Is Ashland Farms Dog Food Healthy

Multiple Dog Food Brands Recalled Over A Substance That Could Harm Your Pet

by: Jared Weaver, Bill Shannon, Nexstar Media Wire

CHICAGO Multiple dog food brands have been recalled due to possible high levels of a by-product that can be harmful to pets if consumed in large quantities.

According to a release, Sunshine Mills, Inc. issued a voluntary recall of some dog food under the brands Triumph, Evolve, Wild Harvest, Nurture Farms, Pure Being and Elm.

The food may contain potentially high levels of aflatoxin, a naturally occurring by-product from the mold Aspergillus flavus that can grow on pet food ingredients such as corn, peanuts and other grains, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The affected products were distributed in retail stores nationally. Retailers who received the recalled lots have been contacted and asked to pull them from their inventory and shelves. They include the following:

No illnesses have been reported to date, but Sunshine Mills, Inc. chose to issue the recall as a precaution. If any pets show symptoms of illness after consuming the recalled products, they should be seen immediately by a veterinarian.

Symptoms include sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, and diarrhea.

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Anyone who purchased the recalled products should stop using them and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Sportsmans Pride Professional Formula 30/20

Sportsmans Pride is a dog food line geared towards canine athletes and is billed as supportive of the endurance and energy requirements of working dogs and active pups.

While that sounds good, we need to take a look at the recent recall of one of its products and the ingredients it contains.

On June 3, 2021, the FDA issued an alert regarding one lot of Professional Formula 30/20. Sunshine Mills, Inc., which manufactures Sportsmans Pride and the brands Sprout, Intimidator, and FRM Gold Select , issued a voluntary recall of this recipe for potential salmonella contamination.

But looking past the recall alert, wed have to say that this recipe doesnt meet our standards either. The main ingredient in this food is chicken byproduct meal, a rather dubious ingredient with regards to quality.

Chicken byproduct can mean any leftover part of the chicken, and not just its organs. With quality recipes, manufacturers generally state chicken liver, chicken heart, and so on.

When a manufacturer lists byproduct only, that means its probably a combination of a lot of unsavory things that wont sound as good when listed down and specified.

Lastly, this food uses more carbs than protein to supply the energy needs of dogs because there are three grain and corn ingredients within the first five slots.

The potential for contamination was noted after a sample of 5 lb. Sprout Sporting Dog Food product was collected and tested positive for salmonella during routine surveillance.

Why Are Corn Wheat And Soy Derided As Poor Sources Of Carbohydrate

These ingredients often cause problems with digestion in dogs, and many owners dont want them anywhere near dog food for this reason. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, barley, and rice are all superior options. That said, unless your dog has a stomach intolerance, you should have no need to avoid grain-free dog foods.

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Worst Wet Dog Food: Cesar Filets

Cesar Filets is considered one of the worst dog foods because of its high salt content .

It has sufficient water for processing, animal liver, chicken, beef and meat by-products, wheat gluten, ground wheat flour, cornstarch, salt, pea fiber, sodium tripolyphosphate, calcium carbonate, added color, choline chloride, magnesium.

It helps if you also understand that the quality of ingredients cannot tell the whole story, but the amount of meat in the dog food is critical to consider before determining whether it falls in the best or worst category.

The amount of protein in Cesar filet is about 44%, with 22% fat and 25% carbohydrates.

This analysis shows that this dog food includes an above-average level of protein intake and just near-average fat. At the same time, the carbs are below average compared to a portion of typical canned dog food.

Another factor making it a low-quality dog food is that it has artificial colorings added to it, which is useless and not preferred.

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Top Of The Line Dog Food

Brand: Lotus Wet Dog FoodSize: 12 x 12.5 oz.Average Price/12-cans: $55.53Price per Oz: $0.37

What You Need to Know: Here is another pet food company that the majority of pet owners probably haven’t paid attention to. However, you probably should start looking at their dog foods, because Lotus has never had to recall their pet foods, and they manufacture their foods in a privately-owned facility in the USA with truly high-quality ingredients and avoiding most of the fillers that are often found in popular dog food brands. Of course, their smaller size and high-quality ingredients make this an expensive dog food brand, but as far as top-of-the-line wet foods go, this is the best dog food for the money you can find.

• Grain-free
• No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
• Made without carrageenan, guar gum, and xanthan gum
• Formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs
• Many protein sources available including unique proteins
• Available in some specialty pet food stores and online

What Kind Of Food Should Senior Dogs Eat

The senior dogs need to have good, well-balanced nutrition which is low in calories but consists of greater amounts of fiber. It should contain adequate protein and fat. Older canines require the bestsenior dry dog food, as they lose muscle mass as they age. Their nutritional need is to eat food that contains little fat, as they usually have problems with weight as they get older. Food thats low in fat will protect them from obesity. Make sure you avoid the worst dry dog food brands.

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Victor Purpose Performance Dog Food

• First 3 ingredients: Beef meal, grain sorghum, whole grain millet
• Best for: For adults and senior dogs
• Price: $$

Victor delivers some budget-friendly dog food that combines healthy ingredients with a taste your dog will love.

This food is intended for adult and senior dogs of all breeds. The high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin in this stuff mean that joint and bone health are supported, both crucial for older dogs.

The first ingredient of beef meal could be improved, but you always expect some sacrifices when youre buying cheap dog food. That said, if your dog is allergic to meat proteins, youll find this formula could be just what youve been looking for.

Although there are grains in this formula, they are gluten-free grains.

The energy this food delivers makes it a sensible choice if you have an especially active dog or a working dog. You can give him all the nutrients and energy he needs without taking out a bank loan.

Key Ingredients Of Healthy Dog Foods

Each owner may have his or her own preference when it comes to important ingredients for their dogs food. While some may agree that real meat is best, others will focus on finding food with no fillers.

Overall, there are some key ingredients to look for when choosing healthy dog foods for your pet.

The best brands of dog food offer key ingredients, and do not possess the typical filler options that many popular brands on the market have.

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What Is The Problem

On September 2, 2020, Sunshine Mills announced a recall of certain pet food products after a retail product sample was found by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry to contain an unsafe level of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus and at high levels it can cause illness and death in pets. The toxin can be present even if there is no visible mold.

On October 8, Sunshine Mills expanded its recall to include these additional products. FDA is issuing this advisory to ensure the public is notified about all of these potentially unsafe products that may still be on the market or in pet owners homes.

FDA is conducting follow-up activities at the manufacturing facility.

This is a developing situation and the FDA will update this page with additional information as it becomes available.

Pedigree Complete Nutrition Dry Dog Food

• First 3 ingredients: Ground whole grain corn, meat and bone meal, corn gluten meal
• Best for: For all adult dogs
• Price: $$

Pedigree is a household name in the dog food vertical with just cause. This Complete Nutrition formula is dry dog food at its very best, and its priced firmly in budget territory. How does it stand and fall, then?

This dry food is the chicken, rice, and vegetable flavor, designed to appeal to a broad base of dogs.

The kibble is designed to slide smoothly down, and your furball shouldnt have any problems digesting this stuff either.

The formula is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, ideal for promoting skin and coat health in your fur baby.

This is a 36-pound bag, offering an ample supply for a single dog for perhaps a month. If you have several dogs at home, youll need to consider buying more than one bag.

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Worst For Senior Dogs: Purina Senior 7+ Healthy Morsels Soft & Crunchy Bites Dog Food

Source: purina

Our senior dogs are perhaps the ones who require healthy nutrition the most. As they get older, they are not as active as they used to be. This makes them susceptible to gaining a lot of weight. If your hairy friend has back issues, theres an even greater concern as the extra weight will put too much pressure on their spine. They need food thats low in calories as it will prevent obesity. They also require higher-fiber diets that will promote bowel health.

Purina Senior is considered to be the worst product for senior dogs as it doesnt contain ingredients of nutritional value. Instead of improving your grey-coated dogs health, it makes it even worse. It consists of a lot of bone meals and animal fats. GMO corn, ground wheat, soybeans are all ingredients that you need to keep your pups muzzle away from.

Ingredients: Chicken, Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal , Soybean Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Corn Germ Meal, Oat Meal, Medium-Chain Triglyceride Vegetable Oil, Whole Grain Wheat, Fish Meal , Pea Fiber, Poultry And Pork Digest, Beef Fat Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Glycerin, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Dried Egg Product, Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate, Caramel Color, Potassium Chloride, Dried Carrots, Dried Peas, Vitamins , Choline Chloride, Minerals , L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate , Sulfur, Garlic Oil.

Keep Your Pooch Happy And Healthy

Madeleine Burry has written about how to care for pets for more than 10 years. Her articles have appeared in AAA’s Via Magazine, PetCareRx, and other outlets.

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Best for Large Dogs: Purina at Chewy

The Pro line has plenty of options for large and giant dog breeds, which have different nutritional needs throughout their lives.

Best for Small Dogs: Wellness Pet Food at PetCo

To meet your small dog’s nutritional needs, this company packs plenty of calories into smaller kibble bites that are easy to chew.

Dogs arent necessarily super picky when it comes to what they eat. Havent we all observed them scrounging through the trash for a tasty bit of leftovers or a bone to gnaw on? But your poochs voracious appetite doesnt mean that just any food is a good option for dinneror breakfast or lunch.

When choosing a dog food brand, youll want to consider the ingredients that are used, along with the companys ethos. That is, youll want to feel confident that the company cares about your pets health and safety as much as you do.

Here are the best dog food brands on the market to keep your pup’s system in top shape.

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Worst Dog Food Brands To Avoid

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Not all commercially produced dog foods are made equal. Thats hardly a secret, yet with every product on the market doing their best to convince just how good they are for your beloved companion, recognizing exactly which are the worst dog food brands to avoid isnt always so easy.

After all, while we all know that there are certain human foods , dog food manufacturers go to great lengths to promote every ingredient in their recipes as being beneficial for your pooch even though as youre about to find out- that simply isnt always the case.

In this guide, well explain which dog food ingredients are harmful for your pet, reveal which dog food brands to avoid due to them using those ingredients, and -because were all about presenting you with solutions rather than problems here at Canine Weekly- offer our recommendations on the brands that genuinely are good for Fido.

Ol Roy Complete Nutrition Roasted Chicken & Rice

Ol Roys is a Walmart brand that has been in production since 1981. This specific recipe from the brand is crafted for adult canines of all sizes with essential nutrients to provide a balanced diet.

Its billed as an inexpensive pet food due to lack of advertising and promotion, but if you look closely at the ingredients, youll see another reason why.

Well list the first six ingredients here: Ground Whole Grain Corn, Meat and Bone Meal, Soybean Meal, Rice Bran, Animal Fat , and Poultry By-Product Meal. And most of these are problematic.

We dont have anything against corn. Grains are okay too. In fact, these are healthy ingredients to have in dog food. But within reasonable quantities and never as the most significant part of a diet. In this recipe, the corn and grains make up the most volume and overwhelm the meat.

Second thing, the meats are all unspecified. Theyre labelled as meat and bone meal and poultry byproduct meal. The labels dont indicate exactly what animal the meat comes from and which parts were used.

Lastly, the food contains artificial colors and artificial preservatives .

Recall Info: There has been no recall yet for this formulation, although the Ol Roy brand has been involved in several recalls since 1998. The most recent one was in 2018 where samples of its Gravy Train line were found to contain traces of sodium pentobarbital.

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Rachael Ray Nutrish Premium Dog Food

• First 3 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, dried peas
• Best for: For all adult dogs
• Price: $$$

Celebrity chef Rachael Ray serves up this delicious dry formula ideal for all breeds and life stages.

This is a 28-pound bag of food so you should have a decent supply if you have just one adult dog in the house. For multi-dog households, youll likely want to buy in bulk. Despite the celebrity chef stable it comes from, this food is very affordable.

The first ingredient in this formula is real farm-raised chicken, so youll be giving your dog plenty of energy and muscle-building fuel from a premium source.

There is no chicken by-product meal in this stuff, and theres no wheat, no gluten, and no cheap fillers. These unwanted extras often find their way into budget-friendly dog food, making this a nice exception.

The natural ingredients are cooked in the USA and the food is loved by pet owners the world over. If youre looking for cheap dog food with a difference, put your trust in Rachael Ray.

Should I Worry About Dcm And Taurine Deficiency

New research has recently come out alerting owners to the startling increase in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy .

There is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding around this increase in DCM. Some veterinarians believe that BEG diets are causing the issue . Some suspect that the ingredients being used to replace grains in grain-free diets are problematic.

The truth is that no one knows for sure what is causing the increase in DCM cases.

Researchers have yet to discover what is at the root cause, and while different people have various theories, there is no definitive answer.

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Taste Of The Wild Dry Dog Food

• First 3 ingredients: Salmon, ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes
• Best for: For all adult dogs
• Price: $$

Taste of the Wild produces a deep bench of pet food that aims to replicate the diet your dog would eat in the wild. Theres something for all pet owners here. This iteration of the recipe is grain-free, but there is also an ancient grains version available. In addition to these two versions, theres also a grain-free puppy formula.

This food has an elevated protein content at 32%. As well as promoting lean muscle growth, the protein-dense food also supports bone and joint health.

With real salmon featuring as the first ingredient, youll not only give your dog plenty of protein, but that protein comes from a premium source into the bargain.

Prebiotics and probiotics are included to smoothen your dogs digestion and to promote immune system health.

You get no artificial flavors or colors in this formula. You wont get any cheap nasty fillers either. If youre looking to provide your furball with everything he needs and nothing he doesnt, this is one of the best affordable dog foods out there.