Ever wonder what the ingredients would look like if you made a commercial pet food at home? So did Rodney Habib. Here’s his picture, posted on Facebook of the ingredients – in order and weight – of a typical commercial pet food. Very interesting.
The introduction of the image states: “For the TV documentary on pet obesity in which I will be participating, I thought some of the pet owning contestants should see what their pet’s food is actually made of. Here, in order from greatest to least, is what it would actually look like if you made the food at home. (Propylene Glycol for those that don’t know is aka Automotive RV winterizer or the blue dots in cheap blueberry muffins that are not real blueberries!)
The moral of the story is: read your label and research your ingredients.! (boy do I have a ton of dishes to wash now!)”
And the image…
I’m certain we won’t see this on a pet food label however.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com
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Tanya
December 13, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Great post! I looove the visual here. Imagine sustaining life on this junk?
There’s just one inaccuracy that I can see: the meat and bone meal should have at least a small piece of meat. But even still, it wouldn’t be enough meat for a healthy diet.
I would LOVE to see a similar visual to compare this to a good dog food, just to see the difference. I can imagine it, but a photo would tell the story so much better!
Thanks for sharing this!
J King
December 13, 2012 at 3:41 pm
A far more honest rendition of the ingredients than the plump whole chicken adorned with tiny herb sprigs that’s likely pictured on the label.
amy
December 13, 2012 at 3:56 pm
my carpet guy said the coloring in dog food is the same as dye used to color carpets. no, my animals aren’t on corporate food. However, I thought it was interesting since he was addressing stains in the carpet from a previous owners animals. yikes!!
John Huff
December 13, 2012 at 5:16 pm
I almost laughed when I saw the ingredients. Until I realized that some poor uninformed pet parent is feeding this stuff to someone that they love.
Thank you again Susan…
Dr. Patrick Mahaney
December 13, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Thank you for putting a very descriptive picture showing what goes into typical pet foods.
If more people were to see this (I’ll spread it via my social media reach), they would likely make the choice to pursue more whole food-based diets.
Dr. PM
Laura Zver
December 13, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Great visual and probably shocking for most pet owners.
I gave up on the commercial dog food industry and have taken my dogs health into my own hands. I spend 2 hours a week making home made food for my dog. His health health issues were gone in weeks. My dog was constantly sick with digestive issues and allergies while on commercial dog food.
Peg
December 13, 2012 at 7:58 pm
GAK!!!
This is even an appetite suppressant for me……… never mind my cats.
What an ingenious way to show the true picture.
I am tempted to print the picture and hang it in the pet food aisle.
Lesliek
December 13, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Doesn’t look anything like the beautiful food pix on a bag of Beneful does it ? Tha’ts why my 5 angels didn’t eat it & why my last cat still doesn’t !
Lonnie
December 14, 2012 at 3:44 pm
I think the pictures of “chicken by product” & “meat bone meal” are way too flattering. Thats hardly what the ingredient looks like thats actually used in most pet foods. Perhaps a more accurate photo would of been…a big, stinking pot of boiling road kill, unknown animal tissue sprinkled with a touch of rat feces topped off with some skin, feathers, feet and all kinds of yummy stuff that arrive in barrels of unrefrigerated containers. Not a pretty picture.
brigitte mauch
December 16, 2012 at 3:57 am
I would like to find out what the contents of dog tins contain. Are they made from dead animals, as I was told?
JosiesMom
December 21, 2012 at 3:03 pm
The meals and grinds shown are likely human grade which I doubt are the same grade used for pet food. The chicken by products shown are too fresh and dont represent the rendered dead decaying diseased and dieing animals used.
Great basic visual and a far cry from the mouth watering glowing images on the pet food labels.
My ferrets are so much healthier since I converted them to raw meaty bones and whole prey. Feed your pets what they evolved to eat and watch your vet bills disappear. Your pets will be more active, almost odor free, and will live fuller longer lives!
Pingback: Your Questions About [get Your Dog To Eat]
K9 Instinct Blog
January 7, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Another excellent article – this changes things, when pet owners can actually see what is going into their pet’s bodies.
Lynda
January 15, 2013 at 9:22 am
Great layout of ingredients – the
“Chicken-by-products” and
“Meat & Bone Meal” still look
too pretty for what is “really” put into their food.
Thank you Susan for your site –
I recommend it to all.
Paige
April 20, 2013 at 1:43 pm
And that is why my dog is raw fed.