4 easy steps to evaluating dog food
1. See if the pet food line is a one-stage product line or a multi stage line.
That tells you the philosophy of the company. We have one bag of food that is good for all life stages. What is the difference in the philosophy? When a manufacturer has a several food line, they lower the protein levels to save money in the adult and senior products. Protein is the building block of the body! Definition of aging is the inability to utilize protein. Seniors need more and better quality protein. Why would you cut back on that?
2. Guaranteed Analysis (must be looked at).
Remember about 18% protein is the minimum for dogs. If a puppy food has 20% protein, is that enough for a youthful growing puppy. Is that even enough for an adult dog? You want a moderate to high amount of protein. Protein is expensive. How will manufactures save money? They save money by adjusting the amount of protein.
Fat is also very expensive. Look for about 10% less fat than protein. Fat are the worker bees to get the bricks built. If not enough fat then the bricks cannot be made into the body.
Fiber - Weight loss food will typically have large amounts of fiber. Theoretically, that fills up the dog, but it really does not. The hypothalamus will tell your brain that your body missing something and will eat until it gets what it needs.
3. Look at the Ingredients
How many animal proteins are in the food? It does not matter where in the list because it’s done by weight. Count the cereals in the list. Do not worry where they are on the list – just count how many.
If you see corn or wheat – those grains are being used for proteins and are very sensitive to mold. Why would you use an ingredient that has a potential of being toxic and killing a pet.
If Turkey and Chicken (not meal) are listed that is going to be high in water. Is that better than meal? When you use meat, you have mechanical deboned meat. It’s not muscle meat …it’s like the turkey carcass you have left at thanksgiving. There are small pockets of meat but it’s mostly tendons, ligaments, fat, etc. Is it a lot of protein? No – How many proteins do tendons, ligaments, etc have?
When you use meal that is made from the muscle meat of the animal and its dried. You have 90% concentrated protein. Look for the great foods to have meal!
Are there probiotics? If no then the manufacturer is not being fair to you. The intestines are the largest immune organ there is. It has to be fed to work properly. The blood of the body does not feed it; it is fed by friendly bacteria and the breakdown of fiber. Not having probiotics is like not having protein.
Is there an Antioxidant System that combines antioxidants with fruits and vegetables? Vitamins and minerals alone just do not cut it.
Sodium Selinate - AAFCO has been petitioned to remove Sodium Seliante. It is a toxic ingredient. Selenium Yeast is an acceptable substitute. Menadione is also very toxic and AAFCO has been petitioned to remove it.
Do not just look at the puppy line, the adult line, or the senior line. Look at all lines across the board. If a manufacturer is different across their line, you should ask yourself why. Would you trust the puppy food that seems perfect, based on the above information, if they wind up shortchanging the adults or the seniors?
4. Beyond the label
The company and their practices: Are they honest. What is the quality? Where do the ingredients come from? Is it caught fish or farmed? Did the fish farm win environmental awards? Does the farm provide to restaurants as well?
Is the plant APHIS certified for sale to the European community? That is the highest certification available in the United States. Do they test regularly for salmonella? Do they inspect their suppliers? Are they jumping from one supplier to another trying to find the best deal?
Does the plant use fast cook for more nutrient retention? What happens once the food is made and put in the bag? Does it sit in trucks or warehouses for a extended periods of time? Life’s Abundance goes out that night or next day and is kept in our warehouse for only 6 -8 weeks.
Quality Control. Will a company care if you report to them your dog got sick. If you let Life’s Abundance your dog got sick you will get contacted by our vet formulator – Dr. Jane right away! Dr. Jane keeps samples of every single batch for one year, and can go back and test at any time if there are ever any problems.
Education. Our customer service and field reps have deep pockets when it comes to being able to answer customer questions and educate customers about pet products.
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