What is actually in my dog food?

I am often asked about ingredients in dog food, so I thought I would write a list of ingredients and terms that can be found on dog food labels and what they mean...

Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive, but is just a collection of what I would call the most common:

Please also note that the ingredients below are also not necessarily used in our own feeds, but as I am asked about them from time to time I have decided to include them:

Alfalfa- Basically, this means grass, and is mainly found in other animal food- such as food for rabbits and guinea pigs.

Animal fat- Exactly what it says- Animal fat is rendered from meat. Some labels may say 'Chicken Fat' for example, which would mean that the fat is specifically from chickens- otherwise it may just be mixed meat fats. Also seen on some labels as 'oils and fats'.

Antioxidants- All dog food must contain some form of antioxidant (or Preservative) to stop it going off. The ingredient most commonly used in dog food is BHT/BHA, which is an EU Registered man-made preservative and an E number too. Other preservatives which are used include Tocopherols (which is Vitamin E).

Bakery by-products- Waste bakery product (such as bread) that is dried down, ground and used as an alternative or in addition to cereals by some manufacturers. This tends to keep the price of the product low as it is usually a cheaper alternative to using cereals.

Beet Pulp- This can also be found on labels as 'dried molasses' or 'dried beet pulp'. It is the left over dried residue from sugar beet crops and is known to aid digestion.

Cereals- these provide carbohydrates which are essential for energy. If a label just says 'cereals' then it could be a combination of the following:

           Barley
           Linseed
           Maize (We also call this corn in the UK)
           Rice
           Oats
           Wheat

Chicken Meal- Chicken which has been rendered and ground. A good protein source.

Colourants- May be natural colourants or man-made ones (and these should therefore be EU Registered and will also be E Numbers). Popular colourants in pet food include Carmosine (orange/yellow), Brilliant Blue FCF (blue), Sunset Yellow (yellow), and Tartrazine (green).

Dehydrated Eggs- Whole dried poultry eggs which are free of moisture. This is an ingredient usually added to some dog and puppy foods to boost the protein content.

Derivatives of Vegetable Origin- Usually Carrots, Peas and Potatoes.

Fish Meal- This is the clean, dried, ground tissue of whole fish or fish cuttings. A great protein source and the oils from it are also good for shiny coats.

Iron Oxide is a natural colourant which is used to achieve reddish brown tones.

Meat and Bone Meal- This is the meat and bones of animals which has been rendered (this is a process where the fat is removed from the meat).

Meat by-products- These are other animal parts which are not rendered This could include lungs, spleen, kidneys, liver, blood etc.

Peanut hulls- This is the shell or covering of a peanut, which is ground and used by some manufacturers to increase the fibre content of a food. More common in weight control type diets.

Poultry by products- Other poultry parts such as necks, feet and intestines. mmm.... delicious!

Prawn Meal- The cleaned and dried ground tissue of prawns.

Soy beans/ Soya/Soya Protein- Can also be found on labels as 'Hi-pro soya'- This is usually the soy bean which has the oil removed, and then the left over 'bean meats' are added to the formulation to increase the protein. Considered by some manufacturers as a 'filler', and is now also increasingly frowned upon as it is associated with digestive intolerances and allergies. None of our feeds contain this ingredient.

Soy bean hulls- This is a high fibre ingredient which is the ground outer covering of the soy bean. A common ingredient in weight control type foods.

Tocopherols- Vitamin E, a natural preservative

Vitamins and Minerals- Most dog foods have a vitamin and mineral package added to the food at some stage of its manufacture to ensure that the food has optimum nutritional content, and that it has all the vitamins and minerals that your dog needs. Although the raw materials should be high quality and therefore contain vitamins and minerals, it might not be enough, and also, through the process of extrusion (this is how the food is made); some of the vitamins and minerals can drop due to the intense heat.