How Do You Get Ingredient Sourcing Information From A Pet Food Company
These days, most high-quality pet food companies will advertise their product sourcing information either on their bag or on their website. What should you do if a pet food manufacturer doesnt provide this information?
Firstly, consider switching your dog to a pet food company who values transparency. These days, ingredient sourcing is a huge selling point for pet foods and if a company doesnt advertise where they get their ingredients, they likely have something to hide.
Secondly, contact the pet food manufacturer and ask. The best way to do this is via phone, but via e-mail, you can obtain written proof that you can rely on later if you find the companys claims to be untrue.
Sarah Ann Taylor also written out some great tips on picking top dog food brands based on several criteria which you may want to consider. When asking companies about product sourcing information, have the pet food brand and variety name and ask where EACH ingredient is sourced. If at any time a questionable country is mentioned then its time to consider a new pet food company.
Science Diet Killed My Dogs
Dog Food AdvisorForumsPet MemorialsScience Diet killed my dogs
DieselJunki, you apparently are a lot smarter than I. Im 68 years old and have had many, many dogs. Some have lived to be as old as 19! Guess I was just lucky, or dog food has changed over the years. Anyway, thanks for the tips. Ill try to digest it all and come up with a solution for my little girl. Shell be the last one I have and I have already willed her to my grandson, so I want her to be strong and healthy like he is. Thanks again.
Dog food has changed, but even more what we do to food animals has changed and corporate greed has outpaced all of it. It continually amazes me the things they will put in dog food because they can, not because it is good for dogs to eat.
Silly questionwhy not make my own dog food? Im retired, have the time and dont care how much it costs. Go for it?
Go for it!! There are all kinds of recipes out there and even a few here. That is the best way to know you have as much control as possible over the quality of the ingredients. You can even make big batches and freeze it.
Dendad that is a wonderful idea. And I am proud to say that my smarts all started with this website! I was once in the same boat as you not just a few months back! I have really gotten into dog nutrition since then and pretty much spend all my time after work reading about something to deal with that! This site helped open my eyes thats for sure.
But The Fda Inspects Dog Food Made In China Imports Right
No, they do not.
The FDAs focus is on food safety within the United States. To require the FDA to inspect and certify every pet product being imported into the country, would require 1900 years according to the New York Times.
Approximately only 1% to 2% of imported food products that come into our country are physically inspected by the FDA. That doesnt bode well for dog food made in China, considering it’s coming from a country where human infants are dying from melamine-tainted milk!
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About Hills Science Diet
Hills Pet Nutrition is a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive Company. Hills Science Diet was developed by Dr. Mark Morris Sr, a veterinarian, in 1968.
At that time the food was only available from vets and pet professionals. The company focused on life stage pet food formulas and foods that were condition-specific under the Science Diet and Prescription Diet brands.
Today the company has dozens of prescription foods and dozens of Science Diet foods. Hills also makes the Healthy Advantage and Bioactive Recipe product lines.
The Prescription Diet formulas are only available with a prescription, though they can be purchased online, as well as from your veterinarian Science Diet formulas can be purchased from pet specialty stores and online.
Hills is recognized for focusing on pet nutrition by employing veterinary nutritionists, food scientists, and other specialists to formulate their foods.
Hills Recall History List:
Since the company’s founding, there have been multiple recalls of this dog food. Here they are in reverse chronological order.
- Hills recalls 25 different brands of dry and wet food due to elevated levels of Vitamin D.
- Hills recalls six different brands of Science Diet due to labeling concerns.
- Hills recalls Science Diet small and toy breed dry foods for possible salmonella contamination.
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Ingredients In Science Diet Healthy Advantage Canine Adult
Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Corn, Powdered Cellulose, Soybean Mill Run, Animal Fat , Dried Egg Product, Chicken Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Lactic Acid, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, vitamins , Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Iodized Salt, Dried Chicken Cartilage, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, minerals , preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, L-Carnitine, Phosphoric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.
It was hard to choose a food to represent Hills Science Diet. I didnt want to choose a food for a special health condition since it might not interest many readers so Ive finally chosen a food for adult dogs without health problems Science Diet Healthy Advantage Canine Adult. It seemed like an ordinary food and it had good reviews on the Science Diet web site.
Before I begin I want to give credit to Dr. Christopher Lee DVM CVLS who wrote a very interesting article about Science Diet and their foods. I agree with much of what he says not all, but much. I do believe that some foods are more nutritious than you can tell simply by glancing at the ingredient list. I particularly like his discussion of corn and how its preparation and quality can make a difference in nutrition.
Is Hills A Good Dog Food
Does Hills makes a good dog food? Thats a question I often ask myself when Im shopping for dog food.
Its not only the cost but the whole grain and nutrients. I look at the two very different forms of this particular brand of food, No Fat, and Classic.
The difference between these two, with respect to the amount of fats they contain, is important. The No Fat version is much lower in fat than the Classic version.
However, it also has the same quality levels as the latter, with regard to grains and quality protein levels.
Products that have carbs and sugar in them are not good for dogs, as their bodies dont really need them.
What dogs need is lean meats and vegetables. Hills offers Classic, which includes lean meat, chicken, turkey, fish, and skinless chicken breast.
The difference between No FatClassic is that it uses more natural ingredients. Instead of using partially hydrogenated oils, this food has beef tallow, lamb, and chicken fat, and some other types of fats.
The latter are from the full-fat sources that are used in making the pet food we already have.
For this reason, this product contains no less protein than the Classic product. It also has no less calories.
Both have the same level of vitamins and minerals, as well as all the essential fats that we need.
One important thing to know about food products is that our dogs dont really digest them.
If you give your dog low quality meals and then feed them No Fat youll have two sick dogs.
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Is Beneful Dog Food Made In China
Beneful is a product of Purina, which has a factory in China. Purina also imports ingredients from this country.
The best you can do is to stay clear of dog foods from China. Especially, those that had a history of contamination like chicken and duck jerky products. You can try cooking your pets food yourself to ensure your dogs safety and health. If not, you can look for pet foods that have human-grade ingredients or those sourced from the US. It is also for your pets best interest if you purchase freshly-made and locally-produced products, instead.
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Things To Keep In Mind When Feeding Your Puppy
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Bringing home a new puppy is a wonderful thing, but its also an adjustment that your family and pup will need to get used to. Paying close attention to his ever-changing nutritional needs is one of the most essential ways to keep him on track to lead a healthy life.
Your puppys feeding schedule should stay as regulated as possible, especially when hes very young. A very young puppy should continue eating the same food the breeder or shelter has been feeding him for a few days to help settle him into his new surroundings. Whenever you switch him to a new food, do it gradually. Mix a little of the new food in with the old, gradually increasing the proportion of new food over the course of a week. This is easier on his stomach and will help him get used to the flavor and texture. Putting your puppy on a daily feeding schedule will regulate his digestion and make housetraining easier for both of you.
If youre not sure whether you switch food from what the shelter or breeder has been feeding your puppy, be sure to ask your vet at your pups first veterinarian appointment. Your vet will be able to provide recommendations based on your puppys health, breed, rate of growth and more. Even if you have had a puppy in the past and fed him a certain type of food it is still wise to consult your vet as different dogs have different nutritional needs.
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Is Hills Science Diet Dog Food Good
Hills Science Diet Grain Free is a dry dog food using a moderate amount of named meat meal as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3 stars. However, with 37% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 21% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for every animal.
Does It Mean Made In America Is A Safe Way To Go
No. Wrong again.
Country of origin labeling laws in the United States state that pet food products that are put together in the United States can be labeled as Made in the USA.
What does that mean for you? It means that your favorite pet food that is Made in the USA might still contain contaminated ingredients imported from China.
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Hills Science Diet Dry Dog Food Adult Perfect Weight For Weight Management
This foods ingredients list is very similar to the kibble above, with one key difference: its absolutely packed with fiber. Youll find pea fiber, oat fiber, and dried beet pulp inside, all of which should get your dogs bowels in tip-top shape.
The idea behind all that roughage is that fiber is good for overweight dogs, as it makes them feel full for longer, even if they havent eaten as much as they normally do. Also, being able to fully eliminate any waste can also improve their entire digestive system.
This food has more protein than the one above it, but its still on the low end of the spectrum. We like that they added coconut oil, though, as its full of omega fatty acids.
There are artificial flavors in here, which isnt something you really ever want to see, plus theres a fair amount of salt. Its surprising to find those ingredients in a weight-control food, but we suppose the fiber offsets them somewhat.
This recipe also has highly nutritious fruits and veggies like broccoli, cranberries, and apples, but theyre buried so far down the ingredients list that we doubt theyll have much of an impact.
Why Hills Science Diet Dog Food
Hills Science Diet dog food is developed by a team of veterinarians, food scientists and nutritionists to meet the specific needs of your pet. As well as ensuring that each food has the optimal balance of nutrients and the best possible taste, the team ensure that there are no excess nutrients like salt and fat, which can be harmful over time. The teams work is carried out in state-of-the-art facilities and is tested with real animals in a non-invasive and non-harmful way. Hills pet team members have dedicated human teams to look after their every need and have access to everything that a healthy and well-loved pet needs.
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Risks Of Dog Food Made In China
Be wary of the signs that your dog has had improperly made food, such as those of the 2007 poisoning. These dog foods include chicken or duck jerky and jerky treats wrapped in fruit, yam, or sweet potatoes.
Remember that the symptoms can be simple ones or life-threatening as well. These symptoms may emerge within hours or even days after the ingestion of the contaminated food. So, be in a constant lookout regarding your pets health and of the following conditions:
- Widespread cancer
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Chicken Meal & Oat Recipe Dry Dog Food
Large breed puppies dietary needs should include lean protein for good muscle development as well as chondroitin and glucosamine to ensure proper skeletal growth.
This Hill’s Science puppy formula fulfills these puppy requirements and more. With chicken as the first ingredient, your pup will have quality proteins for lean muscles as well plenty of calcium for controlled bone growth.
The formulation contains oats, which acts as a source of complex carbs and dietary fiber. Expect your pooch to play all day because she will get high energy from the oats.
On top of that, digestion will also be gentler because of the fiber. Basically, this Hill’s formulation sees to it that your large pup is well-supplied with all the key nutrients she needs to be at her best.
To get her one, visit chewy.com and place your order today.
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Hills Science Diet Dog Food Review
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Hills Science Diet is one of the brands made by Hills Pet Nutrition. Hills Science Diet has a multitude of formulas for dogs and cats.
The brands dog foods include formulas for puppies, adults, small/toy dogs, weight control foods, mobility foods, and more. Hills Science Diet is one of the brands frequently recommended by veterinary nutritionists and veterinary cardiologists because the company conducts canine nutritional research.
It also employs veterinary nutritionists on staff to formulate its recipes. If you are considering Hills Science Diet, our unbiased review can help you decide if this is the right brand for your dog.
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Hills Science Diet Dog Food Company Overview
Hills Science Diet is just one type of pet food made by Hills. The company was started in the 1930s by Dr Mark Morris and his wife Louise Morris, after Dr Morris was approached to help a seeing eye dog with kidney failure. Dr Morris was convinced that poor nutrition was at the heart of the dogs problems. He set out to create a food that would improve the dogs health and maintain that health, allowing the seeing dogs owner to continue with his work and have the companionship of his dog for longer. The first product was called Raritan Ration B.
In 1948 Burton Hill of Hill Packing Company was licensed to produce Dr Morris pet formula. The partnership between the two would eventually evolve into Hills Pet Nutrition. Morris established a research laboratory in 1951, by which time four prescription dog foods were available.
A demand for consistent, high-quality dog was noticed by Mark Morris Jnr, who continued to grow the company, making food for healthy dogs, which by 1968 was made available through pet professionals and veterinarians. This line of food was known as Hills Science Diet, which today is one of many lines that cover all stages of development, different dog breeds, and a range of health needs.
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Hill’s Science Diet Adult Small Bites Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food
This recipe is packed with quality nutrition for your buddy. It is ideal for small breeds from ages one to six years. The kibble has been designed for easy picking up by your pooch, plus their consistency is also just right to accommodate the size of your dog’s mouth and bite strength of her jaws.
Your pooch will love the savory real chicken taste, in addition to enjoying lean muscle development. Other ingredients include a clinically-proven blend of antioxidants as well as vitamin C and E for a healthy immune system.
Whats more, the presence of amino acids and fatty acids in the diet contribute to a shinier skin and coat. Also worth mentioning is that the kibble is dense with nutrition that fills your little buddys tummy faster.
Honestly, this is one formula that will have your furry buddy looking forward to meal times. If youd like to place your order, visit chewy.com to take advantage of their great offers.
China Has No Regulations For Pet Food Manufacturing
In addition to having no regulatory laws for pet food safety, China also has no regulations for the manufacturing of pet food. What does this mean? It means that factories that produce pet food are not regulated for safety, hygiene, or quality control.
There is no requirement for safety testing of foods produced in the factory, no ensuring that food and ingredient storage is safe and hygienic, and no accountability for the production of tainted or poor quality dog food made in China.
Technically, your pet food could be made in a waste management plant from ingredients that have been contaminated by goodness knows what.
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