Comments on: Dog Food Ingredients and Claims: What Do They Mean?

By: Michele C. Hollow

Michele C. Hollow — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:37:13 +0000

Your comment: “It’s interesting that by-products unfit for human consumption are in turn fed to chickens and cattle which we end up eating anyway,” makes me glad I don't eat meat. I have been giving my cat cooked chicken and turkey and vegetables. One of my friends cooks a big dinner, which she shares with her dogs. That way she knows that she and her dogs are eating well.

By: robfdavis

robfdavis — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:48:38 +0000

Too many definitions that is for sure!

By: robfdavis

robfdavis — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:48:13 +0000

thats a good idea!

By: Jim (Doggybytes.ca)

Jim (Doggybytes.ca) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:37:11 +0000

How about following guidelines for human nutritional analyses?

Nutrition Facts

Per 454g/cup

Protein (animal source): 45g
Carbohydrate (sans grains): 10g
Fat: 20g (marine source)
Calories: 400

**these numbers are just for example

In human sports nutrition, protein from vegetable sources is almost never included in a diet as they are incomplete (meaning they don not contain all 8 essential amino acids) and inferior as compared to animal source protein. For the same reason, protein counts in pet food should not include protein from vegetable sources. Of course they are, for one reason and one reason only, and that is to be able to cheaply "bump up" the amount of protein listed on the label.

By: Jim (Doggybytes.ca)

Jim (Doggybytes.ca) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:21:06 +0000

Thanks Rod, You hit it on the head. Most people wouldn't think about feeding their kids Kraft Dinner every single day of their lives, even though that would be cheap and convenient.

In my opinion, when somebody decides to take on the responsibility of guardianship for a companion animal, that responsibility encompases all things required to give that animal a safe and healthy life, diet, exercise and medical attention when needed. A dog has a realatively short lifespan - shouldn't it be our responsibility to make its time on this earth count?

At the very least, with regards to what we feed our pet(s), I think we owe it to them to investigate and educate ourselves as much as we can, about what feeding our pets a truly healthy diet means.

In the best interest of our pets, we owe it to them to question the status quo of current feeding practices, imo.

By: robfdavis

robfdavis — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:48:38 +0000

Too many definitions that is for sure!

By: robfdavis

robfdavis — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:48:13 +0000

thats a good idea!

By: Jim (Doggybytes.ca)

Jim (Doggybytes.ca) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:37:11 +0000

By: Jim (Doggybytes.ca)

Jim (Doggybytes.ca) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:21:06 +0000

By: Amy@GoPetFriendly

Amy@GoPetFriendly — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:44:05 +0000

Rob – this would be fantastic!! I'm a person of at least average intelligence, and I found reading dog food ingredients to be completely overwhelming. There are so many definitions you need to know – I mean, “meal” doesn't sound that bad until Jim lets us know what it really means! Yuck!! The simple example you gave would be wonderful.