As a dog parent, you are responsible for providing your dog with proper nutrition for optimal health. With the availability of hundreds of commercial diets that claim to be complete and balanced, premium diets fortified with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, this should be a simple task. But why must commercial diets be fortified with extra minerals, vitamins, and amino acids? Let us examine these questions by investigating how the processing of commercial dog food affects the nutrients and why the final product may not be the nutritious meal you are led to believe.

Protein in your dog's bowl can come from various sources. The quality of the protein is only as good as the plant or animal from which it was derived. 

Whole meat (beef, chicken, lamb, turkey, or fish) Whole meats are the best protein source. However, there are differences in how the animals are raised that significantly impact the meat quality. Organically grass-fed animals are ideal as they are free of all pesticides and antibiotics. 

Grass-fed and grain-fed meat can have differences in nutrient composition due to the distinct diets the animals are raised on. The primary differences between grass-fed and grain-fed meat include fatty acid composition, fat content, and vitamin and mineral content. 

Grass-fed beef has significantly less monounsaturated fat than grain-fed beef and up to five times as much Omega-3. Grass-fed beef contains about twice as much conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) as grain-fed beef. Grain-fed meat often has a higher content of Omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential, but excessive intake of Omega-6s relative to Omega-3s  can lead to an imbalance associated with inflammation. 

Grass-fed beef has higher levels of nutrients such as vitamins B6, B12,  E, and D and minerals like magnesium, zinc, selenium,  and calcium. Grass-fed liver contains the most soluble form of vitamin A or retinol. This vitamin is necessary for vision, skin and coat health, inflammation reduction, tissue repair, overall immunity, and cancer prevention.

Meat by-products, also called animal by-products, are ingredients derived from the parts of slaughtered animals that are not intended for human consumption. These parts may include organs, such as the liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs, as well as other tissues like blood, bone, and cartilage. Although these body parts are acceptable proteins for dogs, most nutrients are altered or lost completely when rendered for commercial dog food.

Protein content and quality are much lower in bone and meat meals. Meals are highly processed by-products of the rendering industry. Rendered meals contain animal parts deemed unfit for human consumption. In the United States, meat and bone meals can include roadkill, restaurant and supermarket waste, rotten animal carcasses, and euthanized zoo animals and pets. 

The carcasses are heated to such an extreme that it causes the proteins and other contents to break down. The contents in the rendering tank create three layers. The protein congregates at the bottom of the tank, the fatty tissue in the middle layer, and the liquid portion is at the top. The liquid layer is discarded. The fats are skimmed off to be used for soaps and other products. The layer at the bottom is dried and ground into a powder and then shipped to the pet food companies to be used as a protein source in dog and cat kibble.

Heat processing enhances plant proteins found in legumes, soy, and quinoa to increase digestibility. However, plant proteins' nutritional benefits are inferior to meat proteins. Commonly used plant-based proteins for commercial dog food include: 

Legumes: Lentils, chickpeas, peas, and beans are rich in protein and fiber. They are often used as alternative protein sources in grain-free and vegetarian dog foods.

Soy: Soybeans and soy products can provide protein for dogs, but soy is a common allergen in canines. It's essential to monitor for any adverse reactions.

Quinoa: Quinoa is a pseudo-grain that contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein source. It is gluten-free and easily digestible for dogs.

Seeds: Hemp seeds, chia seeds, and flaxseeds are rich in protein, healthy fats, and fiber. They can be added to a dog's diet as a protein supplement or to provide additional nutrients.

Proteins in kibble have been processed at high heat levels up to six times. The heating processes cause the denaturation of meat protein. The amino acids, especially the essential amino acid lysine, are destroyed due to the Maillard Reaction.

The Maillard Reaction also creates cancer-causing acrylamide. Muscle meat cooked at extremely high temperatures produces mutagenic chemicals, heterocyclic amines (HCA), and polycyclic acids (PAH). 

The quality of dog food begins with the source of the components.

Protein is an essential macronutrient for dogs.

The processes used in creating kibble denature most protein

Brady, C. (2020). In Feeding dogs: dry or raw? The science behind the debate (pp. 336–359). essay, Farrow Road Publishing.

Effects of extrusion processing on nutrients in dry pet food   

Apparent and true digestibility of macro and micro nutrients in adult maintenance dog foods containing either a majority of animal or vegetable proteins 

As a dog parent, you are responsible for providing your dog with proper nutrition for optimal health. With the availability of hundreds of commercial diets that claim to be complete and balanced, premium diets fortified with vitamins, minerals, and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/amino-acids">amino acids</a>, this should be a simple task. But why must commercial diets be fortified with extra minerals, vitamins, and amino acids? Let us examine these questions by investigating how the <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/how-kibble-is-made">processing of commercial dog food</a> affects the nutrients and why the final product may not be the nutritious meal you are led to believe.

Protein Sources and Quality in Kibble

Feed Real Institute

Services

Summit

We help with