I started this list because I had a cat with colitis, two cats with food sensitivities and my sister's cat has severe food allergies. This was created to simply be a list of reference to see what the ingredients do to or for the body so we could make better choices for our pets.
This is a list of common ingredients found in cat and dog foods. Some ingredients are healthy, some are not. This list is still in progress but is pretty thorough. There are a few ingredients that still do not have definitions and a few ingredients that need better definitions. Feel free to contact me to help fill in the holes.
Most of the information for ingredients came from the Innova Evo website. They have an area where you can compare their ingredients with the ingredients from other foods. I tried to list all ingredients from all foods, dog or cat. I also went to external sources to find ingredient lists for other common foods. I think I went to PetFoodDirect.com to find ingredient lists for foods I knew of that were not in the Innova List. If I couldn't find a description for an ingredient, I would type the ingredient into Yahoo or Google and get information from USDA, FDA, Dictionary or other type of reference sites.
There is no source information, such as wheat gluten from China or wheat gluten from USA since this is strictly an ingredient list and not a specific food list. If you are concerned with the source of ingredients in your pet's foods, you will need to contact that company directly.
Added Color - adds color to food
Alfalfa Sprouts - antioxidants, anti-carcinogens, vitamin C, folate, phytochemicals, enzymes
Alfalfa Meal - vitamin C, iron, magnesium, manganese
Amaranth - high quality carb, high in linoleic acid which is good for skin and coat
Anchovy -
Anchovy Oil -
Animal Digest - a material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and undecomposed animal tissue
Animal Fat - source of linoleic acid (skin and coat health)
Apples - fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium
Artichoke -
Artificial Flavor/Color - enhances products appeal to humans, no value to food whatsoever, one of the most common sources of food allergies in pets
Ascorbic Acid - vitamin C to help metabolism
Aspergillus niger -
Aspergillus oryzae -
Avocado Meal -
Avocado Oil -
B. subtillus -
Bacillus coagulans -
Bacillus licheniformis -
Basil - improve smell of food
Beef - protein
Beef Broth - add water, increase protein, palatibility
Beef Cartilage - source of chondroitin
Beef Liver - protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, no way to know nutrient content of organ meat
Beef Tallow - Although this is a very palatable source of fat, it is low in linoleic acid, which is necessary for skin and coat health
Beet Pulp - fibrous stool hardener
Beta Carotene -
BHA/BHT - artificial preservative, could cause cancer, banned from human use in many countries
Biotin - vitamin B7 or H, promotes hair and skin health, helps insulin production
Black Currants -
Black Pepper - flavoring
Blueberries - fiber, flavor
Bone Phosphate - Bone Phosphate is the residue of bones that have been treated first in a caustic solution then in a hydrochloric acid solution, and thereafter precipitated with lime and dried.
Brewer's Dried Yeast -
Brewer's Rice -
Bromelain - meat tenderizer, from the pineapple plant
Brown Rice - provides carbs, protein, and fiber
Buffalo - protein
Calcium Carbonate - calcium supplement, phosphate binder
Calcium Iodate - provides iodine for thyroid function
Calcium Pantothenate (aka Vitamin B5) - break down food for energy, produces fat, red blood cells, bile, cholesterol, hormones, neurotransmitters
Calendula -
Canola Oil - omega-3
Carnitine - help with fat metabolism
Caramel Color - adds color to food
Carrageenan - food stabilizer and thickener
Carrots - nutrients
Cassia Gum - thickener & gelling agent
Catfish - protein
Cheese - rotein, vitamins, minerals
Chicken - protein
Chicken Broth - add water, increase protein, palatibility
Chicken By-Product Meal - meal consists of the dry, ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines - exclusive of feathers except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices.
Chicken Cartilage - A natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
Chicken Fat - source of linoleic acid (skin and coat health)
Chicken Giblets - internal organs of the chicken consisting of the liver, heart, and gizzard, no way to tell the nutritional value of organ meats
Chicken Liver - protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, no way to know nutrient content of organ meat
Chicken Liver Digest - flavor enhancer, no way to know nutrient content of organ meat
Chicken Liver Flavor - flavor enhancer, no way to know nutrient content of organ meat
Chicken Meal - protein
Chicken Stock - add water, increase protein, palatibility
Chicory Root Extract - prebiotic - feeds good bacteria and hinders bad bacteria in the digestive tract
Choline Chloride - used in poultry to increase growth, reduce mortality rate, improve meat quality
Chondroitin Sulfate - attract fluids into cartilage matrix (when used with Glucosamine)
Citric Acid - used for flavoring
Cloves -
Cobalt -
Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate -
Cobalt Glucohepthanate - improves fiber digestion
Cobalt Proteinate - source of cobalt
Coconut -
Condensed Grain Fermentation Solubles -
Copper Amino Acid Chelate -
Copper Amino Acid Complex - supplement
Copper Proteinate - source of copper
Copper Oxide -
Copper Sulfate -
Corn Bran - fiber
Corn Germ Meal -
Corn Gluten Meal -
Corn Grits -
Corn Meal -
Cornstarch - carbs
Cottage Cheese - calcium, phosphorus, protein, vitamins
Crab - protein
Cracked Pearled Barley - fiber, carbs, protein
Cranberries - reduce urinary tract infections
Cranberry Extract Powder - reduce urinary tract infections
Cranberry Fiber - reduce urinary tract infections
Cranberry Powder - reduce urinary tract infections
Crawfish - protein
d-Biotin - vitamin B7 or H, promotes hair and skin health, helps insulin production
d-Calcium Pantothenate - vitamin B5 supplement
d-Pantothenatic Acid - vitamin B5 supplement
Dandelion -
Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal - antioxidents, phytochemicals
Dehydrated Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dehydrated Bifidobacterium Pseudolongum - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dehydrated Enterococcus faecium Fermenation Product - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dehydrated Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dicalcium Phosphate - strong bones and teeth, heart and muscle health, blood clotting, energy production
Direct-Fed Microbials - probiotic - feeds good bacteria and hinders bad bacteria in the digestive tract
DL-Methionine - urinary acidifier, creates ammonia-free urine which reduces bladder irritation
Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Barley Grass Powder -
Dried Beet Pulp - fibrous stool hardener
Dried Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermentation Product - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Bifidobacterium longum Fermentation Product - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Bifidobacterium thermophilum - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Blueberry - lower cholesterol, prevent UTI, reduce cardiovascular/stroke damage
Dried Brown Kelp - iodine, beta carotene, Vitamin B, Vitamin C
Dried Buttermilk -
Dried Carrots - nutrients
Dried Chicory Root - used as a source of inulin, a source of soluable, fermentable fiber
Dried Chicory Root Extract - prebiotic - feeds good bacteria and hinders bad bacteria in the digestive tract
Dried Cranberry - reduce urinary tract infections
Dried Egg - protein, amino acids
Dried Egg Product - protein, amino acids, should only contain eggs, no shells or other non-egg products
Dried Enterococcus diacetylactis Fermentation Product - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Ground Potatoes -
Dried Kelp - iodine, beta carotene, Vitamin B, Vitamin C
Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Lactobacillus lactis Fermentation Product - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Dried Papaya - source of Papain, used as meat tenderizer
Dried Skim Milk -
Dried Vegetable Fiber -
Dried Wheat Grass Powder -
Dried Whey -
Dried Yogurt -
Duck - protein
Duck Broth - add water, increase protein, palatibility
Dulse -
Egg - protein, amino acids
Enterococcus faecium
Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide - prevents iodine deficiency
Feeding Oat Meal - obtained in the manufacture of rolled oat groats or rolled oats and consists of broken oat groats, oat groat chips, and floury portions of the oat groats, with only such quantity of finely ground oat hulls as is unavoidable in the usual process of commercial milling.
Ferrous Sulfate - another word for iron, helps with red blood cell production
Fish Meal - protein (shouldn't buy unless specific type of fish is listed)
Fish Oil - omega-3 fatty acid
Flax - soluable and insoluble fiber, omega-3, omega-6
Flax Meal - soluable and insoluble fiber, omega-3, omega-6
Flaxseed - soluable and insoluble fiber, omega-3, omega-6
Flaxseed Meal - soluable and insoluble fiber, omega-3, omega-6
Flaxseed Oil (For Omega-3) - healthy skin and coat
Folic Acid - vitamin B9, helps in cell production
Fresh Carrots - nutrients
Fresh Cucumber - vitamins, minerals, fiber
Fresh Golden Delicious Apples - fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium
Fresh Granny Smith Apples - fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium
Fresh Green Beans - vitamins, particularly K
Fresh Peas - provides potassium
Fresh Red Apples - fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium
Fresh Red Jacket New Potatoes - nutrients (B, C, Zinc, Etc)
Fresh Snow Peas - provides potassium
Fresh Sweet Potato - vitamins, antioxidents, fiber
Fresh Sweet Potatoes - vitamins, antioxidents, fiber
Fresh Whole Granny Smith Apples - fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium
Fresh Whole Red Delicious Apples - fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium
Fresh Yukon Gold Potatoes - nutrients (B, C, Zinc, Etc)
Fresh Zucchini - folate, potassium, vitamin A
Fructooligosaccharide
Garlic - enhance flavor (not good for cats)
Garlic Oil - enhance flavor (not good for cats)
Glucosamine Hydrochloride - support cartilage matrix (when used with Chondroitin)
Grapeseed Oil - essential fatty acid for good skin and coat, antioxidents
Green Beans - high in vitamin A and C and are low in calories
Green Lipped Mussel -
Green Tea Extract - flavoring
Ground Brown Rice - adds high quality carbs, fiber, flavor
Ground Corn -
Ground Millet -
Ground Oat Groats -
Ground Oats - natural, healthy grain that are rich in B vitamins, and are a good source of carbohydrates
Ground Rice - adds high quality carbs, fiber, flavor
Ground Wheat -
Ground White Rice - adds high quality carbs
Ground Whole Grain Barley -
Ground Whole Grain Sorghum - source of carbs, not highly digestable
Ground Whole Wheat - high quality carbs
Ground Yellow Corn -
Guar Gum - emulsifer, stabilizer, thickener
Herring Meal - omega-3
Herring Oil - omega-3, healthy skin & coat
Inositol - vitamin B8
Inulin - soluable, highly fermentable fiber, increases calcium absorption
Iodized Salt - regulates water content in the body
Iron - production of hemoglobin in red blood cells
Iron Amino Acid Chelate -
Iron Amino Acid Complex - supplement
Iron Oxide -
Iron Proteinate -
Kale -
Kidney - flavor; not good b/c of variable nutrient content, no way to know source of kidney
L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate - Vitamin C
L-Carnitine - help with fat metabolism
L-Threonine -
Lactobacillus acidophilus - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Lactobacillus casei - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Lactobacillus plantarum -
Lamb - protein
Lamb Broth -
Lamb Meal - protein
Lamb Stock -
Lecithin - helps with fatty acid transport within the cells
Linoleic Acid
good skin and coat
Liver Meal
protein, no way to know nutrient content, best not to consume
Lysine
In a completely cereal-based food, either supplemental lysine or a meat source of lysine must be added. This is mostly in dog food. Cats must eat meat.
Lobster -protein
Mackerel - protein, omega-3
Marigold Extract - Exhibits anti-microbial & anti-inflamatory properties, stimulating production of white cells & strengthening the immune system
Meat By-Products - Meat by-products are the non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hoofs
Menhaden Fish Oil -
Millet -
Manganese Amino Acid Chelate -
Manganese Amino Acid Complex - supplement
Manganese Proteinate - source of manganese
Manganese Sulfate -
Magnesium Oxide -
Manganous Oxide -
Meat Meal/Meat & Bone Meal - the rendered product from mammal tissues, with or without bone, non-specific animal product, best not to ingest
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex -
Milk - calcium, phosphorus
Minerals -nutrients
Mixed Tocopherols - protect cells against damage from free radicals
Monocalcium Phosphate -
Montmorillonite - prevents IBS, aids stool production
Natural Caramel Color - enhance color of food
Natural Duck Flavor - enhance flavor of food
Natural Fish Flavors - enhance flavor of food
Natural Flavors (from Chicken meat) - enhance flavor of food
Natural Poultry Flavor - enhance flavor of food
Niacin - vitamin B3, helps control cholestrol
Norweigan Kelp - iodine, beta carotene, Vitamin B, Vitamin C
Oat Bran -
Oat Fiber -
Oatmeal - good source of carbs, binder
Ocean Fish - protein (don't buy unless specific fish is listed)
Ocean Fish Meal - protein (don't buy unless specific fish is listed)
Olive Oil - skin and coat health
Organic Barley -
Organic Brown Rice -
Organic Canola Oil -
Organic Carrots -
Organic Chicken -
Organic Flaxseed -
Organic Millet -
Organic Peas - protein, vitamin A
Organic Oats -
Organic Rice -
Organic Quinoa - protein and nutrients
Organic Selenium -
Organic Sorgham -
Organic Soybean Meal -
Papain - meat tenderizer, from papaya plant
Papaya - source of Papain, used as meat tenderizer
Parsley - breath freshener
Peanut Hulls -
Pearled Barley - fiber, carbs, protein
Peas - protein, vitamin A
Pineapple - manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B1
Plums -
Polysaccharide Complexes of Zinc -
Pork Meal - protein
Potassium Iodate -
Potassium Iodide -
Potassium Chloride - metabolism, acid-base balance, water balance, protein synthesis
Potato Flour -
Potato Protein -
Potato Starch-modified - helps with texture
Potatoes - nutrients (B, C, Zinc, Etc)
Poultry By-Product Meal - the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcasses of slaughtered poultry, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines
Poultry Fat - non-specific fat from poultry, source of linoleic acid (skin and coat health)
Poultry Giblets - internal organs of the non-specific poultry consisting of the liver, heart, and gizzard, no way to tell the nutritional value of organ meats
Poultry Seasoning - add flavor
Psyllium Seed Husk - fiber
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride - vitamin B6, promotes red cell production,
Quinoa - protein and nutrients
Red Pepper -
Ribofavin Supplement - vitamin B2, helps with cell metabolism
Rice Flour - carbs, binder
Rice Bran - adds fiber, flavor
Rice Gluten Bran - carbs, excellent option for any pet allergic to wheat or corn, low ash content
Rice Gluten Meal - carbs, excellent option for any pet allergic to wheat or corn, low ash content
Rice Protein Concentrate -
Rosemary Extract - preservative, prevents cancer
Rye Flour -
Saccharomyces cerevesiae Fermentation Solubles - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Sage - added flavor
Sage Extract - flavor
Salmon - protein
Salmon Oil - skin and coat health
Salmon Meal - protein
Salt - regulates water content in the body
Sardine - protein
Sardine Meal - protein
Sea Cucumber -
Sea Salt - regulates water content in the body
Shrimp - protein
Sodium Ascorbate - non-acidic Vitamin C
Sodium Hexametaphosphate - used as a sequestrant, as a food additive
Sodium Phosphate - found in every cell of the body
Sodium Selenite - improves immune system response
Sorbic Acid - preservative
Sorbitol - artificial sweetener
Soy Flour -
Soy Protein Concentrate - protein
Soy Protein Isolate -
Soybean Hulls -
Soybean Meal - protein, not as good as a meat source
Soybean Mill Run -
Spinach - Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron
Sugar - Sweetener
Sun Cured Alfalfa - vitamin C, iron, magnesium, manganese
Sun Cured Alfalfa Meal - vitamin C, iron, magnesium, manganese
Sunflower Oil - essential fatty acid for good skin and coat
Sweet Potatoes - antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, flavor
Taurine - prevents blindness and cardiac problems
Thiamin Mononitrate - vitamin B1, nervous system, muscle function, metabolism
Toasted Oats -
Tomato Flakes - vitamin C, Vitamin A, betacarotine, lycopene
Tomato Pomace - vitamin C, Vitamin A, betacarotine, lycopene
Tomatoes - vitamin C, Vitamin A, betacarotine, lycopene
Tricalcium Phosphate - calcium supplement, anti-caking agent
Tuna - protein
Turkey - protein
Turkey Broth - add water, increase protein, palatibility
Turkey By-Products - rendered clean parts of carcasses of slaughtered poultry such as heads, feet, viscera, free from fecal content and foreign matter, no way to know true nutrient content
Turkey Liver - protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals
Turkey Meal - protein
Venison - protein
Venison Broth - add water, increase protein, palatibility
Viable Naturally Occurring Microorganisms - bacteria, similar to what is found in yogurt, promots gut health
Vitamin A Acetate - vision, immunity
Vitamin A Supplement - vision, immunity
Vitamin B1 - nervous system, muscle function, metabolism
Vitamin B2 Supplement - helps with cell metabolism
Vitamin B5 Supplement - break down food for energy, produces fat, red blood cells, bile, cholesterol, hormones, neurotransmitters
Vitamin B7 Supplement - promotes hair and skin health, helps insulin production
Vitamin B12 Supplement - supplement
Vitamin D3 Supplement - enhance calcium and phosphorus absorption
Vitamin E Supplement - protect cells against damage from free radicals
Vitamin K Supplement -
Vitamins - nutrients for various purposes, see specific vitamins for further information
Water - Municipal supplies are the most common source of water in popular pet food brands; concerns over pesticide residues, harmful microorganisms, chlorine, and lead
Wheat Flour -
Wheat Germ Meal - protein
Wheat Gluten -
Wheat Mill Run/Middlings -
Whitefish - protein
Whole Corn -
Whole Eggs - protein, amino acids
Whole Grain Brown Rice - provides carbs, protein, and fiber
Whole Grain Ground Corn -
Whole Grain Wheat - carbs, protein, wheat oil, bran, vitamins, minerals
Yeast Culture -
Yucca Schidigera - interfere with absorption of fat and soluable vitamins
Yucca Schidigera Extract - lower noxious ammonia gases in animal wastes
Zinc Amino Acid -
Zinc Amino Acid Chelate -
Zinc Amino Acid Complex - supplement
Zinc Oxide -
Zinc Proteinate - source of Zinc
Zinc Sulfate -
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