People have fed, domesticated, and kept dogs and cats for work and/or pleasure for millennia. While scientists aren’t yet certain exactly when these animals transitioned from work animals (employed primarily to guard livestock, assist with the hunt, or catch vermin, etc.) to our best friends, dogs and cats have a long history of living with humans. Learn more about the long history of pet food:
Research suggests that dogs were domesticated 16,000 years ago, and possibly were keeping company with humans for more than 30,000 years. By 2000 BCE, humans were giving consideration into what to feed their dogs. Roman poet and philosopher Marcus Terentius Varro wrote a manual on farming, “Farm Topics,” that advised providing dogs with meat and bones, and barley soaked in milk.
Near the end of the 14th century, Gaston III, the eleventh Count of Foix Count in Southwestern France and an avid hunter, wrote a book in which he described how his beloved greyhounds were to be cared for. This included reference to what they were to be fed: bran bread, some of the meat from the hunt, and if the dog was sick, goat’s milk, bean broth, chopped meat or buttered eggs.
In common households during the middle ages and through the mid-19th centuries however, little consideration was given to feeding dogs, as a dog’s diet was much like that of its owners, consisting of whatever owners could spare, such as knuckles of bone, cabbage, potatoes, onions and crusts of bread. In the mid-1800’s, a dog or cat’s diet may have been more slightly more varied in cities where it was common for people to purchase horse meat for their pets, as working horses would die in the city streets.
Since then, dogs and cats have become an integral part of our households, and the scientific understanding of pet nutrition and food safety has advanced to help better protect the health of four-legged family members.
Have you ever wondered what’s really in your dog’s food bowl? I know I have. As a pet parent I’ve spent countless hours researching what goes into commercial pet food, and what I discovered about horse meat in dog food left me speechless.
The Uncomfortable Reality: Yes, Some Dog Food Contains Horse Meat
Let me be straight with you – yes, some dog food is made from horse meat. While it’s not common in most reputable commercial brands in the United States today, there are still operations that use horse meat in pet food products This practice exists in a regulatory gray area that might surprise and disturb many pet owners
The Bravo Packing Case: A Horror Story
One of the most disturbing examples comes from a facility called Bravo Packing in New Jersey According to whistleblower reports, this operation processes horses into pet food – grinding their flesh into meat products, selling their bones as dog chews, and even selling their hides to zoos for exotic animals to play with
The conditions reported at this facility are horrifying:
- Dead horses piled in tangled messes
- Emaciated horses kept without food until they reach the “lean quality” preferred for pet food
- Animals killed with .22 rifles, often requiring multiple shots
- Slaughter conducted in front of other animals
- Barrels of decomposing intestines from euthanized animals
What makes this even more concerning is that the facility operates through a loophole in horse slaughter legislation.
The Legal Loophole Allowing Horse Meat in Pet Food
While many Americans believe horse slaughter is completely banned in the U.S., the truth is more complicated. Most legislation focuses on preventing horse slaughter for human consumption, but doesn’t explicitly forbid it for pet food or animal feed.
For example, New Jersey law (where Bravo Packing operates) prohibits:
- Knowingly slaughtering horses for human consumption
- Selling horsemeat for human consumption
- Transporting horses for slaughter for human consumption
Notice the pattern? The law specifically mentions “human consumption” but leaves a gaping hole where animal consumption is concerned.
Even the proposed federal Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act of 2019 would only prohibit slaughter of horses for human consumption, not for pet food.
The Dangers of Horse Meat in Pet Food
Using horse meat in pet food isn’t just an ethical concern – it poses serious health risks:
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Drug Contamination: Horses in the U.S. are frequently given medications that are dangerous for consumption. The FDA found samples of Bravo Packing’s horse meat that tested positive for pentobarbital (a euthanasia drug) and phenytoin.
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Phenylbutazone (Bute): This common anti-inflammatory drug given to horses can be lethal if ingested by people (and potentially dangerous for pets too). The National Toxicology Program has identified it as a carcinogen.
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Bacterial Contamination: The FDA has found dangerous bacteria in products from facilities that process horse meat, including Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
What About Major Pet Food Brands?
If you’re feeding your dog food from major reputable brands in the United States, you can generally breathe easier. Most mainstream commercial pet food companies do not use horse meat in their products today, though it was more common decades ago.
While horse meat isn’t explicitly forbidden in pet food by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which sets standards for pet food ingredients, the public sentiment against horse slaughter has made it commercially undesirable for major brands.
How to Avoid Horse Meat in Your Dog’s Food
If you’re concerned about the possibility of horse meat in your dog’s food, here are some steps you can take:
1. Read the ingredient list carefully
Look for specific named meats like “chicken,” “beef,” or “lamb” rather than generic terms like “meat” or “meat by-products.”
2. Research the company
Choose pet food companies with transparent sourcing practices who can tell you exactly where their ingredients come from.
3. Look for quality certifications
Products with certifications from organizations like the AAFCO tend to have better quality control.
4. Consider making your own dog food
If you’re really concerned, homemade dog food gives you complete control over ingredients (though always consult with a vet about proper nutrition).
The Ethical Dilemma: Why Horse Meat Feels Different
There’s somethin’ interesting about how we view different animals. In America, we generally treat horses more like pets than livestock. We don’t typically eat horse meat ourselves, and many of us find the idea disturbing.
This is what philosophers call “speciesism” – treating different species of animals differently based on cultural perceptions rather than objective criteria about their capacity to suffer.
While we might be horrified at the thought of horses being processed into pet food, we often don’t have the same reaction to cows, pigs, or chickens being used in the same way. Is there a logical reason for this difference, or is it purely cultural?
I’m not saying there’s a right or wrong answer here, but it’s worth thinking about why we draw these lines where we do.
The History of Horse Meat in Pet Food
Horse meat wasn’t always controversial in pet food. In fact, it was a common ingredient in commercial dog food up until the mid-20th century. The shift away from horse meat came as American attitudes toward horses changed, with more people viewing them as companion animals rather than livestock or work animals.
This shift in public perception made horse meat commercially undesirable for major pet food manufacturers, who gradually phased it out of their products. Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find a major brand that openly uses horse meat, though as we’ve seen, it still exists in some corners of the industry.
Final Thoughts: Knowledge is Power
The pet food industry can be mysterious and sometimes disturbing. Regulations have gaps, enforcement is often lacking, and some practices continue that most pet owners would find unacceptable if they knew about them.
But knowledge is power. By understanding what’s potentially in your dog’s food and making informed choices, you can better protect your furry friend’s health and align your purchasing decisions with your values.
I believe our pets deserve the same consideration we’d give to any family member when it comes to their food. They rely on us completely for their care, and that’s a responsibility I take seriously. Don’t you?
Remember: While this article contains disturbing information, most major pet food brands in the U.S. do not use horse meat today. If you’re concerned, focus on transparent companies with clear ingredient sourcing and specific named meat ingredients.
Pets as Companion Animals
With the Industrial Revolution and rise of the middle class in the 19th century, families with disposable income began to keep domesticated dogs and cats as companion animals – rather than just as working animals.
Businessman James Spratt introduced the first commercially-prepared pet food in England in approximately 1860. After seeing dogs being fed leftover biscuits from a ship, Spratt formulated the first dog biscuit: a mix of wheat meals, vegetables, beetroot and beef blood. Spratt’s business venture was a success, meeting a new market demand and selling to English country gentlemen for sporting dogs.
A British public company took over Spratt’s formula and production began at a U.S. operation in about 1890. Additional companies began to develop their own recipes for biscuits and dry kibble, using the current nutritional knowledge of the time period. Canned dog food, “Ken-L Ration,” was introduced in 1922. Its main ingredient was horsemeat, which was considered an acceptable ingredient source at the time. Our understanding of and relationship with horses has since evolved, and as they have become pets, there is no longer a market for horse meat.
Is dog food still made from horses?
FAQ
Which dog food has horse meat in it?
The trademark for Ken-L Ration was revived by Retrobrands USA LLC in 2015. The dog food’s original main ingredient was U.S. Government Inspected horse meat, advertised as “lean, red meat”.
When did dog food stop using horse meat?
Are hotdogs horse meat?
What animal meat is in dog food?
Popular dog food company Purina writes on their website that when an ingredient in pet food is listed as “meat,” that means it is muscle tissue from cows, pigs, sheep, or goats.