The sheer number of dog food items available out there can make it difficult to select the right diet the pet.
Not only are there a lot of various brands and ingredients however, even the most simple choice of wet or dry dog food isn’t easy.
It’s essential to always check with your vet for specific suggestions that are best suited to your dog’s requirements, however this article will discuss some of the most important aspects of dog food that is dry.
What is A Dry Dog Food or Kibble ?
Kibble is a name that can be used to describe dry dog food.
It is composed of crushed ingredients, which include meat cereals, grains, legumes fruits, vegetables and other ingredients.
These ingredients are combined to form pellets and then cooked using an extrusion process.
If you’re feeding a grain into dog kibble, it’ll make use of a grain as binder to keep the ingredients together when they’re mixed.
If you’re feeding grain-free dog food which is made with legumes like chickpeas, or a different starch for the binder.
If you feed a dog kibble food that has been deemed to be balanced, complete and healthy through AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials) the food must satisfy a variety of standards regarding nutrition.
If the ingredients in the recipe aren’t able to naturally satisfy these standards then the recipe will typically include mineral and synthetic vitamins added in addition.
What’s the Difference Between Wet and Dry Dog Food?
Dry dog food and wet dog food are able to provide healthy, balanced diets.
However, the primary difference lies in how they are prepared.
How Is Wet Dog Food Processed?
Wet food is made by crushing the protein sources and meat components.
Then, a gravy made of minerals, vitamins and grains is added.
After mixing the food is then cooked and then sterilized to create cans.
In the end, wet foods have a greater water content than dry food.
The amount of maximum moisture listed on the label under Guaranteed Analysis section.
Dry food may contain around 10% moisture (max.) while a wet one could contain around 78% moisture (max. ).
How Is Dry Dog Food Processed?
Dry food is made up of similar ingredients, however rather than adding gravy or making the product cannable the meat is broken down to make a consistent dough that is cooked.
After being cooked after cooking, the dough is pushed through specially shaped holes to create the kibble.
The kibble is dried in a process before being spray-painted with oils, fats minerals, vitamins, and packed before the oils and fats begin to become stale.
Certain dry dog food diets contain live probiotics that aid digestion as well as immune system health.
Which Is Better for Dogs Wet or Dry Food?
Both kinds that are available for dogs make great selections, but each one has distinct advantages and disadvantages dependent on the nutritional requirements for your dog.
Benefits of Wet Dog Food Compared to Dry Dog Food
Food for your dog that is wet, also known as “canned food,” sometimes can provide benefits dry food can’t.
For example:
- More water content – Food that is wet could be an ideal option for your dog if they don’t drink enough as they ought to or if they suffer from an illness that can benefit from adequate drinking. A good example is the dog that has an history of kidney or urinary problems.
- Palatability canned dog food can be more fragrant and tasty when compared to dry food. It can entice old or sick dogs to eat, especially if they are less hungry.
- Satisfaction: The smell of dog’s food is known to give a longer-lasting sensation of feeling “full.” Increased satiety can be beneficial in reducing weight particularly in dogs who appear to have an endless appetite.
- It is easier to chew dogs with dental diseases or other oral problems may find wet food more easy to chew than dry food.
Benefits of Dry Dog Food Compared to Wet Dog Food
Dry food for dogs, also known as “kibble,” often offers certain advantages that wet food can’t offer,
For example:
- Health benefits of teeth: Dry food encourages dogs to chew their food which helps in preventing tartar buildup and subsequent periodontal disease.
- The convenience: Compared to wet food dry diets are simpler to portion out and will not get rotten if left out for the entire day. This is advantageous for dogs that are food grazers.
- Economically feasible:Depending on the type of foods, dry diets could be cheaper to buy and keep for a long time.
- Food enrichment: Kibble is simpler to incorporate into food puzzles as well as slow feeders, which can improve the quality of life for dogs through stimulation of the brain.
Benefits of Kibble Dog Food
- One of the major advantages of dog food kibble is the fact that it is easy to prepare and is able to be stored and transported quickly.
- If you shop at a large quantity, this could also save money.
- The Kibble food for dogs is typically more clean than wet dog food. It is also able to be kept out longer without fear of getting contaminated by bacteria. This is essential and can be beneficial when you have tiny children or is suffering from an immune deficiency.
- A lot of dog food kibbles contain carbohydrates, proteins, as well as minerals and vitamins.
- The best recipes usually include everything your dog requires to keep a healthy and happy life and strengthen their immune system.
Kibble Food for Puppies
Kibble is great for dogs in the early stages and puppies because they can soak it in water, thereby softening the food and aiding in to wean.
By using warm water to soak dry food also brings out the meaty scent that dogs love.
Kibble is also used to reward positive behavior.
This puppy food can be used for smaller breeds as well as larger breeds making it the ideal nutritious food for puppies of all ages.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST KIBBLE
The task of determining the quality of a pet food by looking at the nutritional information and ingredients on the label is difficult.
Even if your a fervent buyer of food labels for your family members, it will not aid you in analyzing the dry food for your pet.
Here are some key factors to help you evaluate the quality of dry, natural pet product and organic by looking at the list of ingredients and certain analysis of the food item:
1. LOOK AT THE PROTEIN LEVEL
This is often referred to as “Crude Protein (min)” in the Guaranteed Analysis.
This gives you the most precise indication of whether or not you should look at the food you are eating.
The higher the better.
For dog food, you should expect it to be at least 30%, and ideally in the 30s and up in the mid 30s, while for cat food, you’ll want it to be above 40%, and ideally in between 40 and 50.
If it’s less than the 30% mark for canines, or 40 percent for cats, you ought to steer clear of it. It’s probably not the best food you can buy.
Cats and dogs thrive on protein from animals and do not require carbohydrates and food that is low in protein usually has a high amount of carbohydrates typically from a variety of unhealthy ingredients, such as refined grains or by-products of grain.
If the carbs aren’t utilized as energy sources They are converted to fat.
For cats, they prefer to use the fats and proteins to fuel their bodies, which means that nearly all the carbohydrates in dry food are excessive and are converted into fat. T
he digestion of dogs is similar to that of humans. They may use carbs to provide energy, but excess amounts are saved as fat.
2. LOOK AT THE FIRST 5 INGREDIENTS
This will inform you of where the protein comes from.
It should come from animal products such as poultry, meat, or fish (or alternatively, more sustainable choices) along with the foods that are made from these ingredients.
A meal made from fish, meat, or poultry is a concentrated form the protein produced by rendering (a cooking process that separates proteins from moisture and fat).
Dry Kibble is produced through extrusion it is necessary to render chicken, meat or fish meals within an extremely protein-rich recipe since too much deboned meat is likely to have too many moisture levels to allow the process to function.
Find animal protein products with names and meals such as meals for lambs, chicken and lamb meal whitefish, whitefish meal etc.
The best choice is free-range, cage-free and wild-caught.
Alternative sources of protein, such as insects are becoming more popular.
Use the same guidelines If it’s a brand kind of meal it’s a reputable quality and reliable source.
Beware of ingredients such as generic chicken meal, meat meal, bone and meat meal and so on. and those that have”by-product.” in them.
These meat-based meals, as well as by-product food items can consist from dead or diseased animals and also include things such as heads, tails feet, guts, and heads.
The general rule is that these are not foods that you would prefer your pet consume.
It’s acceptable to include non-meat proteins within the first five ingredients (like peas, or chickpeas) however, they should not be within the first two or three ingredients since you want the majority of the protein from animal sources.
Additionally, animal products naturally contain taurine, an amino acid. in case you’re worried about DCM and the health of your pet.
3. LOOK FOR HEALTHY FATS
Fats are an essential component of a balanced diet, however, they’re not all made equal.
Chicken fat is great however the generic “animal fat” is not.
It’s a common “animal fat” is very frequently used, but it’s a compounded fat that comes from a variety of species that are in a vat, therefore it’s not good for allergy sufferers and is among the ingredients that are most likely to contain the drug used in euthanasia pentobarbital, which is a sour taste!
Certain fish oils included in food items is beneficial to search for because it will supply Omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial for the health of your pet.
A good food should contain those Omega-3, Omega-6, EPA and DHA levels listed in the Guaranteed Analysis although it’s not a requirement.
Alongside the generic animal fats, steer clear of low-cost fats such as soybean oil and vegetable oils such as sunflower, safflower or the generic “vegetable oil”, as they’re usually primarily Omega-6 fatty acids that do not contain Omega-3’s.
Beyond the vital essential fatty acids found in your pet’s diet it’s a good idea to include these as a supplement.
This can help improve the overall wellbeing of your pet, including skin and coat health, joint health and much more.
4. WATCH OUT FOR EMPTY FILLERS
They include things like corn and wheat, soybeans, sorghum, and other ingredients.
Alongside being converted into fat, as we mentioned earlier, they are usually products of human food production, rather than food ingredients that are whole.
That means they aren’t nutritionally valuable.
Furthermore both soybeans and corn are genetically altered (unless it’s organic) as well as because the grains are generally high in carbs, they are more likely to affect the metabolism of glucose and insulin, which can cause obesity.
It’s crucial to remember that grain isn’t all harmful.
Since cats are carnivores in all respects and require an animal-based protein rich, grains-free diet.
However, dogs, particularly active and working dogs can benefit from a grain-in diet consisting by whole cereals.
If you are trying to find an natural, grain-free and wholesome diet for your dog’s diet, stay clear of refined grains and opt for old-fashioned grains, such as millet, quinoa, and amaranth.
5. LOOK FOR ADDED BENEFICIAL INGREDIENTS
The other ingredients might contain some useful nutrients but these have to be present in sufficient quantities in order to have a real impact.
Certain fruits and vegetables are great because they supply minerals, vitamins along with fiber and most importantly, antioxidants.
However, any which fall below or are not included in the many minerals and vitamins on the list of ingredients aren’t present in sufficient quantities to make a difference.
Certain supplements can be an excellent indicator such as flax seed (for fiber and fat acids) as well as glucosamine and chondroitin (for joints health) inulin from chicory root (prebiotics) as well as probiotics, enzymes, and similar substances.
Artificial preservatives and colors are not a good indicator to avoid items such as BHA/BHT, ethoxyquin and propyl glycol, propylene gallate benzoates, nitrates and Sulfites, and caramel color.
How do Dry dog food be made ?
There are a variety of types or formats of produced pet food.
These include wet (can pouch, tray, can) and dry (extruded or baked) cold pressed and raw.
The label will tell you whether the pet food is ‘complete or ‘complementary’.
Complete” implies that the product includes all the nutrients required by pets for their well-being and health throughout the daily diet, whereas an ‘complementary’ food for pets e.g. treats must be fed with other food sources in order to ensure proper nutrition.
The method of manufacturing and the components used in their preparation differ in accordance with the type of.
Dry pet food is prepared by mixing wet and dry ingredients to create dough.
The process of extrusion involves it is then heated under pressure and then passed through an extruder machine which cuts the kibbles as they expand due to the change in pressure.
Kibbles’ size and shape vary in accordance with the specifications of the product.
Kibbles are dried, chilled, then coated with spray.
Certain dry foods could be made using methods other than extrusion. For instance, baking.
Source selection of ingredients and ingredient selection
The majority of ingredients that are used in the production and preparation of dog food can be referred to as being animal (or the fish) products or derivatives.
These are the components of the animal waste that meet the needs of the food industry for humans.
Examples of by-products are liver or kidney, lung, or many other meals from by-products; all are suitable for human consumption
since they have passed an inspection by a veterinarian. These are ingredients that come from animals commonly found in humans’ food chains.
In pet food that is dry the animal derivatives are typically utilized in the form of a meal (such in chicken meal or poultry by-product meal) which is cooked, the fat is removed and the remainder of the food is dried to form dry meals.
By-products are also available in frozen or fresh forms.
A lot of other ingredients like cereals and grains as well as vegetables that are used in dry pet food are available as dry and can be milled, or ground before mixing.
A recipe is likely to contain oils, minerals, fats, and vitamins necessary to ensure that the product is a complete source of nutrients.
Preparation and weighing of ingredients
Ingredients are selected carefully in accordance with the specific pet food manufacturer’s recipe that is designed to provide the most complete and balanced nutrition to pets and cats.
Dry ingredients are ground, crushed if necessary, and then mixed.
Cooling and cooking
The dry mixture is mixed with water, wet ingredients as well as steam to create a preconditioner that hydrates the powders and forms a dough and then begins to cook.
The dough is then inserted into the machine, called an extruder which cooks the dough using pressure.
After the extruder, the dough escapes under pressure and through a plate, forming ribbons with a pre-specified shape.
They are then cut and expanded to the size that is specified by the circular cutter.
Then, after extrusion or cutting, the Kibbles are dried by air in an oven, removing the water, and then cool.
The reduction of water content is a vital measure to maintain freshness while keeping food from spoiling.
Once baked the dough is formed into shapes before baking in the oven (similar to biscuits or cookies).
Kibble coating
After cooling and drying after cooling, kibbles usually go into the revolving drum, where they are coated evenly with a variety of flavours in order to improve the taste and also with preservatives that stop spoilage throughout the shelf duration of food.
Other coatings, or flavours, can also be applied to baked items when they are taken out of the oven.
Packaging
The packing is filled to weights declared, and the packaging is sealed to avoid contamination.
Distribution and storage
The packages are kept in boxes or on pallets. They are placed in warehouses to be distributed to customers.
Food safety and quality for pets
No matter what the format of pet food, all pet food is under strict regulation to ensure the safety and quality of products.
Alongside the law, FEDIAF members follow industry Codes of Practice such as the Guide to the Manufacture of Safe Pet Food.