Discover the contents of dog food and make informed choices for your furry friend with the help of UK Pet Food’s comprehensive guide on essential ingredients for a nutritious canine diet.
It is crucial to understand that dogs have unique nutritional needs that differ from those of humans.
Were you aware that dogs are omnivores and require 37 essential nutrients? Six main groups are identified for the categorization of nutrients: water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
To ensure the ideal balance of nutrients, pet food manufacturers carefully blend a variety of ingredients, including meat, fish, vegetables, cereals, vitamins, and minerals. This enables them to create food that fulfills your dog’s nutritional requirements. Dog owners who opt for complete commercial dog food can trust that they are meeting their dog’s nutritional needs.
Over the years, pet food manufacturers have acquired extensive expertise in nutrition to incorporate the latest advancements in pet nutrition. They adhere to the FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) Nutrition Guidelines and the NRC Guidelines (National Research Council), which outline the nutritional needs of dogs at different life stages. These guidelines undergo regular review by independent nutrition experts across Europe and the United States.
Furthermore, there are stringent regulations governing the ingredients used in the production of pet food. Imported and commercially prepared pet foods are subject to regulations that are established by Europe.
The expanding knowledge of pet nutrition and food technology has significantly revolutionized the pet food industry. It is widely recognized by the veterinary profession that improved nutrition has led to pets living longer and healthier lives.
1. Characteristics of dog food for a nutritious canine diet
Comprehensive – offers sufficient quantities of essential nutrients
Harmonized – the nutrients are present in the appropriate ratios
Easily digestible – enables your dog to efficiently digest the food and absorb the nutrients
Appetizing – considered enticing enough to be consumed
Secure – devoid of toxins or any substances that may pose a threat to a pet.
Dog Food Made Ingredients
1. Animal Product
Essential nutrients, such as protein, essential fatty acids, iron, and certain B-group vitamins, are commonly found in meats. Additionally, they enhance the taste of a product and are highly digestible.
PFMA members utilize by-products from the human food industry that originate from animals that have been slaughtered under the supervision of veterinarians. These materials adhere to the stringent safety and quality standards set by regulations.
For more information on the legal aspects, please refer to the legislation section on our website: Pet Food legislation.
Our members exclusively utilize materials from species that are generally accepted in the human food chain. These include beef, lamb, poultry, pork, fish, rabbit, and game. You can find a detailed outline of our raw materials policy on our website.
2. Fish
Fish is an excellent source of high-quality protein. It is rich in iodine, and the muscle also provides calcium and phosphorus due to the bones being ground during preparation. Oily fish flesh contains essential vitamins such as A & D, as well as omega 3. Fish are categorized into two main groups: white fish – including haddock, plaice, cod, whiting, and sole; and oily fish – such as herring, pilchards, mackerel, sardines, tuna, salmon, and trout. For more information on the specific types of fish used in a particular pet food, please reach out to the manufacturer.
3. Eggs and Dairy products
Eggs and dairy products are good sources of easily digested protein. Dairy products are a good source of vitamins & calcium. Cheese and milk products are two examples of dairy ingredients included in dog food.
4. Vegetables
Vegetables are a great supply of fiber, vitamins & minerals. Soya beans are a good supply of omega 6, fiber, B vitamins, and minerals in addition to protein and energy.
5. Grain food and grain examples
Cereals are a valuable source of calories, protein, and essential nutrients like niacin and thiamine. While carbohydrates are not essential for dogs’ diets, they do offer a readily digestible energy source. Pet foods containing grains like corn, rice, wheat, barley, or sorghum are often rich in carbohydrates. Additionally, certain fibers found in rice bran or beet pulp, which are moderately fermentable, can contribute to the overall health of the digestive tract (Hand, Thatcher, Remillard, Roudebush: Small Animal Clinical Nutrition: 4th Edition, pg 1192).
6. Fats and oils (animal and vegetable)
Fats and oils give both energy and necessary fatty acids. They are essential for good health, which includes kidney function, reproduction, and a shiny coat. There are two types of essential fatty acids (EFAs): omega 3 and 6. Certain fats also contain vitamins A, D, E, and K.
7. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
To make sure dogs get the needed daily nutrients. They may be given extra vitamins and minerals.
8. Chloride and sodium
For dogs, sodium is a necessary nutrient that works in tandem with chloride to maintain the body’s fluid equilibrium. Animal products like meat, chicken, fish, and eggs are good sources of salt in dog food. To improve flavor, sodium can also be added to prepared pet foods as table salt (which is occasionally mentioned as salt on the ingredients panel).
NB The National Research Council establishes recommendations for cats’ and dogs’ salt intake. Salt in food is harmful to humans. It raises the risk of hypertension. But, in healthy adult dogs and cats, sodium levels in prepared pet food are not a reason for concern. A pet animal’s physiological makeup differs greatly from a human’s.
Eating more salt may make you thirstier and drink more water. However, the body easily removes the extra sodium through the urine (Luckschander, N., Iben, C., Biourge, V., Journal of Veterinary Medicine 16: 354). Decreased salt diets may be recommended for pets suffering from conditions like kidney or heart problems.
9. Types of Sugar
“Various sugars” are natural compounds found in vegetables , fruit & cereals. They include fructose, glucose & sucrose (also known as cane sugar or table sugar). Dog food producers may use sugar in their products for energy. Through proper digestion, pet can quickly turn sugar into energy that they can use.
When sugar is cooked with meat, the meat browns and naturally occurring sugars are created (just as when a Sunday roast is cooked). This gives the meat a nice color & improves its taste. If sugar is added to an element in addition to what is naturally present, the amount is carefully regulated. This is to ensure good taste & nutritional balance.
10. Food additive
Pet foods can include additives. These additives are vitamins, flavors, preservatives, antioxidants & colors. Most of the additives used in dog food are also used in our foods. PFMA members only use allowed additives. They use the smallest amounts.
Preservatives can be artificial or natural. But they both work by preventing food ingredient spoilage like in our food. So, it’s critical to have methods to prevent this decline. They keep foods high quality, nutritious & tasty. Canned dog foods are airtight to stop spoilage. But dry dog foods, even with modern packaging, must have preservatives to keep the food safe and tasty. Natural preservatives are the most common in Dog food. The main ones are tocopherols (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). All preservatives, artificial or natural, must be on the food’s label. They must be in the ingredient list.
Antioxidants in food impact dogs’ long-term health. Certain manufacturers add biological antioxidants to pet meals. They include vitamins C and E and selenium. This is to fight free radicals and promote health. If a pet owner wants more details on a pet food’s ingredients, they should read the label on the container. A remark like “Contains EC permitted antioxidant” will show if there are additives. Then, the asker should contact the business. They can find out which additive it includes by using the name and contact info on the package.