Dog Food Comparison
Most dry dog food is made with a machine called an
expander or extruder. First, raw materials are blended,
sometimes by hand, other times by computer, in accordance
with a recipe developed by animal nutritionists. This
mixture is fed into an expander and steam or hot water is
added. The mixture is subjected to steam, pressure and high
heat as it is extruded through dies that determine the shape
of the final product and puffed like popcorn. The food is
allowed to dry, and then is usually sprayed with fat,
digests, or other compounds to make it more palatable.
Although the cooking process may kill bacteria in pet food,
the final product can lose its sterility during the
subsequent drying, fat coating, and packaging process. A few
foods are baked at high temperatures rather than extruded.
This produces a dense, crunchy kibble that is palatable
without the addition of sprayed on palatability enhancers.
Listed below are a number of popular dog foods and how they
compare with Flint River Ranch. Whenever shopping for your
pet remember to read the label and "Let the buyer beware".
Bill-Jac
Select
|
Eukenuba Adult |
Flint
River Ranch
|
Flint
River Ranch Lamb/Millet Rice
|
Iams
Adult
|
Nutro
Max
|
Pedigree
|
Proplan Adult
|
Purina Dog Chow
|
Science Diet Chicken & Rice
|
Chicken
by-products1
(organ meat only), chicken,
corn2,
chicken by-product meal1,
dried beet pulp, brewers dried yeast, cane
molasses, egg product
|
Chicken,
corn meal2,
ground whole grain sorghum, ground whole grain
barley, chicken by-product
meal1, fish meal, Natural Chicken
Flaver, Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed |
Chicken meal,
whole wheat flour, ground rice, lamb meal, poultry
fat, ground wheat, flax seed, dried whole egg |
Lamb Meal, Ground
Whole Millet, Ground Whole Rice, Rice Bran, Menhaden
Fish Meal, Grapeseed Oil, Flaxseed Meal, Lecithin |
Chicken,
corn meal2,
ground whole grain sorghum,
chicken by-product meal1, ground
whole grain barley, fish meal, chicken fat, dried
beet pulp |
Beef Meal, Ground
Rice, corn gluten meal2,
ground whole wheat, poultry fat, rice bran, wheat
flour, natural flavors |
Ground yellow corn2,
meat and bone meal4,
corn gluten meal2,
chicken by-product meal1,
animal fat5
(preseved with BHA/BHT6),
wheat mill run, natural poultry flavor, rice, salt |
Chicken,
Brewers rice3,
whole grain wheat, poulty
by-product meal1,
corn gluten meal2,
beef tallow5,
whole grain corn2,
corn bran2 |
Ground yellow corn2,
poultry by-product meal1,
corn gluten meal2, soybean meal,
beef tallow5
preserved with mixed-tocopherols , brewers rice3,
dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate |
Chicken,
brewers rice3, rice flour,
corn meal2, soybean meal, ground
grain sorghum, chicken
by-product meal1,
animal fat5
(preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid) |
1 Meat by-products: This
can include bones, blood, intestines, lungs,
ligaments, and almost all the other parts
generally not consumed by humans.
2 Corn:
One of the lowest sources of nutrient grains.
Rice is the best. Cats need no grain at all.
3 Fillers:
Low quality filler that include wheat bran and
brewer's rice. Low digestibility means less
nutrition.
4 Meat and
bone meal: The term "meal" means that
these materials are not used fresh, but have
been rendered. Rendering is to process as for
industrial use: to render livestock carcasses
and to extract oil from fat, blubber, etc., by
melting. This process may alter or destroy some
of the natural enzymes and proteins found in the
raw ingredients.
5 Animal Fat:
Animal fat is most often made up of rendered
animal fat, restaurant grease, or other oils too
rancid or deemed inedible for humans. These fats
are sprayed directly onto extruded kibbles and
pellets to make an otherwise bland or
distasteful product palatable. Test the food by
running it through your hand and feel for any
residual grease.
6 Chemical
Preservatives: Chemical preservatives
include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA),
butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate,
propylene glycol (also used as a less-toxic
version of automotive antifreeze), and
ethoxyquin. BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are
potentially cancer-causing agents. Extruded food
requires these preservatives to maintain shelf
life. These chemicals may be associated with dry
skin, allergic reactions, dental disease, poor
health and degenerative organ dysfunction.
Reference:
[1]
The Animal
Protection Institute, "What's Really in Pet
Food.", January 29, 2002. |