Being a responsible pet parent means looking beneath the surface of a dog food label…
The US pet food industry is a 13-billion-dollar industry with a handful of players dominating the market. Two of the biggest you may have heard of are Mars and Nestle Corporation.
Now ask yourself…
Isn’t it interesting that the 2 largest chocolate bar companies in the world, also make dog food?
Let me elaborate…
Chocolate is commonly known to be extremely toxic for dogs and throughout my research I’ve concluded these same companies are adding other dangerous ingredients guaranteed to make your precious pets ill.
Here are just some of common ingredients used in your dog food by these big name companies, if you knew about, you definitely would NOT want it in there.
Propylene Glycol
A toxin common in antifreeze used during dog food production processes. Cited as a pet food “moisturizer,” this harmful additive has been linked to deadly blood diseases as well as seizures and tremors, yet it continues to pop up in product after product.
Sulphur Dioxide (Preservative)
We have all heard about preservatives and how in small amounts they aren’t dangerous. But what about dog foods?
They use some of the most hardcore preservatives, mainly because the meat they are using is downgraded, sometimes even rotten. Without the preservative, they wouldn’t last 5 days.
If you look on the back of the pack and you see the words ‘preservatives’ move on to another brand.
Sucrose
Otherwise known as sugar. Dogs process sucrose in the same way we humans do and thus is a big no no ingredient. As in the case of humans, when too much sucrose is ingested by dogs it leads to a host of issues such as weight gain, inflammation, and diabetes which can lead to loss of eyesight and premature death.
Corn
When you think of corn as an ingredient, it doesn’t sound too bad. But the corn in your pet’s food usually downgraded and not fit for human consumption. This means it could contain traces of mold and some toxins that will make it through the treating process. Most dry foods contain around 40% grains/corn and only 25% protein. Considering corn is not an essential nutrient for dogs, why is this ratio so out of whack. You wouldn’t feed a Child a corn based diet, so why would you feed it to a dog?
Melamine
Found in dog food and treats produced overseas, melamine — an industrial chemical banned in many countries – Melamine has been used in the pet industry to boost the apparent protein content. Melamine is also used in the production of plastics, primarily for countertops, utensils, fabrics, adhesives and flame retardants. It has been linked to liver failure and, even, death in dogs.
A massive 2007 dog food and treat was issued on the heels of tens of thousands of pets getting sick and, even, dying as a direct result of consuming these melamine-laced products.