About The Dog Food Industry
Dog food and dog food marketing, is dramatically different today compared to just a few years ago. The dog food industry today offers hundreds of different types of products. Pricing varies, depending on brand name, quantity (i.e. how many ounces in a package) and specialty.
Dog food advertisers are very aware that the marketplace is extremely lucrative and are committed to selling you their products. They are keenly aware that most people treat their pets as if they were family, and consequently, dog food advertisers will appeal to the emotional side of pet owners, advertising happy pets and happy people.
Specialty foods have infiltrated the marketplace and enabled the dog food companies to capitalize on the idea that there is a need for certain types of nutrients which are better for older animals, as well as products that are designed for younger animals. There are also specialty products that have been formulated for specific health conditions such as products containing formulas to help your dog loose weight, or conversely, gain weight. These advertising strategies have added to the profit coffers of the industry. There is controversy with regards to these specialized markets as to whether or not the specialty foods actually help the health of pets. It is best to consult a veterinarian regarding the type of dog food that is best for a pet, if a pet has health issues, rather than subscribing to an advertising claim regarding the health benefits of a particular product.
In the past, the only treats that were available for your dog, for example, was the infamous "milk bone". Nowadays, there are dozens of treats with specialized flavors and colors, yet another profitable product for the pet food industry.
Another market that has found its way to the pet store shelves is the organic dog food market. This specialized market claims that only human foods are used in its ingredients and therefore, healthier for pets.
Like any product in the marketplace, the pet food industry hires research companies to conduct surveys of dog owners in order to compile data for marketing purposes. The data enables them to strategize how and were they can increase their presence in the marketplace.
Is There Profit from Waste?
Many consumers are unaware that the pet food industry is an expansion of the food industry, as well as the agriculture market. Waste from slaughterhouses, for example, although not suitable for human consumption, is part of the profit margin for dog food manufacturers. Some formulas contain pig snouts, intestines, bones, and other by-products from slaughtered animals. Not only do the manufacturers gain from using the by-products, but the sale of the waste materials adds to the profits on the balance sheets of the slaughterhouses.
Pet Food Videos
The Truth About Pet Food (part 1)
For more information go to www.healthypetnet.com. This may be one of the most important videos for you to view if you have a pet and care about their health and nutrition. This video exposes the practices of pet food manufacturers and how to read a pet food label.
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Choosing Pet Food for Your Dog
The low price tag of poor quality pet foods common in grocery stores and pet supply stores may be tempting and seem like a bargain for what is often advertised as a "premium" product, but the contents that make up your pet's food may surprise you.
Many commercial dog food brands are lacking in key nutrients and can pose hazards for dogs because of their different metabolism. Some may cause only mild digestive upsets, whereas, others can cause severe illness, and even death.
Nutritional balance is the key to a healthy pet.
Dogs need all six of the basic types of nutrients. They need meat and protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, fat, minerals, and water. Active dogs need Chicken, lamb, and beef, which contain higher amounts of protein. Plants or grains such as corn, soy, wheat, and rice have enough protein for less active dogs.
Most dog food is made with ingredients such as rice, chicken, liver, vegetables, etc.
There are a few common food items that are bad for your dog. Chocolate, for instance, is very toxic to both dogs and cats. Baking chocolate contains more toxins than milk chocolate does, but both forms are potentially lethal. Two or three squares of baking chocolate could prove fatal to a smaller dog. Tea and coffee are likewise toxic, as they contain the same chemicals. Warning signs of food poisoning in dogs are excitement, nervousness, muscle spasms, seizures, and increased body temperature. Veterinary treatment is recommended as soon as possible.
Junk Foods for Dogs
Many of these foods offer very little nutritional value but it is their convenience and the fact that they have added flavors that ensure our pets get delight in eating them that have increased the sales and popularity of this food.
Just as we might like to eat foods that contain sugar, which is detrimental to our health, our dogs also like to eat these low value foods because they taste so good.
Most of the popular dog foods use by-products and are actually worse to feed our dogs than the scraps from our meal tables.
But therein lies another problem with many of the foods that we eat, unsuitable for dog consumption. Some foods can actually be toxic to dogs so we are faced with the dilemma of knowing what is the best food to feed our pets.
The best solution that many people are finding is to prepare their own dog food using only those ingredients that will enhance the health of the dog.
There are several excellent books that teach you how to prepare your own dog food that will be nutritious and also cost effective.
Dogs find these foods tasty and they don't need the added sodium, preservatives and coloring to enhance the look and taste of the food.
It is well worth looking at this method to ensure your dog gets the optimum health from their food.
Understanding The Recent Pet Food Scare
What Caused The Pet Food Scare?
The pet food scare was due to the contamination of certain pet food ingredients by an industrial chemical called melamine. This chemical is typically used in the manufacture of plastics and is used as a fertilizer in certain Asian countries. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the presence of melamine is not allowed in food intended for humans or pets. The common belief is that the consumption of this chemical by household pets can cause severe kidney damage and in some cases, has caused kidney failure. In the 1997 pet food scare, dozens of animals became ill or died after eating the contaminated pet food.
What Products Were Affected?
Both food for dogs and food for cats were compromised during this pet food scare. For dogs, the contaminated products included wet dog food, dry dog food, and some dog treats. The contaminated products for cats were limited to wet and dry cat food. The ingredients responsible for the contamination are believed to be wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported from China. The wheat gluten is believed to be responsible for the recall that affected products manufactured by Menu Foods and the rice protein concentrate is believed to be responsible for the recall of pet foods manufactured by Natural Balance. This pet food scare resulted in the recall of over 100 million units of pet food.
What Is Being Done To Correct The Problem?
The 1997 pet food scare is believed to have originated with the tainted products from China. The pet food manufacturers acted quickly to test their products and issue a recall if deemed necessary. The manufacturers that received products from the Chinese manufacturing plant that the tainted ingredients originated from have cancelled their incoming shipments until further notice. The US Food and Drug Administration is researching and gathering all the information that they can to prevent another pet food scare. Everyone in the pet food industry is working to ensure that the foods that we give to our pets is free of contamination and will not be responsible for making them ill.
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tltfaas wrote...
Consider giving your dog human grade homemade food. It's inexpensive and safer for your pet.
Posted November 12, 2007
by VicBils
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