Taste Of The Wild Wetlands Grain
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Taste of the Wild Wetlands is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Taste of the Wild dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, duck meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas
- Profile: Maintenance
- See all 9 available recipes
Taste of the Wild Wetlands derives the majority of its animal protein from duck, duck meal and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 20% fat and 36% estimated carbs which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
A popular and impressive grain-free formula. Highly recommended.
Are Grain Free Dog Foods Healthier
Over the past couple of decades, grain free dog foods have become tremendously popular. Today they are often preferred to other kinds of kibbles, even for dogs that do not have any food allergies or sensitivities.
People often believe that these foods have better quality ingredients that they are lower in carbohydrates/starches than other dog foods and that they have more protein. Not all of these things are true. It always depends on the particular dog food or brand.
Veterinarians tells us that true food allergies are not common in dogs, accounting for about 10 percent of all the allergies diagnosed in dogs. They are only the third most common cause of allergies in dogs, behind flea bite allergies and inhalant allergies. However, if youve ever had a dog with a food allergy or a food sensitivity, you know just how awful they can be.
And, if youve ever spent any time on a dog food message board, you would probably doubt that low percentage. There is never a shortage of dog owners with itchy dogs or dogs with gastrointestinal problems.
Some people even some veterinarians and alternative health practitioners seem to believe that grain free dog foods are healthier for dogs because, by definition, they do not contain the glutens found in some foods with grains.
Actual gluten only comes from wheat and related grains such as barley, rye, oat, and all their species and hybrids . This means that corn and some other grains and cereals do not really have gluten.
Whats The Cause For Concern
Over the past couple of years, veterinary cardiologists noticed an increase in the number of dogs they saw who had dilated cardiomyopathy , a heart condition that decreases the hearts ability to pump blood. There are some dog breeds that are more likely to develop DCM, but the cardiologists were diagnosing the condition in breeds without a known genetic predisposition, so the Federal Drug Administration began an investigation.
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What Is Wrong With Grain
According to reports, the FDA has investigated a potential link between canine dilated cardiomyopathy and grain-free dog food.
The issue arises with grain-free recipes containing alternative carbohydrate sources like legumes . However, it is not established whether it is due to the lack of grains or the presence of legumes.
Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Grain
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Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Chicken is one of 8 dehydrated recipes analyzed in our review of the Honest Kitchen product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Dehydrated chicken, organic flaxseed, dehydrated potatoes, dehydrated sweet potatoes, dried apples
- Other recipes: Fish, Beef, Turkey, and others
This Honest Kitchen formula derives most of its meat protein from dehydrated chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 26% protein, 16% fat and 49% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.
Made with genuine human-grade ingredients. Nutritionally complete and balanced for all breed sizes.
After adding warm water, the product rehydrates to four times its packaged weight. So, a 10-pound box yields forty pounds of dog food. Contains no preservatives, fillers, GMO ingredients, corn, wheat or soy. Enthusiastically recommended.
Sample buyer reviewI switched my dogs from a kibble to rehydrated food. They dont have poop problems anymore, but most of all, they are not scratching as much. They LOVE it, may have to eventually switch off chicken, as it is known for some food allergies. My 3 small dogs absolutely love it and so far, no $150 per month for allergy shots.. so its worth the costs..
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Is Grain Free Bad For Dogs Know Why
Expensive
Usually, high-quality grain free dog food is quite expensive as these are costlier to make compared to grains. However, price is not always an indicator of quality, which might mislead the buyers.
Potential Cause of CDM
In most recent studies, it was revealed that grain free diet is directly linked to dog health. The study suggests that the components used as substitutes of carbohydrates in grain free dog food are a potential cause of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. In simple words, vet recommended dog food might pose a heart attack threat to dogs.
What Did The Fda Find
The FDA received 515 reports of DCM in dogs between January 1, 2014, and April 30, 2019. When they looked into what these dogs were eating, they found that 90% were on a grain-free food and 93% were on diets that contained peas and/or lentils. The foods were tested for minerals, metals and amino acids and no significant abnormalities were found.
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Does Your Puppy Have A Gluten Allergy And Require Hypoallergenic Food
Choosing whether or not to put a pup on a grain-free diet is generally up to the owner.
This is not the case for those dogs with gluten allergies they will have to make the transition to allergen-free foods, such as those available on a grain-free diet.
While it is rare for puppies and dogs to suffer with a gluten intolerance, it does happen and needs to be taken seriously.
Unfortunately, there is no long-term cure or treatment for these allergies. However, keeping your puppy or dog on a gluten and grain-free diet permanently is an effective way of managing this condition.
Signs of a gluten or grain intolerance in your puppy include:
- Unhealthy looking poop. This might include diarrhoea, or blood and mucus in their stools.
Grain Free Dog Food Vs Regular Dog Food Which Should I Choose For My Pet
The journey to better health in our pets is super inclusive of the food they consume. Though we humans consume a typical type of food, feeding our pets might not be a good idea. Typically, human food involves the intake of large amounts of sodium drugs. Such a diet is too much for our pet dogs and can lead them to health issues. Therefore, it is important to feed them with the right type of diet. Good quality food made with feed-grade ingredients which fulfil their nutritional requirement should be chosen. Here comes the need for gluten free dog food and also check the benefits of grain free vs grain dog food.
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What Is The Best Grain Free Dog Food
This article is written by Pet Circle veterinarian, Dr Carla Paszkowski, BVSC
Grain free dog food has become exceptionally popular in recent years, moving in tandem with the rise in grain and gluten-free diets for us humans.
The grain free pet food industry is not only growing, but evolving, at a rapid rate. The popularity of grain free diets has led to an explosion of the number of brands and varieties available to Australian consumer. The grain free movement is also evolving to encompass concurrent ‘real food’, ‘ancestral’, ‘freeze dried’ and ‘raw’ movements.
So, with an ever-growing number of grain free diets gracing the store shelves , how do we navigate what seems like a simple question: What is the BEST grain free dog food?
Castor & Pollux Organix Grain
Your puppy deserves the highest quality diet you can give him, and nothing is better than organic. This Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Organic Puppy Recipe Dry Food features real organic ingredients including free-range chicken as well as sweet potatoes, peas, and chickpeas. This recipe features a unique blend of superfoods to deliver a powerful pack of nutrition as well as fiber to support your puppys healthy and regular digestion. This recipe is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, plus it is supplemented with essential vitamins and minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. Overall, it provides 25% protein with 14% fat and 5% fiber at 362 calories per cup.
- Pros: Features organic ingredients, real chicken first ingredient, fresh fruits and vegetables, superfoods, chelated minerals, blend of omega fatty acids, probiotic supplements
- Cons: Contains some plant protein , fairly expensive to feed as a staple diet
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Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red
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Great Plains Red is one of 7 recipes included in our review of the Merrick Backcountry dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned beef, lamb meal, salmon meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes
- Profile: Maintenance
- See all 7 available recipes
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red derives the bulk of its animal protein from deboned beef and lamb meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 19% fat and 30% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 45%.
A quality grain-free kibble, ideal for adult dogs. Easily recommended.
Do Puppies Need Grain In Their Food
The short answer is no whilst puppies can derive needed energy from a grain-based diet, they can do just as well on a high-quality grain-free diet, too, provided that its been carefully formulated.
Whats more, some puppies might display natural intolerances towards grains, in which case, a grain-free diet is unsurprisingly the way to go. If youre in any doubt, however, as to whether your puppys diet is appropriate, then get in touch with your local vet.
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A General Guideline For Preparing Homemade Dog Food
My DIY dog food recipe is more of a general guideline, rather than an exact meal plan that I follow each week. My dogs diet changes the same way ours does, depending on what we do and what we buy or grow.
However, we almost always stay with this basic formula:
- 50 percent cooked protein
- 25 percent cooked complex carbohydrates
- Fats and supplements
Protein is always meat and usually chicken, though weve also used turkey, pork, and beef. We feed any and all parts of the animals, but most commonly, we saute chicken breasts or chicken thighs in coconut oil and ground turmeric.
Coconut oil has a host of health benefits for dogs, such as improving the skin and coat, increasing energy, aiding digestion, reducing allergic reactions, promoting wound healing, preventing yeast and fungal infections, and supporting arthritis or ligament problems.
Turmeric has long been studied for its powerful medicinal properties, including its use as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
We add it to the coconut oil since it is fat-soluble, and use it to support our pugs joint health.
Speaking of dark meat, we feed thighs and breasts interchangeably. While well remove the skin from poultry and trim off excessive fat from red meat, we dont worry about buying the leanest meat possible for our dogs.
A little fat is necessary for a well-rounded diet.
They tend to be the leftovers in our produce bin, so we never have to buy, say, a whole head of cauliflower just for the dogs.
Taste Of The Wild Grain
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Taste of the Wild High Prairie is one of 9 dry recipes included in our review of the Taste of the Wild product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas
- Other recipes: Puppy, adult, small breed, and more
- See all 9 available recipes
Taste of the Wild High Prairie derives most of its meat protein from buffalo, lamb meal and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 20% fat and 36% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
A superior choice for your dog. Heartily recommended.
Sample buyer reviewMy fur babies love it, I bought the bag before I finished off their other food and they would inspect the bag. As soon as I cut it open and fed them, they wont touch their other food. They know which is which and they prefer Taste of the Wild over all their food. Glad theyre happy.
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Cooking Our Way To A Healthier Dog Diet
Ever since I started raising my own dogs, Id always wanted to make their food at home but thought it would be too expensive or too time consuming, or that they wouldnt get the nutrition they needed.
During the month of Bugs doggy depression, I vowed to make her precious life as comfortable as possible.
Both of my pugs had a range of health issues growing up, which I unfortunately found out were common for the breed.
My older one had persistent hot spots and itchiness that no commercial dog food could cure .
Bug was overweight for a while when she was younger, even though she ate the recommended amount of food for her target weight. Eventually, I settled on Wellness kibbles and they did well with that brand.
But, I wanted to explore other options. I wanted to give them real food fresh, nutritious ingredients that I recognized and could even eat myself.
Ive mentioned in my post on homemade whole grain chicken feed that the entire household all share the same whole grains and seeds that we buy in bulk, as well as the bounty that comes from our edible garden.
Everything our animals eat, we can eat.
When it comes to homemade feed for our laying hens, we stick to a tried-and-true formula that works for every layer: 16 to 17 percent protein , vitamins, minerals, and amino acids from a wide variety of grains and seeds, and free range of a pasture for weeds, greens, and insects.
Dogs, on the other hand, arent bred for a standard function the way chickens are.
Does Grain Free Dog Food Cause Heart Disease
In an announcement made by The Food and Drug Administration in 2019, it was revealed that grain free dog food poses safety concerns on dogs. Dogs who consume food labelled as grain free are more prone to heart diseases. In addition, the substitute carbohydrate components used in grain free dog food are a potential cause of heart-related issues in dogs.
Vet recommended dog food is said to initiate dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs leading to risks of a heart attack. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition leading to weakness in the heart. This condition causes enlarged heart and thinning of heart muscles resulting in heart failure and even death. However, the study fails to confirm grain free dog food behind the reported heart diseases among dogs. Therefore, it is also being assumed that there exist other contributing factors than just the grain free component which might be causing such health conditions.
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What Should I Look For In Grain
Before your enter the market for grain-free dog food, there are some pointers you need to keep in mind:
- Ingredients. Always check the ingredients before your buy your dog food. Chances are that your dog might be allergic to one or two of them. It is also best to consult a vet before shifting to a grain-free recipe.
- Cost. Since your dog will require food for their entire life, it can be an expensive affair for some pet parents. Look for brands that are popular and contain premium ingredients without burning a hole in your pocket.
- Shelf Life. If the shelf life of your dog food is not great, you will find yourself buying the dog food again and again. Look for products that have a great shelf life.
- Packaging. Good packaging not only sells the brand but also keeps the dog food intact. It ensures that the food is kept in a hygienic environment.
- Type. While most grain-free dog foods are dry, you might also find some niche brands making wet dog foods. Depending on your pets preference, you can opt for a brand of your choice.
The Benefits Of Grain Free Dog Food
Choosing the right food for your dog is one of the most important things you can do for their health. Feeding them healthy, nutritious food will give them a longer, happier life with far fewer health complications. There are many different dog foods on the market, and each one promises the world for you and your pet, but none have quite the number of benefits that grain free dog food has. Here are just some of the health benefits that feeding your dog grain free food can produce.
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Find The Right Food For Your Dog
Take this quiz to see which food may be the best for your furry friend.
- No Corn, Wheat, or SoyNo Corn, Wheat, or Soy