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Pet Food Confidential: What's guaranteed about pet food?
Ever noticed that box full of phrases and numbers called a guaranteed analysis? Every pet food has one, but I for one never knew what it meant until I started doing this research.
AAFCO asks pet food manufacturers to list guaranteed amounts for certain nutrients. Under their model regulations (which are actually just recommendations), pet food manufacturers are expected to list guaranteed minimum amounts of protein and fat, and maximum amounts of fiber and moisture. The idea is to give consumers a way to compare pet foods and know that their pet's food contains plenty of the core nutrients they need.
But here's the big problem: AAFCO's nutrient profiles don't guarantee the source or digestibility of ingredients. Just because a pet food contains a minimum of 8% protein doesn't mean a cat can actually digest it or access its important amino acids. In fact, in a documentary I watched a couple of weeks ago, one woman made a "pet food" out of sawdust, motor oil and old shoe leather. And that slop would meet AAFCO's requirements! Gross.
On top of that, AAFCO doesn't ask or expect products to meet their nutrient profiles. All manufacturers have to do is list how much of each nutrient their product contains.
Manufacturers can choose to include other guarantees based on AAFCO's nutrient profiles. For example, cat foods often list a guaranteed maximum for ash. Ash is left on meat after it's been cooked at high temperatures, and it's made up of important minerals, but for years scientists thought it was bad for feline urinary tracts. The link between ash and urinary crystals isn't as strong as the scientists used to think, but some people still choose low-ash food. Manufacturers are also instructed to include guarantees for vitamins or minerals in any pet food that's marketed as a vitamin or mineral supplement.
Sometimes pet foods contain nutrients that AAFCO hasn't investigated, and they may want to put these in the guaranteed analysis. For example, omega-3 fatty acids might be very good for pet health, but they aren't recognized by AAFCO. When manufacturers put omega-3s on the guaranteed analysis, they have to include a note saying that the nutrient is "Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog (or Cat) Food Nutrient Profiles."
So, while it's good to know what percentage of your pet food is fat and protein and how much is filler, it's just as important to know what the source of those nutrients is, and that's why you have to look at (wait for it. . .) the ingredients. That's the subject of my next Pet Food Confidential post, so stay tuned!
Photo by dawgfanjeff.
I am afraid the only gurantee is that the contents of pet food continue to amaze me. After both cats suffering with MARF last year due to the "recall" and now just yesterday seeing test results that Cyanuric Acid was detected in recent testing of PRE-RECALL canned cat food ( http://www.pfpsa.org/news.html ) I am afraid to know what the next non-protein-nitrogen may be to help falsely raise protein and somebody's profits...at our beloved pets' expense.
I have an Alaskan Malamute and a Bernese Mountain Dog. I am currently feeding them Purina One but want to switch to a safer, better dog food. What would you recommend?
To the poster above see this recipe for dogs:
www.rawdogranch.com
What is the top best 5 dog foods with wholesome ingrediants?
Science Diet has a new, natural dog food called Nature's Best. My boston loves the adult small bites. I've done a lot of research on this, and the most popular are Blue Buffalo, Avodern, Caster & Pollux, Halo, Harvest by Authority. Good luck!
We have a pit bull mix and after much research found EVO by Innova, it is more expensive but I know that this will save on the vet bills in the long run we use the dry and wet together and she hasn't turned up her nose since we've gotten it and we switch every 3-4 months with variety as well. Do the research as I did. It's not the most expensive product, but the ingredients are all something we can and sometimes do eat and it's first ingredient is meat. We sometimes forget that dogs are carnivores and they should not eat soy, wheat, certain other grains. Hope you find what your dog needs
Recently my dog began hacking and coughing up a yello bile substance...AND threw up all of his dinner. he doesnt seem to be sick he's still in that playful mood that he always has been. However it concerns me with all this research you've been doing and comments about food for your pet. Keaton is a 5 year old brendel boxer/ Rotweiller mix...I'm concerned maybe it's time to change his food. I've been feedling him PEDIGREE dry with some packets of wet mixed in....
I have 2 boys, both rescues. One is an Aussie/mix(Buddy, almost 9 yrs), the other is a Doberman(Murphy, almost 7yrs.). Murphy weighed just 68lbs. when I got him @ 5 yrs. old. He had the worst case of diarrhea and skin problems(very little hair and large sores) I have seen. He came with a 20lb. bag of Costco brand food, which I promptly threw in the garbage. I started him on a raw food diet and then started adding things back gradually. When we hit wheat, things went quickly downhill. To make a long story shorter, it has been almost 2 yrs. and both boys now eat nothing but Blue Buffalo Fish and Sweet Potato(dry) mixed with BB canned. Murphy's skin is great, his hair has grown back and he now weighs in at 101 lbs. right where he should be. He has such a sensitive tummy that I don't change his food, but he gobbles it up at every meal anyway Buddy has also benefitted from the better food. He was on Purina One, but when I found out what was really in it, I changed his food as well. He is beautiful and sleek, with great energy. They only have Wellness Brand cookies, never anything with wheat, corn or soy.
I switched my dog Maggie to Prarie by Nature's Variety a couple of years ago. She was having trouble with her back legs and her hips and was almost to the point of not being able to walk. I had remembered of a nutrition guy telling of the same thing with their dog and how when they changed it's food the dog improved. The same thing happened with my Maggie. After the switch plus adding some joint formula to her diet she now can run. (but only when she has a mind to!) She is a rottie and is almost 11 yrs old. I also treat her some mornings by adding a partial can of Old Mother Hubbard Cupboard Creations to the dry food. This stuff looks almost like people food. The dry Prarie food is very resonable in price and one of the best in my opinion. To find this food, I spent a LOT of time in a pet supplies store one day reading labels. It is much better quality than the expensive brands and much better for your dog.
The only way to know what is really in your dog's food is to make it yourself. I switched my 11 year old dog to a natural raw diet and within 3 days his dispoition improved, his breath didn't stink and he didn't throw up anymore. It took a month or two to balance his taste preferences with nutritional requirements, but I happily report at this time he is slim, strong, frisky, and anxiety free. There are many web sites and books on the subject. Do the research. Its worth it.
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