As we humans become better educated about nutritional choices, it’s only natural that our interest would extend to proper nutrition for our canine companions. The problem is there is an overwhelming amount of information on the Internet. There is a huge variety of websites offering their list of top dog foods across a variety of categories, from wet, dry, grain-free, and puppy food to hypoallergenic, low-fat, raw, and weight loss options; it’s hard to tell which ones to trust.
Where to find reliable information
Consumers are not veterinarians, so trying to figure out what’s best for Rover by reading the nutritional label is a bit of a challenge. Dog Food Advisor is one website that offers a comprehensive, well-organized review of pet food. The author, Mike Sagman, is technically a dentist who majored in chemistry with a minor in biology. And while he’s not a vet, he claims to be an authority on reading and interpreting pet food labels.
According to Sagman, dog food reviews have at least one critical shortcoming: it’s impossible to determine the quality and origin of the ingredients. His website states, “Although better companies procure their ingredients directly from trusted manufacturers, others may buy their raw materials through brokers and middlemen. And many times through less-reputable third party suppliers.”
Raw food trend
There is a trend, following the human one, towards a raw food diet suited to a dog’s natural diet – which is essentially meat. Sagman notes, “Dogs are simply not genetically optimized to consume the fifty percent carbohydrate content of today’s commercial kibbles.” Dog Food Advisor rates the food by reading and interpreting government-regulated pet food labels by studying the ingredients list and estimating the meat content.
While kibble is the most convenient, with the massive pet food recalls in 1999, 2005 and 2007, more and more pet owners are either making homemade dog food, or purchasing commercially-prepared raw dog food.
Homemade is healthier
There’s a variety of online recipes for making your own pet food, and one good source is All Recipes.com. Many commercial raw pet food manufacturers utilize a unique process that kills pathogenic bacteria through high-pressure, water-based technology. High Pressure Pasteurization is a USDA-approved, and is allowed for use on organic and natural products.
While Sagman makes it clear that he does not accept money or gifts from pet food manufacturers in exchange for his reviews, in the interests of transparency, he notes that he does receive payment from retail stores in exchange for listings on the site’s store directory and a fixed referral fee unrelated to order size or brand. “In every case,” he states, “please be assured it is my intention to always remain objective, impartial and unbiased.”
The reviews are intended as a tool to help consumers make a more informed decision when buying dog food, and he suggests if you have any questions, you’re encouraged to call the company’s customer service number or go to their website.
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