Why I Don't Like Commercial Dog Food

Many of us are concerned over the quality of commercial pet foods. These commercial pet foods are made with about 55% grain, which is not easily digestible for dogs, and is in fact an unnatural diet for dogs. In addition, commercial dog food is heat processed at such a degree that it kills all the vitamins. They do add synthetic vitamins to compensate for all the nutrients that were destroyed during heat processing, but is it really the same? Commercial pet foods are made with profit in mind, and will offer the cheapest ingredients they can find. The "meat" you will find in a commercially prepared pet food is no exception. They are generally slaughter house and rendering plant scraps, that have been deemed to be inedible for human consumption. After processing, commercial pet food sits in a bag, box or can waiting for weeks or months to be sold.

According to Dr. William Pollak D.V.M.,

Recent studies have shown processed foods to be a factor in increasing the numbers of pets suffering from cancer, arthritis, obesity, dental disease, and heart disease. Dull or unhealthy coats are a common problem with cats and dogs, and poor diet is usually the cause, according to many veterinarians and breeders. "Dogs, cats, and other animals live for years on foods that come out of bags, cans and boxes. But do these foods promote health? If they did, our companion animals would enjoy long, happy lives free of arthritis, hip dysplasia, eye problems, ear problems, fleas and other parasites, gum disease, lick granulomas, thyroid imbalances, skin and coat problems, personality disorders, birth defects, breeding problems, diabetes, cancer and other major and minor illnesses. Before World War II, most North Americans fed their pets raw bones and table scraps. Today, everyone uses convenience foods, and pet food companies are industry giants. Diet isn't the only thing that has changed. So has life expectancy, with the life span of many breeds now less than half what it was two or three decades ago. Skin and coat problems are so common that we accept them as unavoidable, and today's vets routinely treat conditions that used to be unusual or even rare.

Are you aware there is a nationwide lawsuit that has been filed against pet food companies and retailers for misleading consumers regarding the contents of pet food? “Premium” Pet Food Marketed and Sold as “Complete and Balanced” Has Historically Contained Such Items as Euthanized Dogs and Cats, Restaurant Grease, Hair, Hooves, and Diseased Animals, and Other Inedible Garbage. In addition, with the recent pet food recall of the melamine from China, it is estimated that about 39,000 cats and dogs died. Up until now, homemade dog food of simmered chicken has been my main diet, along with a small amount of dry dog food on the side. Lately though, I have done some research on the raw dog food diet (BARF) and have become very enthusiastic about it. I will be transitioning over to this diet over the next month, and will let you know how it goes.