Dog food
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Dog food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by dogs or other canines. Special dog foods given as a reward, and not as a staple, are known as dog treats.
Some people make their own dog food or feed their dogs meals made from ingredients purchased in grocery or health-food stores; many others rely on commercially manufactured dog food.
There are many different recommendations on what diet is best for dogs. Some people argue that dogs have thrived off of leftovers and scraps from their human owners for thousands of years and that commercial dog foods (which have only been available for the past century) contain poor-quality meats, additives, and other ingredients dogs should not ingest, or that commercial dog food is not nutritionally sufficient for their dogs.
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[edit] Commercial dog food
Most store-bought dog food comes in either dry form, also known as kibble, or wet canned form. Dry food contains 6-10% moisture by volume, as compared to up to 78% in canned food. Semi-moist foods have a moisture content of 25-35%. Pet owners often prefer dry food due to the convenience and price. Besides usually being significantly cheaper, dry pet food can also be left out for the animal to eat at will over the course of several days; whereas, canned food spoils or becomes unappetizing after several hours. On the other hand, canned food has a longer shelf life than most dry food.
[edit] Dry dog food
The average dry food is the least expensive, per pound, when compared to its canned (wet) or semi-moist counterparts. It may be beneficial in the prevention of tartar buildup, as well as being less likely to spoil quickly than an open can.[1][dubious ]
[edit] Manufacturing process
Pellets of dry dog food, called kibble, are primarily produced by one of two methods: extrusion and baking. During the extrusion process, cut dough or a mixture of raw materials is fed into an expander, while pressurized steam or hot water is added. When removed from the high pressure that results, the pellets puff like popcorn. The resultant kibble is allowed to dry, then sprayed with vitamins, fats and oils, or any other ingredients that are not heat-tolerant.
If extruded kibble is exposed to air for too long or not properly stored, the fats and oils added after cooking can become rancid, and vitamins and minerals in the food may be destroyed by heat during storage or shipping.[1]
[edit] Wet dog food
Wet, or canned, dog food is significantly higher in moisture than dry or semi-moist food.[1] Because the food is sterilized after being canned (sometimes it is also cooked in the can), it is often easier to ensure the sterility of wet food. A given wet food will often be higher in protein or fat when compared to a similar kibble on a dry matter basis (a measure which ignores moisture). However, because water accounts for so much of the food, the canned food will generally be lower in protein and fat in terms of actual content. Grain gluten and other protein gels are commonly used by steam cooking formulation in wet dog food to create artificial meaty chunks, which appears to look like real meat. [2]
[edit] Alternative dog food
In recent years, new types of dog food have emerged on the market that differ from traditional commercial pet food. Many companies have been successful with targeting niche markets, each with unique characteristic [3]
Popular Alternative Dog Food Labels:
- Frozen or Freeze-Dried, comes in the form of raw or cooked (not processed). The idea is to skip the processing stage traditional dry/wet dog food goes through. This causes less destruction of the nutritional integrity. To compensate for the short shelf life, products are Frozen or Freeze Dried.
- Dehydrated, comes in the form of raw and cooked. Products are usually air dried to reduce moisture to the level where bacterial growths are inhibited. The appearance is very similar to dry kibbles. The typical feeding methods include adding warm water before serving.
- Fresh or Refrigerated, produced through pasteurization of fresh ingredients. Products are lightly cooked and then quickly sealed in a vacuum package. Then, it is refrigerated until the time it is served. This type of dog food is extremely vulnerable to spoilage if not kept at a cool temperature and have a shelf life of 2-4 month unopened. [4].
- Homemade Diet often comes in a bucket or tupperware-like package. Commonly thought to be a diet owners create themselves. However, recently many small companies has begun to home cook dog dishes and then sell them through specialty stores or over the internet.
[edit] Contents
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Many commercial dog foods are made from materials considered unusable or undesirable[citation needed]. These may include:
- Meat by-products (which includes euthanized family pets) In 1990, John Eckhouse, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, wrote a two-part exposé on the rendering of companion animals in California. While the pet food companies vehemently denied that this was happening, a rendering plant employee told Eckhouse that "it was common practice for his company to process dead pets into products sold to pet food manufacturers."
.[5])
- Meat-and-bone meals
- Grain by-products
- Horse meat[citation needed]
Less expensive dog foods generally include less meat, and more animal by-products and grain fillers. Proponents of a natural diet criticize the use of such ingredients, and point out that regulations allow for packaging that might lead a consumer to believe that they are buying a natural food when, in reality, the food might be comprised mostly of ingredients such as those listed above.[6][7] Several pet food brands do not contain any of these ingredients. Many pet stores stock well-known brands that are free of by-products, and run at around the same price as some grocery store brands.[dubious ] More expensive dog foods may be made of ingredients suitable for organic products or free-range meats. Ingredients must be listed by amount in descending order.
[edit] Special varieties
There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs allergic to common ingredients such as chicken, wheat, or corn. These foods usually contain "novel proteins" and substitute uncommon starches for the usual grains. Meats used in allergy formulas can range from the mundane, such as lamb, beef or whitefish, to the unusual, such as venison or duck. Carbohydrates in allergy formulas are usually a less common grain, such as rice or barley, but such ingredients as potato and quinoa are sometimes used. Allergies are more likely to develop with consistent exposure to a protein (i.e. prolonged feeding of the same food).
It should be noted that the commercial approach to allergies in dogs is not the same as the veterinary approach. Prescription diets, purchased from a veterinarian, will often contain common ingredients that have been hydrolyzed to prevent them from triggering an immune response.
Some foods are designed for dogs with maladies such as urinary tract infections, and some are tailored to the dietary needs of especially young or aging dogs. There are also vegetarian dog foods for owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products, as well as for dogs who have experienced allergic reactions to animal-based dog foods.
[edit] Raw dog food
Supporters of raw feeding believe that the natural diet of an animal in the wild is its most ideal diet and try to mimic a similar diet for their domestic companion. They are commonly opposed to commercial pet foods, which they consider poor substitutes for raw feed. Opponents believe that the risk of foodborne illnesses posed by the handling and feeding of raw meats would outweigh the purported benefits and that no scientific studies have been done to support the numerous beneficial claims. The FDA has also openly stated they do not advocate pet owners to feed the Raw Diet [8].
[edit] Labeling
- Further information: Pet food#Labeling and regulation
In the United States, dog foods labeled as "complete and balanced" must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. The Dog Food Nutrient Profiles were last updated in 1995 by the AAFCO's Canine Nutrition Expert Subcommittee. The updated profiles replaced the previous recommendations set by the National Research Council(NRC).
Critics argue that due to the limitations of the trial and the gaps in knowledge within animal nutrition science, the term "complete and balanced" are inaccurate and even deceptive. An AAFCO panel expert has stated that "although the AAFCO profiles are better than nothing, they provide false securities."[9]
Certain manufacturers label their products with terms such as premium, ultra premium, natural and holistic. Such terms currently have no legal definitions. There are also varieties of dog food labeled as "human-grade food". Although no official definition of such term exists, the assumption is that other brands use foods that would not pass US Food and Drug Administration inspection according to the Pure Food and Drug Act or the Meat Inspection Act.
The ingredients on the label must be listed in descending order by weight.
[edit] Recalls
The 2007 pet food recalls involved the massive recall of many brands of cat and dog foods beginning in March 2007. The recalls came in response to reports of renal failure in pets consuming mostly wet pet foods made with wheat gluten from a single Chinese company, beginning in February 2007. After more than three weeks of complaints from consumers, the recall began voluntarily with the Canadian company Menu Foods on March 16, 2007, when a company test showed sickness and death in some of the test animals. Soon after, there were numerous media reports of animal deaths as a result of kidney failure, and several other companies who received the contaminated wheat gluten also voluntarily recalled dozens of pet food brands.
By the end of March, veterinary organizations reported more than 100 pet deaths amongst nearly 500 cases of kidney failure, with one online database self-reporting as many as 3,600 deaths as of April 11. As of April 8, Menu Foods has confirmed only about 16 deaths. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration refuses to estimate the amount of sick or dead because there is no centralized government records database of animal sickness or death in the United States as there are with humans (such as the Centers for Disease Control). As a result, many sources speculate that the actual number of affected pets may never be known and experts are concerned that the actual death toll could potentially reach into the thousands.
Overall, several major companies have recalled more than 100 brands of pet foods, with most of the recalled product coming from Menu Foods. Although there are several theories of the source of the agent causing sickness in affected animals, with extensive government and private testing and forensic research, to date, no definitive cause has been isolated. As of April 10, the most likely cause, according to the FDA, though not yet proven, is indicated by the presence of melamine in wheat gluten in the affected foods. The Chinese company behind the contaminated wheat gluten has initially denied any involvement in the contamination, but is cooperating with Chinese and American investigators.
In the United States, there has been extensive media coverage of the recall. There has been widespread public outrage and calls for government regulation of pet foods, which had previously been self-regulated by pet food manufacturers. The United States Senate held an oversight hearing on the matter by April 12. The economic impact on the pet food market has been extensive, with Menu Foods losing roughly $30 Million alone from the recall. The events have caused distrust of most processed pet foods in some consumers.
[edit] Past recalls
In 1995 there was a dog food recall when the Nature’s Recipe company pulled thousands of tons of dog food off the shelf after consumers complained that their dogs were vomiting and losing their appetite. Nature’s Recipe’s loss amounted to $20 million. The problem was a fungus that produced vomitoxin (or “mycotoxin,” a toxic substance produced by mold) contaminating the wheat.
In 1999, another fungal toxin triggered the recall of dry dog food made by Doane Pet Care at one of its plants, including Ol’ Roy (Wal-Mart’s brand) and 53 other brands. This time, the toxin killed 25 dogs.[10]
A 2005 consumer alert was released for contaminated Diamond pet foods for dogs and cats. Over 100 canine deaths and at least one feline fatality have been linked to Diamond pet foods contaminated by the potentially deadly toxin Aflatoxin, according to Cornell University veterinarians.[11]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Messonnier, S. (2001) Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats. New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-7615-2673-0
- ^ Wheat Gulten.
- ^ Natural Sales Rising.
- ^ Pg 18 April Issue 08, “A Fresh Idea”.
- ^ Dr. Wendell O. Belfield, "Food Not Fit for A Pet".
- ^ Wysong - Companion Animal - Learn - The Pet Food Ingredient Game
- ^ Food Pets Die For; a Book Excerpt
- ^ FDA, "FDA TIPS for Preventing Foodborne Illness Associated with Pet Food and Pet Treats".
- ^ Alternative Feeding Practices. World Small Animal Veterinary Association (2001). Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
- ^ Animal Protection Institute (API).
- ^ The Cornell Vet College.
[edit] External links
- Interpreting pet food labels - Pet food labeling according to AAFCO regulations
- Report on the risk from pentobarbital in dog food by FDA/Center for Veterinary Medicine
- What's Really in Pet Foods by the Animal Protection Institute
- To Buy or Not to Buy: A Dog Food Review by Jane Baetz, Spaniel Journal Informative article deciphers the ingredients list on dog foods.
- Foods to avoid in dogs
[edit] Nutrition
- The Dog Food Project An independent, commercial resource on commercial dog food and dog nutrition.
- Best Dog Food Guide Get educated about the relation between dog nutrition and health today.
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