Most dog owners feed their dogs commercial dog food brands.  Choosing which brand to buy can at times be most confusing for they all claim to be the best.  There is no best dog food out there.  The best food that your dog can have is one you prepare yourself.  For those who are curious about making their own dog food you should first have some insight into how commercial dog food brands make their products before you start developing your own dog food recipes.

There are many different types of commercial dog food brands and most offer a variety of choices.  There are dry foods or kibble, canned or wet food or semi-moist food.  There is a different manufacturing process for each one with different procedures for each individual product.

Dry Dog food is by far the biggest selling product on the market.  Dog owners prefer it because it is more economical, easier to serve and, if necessary, can be stored for long periods of time.  Dry dog food can be made in several different ways.  The most common of these is the extrusion method.

It all starts with the raw materials of grain, meat and fat which are processed in bulk and are the main dog food ingredients that appear on the label.  However, there is a long list of other ingredients like food coloring and dyes, toxins, pesticides, chemicals, harmful preservatives (BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin) and antibiotics not appearing  on any dog food label that are added to the raw materials.

All of these ingredients are ground to a consistency like that of coarse flour for easier processing.  All the ingredients are then mixed together.  This part of the process is very important because if the mixture is not blended properly many of the essential nutrients will be lost.

Next comes the process of extrusion.  This is where the mixture is kneaded, shaped and sliced.  Similar to the bread making process it goes through several rising cycles.  Before the mix is extruded it goes through a preconditioning procedure where water, meat and fat are blended into the mix.  The blended mix is then forced through a die to be uniformly cut into the desired shape.

The dry dog food product is now taken from the extruder and placed in a dryer for the removal of excess moisture.  If this process is done too quickly it will break more easily during shipping and handling.  The results of this can be seen by examining the bottom of the cheaper dog food brands. The product is then cooled to prevent condensation.

The final step in the manufacturing process is called enrobing.  This is where fat and flavor enhancers area added in liquid or powdered form to the outer surface.  This improves the taste and makes the end product more palatable.

Fortunately, we can make a more nutritious, better tasting dry dog food with ingredients right from our own kitchens. Knowing how commercial dog food brands make their products can provide us with some insight in what not to include in our dog food recipes

Only you, the dog owner, has your dog’s health and well being in mind.  The benefits of making a wholesome well balanced dog food will promote a healthier skin and coat, strong well developed bones, defined muscle tone, bright clear eyes, healthier teeth and gums,firmer stools, and hopefully fewer trips to your Vet.

To be able to determine what is the best food to feed your dog when making dog food recipes it is a good idea to first learn how to read dog food labels properly.  In this way you can compare the ingredients in the food you make your dog to what is in the manufactured dog food brands.

Most commercial dog foods are very generalized in their labeling procedures because they are targeting a wide customer base. Not all commercial dog foods are bad, but it is important to understand that most of these products fall short in key nutrients needed for the vitality and health of the dog. Many are loaded with fillers that provide no nutritional benefit whatsoever.
So lets read through a dog food label  and see what ingredients are being used and how we can improve on them when we  make our own dog food recipes.

A dog food label consists of ingredients, an analysis and feeding instructions.  We will only concerm ourselves with the ingredients for the purpose of this exercise.

The List of ingredients
Ingredients are listed in weight order.  However pet food manufacturers can disguise the less desirable ingredients by breaking them down into several ingredient catagories.  Read all the ingredients carefully especially the preservatives and food colorings.  To develop a good dog food recipe here is a list of the most common ingredients used.

Meat:
This is the clean flesh of a slaughtered animal. However, the flesh can include striated skeletal muscle, tongue, diaphragm, heart and esophagus, For our purpose we would want to use chicken or fish which contain the highest percentages of protein.

Meat By-products:
These are the clean parts of slaughtered animals such as lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, and stomach and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth, or hooves.  We have no need for meat by-products in our dog food recipes but it is good to be aware of what this term truly implies implies.

Poultry By-products:
As in meat by-products these are the clean parts of slaughtered poultry such as heads, feet, and internal organs.  It does not contain feathers.  Again not for us to be concerned.

Chicken or Fish Meal:
This is the clean ground tissue of undecomposed whole chicken or fish or their cuttings, with or without the oil extracted.

Beef Tallow:
This is fat derived from beef.

Ground Corn:
This is the entire corn kernel ground or chopped.

Corn Gluten Meal:
This is the by-product of corn syrup or starch, and is the dried residue after the removal of the bran, germ, and starch.  Pet food manufacturers use this as a filler.  We cab use this in our recipes but in small amounts.

Brewers Rice:
This is the small fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from larger kernels of milled rice and also used as a filler ingredient.

Brown Rice:
This is the unpolished rice left over after the kernels have been removed.  This we can use for our recipes because it provides nutrional value to our dog food preparations.

Soybean Meal:
This is a by-product of the production of soybean oil.

BHA:
This is butylated hydroxyanisole, a fat preservative.

Ethoxyquin:
This is a chemical preservative that is used to prevent spoilage in dog food.

Tocopherols:
These are naturally occurring compounds used as natural preservatives.

As you can see there are very few ingredients listed on any dog food labels that are useful for our purpose.  All we really need to make a good meal for our dogs is chicken or fish, certain vegetables and maybe a small amount of corn gluten to help in digestion.  To learn more about dog food nutrition and dog food ingredients read the appropriately named articles on this site.

All Dog Foods Are Not The Same

Introduction

Your dog’s health and well being is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian bills! So you need to carefully consider the food that you give your dog. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they see at the store. It’s easy to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.

To keep your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and should be fed good quality dog food in amounts just right to meet his energy requirements. Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.

Picking a dog food

The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot about dog food is human grade. Human grade implies that the dog food is good enough for us to eat. Many commercial dog foods are made from materials unusable or less desirable for human consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans to eat.

Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.

Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use store brand dog food they may short change your dog on much needed nutrition.

Studies have shown that the primary ingredient in dog food should be meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. According to reviews a better quality dog food results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. Pet-nutrition experts agree that the best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is so important because good nutrition is essential for a long, healthy life.

Types of dog food

There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.

Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you’ve never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.

Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional dog food, but they argue it’s worth it. You may find that locating free natural home made dog food recipes is not easy. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your own dog food. Your dog will thank you for it.

If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain high quality and natural ingredients, so always check the label. It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before deciding on which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will know your dog’s dietary needs and you will find that veterinary offices and feed stores often carry excellent and natural dog food.

All Natural Dog Food

Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are examples of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog’s skin and also your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used.

Dried Dog Food

A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound. A vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food for its convenience and ease of storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.

Vegetarian dog foods

There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are also vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies consult your vet before putting him on a specialized diet.

Conclusion

Overall it’s usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not our food, even though they may prefer what we’re eating! Of course you can feed your dog treats from time to time, every dog needs some TLC from time to time!

About the Author

David Amos is a dog lover and long time dog owner. For more information about dog food click Dog Food and for more about dog care and keeping your dog happy and healthy click Top Dogs Online

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