Do you know you are unintentionally poisoning your lovely dog?

By Chris Griffon

Although you would never intentionally poison your dog, you may be doing just that if you're not reading the label on the bag of dog food. Not all dog food is the same. Some manufacturers seek a higher profit margin by using cheap and inferior ingredients.

Others add toxic chemicals to the food, which can cause serious health issues or even death. False advertising may make certain claims that the food is unable to produce. Additionally, some of the guidelines are voluntary when it comes to listing the additives in the food. How do you know the manufacturer of your dog's food is telling the truth?

The first place to start is the label on the back of the bag. It's right here that you can begin to narrow down your choices. If the first five ingredients are cereal type product

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s, like corn, soy or wheat, this food is using a cheap source of protein. Plant proteins are hard for dogs to digest and can contribute to colitis and urinary tract infections.

While all dog foods contain some grain products, choose one that uses ingredients that are more easily digested, like rice or oats. The most nutritious dog food uses protein from meat sources.

Have you wondered why your dog scratches a lot? It could be because of the colorants and other additives in the food, which are known to cause allergic reactions. Beware of brightly colored bits of kibble; they contain chemicals that are not healthy for your pet. The best type of food uses a very limited amount of preservatives and artificial coloring.

Dog food can contain at least six deadly chemicals that can cause a variety of health issues, from cancer to a failure of the body's major organs. Why are these chemicals in the food? Once again, it comes down to preserving the product in a cost-effective way for the manufacturer.

Since some of these chemicals are added at the rendering plant, and not directly from the manufacturer, they may not be listed on the label. Ethoxyquin, for example, is used as a preservative for many pet foods. This is also a very toxic chemical that is linked to serious and often fatal health problems. Yet, it is allowed to be used in dog food.

Each year, veterinarians treat dogs for a variety of health issues that could be traced back to the dog food. There is an increase in cases of dogs suffering from 'unexplained' digestive disturbances and allergies. Leukemia and other cancers are being diagnosed more frequently. And then there are dogs who exhibit behavioral problems with no apparent cause. Could all of these health concerns result from the food they are eating? Remember, the quality of the dog food determines the quality of the dog's life.

With all of this deceit and misleading information in the dog food industry, not to mention the disease-related issues, is there any way to choose a nutritious product? The answer is "yes". Knowledge is your best defense against dog food manufacturers who are only seeking a profit at the expense of your dog's health.

The e-book Dog Food Secrets exposes the truth about what's really in a bag of dog food. You'll learn exactly how to read the labels and avoid harmful or misleading food choices. The author also has a list of the top nine best and most nutritious dog foods.

Maybe the dog food companies want to keep the ingredients a secret, but by reading the labels and this e-book, you will give your canine companion the best possible life.