Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Why Should I Feed Dry Dog Food?

Copyright (c) 2010 Nick Travis

All veterinarians will tell pet owners to avoid
feeding their dogs from the table. Many people
look on their pets as family members and believe
human food is healthy for their pets. Dogs and
cats have very different dietary requirements
from humans and a diet of table scraps is not
healthy. Dogs are healthier when fed dry dog food
in appropriate amounts.

Dry pet food has several benefits - including
improved oral health; reduced expense for the
owner; and self-feeding without fear of spoilage.
The texture of dry food satisfies the dogs need
for chewing. Except for high-end options, canned
food has the same basic content as dry food with
added moisture being the primary difference.
There is no nutritional benefit in feeding canned
food over dry.

Dogs inherit the carnivorous food requirements of
their wild ancestors and healthy food is centered
on animal protein that meets the animals' needs.
In order to expand the volume of the kibble and
to help the animals feel sated. Fillers are added
to the animal protein. The type and amount of
fillers in a commercial pet food affects both the
price and nutritional value of the product.
Low-price products can include fillers such as:
corncobs, straw, peanut hulls or cotton hulls.
These have no nutritional value and can cause
allergic reactions in some dogs. High-end
products use only quality wheat or rice-based
fillers. Fiber content is important for stool
formation and high quality beet pulp is one good
fiber source.

The protein component in pet food is almost
always derived from animal sources, although
there are some vegetarian brands available. In
meat production for human consumption there are
many animal parts that are considered
by-products. These not-for-human-consumption
by-products are a major source of animal protein
in pet food. Chicken, beef, pork and fish packing
processes produce by-products in large
quantities. Some small specialty slaughterhouses
provide meat specifically for dog or cat food.

The animal by-products are processed into a form
of protein better suited for blending with the
fillers in the product. The source of the protein
is not recognizable but it is generally a healthy
component of the final product. There are various
binders, flavors and additives that make the food
more palatable. The quality of the fillers and
additives as well as the control of the processes
determines the differences in cost. Mass
produced, price-oriented products have the least
control. Small producers generally place a
greater priority on pet health and happiness.

Many pet owners who take the time to research pet
food will be upset about the actual ingredients
in the food. It is important to remember that
several government agencies police the production
of pet food to assure a minimum quality.
Consumers can be sure that most mid-priced
products meet government standards. High-end
products normally exceed requirements. Producers
targeting the low-price end of the market often
use lower quality ingredients and exercise less
control over the processes. Educated consumers
learn to read and understand the ingredients
labels when selecting food products.

All pet care experts will recommend staying with
one brand and type of dry dog food as much as
possible. Frequent changes in diet will cause
digestion issues. If a pet is healthy and happy
with the food, there is no reason to change. The
same principle applies to the treats given to the
animal.

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