Dog Food Basics
Dog biscuits first appeared in England in the 1860s. The pet food industry in the United States began in earnest around the same time when breakfast cereal manufacturers began adding dried meat scraps to their dog meal to create a balanced canine diet. The canning of horsemeat as dog food began in the 1920s, and within ten years nearly 200 brands of canned food were available.
After World War II, dry foods gained popularity, and pet owners served canned meat over kibble. The pet food industry exploded with the production of canned and dry foods, and the development of convenient semimoist foods and snacks has created a $36 billion annual industry.
Kibble
Early kibble consisted of dough made from grains, flours, meat meals, dairy products, vitamins, and minerals baked in large pans. After baking, the dry slabs were broken into bite-size pieces. The development of the extrusion method, in which dough is pressed through a rotary machine that molds or shapes it into various pieces before baking, revolutionized the growing industry. Today, many kibbled foods are prepared in a mixing pressure cooker, and the resulting dough is extruded through a die and expanded with steam and air into small, porous nuggets. These nuggets are coated with a liquid fat, carbohydrate, or milk product for added calories and palatability.
Premium kibble consists of chicken, turkey, chicken meal, whole-grain brown rice flour, fruit, and vegetables. Vitamins, dried kelp, and ground flaxseed are healthy additions. Top-quality kibble is more expensive and is not available in most supermarkets, but it provides a strong basis for good and balanced nutrition. Organic kibble's popularity is increasing with the rest of the organic market. As public awareness grows, consumers will have more choices.
Essential
Elevated dog dishes are more comfortable and healthier for most dogs. The raised design makes it easier for dogs to eat without bending over, which is especially beneficial for older dogs with arthritis or back problems. Eating from an elevated dish allows dogs to consume their food without swallowing large quantities of air, which they tend to do when they eat from the floor. This reduces gas and cuts down on the risk of bloat.
Semimoist Foods
Semimoist foods are cooked combinations of soybean meal, sugar, fresh meat or meat by-products, animal fat, preservatives, and humectants (wetting agents that allow the product to stay moist but not spoil). The dough is extruded into a variety of shapes to resemble chunks of meat to appeal to the pet owner. Coloring is added so the food resembles “red” meat. Try to avoid feeding your dog semimoist foods because they are high in salt and sugar.
Canned Foods
Canned foods come in four types: ration, all animal tissue, chunk-style, and stew. The ration foods are ground, cooked into a liquid, and then canned. The animal-tissue foods are not liquefied before canning and may include chunks of identifiable by-products such as arteries. Chunk-style foods are ground and shaped into chunks to disguise the by-products and then covered with gravy before the can is sealed. Stews are designed to please the owner. These budget-priced canned foods all contain ingredients like corn-meal, animal by-products, and lots of water that has been thickened with wheat gluten.
Alert!
Canned dog food needs to be refrigerated after opening. Scoop the leftover food out of the original can and store it in a tightly sealed plastic container or bag.
Premium canned dog food is more expensive since it uses human-grade ingredients and a higher percentage of protein with fewer fillers, grains, and preservatives. The best canned food contains chicken, brown rice, barley, and eggs that are free of hormones and chemical preservatives. Like premium dry food, high quality and organic canned foods are available at pet specialty stores, boutiques, and some organic and health food markets.
Raw Diet
Although not discussed in this cookbook, many pet nutritionists and pet owners firmly believe that a raw diet comes closest to what dogs and wolves eat in the wild. The diet includes everything from raw chicken, pork, and beef bones to frozen or freeze-dried nuggets that combine meat, fruits, and vegetables. Popular ingredients include beef hearts, broccoli, romaine lettuce, and carrots. Advocates of the raw diet claim it improves periodontal health and can cure everything from arthritis to kidney stones. Critics claim the raw meats carry potentially dangerous bacteria, and the bones pose a choking hazard.
