What's in these dog foods anyway? Tips on choosing a healthy food.

Most people who shop for their pet's food never turn over the bag to see what the ingredients are. I know I didn't look at any ingredients... until I started to do some research on just what was in the foods, I had NO idea. While it is tempting to make a buying decision on the clever marketing and packaging of the product, you definitely want to turn the bag over and look at the ingredient panel. So here are some tips you can use to make sure you are feeding a high quality diet to your four-legged friends.

Does it have by-products?

Chicken by-product meal is just like it sounds, a byproduct of the chicken that is not used in human foods. By-products are not necessarily terrible in and of themselves, for instance the heart is considered a byproduct and has many nutritional benefits to dogs and cats, but let's look carefully at what else is allowed in byproducts and just as importantly what is not there, MEAT.

AAFCO Definition: Chicken by-product meal consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice.

RULE #1: If it has by-products, stay away from it. You can be sure it is anything but meat.

TIP: Chicken Meal is not the same as chicken by-product meal and is an ideal ingredient. It includes meat and organs (and sometimes chicken bones which are essential to your pets health) which provide your animal with vital nutrients.

Chicken meal is the dry rendered (cooked down) product from a combination of clean flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts of whole carcasses of chicken -- exclusive of feathers, heads, feet, or entrails.

Does it have Whole Grain Ground Corn?

This is the whole corn kernel which is ground down and used as a source of protein. Corn is most commonly believed to be the cause of most pet food allergies; however most dogs do not have corn allergies. Using Corn as a protein source is considered inferior by most animal/people nutritionists.

RULE #2: If it has whole grain ground corn in the top 6-8 ingredients, stay away from it. You can be sure it is being used to add some cheap calories and protein that are less available for digestion.

TIP: If you are feeding a diet with grains, look for highly digestible grains, such as rice.

Does it contain Whole Ground Sorghum?

Sorghum is the ground grain of the sorghum plant. Sorghum is a member of the grass family; its leaves and stalk resemble corn but it does not have ears. Although sorghum is a good source of carbohydrates, it is low in digestibility and therefore not used in higher quality pet foods.

RULE #3: If it has whole ground sorghum, stay away from it.

TIP: If you are feeding a diet with grains, look for highly digestible grains, such as rice.

Does it contain Animal Fat?

Animal fat is obtained from the tissues of mammals and/or poultry in the commercial process of rendering or extracting. Ask yourself what animal did this come from? We have no idea and that's the problem.

RULE #4: Do not buy foods with unnammed fat sources. It could be anything.

TIP: The best food manufactures prefer high quality chicken fat because of its higher levels of linoleic acid. High quality Fats are essential to your pets diet.

Brad Leezer is the author of Gizzy Lu, Natural Nutrition for pets. He is a co-founder of Gizzy Lu Stores at White Oaks Mall in Springfield, IL. You can reach him by email at info@gizzylu.com or by phone at 217-698-3430.