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As a dog-owner, have you ever thought twice about the actual nutritional value of the food and treats you are feeding your dog? If you are concerned about the health of your pet and loyal companion, you should be more aware of what the ingredients are in the dog food and products that you buy. Sadly, the labels of most commercial dog foods don't tell the whole truth about what they contain and unfortunately some can contain what I like to call useless fillers. Yes, many people feed their dog not so healthy food and they don't even realize it.

Dog food production has 'developed' in the past few decades but the life-span of these beloved animals have gotten shorter in contrast. The reason: because these 'developments' actually benefit commercial dog food manufacturers more than they do the dogs. It means using poor-quality and even toxic ingredients to ensure cheaper costs of production and longer shelf life. It means very poor nutrition for your pet so that these companies can make higher profits.

The truth about most available dog products is that they are made from low-grade grains, unthinkable meat by-products and artificial preservatives that are not fit for humans and pets to eat. For instance, substitution for meat protein and good carbohydrates are often done with poor-quality grain meals using soybean, corn, gluten, and wheat. These ingredients in fact commonly cause allergies in pets. Meanwhile, the meat ingredients typically used can include unwanted body parts of animals like the neck, head, guts, feet, lungs, and bones. Even harder to the stomach is that these can come from animals that are diseased, dying or already dead and decaying. Treatment">All of these are mercilessly dumped, ground and mixed into a more acceptable form called 'meal' and made into dog food.

To add to this already unhealthy mix, chemical ingredients used by dog food manufacturers have been found to cause early dog deaths due to heart disease, kidney failure and certain cancers. So why pay for junk that will eventually kill your dog?

Dogs age much faster than humans and they require the same quality of nutrition as ours. Naturally, like any other kind of animal, a dog needs fresh and healthy food too. The ideal diet for your pet should consist of high-quality protein, carbohydrates, natural fats, fiber, and even antioxidants. Chicken and fish are good sources of protein that you can look for in dog food. Eggs also provide protein, amino acids, biotin, sulfur, as well as vitamins A, B, E, and K. For carbohydrates, brown rice is an easily digestible carb-source that is now being used as a dog food ingredient.

A new advancement in health food for dogs now includes antioxidants in the ingredients, specifically from whole foods like apples, carrots, celery, spinach, alfalfa leaf, and garlic. Grape seed extract is also being used for its antioxidants that may help slow down your dog's aging and to keep its immune system strong. This new kind of dog food likewise has beet pulp, which is a source of fiber and the short chain fatty acids needed by good bacteria in the digestive tract. Lactobacillus acidophilus in this dog food similarly aids digestion by encouraging the growth of helpful bacteria.

By providing this kind of nutritious dog food, you can ensure that your pet will live healthier and stay by your side longer.