Myth? - preservatives

Myth?
Pet food preservatives are harmful 
This one is cheeky on their statements 
No, not all pet food preservatives are harmful.

*As before - I am in Red
Purina is in Black
Linked information is in Blue*
















Some consumers believe that preservatives are unsafe ingredients that shouldn’t be added to foods for humans or pets.

True, but it should say - some consumers believe that some preservatives are unsafe

•   Some of the FDA-approved synthetic antioxidants commonly used in both human food and pet foods include BHA, BHT and TBHQ. These have been proven safe for use in the approved amounts.

-Purina 

Due to the animal fats used in pet food - it is necessary to use preservatives to stop from spoilage.

Adding preservatives adds to the shelf life of a food.

But - there is no need for artificial preservatives.

'Natural preservatives are usually made from anti-oxidants — like vitamins C or E. You’ll see them printed on a dog food ingredients list using some form of the word “tocopherol” or “ascorbate”.
These items typically look like this…

“…chicken fat preserved with alpha-tocopherol”

Natural preservatives are typically considered safe.'
- Dog Food Adviser 

BHA and BHT can induce allergic reactions in the skin . The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies BHA as a possible human carcinogen . The European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has also listed BHA as a Category 1 priority substance, based on evidence that it interferes with hormone function .
Long-term exposure to high doses of BHT is toxic in mice and rats, causing liver, thyroid and kidney problems and affecting lung function and blood coagulation . BHT can act as a tumour promoter in certain situations . Limited evidence suggests that high doses of BHT may mimic estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, and prevent expression of male sex hormones , resulting in adverse reproductive affects.

- David Suzuki Foundation

Preservatives are added to ensure pet food remains wholesome and nutritious during distribution and storage.

They speak the truth

• Preservatives called antioxidants are added to commercially prepared dry foods to help prevent spoilage and breakdown of nutrients.

Also true

• The preservatives used in Purina® pet foods are the same ones approved by the FDA for use in human foods.

Yup, this is true - the FDA has approved of these possibly cancer causing preservatives 


Fats, proteins and vitamins are the critical nutrients that require preservation during storage.

True

• Fats may break down during storage if not properly preserved.
• Antioxidants guard against oxidative destruction of fat and other nutrients to help preserve the nutritional quality of the food.

True, you guys are on a roll with the truths today. 


Preservatives or antioxidants can be categorized into two basic types: natural antioxidants that are derived from nature and synthetic antioxidants.

• Natural antioxidants are found in certain grains, vegetable oils, herbs and spices.

– The most effective and commonly used natural antioxidants are mixed tocopherols (vitamin E compounds) that are primarily obtained from soybean oil or other vegetable oils.

• Synthetic antioxidants are more effective and stable than natural antioxidants.

– Synthetic antioxidants are 5 to 10 times more effective than natural antioxidants.
– They are more stable and better able to withstand the heat, pressure and moisture used
Though this is also true - the fact is vitamin E is much safer. 
Using a natural preservatives is a better choice.
Using synthetic preservatives is rolling the dice because there are many unanswered questions in regards to the safety of these products.

One thing that is probably very true - using BHA, BHT, TBHQ probably cheaper.

Remember
Given the proper information, you can confidently choose foods for your pets that are properly preserved, safe, and provide the guaranteed nutrient content and quality throughout their shelf life.

That's right folks.
They do not say that theirs is the best food.. or even second best...for once they may have did the best thing..
"Given the proper information"
The proper information is a combination of your own research and your vets knowledge...but don't forget - Nobody should force you to feed a certain brand of food. 
You should always be given options.
If something sounds strange or you just feel that the company is less than trustworthy...research them.
Write them.
Question them.

Color me confused

Myth?

Some consumers believe that food coloring and dyes in pet food cause allergic reactions and gastrointestinal upset in pets. 
-Purina


You know what, lets just skip the bullshit here. 
There is absolutely no need for any food colorings or dyes in pet food  NO NEED

You can try and prove that Dog A and Dog C did not have an allergic reaction to your food. 
You can blame something else for gastrointestinal upset in Cats.
You can call yourself a Fire eating Duck with Machete wings for all I care.
-I may be in a Halloween Monster type of mindset.

You could possibly be idiots if you actually believe a Dog looks at the food and thinks -
 Hmm, I really wish this was red. 
Golly, the green stuff tastes so good.
This brown food is missing something.. I know! Artificial colors!
Human, go buy me some Dog Chow at once!
Blue 2, Yellow 5, Red 40
Dog Chow

• The quality, digestibility and nutrition of the product is unaffected by the use of artificial coloring.

Sometimes things can't get worse then crap.

• Some colors are derived from natural sources, such as beet powder and turmeric.

Interesting - do you use beet powder or turmeric ?
Beet powder is red right? - You use Red 40- that is not Beet powder is it?
Turmeric can make a yellow color - You use Yellow 5 - that is not Turmeric is it?
NO so please tell me your point?

• Small amounts of dyes are used to produce the color.

How about none. 
You can create food without food colorings. You would have to use actual foods for it.

• Food allergies are most commonly caused by proteins. Food colorants are not proteins.

 Actually these are chemicals. 
So I am guessing it would be a chemical allergy?
I do not know.
Since eat dog or cat is different - different breeding, different environment - it is very hard to pin point what the allergens are. 
Goodie for you!

I love this last little notes on your page

Remember
Purina has a long history of producing high-quality, highly nutritious pet foods that are rigorously tested.
-You have been around for a long time, stating that you have a long history of producing high-quality foods needs to be backed up by people that do not benefit by that statement. 
Highly nutritious? 
You thought this was nutritious
While a pet food may contain different colors, the nutrition, quality, safety and palatability of the diet are the standards by which it is measured.
To me that means..yeah there is food coloring but don't worry... we just ignore it.

The Myth and The Meow

Myth?
Carbohydrates cause obesity and diabetes in cats.
-Purina 

It’s now believed that many cases of feline diabetes are caused by excess carbohydrates in the diet.
-ASPCA 

As obligate carnivores, some of the metabolic pathways and

enzymes present in omnivores are redundant in the cat.

Cats’ natural diet is high in animal protein and fat and low in carbohydrate

               - the only carbohydrates eaten being those semi- digested in the gut of their prey.

                                                                       Nestle Purina  

Dude, you said that. 

Replacing dietary carbohydrate with protein appears

to be an effective means of slowing the release of glucose

into the bloodstream.

You guys said that too!

Dr Clémentine Jean-Philippe, DVM, Ph.D

European Scientific Communication Manager

Nestlé PURINA PetCare

Jean-Christophe Bouthegourd, PhD

Research Scientist –

Senior Nutritionist, Nestlé PURINA PetCare Amiens Product Technology Centre

Techincally it was these guys that said it.

I see, European...Cats in North America must be different right?

This is a cute little saying I saw on a web site -
"A cat needs carbohydrates like a fish needs a bicycle"

The same site also states 

 "The best diet advocated for healthy cats is a high-quality meat-based (beef, lamb, chicken, turkey) canned food that contains not more than 3 to 5 percent carbohydrates."

-The Nest

This site talks about what is the best diet for cats - Companions Animal Hospital 

•  Many cells in a cat’s body require glucose, a form of carbohydrate, for energy

"Carbohydrates do provide quick and easy energy. However, it is not 'carbs' that maintain the health of the organs.., but glucose. Glucose can be obtained from both fat and protein through a process known as gluconeogenesis, where amino acids and fat (not fatty acids; those use a different cycle) are "converted" to glucose."

-The Many Myths of Raw Feeding
Carissa Kuehn speaks about the misconceptions in regards to a raw food diet - A pro raw food diet site.

What I have been reading is that the companies who sell pet foods containing carbohydrates  - are the ones trying to pump up the positive aspects of Carbohydrates in a Cats diet. 

The problem - it is simply not true. 

If an animal is meant to eat meat and we try to change their biological and evolutionary diet - we will cause damage. 

We have caused damage. 

Illnesses that a Cat in the wild would never face are now common.

We have taken these creatures out of the wild and now are trying to force them to comply to our theory on what they should be eating. 

Not because we think it is best for them.

No.

Because it is cheaper. 

Because the profit margin is more important than their health. 

The truth is - yes, it is possible for a cat to eat carbohydrates.

Yes these Carbohydrates can be converted into glucose.

Yes they can survive on a diet that has moderate amount of Carbohydrates. 

My point is - should they?

Is it beneficial for them?

Are we putting their needs first?

No.

Pet Food Ingredients - XYZ

XYZ

X-ray

Yankee

Zulu

Me?

No not you Zulu.

Oh.. 

There are no interesting xyz food items to talk about - that I have not already covered in other posts.

So what should I do instead?

How about comparing 3 major brand bags of cat food?

Hills Ideal Balance

Purina One Beyond
 







Orijen
-all grain free
-all fish type

 

Ingredients
Hills Ideal Balance

Salmon, Potatoes, Pea Protein Concentrate, Yellow Peas, Chicken Fat, Potato Starch, Dried Egg Product, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Natural Chicken Liver Flavor, Flaxseed, Lactic Acid, Vegetable & fruit blend (Green Peas, Apples, Cranberries, Carrots, Broccoli)

 

Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Fish Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Iodized Salt, Taurine

 

Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement)

 

Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Phosphoric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Natural Flavors.

Ingredients:

Purina One Beyond

Ocean whitefish, chicken meal, pea protein, pea starch, cassava root flour, dried egg product, beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, dried yeast, canola meal, pea fiber, natural liver flavor, dried sweet potatoes

Phosphoric acid, potassium chloride, salt, sodium bisulfate, choline chloride, taurine, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, calcium carbonate, 

Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

Ingredients:
Orijen 

Whole salmon*, whole herring*, salmon meal, herring meal, Pollock meal, whole flounder*, boneless walleye*, boneless northern pike*, boneless lake whitefish*, salmon oil, herring oil, chickpeas, red lentils, green lentils, green peas, pea fiber, canola oil, sun-cured alfalfa, pumpkin*, butternut squash*, spinach greens*, carrots*, Red Delicious apples*, Bartlett pears*, cranberries*, mixed tocopheral.

Choline Chloride, Vitamin A, vitamin D3, niacin, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, Sodium Selenite.

*delivered fresh


It may be an unfair match up. 

Hills Ideal Balance, Purina Beyond, Orijen 

So two brands that I highly dislike and one brand that I can not get. 

I think it is a great match up - it shows you the difference between a company that will not expand its operations just to make more money - and two that would probably run over a reindeer for 5 bucks. 

I have not tried any of these foods personally. 

Meaning none of the cats or foster cats have tried any - I would probably never actually eat cat food. 


So here we go !

Round 1 - Best Protein

In round 1 we have 

Hills - Ideal balance - Grain Free - Salmon & Potato - Adult Cat


Protein: 33%
Fat:      23%
Carb:    35.7%
Fiber:    0.9%


10 to 15 lb Cat to eat - 3/8 to 3/4 cup  - A Day
First Ingredient - Salmon
Main Ingredient - Peas



Purina - Beyond - Grain Free - Whitefish & Egg - Cat


Protein: 35% - Min
Fat: 14% - Min
Carb: - not listed
Fiber: 4% - Max

10 to 14 lb Cat to eat - 2/3 to 1 cup - A Day
First Ingredient - Ocean Whitefish
Main Ingredient - Peas


Orijen - Six Fish - Cat

Protein: 42%
Fat: 20%
Carb: - not listed
Fiber: - 3%

9 to 13lb Cat to eat - 1/2 to 2/3 cup - A Day
First Ingredient - Salmon
Main Ingredient - Salmon/Herring - Fish (Named)

*****************
Winner of Round 1 - With 42% Protein - non plant protein 

round one goes to Orijen
*****************

Round 2 - Most informative Website 

Hills

• "We make every bag of our dry dog and cat food in our own U.S. facilities with the highest quality natural ingredients from North America and Europe"

• There is an abundance of information available on the Hills website

• Pet Health Questions to ask your vet - not the answers... its what you would bring to the vet and ask them. 

• If you have any questions the will provide you with the right direction - to their food.

• They have special offers
• A large amount of different available products

Purina 

• "95% of Beyond^® products are made in our own factories, all located here in the United States."
• Offers a product comparison  - sort of - limited to what they have already picked to compare.
• Not a lot of useless information - on the Beyond site - the linked Purina site - has a vast amount of information.
• They state Honesty In Pet Food - claiming to aid in helping pet owners understand the myths and truths of their product. 
• You can chat with a pet adviser right from the website

Orijen

• They state that they never outsource their ingredients

• If you want to know where their ingredients are from - Meet their farmers 
• They do not offer a wide variety of items - Just a few foods - and a few treats
• Impressive awards 

• Information is minimal - but useful - explaining Biologically Appropriate foods 

*****************

Winner of Round 2 - with an almost endless amount of information

Round 2 goes to Purina 

*****************

(though personally I do not want or need most of their information)

Round 3 - Over all quality for Cat

Would I feed it?

What about their other products, would I feed them?

Ignoring personal preference - and personal dislike - name one bad and one good thing about each company 

Hills 

•  No I would not feed this to my cats - but I have before (prescription)
• I would probably not feed any Hills products to my pets based on personal preference
• Good thing - They have fantastic marketing skills
• Bad thing - They have fantastic marketing skills

 

Purina 

• No I would not feed this to my cats - but I have previously 
• I would probably not feed and Purina products to my pets because I highly dislike the company in general 
• Good thing - They have been around for a very long time
• Bad thing - They seem to spend more money are marketing then making a better product 

Orijen

• Yes I would feed this to my cats
• I would feed Orijen products to my pets 
• Good thing - They make Biologically Appropriate pet food
• Bad thing - Availability - smaller company 

 

**************

Winner Round 3 - Over all Quality 

round 3 goes to Orijen

**************

Winning round 1 and 3 makes 

 

Orijen the over all winner

In reality this comparison was not all that equal - it was like comparing Apples to Pop Tarts. 

       

Pet Food Ingredients - O- Old School

O

Old School

A look into the history of Pet Food

When was pet food invented?

•  1860 - a man by the name of James Spratt, an American in London (he was there trying to sell lightning rods)

• After watching men toss scraps off the ship to dogs, Mr. Spratt came up with an idea..a profitable one.

• The first pet food was a Dog Cake (Biscuit).

What was in it?

• A baked mixture of wheat, beetroot, and vegetables bound together with beef blood...yummy

I came across a book - The Practical Fisherman
In the book they suggest using Spratts dog cakes as fish food. 
They had no idea how ironically right they were. 

Though some would like to spin James Spratts creation of Dog Cakes as if the man wanted only to help those poor dogs that deserved a better quality of food.

It's possible. 

It is much more likely that he was an inventor who saw a money  making idea and ran with it.

How did they promote this ?

• In the beginning, Dog Cakes were sold to rich dog owners.

• It slowly began to trickle down to the average dog owner.

In 1907 another company created the same thing - but in the shape of a bone!
Say hello to Milkbone!

They say it was invented as a treat in their history - but it was actually created to be a complete meal for dogs- just like Spratts.





A complete meal.. what a farce. 
 











What came after biscuits ?

• Ken-L Rations - founded in 1922

Picture Link

• A wet dog food that contained Horse meat.

After WWI, there was an influx of dead or dying horses. 
Ken-L found a way to profit off of that. 

It worked. 
Soon they were raising Horses for slaughter.

When WWII came to town things changed. 
Meat and Tin were rationed. 

• Dry Dog food became popular again. 

Enter Purina.

After the war there was an economic boom. People were buying houses - supermarkets were created and mass marketing was on the 'to do' list. 

• In 1958 the Pet Food Institute was created. 

The members were comprised of the top pet food companies.

This reminds me of 'Big Pharma" 

A group of people who are making tons of money off what they get you to buy into. 

Much like a drug company trying to inform the public on how to take care of themselves better by buying their product. 

The Pet Food Industry, I believe -  has been trying to pull the wool over our eyes for more than 55 years.
 
"For more than 55 years, PFI has worked with its members to educate the owners of cats and dogs about pet nutrition and health. PFI is dedicated to:

• Promoting the overall care and well-being of pets.
• Supporting initiatives to advance the safety and quality of dog and cat food.
• Supporting research in pet nutrition and the important role of pets in our society.
• Informing and educating the public on pet proper feeding and pet care.
• Representing the pet food industry before federal and state governments."

The Pet Food Institute

 

• In 1964 - the Pet Food Institute began informing people about the dangers of using table scraps to feed their pets. 

Yes it would be absolutely detrimental - to the pet food industry.

If was fantastic marketing on the parts of Ken-L and PFI

Dogs have been fed table scraps for thousands of years- table scraps being used as a term for left overs or trimmings off meat - offerings from humans off their own plate or from their own kitchen. 

What they did not get in scraps, they made up for by hunting. 

There were no processed foods- these were simpler times. You grew food- you ate it. You raised a farm animal then you slaughtered it to feed your family. 

Pigs would eat the scrap potato peals and other food scraps that could be beneficial to an omnivore. 

All of the animals had biologically appropriate diets. 
Until a bunch of people got together and decided that Fido and Fluffy would benefit more from a processed diet.

Sure there were carbohydrates and starches tossed in to Fidos bowl - but generally it would have been in a stew with meat.

Looking out for their own needs, they basically created the first smear campaign.

Table Scraps are bad! 

You are putting your pets at risk! 

Warning!

By doing so, these companies have created a stead flow - from pet to vet. 

 

Fluffy does not do well on a dry diet. She needs water. She is chronically dehydrated.

Why does Fluffy have kidney problems?

 

Fido isn't feeling well. He has put on 15 pounds and is having a very hard time getting up from his naps. 

Why does Fido have Diabetes?

 

Don't worry Mr. Smith, we have a prescription for that. 

Here is also a sample of our Urinary Care dry food for Fluffy.

 

Mr. Jones, I am afraid Fido needs to go on a diet. Here is our Weight Management food.

Here are a few cans as well, you can give it to him as a treat after his insulin injection. But not too much! 

 

 

That of course is just a made up conversation.

 

 

 

How has pet food changed?

• People are starting to educate themselves on what is good and not so good for their pets. 

After years of being told that table scraps are dangerous for our pets - well most of us kinda still think that. 
It's hard to get things out of your head after years of people telling you them. 

• A holistic and natural approach is starting  to become more of the norm. 

Initially it was thought of as a phase. A gimmicky type of new wave pet parenting. 
Maybe it was, but it stuck. 

• The amount of illness in our pets has reach an all time high. Their lives are in danger and we need to get our heads out of our asses and stop taking the word of an industry over instinct. 

Gone are the days of blindly following every single thing we see on tv... now we only follow 95%

..It's a work in progress. 

How has it stayed the same?

• Corn.
• Greed.
• Myths.
• Companies twisting lies into something that benefits them.

 

More and more pet food companies are jumping on the vet wagon. 
They are getting to the students right out of vet school.

Hell they are getting to them during school!

Sometimes it's people from the company doing lectures on pet nutrition. 
Ridiculous. 

It is sad how many go into the Veterinary field hoping to make a difference .. 
Only to be preyed upon by PFI wolves.

What does the future of pet food look like?

 On a negative side:

• Shorter life spans for our cats and dogs.

• Higher vet bills.

• More suffering for these wonderful companions. 

• More profits for the large companies.

On the positive side:

• More educated pet owners.

• Raw pet food diets are becoming much more accepted.

• Less and less people are willing to take the word of a company that is being supported by the profits of pet food companies. 

We are realizing that our pets need us to be their protectors - we need to stand up and fight for their health. 

 

Pet Food Ingredients - M - Myth Busting Buster

M

Myth Busting Buster ( This may be a bunch of posts )
 

First I would like to address the Myth or Fact? section on the Purina web sites.

This irks the crap out of me!


In this post we shall talk about my old friend - Corn
I really am sick of researching corn, I may start getting attacked by corn in my dreams. 
A whole new version of Children of the Corn.
 
What they state :

 

"Corn is an excellent source of many nutrients." 

 

So is excrement

 

"Corn gluten meal is highly digestible."

 

 An iphone may be digested if it is rendered into a powder form.

"Corn is not a common cause of allergies."   

 

Since the reaction if a corn allergy tends to be itching and scratching, and a vet would probably suggest a 'hypoallergenic diet'

So lets take a look at Purina HA- Hypoallergenic Feline Formula

If you guys love corn so much, then why is there only corn oil in your HA food? and it's the seventh ingredient on the list. 

Why not make it second or third like your Cat Chow?

 

"Corn does not appear on the list of most common food allergies in dogs or cats."

Here

Here

Here

Here

"Corn is a high-quality ingredient."  

 

In Corn Flakes & Corn Starch

If it is such a 'high quality ingredient' why is it used in almost all low quality, low cost pet food? 

How does a company stay afloat putting such 'high quality' foods into their $5.99 bags of Cat Chow?

If corn is  such a good thing then why are you making some of your Pro Plan line - Corn Free?

 

"There are five grades of corn quality according to the USDA; grades 1 and 2 are traditionally used in human food products."

"Purina's standard for all of its pet foods is grades 1 and 2"

 

You do realize that humans have a hard time digesting corn right? 

Even top grade AAA corn is still corn. 

The point is, I think corn sucks. 

Cats don't need it.

I swear, it's like you guys buy corn by the bushel or something. 

 

At under $ 4.00 a bushel and $157.00 a metric Ton - You guys might be on to something. 

With the price of Beef rising and the price of Corn dropping...It would be silly to buy a lot of that meat type stuff.

Corn, because we like money.

 

 

 

Pet Food Ingredients - J - JUNK

J

Junk

Flea Collars

Plastic Bags

Ear Tags

Pesticides

Styrofoam

Plastic packaging

Spoiled Grocery Store Meat

Restaurant Grease

Ethoxiquin

Melamine

Propylene Glycol

E coli

Salmonellaa

Amantadine

Feathers

Hooves

Beaks

Mold

Myotoxins

Cancerous Tumors

Carcinogens

Decaying animal parts

Worms

Bowels

Hair

Fur

Excrement

That is a small list of what could possibly be in some pet foods. 

But don't worry! It's all rendered. 

I mean seriously.. Opening up a bag of ol roy and finding a flea collar would even deter the cheapest of cheap. 

At least the worms would add protein. 

I am just kidding. 

The rendering process would remove all of that. 

How do they get away with any of these items being included in your pets lunch?

Unethical companies. 

These are just my thoughts - my ideas of what constitutes bad food, junk food or an unethical company.

I am going to list two bags of Dog food - because I have a story to tell.


Purina. 

I personally think this company is filled with a bunch of money grubbing, unethical jackasses. 

Every day I am learning more and more about the pet food industry - and it is making me angry. 

I heard a person talking about their dog, he was not acting like a young dog should. Not enough energy it seemed. 

What was this dog eating?

Pro Plan Puppy


Ingredients: Chicken (20%), wheat, maize gluten, dehydrated poultry protein, rice (8%), animal fat, maize, digest, beet pulp, dried egg, fish oil, calcium phosphate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, minerals, colostrum, calcium carbonate, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine.

In red are the ingredients that I currently consider to be filler or junk.

DL - Methionine is added to pet foods that are low on the meat protein and heavy on the cereal grains - chances are you will not find this in an actually high protein food, because it can be found naturally in meat and fish. 

Recall the ingredient splitting information? 
Do you see what I am seeing?
I see a low quality bag of cereal with meat sprinkles. 

Maize - Fancy words for Corn does not make it contain less corn!

Dehydrated Poultry Protein? - me thinks that is - Poultry by-product meal.

Not chicken.. poultry. 

A pretty way of saying - rendered- feet, undeveloped eggs, intestines and necks of unidentifiable origin.

 





But hey, the bag is kinda nice looking. Just under $40 for a 7kg bag

*Chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal (natural source of glucosamine), whole grain corn, whole grain wheat, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), pea fibre, fish meal (natural source of glucosamine), dried egg product, animal digest, salt, potassium chloride, fish oil, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, dried colostrum, choline chloride, zinc sulphate, Vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulphate, manganese sulphate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulphate, garlic oil, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, Vitamin D-3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.*

Same Bag - but this is not off their website. This is off their bag.


Dogs and Cats need protein. 
A growing puppy needs nutrients to keep it going - they burn a lot just being silly !

That bag of food could absolutely be the reason for his lack of energy. 

 - I of course am not a vet - I do not make pet food - I am not an animal nutritionist - I am just a random person listening in on a conversation and biting my tongue in regards to my own opinion. 
 
How I have a tongue left at all is a miracle.

***********************************


For just under $40 for a 13.6kg bag


Lifetime Large Breed Chicken & Oatmeal

 Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Whole Barley, Whole Brown Rice, Chicken & Turkey Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Canola Meal, Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Rice Bran, Natural Flavours, Flaxseed, Herring Oil (source of DHA/EPA), Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Mannanoligosaccharides (MOS), Chicory Inulin (FOS), Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Chondroitin Sulphate VITAMINS Vitamin Supplements (A,D,E), Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid MINERALS Zinc Sulphate, Ferrous Sulphate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Chelated Minerals (Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Iron), Manganese Sulphate, Copper Sulphate
 
 ***************************

Do you see the difference ? Cuz I see a difference. 


You will also notice a difference in their web sites. One is much more put together - bright and very professional. 

The other is a bit basic - a no frills kind of site. 

Would you rather have money spent on marketing, or creating a higher quality product at a price that is affordable. ( That also happens to be a Canadian company *bonus)


** I am not stating that Pro Plan contains any of the Junk list..I am also not saying it does not**

Would you be happy with pouring a bowl of cereal for your dogs breakfast every morning?

You may be doing that without even realizing it. 


Read read read read read read... read the damn bag! 
Weird looking word?
Look it up!

Ask me, I will do the digging  - it makes me feel like a detective. 
A detective with horrible grammar and punctuation ...that has conversations with cats.