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Have you ever wondered what’s really in your furry friend’s food bowl? As conscientious pet parents, we strive to provide the best for our dogs, but sometimes, hidden within those brightly colored kibble pieces, lurk ingredients that could do more harm than good.

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Meat and Meat Meal
These should be a major part of a dog’s diet, but avoid non-descript terms like “meat” or “meat meal”. They often come from less sanitary sources and can include diseased or expired meat. High-quality named meats and meat meals are healthier alternatives.

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Artificial Colors and Flavors
These are added to make dog food more appealing to humans but are unnecessary and can trigger allergies in dogs. Examples include Red 40, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and titanium dioxide.

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Artificial Preservatives
Chemical preservatives like BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin are used in low-quality pet foods to extend shelf life but can be harmful, causing issues like cancer and organ damage.

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Unnamed Meat Ingredients
Generic meat meals can come from various dubious sources, including roadkill and euthanized animals. They are problematic, especially for food-sensitive dogs.

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Common Allergens
Dogs can develop allergies to ingredients like beef, chicken, lamb, fish, eggs, dairy, corn, wheat, soy, and yeast. Symptoms of food allergies in dogs are often skin-related.

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Propylene Glycol
Used to maintain texture in dog food. While not as toxic as ethylene glycol (antifreeze), it’s still an artificial additive that should be avoided.

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Carrageenan
A thickener derived from red seaweed, used in wet dog food. The degraded form, poligeenan, can cause gastrointestinal inflammation and possibly cancer.

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Meat Meal
Products of a rendering process using scraps of diseased and dead animals. While they contain protein, the quality varies greatly.

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Food Dyes or Corn Syrup
Added for visual appeal and sweetness, these offer no health benefits and should be avoided.

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MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)
A flavor enhancer that adds no nutritional value and can cause allergic reactions.

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Sodium Hexametaphosphate
Used in dental dog foods to reduce tartar build-up but can have adverse effects when ingested.

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Plant-based Proteins
While dogs can digest plant-based proteins, they are not as efficient or complete in providing essential amino acids as animal-based proteins.

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Carbohydrates
Essential for energy, but the source matters. Prefer whole grains and avoid refined grains. Be cautious with legumes due to potential links to heart disease in dogs.

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Fats and Oils
Essential for energy and nutrient absorption, but the type and amount are important. Prefer named animal fats and be mindful of calorie content.

(PHOTO BY Cup of Couple/PEXELS)
Fiber
Important for digestive health, with sources like beet pulp, pumpkin, and whole grains being beneficial.
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