You probably might have been surprised when you saw the word Ash printed on your dog food label. Who wouldn’t be? In all likelihood, it might have sparked a mental label of burnt ash being added to your pets diet.
Well, there’s no burnt content that gets added to dog food. Ash stands for crude ash, which is something entirely different than burning remains the word is associated with. Let’s unravel the knots of what it is and its importance in pet food.
What is Ash Content in Pet Food?
There’s a misconception that ash is filler content used to dilute dog food. Well, it couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Ash, also known as crude ash, refers to Ash, is used to describe the mineral content (phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, zinc, etc.) of a given dog food recipe.
These minerals play an important role in your pet’s health, contributing to bone and teeth development, maintenance of fluid balance, improving the function of the immune system, and enhancing nerve and muscle function.
Ash may seem like a peculiar way to describe the ingredients. However, the reason behind this nomenclature is the fact that if you were to burn the food in your pets diet, organic nutrients, such as fats and protein, would completely burn away, leaving behind no trace. Only inorganic minerals, such as the ones mentioned above, would remain.
Having ash in the dog food does improve its quality, as long as the content is not too high.
Where Does the Ash In Pets Diet Come From?
Dog food isn’t usually produced without the Ash. When testing the food, scientists use a bomb calorimeter to burn it, allowing them to work out the optimal energy density of the food, as well as the protein, fats, and fiber content in it.
After the process is done, they’re left with inorganic nutrients and minerals (Ash). Of course, this is just for testing purposes. You won’t get any burnt food when you buy it. But, as a rule of thumb, purchase products only from the best dog food brands, as they use ash in the right amount, providing all-around nourishment for your doggo.
Why Ash Can Be Important?
The content you see on the label represents the cumulative total of the minerals in that food. Some of the ash content can come from plant-based ingredients. However, most of it comes from mineral additives and bone content.
A large chunk of the minerals comprises phosphorus and calcium. Whatever it may be, the final ash number by itself isn’t revealing. Knowing the constituency of each mineral in your pets diet is more helpful, especially when:
- Taking care of large-breed puppies
- Taking care of dogs suffering from kidney ailments
What’s the Typical Amount of Ash Found in Dog Food?
The ash number varies from one dog food product to another. As a rule of thumb, look for commercial dog food brands with 5-8% ash content. That said, not all companies report ash content on their labels.
But we, as a pet food advisor, suggest that you go for dog food brands that have ash content in the ballpark of 8%.
Summary
Now that you are aware of what ash signifies and its uses in maintaining and improving dog health, you are equipped to find the best dog food for your pet!
