Why Commercial Dog Food?
Commercial dry dog food (referred to as “kibble”) is a relatively recent development, coming into common use in the ’50s and ’60s, and certainly the easiest way to feed a dog. Most dog foods are based on grain, which is totally inappropriate for canines. Grains, especially corn, rice and wheat are used because they are far less expensive than meat. Dog food is big business and most of the dog food companies are owned by major players like Mars, Nestle, and Proctor & Gamble. Dog food ingredients are generally by-products or sub-standard items from the human food industry. Dog food is highly processed and cooked at extremely high temperatures. Vitamins and enzymes are destroyed by the heat, and preservatives are used to increase shelf life. Grain-based foods have a much longer shelf life than those with a higher percentage of meat or fat, so in addition to using grain because its cheaper than meat, it is also used to produce a product that keeps. Profit is the primary goal of course, and
