Premium &
Regular, Canned, Bagged/Dry,
Moist, Rolls and Raw
Dog food has traditionally come
in four basic varieties: canned,
dry semi-moist, rolls and raw.
Which of the traditional food
varieties works best for your dog is
a matter of choice. In reality,
a dog can be fed a nutritious
diet on any one of of these.
Each variety has its own
particular advantages: canned
dog food has a high level of
water, so it helps dogs stay
hydrated; dry food is economical
and it helps a dog maintain
healthy teeth and gums; moist
and rolled food is convenient
and very palatable. It’s up to you to decide which variety is
best for their pets. In many
cases, dog owners will feed
their pets a combination of all
or some out of these varieties.
When feeding a combination of
varieties, you will have to make
sure that their pets are taking
in the appropriate amount of
calories every day by
calculating the calorie
contribution each variety makes
to the dog’s diet.
Canned Dog Food
Canned food is made by a
process called retorting, which
is very similar to home canning.
Typically, the base of canned
dog food is meat, which is
shipped to the dog food plant in
refrigerated or frozen form.
A dog food manufacturer will
grind the meat into very small
pieces. After grinding, the meat
will be combined with vitamins,
minerals, perhaps some grains
and other dry ingredients. This
mix of ingredients will then be
blended together by machine.
During this blending process,
the mix will be heated to
progressively increasing
temperatures. Turning up the
heat gives the food its
gelatin-like texture and gives
it a more dog-friendly flavor.
Once the food has been cooked,
and while it is still very hot,
it moves onto a filler machine,
which puts it in cans. The
filler machine not only fills
the cans, it seams lids on them.
During this canning process,
steam is blown over the top of
the cans to maintain heat, so it
vacuum seals to protect the food
from spoilage.
The next step in the process is
for the filled and sealed cans
to move onto a sterilizer, where
they are heated to temperatures
of 121°C (250° F) for at least
three minutes. This kills any
harmful bacteria. After the
cooking process is completed,
the cans are allowed to cool,
and then labels are applied.
Canned Dog Food Quick Facts:
-
Very high palatability and is
quickly accepted by dogs.
-
Should be removed one hour after
serving.
-
An opened can of dog food that is
covered and stored in the refrigerator typically
keeps for two days. However, if the food in a can
looks or smells funny, or grows mold before that
time, it should be discarded immediately.
-
Refrigerated food should be allowed
to reach room temperature before it is served. If
the refrigerated food is warmed in a microwave, it
should be stirred to distribute the heat before it
is served to the pet.
Bagged Dry Dog Food
Dry foods are a dietary mainstay for many pet dogs. The
most common way of making dried dog food is through the
extrusion process. This is the same process used to make
the cereal products many of us eat for breakfast. The
extrusion process utilizes a combination of pressure
cooking and grinding to convert wet food into a dry and
“puffed” finished product. Often, the food is sprayed
with fat and flavors as it dries. Typically, dry dog
food is made from grain, meat, and fat, with vitamins
and minerals added. The first step in the manufacturing
process is to grind these raw materials down to a
desired uniform size, which usually means to the
consistency of coarse flour. After grinding, the raw
materials are thoroughly mixed by a blending machine. At
this point, baked or pellet dog foods will go through
the cooking process. Extruded dog foods, however, a will
be send to an extruder.
The extrusion process begins by blending the dry mix
with liquids, then sending the dry-wet mix to a
pre-conditioner, where it is partially cooked. Then it
is onto the extruder, a barrel-like device that mixes
and cooks the food before forcing it through a die that
cuts it into the desired shape. At this point, the cut
kibble is sent through a dryer to remove moisture, and
then it is allowed to cool. The last step in the
manufacturing process is enrobing, in which fat and
flavorings are applied to the kibble’s exterior. Dry dog
food makes it simple and economical for you to provide
their pets with a nutritionally complete diet, while
controlling calories.
Dry Dog Food Quick Facts:
-
Nutritious, convenient, economical
and easy to keep – these benefits have made dry dog
food popular.
-
The loss of nutrients during
processing is limited, because the production
process does not require high temperatures.
-
The addition of supplements to dry
food formulas makes up for any nutrients lost during
preparation.
-
Dry foods have a low moisture
content, which inhibits spoilage.
Semi-Moist Dog Food
Semi-moist dog food is soft, chewy and very
attractive to dogs. It remains moist and soft without
spoiling because of a technology that chemically binds
water in the food, making it unavailable to bacteria.
Preservatives are also used to protect against spoilage.
Many semi-moist dog foods have a relatively high sugar
content and high levels of simple carbohydrates. The
former makes them palatable to many dogs, the latter
makes them easily digestible. However, these qualities
also make them less desirable for dogs prone to becoming
overweight and increase the risk of the pet developing
dental disease. If feeding semi-moist foods, you
should be extra diligent about brushing your dog’s
teeth. Just like dry food, semi-moist products are made
through the extrusion process. After the ingredients in
a semi-moist food are mixed, they pass through an
extruder. However, instead of being dried the way dry
food is after leaving the extruder, semi-moist foods go
through coating drums where water and the chemicals that
help to maintain moisture and acids are added. After
leaving the coating drums, the food then goes into a
refrigerated cooler. Since the high (25%-35%) moisture
content of semi-moist foods makes them more susceptible
to spoilage, they are formulated using preservatives and
sold in moisture-proof packaging.
Dog Food Rolls
Resembling the kinds of “meat rolls” that humans eat,
dog food rolls are convenient, attractive and very
palatable for your pets. They contain a high percentage of
meat and are nutrient dense. Since dogs find them so
appealing, they are often used as training treats or to
encourage pets that are older or recovering from an
illness or injury to eat. They are also often mixed with
dry dog foods to increase palatability.
Rolls have to be refrigerated after opening. Although
they are tasty and nutrient rich, they are often
costlier and higher in calories than other alternatives.
Raw Diets
Raw meat can be a good source of
protein and other nutrients, but precautions must always
be taken when handling raw dog food, feeding it to pets,
and disposing of waste from pets that are on raw food
diets. This is for the safety of your and your dog.
There are two forms of commercial dog food available:
the first is “complete” foods that are intended to be
the pet’s sole source of nutrition. The second is the
“combination” foods, which are raw foods that are
intended to be mixed with supplements to provide pets
with a nutritionally complete diet. You must exercise caution if
you choose to feed either kind of raw food to your pets. Although
typically safe, raw food can contain salmonella,
toxoplasmosis and other agents of infectious diseases
that can sicken or even kill your pet. If you choose to
feed raw dog food to your pets, you must be sensitive to
signs of spoilage and contamination, and immediately and
safely discard any “suspicious” food without offering it
to your pets. In these cases, your should also
contact PSP and the food manufacturer with their
concerns.
Outdated food should never be fed to any pet.
You must also follow the manufacturer’s directions
carefully when storing raw dog food. Most manufacturers
have toll-free hotlines, and you should use these
if your have any questions or concerns. Care should be
taken when handling raw dog food, just as it should
always be taken when handling any raw animal matter,
including raw meat and fish destined for human
consumption. You should always wash your hands
thoroughly after handling raw food. Counters, utensils
and bowls should be washed very thoroughly and hands
should be washed after handling these products.
Counters, utensils, bowls and hands should be dried with
paper towels that are disposed of carefully.
Dogs eating raw foods can potentially shed harmful
organisms into the environment where they can cause
disease in people. Extra care should be taken when
disposing of waste from pets that are fed raw diets.
Waste should be disposed of safely and securely, so it
is not accessible to children or pets. You should always
wash hands thoroughly after handling any pet waste.
Since the elderly, pregnant women and chronically ill
individuals are especially vulnerable to salmonella,
they should not handle raw food.
