The AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) establishes the nutritional standards for dog foods. Although all of the ingredients are considered “feed grade“, that doesn’t mean they are completely safe for our pets. The infographic below outlines the top 10 dog food ingredients that your dog just doesn’t need. Keep reading to learn more about what these ingredients are.
The Top 10 Bad Dog Food Ingredients
Carrageenan
This is essentially a stabilizer that keeps dog food from splitting apart. It has been known to cause intestinal inflammation and cancer.
Propylene Glycol
The main ingredient in anti-freeze, and used as a sweetener in dog food. It may cause cancerous legions or intestinal blockage.
BHT and BHA
Both of these compounds are preservatives and they are known to cause cancer and kidney problems.
Ethoxyquin
Another preservative that has been linked to leukemia, cancer, kidney and liver damage and blindness.
Corn Syrup
Yes, corn syrup! It has been shown that corn syrup can lead to weight gain, hyperactivity and diabetes. Females are more susceptible than males.
Xylitol
An artificial “corn syrup” sweetener that can make your dog vomit, bring on a loss of coordination and/or make them lethargic.
Sorbital
Another artificial sweetener that can make your dog become incredibly hyper or incredibly lethargic after consumption.
Food Dyes
Dyes are used to make dog food look more appealing to humans, of all things. But food dyes can cause allergic reactions, cancer or organ damage to dogs.
Animal By-Products
You may think that the by products from animals are basically harmless, but they may lead to tumors or diseased organs and tissues.
The best way to keep away from any of these substances is to be aware and informed. Read the labels, go online or if in doubt, just get an organic dog food that will never have any of the ingredients listed above.
Infographic provided by MySweetPuppy.net