It goes without saying that raising a healthy dog requires a healthy and nutritious diet. But are you aware of the 3 harmful ingredients in dog food?
You might have paid specific attention to your pet’s age, weight, size, breed, and various other factors before selecting the ‘best’ dog food for them. Your pooch might seem to enjoy it as they rush to the food bowl every time you feed them. However, this does not necessarily mean that the meal is right for them.
Many commercially available pet food options contain fillers, preservatives, additives, and other similar ingredients. All of these ingredients can be really harmful—if not toxic—for your beloved, four-legged friend.
Take note of the three things that should never make it to your dog’s dinner bowl.
1. BHT and BHA Preservatives
Chemical preservatives are present in almost all store-bought pet foods so you can’t really avoid them. But you must steer clear of two preservatives in particular. Namely, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA).
Skincare products often contain these chemical compounds. Processed foods items for both humans and pets also use these as preservatives. It is safe to use them in beauty products, but that isn’t particularly the case when using them as food preservatives.
According to the National Toxicology Program, BHA is anticipated to be a human carcinogen. On the other hand, clinical trials showed that BHT increases the risk of cancer in animals. You must avoid them as much as you can because the exact effect of these chemicals on a dog’s health is not known. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
2. Menadione and its Compounds
Menadione or synthetic vitamin K3 is a type of vitamin. It is an artificial substance produced for use in food items. You will mostly find it in its compounded form. Therefore, you must look out for things like menadione sodium bisulfate (or sulfite) and menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfate when buying pet food.
It is strictly prohibited to use menadione in human food. This is enough proof of whether it is safe for your dog or not. Animal nutritionists believe that it’s best to avoid synthetic vitamin K3 in the diet of your pet. This is because animals don’t really need it in the first place. Dogs and cats require only trace amounts of Vitamin K. Plus, their gut bacteria produces most of the vitamin K that they require. Excessive amounts of vitamin K can damage your dog’s liver and cell membranes. Thus, steer clear of dog feed that contains menadione and its compounds.
3. Sweeteners
It shouldn’t be too surprising why you must avoid feeding your dog with extra sweetened treats. Too much sugar is bad for your dog’s health. Moreover, dogs can become addicted to sugary snacks if they consume them too frequently. As a result, they might avoid eating proper meals altogether. Too much sugar can lead to obesity, cavities, and diabetes in humans. And the case is similar for dogs as well. A large quantity of sweeteners in pet feed can cause similar problems for dogs.
Now that you know some of the commonly found but harmful ingredients in dog food, make sure to read the label very carefully so that you pick the food that’s best for your pooch.
