what do they put in dog food to make it last?

[vash]

there has to be something to it. you can get a slow eating dog to eat out of a single bag for months. the stuff doesnt seem to go bad. do you think this is causing all the dog cancer out there? i know so many dogs afflicted with some type of cancer. i know some high end brands boast no preservatives, but i dont see how.

when i am ready, and i get the next dog, i am going with a more natural "raw" diet. my friend does it, and she describes it has "fear factor" food. but her dogs are super heathy.

[scottmandue]

In the old days they were able to preserve food with salt, I would be curious to see the salt levels in dog/cat food. Certain types of oil can act as a preservative and I know my cats dry food has an oily feel to it.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

What do they put in?

Mr. Ed.

[MikeSid]

No need to go "raw" to get fresh. Boiled chicken and rice. I know several animals on this diet. It's not as cheap as dryfood, but with cheaper frozen Arkansas chix and Costco, it's not outrageous as some might think.

I've heard arguments from vets on both sides of the "raw" issue. Some say it's more natural for the animals. Others say that domesticated animals are bred so far away from the snimal that used to hunt its own food that feeding it raw food is now less optimal for its digestive tract.

Personally, I don't know. But I do think fresh is important.

[Nostril Cheese]

Horse hooves, sawdust, salt

[Rot 911]

All I have ever fed my dog is medium priced dry dog food (Pedigree) and yes it takes him a month to go through a 20 lb bag. He is medium sized (65lbs) and very healthy. He just turned 11 and still acts like he is 2. He goes on long walks, loves to run and has never had a single ailment. I attribute part of that to being a mixed breed, pound puppy and part to his diet. Never had table scraps or canned food.

[B D]

Try California Natural or Innova dog food. California Natural gets there chicken from Foster Farms.

[dhoward]

Originally posted by Kurt V
All I have ever fed my dog is medium priced dry dog food (Pedigree) and yes it takes him a month to go through a 20 lb bag. He is medium sized (65lbs) and very healthy. He just turned 11 and still acts like he is 2. He goes on long walks, loves to run and has never had a single ailment. I attribute part of that to being a mixed breed, pound puppy and part to his diet. Never had table scraps or canned food.

+1.
Purina Dog Chow.

[tc-sacto]

I like to know this too, as I'm having a hard time keeping my 3 year old son from climbing throught the doggy door and eating the damn dog food!!! He loves it...passes up Oreos for kibble

[Brillo]

Soylent Green

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by Brillo
Soylent Green

Dammit!! I was going to type, "ITS PEOPLE!!!" you beat me to it.

[M.D. Holloway]

I have been in my share of mills that make dog chow and also the plants for the canned stuff. In my opinion I think it already has gone bad and it can't get any worse!

Keep in mind, if that dog chow gets wet it will mold up on you and the stink is worse then ass.

Actually, they use the same stuff as General Mills uses in there Cheerios or Nabisco uses in their Oreos. Any of you guys with kids know that you can find a Cheerio or Oreo that is at least 2 years old and could be consumed with little issue (and very little fanfare). Not that it is advisible but it is possible.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

All the ground-up dead puppies nobody adopted from the pound.

I wish I were kidding.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by tc-sacto
I like to know this too, as I'm having a hard time keeping my 3 year old son from climbing throught the doggy door and eating the damn dog food!!! He loves it...passes up Oreos for kibble

If you saw what went into dog chow you would stop that practice right quick. He would be better of licking ashtrays or the bottom of your work boot than eating that stuff.

Seriously, its pretty rank ****!

[slakjaw]

Rank is about right!

Dead animals, road kill, dead horses and other livestock. All rotted out and bloated maggot ridden and nasty!

[pbs911]

Dog food v. Table scaps, which is better for a dog.

Here's a good test. . . My father and his friend each adopted a puppy from the local pound. Each puppy was a female and from the same litter. My father took his home and fed the dog nothing but table scraps, chicken, steak, salad, etc. The dog had a bowl of ice cream each night as well. My father's friend feed his dog nothing but top quality dog food from the vet. The dog never tasted "people food."

Fast forward about 14 years. My fathers dog dies of natural causes. Four days later my father's friends dog dies from natural causes. My father always took solice in the fact his dog had a better life by eating well instead of a boring diet of dog food.

At least with these two dogs, the type of food that comprised their life long diet did nothing to increase longevity or health.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

With a sample size of two, that's hardly conclusive.

Interesting, but not conclusive.

It's like saying "George Burns smoked a cigar a day and lived to 90 years of age, therefore cigars will make you live a long time".

[dhoward]

It will.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Maybe. . . What about joints?

[scottmandue]

I have no doubt they put all kinds of bad stuff in pet food. When I worked at the starkist tuna cannery everything that didn't go into a can went off to the pet food factory... and I do mean everything.

I'm now a little concerned about the Purina I'm feeding my cats, I'm also curious what you guys are feeding your pets if it is not over the counter pet food?