Common Ingredient Terms in Animal Foods

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:14 pm

I found this site while looking for a definition for some of the ingredients on my new hamster's food mix; it actually has a lot of definitions that would apply to commercial crab foods as well or many of your pets' foods. I had no idea some of the things were so bad. http://www.ahimsarescuefoundat...sary_ingredients.htm

bonniesmom · Post by **bonniesmom** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:04 am

Yeah Nicole, it's pretty disgusting. I did some research this last January on foods because my 14yr. old beagle was diagnosed with lymphoma. We lost her in March. I still have my 10yr old beagle on Prescription r/d Science Diet (sold at the vet only) and my new pup is on Innova (which is one of the first all natural dog foods made). I passed this info on to a friend of mine, who really did some major research. Now, she makes her dogs food; some sort of a stew with chicken, veggies, rice, and etc. It really makes you think.

Dramatic Hermiexx · Post by **Dramatic Hermiexx** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:59 am

It's hard to believe sometimes that humans cab put such garbage into our beloved pets' food. We even put all sorts of junk in our own food. No wonder why I won't feed my crabs commercial crab food (along with almost every member of all the hermit crab forums around). If I get anymore kinds of pets in the future, you can bet I won't feed them commercial food (I'd even try to avoid fish food if I ever got any fishies). I even try to eat natural, organic, and homemade myself. I’m keeping the site bookmarked for future reference.

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 2:41 pm

What's sad is so I was trying to find my hammie some good quality dog biscuits this morning at the grocery store and I could only find one bag of biscuits that didn't have at least one of the offending ingredients listed on that website (digest, by-product, meal, etc.). Ugh. I know at least one of the popular hermit crab foods has meat and bone meal listed as one of its main ingredients. Interesting to read too what that site has to say about ethoxyquin: "ETHOXYQUIN: originally developed for use in the production of rubber, this common preservative is among the compounds most suspect as causes of severe health problems in dogs. The makers of ethoxyquin state that it is a hazardous chemical, it may cause skin problems, eye problems, and problems in the kidneys and liver. In addition, there may be a reduction in the survival of the offspring. The law says that if a manufacturer puts ethoxyquin in the dog food, they have to list it in the ingredients. But if it’s in the animal/poultry fat when he buys it, he doesn’t have to list it. “No ethoxyquin added.” That doesn’t mean that there is no ethoxyquin in their fats or oils - it only means that they have not added any to the product."

Jedediah · Post by **Jedediah** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:36 am

I've given up on dog food for my rodents, I just couldn't find anything that I was really satisfied with. Now they get cooked roaches Or dried silkworms, my dwarf hamster loves those.

Mayhelie · Post by **Mayhelie** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:54 am

I feed my dog half home cooked food and half bag food... after reading that list, I might reconsider... I have to keep an eye on her food consumption anyway because she has lots of food allergies so she only eats bagged food that is sweet potato and fish from Natural balance... but that might chage after I look at the list of ingredients tonight =/Jedediah, no offense, but you made my stomach turn I used to have rats and I would never have thought of feeding them roaches, let alone cooking them XDShoot, I get queezy when I feed my crabs freeze dried meal worms and crickets, haha