It’s a Saturday night, you’ve either cooked a decadent meal or you’ve ordered out from your favorite restaurant. You seat yourself and savor the rich aroma of the food you’re about to eat, your beloved pet gingerly places themselves at your feet and looks up at you longingly. “No, this isn’t dog/cat food, this is people food!” You sternly tell them, but a part of your heartaches. Pet food even if it’s quality pet food doesn’t look particularly appealing, it’s certainly not a hot meal and sure, there are treats, but treats are more important for training and reinforcement than just feeding. What is there to do?
Is It Food or Feed?
If you ask any long-time pet owner, having a pet is like having a child—you love them and want the best for them. If you eat well, you’d want your pet to eat well too, right?
It’s not just a matter of taste, ordinary commercial dog food may or may not be as quality as you might think. While we can’t speak for any particular brand, it’s a guaranteed fact that many dog food companies choose to optimize profits and output over keeping facilities and product as clean as possible. Not to mention these foods are created with cheap ingredients that undoubtedly contain fillers and other such things.
And why would it be any different? We know for ourselves how many of the products meant for our own consumption are not particularly healthy, why should we be surprised that these same problems exist within the world of dog food manufacturers? So, the real question is…are you feeding your pet food or feed?
Healthy Pet Food
At Happy Critters, all of the food that we sell is curated so that no matter what you choose off of our site, you’re getting healthy food that you can feel good about feeding your pet with. For example, our very popular RAWganics Blends includes all-natural ingredients and meats that are put together in a well-balanced package that boasts a great nutritional profile. The food meets AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards.
Processed Dog Food vs. Raw Dog Food
Many of the ingredients used in the manufacture of pet food are described as animal (or fish) derivatives or by-products according to the Global Alliance of Pet Food Association. These ingredients are the parts of the animal surplus to the requirements of the human food industry. In dry pet foods, animal derivatives are commonly used in a meal form (such as chicken meal, poultry by-product meal) where meat and animal derivatives are cooked, the fat removed and the remaining material dried to create a dry meal. By-products may also be used in fresh or frozen form. Many of the other ingredients such as cereals, grains, and vegetables used in dry pet foods come in dry form and are milled or ground prior to mixing. A recipe is also likely to include oils and fats, vitamins and minerals required to ensure the product delivers all the essential nutrients.
Cooking and Cooling Processed Dog Food
The dry mix is combined with wet ingredients, water and steam in a preconditioner, which hydrates the powders, creates a dough and starts the cooking process. The dough then enters a machine known as an extruder, which cooks the dough under pressure. At the end of the extruder the dough exits under pressure through a die plate creating ribbons of pre-specified shape that are then sliced into the pre-specified size using a rotary cutter. After extrusion and cutting the kibbles are air dried in an oven to remove moisture and then cooled. Reducing the moisture content is an important step in maintaining freshness and preventing food spoilage. When baked, the dough is rolled out and cut into shapes, then baked in an oven (similar to cookies or biscuits).
Kibble Coating
After drying and cooling, kibbles often enter a revolving drum where they are evenly coated with a mix of flavours to enhance taste, and preservatives to prevent spoilage through the shelf life of the food. Flavours or other coatings may also be sprayed on baked foods as they exit the oven.
Raw Dog Food Near Me
If your looking for the highest quality raw dog food that money can buy. Look no further. Our premium raw dog food is manufactured without by-products, dyes, fillers, preservatives, flavours, kibble coatings and so much more. We select premium grade beef, chicken, lamb, and even venison and with our extrusion process we combine the ingredients together to form the best raw dog food that dogs all around the world love!
Quality Pet Food in Pennsylvania
Happy Critters is proud to provide healthy and premium pet food options (without by-products, dyes, fillers, preservatives, flavours, kibble coatings) for concerned pet owners who want to give their pets the best they can offer. We have mixes for new puppies, options for foods with bone-in or boneless, as well as a variety of types of meat such as beef, chicken, lamb, and even venison!
If you’re in PA and you want a convenient and affordable option for healthy pet food, check out our shop! To place an order, simply go through the checkout process and as long as you order by the due date on the delivery schedule, you’ll be able to pick up your food hassle-free at the desired delivery location.
If you have any questions or concerns about our quality pet food or about an order you’ve placed, feel free to contact us or give us a call at (717)-575-6840!
