Top 10 Dog Food
Myths Revealed

Table of Contents

Top 10 Dog Food Myths
Sources

Top 10 Dog Food Myths
Sources

Top 10 Dog Food Myths

Discover common misconceptions about dog food and the truth behind those myths.

Fillers

If you’ve shopped for dog food you’ve probably heard the term “filler” which often refers to corn and grains. The term makes it sound like these ingredients are cheap additives that provide only empty calories and no nutritional value.

But what’s the truth? In fact, all ingredients contribute nutrients to a food. Corn and grains, for example, can provide carbohydrates, fiber, calories (energy), vitamins and minerals. While some dogs have allergies, most dogs do great on a well-balanced dog food that includes different sources of carbs.

Natural Food

The term “natural” can be found on a lot of dog food but doesn’t mean much because it’s not regulated to the same degree as other terms like “organic.”  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates pet food and what they can claim, actually offers no official definition of natural pet food.

Hypoallergenic Meats

No meat that's more or less allergenic than all others. Alternative protein sources like lamb were used by dog food makers because many dogs with allergies had not eaten them before. But the same goes for duck, alligator and bison. There is no “hypoallergenic” meat.

Meat Meals

What’s the difference between meta like chicken and meals like chicken meal? The former is added as-is, while a meal is cooked first to remove moisture. So if you see a meat meal on the ingredient list, it actually includes more protein that the uncooked meat.

Both are great for your dog and seeing both together on an ingredients list is a good thing as your dog will get different protein sources. Avoid foods that use unnamed meats sources (like poultry, ocean fish, meat meal, poultry meal or animal liver).

Grain-Free

For most dogs, grains are completely fine ingredients. The FDA is actually investigating a potential link between grain-free dog foods and heart disease, but it’s too early to tell what the results will be. See our coverage on this topic here: Grain Free Dog Food and Heart Disease

Pork

Few dog foods use pork as an ingredient and many blog posts online say that it’s dangerous for dogs. The truth is that pork is actually totally fine for dogs. It can contain less fat than beef, is highly digestible and contains a good amount of calories from protein per pound.

High-Protein Diets

Some people have claimed that high protein content in dog food could cause kidney damage. The truth is that there’s little evidence for that and more importantly a lot of disagreement about the right protein levels for different dog breeds and ages.
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If you buy a “complete and balanced” dog food in the United States, it will likely have enough protein for your dog’s needs. That’s because the Association of American Feed Control Officials controls how much protein should be in dog food. Adult dog food needs to have at least 18% protein and 5% fat and puppy food has a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat.  
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So in short, feed dog food with a moderate protein content and high-quality protein sources and your dog will do great.

Homemade Food

While it’s possible to create a nutritious and complete food for your dog at home, getting it right is tricky and getting it wrong can have real health effects.
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Commercial dog foods follow strict regulations that ensure that they include all the required nutrients your dog needs. They also use sophisticated methods to ensure the food is appropriate for the dog’s age, breed size, and many other factors. So even if you add the right amount of carbs, fat, protein, vitamins and probiotics the home-made food may still not provide a balanced diet.

Raw is Better

Proponents of raw dog food diets claim that it leads to better energy and health, but what’s the science? There is currently no evidence that shows that raw diets promote better health or cure any disease in dogs. While this doesn’t mean that a raw dog food provides no benefits, it also doesn’t show that it’s better in any way.
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Raw meats also come with two big risks: First, as we’ve seen from many recalls, there is a risk of bacterial contamination and parasites (because the food is not cooked). This can be a risk both to you and your dog. Second, there is a risk of bowel issues when large bones are fed, because they can chip and cause damage. Both of these risks are significantly reduced with non-raw, commercial pet food.

Premium Foods

There are a large number of unregulated terms you can find on dog food. This includes “holistic,” “gourmet” and “premium” which all sound like you’re getting amazing value for your money but mean very little in reality. That’s because all of them are not regulated. Dog food brands can use these terms on the food label but are not required to actually use higher-quality, “premium” ingredients.

Also be skeptical of broad health claims on the food label. there are foods that advertise that they create shiny coat, healthy joints, dental health or are vet recommended. Many dog food companies try to push the limit of what’s legally allowed to be claimed but many of these statements do not need to be proven to be included on food labels.
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An example is to change “prevents skin problems” (a prohibited medical claim) to “supports healthy skin” (an allowed general claim). They both sound very similar, don’t they? However, the second phrase is allowed without the need to substantiate any of the claim. So ask your vet if you dog has health issues and stay skeptical!