Pet food ingredients like meat and bone meal offer high protein sources

By Dr. Ed Bonnette, Hubbard Life Animal Nutritionist

We recently purchased a little male sheltie puppy to add to our pack of six shelties and collies. As I was looking over the “herd” of dogs, I was trying to decide what dog food to get for our pets living with my wife, daughters and me.   

We normally feed a free choice high protein/high energy feed to all our animals. Our dogs are in good health and condition with the exception of our retired female sheltie that was spayed due to a tumor.

The new sheltie puppy, a 6-pound male that will be raised as a stud dog, is in the same lot as my 80-pound collie stud. Of course the puppy will get puppy food for 3 to 4 months but eventually, they will have access to the same feed.

As I am looking over the new lineup of Hubbard Life dog foods, I am trying to decide what route to go.   I believe I want to feed the Hubbard Life Premium Adult product, which is a 26% protein and 18% fat.   Looking at the tag, I saw the first ingredient is meat and bone meal. It also has grains, which supply needed energy, but I am wondering, “what is this meat and bone meal that I see is the majority of my feed?”

Pet food manufactures have to follow very strict regulations put forth by AFFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). The definition of meat and bone meal is a rendered (cooked for a specified time) product of mammal tissue and bone, usually either cow or pig, but is not allowed to have blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide, manure or stomach contents. Okay, that sounds like a good product for dogs. Continued reading indicated there are several other protein sources in the dog food including poultry (chicken meal), fish meal, animal liver, whole dried eggs and soybean meal that can be used in our other dog foods.

After reading this information, I am even more comfortable moving forward with Hubbard Life Premium Adult Dog Foods for my pets. We can adjust to other products like the Hubbard Life High Energy in the summer when they do not eat as much; or to the Maintenance as they get older and not nearly as active as they are today. That is the advantage of an integrated product line.