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How does your Dog Food Brand compare?
Are you concerned about the dry food your dog is eating? Looking for detailed information about certain food ingredients? Confused about inconsistent information about dogfood from pet food manufacturers? Need help comparing dog food brands and finding a better one?
Then you are exactly where I was when I first heard about the disgusting materials some pet food manufacturers put into their products. I picked up a bag of Science Diet and consciously looked at the ingredient list for the first time. Even without any previous knowledge I could see that it did not include any real meat and was preserved with the same chemicals I avoid in human food products. I never bought another bag of Science Diet and started researching and comparing products. One of the things I learned was that any commercial sources are best avoided if you want hard facts, not biased "infomercial" style sales pitches trying to sell you one product or another. Hopefully you will find this site helpful, make up your own mind about different food brands and their quality, choose a better food and who knows - maybe even save some money.
Questions? Feel free to send me an email!
Stop by the Better Dog Care Booth at Nuts For Mutts 2008!
If you want to learn more about healthier ways of feeding your dog, please drop in - I will be available all day on Sunday June 1st at booth #12.
Admin | May 8, 2008 1:16 pm
Today I received the following email from Royal Canin, in response to my message asking why they would support puppy mill misery by attending the Hunte Corp's "Breeder" conference:
Dear Sabine,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us. At Royal Canin, we place a high value on sharing what we know about dogs and cats and their nutritional needs. Our focus is on improving the health of pets through nutrition, and we believe that education is a key factor in implementing improvement. We feel that educating members of the breeding community on the benefits of nutrition helps improve the health of pets.
As a result of feedback like yours, we have reconsidered our position and decided to withdraw from this conference.
Thank you for taking the time to express your opinion and for your shared devotion to animals.
If you have further questions, please reply with your telephone number, and we will contact you directly.
Regards,
Royal Canin USA, Inc
Thanks to everyone who took the time to write and confront them about their sponsorship choices, causing them to change their minds.
Admin | May 3, 2008 4:31 pm
I was forwarded the following information this week, and as a dog lover who is firmly opposed to commercial breeding operations and puppy mills, I think it is important to spread the word:
The Hunte Corp, the largest distributor of puppy mill puppies in the U.S. is hosting its 9th annual "Breeder Educational Conference" on the weekend of September 26th and 27th at the John Q Hammons Convention Center in Joplin, MO.
As per John Sibley's Blog, sponsors of this conference include Nutri Source Dog Food and Royal Canin. As of April 29th, Nutri Source has withdrawn (a big "thank you" to them!), and one of the people who were to be featured as keynote speakers has also withdrawn from participation.
I contacted Royal Canin, asking about their involvement, but have not received a reply yet. If you care about the plight of tens of thousands of dogs literally bred to death in disgusting puppy mills so their sickly and often temperamentally unsound puppies can be sold at pet stores at an immense profit, please take a few minutes and use their email contact form to tell them that you do not do business with companies supporting such misery:
http://www.royalcanin.us/contact/default.aspx
Other keynote speakers at this conference include:
Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia, American Kennel Club Board of Directors
Jerold S. Bell, DVM, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine
Patti Strand, AKC Board member and president of NAIA (a group that represents breeders, pet shop owners etc.)
Admin | April 25, 2008 2:36 pm
From the Evanger's website,
http://www.evangersdogfood.com/about/statement_Joel.html
Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company Responds to FDA News Release
April 25, 2008
To our valued customers:
As a result of a routine inspection of the Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company manufacturing facilities by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the FDA recently raised questions regarding recordkeeping and other issues at the pet food producer’s facilities.
Contrary to a news release issued by the FDA Thursday, April 24, 2008, Evanger’s continues to make and distribute its products with FDA approval. Evanger’s is working closely with the FDA and already has addressed many of the FDA’s questions. Evanger’s expects to have the few remaining FDA queries fully satisfied shortly.
No Evanger’s product has been recalled, nor is there any indication that any Evanger’s product is under-processed, unsafe, or contaminated in any way.
“As our customers, retailers and distributors know, Evanger’s takes the quality and safety of its pet foods very seriously,” said Holly Sher, president of Evanger’s. “Evanger’s has a long history of using only human-grade ingredients in our products. The FDA has not called into question the wholesomeness of any ingredient we use. We are confident Evanger’s products continue to be safe, wholesome and natural, so confident that we continue to feed them daily to our own pets.”
All ingredients in Evanger’s products are sourced in the United States and all manufacturing is done in its suburban Chicago facility. The routine FDA inspection was related only to Evanger’s canned foods and did not cover production its dry pet food products.
As the United States’ oldest natural pet food company, Evanger’s products are known for their human-grade ingredients, including hand-packed meats, fish and poultry, and 100% meat and organic meals.
Consumers and distributors may contact Evanger’s customer service department at US +1 8002886796 Call for further information. In addition, all new or updated information will be immediately posted to our Website, www.evangers.com
ABOUT EVANGER’S DOG & CAT FOOD CO., INC.
Established in 1935, EVANGER’S Dog & Cat Food Company, Inc. is the oldest natural dog food company in the United States. Today, the suburban Chicago company is as innovative as when Fred Evanger first founded it, producing a wide array of human-grade dog and cat food dinners and supplements.
Respectfully,
Joel Sher
Vice President
Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co., Inc.
Admin | April 24, 2008 5:14 pm
From the FDA Website,
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01825.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2008
Media Inquiries:
Kimberly Rawlings, 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA
FDA Orders Pet Food Maker to Obtain Emergency Operating Permit
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an order requiring that Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Co., Inc., in Wheeling, Ill., obtain an emergency permit from the FDA before its canned pet food products enter interstate commerce.
A recent inspection revealed significant deviations from prescribed documentation of processes, equipment, and recordkeeping in the production of the company's thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products. These problems could result in under-processed pet foods, which can allow the survival and growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacterium that causes botulism in some animals as well as in humans.
"As outlined in the Food Protection Plan, the FDA uses a risk-based approach to locate the areas of greatest risk for foods, and targets preventive controls and inspections to those areas, " said Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "The FDA's authority to issue an order requiring an emergency permit is an enforcement tool designed to prevent unsafe foods from reaching consumers.”
The FDA issues an "Order of Need for Emergency Permit” if the agency determines that a company fails to meet the regulatory requirements to process a product that does not present a health risk. For Evanger's to resume business, the company must document that corrective actions and processing procedures have been implemented to ensure that the finished product will not present a health hazard.
Botulism is a powerful toxin that affects the nervous system and can be fatal. The disease has been documented in dogs and cats. Signs of botulism in animals are progressive muscle paralysis, disturbed vision, difficulty in chewing and swallowing, and progressive weakness to the body. Death is usually due to paralysis of the heart or the muscles used in breathing.
In light of human botulism illnesses and recalls that occurred due to under-processed hot dog chili sauce, and potentially under-processed canned green beans, FDA has urged all LACF processors to review their operations and the apply scientific principals and regulations that have been established to provide a safe product.
While FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine has authority over animal feed and foods, CFSAN is responsible for regulating all human and animal LACF processing. The two centers are collaborating on this enforcement action.
Admin | March 2, 2008 12:43 am
I'm answering many, many emails from people asking questions about dog foods on a daily basis. One of the most common topics is dog owners second-guessing themselves after buying a product they read somewhere is "highly rated" or got a "high grade" in some reviews but their dog does poorly on it.
They now wonder whether it was a good idea to switch foods in the first place and if they should go back to the old food, even though the ingredients may not be so great.
The best advice I can give is keep in mind that your dog is an individual and any reviews you come across will always be based on generalities. If your dog has a delicate digestive system, a grain free food may be nice, but the high fat percentage most of them have can pose a major problem.
If you have a dog who is prone to bloat, a very nutrient dense high-calorie food may also not be ideal, even though "popular" reviews may not rate lower fat, lower calorie foods particularly highly.
Brown rice may be more nutritious than white rice, but a dog with a sensitive stomach may benefit from the product that contains white rice, which has had its (sometimes irritating) bran layer already removed.
The bottom line: What's more important to you: how well a food works out for your dog, or what some unknown person (who may or may not even be aware of differing needs in individual dogs) thinks about a product?
Common Fallacies of Dog Food Reviews
Admin | February 8, 2008 8:52 pm
Someone from Della Natura (Wenaewe Organic Dog Food) finally confirmed that their formulations no longer contain menadione.
Yet another product joined the lineup of grain free dog food (list available here): Fromm Family's Grain Free Surf & Turf
Eagle Pack has expanded their Holistic Select line to include Small & Mini Breed Puppy and Adult formulas with very nice, high protein percentages and also a line of single protein treats.
Due to current concerns about the food recall, 50% off basic consultations on canned and dry food!
Available options include recipes for home prepared diets, cooked and raw, individually designed and balanced for your dog, according to the newest nutritional guidelines of the National Research Council (2006).
Check out BetterDogCare.com and contact me today for a consultation.
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