The Truth About Fillers What Your Pet Doesn’t Need
Not all pet food is created equal. Behind the bright packaging and marketing buzzwords, there’s a hidden story many brands won’t tell you — one that starts with fillers. At ZEAL, we believe in complete transparency. So let’s talk about what fillers are, why they’re used, and why your pet doesn’t need them.
What Are Fillers, Really?
In pet food, fillers are ingredients added not for nutrition, but for cost savings, volume, or texture. They might look harmless on a label — things like corn, wheat, rice, soy, potato, gums, or starchy binders. But most fillers serve no functional benefit for your dog or cat’s health.
Fillers are:
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Often high in carbohydrates that don’t align with a carnivore’s biology
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Used to bulk up food cheaply, reducing the meat content
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Frequently the culprits behind digestive issues, skin reactions, and food sensitivities
Why ZEAL Leaves Fillers Out
Whether it’s our air-dried food from Canada (with 96% meat) or our wet food from New Zealand (with 94% meat), ZEAL is built on a simple idea: only include what nourishes.
That means:
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No grains
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No added starches or gums
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No artificial preservatives, coloring, or synthetic fillers
Every ingredient in ZEAL has a clear nutritional purpose. From green-lipped mussels to kelp and salmon oil, we choose ingredients because they benefit your pet — not because they’re cheap or convenient.
What to Watch For on Labels
If you’re scanning a pet food label, a few red flags may signal fillers:
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Ingredient lists that start with carbs (like corn or rice) instead of meat
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Additives like guar gum, carrageenan, or potato starch to thicken or bind
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Long lists of synthetic vitamins added to “replace” what was lost in processing
These indicators often mean the food lacks the density and quality your pet truly needs.
The ZEAL Difference
We believe real nutrition doesn’t need a disguise. That’s why our formulas are meat-first, species-appropriate, and filler-free. By removing what your pet doesn’t need, we make more room for what they do.
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Cleaner digestion
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Better energy and coat health
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Mealtime satisfaction, naturally
Because less filler means more of what matters. That’s the ZEAL standard.
