Dogs Are Carnivores!

Canines (and felines) possess the same simple digestive tract as many other carnivorous mammals. Their jaws, teeth and physiology all scientifically point to the fact that they are intended to digest meat, bones and organs from their prey. Canines have been discovered to be “facultative carnivores” which essentially makes them scavengers. They will consume what is available to them if they cannot catch and kill prey. This behaviour has also been observed in wolves who will sparingly consume grasses, berries and other matter during times of meat scarcity.

The longer you look at pet food labels, the more you (should) wonder why all these synthetic vitamins and minerals need to be added back in to make them “complete and balanced”…

There’s such beautiful cuts of fresh meat and vibrantly coloured vegetables on the front of the bags! That MUST BE what’s inside, right!? Wrong. In fact, some of the largest manufacturers of pet food in the world are candy companies (Nestle & Mars). This should shed some light on the stark reality hiding behind the well paid marketing mask that has pulled the wool over most of the pet parent consumers eyes. Luckily, interest in offering our pets the best diet and life possible has sparked a wildfire that is quickly growing and overcoming the bad choices previously available to us.

With proper guidance you can become a pro at interpreting the true nutritional value of each ingredient and discover the importance of their sourcing based on a variety of indicators. The following image is NOT a good example of high quality nutrition. Corn, wheat, soy, fillers, synthetic vitamins, preservatives and other potentially toxic substances are contained in this list! Sadly, this is an example of an “AAFCO approved” brand of dog food that is well known and seen on many shelves across the globe. 

Ingredients list from a popular low quality pet food with preservatives, dangerous dyes, poor quality meat sources and other unnecessary ingredients.