Dog Articles

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? Antioxidants are essential substances. Since antioxidants help to maintain fats and fat-soluble ingredients such as vitamin A and E) from oxidation, they are very important. For example, when a fat becomes oxidized, it begins to taste stale and then loses the vast majority of it nutritional value.

? Dog food is particularly prone to oxidation. Commonly, many cat and dog foods are produced with a good amount of fat.

? There are two types of antioxidants: natural and artificial. Both work to slow food from oxidation.

? Dissimilar to the bagged dry dog food, canned foods are protected because the packaging is airtight. Since dry foods can oxidize faster, they require additional antioxidants to preserve their shelf life.

? Based on the dog food label guidelines of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the common name of an antioxidant must be clearly labeled as well as a reference stating that the antioxidant is serving as a preservative.

? The most common natural antioxidants contained in pet foods are:
? Tocopherols (vitamin E)
? Citric acid
? Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
? Rosemary

? The most popular artificial antioxidants contained in the pet food industry include:
? Ethoxyquin
? Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
? Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)

? Artificial preservatives outperform natural antioxidants because they can keep ingredients stable longer and extend the shelf life of food.

? Consumers have expressed concerns regarding the efficacy and health safety of artificial preservatives in pet food.

? Ethoxyquin has been the subject of significant controversy. For more then 30 years, it has been approved in animal feeds. Today, ethoxyquin is allowable in dog foods at levels of up to 0.015 percent per million (ppm).