Have you ever wondered what ingredients are in Fido’s kibble? Sure, you could read the label, but if you have you will notice that the descriptions can be somewhat vague. For example, have you ever wondered what they mean by “meat byproducts”? Allow us to enlighten you on some of the most, let us say interesting (although they are more along the lines of ‘nasty’) things that can be found in your average dog food.

Meat byproducts – When livestock are slaughtered, the lean muscle is removed to be used for human consumption. What isn’t fit for human consumption is used in pet food. This includes the bones, intestines, blood, pus, tumors, etc. Almost nothing is left behind, and we mean NOTHING. All this is performed at a rendering plant.

Unwanted Pets – Protein can be found in ALL sorts of ‘meat’, which is not limited to the sources that we usually associate with food. Rendering plants take the carcasses of animals and turn them into a powder that is used as a protein supplement in animal feed such as dog and cat food. What’s disturbing that is that rendering facilities aren’t usually so picky about where this ‘meat’ comes from, and in some cases this meat comes from animals that have been euthanized, such as unwanted pets. Indeed it would seem that your dog’s food is made not only for dogs, but WITH dogs as well! Yummy.

Flea Collars – You would think people would go to the trouble of removing id tags and flea collars before throwing a dead animal into the pit in a rendering plant, but unfortunately that is not the case. While these items are broken down and may not be visually identifiable in the end product, the chemicals found in these items are without a doubt present, and as such will find their way into your pet’s food.

Euthanasia Drugs – So, about those euthanized pets we mentioned above; what were these animals killed with? Usually, when a dog or cat is put down it is by way of an injection that causes both respiratory and cardiac arrest in the animal. From there, the bodies can be disposed of by any means that the shelter in question sees fit, and we now know what this means (ie: rendering plants). Besides the disturbing fact that your pets could be eating other pets, it has been documented that the end product from rendering facilities still contains measurable amounts of the euthanasia drugs used.

Roadkill – When animals, wild or not, get run over, it is usually up to the local municipality to clean up the mess left behind. No matter what species it may belong to, one thing is clear, it is likely a source of protein and should the animal not be a pet with id tags, there is a good chance it will be sent to a rendering plant.

These are just a few examples of the items you may not expect to find in your dog’ food. Rendering plants do offer an essential service, but lack a good amount of regulation. If you think the items above are an exaggeration you are invited to do your own research and draw your own conclusions. Be warned, however, that the items listed above are but the tip of the iceberg, and you may not like what you find out.

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Question – Can my dog get heartworms
Answer – Yes, all dogs can get heartworms, even dogs who stay inside

Question – How do dogs get heartworms?
Answer – Dogs get infected through mosquitos, more precisely through female mosquito bites. During the summer or the humid season, mosquitoes are an annoying problem and it is fairly difficult to prevent them from entering the house.

Question – Are some dogs more likely to get heartworms than other?
Answer – No. All types of dogs can get infected, however depending on where you live, the chances of getting heartworms can be increase or reduced. But in every region, mosquitoes can be infected and infect your dog.

Question – What are the signs of heartworms in dogs
Answer – Symptoms can take as long as 7 months do show. However, you dog might start coughing at 4 months. Other signs your dog is infected are lack of energy, weight loss and breathing problems. If you have any suspicions, talk to your vet who can perform a blood test on your pet.

Question – When shoud I have heartworm tests done on my dog?
Answer – Whenever you think your dog may have heartworms, usually during mosquito season or shortly after.

Question – How about prevention?
Answer -  Talk to your vet about prevention methods. There are several prevention methods available. For example, some prevention meds are taken like little treats, which an easy way to administer the medication since the dog simply love them.