You’re about to bring home your new puppy and then you realize- you still have to buy food! You run to the pet store and see hundreds of options that you just get confused. Where do you start? How do you pick the best one for your pet? Though it can be overwhelming to research on every ingredient written on the label, you can just focus on certain ingredients that you should definitely AVOID. Here are five ingredients you don’t want to be included in your dog’s food. 1. Ethoxyquin This is usually used as a preservative; however, it is illegal to use in human foods. You know what this is used for? Herbicide! Consumption of this can lead to liver and kidney damage to your pup. 2. Propylene Glycol (PG) For car owners, this may look familiar because this is found in anti-freeze. This is usually placed in dog food to reduce moisture but can lead to intestinal blockage to your dog. You wouldn’t want to feed your dog ingredients that are used for cars, would you? 3. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) BHA and BHT are preservatives, which can be found in both pet food and human food. According to California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, BHA is on the list of Known Carcinogens and Reproductive Toxicants. BHT, which is more potent than BHA, has had direct link to cancer for both humans and animals. 4. Food Dyes Food dyes such as Blue 2, Red 40, and Yellow 5 and 6, have been known to cause hypersensitivity or allergic type reactions. Best to avoid and choose kibble without bright, glaring colors. 5. Rendered Fat Rendered animal fat is used to enhance flavor in food and treats. However, this also contains microorganisms such as salmonella, and harmful toxins. This can also cause kibble to become moldy when exposed to moisture. So there you have it! Here are some ingredients to watch out for when shopping for kibble or wet food. Always remember to check the labels to make sure your pup stays happy and healthy! Sources: http://www.petsafe.net/learn/pet-food-the-good-the-bad-and-the-healthy http://iheartdogs.com/5-ingredients-you-never-want-to-find-in-your-dogs-food/