“What are you feeding Fido? Find out as CUC prof, student analyze dog food fillers

Concordia University Chicago junior and biology/pre-veterinary major Virginia Dunlap along with Rebecca Trueman, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology at the River Forest university, want to help you answer that question—through a study analyzing the sources of ingredients in dog food.

Inviting dog-owners to submit two pieces of dog food for analysis by Jan. 31, Dunlap and Trueman will analyze the samples and provide a report back to each owner on exactly what his or her dog is eating.

High-priced dog food does not necessarily mean high quality, Trueman says. As price varies widely, she explains, so do ingredients—such as inexpensive fillers or low-grade fiber content with little or no nutritional value added simply to increase food volume.

That filler can include corn and corncobs, feathers, soy, cottonseed hulls, peanut hulls, citrus pulp, weeds and straw. And for Fido, they can result in allergic reactions, skin irritation or gastrointestinal symptom upset.

“I want people to be aware of what they are feeding their dogs and that that can impact their pet’s health. There’s nothing worse than a sick dog.”

If you would like to submit dog food for analysis through Trueman and Dunlap’s study, submit two pieces of dog food with your name, the name brand and variety of dog food to Rebecca Trueman, Department of Natural Science, Concordia University Chicago, 7400 Augusta St., River Forest, IL 60305.”