Dog Food Recall Questions – Tainted Dog Food is Not Safe

The nationwide dog food recall of 2007 had millions of dog owners terrified that they may have unknowingly been poisoning their furry friends.   If you and your dog survived that scary time, you have probably become more aware and careful about what commercial dog food you give your dog.  But how can the average consumer make good decisions about what dog foods to feed your pet? You could always make your own dog food at home, that way you know exactly what’s going into your dog’s food.  Unfortunately, many of us don’t have the time to make healthy dog food at home, so the other option is to know which commercial dog food is best, being both nutritious and safe for your dog.

The question of what to feed your dog can be a sensitive subject, since so many different animal groups have different opinions and thoughts on this.  For most dog owners, it’s simply a matter of money and/or convenience.  By that I mean, whatever commercial dog food is cheaper and more convenient for the dog owner to buy is the one they often choose.  While taking this approach may save a little time and  a few dollars,  it is not the best way to feed your dog if you want him/her to be healthy and happy.   Why would you feed your  dog bad dog food with sub-par ingredients and later have to face vet bills  that may have been avoided in the first place by choosing the right high-quality dog food?

Most dog foods found in grocery stores,  generic store brands, are usually not among the healthiest dog foods to feed your dog.  More often than not, these brands are full of ingredients that are cheaper and lower in quality. These commercial dog food brands may be cheaper but are not recommended as a good healthy dog food. A quick glance at the ingredients label can provide an example of lower quality dog  food.

Generic meat ingredients without a specific species named is not a good thing to feed your dog. Avoid phrases such as “meat by-products” or “meat and bone meal”. Look for brands that can list the animal that they use as an ingredient, like “chicken meal” or “beef”. Also, avoid any brands that list corn as their main ingredient.  Keep in mind that you are feeding a dog, after all, and not a pig or a cow.  Your dog is a part of your family, so feed him/her the best high quality dog food you can.