats, which are labeled as "meal", "by-product" or flavor. One number from a wet dog food package which I do not care to mention, the number was actually a complaint or service number. The lady who answered asked if we were calling about the recall...?

“Recall? Really, for what?”

“Oh there were contaminates, it happened about three years ago.” She spoke matter-of-factly.

“What contaminates?” I said starting to worry.

“I really don't know.”

“Well what do you put into your dog food?”

“I'm sorry sir, I don't know, this is just for complaints.”

She gave me the corporate answer when under pressure and hung up. This conversation did nothing but scare us and make us wonder what we are feeding our dogs. It was the brand that was recalled which we had, and I started thinking maybe my dogs know something I don't. So I starting researching to find out what exactly was going into the foods we were buying our dogs, and what I found was appalling. Every dog food needs the same basic things, like protein, carbohydrates, and a little bit of fat. These remain a necessity throughout. What dogs do not need and is found in most brands of food is fillers. Being grains, corn, saw dust or old wheat husks, that is exactly their purpose in the food, to fill out the dog food, nothing more. These things are almost completely indigestible and offer the dog no nutritional value whatsoever. The worst part is the protein they add into it. Usually protein would come from an animal, in this case, it comes from many using a process called rendering. Basically, taking the said animals and grinding them up together into a pulp. This pulp or mash is then distributed out for anyone who can use it. Usually finding its way into kibble for dogs as a high protein source. The animals rendered range from horses, cows and llamas, to dogs and cats, said to have died form natural causes. There have been some disturbing instances though where euthanized dogs and cats have been rendered and distributed. The vets use a compound called sodium pentathol or pentobarbital to euthanize animals. The terrifying thing about these chemicals is that they never break down or dissipate, even long after death. That is why any shelter or veterinarian who uses euthanasia on animals has to have the body cremated after death. That is the only way to destroy the lingering poisons in the lifeless body. More than likely if these euthanized animals are being rendered, chances are those same poisons used to kill cats and dogs are getting into your pets food. How can this be? Shouldn’t the FDA step in and flex their power over foods for something like this? Turns out they do not monitor the quality of dog food, there is a special company that does that by the name of AAFCO, who are much more lenient on food quality for animals. Only in extreme cases does the FDA step in and regulate the flow of dog food, mostly when dogs start dying; like in the 1997 recall of a certain brand of food I will not name for fear of ad sense actually advertising them. Lets just say its cheap cheap shit. Something along the lines of Roy, and not my dog. A Wal-Mart house brand that should have been taken off the shelves long ago, Ol something or other. And this turns out to be the dog food we cheaped out on, the one the lady said had contaminates. This brand is actually on recall now, 2010, well at least certain types of food, but I assure you, the list was long.

How can this be avoided? For one you can stop doing as we did, which is buy cheap food, and start buying your dogs quality food. I know times are tight and pocket books even more so, but is it worth the health, possibly the life of your pet? Any six star food will do, research it and see what works for your budget. I hear Taste of the Wild is highly recommended, but have yet to try it myself.

What you should look for when buying dry food.

1. Make sure every meat is identified in the ingredients and they are whole pieces.

2. Avoid foods that state themselves as any type of meal. It is too unpredictable a statement. Same thing goes for flavor, or by-product. Any substitute should be off limits.

3. Before a change in your dogs diet, RESEARCH. There are many allergens which can affect your dogs.

4. Enact the change slowly. Switching foods suddenly can be hard on your dog's digestive system.
   

Another way of making sure your dog is eating healthy is to make it yourself. We have taken it upon ourselves to change our dogs dependence on store bought foods, to more natural foods. A lot goes into preparing your dogs meals and I can not suggest strongly enough the need for researching this before you decide to make the switch. It will be well worth it in the long run and actually be cheaper than buying a bag of dog food. The benefits are immense. It is said that the lifespans of dogs runs potentially between 18-25 years, but that is on a diet of home made foods, not store bought kibble. A Newfoundland dog breeder fed her dogs nothing but home made foods. The average lifespan of these dogs runs about six years, hers Newfies were living up to fifteen years. If this fact alone doesn't sway you I don't know what will. Home made food is much more compact and dense than store bought kibble, meaning your dogs would eat less, and get more from it, having more energy and feeling immeasurably happier, not to mention producing less waste.

I have found the best way to make the switch is to start slowly, gradually giving them more and more of the home made mixed with their kibble, until it is all home made. Switching their diet could cause stomach problems, I believe this to be the best way for them to adjust. There are some things to remember when making food for your dogs. For a healthy dog, they need all their proper vitamins and minerals.

• Fat: 5%-10%

• Protein: 20%-50%

• Carbohydrates: 20%-30%

• also they need bone minerals such as calcium. Calcium carbonate works and can be attained by crushing up Tums tablets into their food mixture.

Some foods that go well into a home made dog food mixture,

1. Ground beef, cooked and drained. Good source of protein and fat.

2. Cooked eggs are probably the best source of protein for dogs, being that it is very light.

3. Brown/wild rice is a good source for carbohydrates and most dogs will be less likely to be allergic to it compared to say wheat or rye.

4. Potatoes, peeled well and boiled.

5. Sweet peas unseasoned are a good source of fiber.

6. Carrots will help clean teeth if still firm after cooked.

7. Wild fish are a good source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids, although do not feed too often and avoid canned fish such as tuna or salmon, etc.

You don't have to buy specifically for the dogs, if you conserve things you eat they can be incorporated such as fat trim from meats. One recipe we have found a success goes something like this.

5 tums crushed

2 tsp baking powder

4 cups flour unbleached

1 cup instant oats

1 can chicken broth

¾ cups  water

1 tsp veg oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry and wet ingredients separately, then add the liquids to the flour mixture stirring as you go. Add up to 1/2 cup more water if it's too dry. Add 1 can sweet peas, 4 eggs, scrambled, 1 cup pecans. Pour onto cookie sheet, spread out so it's about 1/2 inch thick. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool, crumble, bake another 15 minutes.

This makes a full gallon zip lock bag full of home made kibble. The cost of buying everything, which you would not have to do every time, runs about $6 or so. Well worth it and much cheaper and more healthy for your dogs. You see everything that goes into the making of their food, it is very satisfying. We are just starting this regiment so if any of you out there have been doing it for a while and have any suggestions as to ingredients or recipes, please let me know. On a final note, do the research yourself to see if this is the right kind of diet for your dog. They will thank you afterward.