Top 5 Ingredients to Avoid in Your Pet's Food & Treats!
We know you only want the best for your furry family, that's what we want too! We go to extensive lengths to ensure everything we bring in is free and clear of any dangerous ingredients! We do this so you can shop with confidence knowing anything you pamper your floof with at House of Paws, pawsitively impacts the health of your furry guy! We also understand, that you may need to grab a quick snack for the furry guys outside of House of Paws and when you do, we want to make sure you're avoiding dangerous ingredients. We refuse to carry any product that contains harmful or controversial ingredients, unfortunately there are many products on the market that do and these dangerous ingredients can be purchased easily in many stores. So, to ensure you're always avoiding them, we wanted to make sure you know exactly what to look for and what to avoid!
We believe knowing what to avoid is as important as belly rubs and playtime! When it comes to our adorable furry family members, we want nothing but the best. That's why we want you to know which five ingredients to watch out for when choosing food and treats for your beloved floofs. Let's dive in and keep those tails wagging and purrs coming!
Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex (MSBC): Ever heard of MSBC? If not, consider this your crash course. MSBC, often found in pet foods, is a synthetic version of Vitamin K. While natural Vitamin K itself is necessary for blood clotting and bone health, the synthetic version is a very different story. Studies link MSBC to potential health concerns, like oxidative stress and harm to liver cells as well as organ damage. Why would manufacturers use it then you might be asking. AAFCO, which is the The Association of American Feed Control Officials, a non-profit organization that sets standards for dry pet feed in the USA. This is the standard manufacturers must meet to manufacturer pet food in the USA. Though Canada does not have a similar association, most pet food manufacturers formulate to AAFCO standards. Vitamin K is a requirement in pet food, natural vitamin K is expensive so an inexpensive workaround to meet AFFCO standards is to add MSBC, which is harmful when consumed in excessive amounts. Eating it everyday would be considered excessive!
BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin: Don't be fooled by the acronyms; BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), and ethoxyquin are synthetic preservatives often added to pet food and treats. While their purpose is to extend product shelf life, they might not be extending your floof's well-being. Research suggests these additives could be linked to various health issues, including allergies and certain cancers. These same synthetic preservatives are used in such products as jet fuel, embalming fluid and pesticides. They have been banned from many cat treats, but are still allowed in food for dogs and cats and many dog treats. We want to see our pet's food and treats preserved naturally and positively impact the health of the furry guy eating it. If you see, BHA, BHT or Ethoxyquin, that is a clear indication of a low-quality product and definitely not something you want to feed your furry guy!
Added Colours – Our pet's palette and their eyes don't need their food to be colourful! Sure, us humans might be drawn to vibrantly coloured food, but our floofs could care less about the colour of their kibble or treats. Added artificial colours serve no nutritional purpose for your pet and can even cause unwanted reactions. Some pets might develop allergies or sensitivities, leaving you wondering if that pretty hue was worth it. The colours added to food and treats is literally paint! You wouldn't knowingly serve your furry family paint, so you always want to make sure there are no added colours in anything you're going to serve!
Why Say No to These Ingredients?
The safety, health and happiness of our furry family members is our top priority and we know it's your's too. Just like we'd dodge questionable foods ourselves, we absolutely want to give the same thoughtfulness to our floofs. Avoiding these ingredients helps minimize the risk of potential health concerns, ensuring that our pets lead a vibrant and healthy life.
Choosing Better Options:
Now that we're on a mission to give the not-so-great ingredients the boot, how can you ensure you're feeding your floofs right? Look for pet food and treats made with natural, whole ingredients. Opt for brands that are transparent about their sourcing and manufacturing processes. When in doubt, reach out! We're always happy to help you find a healthy option or answer any questions you may have! Oftentimes, we have customers bring in bags of food or treats they'd like us to assess and we're more than happy to do that! We want the absolute best for your furry family and we've created our entire mission around doing just that! We are on a mission to empower pet parents and extend the lives of pets through nutrition! The more information we share with you, the more empowered you'll be to make the best decisions for your furry family!
Our floofs deserve the best, and that includes the food and treats we provide them every day. By steering clear of harmful ingredients like MSBC, BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, and added colors, we're taking a proactive approach to their well-being. Remember, reading labels and doing your research is as crucial as that daily game of fetch or nice walk in the park. Here's to healthier, happier and more vibrant lives for our furry family members!
Next time you're shopping for your floof's food and treats, remember these top five ingredients to avoid. Your pets will thank you with endless tail wags, cuddles, and slobbery kisses!