Pet Food Are Not Always Expensive
A number of individuals create their own pet food. As with food meant for humans, the key is proper ingredients to make nutritious meal times. An alternate option is one of the available brands of dog food. Speak with a professional, and listen to all of the different meal suggestions.
One school of thought has it that dogs have been living on leftover food a food scraps from people since the days of the cave man. Commercial pet food is a relatively recent development, they aver, noting that these foods contain lower quality meat and other added ingredients that is actually bad for dogs and does not meet dogs’ nutritional needs.
It’s usually less expensive to purchase dry pet food. Per pound, it is much more cost effective than its canned or semi-moist relatives. Dry food generally only contains 6-10% moisture whereas canned foods are 78% moisture. It appears that dry food which contains more actual food ingredients and less water is the better value here. Dry food is also instrumental in your pet’s dental health in that it prevents the build-up of tartar. Canned foods which are opened and served at mealtimes mean fresher food for your pet. Unless you have a large, airtight container to keep your dry food in after you open the package, the canned food will provide the freshest diet.
Pellets of dry pet food, called kibble, are primarily produced by one of two methods- extrusion and baking. During the extrusion process, cut dough or a mixture of raw materials is fed into an expander, while pressurized steam or hot water is added. When removed from the high pressure that results, the pellets puff like popcorn. The resultant kibble is allowed to dry, then sprayed with vitamins, fats and oils, or any other ingredients that are not heat-tolerant.
If the extruded kibble is exposed to air or the elements for too long or not stored properly, the fats and oils added to the kibble can go bad. The vitamins and minerals in wellness dog food could be destroyed if exposed to heat during shipping or during storage. One very popular dog food is Burns Dog Food.
Pet owners that want a food that is more natural and digestible usually look towards baked kibble. The heating process is slower during baking, as a result of a lengthy, low pressure cooking process. This means that fats present in the kibble are slowly cooked in instead of sprayed on at the end. The baking results in a longer shelf life than extruded kibble. Baked kibble will also last longer when the package is opened by the pet owner. The effects of baking versus extruding are subject to much discussion.
There are a variety of recommendations concerning what the best diet is for dogs. Some people purchase ingredients from health food or grocery stores and feed their dogs pet food they have made themselves. Many other people depend on buying commercially manufactured dog food. Dry food is made by two processes - extrusion and baking. Pet owners that want a more natural food usually choose the baked method. However, the vitamins and minerals in this wellness dog food could be destroyed if exposed to heat during shipping or during storage. One very popular dog food is Burns Dog Food.
- Melinda Smith
