Pedigree Dog Food: Myths vs. Facts

#1 Animal derivatives are bad for pets

The wild relatives of dogs (wolves) eat a prey-based diet and readily consume the whole animal to obtain all their nutrients. In dog food, essential nutrients can be delivered by including carcass and organ meat (liver, heart, kidney) as well as fatty bits of the animal. These are classified as animal derivatives and are a good source of protein and other nutrients for dogs.

#2 Meat meals are bad for pets

Meat meals are often considered poor quality because they contain carcass materials that are wrongly perceived as lacking in nutritional value. The meat meals we use are an excellent source of meat protein and other nutrients. For example, the meat meals we use in dog food have a minimum protein content which ranges from 45% to 60%, and a fat content up to a maximum of 20%. In comparison, fresh meat has 10%-25% protein and less than 10% fat when delivered.

#3 There is only 4% chicken/meat in Pedigree® products

Our products with chicken state the following on the label: ‘Chicken & derivatives (Chicken minimum 4%)’. This sometimes leads to consumers (wrongly) assuming that there is only 4% chicken and animal derivatives in our products. Our wet dog food contains up to 60% meat and animal derivatives and dry dog food contains around 20%. The 4% statement refers to the minimum amount of the variance claimed, e.g. turkey, and not the total amount of meat.

#4 A raw meat diet is better than packaged dog food

Raw feeding is the practice of feeding pets uncooked meat and bones. Some pet parents believe raw feeding mimics the natural diet of an animal in the wild and is thus suitable for their domestic companion. Scientific analysis of a raw, meaty diet suggests that they are typically low or marginal in calcium and high in phosphorus. This imbalanced ratio is particularly dangerous during growth and can result in bone abnormalities. Feeding whole bones to pets creates the risk of dental fractures, intestinal obstruction and perforations. Another possible risk of raw feeding is human infection caused by direct or indirect exposure to bacterial pathogens in raw meat and animal stools.

#5 Dogs should not be fed by-products of chicken but actual chicken

Compared with skeletal meat alone, by-products actually provide more essential nutrients. For example, meat lacks calcium and vitamin A, which are provided in by-products from the bones and liver. In fact, 8 out of the 10 essential amino acids perform better in a poultry by-product meal vs. just poultry. We only use meat meals that meet our specification for key nutrients. These are parts that humans generally do not consume, however, they contain nutrients that are essential for dogs.