A study at the University of Nottingham has found that 14 out of 17 pet foods contain meat not listed on the ingredients’ list.
This can be dangerous for dogs suffering from beef and chicken allergies.
The pet food , which was subject to DNA testing , was found to contain various other meats besides the ingredients listed on the back.
Ashfield House Veterinary Surgeon Laura Troth said : “Mislabelling should not be an issue for healthy dogs, but for dogs with gastrointestinal disease, allergies or stomach sensitivity this could be a problem.”
Canine nutritionist David Jackson gave popular dog food brand Bakers a 0.5 out of 5 stars after finding the ingredients consisted mostly of oil , fats and colourants.
Lesser known pet food brand Nutriment , however , was given a full 5 star rating.
Around 90% of its contents contain English meat whilst the rest consists of fresh vegetables.
Common pet allergies include the following : beef, dairy , wheat , egg, chicken, lamb and pork. A full list can be found at Nutriment’s website : http://www.nutriment.co/common-diet-related-health-problems/.
The common symptoms of an allergic reaction include itchy skin , nasal discharge , inflamed ears , coughing or sneezing.