This blog provides information about the compliance of Trusty products to Australian standards, and information about how Trusty bones are manfactured. There is also general information about good practice associated with feeding bones to dogs.
Compliance to Australian standards
Trusty Pet Food is compliant to Australian standards and is made here in Australia, to give you peace of mind.
In 2011, the voluntary industry code of practice was replaced with the Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food (AS 5812–2011), which has since been updated to the Australian Standard (AS 5812-2017) for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food.
Several pet food product safety incidents over the previous years had raised some concerns about pet food safety.
The Australian Standard for Manufactured Pet Food AS 5812, contains clauses that address health concerns regarding the use of sulphates by including a mandatory requirement that any product containing sulphur dioxide, sulphite or potassium sulphites must contain sufficient thiamine according to AAFCO guidelines, for the entire shelf-life of the product. This will help to prevent thiamine deficiency in relation to pet food/pet meat that complies with AS 5812.
Should I feed my dog bones?
Ultimately, it comes down to personal choice and the presence of appropriate supervision and due care with your dog. At Trusty, we recommend getting veterinary advice if you are unsure.
Standard cooked bones (whether fried or roasted, such as bones from a cooked chicken or bones from a cooked roast) can splinter and shatter in a dog’s mouth. This is because the traditional cooking process involves a high cooking temperature (over a short period of time), which can cause bones to dry out and become more brittle.
Raw bones should be avoided as they can splinter in a dog’s mouth and possibly cause obstructions in the digestive track.
How are Trusty bones dried?
In manufacturing the Trusty range of dried bones, we use an air-dried process (not fried or cooked) which is undertaken at a much lower temperature and over a longer period of time (when compared to a fired or cooked product).
The Trusty bone drying process is done in purpose-built driers with a computer controlled drying program that ensures that all Trusty products (including the Trusty 1 Piece Pork Bone product) are dried to achieve shelf stability and commercial sterility under ambient conditions, as is required by our auditing authorities. Records of our processes are retained to validate operating compliance.
Always play it safe when it come to your dog
Like humans, young and old, some dogs can have sensitivities to different foods. Always get veterinary advice is you are unsure what is best for your dog.
It is strongly advised that all treats must be fed under supervision, because some dogs (and certain dog breeds) can tend to chomp and gulp the product down without fully crunching or chewing up the product before swallowing. If a particular dog (or a particular dog breed) is prone to this, then the owner should consider feeding an alternate or a softer treat from the Trusty range to their dog.
It is your responsibility to know what treats and foods are suitable for your dog. Always get veterinary advice if you are unsure.
References RSPCA, AS5812, AAFCO