What’s In Your Pet’s Meal? (Part 2)

In the pet food industry, there is a name for this varied meat – four dee, standing for diseased, disabled, dead, dying, which are not allowed in our food, but allowable currently in petfood.

In the preparation of animals for human consumption, the better meat pieces are removed first. What’s left is usable, but is rarely labeled as such, instead being grouped under the term byproducts. This may include blood, heads, intestines, lungs, unborn babies, feet, livers, bones, fat trimmings, ligaments, spleens, and other parts.

Using by-products provides extra protein for the pet food, and increases the animal content, but is an inferior food for cats and dogs to eat.

Ultimately, it is up to you to evaluate if what makes up these foods is important in what you feed your pets, and if you wish to change. By paying attention to the labels, and investigating the petfood manufacturers will help you decide if the food you give your cat or dog is a meal you’re happy with, or if you might want to adjust your pet’s diet.

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