Is Peak Dog Food Good

Realizing There Was A Problem

In the weeks prior to bringing Carl home, I did hours of research. I was confident that my preparation would serve me well.

However, I very quickly realized that no amount of research can really prepare you for all the changes that are about to happen to your life.

One of the earliest problems I ran into was trying to figure out what type of food worked best for Carl. At first, I continued feeding him what his breeder was giving him.

However, at the time the brand only offered 30-pound bags of food or more. This was an issue for me. For some, this wouldnt be a problem, but with limited storage space in my apartment, this wasnt a practical solution.

This curveball meant I needed to find a new brand that worked for both Carl and myself.

Ziwipeak Dog Food Review

• Astounding quantity of meat and a very convenient alternative to raw.

ZiwiPEAK from New Zealand make a rather unique air-dried dog food, more in keeping with a raw diet than a dry kibble diet.

For our ZiwiPEAK dog food review well take a look at the fabulous Venison recipe, but all are on par and equally as good.

What Kind Of Dog Food Does Ziwipeak Offer

When it comes to their dog food products ZiwiPeak offers air-dried dog food and canned moist food. ZiwiPeaks air-dried recipes are as close as you can get to a natural diet for dogs that is shelf-stable and nutritionally complete. By slowly air-drying their products, ZiwiPeak preserves a significant quantity of the natural nutrients contained in the raw ingredients.

ZiwiPeaks canned foods have high moisture content and they are cooked at the minimum temperature allowable to preserve nutritional integrity. In addition to air-dried and moist canned foods, ZiwiPeak also offers a limited selection of dog treats and oral health care chews made from deer bone and antlers.

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New Zealands Ethical Livestock Farms

This means that the meat used in Ziwi pet food is sourced from animals that enjoy free-range grazing on Zealands bright green pastures. All of the meat is raised on traceable, approved local farms that never add antibiotics, growth promotants, or hormones.

The farms use ethical and responsible practices to ensure that the meat produced is of the** highest quality**.

According to ZiwiPets, these ethically run farms are owned by real New Zealand families with a culture of strong, honest work and integrity. It comes as no surprise that these farms have reached the highest level of MPI certification.

Final Thoughts On Nutrish

While there are a few fairly good recipes in the Rachael Ray Nutrish product line, most of the brands offerings are relatively disappointing. The standard Nutrish line falls into the unimpressive category, not offering much in the way of dog food.

They do meet many of the minimum criteria youd want in any dog food, such as containing a meat at the beginning of the ingredient list and being formulated in accordance with AAFCO guidelines, but they lack many of the super-high-value ingredients included in premium foods.

These foods are probably fine in a pinch, but youd be better off looking elsewhere when looking for a good dog food.

Because cost is always a factor in your dog food selection, and Rachael Ray Nutrish foods are generally affordable and of higher quality than other options in the same price range, weve rated this a little higher than we otherwise would.

But wait!Thats just for the standard Nutrish line. How do the other formulas hold up?

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Ziwi Peak Featured Articles

Best Dog Foods Without Peas Thanks to its almost complete lack of plant-based material, Ziwi Peak has a well-earned place in our article discussing the concerns about Peas and legumes and the best alternatives to them.

With growing concerns over the effects of high levels of legumes in dog food, the search for alternatives will continue to grow, and Ziwi Peak will remain a reliable option. Be sure to check out this article to discover who else made the cut.

Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food Guide Hypoallergenic dog food is a growing and evolving niche with many different types of food and approaches.

The simplicity of Ziwi Peaks Air-Dried recipes makes them a noteworthy option, especially for those dogs that suffer from allergies to plant-based ingredients.

However, there are other options, including recipes from much larger brands with years of research and development.

Best Canned Dog Food While Ziwi Peak is best known for its air-dried dog food, its canned dog food is also of excellent quality.

This article explains all that a dog owner needs to know about canned dog food and then highlights several of our favorite brands and recipes, including some from brands like Merrick, Open Farm, and American Journey.

Best Dog Foods With Venison Venison is a rare ingredient to find in dog food, but many premium brands, such as Ziwi Peak, are using it and seeing great success.

Low To Below Average Fats

While it may seem like a bad thing at first, low to below-average fat level is, in fact, a good thing for your dog. Whereas other dog food brands have on average 20% fat content, Rachael Ray dog food comes at 14.25% which is ideal for dogs who are obese and need to lose weight.

However, while a chubby dog will definitely benefit from eating less fat, small breeds and very energetic dogs need more fat to remain active and healthy. Lets not forget that very few recipes contain fish oil which is a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, and EPA which support healthy skin, brain, and eye development.

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Crave Beef Pate Grain

Made with real beef as the first ingredient, this canned dog food helps keep your dogs muscles lean and healthy. 99% of the protein in this product is sourced from animals, which is a plus!

The recipe is packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids to keep your dog at peak performance. The food can be fed as a complete meal or to accompany your dogs dry food. In addition to being grain-free, this Crave dog food is free of soy, corn, wheat, chicken by-product meal, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

The pate texture of this canned dog food makes it easy for your dog to chew and enjoy. Its suitable for dogs of all shapes and sizes too!

Reviews for this Crave dog food are mostly positive and many consumers have found it works very well for their dog, especially paired with dry dog food for some added flavor and nutrients.

Although the majority of dogs enjoy the taste of this canned dog food, some picky eaters might take a while to warm up to it. This could be due to the gelatinous texture. Additionally, chicken is listed quite heavily in the product even though it is beef flavored. Some owners of dogs with food allergies have found this to be a little misleading.

Additionally, guar gum and carrageenan are listed in the ingredients.

Pros

• Real beef as the first ingredient
• Contains a good amount of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients
• Grain-free

• Could be unpalatable for picky eaters
• Recipe contains chicken
• Contains guar gum and carrageenan

Can Ziwi Help My Pet Shed Less

All ZIWI® Peak air-dried and wet foods include 3% New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel, a natural source of omega 3 fatty acids. Better than highly processed fish oils or inappropriate plant oils, Green-Lipped Mussel is a natural and bioavailable ingredient that may reduce shedding and keep your pets skin and coat soft and healthy.

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Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Natural Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

Made without grains, gluten, or fillers the Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Natural Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe is a great choice if your dog has allergies or a sensitive stomach. Based on Rachael Ray grain-free dog food reviews, most dogs love the fishy flavor and their coats never looked better.

Key Features

• Real salmon as the main ingredient
• Added chelated minerals
• Whole flaxseed

The main ingredient, real salmon, is reinforced with chicken meal and menhaden fish meal which brings this formula to 26% crude protein. Salmon is an easily digestible protein that helps build lean muscles and is a great choice for dogs with food allergies.

Being completely grain-free, this recipe contains sweet potatoes, dried peas, and tapioca as easily digestible carbs that wont cause an upset stomach. Dried beet pulp is added to increase the fiber count and to serve as a natural probiotic that supports a healthy GI tract and proper digestion.

Whole flaxseed and chicken fat create 14% crude fat and also contain omega-3 & -6 fatty acids which support healthy skin and a shiny coat. This formula doesnt contain fresh fruits but is reinforced with added vitamins and minerals which support a strong immune system.

Pros

• Contains natural sources of omega-3 & -6 fatty acids
• Easy to digest
• Fortified with added vitamins and minerals

Cons

• Fresh fruit isnt included in the formula

Ziwipeak Dog Food Review Summary

With so many people raving about raw food for dogs, yet so much complexity and uncertainty feeding such a diet, dog foods such as ZiwiPEAK air-dried offer a wonderfully easy solution which is complete, balanced, with all nutrients required for a dog to sustain a very healthy existence. The trade off is price, with ZiwiPEAK being one of the most expensive dog foods on the market. You can argue you get what you pay for, or you can look at it as most other dog foods are cheap, for a reason.

If you have a small dog, or if youre super wealthy, then price wont be as much of an issue. If like the rest of us you have to run a tight ship, or if you have a pack of big hungry labradors, then ZiwiPEAK can still be fed as a treat or topper. Even if you just use ZiwiPEAK as training treats , then youll still be contributing to the health of your dog.

Give ZiwiPeak a go!!

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Rachael Ray Nutrish History

After becoming a successful celebrity chef, Rachael Ray decided to venture into the pet food business and create Rachael Ray Nutrish dog food brand. Although the Nutrish product line carries Ms. Rays name, it is in fact manufactured by Ainsworth Pet Nutrition which is based in Meadville, Pennsylvania.

A family-run and operated company, Ainsworth Pet Nutrition was originally founded in 1933 with the mission of making high-quality but affordable pet food. The companys focus is to make the safest and healthiest foods and treats for cats and dogs and to meet the needs of pet parents.

While Rachael Ray Nutrish dry dog foods are made in the USA, the canned food is made at a manufacturing facility in Thailand. However, Ainsworth states that their wet dog food is made under the same standards as their US-made foods.

Ainsworth Pet Nutrition is a well-known and respected manufacturer whose pet foods are made in compliance with USDA, FDA, and AAFCO standards. However, this company isnt completely transparent when it comes to the sourcing of their ingredients.

The brands website has a glossary of all the ingredients used in Rachael Ray Nutrish dog food. But if you click on the individual ingredients you will notice that some of them are sourced in the US but for many, there isnt any information about sourcing. Since this is an American based company, it is safe to assume that the bulk of the ingredients are locally sourced, but there is a chance that some are sourced overseas.

Ziwi Peak Dry Dog Food

ZiwiPeak manufactures kibbles using air drying instead of high heat processes. It is a natural drying and preservation technique that increases foods shelf life while preserving the nutrient content.

For this reason, there is no need for artificial preservatives in these recipes.

The following recipes can be found in this line:

• Ziwi Peak Beef Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food
• Ziwi Peak Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food
• Ziwi Peak Mackerel & Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food
• Ziwi Peak Chicken Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food
• Ziwi Peak Venison Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food
• Ziwi Peak Tripe & Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food

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Do Not Buy Ziwi Peak If

This high-quality food will be beneficial for most pups, but it might not be the right choice if you:

• Have to feed several dogs. The price point is one of our only qualms with Ziwi Peak. We understand the reason behind the cost, of course, but it makes it very difficult for families with several dogs to purchase. If thats your case, it might be a better option to keep it as a special treat.

• Are looking for freeze-dried food only. Air drying is a method that keeps most nutrients and chemical compounds intact. However, freeze drying takes fresh ingredients and keeps all of their nutritional content the same. The difference is small, but it might be worth it if youre looking to avoid dehydrated foods altogether.

Average To Below Average Protein Count

Based on four Rachael Ray dry dog foods which I will review later on, this dog food brand has a below-average protein count for its dry food products.

The average protein count for these formulas is 27% which is way lower compared to other dog food brands, especially those who are advertised as super-premium. Most of these brands have at least 30% protein with some reaching 40% or more.

Keep in mind that while the protein count is below average compared to other dog food brands, it is still well above the minimum set by the AAFCO. Overall, your pooch shouldnt experience any problems eating food with a moderate protein count, unless he is a working dog or overly active, in which case you should consider feeding him one of Rachael Rays Peak recipes which have a 30% protein count.

You should also consider that some of Rachael Ray dog foods contain pea protein that is cheaper than meat and will raise the protein count. While plant-based proteins arent bad, it is harder for dogs to extract valuable nutrients from plants than from meat.

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Which Is The Best Lamb Tripe For Dogs

A single protein recipe, uniquely formulated with over 35% nourishing and highly palatable green lamb tripe, a natural source of vitamins, minerals and probiotics. Gently air-dried and handcrafted to lock in natures goodness. With 96% lamb, organs and bone to match the dogs biological needs for a diet rich in meat.

If You Want To Find The Very Best Pet Food You Want To Make Sure That You Follow The Rules For Buying The Pet

This includes purchasing the food through your veterinarian.By making use of a vet, youll be able to read the nutritional information thats on the label of this food that you buy. This way, you will be aware of what sort of diet that your dog should be eating and you will be able to make better decisions.

If you are confused about which kind of dog food to buy, this article will help you out. There are several different forms of wet and dry dog foods available, and they all have their pros and cons. The real differentiation, however, is primarily what theyre against each other specifically, which is more healthful for your furry friend? The canned dog food is usually dry and the canned pet food thats commonly sold in pet stores is generally dry, also, but its up to you what sort of food that youre going to feed your dog.

Dry vs. Wet What sort of dry food does your pet want? This depends on your dogs needs. If youre feeding him canned food, then you should be considering getting high-quality canned pet food. And, if youre feeding him homemade dry food, then you may want to consider going with canned dog food. In reality, you should consider producing your own pet food, so youre able to control the components and the way that your pet gets fed.

So, which kind of dry versus wet dog food is healthier for the dog? Well, youll see a significant difference when you look at the nutritional data for the various brands.

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Mackerel & Lamb Recipe Review

Fish is an extremely common inclusion in wet cat food recipes, and these recipes often utilize fish like Tuna, Salmon, or Whitefish.

Mackerel isnt quite as popular but does still see varied use, and the familiarity of Mackerel and fish is why weve chosen the above Mackerel & Lamb recipe to recommend from Ziwis wet cat food range.

Mackerel is the recipes primary ingredient and makes up the bulk of the recipe. As we mentioned earlier, Mackerel and other oily fish are excellent sources of the beneficial Omega 3 Fatty Acids.

The portion of Lamb is far smaller, but once it is combined with the various Lamb organ meats present is sums to a respectable portion size.

Lastly, Ziwi Peaks wet cat food recipes still contain a considerable amount of moisture, with this recipe having 78% moisture.

This is one of the key benefits of wet cat food that many neglect and is important as many cats struggle to take on sufficient moisture in their diet, especially when they are fed dry cat food.

Controversial Ingredients: Beet Pulp + Iron Oxide

There are a few ingredients listed on the Rachael Ray Real Chicken & Veggies Recipe that give some owners pause. While none of these are likely to cause harm to your dog, some owners prefer to select foods that avoid them entirely.

The two most problematic ingredients in the recipe are beet pulp and iron oxide.

Beet pulp is actually a pretty good source of fiber, but many owners look at it as a cheap filler that fails to provide much nutritional value. As long as it is only included in moderate amounts, it is unlikely to cause any problems.

Iron oxide is essentially rust that is used as a food dye. This may not be a deal-breaker for you, but it is important to note that food colors and dyes are entirely unnecessary additives for your dogs diet, and they only serve to make the food look tastier to you your dog doesnt care about the color of his food.

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