Pedigree Dog Food Top Ingredients (PEDIGREE is a trademark of Mars, Incorporated.)

Ground yellow corn – mostly filler, provides very little protein and is hard for dogs to digest. Some dogs may be allergic to corn

Meat and bone meal – cheap source of protein typically containing mostly bone, which is difficult for dogs to digest. Not human grade.

Corn gluten meal – again, mostly filler, hard to digest and may cause food allergies.

Chicken by-product meal – may consist of parts that are not desired for human consumption or that have been condemned.  Part may include organs, bones, blood, ligaments, heads, feet, feathers, hair, etc.

Animal fat (preseved with BHA/BHT6) – if the fat source is not named specifically (such as in this case by Pedigree) is is most often redered fat, grease from restaurants, or oils that have been condemned for human consumption. BHA and BHT are potentially cancer causing agents.

Wheat mill run – filler, small protien source, grains are hard on most dog’s digestive systems, may cause allergies.

Natural poultry flavor – again a generic term that provides little help in determining nutritional value

Rice – filler, small protien source, grains are hard on most dog’s digestive systems, may cause

Salt – Usually added to improve flavor

Personally I do not use Pedigree Dog Food

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When reviewing the opinions of many canine nutritional experts this is a bit disturbing based on the ingredients shown on the label:

~Review of Ingredients~
Ground yellow corn, soybean meal, ground whole wheat, corn syrup, poultry fat, Meat and bone meal (Animal Fat Preserved with BHA and Citric Acid), Chicken by-product Meal, Rice, Animal Digest, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin D and E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulafate, Manganous Oxide, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Meadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex Source of Vitamin K, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid
Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070331111958AAZ7D2R

Their first question is where is the meat? Ingredient labels must show ingredients from first to last based on their wet weight. Based on a review of the ingredients this dog food is mostly grain. The majority of which is corn a known allergen to many dogs with little actual nutritional value.

The only protien sources are unspecified fat and meal sources which according to my review of much of the literature often proves to be undigestable and could come from any number of sources such as euthanized and diseased animals, including cats and dogs. The one specified animal source in this dog food is shown as a by-product which generally means everything but the meat. The food also contains the toxic preservative BHA, which is a know carcinogen.

Frankly it is a sad state of affairs when the top selling dog food in the country is of this low quality compared to many other brands.

Organic Dog Foods

Hypoallergenic Dog Foods

Diabetic Dog Foods

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The variety being recalled is Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites, according to the California Department of Public Health.

The problem is that Salmonella can cause serious or even fatal abdominal illness, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, in both people and animals.

And even though the problem is in dog food, people who fail to adequately wash their hands after handling the contaminated dog food could expose themselves to salmonella. Yes, you can get salmonella just from handling a contaminated material and not washing your hands afterwards.

Also, animals that show no outward symptoms of the disease can still spread it to other animals and even people, so if at some point in time you think your dog may have been exposed to Salmonella it is important to watch for any of the symptoms described above and see a Vet immediately if you notice any such behavior.

This is just one of many reasons that people should pay more attention to their dog’s diet and health needs. Other reasons to avoid, or at least thoroughly investigate, commercial dog foods include poor quality ingredients, poor nutritional value, ingredients that may be toxic or cause allergic reactions, additives and preservatives that may be toxic or cause allergic reactions, and the lack of vitamins and other nutrients necessary for your dog’s overall health and vigor.

Souce: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080812-1748-bn12recall.html

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