While researching why some animals seem to be extremely overweight and digestive problems are more and more common I found some very interesting comparison charts about dog and cat food.

The pet food business is a very profitable one, hardly anybody has the time anymore to actually cook for their pets. The 5 biggest manufacturer of animal foods are

The study was done by an organic pet food distributor, comparing organic pet food, name-brand pet food and “supermarket” brands. I personally have to say that reading about the ingredients and learning about the “hidden meanings” was en eye-opener for me. I also found that many brands contain totally useless ingredients that are added as fillers and/or to improve the texture of the product with no nutritional value at all. Some of these can even be dangerous for your pets!

If you read for example “Chicken-By-Product Meal” don’t be mistaken and think that this is chicken as we know it, the legs, the breast, the wings. Chicken By-Products consist of the rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, beaks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines - exclusive of feathers except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices. Chicken By-Products are much less expensive and less digestible than Chicken Meal.

As for Lamb: Lamb By-Products consist of the rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered lambs, such as heads, feet, viscera, free from fecal content and foreign matter except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices. Lamb By-Products are an inconsistent ingredient because of the multiple organs used, their constantly changing proportions and their questionable nutritional value. Lamb By-Products are much less expensive and less digestible than lamb meal.

“Corn Grits”: Is fractionated grain product, missing much of the essential nutrition of whole corn. Corn Grits can cause allergic reactions in some animals.
Why even use corn in pet food? Corn is considered dangerous for dogs!

I highly recommend that you check the ingredients of your pet food, especially if your animal has digestive or weight problems. It is common knowledge that a good and well-balanced diet can prevent diseases and lengthen the life of your beloved pet significantly.