#11 ingredient lists

We all love to give our dog’s healthy wholesome treats and foods. But, there are tons of different types available on the market and it can be darn near impossible to decide which one is best for your dog. The ingredient lists look like they are written in a different language, and to top it all off treats and dog food are expensive! I’m hoping through this post I can shed some light on what can be a confusing topic.

The first question you should ask yourself when deciding what product to buy is: “What are the first three ingredients?” These three ingredients are the protein of your dog’s food and make up the largest portion of the food. That being said you want them to be “real ingredients” like Chicken, beef, or lamb. Avoid words like corn, wheat gluten meal, and textured soy protein meal. While these are in fact viable sources of protein, they aren’t the best choice to be the main ingredients in your dog’s food. Also, most people don’t realize the majority of dogs are allergic to corn. If your dog gets frequent yeast infections in their ears or between their toes, has dry itchy skin, or is frequently licking/ chewing the bottoms of their feet or skin to the point they are getting sores, it is very likely they are having an allergic reaction to the corn in their diet.

Next you should ask yourself what some of the other ingredients are and what do they do? You may see ingredients like mixed tocopherols (these are preservatives), methionine (a natural amino acid) or pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6). These are all good additives that are harmless and / or beneficial to your dog. But, be forewarned if you see Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), and Ethoxyquin. These are 3 nasty chemical preservatives. BHA and BHT are carcinogens and have caused kidney and liver damage in rats. Ethoxyquin is illegal to use in human foods, yet can still legally be added to pet foods, it has warning labels for people saying “May burn skin”. Ethoxyquin often enters through ‘fish meal’. Propylene Glycol is used to make kibble feel moist or soft. It comes from a chemical called ethylene glycol- also known as antifreeze, not something you want to be feeding your dog!
It’s best that your pet’s food and treats have no preservatives, but natural options like Vitamins C and E are safer choices. Many “Natural foods” will also use Rosemary extract as a preservative which I advise against as it can be a seizure trigger. 


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