Top 10 is sodium phosphate bad for dogs You Need To Know

In the last blog, we talked about some of the more “curious” ingredients that find their way into our pet’s food.

Getting into the nitty gritty of pet food ingredients, really makes a pet parent think about what you want your pet to ingest, as well as the word “natural”. As you know, we at the store take pride in the fact that we offer food, treats, and supplements that are as natural to your pet’s diet as possible, but understanding that natural doesn’t always necessarily SOUND natural is an important thing to understand while reading a pet food ingredient list. (And that just because something started off as natural, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been chemically altered.)

And to that end, knowing that “natural” doesn’t always mean “best” for your pet, is good to know too. There’s a reason why there is a legal distinction between “natural”, “organic”, and “holistic” on pet food labels. “Natural” can be rather open ended, so just as we always say in the store, it’s not about what the best food is, it’s about what’s best for your pet. And it’s YOUR job to know that!

So let’s keep educating ourselves. In the second part of our list you’ll find more natural ingredients, some chemical additives (might I remind you that even “natural” products are chemicals ex. vinegar), and some ingredients you may recognize from your own diet. Read it, be informed, and as always decide what is right for you and your pet.

These guys know they’re getting good stuff!

Potassium sorbate: Derived from sorbic acid (from ash tree berries), and more commonly synthetically produced, potassium sorbate is a food preservative, antioxidant, and humectant used in wet pet foods. It is one of the most commonly used preservatives in pet food, and generally does not have any reactions or side effects when administered correctly.

Sodium phosphate: A general term referring to a phosphorus or phosphoric acid additive in pet foods. Phosphorus is an essential element for all life, and balance of phosphorus is very important in a pet’s diet, as it aids maintaining balance between acidity and alkalinity in a pet’s body. A proper balance of calcium to phosphorus is vital to a dog or cat’s bone and nerve health.

Both naturally derived and synthetic sodium phosphate is used in pet food, though there is some debate as to the digestibility of synthetic sodium phosphate.

Sodium Tripolyphosphate: A controversial ingredient that many premium pet food companies are phasing out or not using at all. Touted as a dental additive to reduce tartar buildup in pet’s food, sodium tripolyphosphate or STPP has many more applications used across both human and pet food industries.

Most commonly food grade STPP is used as a chemical food preservative. It pulls water to food, especially meats and seafoods, making it appear “plumper” and heavier. Very often STPP is used to make older, “less fresh” meats and seafood appear fresh when it is not, by improving its look and texture. Many food companies will advertise or promote their food as being “STPP Free” or “dry” (not being soaked in STPP).

Industrial grade STPP is also found in cleaning agents such as detergents, soaps, and toothpaste. It can also be found in paint.

Dogs Naturally Magazine quotes the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States as saying, concerning phosphates:

Polyphosphates are legally permitted additives that are widely used to aid processing or to improve eating quality of many foods, particularly meat and fish products. The main value of polyphosphates lies in improving the retention of water by the protein in fish.

And Food and Water Watch reports:

In large quantities, STPP is a suspected neurotoxin, as well as a registered pesticide and known air contaminant in the state of California.

With all the concerns over STPP, many pet owners are making the move to remove it from their pet’s diet.

Sorbic acid: An antimicrobial food preservative generally regarded as safe. See potassium sorbate. In rare cases, long term overexposure or unintended overdoses (generally not found in food) of sorbic acid or potassium sorbate, can cause allergic reactions or nutrient absorption issues.

Tapioca starch: A highly digestible grain free and gluten free starch found in many pet kibbles, especially for dogs. A starch of some form must be used to bind kibble. It is a good alternative to potato, especially if a dog has a potato sensitivity. Because it is a relatively “novel” starch compared to potatoes or wheat, many “hypoallergenic” dog foods use tapioca instead.

A decent source of iron, tapioca is generally low in nutrients. However, tapioca is high on the glycemic index so pets who need to be wary of such, take heed. If your pet suffers from yeast issues, tapioca may not be the best option (chickpeas would be a better choice). Also, due to it’s high calorie content, tapioca may be a good choice for underweight pets, but a less desirable choice for overweight pets.

Taurine: An amino acid derived from muscle meat. With a meat based, balanced diet, dogs can synthesize taurine, but cats cannot. CATSCANNOT. While cats on a raw, meat based diet can get adequate taurine from the proper balance of muscle and organ meats (not the simplest thing, and just to be safe, I always supplement my cat’s raw food with pure, human grade, taurine) and a rotation of different animal sources, cats eating kibble or canned food must eat such foods supplemented with taurine.

Now, due to many unfortunate cat (and some dog) deaths in the 1970’s because of lack of taurine/real meat in pet food, legally all cat food must have taurine in it.

When we tell you that cats must eat cat food, and cannot share your dog’s food, it is not because we are trying to sell you two foods, it is because your cat and dog have different nutritional needs. Cats without adequate taurine in their diet will eventually suffer from blindness, dilated cardiomyopathy, and even death.

Tocopherols (often Mixed tocopherols): Considered a safer, more natural choice, it is the most commonly used preserved in premium pet foods. It is a mix of tocopherols found in vitamin E and is often combined with ascorbic acid and/or rosemary.

Vegetable glycerin: A colorless, odorless humectant used in pet food as a binder, emulsifier, preservative, and sweetener. It is little to no nutritional benefits, and is generally regarded as safe.

Vegetable glycerin is preferred in pet foods, as opposed to glycerin, as some glycerins are a byproduct of biofuels and can have residual Methanol. Methanol is a poisonous liquid used in making formaldehyde.

Brandy will help herself to some good eats if I’m not careful!

I hope this clears up some things for you. This is sort of the “next level” ingredient label reading, I know all our customers are ready for.

And as always, if you have questions, always ask us! It’s our business to be able to guide you to the best choice for your fluffy family member.

Happy eating!

~Your Loyal Calvin & Susie Blogger

As always, check with your vet before making any changes to your pet’s diet or body care. The Calvin & Susie Blogger always researches to the best of her ability, but she is not a vet. This blog is not in any way meant to replace veterinary advice or care. When in doubt always ask a vet.

• Author: calvinandsusie.com

• Rating: 4⭐ (547578 rating)

• Highest Rate: 5⭐

• Lowest Rate: 1⭐

• Sumary: In the last blog, we talked about some of the more “curious” ingredients that find their way into our pet’s food. Getting into the nitty gritty of pet food ingredients, really makes a pet parent think about what you want your pet to ingest, as well as the word “natural”. As you know, we at the store take pride in the fact that we offer food, treats, and supplements that are as natural to your pet’s diet as possible, but understanding that natural doesn’t always necessarily SOUND natural is an…

• Matching Result: Sodium phosphate: A general term referring to a phosphorus or phosphoric acid additive in pet foods. Phosphorus is an essential element for …

• Intro: PART II: WHAT’S IN MY PET’S FOOD?In the last blog, we talked about some of the more “curious” ingredients that find their way into our pet’s food.Getting into the nitty gritty of pet food ingredients, really makes a pet parent think about what you want your pet to ingest, as well as the word “natural”. As you know, we at the store take pride in the fact that we offer food, treats, and supplements that are as natural to your pet’s diet as possible, but understanding that natural doesn’t always necessarily SOUND natural is an important thing to understand while…

• Source: https://www.calvinandsusie.com/single-post/2014/10/10/part-ii-what-s-in-my-pet-s-food

• Author: petmd.com

• Rating: 4⭐ (547578 rating)

• Highest Rate: 5⭐

• Lowest Rate: 1⭐

• Sumary: Pay extra attention to these ingredients in your dog’s food.

• Matching Result: Additionally, calcium and phosphorus intake is an important consideration for dogs with illnesses like kidney disease. Dogs with such illnesses …

• Intro: 6 Nutrients in Pet Food that Can Harm Your DogSick Dog? Check to See if Your Pet Food Has the Right Amount of these 6 Nutrients By Lorie Huston, DVM Just like people, when it comes to food dogs need a diet that is rich in nutrients. There are, however, some essential ingredients and nutrients that can actually do more harm than good for dogs if fed in excess amounts. Pay extra attention to these ingredients in your dog’s food. Protein Even though dogs are omnivores, protein is an essential part of any dog food. Ideally, the protein should come…

• Source: https://www.petmd.com/dog/centers/nutrition/6-nutrients-pet-food-can-harm-your-dog

• Author: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• Rating: 4⭐ (547578 rating)

• Highest Rate: 5⭐

• Lowest Rate: 1⭐

• Sumary: It has been reported that wet foods for dogs and cats have high levels of sodium and phosphorus due to their composition. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the sodium and phosphorus contents in wet pet foods, and compare it to daily requirements …

• Matching Result: by MA Brunetto · 2019 · Cited by 11 — No studies were found at the present time evaluating whether higher sodium levels are safe for dogs and cats; however, consumption of high …

• Intro: Phosphorus and sodium contents in commercial wet foods for dogs and cats Journal List Vet Med Sci v.5(4); 2019 Nov PMC6868456 Vet Med Sci. 2019 Nov; 5(4): 494–499. AbstractIt has been reported that wet foods for dogs and cats have high levels of sodium and phosphorus due to their composition. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the sodium and phosphorus contents in wet pet foods, and compare it to daily requirements for both species. Twenty‐five commercial wet foods for adult animals were evaluated, 13 for dogs and 12 for cats. The analyses’ results were compared to the European Pet Food…

• Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6868456/

• Author: dogingtonpost.com

• Rating: 4⭐ (547578 rating)

• Highest Rate: 5⭐

• Lowest Rate: 1⭐

• Sumary: What is Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide & why is it in dog food? To many pet owners, this may (and should) read as a list of dog food ingredients to avoid.

• Matching Result: sodium hexametaphosphate Cheap source of phosphorus can become deadly to dogs — emulsifier, texturizer. sodium nitrite (for color retention).

• Intro: A Guide to Understanding Dog Food Ingredients – The Dogington Post“This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.” What exactly is Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, and why is it my my dog’s food? If you’re feeding your dog a commercial food, chances are he’s getting a daily dose of some ingredients that read less like a food label and more like gibberish! While this guide is not all-inclusive, it defines the worst of the worst of the most commonly used ingredients in commercial dog foods, explains their purpose for being…

• Source: https://www.dogingtonpost.com/a-guide-to-understanding-dog-food-ingredients/

• Author: blog.homesalive.ca

• Rating: 4⭐ (547578 rating)

• Highest Rate: 5⭐

• Lowest Rate: 1⭐

• Sumary: These bad dog food ingredients are some of the worst offenders. Check your dog food for these common, but dangerous dog food ingredients.

• Matching Result: This common additive in dental care dog food diets may be helpful for reducing your pet’s tartar, but at what cost? Sodium hexametaphosphate is …

• Intro: 24 Bad Ingredients in Dog Food | Bad Dog Food IngredientsYou want the best food for your dog, but that’s not easy when marketing and economics get in the way of what’s healthful for your pet. Learn what dog food ingredients to avoid in dog food so that you can feed your pet the high quality they deserve.  These bad ingredients in dog food are some of the worst offenders in pet food. While all of these ingredients are legal to put in dog food in Canada, they’ve been outlawed in many countries, and are just not worth the risk. Check…

• Source: https://blog.homesalive.ca/dog-blog/bad-dog-food-ingredients-to-avoid

• Author: veterinary-practice.com

• Rating: 4⭐ (547578 rating)

• Highest Rate: 5⭐

• Lowest Rate: 1⭐

• Sumary: PERIODONTAL disease (PD) is the most common infectious disease in cats and dogs with a prevalence that approaches 80%.1 It is an in ammatory oral disease seeded by the development of dental plaque. Periodontal disease might be described as a combination of periodontal inflammatory reactions with varied clinical characteristics – local or generalised; acute or […]

• Matching Result: PERIODONTAL disease (PD) is the most common infectious disease in cats and dogs with a prevalence that approaches 80%.1 It is an in ammatory …

• Intro: The role of sodium polyphosphates Lee Danks in this ninth in a series from Royal Canin focusing on innovations in small animal nutrition looks at the benefits of sodium polyphosphates in veterinary diets with regard to dental health PERIODONTAL disease (PD) is the most common infectious disease in cats and dogs with a prevalence that approaches 80%.1 It is an in ammatory oral disease seeded by the development of dental plaque. Periodontal disease might be described as a combination of periodontal inflammatory reactions with varied clinical characteristics – local or generalised; acute or chronic; mild or aggressive. These focus on…

• Source: https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/the-role-of-sodium-polyphosphates

• Author: blog.myollie.com

• Rating: 4⭐ (547578 rating)

• Highest Rate: 5⭐

• Lowest Rate: 1⭐

• Sumary: The 8 Ingredients To Avoid In Dog Food – Ollie Blog

• Matching Result: This is one of those ingredients that falls under the category of if you can’t pronounce it you may want to reconsider letting your pup eat it.

• Intro: The 8 Ingredients To Avoid In Dog Food As humans, we’ve been conditioned to read food labels closely (no high fructose corn syrup allowed!) We need to train ourselves to look just as skeptically at our dog’s food label. Commercial brands often contain ingredients that aren’t healthy for pups—they are generally used for one of two reasons, because they’re inexpensive, or because they help the food stay fresh longer. Either way, you don’t want your pup to consume these potential toxins on a regular basis. Before you open another bag (or can), review the label and if you see any…

• Source: https://blog.myollie.com/bad-ingredients-in-dog-food/

• Author: onegreenplanet.org

• Rating: 4⭐ (547578 rating)

• Highest Rate: 5⭐

• Lowest Rate: 1⭐

• Sumary: We know what our fur babies need so the question then becomes: which ingredients are the bad ones?

• Matching Result: This “preservative” was initially developed as a pesticide. It is also used in the production of rubber. Its presence in pet food has been linked to kidney and …

• Intro: 5 Harmful Ingredients That Might be Hiding in Your Pet’s Food We know we have to be careful about what we give our pets and we try to do right by them. In many cases, we spend more money on feeding our fur babies than we do on food for ourselves! We buy brands we know and trust and we don’t succumb to the falsehoods of advertising—we even read the ingredients on our pet’s food, right? We know to look at the first few ingredients to see what the food is primarily composed of. Ideally, it should be something like…

• Source: https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/harmful-ingredients-that-might-be-hiding-in-your-pets-food/