The worst dog food ingredients
Animal digest
Animal digest is cooked-down broth made from unspecified parts of unspecified animals.
By-products
Chicken by-products, beef by-products
When animals are slaughtered for food production, the best cuts of meat are used for human consumption. The rest of the animal carcass is often used in pet food and known in the industry as meat “by-products” or “meal”.
Added colors & dyes
Artificial, humanly-contrived additives used to enhance the appearance of dog food and appeal to humans.
BHA/BHT
BHA and BHT are dangerous. They stand for butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene, respectively, and are chemical preservatives that have been linked to cancer, asthma and other ailments.
Corn
Stay away from dog food that uses corn and corn variations (meal, gluten) as top ingredients. Corn is an inexpensive filler in pet food that helps low-quality pet food brands fulfill the required ‘protein’ content in their food (see “corn gluten meal” to understand why corn protein is subpar). Corn is also a carbohydrate with a very high glycemic index (i.e. it raises blood sugar levels)
Corn gluten meal
Corn gluten meal is a byproduct of corn processing and cheap source of protein for pet foods. Rather, it lacks several amino acids that are essential for dog health.
Meat by-product meal
This is animal by-product that has been rendered. Rendering is the process where animal meat that is.
Meat meal
Meat meal is animal tissue – excluding blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents – that has been rendered.
Propylene glycol
Propylene glycol is a controversial additive used to preserve the moisture content in some pet foods. It is also the main component in automotive antifreeze.
Rice flour
Rice flour is fine in moderation as it is a gluten-free source of protein, fiber and vitamin B. Unfortunately, a lot of low-grade dog food brands abuse use this inexpensive ingredient as a main source of protein.
Soy flour and textured soy flour (TSF)
On the surface, soy flour looks like a great source of protein with a balanced amino acid profile.
Wheat gluten
Wheat gluten is a byproduct of wheat processing and cheap source of protein for pet foods. Similar to corn gluten meal, wheat gluten meal does not offer pets the same high-quality protein found in animal protein.
