DOG NUTRITION INFORMATION

Commercial dog food is one of the most ultra processed foods out there, leading to chronic health issues in many dogs.

We're here to speak out for your dog, fill the bowl with fresh food. Whatever the budget healthy improvements can always be made!

Ultra Processed Kibble/Dry/Tinned Food Facts

Analysis has shown there is no quality difference between premium and super premium dog foods. It is the most ultra processed food out there.
Most kibble diets are high in carbohydrates, the constant ingestion of high levels of carbohydrates gives the body a lot to try and work on to digest. Along with the many other issues as listed below it lowers the dogs immune system, causes gastrointestinal issues, skin problems, ear problems, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory problems.
Kibble has been cooked at high temperatures at least three times during processing, this renders the ingredients to have no nutritional value, that’s why they add synthetic vitamins and minerals to the food to add the nutrition back into the food. Synthetic vitamins and minerals are not as bioavailable as natural food sources.
Once the bag of dry food has been opened the vitamin content degrades straight away, fats go rancid and if still open after 4 weeks will have storage mites setting up home within it. The best before dates on food is for the unopened bag/tin not when its been opened.
Feeding the same bag of food day after day can lead to allergies or intolerances. Variation of the protein sources helps to prevent this from occurring.
Analysis of over 170 pet foods has shown the 62% of complete dry kibble and 94% of wet dog foods are not complete and balanced with the AAFCO guidelines. (Davies et al 2017 – Mineral analysis of complete dog foods in the UK).
Complete and balanced- Again created by advertising of the pet food companies, each meal is supposed to be complete and balanced and worked out by formulations and spreadsheets. Why? We don’t feed our children according to spreadsheets or formulas, they are fed a varied diet. We as humans are taught that variety is key to keeping us healthy as you certainly don’t see wolves checking a spreadsheet before eating their kill!

A Few Common Pet Food Ingredients Explained

Wheat

One of the top 3 allergens. Heavy in Glyphosphates from the growing process in levels 4-12 times higher than humans are exposed to. It has been known that other chemicals are sprayed on it to preserve it in storage.

Dried beet pulp

From the leftovers of sugar production. An indigestible fibre that is used as a filler and can affect the bioavailability of nutrients (along with other indigestible fibres ) Can alter the gut flora and stool quality.

Meat Meal

The left overs from other industries. It has been heated at high temperatures and rendered with all sorts of other products, in some countries this can be 4 D meat (Dead, Diseased, Dying or Disabled) or packaging around the meat. Even ear tags have been identified in meat meal before. It is in the form of a grey powder when made, this is then added to all the other ingredients to go into the dog food. Can be any species so not good for those with allergies/intolerances.

Wheat Gluten

(See wheat) Difficult to digest which can lead to skin, gut, joint issues.

Meat By Products

This is all the parts off a carcass except the meat. So liver, brain, spleen, kidneys, tails, cheeks, ears, tongue, blood etc. Can be any species so not good for those with allergies/intolerances.

Corn

One of the top 3 genetically modified crops. Hard for dogs to digest and can lead to intolerances or allergies. Corn gluten meal (also known as maize gluten meal or prarie meal) is a by product of the human food chain and is used to increase protein levels in food, again not easily digested and can cause gastrointestinal issues, skin problems etc.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is very unstable and goes rancid very quickly, if in a bag of dog food it will start to oxidise and go off before not long after opening the it.. The same goes for supplement bottles of fish oil, like Salmon Oil. As soon as you have opened the bottle it goes off.