Filler Breakdown

[Angela Adams]

I'm comparing a few kibbles - Can someone breakdown and tell me how each of these "fillers" are digested, or the good and bad about each?

Russet Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Peas
Millet
Tapioca
Tomato Pumice
Pumpkinseeds
Chickpeas

Thank you!

[Angela Adams]

I think I just answered my own question when I clicked on this website... Nature’s Logic Dry Dog Food | Review and Rating

[luvMyBRT]

You probably found the answer to the fillers you already listed....but, this is a link to a website that talks more about fillers. It lists the things you don't want to see in kibble.

The Dog Food Project - Ingredients to avoid

[Deesters]

Sorry this doesn't have anything to do with the original topic of fillers but I was reading the sites posted above.
In the first one it says about Chicken Meal: "Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken."
But in the second link (Ingredients to avoid) it says about Poultry Meal: "AAFCO: The clean combination of poultry flesh and skin with or without bone. Does not contain feathers, heads, feet or entrails. If from a particular source it may state so (i.e. chicken, turkey etc).

Note how in this product the source is not defined as "slaughtered poultry".The manufacturer does not disclose the species (or the mix of species) of the poultry used. The fowl can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), turkey, chicken, geese, buzzard, seagulls, misc. roadkill, birds euthanized at shelters and so on. "

I know poultry means various birds, not just chicken but how do I know where the chicken is coming from or if it's contaminated etc.? Is chicken meal good but poultry meal bad?? Does it work the same for fish? Fish meal bad while, say salmon meal is okay?

[RawFedDogs]

Chicken meal is the remains of the chicken carcass after the human usable parts are removed (wings, legs, thighs, breasts, etc). It mostly bone and connective tissue. Also chicken parts that have been dropped on the floor go into the meal as well as any parts that have growths or other things that make it not usable for human food. Guts & internal stuff is not in the chicken meal. Those things are in chicken by-product meal.

I think any of the meals regardless of the animal it comes from are the left over parts that are not eaten by humans.

[Deesters]

Thanks for the explanation.
So it sounds like any meat meal is not good... but it's in even the highest quality dog foods...

[RawFedDogs]

To be fair, it does have a lot of protein.

[sassymaxmom]

Choose foods that contain specific species of animals. "Poultry" can include turkeys and chickens and so include 4D meats - bad. Avoid "meat" meals as they can include 4D meats - bad. Look for lamb, beef, pork, venison, etc. This renderer manufactures a vast array of products. They used to provide the chicken meal for Orijen at the time of the cat food problem in Australia, don't know if that is still the case.
Welome to Badger Ingredients

[kiwismom]

Thanks for the explanation.
So it sounds like any meat meal is not good... but it's in even the highest quality dog foods...

When you buy boneless-skinless chicken breast in the store, it is mechanically separated from the bone (MSC). The meat that is left on the bone (from trimming process) plus some bone (can't be too much or the ash% is too high) is dried down into meal. Dried meat meal is an economical way to preserve some nutrition and transport the ingredients without needing to thaw out large blocks of frozen meat or transport in refrigerated trucks.

As with all ingredients - pet and human - there are good levels of a product and less than desirable. Please keep in mind part of the meal made from the MCS process is funneled into the hot dog filler market as well ;)

[RawFedDogs]

You sure worry a lot about ash. In fact, chicken meal is mostly bone and connective tissue with very little meat. Chicken meal is dry because bone doesn't hold water.