Is Poultry Meal Good For Dogs?

There are many different pets that you could own. In today's world it is becoming quite easy to acquire somewhat more unusual pets, such as Koi fish, chinchillas, or any number of other things.

As the old saying goes, "a dog is man's best friend," and it's almost impossible to argue against the basic fact that our canine companions are some of the creatures that we often feel closest to in all the world.

When all is said and done, however, dogs have a way of becoming members of the family and of the household, and establishing themselves as an active force in our lives, in a way that few other creatures can.

Keeping this in mind, it's natural that every responsible dog owner would want to make sure that they were treating their pets in the best possible way, and were doing everything possible to properly address their nutritional needs, to give them a comfortable and fulfilling life, and to ensure that they remain as happy and healthy as they possibly can.

Many UK dog food brands – and international dog food brands too – end up containing "poultry meal." But is the poultry meal in dog food something that should be there? Is poultry meal good for dogs?

Here's a look at the answers to some basic poultry meal dog food questions, and the kinds of things that you should be looking out for in order to properly nourish your dog to the best of your ability.

Poultry Meal Is A Vague Term That Can Cause Some Issues

Quite a few canine nutritionists are not big fans of poultry meal, because it is a non-specific term that allows for a lot of ambiguity. What is chicken meal in dog food? Essentially, any byproducts of the chicken that have been left over after the chicken has been slaughtered and processed for meat on the consumer market.

Since the term is vague, unscrupulous poultry meal dog food providers can end up routinely changing the specific ingredients and recipes for their products, with the end result being that you can't necessarily rely on a stable level of quality, or even a stable nutritional profile, when purchasing those foods.

In addition to this, poultry meal in dog food may end up being a "cover" that allows manufacturers to go without properly disclosing certain ingredients in the dog food that might prove allergenic, or otherwise irritating to your pet.

Generally speaking, if you are buying UK dog food and are wondering, is poultry meal good for dogs? You will want to make sure to buy these sorts of products from dog food brands that have a good track record, and that are quite transparent with the kinds of precise ingredients that they feature in their dog food products.

Although this doesn't mean that poultry in dog food is "bad," the fact that term Is indeed quite vague should cause you to be extra attentive to the overall quality of the product, the reputation of the company you are buying from, and any other details you can find about the specific make-up of the product.

Dogs Need Animal Foods To Thrive, And Poultry Meal May Be A Good And Reasonably Affordable Option

Dogs are omnivores and require animal foods in order to thrive, and if left to their own devices out and about in the wilderness, you can be quite sure that packs of stray dogs would be hunting prey on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, many dog food products that have found their way onto the market over the years do not account for this fact, and don't properly address the need that canines have for many of the nutrients found in animal products, ranging from particular proteins, to the right balance of fat, and more.

While kibble dog food can serve as a fine base for a dog's meal, your dog is likely to thrive much more significantly if you contain some animal products in their food as well.

In recent times, many luxury dog food brands have hit the market that offer high quality and more or less gourmet meat-based meals, with some even being from wild game animals such as elk or caribou.

While these kinds of products may well be quite beneficial for your dog's health and overall sense of well-being, they are obviously bound to cost a lot of money, as well.

One real potential benefit of poultry meal as an ingredient in dog food, is that it can provide a much more affordable way of getting some staple animal products into your dog's diet, and therefore allowing them to enjoy a diet that is more or less as close as possible to the "template" of what they are best adapted to consuming.

That being said, we can all agree that whole, raw dog food is always going to be the most effective and healthy food for our four legged best friend. As close to natural as possible is always the best!

Make Sure To Read The Nutrition Labels

Dogs need a certain balance of macro and micronutrients in order to thrive, and it is now possible to find an assortment of different resources online so that just about anyone can inform themselves of the particular nutritional needs their pet is likely to have.

As already mentioned, one of the issues with poultry meal is that the term is quite non-specific, and it can refer to part of a chicken or other poultry animal that contains balanced dietary protein and fat, or it can just refer to gristle and connective tissue that is unlikely to have much nutritional value at all.

Regardless of whether you are buying your dog food that contains poultry meal, or any other type of ingredients, it's important to read the nutritional labels, and consider doing additional research, in order to see that the product is ultimately balanced in terms of the nutritional profile it can provide for your pet.

Dog food products will tend to be fortified with different nutritional components and ingredients in order to get them up to the desired level. But you should still do your due diligence to make sure that you are not buying a poor-quality product that over-sells the fact that it contains poultry meal. At Birdham Animal Feeds in the UK, we believe in sourcing only the highest quality dog food products, made with the most natural ingredients available on the market today. We love our pets, and we know you do too, so give them the very best!