What's Really in Your Dog's Food? Top Reasons Why Your Pet's Food Could Be Slowly Killing Him

Your dog is 99.8 percent wolf. Whether he's a tiny Yorkie, a giant Great Dane or any mixture in between, it's true. In fact, the DNA of gray wolves and dogs is nearly identical -- their DNA differs by, at most, 0.2 percent.

How can this be? Because all dogs evolved from the gray wolf, and although their appearance has changed greatly over the 10,000 to 15,000 years they've been domesticated, their basic internal workings, their physiology, has not.

So to get an idea of what a dog would naturally be eating, and thrive on, one needs look no further than the diet of a gray wolf.

Gray wolves eat a varied diet ranging from bison, elk, deer and moose to smaller animals like beavers and rabbits. Of course, they consume nearly all parts of the animal -- organs, many bones, vegetation left over in the animal's stomach -- and they eat it all raw.

Contrast that with what most modern-day dogs eat: dry kibble or canned food. Most of which are primarily based on cooked grains and animal byproducts, not meat.

Three Major Ingredients of Commercial Dog Foods and Why Your Dog is Better Off Without Them

1. Meat or Poultry Byproducts: Meat byproducts are the part of an animal left over after all parts fits for human consumption are taken away. This leaves heads, blood, ligaments, lungs, intestines, unborn babies, spleens, feet, bones and other parts. What you'll notice is that these items lack one very important element: meat.

Further, it may surprise you to learn that "4D" animals (dead, dying, diseased, disabled), which were (just recently) banned for human consumption, are completely legal to use in pet foods.

2. Meat Meals (Chicken Meal, Bone Meal, Byproduct Meal, etc.): "Meals" of any kind are materials that are rendered, which means, according to the Encarta® World English Dictionary, "to purify or extract something by melting, especially to heat solid fat slowly until as much liquid fat as possible has been extracted from it, leaving small crisp remains."

The boiling process separates fat, removes water and kills bacteria, viruses and parasites. However, the high temperatures also destroy enzymes, proteins and other nutrients that your dog needs.

3. Starches and Grains: Corn, wheat, potatoes and other grains and starchy vegetables make up a large portion of most commercial dog foods. Even corn gluten meal, which essentially a high-protein extract that has most of the carbohydrates removed, is used to boost protein percentages in foods without having to use an actual animal ingredient.

One of the biggest problems with most commercial dog foods is that they are made up, largely, of grain when what your dog will thrive on is meat (and preferably RAW meat).

Dogs have a hard time digesting grains, and eating grain-based foods will often cause gas, digestive upset, and potentially serious health problems down the line.

Have You Been Warned Not to Feed Your Dog "People Food"?

Many people have been told that feeding their dog people food will make them sick. Well, as with people, if you feed your dog junk food like white bread and potato chips they most likely will get sick indeed. Feeding your dog a diet of high-quality raw meats and veggies, supplemented with essential vitamins and minerals, on the other hand, would get you a different story entirely.

Dogs like real food and that is also what they thrive on.

Yet, why is it that so many of us still believe we are doing our pets a favor by feeding them only kibble or food that comes from a can? Heavy marketing on behalf of the pet food industry certainly plays a major role.

In reality, the best food for your dog is a fresh raw food diet, similar to the one they would find in the wild.

Fortunately, there are numerous high-quality brands of top-notch raw dog foods on the market, typically in frozen or freeze-dried form. These foods make it simple to give your dog the food he's meant to eat.

What About Treats?

To give your dog a special, healthy treat, try:

Dehydrated pure meat treats including freeze-dried chunks of fish, beef or chicken (cats also love these)
Dehydrated sweet potato treats. These provide excellent nutrition and a hard, grooved surface that promotes dental health.
Raw bones
Raw baby carrots
Sardines or a fresh shrimp (cats especially love these!)
Meat-based biscuit treats. If your dog loves biscuit-style treats, look for varieties with one very special difference: the first ingredient in them should be meat! 

Your Dog Will Thank You!

After feeding a high-quality, raw food diet, many pet owners report that their pets have softer, shiner fur, better breath and more energy than they've had in years. But don't take our word for it. Give it a try for yourself ... and your pet!

Copyright ©2009 Greener Wiener (This article may be reprinted with copyright, contact and information intact for not-for-profit purposes.)

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At Greener Wiener our mission is simple: to provide natural pet products that promote wellness for dogs and cats. Our inspiration is our own pet family (four mini dachshunds and three cats) along with our own desire to live a greener life. Because we understand how much your pets mean to you, we started this site -- to share knowledge about the nutrition and care that can give your pet the longest, healthiest, and happiest life possible.

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Rachael Bieschke is a natural health writer and editor with specialties in pet wellness, natural living, nutrition, spirituality and holistic medicine. She currently writes weekly for one of the largest natural health Web sites on the Internet and her works have appeared in numerous magazines, Web sites and newsletters. She is also the co-owner of GreenerWiener.com.