What is actually in dog food
Plain explanations of the things you find on a label, from the obvious ones to the ones that sound like chemistry. No opinions about whether an ingredient is good or bad, just what it is and what it does in the bag.
Salmon Hydrolysate
Salmon protein broken down into smaller fragments by enzyme treatment.
Salmon Meal
Salmon that has been cooked, dried and ground into a concentrated meal with most of the water removed.
Salmon Oil
Oil extracted from salmon.
Salmon with Ground Bone
Salmon flesh ground together with its bone.
Salt
Sodium chloride, added in small amounts to meet a dog's sodium requirement and to aid palatability.
Sardine Broth
The liquid produced by simmering sardines.
Sardine Cutlets
Cuts of sardine flesh.
Sardine Meal
A concentrated meal rendered from whole sardines.
Sardines
Small oily fish of the herring family, used whole.
Sea Salt
Salt harvested by evaporating sea water.
Selenium
An essential trace mineral, added in tightly controlled amounts.
Selenium Yeast
Selenium bound into yeast, an organic form of the trace mineral.
Sesame Oil
Oil pressed from sesame seed.
Shrimp
The flesh of the shrimp, a shellfish.
Smoked Salmon
Salmon that has been smoked.
Smoked Turkey
Turkey that has been smoked.
Sodium Alginate
A thickener extracted from brown seaweed.
Sodium Ascorbate
A buffered salt form of vitamin C.
Sodium Bicarbonate
Baking soda, used to control acidity.
Sodium Bisulfate
An acid salt used to lower alkalinity and inhibit bacteria.
Sodium Carbonate
An alkaline salt used to control acidity.
Sodium Chloride
The chemical name for common salt.
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
A phosphate salt used as a moisture and texture aid.
Sodium Nitrite
A curing salt used to preserve meat and fix its color.
Sodium Phosphate
A sodium and phosphorus compound used as a mineral source and buffer.
Sodium Phosphate Monobasic
A sodium phosphate salt used as a mineral source and buffer.
Sodium Propionate
A salt of propionic acid used to inhibit mould.
Sodium Propionate and Mixed Tocopherols
A preservative system pairing sodium propionate with natural vitamin E.
Sodium Selenite
An inorganic selenium salt used as a trace mineral supplement.
Sodium Silico Aluminate
An anti-caking agent that keeps powdered ingredients free flowing.
Sodium Tripolyphosphate
A phosphate salt used to retain moisture and control texture.
Sole
The flesh of sole, a lean white flatfish.
Sorbic Acid
An organic acid used to inhibit mould and yeast.
Soy Flakes
Soybeans steamed and rolled flat.
Soy Flour
Flour milled from soybeans, used as a plant protein and binder.
Soy Grits
Coarsely ground soybeans.