11/06/2024
Even though we’re winding down our retail, we still have your pet’s nutrition top of mind! We’ll keep sharing the inside scoop on pet food to help you make informed choices and know you’re feeding your pet the best.
Let’s start with something simple - what’s the deal with byproducts, meat meals, and bone meal?
These ingredients often pop up in pet food, but here’s what to watch out for:
🦴 Byproducts include leftover animal parts like beaks, feet, and organs (think anything not for human consumption or swept off the factory floor). While technically “protein,” they’re harder to digest and often contain little of the balanced nutrients pets need. This means more waste coming out the other end of your pet (and money in the literal garbage).
🍖 Meat Meals are made by cooking down animal tissue to concentrate the protein, but quality matters here! Named meals like “chicken meal” or “beef meal” can add good, quality protein, while vague labels like “meat meal” or “animal meal” often mean lower quality, inconsistent sources (mystery meats).
🐾 Bone Meal is made from ground animal bones and does offer calcium, but it’s often poorly regulated. Lower-quality bone meal can contain harmful contaminants. This is best avoided.
What to Look For Instead:
Go for pet foods with whole meat meals like “chicken meal,” “beef meal,” or “salmon meal” listed as primary ingredients (top 5 in the ingredient list). Clear, specific labels are usually a better sign of quality and nutrition for your furry friend. Remember that most meat is 80% water, so “whole chicken” isn’t as good as “chicken meal”. More on that later!
Still unsure? Stop by Wiggles & Whiskers or send us a message. We’re here to help you make the best picks for your pet’s health, even if it’s not from us! 🐕
