COMMERCIAL DOG FOOD
Dog food is specifically and intended for consumption by dogs and by other related canines. In addition, many canine authorities believe that some commercial foods are loaded with unnecessary ingredients and potentially dangerous chemicals fillers and by-products. There are 3 main types of commercial dog food which are dry, wet and soft/moist. They differ in a number of characteristics, including moisture content, palatability, nutritional benefit, and cost. Let’s explain these types of commercial dog food.
WET FOOD: All wet food which is sold in cans contain 75-80% of water and 8-15% protein and 2-15% fat. Because of high moisture content, dogs can eat more of this kind of food without gaining weight, in theory.
DRY FOOD: Dry food comes in bags and they contain 18-40% protein, 7-22% fat, 15-20% carbohydrates and about 10% moisture. Advantage of dry food is that it acts like a toothbrush, helping to remove plaque from a dog’s teeth while he or she eats.
SOFT/MOIST FOOD: This type of dog food is usually sold in boxes that contain single-serving pouches. This food contains 15-20% protein, 5-10% fat, 25-35% carbohydrates and approximately 30% water. It is more expensive than dry food. However soft/moist food should not be fed as a substitute for dry or wet food, as it is high in sugar and salt.
A QUICK HISTORY OF COMMERCIAL DOG FOODS:
In the mid-18th century, dogs were primarily fed table scraps. Simply, it was the most economical way rather than throwing out leftovers. They were saved and given to dogs and by these leftovers they received all the required nutrients. After this, packaged dog food was introduced which consisted of biscuits made of wheat, vegetable, beetroot and meat. Other biscuits were introduced into market which was of a bone shape and known as milk bone. James Chapel first introduced commercial dog food which was made by horse meat and was the first canned dog food as well.
HOW COMMERCIAL DOG FOOD IS MADE:
This type of dog food contains balanced amount of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, essential vitamins and minerals. The AAFCO states that the term ‘meat’ on the label must be muscle tissue of cattle, sheep, pigs and goat. ‘MEAT’ may include fat, gristle and organ meat, it does not include bone, fish and poultry. They contain a lot of minerals and vitamins i.e. Vitamin A, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Calcium, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Vitamin K and Potassium. Mostly dry commercial dog foods are made by EXTRUSION PROCESS.
Dog food also contains animal-by-products which are fillers and of low quality and mostly inedible part of animals such as hooves and feathers etc. Animal by-products are a source of proteins and other nutrients, so animal-by-products are considered necessary in dog food.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A HUMAN EATS DOG FOOD?
If a person eats dog food in a little amount, probably nothing will happen. Although it is not meant for human use, it contains the same vitamins, fats and carbohydrates. Dog food contains different proportions which can be dangerous if it is ingested by human in a greater amount. The best advice is to keep dog food for dogs and human food for humans.
DOG FOOD IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE:
There is no doubt that are furry friends are good for us, as they reduce our stress, boost our immune system, and increase our overall happiness. But what’s good for humans is not good for our environment. Meat consumption by dogs and cats creates 64 million tons of carbon dioxide each year. So, in this way, commercial dog food increases the temperature of the earth by producing tons of carbon dioxide.
CARBON EMISSION FROM DOG FOOD:
Dogs and cats are among the biggest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming, according to a new study. This study adds to evidence that the production of their food emits more than twice as much carbon dioxide (CO2) as humans. When researchers set out to assess the impact of personal measures on climate change, they assumed that dog ownership was a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Dogs, after all, tend to eat meat, and meat production contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Due to the carbon dioxide released during the production, transport and use of products, as well as the resources required to grow meat and vegetables in dog food, the carbon footprints of dogs have been considered to be increasing as their food is produced, transported and consumed. Dog food emits more than twice as much CO2 as human food, as dogs tend to eat highly processed meat, which is considered a major source of carbon emissions.
Understanding how and where dog food is produced, and which packaging is used by the manufacturers can help you reduce your dog’s environmental impact. Cats and dogs account for more than half of all greenhouse gas emissions in the US, and cats and dogs accounted for nearly a third of those emissions in 2012. Use alternative energy sources, focus on minimizing waste and choose recyclable packaging materials such as paper, plastic, glass, paper towels and plastic bottles.
Certain foods require more fossil fuels than others, making it important to eat a low-carbon diet and reduce your carbon footprint by selecting foods that use less fossil fuels and therefore emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions. Beef and dairy cattle can account for up to 40% of global carbon emissions from feed production. This feed is the primary source of energy for livestock farming, as maize, soya and beans need to be fertilized, irrigated, processed, packaged and then transported to CAFO.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, CAFOs accounted for more than one-third of global feed production in 2005. Four to five percent of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is related to livestock farming, and pets account for more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) statistics. Pet food is also the second largest source of carbon dioxide emissions to humans, after fossil fuels. The argument against people eating meat is one thing, but it is another to defend the use of animals as feed, especially for the production of animal products. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO), about 1.5 million tons of greenhouse gases are grown and fed to cats and dogs every year.
While dogs can survive on a well-balanced vegan diet, cats are obligatory carnivores and need as much food as possible for their needs. While it takes a lot of land, water, and food to feed farmed fish, a meat-based diet has a much smaller footprint on the planet than a plant-based diet. One of the best ways to feed your pet animal protein – free, plant-based and animal protein – is to use the slaughtered parts of the animal for human food, including organs.
These ingredients, which do not contain hair, horns, teeth or intestinal contents (often referred to as “products”), can be a great source of nutrients for your pet.
Although the pet food industry is well aware of this problem, many companies continue to advise pet owners that these products should be avoided in order to make their own diets more attractive. But new research gives pet owners pause for thought, suggesting that a carnivorous companion is a major contributor to global warming.
To reduce our carbon footprint, people often forgo the good rib-cage – eye for fungal ragu, but cats and dogs have no choice.
Now a scientist has crunched the numbers on how the meat our pets eat affects the environment, and that’s not pretty. According to Pim Martens, more than 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions are generated in the United States from the production of pet food. If you look at the CO2 balance of animal food, you will find some shocking figures.
The eating habits of cats and dogs are responsible for dumping 80 million tons of methane, which equates to 13 million cars. This equates to an average mileage of 4.8 million kilometers and is more than enough to emit the same amount of carbon dioxide as you emit when driving a 13 million car.
According to a new study published in Plos One, cats and dogs consume more than 80 million tons of methane per year in the US, equivalent to about 13 million cars. According to new research, this is because of all the meat our furry friends devour. There are more than 163 million dogs and cats in the U.S., and they love to eat.
