With all the new and hot pet food recalls, it is no wonder that pet owners have ended up making homemade dog food for their furry friends in lieu of commercial and, quite possibly, bad dog food and cat food considered as contaminated. So what's all the fuss about? What unlikely result can bad contaminated dog food do to your pet dog, and more importantly, what can you do to avoid it? Just what are in these supposedly healthy dog food that has got animal lovers in an uproar?

Humans avoid consuming too much canned goods for various health reasons. The same is considered a reality for dogs.

Moist dog food is packed in cans. You can just visualize all the harmful ingredients injected into the whole package, mostly to bring a good taste, enhance palatability, and even improve appearance.

What's very discouraging is the fact that animal by-products, the main components of pet food, are already bombarded with chemicals long before they reach the processing plant. So even if the can's label tells you otherwise, there's really nothing like a 'No Preservatives' guarantee.

Dry dog food is even worse. Since canning in itself is already a preserving process, moist dog food contains less of the contaminated materials used to prolong shelf life compared with its dry counterpart.

One more complication is the ingredients themselves, usually meat, poultry, and grains. Whatever parts are considered unfit for human consumption, such as innards, blood, and bones, make up the by-products that are ground and blended into what we know as pet food. In reality, they are bad dog food.

The thing is, it is not always slaughtered animals that make their way into these meals; but oftentimes, double dead animals are included as well. And the drugs and bacteria, like Salmonella and Escherichia coli, thriving in these meats do not always die during manufacturing, which incidentally, deteriorates the health benefits as well.

Furthermore, when moldy grain is thrown in, as well as all the other artificial ingredients the numbers of which are too many to count with both hands, you then have a lethal canine cocktail. It doesn't take someone who knows a lot about nutrition to know that this spells disaster for the end user, i.e., innocent little Fido.

Harmful effects of bad dog food include vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. But that's just for starters. The more dangerous toxins, like cf1 butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ethoxyquin, which are all given in small doses, can cause cancer, organ failure, and ultimately, death when consumed over a long period.

So what can you, the dog owner, do about all this? Voice your concerns. Call pet food manufacturers and demand for healthier products so you get the actual worth of your money. Better yet, make your own homemade dog food. At least then, you can be sure about what your dear canine friend is actually eating and you will have peace of mind for the both of you. If you sense something may be wrong with the food your dog is eating, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Your ever-faithful and loyal dog friend does not deserve to eat potentially contaminated bad dog food. Don't you think it's time you showed him just that?