Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Proper Pet Food is Going Mainstream


Proper food for pets is going mainstream and it's being driven by modern nutritional science for humans and all animals.  Check out this Dog Food advertisement from Tractor Supply.

The big bullet points are

  • No Grain • No Wheat • No Corn • No Soy
  • Beef is the #1 Ingredient.
  • A Blend of Omega-6 & Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Skin and Coat
  • Enriched with Vitamins and Minerals.
  • Contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin.
  • Antioxidant Formulation.
Yes, it sure is a step in the right direction.  But per normal with mainstream, it's only a step.  Therefore even with this improved food we must read the fine print.

Ingredients:
Beef, Beef Meal, Pea Protein, Whole Potato, Dried Peas, Tapioca, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Whole Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Beef Tallow (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Choline Chloride, Manganese Proteinate, L-Carnitine, Copper Proteinate, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Folic Acid

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min) 28.0%, Crude Fat (min) 15.0%, Crude Fiber (max) 4.0%, Moisture (max) 10.0%, Zinc (min) 200 mg/kg, Selenium (min ) 0.4 mg/kg, Vitamin E (min) 300 IU/kg, *Omega-6 (min) 2.5%, *Omega-3 (min) 0.4%, *Glucosamine (Naturally occurring) (min) 300 mg/kg, *Chondroitin Sulfate (Naturally occurring) (min) 100 mg/kg
 


In the Analysis one can see the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio is a 6.25 : 1 ratio.   Compared to most feeds this is pretty good.  The only draw back is chronic diseases are detectible when the ratio exceeds 4 : 1.  So this is still not the best choice.

Of course, the very best pet food is . . . . Grass-Fed Pet Food.




Obvisouly people are trying to feed their dogs better foods.  They see the buzz words and they are motivated to make sure their dog is fed properly.  But what do the pet owners insist on eating?


Grains, seeds, nuts.

What foods are killing (causing chronic diseases) people?


Grain, seeds, nuts.

To learn why those foods are killing people go to:
Keys to Nutrition Information