Education
What’s in Your Dog’s Food?
Are you feeding your pup junk food without realizing it?
As a freelance writer who was a dog groomer for 12 years, I’ve written more than a thousand articles on dog topics and close to a hundred on dog food alone. I’ve discovered that many people, including some who write “Best Dog Food for Whatever” articles, don’t understand which ingredients are good for dogs and which are bad. One dog food brand notoriously makes breed-specific formulas that are absolute junk — basically crackers pumped full of vitamins and minerals.
I know that dog food can be prohibitively expensive. One of the main reasons I don’t have pets right now is because of the cost. However, if you feed your dog junk food, they are more likely to experience health problems, and vet visits are more expensive than premium kibble.
I really want to help dogs live the healthiest lives possible, so I’m creating this comprehensive dog food article to help everybody find the diet that works best for their dog, their wallet, and their lifestyle. Keep in mind that I am not a vet, and this article should not be used as a replacement for a conversation with your vet about your dog’s diet.
What’s in Dog Food? A Quick Lesson on Dog Food Ingredients
Have you ever looked at the ingredients in your dog’s food? Even if you have, you may not know what all of them are and whether they are good or bad for your dog. Let me break down some of the most common ingredients (or types of ingredients) and whether or not they’re good for your pooch.
Good Dog Food Ingredients
Here are some ingredients that you DO want to see in your dog’s food.
#1 — Real Meat as the First Ingredient
While dogs can eat fruits, vegetables, and grains, their bodies are made to eat and process meat better than anything else. The thing is, to cut costs and make a higher profit, many dog food companies:
- Use a grain as the first (and therefore most prevalent) ingredient. Dogs don’t need to eat carbs, and grains don’t contain much nutritional value.
- Use meat meal as the first ingredient. Meat meal is a rendered ingredient. What’s that? According to the USDA, rendering is defined as:
“A process of using high temperature and pressure to convert whole animal and poultry carcasses or their by-products with no or very low value to safe, nutritional, and economically valuable products. It is a combination of mixing, cooking, pressurizing, fat melting, water evaporation, microbial and enzyme inactivation.”
Wait a minute — the USDA wants us to believe that carcasses or by-products “with no or very low value” suddenly become nutritious by simply cooking them at high temperatures? By-products can include things like hooves, beaks, and feathers, which are all primarily made of keratin — the same thing your hair and fingernails are made from. There isn’t enough “high temperature and pressure” in the world to make that nutritious. I’ll talk more about by-products in the section on bad dog food ingredients.
This article goes into much more detail about the process of making meat meal. Essentially, they take the parts of the animals that humans don’t want to eat (including skin, bones, and organs) and cook them at high temperatures. Most of the nutritional value of an animal is in the meat and certain organs, which is typically left out of meal because it can be sold for humans to eat at a higher price.
Meat meal is OK as an ingredient further down the list, but it’s better if it isn’t the first ingredient (however, meat meal is a better first ingredient than any grain). Any meal should be labeled with the specific animal that it came from. For example, “chicken meal” is acceptable, while you should avoid vague “poultry meal.”
- Use animal by-products. I’ll go into more detail about why those are bad in the section on bad dog food ingredients.
#2 — Whole or No Grains
I’ll go into the whole debate on grain-free versus grain-inclusive dog food later, but if you choose to feed your dog grains, opt for whole grains rather than grain castoffs like oat groats, corn gluten meal, corn starch, or powdered cellulose. If grain is in the food, it should serve a nutritional purpose rather than being a cheap filler.
#3 — Vegetables and Fruits
In my opinion, dogs should get most of their vitamins and minerals from vegetables and fruits in their food rather than additives sprayed onto kibble after it’s processed. Some limited ingredient diets have as little as one vegetable and no fruits. That’s OK for dogs with food allergies. In general, though, the more vegetables and fruits in your dog’s food, the better.
#4 — The Optimal Ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Premium dog food companies love to tout how their food is full of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They’re essential acids, which means your dog can’t produce them and must get them from food — so dog food must contain these fatty acids.
Here’s the thing, though. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids should be balanced at a ratio of about 4-to-1. Many pet foods, if they list the ratio at all, have a ratio of 10-to-1 or even worse. This article goes into much more detail about why the ratio is so important and how to supplement your dog’s food to improve that ratio.
In short, omega-6 fatty acids produce inflammation, which is good up to a point, because it boosts the body’s immune response. However, omega-3 fatty acids are needed to keep the inflammation response in check. Too much omega-6 in relation to omega-3 can result in things like:
- Inflammation
- Poor skin or coat
- Obesity
- Joint problems
- Allergy symptoms
#5 — Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Glucosamine and chondroitin can help prevent or relieve joint pain in both people and dogs. Dogs are as prone to arthritis as humans. They’re also susceptible to other joint problems like hip dysplasia (which is most common in large breed dogs) and intervertebral disc disease (which is most common in dogs with long backs, like Dachshunds, Corgis, and Basset Hounds).
Bad Dog Food Ingredients
Now that we’ve discussed which ingredients you do want to see in your dog’s food, let’s discuss the ingredients you DON’T want to see.
#1 — Corn
Corn is very difficult for dogs (or humans, for that matter) to digest. It also has limited nutritional value and is one of the most common dog food allergens. Dog food companies love it because it’s a cheap filler. Avoid foods that contain corn of any type — not only is corn itself not a good ingredient, but it usually indicates that the food contains other low-quality ingredients.
#2 — Wheat
Wheat is another common dog food allergen. Dogs don’t need carbohydrates in their diet, and they certainly don’t need grains. If you choose to feed your dog a grain-inclusive diet, look for other grains besides wheat or corn.
#3 — Soy
This article goes into much more detail about the problems with soy than I have room for here. In a nutshell, though, here are a few of the problems associated with soy in dog foods:
- Soy can can cause reduced protein digestion, serious gastric distress, and chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake
- It can cause hypothyroidism
- Soy is a phytoestrogen, which can cause health issues in dogs and people
- GMO soy has been found to contain high levels of the pesticide RoundUp
#4 — Animal By-Products
Directly from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO):
“Essentially, a byproduct is what is left over after the intended product has been made. In the case of animal feeds, including pet foods, it’s often the excess materials left over after processing human foods.”
They try to spin this into why that’s not a problem: “This may include meat that doesn’t meet aesthetic standards, or internal organs or other parts that normally aren’t used for human food.”
Ugly meat. Sure. That doesn’t sound so bad. Until you read further. Here is the very next paragraph:
“Meat and meat byproducts from animals that have died by other means than slaughter aren’t directly suitable for animal food because these products are considered adulterated. They can’t be used for animal feed unless they contain no chemical additives and are heat-treated and further processed. For dry kibble and canned pet foods, the final product should be free of disease-causing bacteria.”
So, as long as they cook the meat at high enough temperatures to kill any bacteria, they’re allowed to use animals that have died from disease, heart attacks, or anything else. And of course, any animal that dies before reaching the slaughterhouse isn’t exactly fresh. The decomposition process starts immediately after death.
But wait, there’s more! Let’s look at some legal definitions of different types of animal by-products.
“The legal definition of Poultry by-products allows poultry head, feet, feathers and even whole carcasses of slaughtered or non-slaughtered poultry; similar definition for Poultry by-product meal.
The legal definition of Animal by-product meal (Beef by-product meal, Pork by-product meal) allows slaughtered or non-slaughtered whole animal carcasses or any part of the animal including horn, hide, hoof, and intestines.
The legal definition of Meat by-products is a little different. Meat by-products (Beef by-products, Pork by-products) allows non-meat ingredients such as internal organs sourced from slaughtered animals (though not required to be sourced from USDA inspected and approved animals).”
Feathers, hooves, and horns. They can all be included in your dog’s food if it includes animal by-products.
For more information on animal by-products, check out this article from Dog Food Advisor and this one from Truth About Pet Food.
#5 — Artificial Colors, Flavors, or Ingredients
Dogs don’t care what color their food is. You probably try to limit how many artificial ingredients you feed to your human kids, so you might consider limiting how many your dog gets.
Dog Food Allergens
Dogs can have food allergies and sensitivities just like people. The most common dog food allergens include:
- Corn
- Wheat
- Soy
- Dairy
- Chicken
- Beef
- Eggs
While dogs can be born with food allergies, they tend to develop later on in a dog’s life. Symptoms of a food allergy or sensitivity include:
- Chronic ear infections
- Itchy skin
- Hot spots
- Yeast infections
- Diarrhea
- Loose stool
- Gassiness
If you suspect your dog has a food allergy, you can try switching them to a limited ingredient diet with a novel protein and none of the most common allergens. It may take a few weeks for your dog’s symptoms to clear up, but if they do, then you know your dog is sensitive to one of those common ingredients.
Is Grain-Free Dog Food Good or Bad?
In 2018, the FDA announced that they had found a connection between grain-free dog foods and an increased risk of a potentially fatal heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). They couldn’t prove that the foods caused the heart condition, or how, but they were concerned enough to alert the public.
One theory is that legumes, a popular ingredient in grain-free dog foods, make it harder for dogs to convert taurine, an essential amino acid. If that’s the case, dog foods with added taurine or starches other than legumes may be ok.
I AN NOT A VET, so take my advice with a grain of salt. I personally, for the last few years that I had dogs, fed grain-free foods and would continue to do so if I had pets currently. Dogs do not need grains in their diet to be healthy. I believe it’s a filler ingredient to bulk up kibble without using something more nutritious but more expensive. Additionally, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dogs eat grain-free diets, and only a few hundred developed DCM.
Having said that, several of the premium pet food companies have since come out with “ancient grains” versions of their popular grain-free foods. These “ancient grains” are theoretically less likely to trigger food allergies or sensitivities. If you’re worried about the risk of DCM with grain-free food, I would recommend an “ancient grains” formula.
In any case, you should always talk to your vet before making significant changes to your dog’s diet.
Dry Dog Food
Dry dog food is, by far, the most popular option due to its convenience and relatively low cost. If you choose to feed your dog kibble, here are some things you should know.
Pros of Dry Dog Food
- Convenient
- Affordable
- “Complete and balanced nutrition”
Cons of Dry Dog Food
- High in unnecessary carbohydrates
- Full of filler ingredients
- About as far away from “real food” as you can get
A Few Dry Dog Food Brands to Consider
Here are a few of my top picks for good dry dog food brands.
- Canidae. Here are the first five ingredients of CANIDAE All Life Stages Multi-Protein Formula Dry Dog Food: Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice.
- Taste of the Wild. Here are the first five ingredients of Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream with Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food: Salmon, Salmon Meal, Ocean Fish Meal, Grain Sorghum, Millet.
- Merrick. Here are the first five ingredients of Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains Adult Dry Dog Food: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Turkey Meal.
- Wellness. Here are the first five ingredients of Wellness Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Peas.
- Instinct. Here are the first five ingredients of Instinct Be Natural Real Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley.
- Blue Buffalo. Here are the first five ingredients of Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal.
As an added bonus, all of these foods are available on Chewy. No affiliate link. I just hate Amazon.
A Few Dry Dog Food Brands to Avoid
Unless you absolutely can’t afford anything else, run, don’t walk away from any of these low-quality dog food brands:
- Alpo. Here are the first five ingredients of ALPO Prime Cuts Savory Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food: Ground Yellow Corn, Meat And Bone Meal, Soybean Meal, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols, Corn Gluten Meal.
- Purina. Here are the first five ingredients of Dog Chow Complete Adult with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food: Whole Grain Corn, Meat And Bone Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Fat Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Soybean Meal.
- Science Diet. Yes, I know vets recommend it. They often make commissions from selling it. But check out the first five ingredients of Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food: Chicken, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Corn, Whole Grain Sorghum. It starts with chicken, which is better than some of the other foods on this list, but it’s followed with a giant list of grains, which would far outweigh the amount of chicken when combined.
- Royal Canin. They charge a fortune for their breed-specific formulas, but look at the first five ingredients of Royal Canin German Shepherd Adult Dry Dog Food: Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Brown Rice, Oat Groats, Chicken Fat.
- Gravy Train. Here are the first five ingredients of Gravy Train Small Bites Beefy Classic Dry Dog Food: Corn, Soybean Meal, Meat And Bone Meal, Wheat Middlings, Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols).
- Kibbles ‘n Bits. Here are the first five ingredients of Kibbles ‘n Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog Food: Corn, Soybean Meal, Beef And Bone Meal, Ground Wheat, Animal Fat (Bha Used As Preservative).
- Pedigree. Here are the first five ingredients of Pedigree Small Dog Complete Nutrition Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor Small Breed Dry Dog Food: Ground Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Corn Gluten Meal, Animal Fat (Source Of Omega 6 Fatty Acids [Preserved With Bha/Citric Acid]), Meat And Bone Meal.
Wet Dog Food
Another popular dog food option, either instead of or in addition to kibble, is wet or canned dog food. Keep in mind that some canned dog foods are intended to be used as “toppers.” If you only feed wet food, make sure it’s labeled “complete and balanced nutrition.”
Pros of Wet Dog Food
- Contains more moisture than kibble
- More palatable
- Easier for dogs with dental problems to eat
Cons of Wet Dog Food
- Can be inefficient
- Relatively expensive
- Highly processed
Finding a Good Wet Dog Food Brand
Most, if not all, of the good and bad dry dog food brands I talked about also have canned dog food varieties. When in doubt, check the ingredients.
Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services
For people who wish they could cook for their dogs but worry about creating something that’s nutritionally complete or who don’t have the time, there are now several fresh dog food delivery services.
The food is cooked, then frozen and shipped to you (usually two weeks’ worth at a time, but it varies). You just thaw it out a day or two ahead of time and feed it to your dog.
Pros of Fresh Dog Food Delivery
- Contains whole, fresh ingredients
- No preservatives or artificial flavors
- Convenient
Cons of Fresh Dog Food Delivery
- Expensive
- Can take up a lot of fridge and freezer space, especially if you have multiple dogs
- May contain lots of plastic or other waste
A Few Top Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services
Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
One of the newest trends is freeze-dried raw dog food. It provides the convenience of kibble and the nutrition of a raw diet, with lower risk of contamination. Some foods are fed as-is, and some are reconstituted with water.
Pros of Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
- Convenient
- Nutritious
- Tasty and closer to “real food”
Cons of Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
- Expensive
- Some dogs don’t like the texture
A Few Good Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Brands
- The Honest Kitchen
- Stella & Chewy’s
- Ziwi Peak
- Primal
- Vital Essentials
- Sojos
Raw Diet for Dogs
Raw diets have been around for a while but are increasing in popularity. While many people create their own raw diets for their dogs, there are now some commercial options.
Pros of a Raw Diet for Dogs
- Closest to a dog’s “natural” diet
- Small, firm stool
- Typically healthier dogs
Cons of a Raw Diet for Dogs
- Expensive
- Messy, with a risk of contaminating your dog or family
- Inconvenient and takes up a lot of freezer space
- If not done properly, you can cause nutrient deficiencies in your dog
A Few Good Commercial Raw Dog Food Brands
- Instinct
- Nature’s Logic
- Visionary Pet Foods
Homemade Dog Food
Some people believe the healthiest diet for their dog is one they cook themselves. If it’s formulated with a vet’s approval, that may be true. Without it, you can cause nutrient deficiencies.
Pros of Homemade Dog Food
- You know what ingredients are used
- You control every aspect
- Less likelihood of contamination
Cons of Homemade Dog Food
- Inconvenient
- Can lead to nutritional deficiency
- Can be expensive
Homemade Dog Food Recipes
I thought about Googling some homemade dog food recipes, but the truth is that you really need to talk to your dog’s vet or, better yet, a veterinary nutritionist to ensure your dog is getting all the right nutrients.
What’s the Best Dog Food?
There is no one best dog food for all dogs. It’s up to you to figure out what the best food is that will work for your dog, your lifestyle, and your budget. Hopefully, I’ve given you all the information you could need to find the best dog food for your pup.
