Unexpected risks found in popular dog foods

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

With so many dog food options on store shelves, choosing the right one for your pet can be challenging.

A new Consumer Reports investigation revealed unexpected ingredients found in some popular dog foods.

More than 50 brands were chopped, blended, tested and analyzed to determine if they were safe for pets.

“In our investigation, we tested popular brands like Blue Buffalo, Hill's Science Diet and Purina for nutrients and contaminants,” said Consumer Reports science writer Kevin Lora.

Lora said while most brands met basic nutritional standards, testing found potentially dangerous bacteria in some raw dog foods.

“We found Listeria monocytogenes, which can be dangerous to pets and even more so to people, in a sample of Raw Bistro's free-range chicken entree and a sample of Viva for Dogs' ground beef meal—both frozen raw dogs foods,” he said.

Raw Bistro said its internal testing showed no contamination, and the tested batch has since expired and is no longer being sold.

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Viva told Consumer Reports it has continued to evolve their systems with more robust finished product testing.

The investigation also found that Pedigree's Complete Nutrition Adult Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable contained nearly five times the recommended maximum of vitamin D.

“Too much vitamin D can be toxic for dogs. It's crucial that manufacturers stay within safe limits,” said Lora.

Pedigree said there was no indication of any vitamin issue, and its products were safe.

To choose the best food for your pet, experts recommend consulting your veterinarian.

In general, Consumer Reports advises looking for food labeled as meeting standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials.

Experts also recommend limiting treats to no more than 10% of a dog's diet and avoiding unnecessary food changes.

Be careful with raw diets, as Consumer Reports tests confirmed, they can carry serious risks.