Ever feel lost in the dog food aisle? It can be a real jungle out there, with all those fancy labels and promises. Just like we choose our food carefully, we need to be smart about what we feed our pets because not all dog food ingredients are good for your dog. Some are basically empty calories or just filler. And even worse, some ingredients can be dangerous.

We've put together a list of the top 13 dog food ingredients to avoid to make sure your pet is getting the best food possible. After all, what we feed our dogs greatly impacts their health and happiness.

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)

Let's start with something called BHA. It's a chemical that's used to make food last longer, but it's not good for dogs (or people, for that matter). They call it BHA, but you might also see it as Butylated Hydroxyanisole.

Even though some countries say it's okay to use a little bit, it's still not a good idea for your dog. Scientists think it could cause cancer in humans, and it can be harmful to your dog's eyes, skin, kidneys, and liver. It's best to avoid any dog food that has BHA in it.

Artificial Food Coloring

You know how some human foods have those bright colors? Those artificial colors might look nice, but they're just trying to catch our eye, not our dog's.

Adding those bright colors to dog food is totally unnecessary. Your dog doesn't care if their kibble is pink or green! 

And guess what? Those artificial colors can cause problems for dogs, like upset stomachs and strong allergic reactions. So, the best thing we recommend is to stick with dog food that gets its color naturally, without added dyes.

Melamine

Melamine is one of those things you definitely don't want to see in your dog's food. It's a chemical used to make plastics, and it's not safe. The FDA has confirmed that Melamine is dangerous for both people and animals to eat.

Nitrates & Nitrites

You might see nitrates and nitrites listed in some dog food ingredients. They’re chemicals often used to preserve meats like bacon and sausage. While they might help keep those foods fresh longer, they can be harmful to dogs if they eat too much. One type of nitrite, called sodium nitrite, is linked to cancer and blood problems in dogs.

Gluten

Gluten is a big topic these days, and it's something to think about when you're choosing dog food.

Dogs aren't naturally meant to eat gluten, which is found in grains like barley and wheat. It's not always obvious, but gluten can be hiding in dog food under different names, like “wheat gluten” which is used to hold the kibble together.

While dogs can handle gluten better than cats, many dogs still develop allergies or digestive problems from eating too much of it. If you see your dog scratching a lot, having stinky ears, or getting hot spots, it could be a sign that they're sensitive to gluten.

If you think your dog might have a gluten allergy, talk to your vet, and try to find gluten-free dog food. It's always a good idea to check the label carefully to make sure it doesn't contain gluten.

White Flour

White flour, that common ingredient in bread and pastries, isn't something we want to see in dog food. It's basically just a cheap filler that doesn't offer much nutritional value. 

It’s like a quick energy boost that quickly fades, leaving your dog feeling hungry again. During the process of making white flour, most of the good stuff is removed, leaving just simple carbohydrates. 

These simple carbs can cause your dog's blood sugar to spike and crash, leading to overeating and weight gain. On top of that, white flour can increase the risk of diabetes in dogs.

Vegetable oil

Vegetable oil might seem like a good dog food ingredient, but it's not always so simple. You see, there are different types of vegetable oils and the quality matters.

The most common ones are corn and soybean oil, and they have omega-6 fatty acids, which are good for dogs in moderation. But here's one thing, many pet foods add way too much vegetable oil, and when combined with all the other fatty dog food ingredients, it can be a problem.

Too much omega-6 can cause inflammation, which is bad for your dog's joints. It can make arthritis, hip pain, and other joint problems worse. 

Keep in mind that while a little bit of vegetable oil is okay, you want to make sure it's not the main ingredient in your dog's food.

Xylitol

Xylitol is one of those ingredients that's totally fine for people but can be dangerous for dogs. It's a natural sugar alcohol, so you might find it in candies, peanut butter, and even barbeque sauce. Even a tiny bit can be deadly for dogs.

Meat Meal

We all know meat is a good source of protein for dogs, but there's a catch. Sometimes you'll see something called “meat meal” or just “meat” in the ingredients list, and that's where you need to be careful.

The problem is, “meat meal” doesn't tell you what kind of meat it is, or how it was processed. It could be anything! It might be low-quality, old meat, or even leftover bits from shelters. The quality isn't very good, so it doesn't really have much protein and it's just filler.

If you have to buy dog food with “meat meal” in it, try to find one that lists the type of meat.

Cellulose 

While fiber is good for digestion, cellulose doesn't offer much nutritional value. If your dog is eating a balanced diet with real foods, they should already be getting enough fiber.

So, why do companies add cellulose to food? It's cheap! It's used to make things stick together, keep them from clumping, and even make diet foods feel like they have fat in them.

You can find cellulose in all sorts of foods, including dog food, fast food, diet foods, processed meats, granola bars, and even ice cream. It's pretty common!

Corn Syrup

You might think those sweet treats are a good thing for your dog, but hold on a second! Corn syrup is often used to make those treats taste good, but it's not good for your pet. It's like a sugary rush that they can get hooked on, but it doesn't have any real nutritional value.

Too much corn syrup can cause their blood sugar to go up and down a lot, and it can lead to weight problems and even diabetes. It's best to keep those corn-syrup-filled treats to a minimum or look for healthier alternatives.

Rendered Fat

Rendered fat is one of those dog food ingredients you might see and that's best to avoid. It's supposed to make the food taste better, but because it can come from all sorts of sources, it can be contaminated with mold, heavy metals, and bacteria.

Farmed Salmon

We all love salmon, right? But when it comes to dog food, farmed salmon isn't always a good choice.

Farmed salmon, which you might see listed as “salmon meal” or “salmon oil” isn't the same as wild salmon. It's raised in tanks and isn't as healthy as the wild stuff.

It can have high levels of mercury and other toxins that can make your dog sick. If you're choosing dog food with salmon, make sure it says “wild-caught salmon” so your pet gets the good stuff!

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG, which stands for monosodium glutamate, is a common flavor enhancer found in many human foods. But when it comes to dog food, it's a good idea to avoid it. 

MSG is often used in pet foods to mask the taste of low-quality ingredients, and it can cause allergies in dogs, exactly like it can in people.

You might not always see MSG listed directly on the label, so it's important to be aware of these common ingredients, which often signal that the food contains monosodium glutamate:

• Disodium inosinate or guanylate
• Autolyzed yeast
• Yeast extracts
• Sodium caseinate
• Hydrolyzed protein
• Protein isolate
• Texturized protein
• Natural flavors (like chicken flavor)
• Hydrolyzed yeast
• Soy extracts or concentrate
• Calcium caseinate
• Monopotassium glutamate
• Glutamate or glutamic acid

What are Some Healthier Alternatives That Don't Contain Those Bad Dog Food Ingredients?

Choosing dog food can be tricky, especially when you're trying to avoid all those questionable ingredients we've talked about.

At Healthy Dogma, we’re committed to providing high-quality, natural dog food that avoids many of these bad ingredients. We source our ingredients carefully and ensure our products are safe and effective. If you compare a Healthy Dogma label to conventional dog food, you'll see the difference in ingredient quality and the emphasis on real food.

There are many benefits to choosing real, natural ingredients. Dogs with health problems like allergies, digestive issues, and arthritis have often seen improvements in their health by switching to natural dog food. Some dog owners have even reported their dogs living longer and healthier lives.

If you're looking for healthier alternatives, we invite you to learn more about Healthy Dogma and try our clean-ingredient dog food.

Learn More About Healthy Dogma’s PetMix Dog Food