Ingredients to Avoid
A lower-quality food will advertise itself immediately if you know what to look for. Generic fats and proteins listed as animal fat or animal proteins are often the bottom of the barrel in nutrients. Some animal fat sources can actually be the recycled grease from restaurants. A preferable alternative would be beef fat or chicken fat. Again, it's the name of the source that makes this a better alternative than the generic label “animal fat.” In addition, be mindful of terms like animal protein or poultry protein. These are inferior to beef or chicken protein.
Avoid buying a bargain dog food at your local discount store. Chances are the source of protein is mostly corn, and the sources of meat are of very low quality. The price tag may seem like a bargain, but the health problems to follow won't seem nearly as cheap when you are making those frequent trips to the vet.
Steer clear of artificial colors and preservatives. There isn't a dog alive that cares whether its food is brown, green, or red. Colors are added to enhance the way a food looks to the owner. They do nothing to contribute to the quality of the food for the dog.
Artificial preservatives have received a lot of hype over the years, and, regardless of which studies prove what, they are best avoided. Artificial preservatives are listed as BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin. These are all chemical preservatives used to make the food last longer and to survive the occasionally extreme heat and cold involved in trucking the food to the local pet supply store.
Probably the most offensive ingredient in the lower quality foods is, by far, propylene glycol. The same ingredient found in antifreeze, this chemical is added to chewy foods to help them stay moist. High levels of propylene glycol can shut down the kidneys and kill a dog. Avoid foods with this ingredient.
Sweeteners make dog food more palatable. These include corn syrup and sucrose and are often added to foods to increase their appeal. A high-quality food shouldn't need anything to make it taste better, not even so-called natural chicken or beef flavor.
