Everyone in Folsom wants their dogs and cats to be healthy, but reading pet food labels can be confusing. What fillers can be unhealthy for animals? What additives should you avoid? What in the world is a meat by-product? If you want to feed your pet a healthy diet, here are the ingredients that you should always avoid when you buy pet food in Folsom CA.
Meat By-Products
This ingredient is very common in lower-quality cat and dog foods, and many pet owners are unaware of what it actually means. Instead of nutritious meat coming from the muscle tissue of an animal, “meat by-product” can refer to anything edible coming from an animal source. Usually, this includes any unusable animal tissues and organs leftover from the slaughtering process–and this protein often comes from diseased animals. For optimum health, avoid purchasing brands that feature by-products in the labeling.
Ethoxyquin
Ethoxyquin is a preservative that’s commonly found in pet foods. However, this chemical was originally developed as an herbicide, and has been linked to cases of liver, kidney and other organ diseases in dogs and cats. In large quantities, it can also cause blindness, immune disorders and certain kinds of cancer.
Corn Syrup
Just like humans, dogs and cats crave the taste of sugar. Because of this, it’s become a popular practice for pet food companies to use inexpensive and readily available corn syrup and other corn products as a filler in pet foods. So what’s the problem? Corn by-products have been linked to cancer, obesity and diabetes in both animals and humans. Try to avoid buying pet food that uses corn by-products as filler. Under USDA guidelines, corn syrup and its related products can be called many things; look out for ingredients called glucose, fructose or corn sugar as well.
BHT/BHA
To prevent pet food from spoiling, companies often use BHT or BHA as a preservative. Unfortunately, studies have shown that these chemicals can lead to an increased risk for cancer and intestinal problems in dogs and cats. What’s a healthier food preservative alternative? Look for food that features natural preservatives like Vitamins C or E. These additions will prolong the life of kibble without presenting health risks to your pet.
If you want your pet to live a long, healthy life, it’s best to avoid these ingredients in your pet food in Folsom CA. For quality food at an affordable price.