Dog food, their all the same, right?  They all look the same, some have gravy which my dog loves, some even have little green things that look like peas in it -- those are fresh peas, right? 

The bad news is that the pet food industry is a way for the human food industry to turn waste into profits. What that means is that slaughterhouse offal, like intestines, udders, and esophagi; mildewed or rotting grains; and decaying vegetable and fruit cores and skins are bought up by the mass marketers, and processed into what you buy in that can or bag that promises "choice beef cuts", "whole grains", and "fresh vegetables". There are few laws or regulations controlling the biological condition of the waste that pet food manufacturers buy, not to mention the cleanliness of containers and wrapping materials, or the mode of storage and transportation.  (Hence, the recall of dog food like Diamond Pet Food which discovered aflatoxin in their product... Aflatoxin can contaminate virtually any grain, fruit or vegetable that has been stored in conditions permitting the growth of mold.)

The major dog and cat food producers are subsidiaries of huge multinationals whose relationship to dog care is zero to none: Nestle (Alpo, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Mighty Dog)-- don't they make hot coco and chocolate chips?; Heinz (9 Lives, Amore, Nature's Recipe, Kibbles-n-Bits, Gravy Train) --  aren't they known for their signature Ketchup?; and Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Science Diet) -- I think my dish washing liquid is made by these people. Proctor and Gamble that produces Eukanuba and Iams also produces everything from baby wipes to hair care and coloring products. So, if you thought the above waste-into-profits scenario didn't apply because you buy the "gourmet" foods like Iams, well, think again.  How much thought are they really putting into my dog food when down the hall they are also make dish washing liquid for my pots and pans -- and why would they be involved with the pet industry making food???   The pet industry is a 36 BILLION dollar industry in year 2005 -- that's why.

So what's a dog owner to do? There are small, independent producers who make dog food with human grade ingredients. Most of these people are dog loving entrepreneurs who set out to address the problem of mass marketed pet food. Many of them are devoted to the cause because they have had pets who were unsuccessfully treated by a veterinarian for a variety of ailments for long periods of time, before someone told them to feed their beloved companion wholesome food. For many ailments, and behavioral problems, a good diet solved the problem.  You are what you eat, and it applies to dogs also.

Some human-grade dry foods: Merrick, Solid Gold, Flint River Ranch, Life's Abundance, The Honest Kitchen, Dr. Harvey's, and Fromm Family Nutritionals. Wet, freeze-dried and frozen diets include: Merrick, Wellness, Spot's Stew by Halo, Red Barn, Fromm Family Nutritionals, Pooch Bowls and Steve's Real Food and Wellness.

You can easily order these foods online. Try feedmypet.com, petfoodcafe.com, poochbowls.com, or just4pooches.com.  (some excerpts of above information from 'The Dog Den')