Dog Food Ingredients: Understanding the Protein Source – All dog foods, good or bad, must have a protein source in the formula. Higher quality foods will have actual meat as the protein source, while lower quality foods will have more of the protein coming from cheap grain sources such as soybean meal and corn….
Dog Food Ingredients: Label “Tricks” – Labels on pet food look rather simple. They guarantee Protein, Fat, Fiber and some vitamins and minerals, but do you know what it all means? One of the most misleading, but perfectly legal, label “tricks” is….
Dog Food Ingredients: What good are all those odd ingredients in my dog food? – Have you ever wondered why they are there? I am going to go over a few common ingredients and explain their sources and uses, so you can make a more informed decision about the food you choose for your dog….
Dog Food Ingredients: Minerals – The proper balance of minerals in a pet’s body is extremely important. Too much or too little of one mineral can affect the action of others. Supplementation or withholding of one or more minerals can create imbalances and affect an animal’s health….
Dog Food Ingredients: Vitamins – Vitamins are necessary for literally tens of thousands of different chemical reactions in the body. They often work in conjunction with minerals and enzymes to assure normal digestion, reproduction, muscle and bone growth and function, healthy skin and hair, clotting of blood, and the use of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates by the body….
Dog Food Ingredients: Amino Acids – amino acids come primarily from the breakdown of the proteins in the diet. These amino acids are necessary for maintenance and repair of tissue and organs, and the production of enzymes, hormones and antibodies. Basically, amino acids are needed for all bodily functions. A dog must be fed enough variety of proteins to supply all the necessary amino acids. Very few protein sources, both plant and animal, have a perfect amino acid profile…