Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula
Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula is a mid-priced canine formula that does little to impress, but also does little wrong.
It only comes in one size, but at $36 for a 40-lb bag, this food fits comfortably between a budget and mid-range price point.
Diamond Naturals take a holistic approach to crafting dog food, aiming to meet every pet’s needs with the use of proprietary probiotics and the inclusion of superfoods.
They believe that by making their dry dog foods contain 10-20% superfoods , your dog will be able to properly absorb all of its required vitamins and minerals.
These superfoods replace common fillers such as corn, wheat, and soy . It contains 25% protein and 15% fat which is pretty average in this price range.
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.
What Have The Recent Recalls Recall On Alpo Dog Food
There has been one recall for Alpo dog food in the past-but it dates back years. It has come to the attention of the country since March 2007, when the larger Menu Foods/Melamine recall caused widespread concern for dog food safety due to possible contamination with melamine. In March 2007, an inspection of Alpo Prime Cuts canned dog food led to a recall of every type and date it
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Why Diet Matters For Dogs
Doggy diets matter the same way people diets matter: We are what we eat. According to The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, the most followed veterinarian on social media, and pet health leader Rodney Habib, the single most important factor when it comes to dog health is diet. A poor diet can lead to obesity, joint problems, gastrointestinal issues and much more. Rather than treating these ailments later in your dogs life, be deliberate about your dogs diet today to set them up for success tomorrow.
Dogs are carnivores with short gastrointestinal tracts. While theyve evolved from wolves to domesticated animals who can handle some carbs, they actually lack the enzyme that digests carbohydrates. This means their diet should consist primarily of protein and fat. There have been some studies indicating grain-free diets are bad for dogs, but the truth is grain fillers are bad for dogs, not necessarily real whole grains like rice and quinoa.
In any case, Dr. Becker believes carbs shouldnt take up more than 10 percent of your pups daily meals. She recommends a rough 50/50 ratio of protein to fat for a dogs diet. Ideally, we should achieve this ratio exclusively through fresh, unprocessed foods.
Making The Right Choice
There is no single right or wrong way to feed your dog. What matters most is that the food you choose is as healthy as possible and is a good match with your feeding philosophy.
If you feed your dog only canned dog food, give them opportunities to crunch on snacks that can help clean their teeth and satisfy their need for a good chew. Likewise, dogs that are fed dry food may occasionally enjoy a delectably meaty treat. Balancing out the crunchy with the yummy is just one more way you can provide the best possible care for your dog.
To help find the right foods for your dog, check out our Food-Finder Tool. With so many nutritious and delicious choices, your dog will have a hard time deciding which is their favorite.
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The Pros And Cons Of Wet Food For Dogs
Proper nutrition is essential for all dogs, and choosing the right food can be an overwhelming task. In addition to the hundreds of commercial dog food brands to choose from, you also need to decide if you want to feed your dog dry food or wet food.
Many dog owners choose dry food for price and convenience. However, more and more owners are feeding wet food for its potential health benefits. This article will look at the advantages of feeding wet food vs dry food?
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Is Mixing Wet And Dry Dog Food Tasty
Mixing wet and dry dog food is tasty because you can add some fresh vegetables to increase the flavor of your dogs meal.
If you want to increase the flavor of your dogs food, consider adding some meat and vegetables to his meal.
Mixing wet and dry dog food is tasty because your dog will enjoy the taste of his food more when mixed with something else.
Mixing wet and dry dog food is tasty because you can use this to mix some vegetables in your dogs meal.
Are Any Commercial Dog Foods Actually Complete & Balanced
While dog foods commonly claim to be “complete”, commercial dog diets can be lacking in essential nutrients, though you’re unlikely to know which ones. Since vitamins and minerals are not completely absorbed by the body, you can never really be sure how many nutrients your pet is actually getting.
And, while foods do contain a standard minimum amount of essential vitamins, they don’t contain maximums, which means your pet could be getting too many vitamins, which can be just as bad as nutritional deficiencies.
Feeding a varied diet to your pet can prevent minor nutritional deficiencies or overload that might take years to surface in symptoms.
While it can be impossible to tell whether a food truly is complete in itself, you can rest assured knowing that your dog is getting his nutrients from a variety of sources, so he’s less likely to suffer from too much or too little essential nutrients.
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How Is Dry Dog Food Processed
Dry food contains very similar ingredients, but instead of adding gravy and canning the product, the meat mixture is pulverized in order to create a consistent dough that can be cooked.
Once cooked, the dough is extruded through specifically shaped holes to form kibble. The kibble undergoes a drying process, and then is sprayed with fats, oils, vitamins, and minerals and packaged before the fats and oils can spoil.
Some dry dog food diets also add live probiotics to aid in digestive and immune health.
The Content Is What Matters Not The Variety
The ingredients list on the packaging is more important in terms of choosing the right food for your dog than the actual variety. After all, nutrition plays a significant role in canine health. Your dog needs a high-quality food that provides everything it needs to meet its requirements and ensure healthy development. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer as to exactly what ingredients are needed. Every dog is different, therefore every dog needs different food. Individual factors like age, weight, activity level and state of health should definitely be considered when it comes to looking for the best food. In principle, a food made up of around 70% premium meat and approximately 30% vegetables as well as high-quality fats and oils is recommended for healthy adult dogs. Too much grain, preservatives, artificial flavour enhancers or even sweeteners like sugar have no place in a dog’s diet. So before you choose a variety of food, you’re best off first taking a look at the label.
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Bpa In Canned Dog Food
There is one exception when it comes to canned food preservatives – BPA and BPS. These chemicals line most pet food cans, preventing the acidic contents from leaching metals from the can itself into the food over time.
In itself, this is a good thing. But BPA and BPS are known hormone disruptors and can have damaging effects on reproductive systems and the brain, also contributing to related side effects such as weight gain, and even major diseases and cancer.
Not all dog food cans contain BPA. Choose smaller cans. Some of these don’t require BPA in their lining. Or, choose those canned foods that are BPA-free. Make sure those cans don’t include BPS instead.
Help For Dogs With Dietary Problems
Have an overweight dog that needs to lose weight?
The moisture content of canned dog food can make the same amount of nutrients occupy more volume. So, your dieting dog can feel fuller faster.
And what about older dogs?
Seniors are frequently afflicted with chronic dental problems that can make chewing dry kibble difficult even painful. So, canned dog food can be the perfect solution.
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They Are What They Eat
Good health and longevity begin with good nutrition. The educated dog owner strives to feed the best and most beneficial food that their budget allows. Even the choice of canned food versus dry is a big one, thanks to a wide variety of formulations, price points and health claims with strong proponents on either side. As always, your veterinarian should be the last word on your dogs nutritional needs.
But for how canned and dry foods compare, heres the scoop:
There Are So Many Food Type Choices: Dry Canned And Semi
While feeding dogs does not need to be a mysterious process, it is easy to be overwhelmed with choices. It is logical to wonder which approach is best. Your veterinarian is the best source for a specific recommendation for a nutrient profile that best fits your dog’s needs. Beyond that, however, it is good to think about the advantages and disadvantages of the various formulations that are available.
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What Are The Advantages Of Wet Food
Whilst dry food mainly brings advantages for the owner in terms of price, cleanliness and convenience, the advantages of wet food benefit the dog itself. Most dogs would probably opt for wet food if they could choose themselves, since wet food, more intense in smell and taste, simply tastes better to them. The high water content in particular has a positive effect: since the food already provides the body with a large quantity of liquid, it’s easier to cover a dog’s fluid requirements with wet food than with dry food. Hence, wet food is particularly recommendable for dogs that don’t drink much during the day.
For dogs that have a tendency to become overweight, wet food can also be the better choice at times, provided that the cause of the excess weight is that the dog loves eating. Dogs with a substantial appetite in particular often maintain a lower weight with wet food. Due to the lower energy content per portion, they can eat a great deal without exceeding their calorie requirements.
Should I Feed My 8 Week Old Puppy Wet Food
At 8 weeks old you can start feeding your pup wet dog food. Your puppy still has soft teeth, which can make wet food a better choice. Pups at this stage are finally transitioning from their mothers milk to solid food and wet dog food is perfect for this, as dogs often find it more palatable and easier to eat.
After this, once your puppys teeth have started to strengthen and harden, you can make the swap from wet to dry food, if you wish. When doing so, it can be helpful to soften the kibble by moistening it with water before feeding it to your puppy. Its also best to make the transition slowly, ideally over a 10-day period: dogs stomachs are sensitive and can suffer from sudden dietary changes.
There is some debate over whether dry kibble is better for good dog dental health. Some argue that the crunch is essential for developing strong and healthy teeth. Others, however, claim that the fact that dry food stays stuck to their teeth can create decay and other problems.
Once youre past the weaning stage, it really is down to personal choice both yours and your pups!
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Wet Dog Food Safety Tips
Keep in mind that wet dog food requires a bit more care than a simple dry kibble. Make sure you take the time to practice these food safety tips in order to ensure your pups health:
Keep a clean food bowl: Most dogs will gobble down their entire serving of wet food in one gobut if your dog is more of a picky eater, be sure to keep track of how much food is left in their bowl and for how long. Wet food shouldnt sit at room temperature for more than four hours and a wet food bowl should be washed between every feeding.
Use within three days: Due to the general lack of preservatives and additives,wet dog food is made to be eaten in three to five days or less. Be sure to cover it up and store it in the fridge.
Check the expiration date: Canned dog food will typically last unopened for up to five yearsbut if youre buying in bulk or planning to store food in your pantry for a while, consider double checking the date on the bottom before grabbing the can opener.
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What To Look For In The Best Wet Dog Food
When buying wet dog food, look for the following factors:
- Meat as the First Ingredient When the meat is the first ingredient, you know your dog will get the highest quality proteins from its meal. A dog can enjoy all kinds of meat from poultry to beef and from fish to rare exotic meat.
- Grain-Free or Whole Grains If your dog isnt sensitive to grains, you can skip grain-free and choose food with quality whole grains such as barley and brown rice. These grains pack a healthy dose of carbs essential to an active dog.
- Nutritious Vegetables Good vegetables like carrot and potatoes are common thickeners in many wet foods and they have nutritional benefits as well. However, I wouldnt recommend products that list a vegetable in the first three ingredients.
- No Fillers Wet dog food is less likely to contain fillers than dry dog food. But it is best to keep an eye for ingredients such as corn or soy.
- Additives Make sure the food you buy is free from additives such as preservatives, colorings, and flavors.
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What To Look For
Just because its canned food doesnt necessarily mean its good for your dog. Pay close attention to:
- Protein this should be the number one ingredient. Moreover, it should always name a specific animal .
- Whole and unprocessed grains these should always be your choice unless your dog is sensitive to them. In that case, opt for grain-free foods.
- Vegetables and fruits again, these should be present in the best wet dog foods. Nevertheless, they shouldnt be the first three ingredients on the list.
- Additional ingredients like DHA these help puppies develop healthy eyes and brains, while glucosamine keeps senior dogs joints healthy. Choose the food that best suits your dogs age and needs.
- Complete and balanced foods that have passed the AAFCO feeding trial Also, look for a guaranteed analysis of ingredients.
We All Want A Dog Food Brand We Can Trust
With confusing labeling, misleading marketing, and a lack of transparency so common in the world of dog food, a brands integrity can sometimes be more telling than the ingredient list.
Finding the best dog food is a process that requires attention to all details. Its a delicate balance of being conscious of the brand while not allowing what looks like a great brand history, reputation, and production process to supersede awareness of ingredients and the foods appropriateness for your dogs unique needs.
Read on as we list what are the healthiest dog food brands in the market today.
Here at DogFood.Guide we have a dedicated mission to provide dog owners like you with well-researched information so they can provide the best care and nutrition to their dogs.
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DogFood.Guide is maintained by Mary Nielsen & her staff. Mary is an animal lover of both dogs and cats. She and her staff are passionate about animals and work hard to provide you with a wealth of information for you and your dog.
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