Many manufacturers advertise that their food contains a lot of meat. But is dog food with a high meat content actually healthier and how can you recognize suitable products?
At first glance, the diet of the modern dog does not resemble the diet of the wolf – the ancestor of the dog. However, anatomically the dog still has the remnants of its “wild” past, which should be taken into account when choosing food. The dog’s digestive tract is particularly well suited to meat, not grains. Dog food with high meat content takes this fact into account: the dog food is adapted to the peculiarities of the dog’s digestive tract. However, the amount of meat is not the only criterion for choosing a suitable dog food. The quality of the raw materials used determines the quality of the dog food with high meat content.
Source: https://www.futterhaus.de/r/hundefutter-mit-hohem-fleischanteil/
The Advantages Of Dog Food With High Meat Content In The Overview
Dog Food With High Meat Content Offers Your Favorite The Following Advantages:
- It is a natural and species-appropriate diet.
- The risk of developing allergies (especially to cereals) decreases.
- The feeding quantity is lower, because the raw materials are of higher quality and offer many nutrients.
- The risk of diseases is prevented.
- Positive influence on the reduction of tartar formation occurs.
- Bones and joints are strengthened.
You see, a high meat content has a positive effect on your dog’s health.
Source: https://www.futterhaus.de/r/hundefutter-mit-hohem-fleischanteil/
What Is The Optimal Composition For Dog Food With A High Meat Content?
Dog food with a high meat content cannot be defined by a specific percentage. The production methods of different types of food (wet food, dry food, etc.) and different manufacturers are different. Declarations are possible in many ways. Several meat sources are used. If you want a rough guide to identify candidates for dog food with high meat content, you can stick to the limit “70 percent”. At a minimum, 50 percent meat should be included in order to be able to speak of a high meat content. To gain more certainty, a dog food test is suitable, which shows what is contained in the food and how the food is composed. Also consider that a dog could never feed only on meat – as we buy it in the supermarket or at the butcher. The dog would get too much protein and too many calories. In addition, deficiency symptoms and bacterial contamination can occur. (Source: https://www.bubeck-petfood.de/ratgeber-blog/wieviel-fleischanteil-soll-in-meinem-trockenfutter-sein) Although dogs are carnivores, they would have to eat for this however all components of an animal – for example also the stomach, which contains digested plant remains. A good dog food with a high meat content covers all the nutrients your pet needs.
(Source: https://www.hundeo.com/hundefutter/barfen/pansen/)
You Must Correctly Evaluate The Information Regarding The Meat Content On The Packaging
On the packages of the dog food the meat content is quantified. But what do these indications mean? We have an example: Let’s assume that the meat content of dry dog food (LINK https://wonder-pets.net/hunde/haelt-hunde-trockenfutter-was-hersteller-versprechen/?nowprocket=1) is stated as 70 percent. Then you must know the following: According to the law, dog food must not contain fresh meat that has not been dried beforehand. The direct processing of fresh meat to dry food is prohibited. Dog food manufacturers have two options:
- Manufacturers use dried meat.
- Manufacturers dry the fresh meat before it is processed into dog food.
If fresh meat is dried, then water is removed during this procedure. The water content is about 70 percent. Drying 1 kilogram of fresh meat leaves 300 to 350 grams of dried meat, as the calculation below shows:
1 kilogram of fresh meat equals 100 percent
70 percent of 1 kilogram equals 700 grams
Up to 700 grams of water is removed from the fresh meat, which can reduce the weight to as little as 300 grams.
The dried meat is now put into the processing for the production of the dried food, which means that the proportion of dried meat in the amount of dog food is significantly lower than 70 percent (approximately 20 percent). Conversely, this calculation means that there is a relatively high proportion of non-meat in the dog food. This makes it all the more important to select products with the highest possible meat content.
(Source: https://www.dasgesundetier.de/magazin/artikel/frischfleisch-im-futter#)
These Data Indicate A High Meat Content In Dog Food
The nutrient content in dog food shows the quality of the product. The manufacturer has the dog food analytically tested to determine the proportions of crude proteins, crude fats, crude ash and crude fiber. The analytical components of the dog food are declared on the packaging, so you can see which nutrients the food contains. If the percentage of crude ash is significantly lower than 10 percent, then the bone content in the feed is low. In conclusion, a high quality protein source must have been used.
(Cf. https://www.dasgesundetier.de/magazin/artikel/frischfleisch-im-futter#)
Meat By-Products – Better Than Their Reputation Suggests
The term “meat by-products” covers a wide range of different ingredients, so that it is not possible to make a general statement as to whether the contents are “good” or “bad”. From a nutritional point of view, the term can conceal inferior content as well as content that is valuable for the dog. Parts of slaughtered animals that are not used for human consumption need not be bad per se. Wolves, for example, use a variety of animal parts in their diets to get all the valuable nutritional values.
(Source: https://www.bubeck-petfood.de/ratgeber-blog/wieviel-fleischanteil-soll-in-meinem-trockenfutter-sein)
Dogs May Eat Fresh Meat Conditionally
If you want your dog to eat a little more meat and not be fed dog food with a high meat content, then you should know well the specifics of each type of meat. The overview below introduces you to the most commonly fed species. Poultry meat: Feed poultry meat only cooked or roasted. Poultry meat is very sensitive in terms of salmonella colonization. For healthy dogs with a strong immune system, the risk of contracting salmonellosis is low, but there are dangers for animals with weakened immune systems – as well as for humans who come into contact with the raw meat. Poultry is generally considered to be easy to digest. Turkey and chicken contain less fat than duck and goose.
Poultry Meat
Feed poultry meat only cooked or roasted. Poultry meat is very sensitive in terms of salmonella colonization. For healthy dogs with a strong immune system, the risk of contracting salmonellosis is low, but there are dangers for animals with weakened immune systems – as well as for humans who come into contact with the raw meat. Poultry is generally considered to be easy to digest. Turkey and chicken contain less fat than duck and goose.
Lamb And Mutton
Aside from the digestive tract, you can feed lamb and mutton raw. Goat meat is suitable for fresh feeding. It is lean and high quality meat.
Game
Venison, deer and hare are suitable for raw feeding. Important nutrients are contained in game. Wild boar is often colonized with pathogens, which is why raw feeding is not advisable. Some dogs reject raw venison in the food bowl because the taste of raw venison is unfamiliar. Keep in mind, every dog has his own taste – your dog decides what he likes and therefore sometimes rejects food.
Horse Meat
Horse meat can be fed raw. It is a lean type of meat that is rich in nutrients. Dog owners whose pets are allergic to poultry protein and beef protein often choose to feed horse meat.
(Source: https://www.tiermedizinportal.de/ernaehrung/frischfleisch-fur-hunde)
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Food With High Meat Content
How Much Meat Should Be Included In Dog Food?
It is difficult to give an exact percentage because different manufacturing processes take place. For dry food, a guide value of 50 to 70 percent is often given.
Is Real Meat In Dog Food?
Dog food contains real meat, but dry food and wet food are generally slaughter residues.
What Are The Advantages Of Dog Food With High Meat Content?
Dog food with high meat content simulates the natural diet very well. Dogs are descended from wolves and need a lot of meat and the proteins it contains. This does not mean that dog should eat only meat, other food such as selected fruits and vegetables are also necessary, because in general complete animals are not fed and they also do not contain all the necessary nutrients.
Why Is Meat Important In Dog Food For Dogs?
Dogs are carnivores. They are descended from wolves and need the nutrients from meat. Animal sources of protein are very important for dogs.
Can I Feed Meat In Addition To The Dog Food?
You can give meat in limited quantities in addition to the ready-made food. Pay attention to which meats you may feed raw and which meats may not be fed raw. Pork and poultry should not be fed raw. Beef, horsemeat, lamb and mutton, on the other hand, may be fed raw.