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The Truth About Pet Food: Bad Ingredients

3/20/2013

137 Comments

 
Picture
Beneful Dog Food (Poor quality food)
Orijen Regional Red Dog Food (Excellent quality food)
You are what you eat: and this logic applies to your dog, too! It is unsettling how many dog owners do not know what is in their dogs food. Understanding what your dog is eating and ensuring that they are receiving proper, species-appropriate nutrition is an important part of responsible dog ownership. Get familiar with the ingredients in your dog's food and make sure nothing potentially dangerous is going into their body.

The difference between poor quality food and excellent quality dog food lies in the ingredient list written on the bag. You want to see fresh, whole food ingredients such as deboned lamb, duck meal, blueberries, sweet potato and kelp with fewer vitamins additives added to the bottom of the list. There are certain “ingredients” that are – to be frank – quite disgusting.

Make sure you never feed ANY food or treats that contain any of the following ingredients! By avoiding these ingredients you will help keep your dog healthy, prolong their life and help prevent serious illness or disease!

Animal Digest
One of the most, if not THE worst ingredient you could possibly feed your best friend. This "ingredient" consist of unspecified pieces of unspecified animals from unknown sources which is cooked down into a gruel. Animal digest can contain things like slaughtered animals, animals that died of disease or were disabled at the slaughterhouse, roadkill, useless scraps of meat not fit for human consumption and worst of all - euthanized pets.

Poultry Byproduct
Byproducts are famous for being controversial, but the reality is that the parts and pieces of poultry that go into this "ingredient" includes everything we do not consume. These ingredient are often unfit for human consumption and include parts such as under-developed eggs, intestines, ligaments, blood, feet, foetuses and carcasses. Byproduct is the left overs from meat processing that we cannot use.

Animal Fat
Rendered fat from unspecified animals that can also contain rancid restaurant grease and oils that have been labelled as unfit for human consumption.

Corn
Whether it's corn, corn meal, corn gluten meal or any other corn product, it is a cheap filler and inexpensive form of protein that dog food companies use to cut costs when manufacturing their kibble. Corn is not easily digested by dogs, nor is it a healthy source of protein. It is highly unnatural for carnivorous canines, and is one of the leading allergen sources for pets in our modern world. Corn contributes to making our pets bodies sluggish, while contributing to that "dog smell" that many pet owners complain about.

Beef Tallow
This is another gross ingredient that has no place in your dog's food, consisting of rendered fat and tissue from cattle. Whether or not the cattle was diseased, disabled or dead before slaughter is unknown since there are zero regulations for it.

Oat Hulls / Rice Hulls / Other Hulls
Hulls are extremely inexpensive and utterly useless to our pets, often taken from processing for human food. This kind of product acts strictly as a filler to bulk up and bind kibble. There is no nutritional value other than difficult to digest fiber.

Salt
Extra salt in pet food is as unhealthy for them as it is for us and there is absolutely no need for salt to be included in a kibble, treat or food. There is enough sodium in healthy, whole meat that there is no need for any additional salt to a dogs diet.

Flavouring / Colour
A good quality kibble has no use for flavoring or color, since both of those things are often chemical additives that do no good for our pets. These are added strictly to encourage your dog to eat the food, and also to make it more visually appealing to you. If the kibble is colored, don't buy it!

Sweeteners
Sweeteners such
corn syrup, fructose, sugar and sorbitol have NO business being in pet food and treats - dogs do NOT need any additional sugars added to their diets. Just like with people, sugar in dog food and treats promotes illness, obesity and will feed cancerous tumors!

Ethoxyquin
Ethoxyquin is used as a preservative in many pet foods and should be avoided at all costs. This chemical is believed to contribute to kidney damage, liver damage, cancer, hair loss, eye disease, chronic colitis and more by many reputable veterinarians. It can also be used a pesticide!

Propylene Glycol
This is an ingredient that can be found in automotive antifreeze and is used to reduce moisture and prevent bacteria growth. This is a chemical additive that can cause cancer and a certain type of serious blood disease. This controversial chemical has already been banned in cat food, but is still used in dog food!

Click here to learn more about Propylene Glycol.

BHA/BHT
(Butylated hydroxyanisole / Butylated hydroxytoluene)
These are chemicals that are used as preservatives and have been linked to promoting cancer in people and other animals! These ingredients can cause damage to the organs and may even cause cancer in the organs.

The ingredients I have listed as the main components of a bad quality kibble, and should be avoided. In order to determine what a good quality food is, read my article titled: How to choose the best food for your dog.

Consider switching to a raw food diet or a homemade diet where you can control the quality and ingredients yourself. A balanced raw food diet is the very best nutrition you could offer your pet, but there are also very good kibble options on the market that promote health and well-being! Get informed and be an advocate for your dog!

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137 Comments
lisa
3/26/2013 12:20:05 am

the picture of the dog food label is the brand I use Orjen, is that an example of good or bad? I pay more for the best, now you have me concerned that is not a good ingredient brand?

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K9 Instinct link
3/26/2013 12:21:11 am

Don't worry, Lisa - Orijen is the best kibble on the market in my honest opinion! The ingredient read is phenomenal!

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Katie S
3/26/2013 02:28:59 am

I agree Orijen is best. I own a 10yr old Standard Poodle and she has only ever been fed Orijen. She looks, and acts like a puppy. She has never had any health problems in her 10 years. I work at a pet store that only sells grain free pet food and raw food. The owners started the business after losing their dog from poor health conditions related to a poor diet. They became educated and now they share that knowledge. We owe it to our pets to feed them the right thing.

Joanne mezin
3/26/2013 04:56:00 pm

Thanks for Sharing this great information. I feed my 9 year old German Shepard Senior Orjen and she loves it. She is worth the extra money to feed her the best kibble available.

E Pyer
5/25/2013 04:59:01 pm

Yes, Orijen is the best. It's what I feed my gsd too. I had fed him raw for a long time and searched for a long time in choosing a high grade kibble, hence I chose Orijen,

Diana
8/30/2016 06:12:21 am

what rachel rays dog food? My dog has hot spots...

Rev. Bobby Jones
9/14/2017 07:07:41 pm

I totally agree with you

Tadpole link
1/8/2015 01:34:01 pm

taste of the wild

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Dorothy
3/26/2013 12:39:03 am

Can I get a list of all the good food looking to start to buy some ,check which ones she likes. I live in BC, Canada Thanks

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Jodi
5/17/2013 10:13:34 am

I live in Abbotsford, BC and the Bosley's here has been fantastic with educating me regarding dog food. Our current puppy is the pickiest dog I've ever owned, so it became more of a battle just to find something she'd eat while trying to buy good quality food. At this point our dog is very happy on Orijen and our cat is doing very well on another Canadian brand called Now, by Petcurean - made here in Abbotsford.

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Nika
1/8/2015 12:31:07 pm

Hi Dorothy
I too live in BC and recently got a forever furry friend myself :)
I have her on Anaca … she loves it ❤️ It's not full of filler foods and it is for a decent price
Hope you find what your looking for :)

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Carrie
1/9/2017 07:24:28 am

Acana has a great ingredolent list but all my animals ( 2 dogs and a cat ) gained weight on it, despite also being fed raw for oNE meal. I talked to some people including my vet and this is not uncommon. Some animals gain weight on it as it has so much protwin. Maybe it was a combination of raw with acana.
Anyway we switched to petcuRuan, sold at pet value.

Suzanne Murdoch
1/10/2015 04:59:31 am

Paws&Claws stores are in BC and are Canadian owned. ALSO have never sold an animal in the 25 years in Business. I support them and have friends who have worked for them.
pncstores.com

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gary
3/26/2013 01:38:27 am

read your ingriedents carefully. pedigree most purina products and similar are garbage mostly corn. if our bodies have a hard time pulling any nutrients out of corn why would your dog be any different. my dogs are fed food containing chicken and are produced 60 miles away. spend the 5 bucks extra and give them decent food. your dogs coat will show you the difference especially puppies.

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Bonnie Finley link
3/26/2013 03:02:11 am

I have a year old German Shepherd. I paid a good amt. of money for him and I need to know what kind of food to give him. I have changed so many times because they have been recalled. My son suggested Royal Canin or Blue Mountain. They are just so darn expensive. Its hard when you are on a limited amt. of money coming in each month. What are your suggestions?

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Donna Myers link
4/17/2013 11:40:24 am

Look into Merrick - it's made in the USA, it's organic & has not been effected by any recalls. I feed Merrick, Orijen & Annanaet to my 2 dogs. Remember, the better the food quality, the less you'll need to feed = less output on the other end as well.

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sue kletscher link
5/17/2013 10:59:15 pm

Check out my lifes abundance site i also have gsd and it s the Best.
No artificial anything NEVER had a recall EXTREMELY nutrient dense
Made in WI and it guatenteed to have veen made with in six weeks of being shipped right to yur door via ups truck

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Brenda
7/7/2018 06:23:31 pm

Royal cabin is one of the worst. They have hidden ingredients like feathers listed as an amino acid. It and others should be banned and the manufacturers fined. Vets only sell this because they get kickbacks. Be your own pet advocate. Research everything. Vets have little to no nutritional education in school and what they are spoon fed is sponsored by Hills or royal canin. Be smarter!

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Leanne
3/26/2013 03:22:49 am

I have 2 German Shepherds and both of them cannot eat Orjen cause it gives them bad diarrea. They love Blue Mountain but as Bonnie said it is very expensive. Right now they are on Purina One Smart Blend and they seem to be doing fine and their coats have gotten really soft.

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Kevin
5/17/2013 08:56:49 am

I have feed my dogs Chicken Soup for the Soul and have had no issues. My last two rescues both lived to be almost 16 with no health issues.They were Shepherd mixes. My Husky mixes have done well also. All graze and a 35 pound bag lasts a month plus. One weighs 84 and the other 60 pounds.

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Michele
8/7/2013 02:44:59 pm

Chicken Soup for the Soul was part of the last recall by Diamond Pet Foods for salmonella. You must be careful, not just of the ingredients in the products you feed your dogs but where they are packaged and what company packages them. The problem is that the larger companies (Diamond, Purina, etc) do not quality control their ingredients as closely as some of the smaller companies do and therefore, more recalls on the larger companies food. Also, because the larger companies are also packaging facilities, they cross-contaminate. I had a bag of Chicken Soup for the Soul that I was feeding my Senior Dog and it was part of the recall. NEVER AGAIN will I feed a large companies food to my dogs. NEVER.

Lavone
12/8/2014 12:18:57 pm

Leanne...be careful with that...my pure bred neo mastiff who was perfectly healthy died within 2days of eating this...she ate 1 bowl..stopping eating and drinking and passed away...my other mastiff cross got quite sick from this but managed to survive it for 6 weeks then also passed

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pat jerabeck
3/26/2013 03:35:01 am

I have a 2 yr old GSD and have him on Instinct chicken,It is a good food and he has thrived on it.It is a bit pricey but at 85 pounds he gets 1 1/2 cups twice a day for an active dog.His coat is good.Also switched my sons Golden (13y.o.) from baneful to instinct.He has lost excess weight and his coat is great.

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Elaine Dolezal
3/26/2013 03:51:58 am

Please, tell me is Purina One Smart Blend good or bad for my 2 dogs. My 9 yr-old German Shorthair hated all dog foods we tried before this one. 2 show-dog trainers told me Purina One was good.

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Terri Tapper
4/21/2013 06:08:29 am

ANYTHING Purina or any food you buy in the supermarket IS NOT QUALITY FOOD. Look at the ingredients! Science Diet is another crap food filled with chemicals pushed by vets. Feed natural!! Wellness, Paul Newman Organic...anything is better than supermarket brands.

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Erica
8/30/2016 06:08:36 am

It's extremely poor dog food.

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gary
3/26/2013 03:59:12 am

the royal canin is a very good food for shepherds. the gsd 24 when you can find it is excellent. both my last gsd's were raised on it. the pet food recall a couple of years ago made me stop using it for a brief time. as "designer" dog food goes good quality. you could see the difference when we changed. used California natural you think royal canin is expensive trust me it's worth the money.

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Jenn
4/4/2013 11:49:11 pm

Royal Canin is full of corn... the first 5 of 6 ingredients are foods you should not be feeding a dog... period

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K9 Instinct link
5/5/2013 06:35:32 am

I do not recommend anyone feed Royal Canin - they are all about marketing, the kibble is poor quality. The GSD food is no different from the poodle food - it's all full of corn, other grains, poor meat and fillers/chemicals.

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Carrie
5/17/2013 08:59:08 am

What do you think of PHD/Viand?

Heather
5/17/2013 10:13:44 am

I have tried all sorts of food, all the best organic etc for my gsd and can't find results like I get with Royal Canin. I have heard a few people say it is not good, but they are usually selling something else!!

Eunice Millar
6/30/2013 05:07:38 pm

I have an 11 year od GSD girl who is very prone to hot spots, I'm trying to feed her totally grain free, I use your recipes for biscuits(with rice flour as I can't find coconut flour) - my options for grain free kibble here (in South Africa) are very limited, we do get Earthborn Hollistic primitive natural (imported from US), is this a good quality food?

Donna
1/21/2018 06:54:18 am

Please some list at least 4 good dog foods? I need opinion of Holistic, Horizon, Ziwi,Fromm, and Merrick????

Erica
8/30/2016 06:09:43 am

It's not even expensive! It is cheap like it's ingredients!

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Erin
3/26/2013 06:40:55 am

Purina and Royal Canin are terrible foods. Read the ingredient lists! By-products, corn, wheat (the most common allergen for dogs and cats) and other crap. Extremely overpriced for the quality of ingredients going in. While Orijen may not work for all dogs, there are many great high quality kibbles that will without resorting to corn and by-products.

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Martha Phillips
3/26/2013 12:18:29 pm

Please give me some dog food brands that are good for our dogs. They are eating science diet food right now that we purchase at the pet store. Thank you

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Denise Martin
3/26/2013 08:53:31 pm

Sorry but Science Diet only gets a 2 1/2 star! I would change.

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Jesi
4/5/2013 12:51:02 am

Fromm is another good dry dog food. Switched from Taste of the wild to Fromm because it is a little cheaper ( college student ). However, my GSD was starting to get gasie so I mix in a little yogurt to help with digesting.

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E Pyer
5/25/2013 05:04:01 pm

Science Diet is not what it's hiped up to be by vets. Ingredients are questionable and you will never find it listed on any top quality kibble list.

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Denise Martin
3/26/2013 08:06:41 pm

I feed Taste of the Wild High Prairie. You can go to dogfoodadvisor.com they don't promote any dog food. This site gives a break down of all dog food, every brand is there. They analyze the food and give it a star rating from 1 star to 5 star.

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Denise Martin
3/26/2013 08:33:48 pm

Forgot to say that feeding a high quality food you don't really feed what the amount is on the bag. It's less because it's a better food and less poop to pick up. My German Shepherd is 17 months old weighs about 82lbs (yes she's a big girl long and tall LOL) and I feed 1 1/4 cup 2 times daily, of course you adjust according to activity level. Snacks are raw marrow bones, carrots, blueberries and home made frozen K-Kups. I may try making some of the recipes I found on this site for cookies!!

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Pat
4/17/2013 10:42:14 am

Denise - the recipes on here are the best. I work with seniors and we have made them for our local shelter as a community service project. The shelter was so grateful & to tell you the truth - they smell pretty amazing :-)

Mindi Burofrd
3/28/2013 12:12:20 pm

I have fed Taste of the wild for years to the dog and cat but 10 months ago they both started getting sick, checked with the company and there was a recall for Salmanilla. Fortunatly it didn't come to a vet bill, but the company said they would take responsibility if it did. Then we switched to Blue, now they both seem to be doing less on it and sure enough it is under a recall. We went back to an old standard, Nutro, the are eating it up and seem to be doing well. The scary thing is that once you seem to get comfortable with a food, something goes wrong with it. The only other option is to cook for them.

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Tammy
3/26/2013 08:16:09 pm

What do you think about Blue Buffalo?? I have a gsd 7 month old puppy, and feed him Blue Buffalo Puppy Large Breed.

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Jeanette S
5/17/2013 08:08:53 am

Hi Our 9 month old GSD puppy is on Wilderness Blue Buffalo log bread. Chance & us Love, Love Love this food.

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rhonda
5/19/2015 10:26:27 am

I was also wondering about blue buffalo i feed my shitzhu lamb and Potatoe. ..

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Lily
3/27/2013 07:22:26 pm

I switched from purina to taste of the wild 2 months ago and the difference I have seen in my GSD is incredible! Most of her hot-spot away, she has gained some weight (she need to!) and her coat feels a amazingly soft now!

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Denise Martin
3/28/2013 09:43:32 am

Way to go Lily! We are what we eat right?? Well so are GSD's!!

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Dave A.
4/5/2013 01:09:31 am

Great Article! I started my white GSD on Royal Canin but switched her over to raw feeding after I did a significant amount of research. IMHO, there is no substitute for it. I realize that there are cost issues related to raw feeding but I "window shopped" a LOT of places to figure out the best/cheapest places to get the meats I wanted to feed my girl. Once I got it all figured out, it's not all that hard for me to do now. I also home make her treats in a dehydrator I purchased. I'm pretty sure that paid for itself in about 30 days. Anyhow, I think a little up-front research and work will pay huge dividends in time/effort/cost and improved health of your dog.

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Lisa S
1/11/2015 12:33:41 am

I totally agree with you Dave! After researching and finding that dry dog foods are sprayed with fat enhancers (to make the kibble palatable) that are fine as long as the bag stays sealed but quickly becomes unstable/rancid when exposed to air....I quickly made the change to raw. I didn't want to spend an arm-and-a-leg on food that was not benefiting my pets. I noticed improvement immediately! I'm a believer now 😃

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Karen S.
4/7/2013 03:38:33 am

I have finally found a food I loved Innova then P & G bought it and had recall !! Went to petsmart and asked and they gave me BB Lamb & Brown Rice healthy holistic life protection formula w/ life source !! I'm scared b/c it's not grain free like I was using w/Innova !!! Then I read bad reviews on dog food advisor from like 2010 until like 4 mths ago !!! All the ones I asked about that I researched they didn't have !!! Now I don't have a clue what to get !!! The manager said she has had her 3 dogs on this food for three years and is doing great !!! I'm watching my GS b/c he has had like 3 feedings so far !!! Seems to be drinking more water too !!! I like grain free so just don't know now !!! Any suggestions ?? Live in Texas !!!

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Olivia
4/18/2013 06:17:23 am

Karen, do try either a wee bit or sundancer, both by Solid Gold. They have never had a recall, made in CA, are very careful with their ingredients, no grains. We feed the A Wee Bit to our smaller dogs who like small kibble, and Sundancer to our larger one. Buy it online and save big $$, free shipping, from Petco. Do,change over slowly, as all dog foods need to be switched slowly. We also feed canned mixed in, Holistic Select brand. We also throw in a little bit of the frozen raw made by Nature's Variety Instinct, which they really like. It is thawed in the fridge, a little bit at a time, before feeding. Our dogs are performance dogs, so we make sure they get plenty of good food for their energy.

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Janice Davis
1/8/2015 07:57:09 am

i'm with you Olivia, have been using Solid Gold food since 1997, back when you could only get it through a distributor. I had to beagles and a lab at the time, One of my beagles lived until he was 15 the other beagle lived until he was 18, in the lab lived until he was 15 1/2. I have adopted a new lab, and have put him on solid gold also. I truly believe it is a great product.

Phyllis
8/25/2013 02:02:54 pm

I would try the Blue Buffalo brand Karen, I've been feeding my GSD that brand & switched my daughters dog to it & now they both look & act much healthier, no "dog smell" & the food actually smells good, no unhealthy grains in it either

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Caitlyn W.
4/7/2013 05:05:42 am

I was curious to see if any one had an opinion on Grandma Lucy's products. I feed the Pureformance version to my dogs and the Artisans version to my cats. www.grandmalucys.com

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Jane
4/9/2013 04:45:39 am

PLEASE change that label in the photo, or put up a disclaimer that it's a GOOD food, not a bad one. The title of 'Bad Ingredients' coupled with a photo that is a very recognizable brand is extremely misleading. *please, please!*

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Aimee
3/3/2015 11:17:50 am

All you have to do us tap the pics and it says good or bad.

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Pam Duncan
4/17/2013 11:08:39 am

What are your thoughts on Taste of the Wild? I was told by vets, that its a good brand dog food. My dogs are all doing good with it. I have 2 full shepherds and 2 part Shepherds. Thanks.

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Wendy
4/17/2013 11:14:25 am

I have been feeding my new GSD and other 2 dogs Natures recipe - chicken and grain free -- here are the ingredients, do you think these are ok? The poultry fat and salt kinda concerned me.

Chicken, turkey meal, potatoes, pea protein, peas, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), sweet potatoes, apples, pumpkin, natural flavor, tapioca starch, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, minerals (zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, iron proteinate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), inositol, niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, beta-carotene, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), lactic acid, citric acid (used as a preservative), yucca schidigera extract, rosemary extract.

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Cathy
4/17/2013 12:42:01 pm

I buy Blue small breed dog food. Do you recommend?

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Olivia
4/18/2013 06:22:15 am

I met a lady at the dog park last week who bought her first bag of Blue, and she said when she opened it, it smelled .ike feces! Her words, not mine. She took it back. Blue was purchased by another company last year, and In my experience, this is a bad sign because almost all companies who buy proven ones change the ingredients

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Natalie
5/17/2013 04:29:02 am

We have a 10 month old GSD named Enzo. The breeder feed him Innova, which we continued to do until the recalls. We read about Orijen on your website, but couldn't find it locally. Enzo has been eating Taste of the Wild, he seems to be doing fine on this food. He has had some minor skin conditions, so I was happy to find an Orijen retailer in the next town. When my current bag of TOTW-Pacific Stream is gone, we'll give Orijen a try. Thank you so much for your great website! I've recommended it to my friends.

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Koren
5/17/2013 08:11:47 am

I had all my dogs on diamond corn, soy, wheat free they are doing excellent on it, but my gsd as a young pup had to go grain free so he is on the TSC 4health and he is doing great no itching. Are these good foods? I looked on that site that has all the dog food rating and they were good what's your opinion?

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Jenny
5/17/2013 08:43:00 am

I just began the switch to NutriSource for my 7 year old WGS (just 2 1/2 days now). Her stools are a little loose. Not diarrhea, but little lose. No urgency for her to go or any accidents. I know these kibbles are much higher in protein and take some adjusting. Do you think this is normal?

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Sky
5/17/2013 08:44:56 am

Costco's Natures Domain has nearly the same ingredients as Taste of the wild, but it is about half the cost. They did have a recall about a year ago, but have immediately fixed it. I feed my shih tzu Dick van patten, because she has severe allergies.

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Star
5/17/2013 08:57:35 am

For those in the UK, Eden Holistics contains no cereals, and only good quality ingredients. my gsd and flat coated retriever love it. It's only available online.

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Lindsay
5/17/2013 09:27:04 am

I agree 100% that those ingredients in the article are all junk! But I do not agree with all the comments, you need to be very careful about the brands you feed just as careful as the ingredients! My vet warned me not to feed Blue Buffalo because they have never been tested to meet afco standards, they barely even meet the minimum where as most companies exceed the minimum requirements. Also I only feed grain free but be careful with the high protein levels, this can cause kidney problems, uti's and bowel problems, also high protein can cause aggression issues in some dogs. I actually prefer Canine Life which is a mix that you buy and add fresh ingredients to make dog food with. My dog is much healthier on this then kibble! Also I live in Canada and the top teaching vet school that sees the sickest dogs will put a dog in quarantine for up to two months if they are fed raw food because of bacteria! So another reason I stay away from that, plus it is not natural for dogs, who have been removes from nature thousands of years ago to eat raw food. Anyways that's just my two sense! Great article!

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Wendy
5/25/2013 08:25:17 am

Kibbles been around no more than 100 years and the dogs digestive system hasn't changed in that short of time. The canine digestive system and teeth are designed the same as wolf and therefore they are designed to eat a raw diet. The gut acidity takes care of the bacteria in the meat and dogs fed a raw diet seldom need to go to a vet because they are extraordinarily healthy.

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Lorna
2/26/2014 10:08:02 am

Yes. I completely agree. West coast canine life is the best choice.

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Elaine Riskis
5/17/2013 09:34:04 am

What do you think of Blue Buffalo for my 18 month GSD. He was on this from birth of course puppy food?

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Carolyn
5/17/2013 10:06:05 am

I have a GSD with severe allergies. Allergic to chicken, lamb, duck, turkey, as well as tons of environmental allergies. We have been on raw- that is when we discovered the chicken allergy, then we switched to Orijen Red and he had a severe allergic reaction. So now we are on Hills prescription ZD, which is allergen free food. Any other suggestions, since it appears most people don't like Hills.

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Mike R. in Lacey Washington
5/17/2013 11:32:03 am

Close, but not close enough.

Animal Digest>
unknown byproducts as described, but not cooked completely with heat. It is dissolve with Hydrochloric Acid, once it has broken down all the matter into a juice, it is rendered PH neutral and sprayed on the surface of the kibble and provides a rotted smell to encourage the animal to eat more.

Poultry Byproduct Meal also contains a large percentage of feathers.

Corn is just not meant to be eaten by any animal with one stomach, it takes more than the digestive cycle of Dogs and people, and forget about feeding it to cats, their cycle is much shorter. and, like the "Dog" smell that was described, it also make huge poop mounds of rotting, smelly crap in your yard.

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Mike R. in Lacey Washington (again)
5/17/2013 11:44:47 am

Also, no mention about the ingredient "Meat and Bone Meal"

I have had arguments with people that will try and deny that Meat and Bone Meal is made mostly from euthanized dogs and cats. and that somehow, the term Meat equals Beef, it actually can contain any mammal, including horses and road kill. rarely does it contain beef, as ranchers prefer to sell their animals for the highest price and horses are not being slaughtered at the same rates they once were.

uninformed people think those animals into a crematorium, which is just not true, the amount of energy that is used to perform that task is great and unless someone is picking up the bill, that does not happen.

when animals are terminated, they are stored in a freezer until picked up, they take those carcases to a plant, where the entire animal is ground, cooked and dried into a "Meal" and added with other cheap fillers into food that is so unfit, will never be found on an ingredient list of even the cheapest cat food.

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Scott L.
5/17/2013 01:49:33 pm

Please clarify what "Bad grain" is. It seems many have no understanding.

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Soren Larsen link
5/25/2013 06:30:50 pm

Hi

I would like to comment on this line in your article:

"Avoid any food or treats that are not made in Canada or the United States."

In Europe it is the other way round. We absolutely try to avoid all dog foods from the US bacause the common perception is that they are made of trash, the ingredient lists are misleading/incomplete and GMO is likely to be present in some of the ingredients.

Canadian dogfood companies, on the other hand, we trust, but the US ones we avoid like the plauge, possibly also due to all the callbacks of dogfood batches over time.

Kind regards, Soren

Reply
Miguel Rodriguez
6/2/2013 04:03:03 am

I've been feeding my 5 month old Rottweiler since he was a puppy, a brand called "Beneful". Now i just wondering is that brand good to be giving him or should i switch to "Pedigree"????

Reply
Wendy
6/2/2013 09:42:28 pm

Oh my gosh.. I agree with Lindsay on that! I used to feed my dogs Pedigree years ago and the last time I bought a bag it had a rusty fish hook in it! I don't fish so it did not come from my house! I then had switched to Beneful (I did not know any better!), and the last time I bought that it smelled like rotten meat and both of my dogs got sick and were throwing up and had very bad diarrhea. My son did not say anything about the smell until after we were trying to figure out what was going on with the dogs. I now know better.

Reply
Mandi
7/16/2013 01:57:51 pm

Beneful is one of the worst foods out there. Don't buy any food you can pick up at a human grocery store and read your labels.

Reply
K9 Instinct link
11/29/2013 11:49:17 am

In my honest opinion, Beneful is one of the worst dog kibbles on the market. I would not recommend feeding it at any time, to any dog. There are much better options available. There are even Facebook pages dedicated to the damage Beneful can do to a dog's health.

Reply
Bonnie G. link
1/8/2015 06:40:07 am

I use Taste of the Wild for my 4 yr old lab. Other food gave her diarrhea. Vet said she needed something that 1st ingredient is lamb since it's easier on stomach. My sister also feeds her 2 dogs that & has had no issues.
I know they had a recall a while back bit it was only on certain "numbers" that were on bag. My bag was good. I called the company that makes Taste of the wild.

Reply
Lindsay
6/2/2013 04:39:50 am

Miguel please please please do not feed beneful or pedigree!!! Both are very low grade dog foods!!! It is like feeding him McDonald's everyday! You want to look for a higher quality brand dog food like Acana, Nature's Variety etc. if this isn't in your price range even Royal Canin Rotti food is better!

Reply
debbie hartley
6/24/2013 08:18:18 am

I feed my german shepherds 4 health it doesn't have corn or by products in it. hope its a good one tired of racking my brains all tell u about so many kinds are bad its crazy. has anyone used 4 health iknow its by diamond and they have recalls

Reply
cathy R link
6/26/2013 12:48:12 am

What about Rachel Ray dog food? I use the chicken and rice with veggies. I have four little Chi . I want to be feeding the best I can feed for the longest healthiest life I can provide for them. Any comments ?

Reply
K9 Instinct link
11/29/2013 11:47:48 am

Decent food, but I do not recommend it due to the inclusion of grains. Dogs, in my experience, research and study, should not be eating grains - it does not promote health and longevity.

Reply
mia
3/3/2015 06:13:01 am

What about wild and free grain free?

mlm link
7/2/2013 02:43:40 pm

Through this post we can know about the ingredients added in pet's food. And whether it is good or bad for health of pets.

Reply
Sandrina
8/10/2013 04:30:57 pm

Wat About natural health food
I use small bites lamb & Rice

Reply
Dennis
8/25/2013 12:40:02 pm

I feed Taste of the Wild. Can't get better than that...

Reply
Maillette
1/8/2015 06:54:08 am

I have to agree with Lindsay's comment below. I fed my older female Taste of the Wild Canned as she was 13 1/2 and stopped eating and this is the only thing she would eat. From case to case it was very inconsistent. Sometimes it was dried and hard and sometimes it was like mush.

Reply
Lindsay
8/25/2013 12:55:59 pm

Well actually Taste of the Wild is not a very good dog food. It has been recalled a few times and has proven to be not as reliable as the others so be careful!

Reply
Jeremy Williams
8/25/2013 03:10:44 pm

I feed my German shepherd royal canin. Is this a quality food for her?

Reply
K9 Instinct link
11/29/2013 11:46:12 am

Unfortunately, it is not. The ingredient list is very poor in Royal Canin, and the inclusion of grains is very high.

Reply
Trinia Conlon
8/25/2013 05:01:41 pm

I am now completely confused. My dog is fed a pets at home own brand. What brand in the uk is good to feed her. My budget is tight but want her to be healthy.

Reply
K9 Instinct link
11/29/2013 11:45:28 am

What is causing confusion? All you need to do is read the ingredient list on the dog food bag, and be aware of the ingredients and what they actually are - this will help you understand the quality of food your dog is consuming. If you need additional advice, feel free to contact me. :)

Reply
Luthin Crenshaw
8/25/2013 11:30:30 pm

Thanks for the article, found on the Facebook "The German Shepherd Dog Community" group. I've now "liked" your FB page. Been feeding Orijen to my GSD since she was a puppy. Switched to Blue Buffalo for a short time a while ago and regret having done so. The change back to Acana (the Orijen family) was noticeable in less than a week. No more digestive issues since.
Thanks for the informative read. It's always good to read a refresher info article.
Luthin

Reply
Beth Fraley
11/10/2013 02:22:38 am

now I'm totally confused. I've got a 5 month old GSD and need to know what is good to feed her. She's on puppy chow right now and seems to be doing good, gaining weight and growing but from what I've read that's not the good stuff to feed her. How about a list of what should be fed to our dogs.

Reply
K9 Instinct link
11/29/2013 11:38:17 am

Puppy chow is one of the worst foods on the market, I highly recommend you switch to something better. A quick browse through this blog discusses the best diet options for our dogs very frequently, so have a read! ;)

Reply
Mark Casebolt
11/10/2013 06:14:30 am

I have 5 dogs here they are on Life's Abundance, they love their food. I want to know if it's as good as they claim?

Reply
K9 Instinct link
11/29/2013 11:42:21 am

Life's Abundance is decent, but it has grains in the ingredient list so I do not recommend it. I strongly advocate the use of grain-free food for dogs.

Reply
Kim
11/10/2013 07:42:00 pm

What do you think go the Wellness Brand?

Reply
K9 Instinct link
11/29/2013 11:40:42 am

Wellness, the grain free varieties, are medium-high quality kibbles. Not the highest or best, but good. Any kibble with grain is low to low-medium in my lists due to my strong aversion to grains in a carnivore's diet.

Reply
Donna
1/21/2018 06:58:02 am

Thought dogs wer Omnivorous? Can you give a brief list of your own recommendations. Merrick, Fromm, Holistic, Horizon, Ziwi?? Good ones??? Thank you

Rachel
11/11/2013 03:23:38 pm

Tractor Supply company has a great relatively inexpensive brand (i'm in college, definitely can't afford 40+ a bag) 4Heath. Great food, decent quality and my dogs love it!

Reply
Donna
11/29/2013 11:30:55 am

My dachshund has had chronic ear infections since she was a pup. Last visit to the vet cost a fortune and he said he thinks she may be allergic. Put her on prescription diet Z/D. She hates it, ingredients concern me. Any suggestions on alternatives would be appreciated.

Reply
K9 Instinct link
11/29/2013 11:36:51 am

I recommend a selection from the list provided in the article if you cannot feed raw or homemade. At least go grain free, and select a novel (uncommon) protein.

Reply
chuck
3/10/2014 10:32:57 am

I can't seem to locate the list you quoted below:

I recommend a selection from the list provided in the article if you cannot feed raw or homemade. At least go grain free, and select a novel (uncommon) protein.

Stacey
12/25/2013 11:54:09 pm

What do you think about Earthborn Holistics? We switched to that from Solid Gold, in our area its easier to get a hold of.

Reply
Marilyn
12/27/2013 02:37:11 am

Hi I feed my 1 year old pit bull Nutrience is that an ok brand ?

Reply
Ruth
1/27/2014 05:07:18 am

Super article. I have a question. I was feeding the 6 fish Orijens to my 2 GSDs. One of the dogs developed a bad itching problem despite having a beautiful coat and being super healthy.

I bought your wonderful grain free book and have been feeding both of them the homemade diet and the itching has reduced. I am finding making food alot of work (they are big dogs). Eventually I want to put them back on kibble (at least one meal a day). Do you know why they would be itchy on the 6 fish? Would you recommend going back to Orijens?

Reply
иркутск вакансии переводчик link
5/14/2014 10:42:11 am

I agree completely with what you said. Fantastic Stuff. Keep it going..

Reply
Jullika Luwigs-Christoo
6/29/2014 03:04:55 pm

I have 2 German sheperds, one paased away. All three did not want eat dry food. Tried raw diet. Not interested in. So they get home cooked food. Use only the best meat, veggies and pasta. No problems with anything. The vet is very happy. Regards

Reply
Diana
12/8/2014 05:14:34 am

What about authority grain free puppy dry food?

Reply
KristaFay
12/8/2014 07:39:33 am

I feed mine Blue Buffalo/Merrick dry and Primal Raw formulas

Reply
Mike
12/8/2014 09:58:20 am

Anyone have any thoughts on the Halo brand of dog food, I have two small dogs that do like it, and the ingredient list is not bad. I just want to sure.

Reply
heidi
1/8/2015 05:21:58 am

Is blue buffalo and infinia okay brands? I've always heard mix things about it.

Reply
Alison
9/3/2015 06:26:32 am

This brand is owned by Land o lakes and purina....It's called PMI Nutrition if you have a hard time figuring out who owns the company. I had a store try to buy it, it was how I found out so much about it. My dog does very well on it but it is a multi level marketing scheme and I am uncomfortable with the owners and how difficult it is to find. I am looking for something else, here is a link to a full break down review of one flavor of the brands ingredients in the one I buy there is salt and canola oil, the salmon sweet potato formula. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/infinia-dog-food/

Reply
Kelly
1/8/2015 05:22:43 am

I buy 4Life is that a good one ? I have read and read the ingredients but have a hard time understanding all of them I'm unfamiliar with the food y'all have been posting about I would t even know where to find it

Reply
Kat
1/8/2015 05:27:57 am

i feed my Golden Retriever "Nutri Source" Grain Free.. I've changed a few times as well.. What do you think about this food?

Reply
Mike
1/8/2015 06:43:19 am

I used to feed with ORIJEN but it's just too high in protein for my GSD to digest, we worked through a few different high quality foods also (Blue, Canidae) and have settled with Nutro Natural Choice

Reply
Maillette
1/8/2015 06:51:53 am

Any comments on Dr. Harveys - Canine Health-The Miracle Dog Food?

Reply
Brenda
1/8/2015 11:31:44 pm

my vet told me that he is seeing many pets come in with issues like liver problems that have been on the Origen food not sure why. I was having an issue with my big boy Eli ( lab/Pyrenees ) with allergies and after much changing of kibble which I only bought good brands ,turns out he is allergic to the compound that they put in kibble so it won't stick to the machines in the factory. I couldn't believe it. So he is now on a raw diet

Reply
Amy
1/10/2015 05:27:36 am

How about Performatrin Grain Free (PetValu sells it, its from Canada). Ive been feeding my 5 year old pitbull this for a couple years. (I have her on the Healthy Weight with Salmon Recipe since my family was feeding her too many treats). I cut her way back on the treats now too. Is this brand a good one? I havent been able to fing much out about it but the ingredients are good in my opinion. Thanks for any help.

Reply
Joan
1/11/2015 07:31:18 pm

Watch out for foods with "natural flavors". That means MSG which made my setter very sick!

Reply
Julie
3/3/2015 05:32:45 am

I have my shih-tzu girls on Performatrin Ultra Grain Free here in Canada,I try to feed them the best & lots of fruits & veggies for them aS well, my girls love brocolli!! I also only feed the one ing dog treats like beef lung or beef liver.

Reply
Dale Dirks
3/3/2015 03:07:09 pm

With all the unhealthy crap in dogfood I might as well buy the compact machine & make my own... thanx for the update guys.....I really appreciate it

Reply
Kelly
3/9/2015 06:18:34 am

I have mini schnauzers and I make my own dog food for them, I boil hamburg, and then mix it rice with tomatoes and frozen veg. They love it and I know what they are eating.

Reply
Vesta Allen
5/17/2015 06:45:43 am

I was feeding Rachel Ray lamb and rice just 6. My Golden Retriever
was gaining too much weight so am trying to switch to light and healthy Purina dog chow. She loves the flavor. Is this a good
switch.

Reply
Jamie Hill
5/17/2015 10:05:44 am

I have 2 Pits and I recently lost my job what is a good food to feed them if I only have 35. A month to spend

Reply
Monica
5/17/2015 06:11:29 pm

In Europe as someone mentioned, we do avvoid US made foods, Nutro is the exeption for me though. Well balanced, good food. Raw is not easy here, it is very expencive. 3 years ago now, in the UK there started a brand named Essential Foods - I encountered this brand on a show in Denmark that year, and was very impressed.

Reply
Patricia
5/24/2015 07:26:37 am

I am wondering how good the Hills Science Diet food really is. Our little dog had bladder stones a couple of years ago and they said test concluded it was her diet that that caused them. She had always been on Iams since a puppy, so her vet prescribed the prescription food and said she would be on it the rest of her life...she is on the W/D with chicken. It has whole grain corn in it, as well as what seems to be by-products which to me is not good for her, and yet it is prescription and not cheap. I would much rather cook for her. We are about to be changing her vet, mostly due to a move and the distance we drive to her vet when needed. Any opinions on then food she is eating now and the possibility that it really isn't that good for her. I do plan to discuss with her new vet and get his opinion. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

Reply
Joe Bohannon
9/16/2015 09:07:52 am

I found a Shepherd on my property about 2 months ago and have been looking for that perfect food that wont kill my dog with all the chemicals and added crap. He is about 6 to 7 months old according to my vet, and will not leave my side . This boy was running with a pack of wild dogs. I have been cooking chicken, brown rice, green beans and carrots for him. Every week I cook up a huge batch that lasts all week. I give him Pet tabs and other vitamins so he gets what he needs per my vet.

Reply
Donna
1/21/2018 06:51:03 am

What about Holistic Health Extension, Horizon, and Ziwi, and Fromm, and Merrick?? All GOOD?

Reply
Mark Stokes hughes
5/5/2018 01:57:21 am

Hi has any one used Eden hollistics working dog dry food
https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-reviews/1696/eden-working-and-sporting-dog-food
Is it any good our Springer has just been diagnosed with spindel mass cell cancer so wanted change to low carb dry food.have been told to change to raw as be no carbs but he is 9 and half years and had dry food all his life so not sure how he take to raw.thanks

Reply
Paige Jirsa link
1/8/2019 01:20:34 pm

Amazing article! It is so scary what some companies consider safe to put in dog food. I want to make sure my little guy is feed the best! Thank you for your suggestions!

Reply
Pankaj link
10/16/2022 01:56:43 am

There's no way I could know this, as a first-time pet owner website like your really helped to gain knowlege about the topic that a person like me isn't aware of. Thank you for sharing this. Keep Posting!

Reply
Fort Collins Carpet Cleaning link
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hank you for addressing this common issue in your pet odor removal blog post. As a pet owner, I know how challenging it can be to keep our homes smelling fresh. Your tips on using natural deodorizers and regular cleaning are practical and effective. My living room already feels more inviting after trying out your suggestions!

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