What's in the bag?

Federal law requires dog food makers to list ingredients on their foods in decreasing order of the weight of the ingredients before processing. They are also required to list the crude protein contained in the product. Keep in mind the digestibiilty of protein varies. Some proteins like hair or chicken feathers are less digestible because they are difficult or impossible for the body to break down. Just like protein, other basic ingredients in pet food can vary in both quality and digestibility. Carbohydrates can come from empty calorie sources such as sucrose, propylene glycol and corn syrup. Fats can come from animal fats rejected for human consumption and may be rancid. Fiber may come from sources such as peanut hulls, hair or even newspaper. By itself, the chemical analysis on the label does not mean a whole lot. Therefore, it's important to read the list of ingredients and choose the food that appears to have the largest amount of whole, top-quality ingredients.

 

How to recognize high quality food...

High quality products contain superior sources of protein (single source proteins such as "chicken" or "chicken meal" not "poultry" meal), never list any kind of by-products, use only complex carbohydrates from whole grains and vegetables, and list a whole-meat source as one of the first two ingredients. Be especially wary of pet foods that list ingredients in categorical terms:

  • Meat by-products
  • Dried animal digest
  • Poultry by-products
  • Liver glandular meal
  • Chicken by products
  • Dried liver digest
  • Plant fiber products
  • Chemical preservatives
    such as BHA and BHT
  • Artificial colors and flavoring

 

Skin Problems?

Excessive chewing at the paws, dull coat, hair loss, recurrent ear infections? These are all common signs of food allergy and/or poor nutrition in dogs. Skin problems like these are common and frustrating. The skin often shows the first signs of underlying problems, particularly those caused by inadequate diet. If your tired of the long history of treatments; cortisone shots, medicated soaps, ointments and salves that bring little to no noticeable improvement, consider improving the dogs diet for the best chance of recovery. Scraps Dog Company also offers a variety of supplements for prevention and health optimization.

Scraps Dog Company - 7689 South Virginia, Reno Nevada 89511- (775) 853-3647