andrew lewis & the healthy -k9.com team the confidential...

The Confidential Dog Food Report 3rd Andrew Lewis & the Healthy-K9.com Team

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Legal Stuff

Copyright

All materials in this book are copyright protected and may not be used commercially, reprinted, distributed, republished or resold in any way unless with prior written consent from the author.

Non-commercial usage is acceptable if the author is referenced by

author name and book name.

Disclaimer

The author of this book is not a trained dog health professional. It is the reader’s responsibility to consult with a licensed, practicing Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine (DVM) (or equivalent in your country) before making any changes to your method of feeding, grooming or any other matter of dog care for any dogs for which you have any responsibility or contribute, in any way, to their care.

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Table of Contents Tip: This Table is Clickable

Legal Stuff ......................................................................... 2

Copyright ....................................................................................... 2

Disclaimer ...................................................................................... 2

Introduction....................................................................... 8

Some Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Food ............................. 9

Menadione ................................................................................ 10

BHA(Butylated Hydroxysanisole) BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene), and ETHOXYQUIN (Preservatives) ................ 12

Carrageenan ............................................................................. 12

Animal Digest (flavoring agent) ................................................ 13

Artificial Colors (Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Titanium Dioxide) .................................................................................... 14

Animal Fat (Fat source) ............................................................ 14

Poultry Fat ................................................................................ 15

Meat and Bone Meal .................................................................. 15

Meat by-product ........................................................................ 15

Dried Beet Pulp ......................................................................... 16

Egg Product/Dried Egg Product ................................................ 17

List of Recommended Commercial Dog Food Brands ........ 19

APD® Select Choice™ ....................................................... 20

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Why It's Worthy .......................................................................... 20

Where to Buy ............................................................................... 21

A Word of Caution ........................................................................ 21

Complete Ingredients Listing ....................................................... 21

Chicken Meal and Rice Formula ................................................. 21

Chicken Meal and Rice Puppy Formula ...................................... 22

Lamb Meal and Rice Renew Skin and Coat Formula ................... 23

The Blue Buffalo Company ............................................... 24

Why It's Worthy .......................................................................... 24

Where to Buy ............................................................................... 25

A Word of Caution ........................................................................ 25


Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe for Adult Dogs ............................ 25

Fish & Sweet Potato Recipe for Adult Dogs ............................... 26

Lamb and Oatmeal Recipe ......................................................... 27

Canidae® For Dogs .......................................................... 29

Why It's Worthy .......................................................................... 29

Where to Buy ............................................................................... 30

A Word of Caution ........................................................................ 30


Canidae® All Life Stages ........................................................... 30

Canidae® Lamb Meal & Rice ...................................................... 31

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Canidae® Platinum™ ................................................................. 32

Fromm Family® ............................................................... 34

Why It's Worthy .......................................................................... 34

Where to Buy ............................................................................... 35

A Word of Caution ........................................................................ 35


Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals® Duck & Sweet Potato............... 35

Fromm Holistic Gold Nutritionals® Adult Gold .......................... 36

Fromm Family Classics® Adult .................................................. 37

Halo, Purely For Pets® ..................................................... 38

Why It's Worthy .......................................................................... 38

Where to Buy ............................................................................... 39

A Word of Caution ........................................................................ 39


Spot's Stew Wholesome Chicken Recipe ................................... 39

Holistic Blend® ................................................................ 41

Why It's Worthy .......................................................................... 41

Where to Buy ............................................................................... 42

A Word of Caution ........................................................................ 42


Lamb & Rice All Life Stages Canine Formula ............................. 43

Chicken, Rice & Vegetable All Life Stages Canine Formula ........ 44

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Natura® ........................................................................... 45

Why It's Worthy .......................................................................... 45

Where to Buy ............................................................................... 46

A Word of Caution ........................................................................ 46


Innova Dog Dry®Adult Dog Food Large Bites ............................ 47

Innova Puppy® ......................................................................... 48

California Natural Chicken Meal & Rice® ................................... 48

Newman's Own® Organics ............................................... 50

Why It's Worthy .......................................................................... 50

Where to Buy ............................................................................... 52

A Word of Caution ........................................................................ 52


Adult Dog Formula .................................................................... 52

Advanced Formula .................................................................... 53

Wellness® ........................................................................ 55

Why It's Worthy .......................................................................... 55

Where to Buy ............................................................................... 56

A Word of Caution ........................................................................ 56


Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe ...... 56

Complete Health Adult Lamb & Barley Recipe ........................... 57

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Complete Health Adult Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe .......... 58

Complete Health Healthy Weight Deboned Chicken & Peas Recipe ................................................................................................. 59

Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley Recipe ....... 60

Popular Brands Not In Our Recommended List ................ 62

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Introduction

Figure 1 - Commercial dog foods are not created equal

We have established that most commercial dog foods are woefully inadequate, and that the best diet is a homemade diet. But three factors may still sway you towards purchasing, rather than making your own food for your pet.

1. You're simply not much of a cook, 2. There's the whole (obvious) convenience factor, and 3. You may not be confident in your abilities to correctly ascertain your

dog's needs, and the appropriate nutritional balance.

As such, for the kitchen-challenged, the impossibly busy, and the faint-of-heart pet owners we have researched and assembled specifically for your convenience the best possible alternative commercial pet foods currently available on the market.

We did the hard work researching which commercial pet feed do not contain ingredients that we believe should be avoided at all cost. First, what are these ingredients and why should you avoid them?

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Some Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Food

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Menadione

Vitamin K is important to control bleeding. But there is an ongoing debate on menadione or the synthetic form of Vitamin K.

3 types of Vitamin K

• Vitamin K1 – found naturally in leafy greens. • Vitamin K2 – produced by the bacteria in a dog’s gut • Vitamin K3 – the synthetic or man-made form of Vitamin K aka

menadione which is added in a number of commercial dog food

Vitamin K1 and K2 are fat soluble and can be used by the body readily as they are.

According to the National Academy of Science, a dog needs very little vitamin K per serving to sustain life — only one part per million.

Now here’s where the debate stems on menadione or Vitamin K3.

Supporters consider menadione as a necessary supplement that should be added in dog food while the opposing side sees it as a potential toxin.

Supporters say that it is important for menadione to be included in dog feed for the following reasons:

• The processing may destroy the potency of the natural vitamin K (K1) • Intestinal disease can hinder the gut bacteria from producing the

natural Vitamin K (K2) • Not all manufacturers use green leafy vegetables in their recipes.

They further contend that menadione should be considered safe since toxic levels are a thousand times greater than the recommended daily dose.

Critics or the opposing side are concerned about the safety of menadione since a number of studies have cited the following effects of menadione

• Liver cell cytotoxicity • Weakened immune systems • Potential mutagenic effects

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• Damage to the natural Vitamin K cycle • Hemolytic anemia and jaundice • Direct toxicity in high doses • Irritation of the skin and mucous membranes • Allergic reactions and eczema

(This information supplied by the website: http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=menadione.)

The FDA has banned the use of menadione from over-the –counter supplements as large doses of this synthetic vitamin have been shown to cause these dangerous effects.

But should we consider menadione as safe for dogs just because the toxic levels are a thousand times higher than the recommended daily dose?

Here’s why we are concerned. While it is true that the amount of menadione added in commercial dog food recipes is very little and such trace amounts is almost certainly safe, dogs (with a commercial dog food diet) are fed the same food every day, meal after meal. And this means dogs on commercial food with menadione are continuously exposed to this controversial substance. It is that cumulative exposure that does not sit well with us.

Plus if you check on the nutrient profiles established by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Vitamin K is not even listed as a required dog food ingredient.

The bottom line for us is this ingredient is banned for human use, so why take the risk on feeding it to our dogs? The combination of being both unnecessary and potentially harmful is enough for us to want to avoid it at all cost, especially when it is so easy to do so.

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http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=menadione


BHA(Butylated Hydroxysanisole) BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene), and ETHOXYQUIN (Preservatives)

These chemicals are used as preservatives or simply to prolong the shelf-life of dog food. They have been banned from human use in a number of countries and in the US, BHT has been banned on baby products.

It’s quite concerning to see these chemicals in dog food as they are possible human carcinogen and in animal experiments they are apparently carcinogenic. Ethoxyquin has been linked to thyroid, kidney, reproductive and immune related illnesses as well as cancer.

Figure 2 - Avoid feeding your dog commercial pet food containing menadione, carrageenan and BHA &BHT

Carrageenan

Just like menadione, there is an ongoing debate on carrageenan. Is it safe or is it not safe? Supporters say that it’s a natural ingredient since it comes from seaweed. Sounds not so harmful at all. However, significant

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research found out that it’s far from natural plus it has been linked to serious health concerns.

There are 2 kinds of carrageenan – degraded and undergraded. Degraded carrageenan is considered as a possible human carcinogen by The International Agency for Research on Cancer. Their research showed that degraded carrageenan led to higher rates of colon cancer in lab animals.

Processors of carrageenan insist that food-grade carrageenan or those added to human food as well as dog food fall in the undergraded category and is therefore safe. However a study showed that not a single sample of food-grade carrageenan could claim with confidence that it is entirely free of cancer-causing material

According to scientific studies, while it is true that degraded carrageenan poses the highest risk of causing cancer, food-grade carrageenan poses similar risks.

The bottom line is, we would rather be on the safe side.

Animal Digest (flavoring agent)

What is animal digest? This is made from unspecified parts of unspecified animals cooked down into a goopy broth. It is sprayed on or added directly to pet feed to enhance flavor and palatability.

The reason why we are concerned about this ingredient is that no quality control is at play. Animal digest can include “4 D animals” (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, misc. roadkill, animals euthanized at shelters, restaurant and supermarket refuse and so on.

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Figure 3 - Artificial colors, animal fat, poultry fat and animal digest are 4 more ingredients to avoid in dog food

Artificial Colors (Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Titanium Dioxide)

Sure those colored kibbles look pretty but your dog does not care on how lovely those colored shapes of kibbles look. Coloring agents are actually intended to get the buyers’ attention.

We recommend that you avoid any pet food with coloring as artificial dyes and coloring agents have been known to cause cancer as well as allergies.

Animal Fat (Fat source)

So why should you be concerned about Animal Fat? Most often Animal Fat is made up of rendered animal fat, restaurant grease, or other oils too rancid or deemed not fit for human consumption.

If it’s not good enough for us why give it to your furry loved one?

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Poultry Fat

Just like animal fat, the origin of poultry fat is not specific. Any kind of poultry animal can be used so there is no control over quality or contamination.

Meat and Bone Meal Meat and Bone meal is another ingredient that is commonly found in

ingredient listing of commercial pet food. Here’s why we are concerned about this ingredient. The animal part used can be from any source so control over quality or contamination is non-existent. Any type of animal can be used including “4 D animals” (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, roadkill, euthanized animals and so on. It can also include pus, cancerous tissue, and decomposed (spoiled) tissue.

Meat by-product

Meat by-products used in pet food are made from organs and animal parts that are either not fit or condemned for human consumption. Meat by-product can include bones, blood, intestines, lungs, ligaments, heads, feet, and feathers. The dreaded “4 D animals” (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter) can also be used.

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Figure 4 - Raw ingredients for meat & bone meal and meat by-products can include 4D animals

Since animal parts used in meat by-products can be from any source there is no control over quality or contamination. Just like meat and bone meal, any kind of animal can be used in meat by-products such as, goats, pigs, horses, rats, roadkill, euthanized animals and so on. It Pus, cancerous tissue, and decomposed or spoiled tissue can also be included.

Dried Beet Pulp

Dried beet pulp is another filler used in many commercial pet feed. It can damage and irritate your dog’s intestinal tract.

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Egg Product/Dried Egg Product

Egg waste is now also being converted into pet food ingredients. In the UK egg and egg products that are not fit to be consumed by human or not intended for human consumption are regarded as animal by-products. They are in the same category as manure and digestive tract content, hides and skins, wool, feathers, shellfish shells and other products of animal origin.

As per the information from http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/04/06/egg-product-as-pet-food.aspx on "Whole Egg Waste"

According to a U.S. pet food ingredient manufacturer who sells dried egg product, there are three main sources of the whole egg waste used in pet food: 'Grader,' 'Breaker,' and 'Hatchery.'

Grader egg waste comes from egg processing facilities that sell to supermarkets. These eggs need to look appealing when grocery shoppers open the carton. Any egg with a cracked or dirty shell is tossed into an 'inedible' bin.

Breaker egg waste comes from facilities that use eggs in prepared or frozen mixes used by restaurants, bakers and other food service outlets. The waste that comes from breaker eggs is mostly egg white left after the yolk is separated.

These two types of whole egg waste are, according to the pet food ingredient company, collected daily, kept refrigerated, and dried within a day of collection.

Hatchery waste is liquid from eggs that didn't hatch. It tends to lead to foul odors in the dried egg product, so it presumably isn't used as often as the other two types of whole egg waste.

All three categories of eggs have been deemed unfit for human consumption.

AAFCO defines egg product as:

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http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/04/06/egg-product-as-pet-food.aspx

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/04/06/egg-product-as-pet-food.aspx


“Product obtained from egg graders, egg breakers, and/or hatchery operations that is dehydrated, handled as liquid or frozen. These shall be labeled as per USDA regulations governing eggs and egg products (9CFR, Part 59). This product shall be free of shells or other non-egg materials except in such amounts which might occur unavoidably in good processing practices, and contain a maximum ash content of 6% on a dry matter basis.”

Our main concern about egg product is that there is just no way of telling what it is exactly, where it came from or how it was processed before adding it into commercial pet feed. If the dog food brand you trust uses egg product you can get in touch with the manufacturer and query where they source their egg product. They may or may not be using egg waste product.

The list we came up with is comprised of dog food brands that are free from these questionable ingredients. We can proudly say that this is a list of only the most elite commercial dog foods.

The manufacturers featured here tend toward the holistic or organic bias. They all favor natural ingredients, and avoid unnecessary additives and preservatives. And, surprisingly, most also tend toward the economical stratum as well.

So, if you have to buy, at least buy well. . .

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List of Recommended Commercial Dog Food Brands

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APD® Select Choice™

Figure 5 - APD Select Choice dog food products from Breeder's Choice Pet Foods

Why It's Worthy APD® Select Choice™ dog foods are a product line of Breeder's Choice

Pet Foods and provide superior nutrition, naturally. Advanced Pet Diet products are:

Made with high quality meat proteins Made without chemical preservatives such as BHA or BHT Antioxidant-rich All-natural Highly digestible formula Fortified for strong teeth and bones Nutrient rich for healthy immune system DHA-enriched for healthy brain and eye development Made with probiotics to aid digestion Free of "by-products" Completely guaranteed

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Formulated to promote healthy skin and healthy coat Designed to meet the changing stages of a dog's life

Where to Buy APD® Select Choice™ website

(http://www.apdselectchoice.com/index.htm) features a search engine that locates the store retailer nearest you just by entering your zip code. Stores carrying its products are available throughout the United States and Canada.

A Word of Caution

The makers of APD® Select Choice™ recommend a five day transition before feeding Select Choice exclusively, which is outlined in detail on their website. They indicate that an abrupt diet change is likely to cause a disruption in your pet's digestive pattern.

Complete Ingredients Listing The following are complete ingredients listings for a sampling of the

APD® Select Choice™ dry dog foods:

Chicken Meal and Rice Formula

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Ground Whole Brown Rice, Ground Whole Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pearl Barley, Natural Flavor, Salmon Meal, Canola Oil, Flax Seed, Yucca Schidigera, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product,

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http://www.apdselectchoice.com/index.htm


Minerals

Potassium Chloride, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, , Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate.

Vitamins

Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Biotin

Chicken Meal and Rice Puppy Formula

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Ground Whole Brown Rice, Ground Whole Rice, Lamb Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid), Pearled Barley, Rice Bran, Natural Flavor, Salmon Meal, Canola Oil, Flax Seed, Calcium Carbonate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product,

Minerals

Potassium Chloride, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium

Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate

Figure 6 - APD® Select Choice™ Chicken Meal and Rice Formula

Figure 7 - APD® Select Choice™ Chicken Meal and Rice Puppy Formula

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Vitamins

Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, ,Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Biotin

Lamb Meal and Rice Renew Skin and Coat Formula

Ingredients

Lamb Meal, Ground Whole Brown Rice, Ground Whole Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid), Rice Bran, Flax Seed, Sunflower Seed, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavor, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product,

Minerals

Potassium Chloride, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate.

Vitamins

Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin A Acetate,Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Biotin

Figure 8 - APD® Select Choice™Lamb Meal and Rice Renew Skin andCoat Formula

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The Blue Buffalo Company

Figure 9 - The Blue Buffalo Company promises "Unsurpassed Nutrition and Ultimate Protection"

Why It's Worthy

Blue™ is named for the large breed, cancer-stricken Airedale who inspired the creation of this company. They promise, "Unsurpassed Nutrition and Ultimate Protection." The Blue™ dog foods use:

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Chicken, Lamb or Fish as the first ingredient Healthy whole grains, vegetables and fruits No animal by-products No artificial preservatives or flavors

Where to Buy The Blue™ website (http://www.bluebuff.com) features a search engine

for locating stores carrying its products in the United States and Canada as well as online retailers.

A Word of Caution The makers of Blue™ recommends a gradual transition to their foods

from your dog's current brand, and offer specific feeding and transition guidelines to do so. Also, only recently did Blue™ remove Menadione from its products. Products labeled with a "best used by" date of October 07 and thereafter are menadione free.


Blue™ dry dog foods:

Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe for Adult Dogs

Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Peas, Tomato Pomace (source of Lycopene), Natural Chicken

Figure 10 - Blue™ Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe for AdultDogs

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http://www.bluebuff.com/

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Deboned%20Chicken

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Chicken%20Meal

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Whole%20Ground%20Brown%20Rice

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Whole%20Ground%20Brown%20Rice

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Whole%20Ground%20Barley

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Oatmeal

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Chicken%20Fat%20(preserved%20with%20Mixed%20Tocopherols)

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Chicken%20Fat%20(preserved%20with%20Mixed%20Tocopherols)

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Peas

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Tomato%20Pomace%20(source%20of%20Lycopene)

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Tomato%20Pomace%20(source%20of%20Lycopene)

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Natural%20Chicken%20Flavor


Flavor, Whole Potatoes, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Alfalfa Meal, Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Cranberries, Apples, Blackberries, Pomegranate, Spinach, Pumpkin, Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Garlic, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Turmeric, Sunflower Oil (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Fish Oil (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Dried Chicory Root, Oil of Rosemary, Salt, Caramel, Dried Yeast (source of Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product

Minerals

Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Potassium Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate

Vitamins

Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), d-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride

Fish & Sweet Potato Recipe for Adult Dogs

Ingredients

Deboned Whitefish, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Menhaden Fish Meal, Oatmeal, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace (source of Lycopene), Whole Sweet Potatoes, Natural Fish Flavor, Whole Potatoes, Peas, Whole Carrots,

Figure 11 - Blue™ Fish & Sweet Potato Recipe for Adult Dogs

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http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Natural%20Chicken%20Flavor

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Flaxseed%20(source%20of%20Omega%203%20and%206%20Fatty%20Acids)

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Flaxseed%20(source%20of%20Omega%203%20and%206%20Fatty%20Acids)

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Alfalfa%20Meal

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Whole%20Carrots

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Whole%20Sweet%20Potatoes

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Whole%20Sweet%20Potatoes

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Blueberries

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Cranberries

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Apples

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Blackberries

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Pomegranate

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Spinach

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Pumpkin

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Barley%20Grass

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Dried%20Parsley

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Dried%20Parsley

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Garlic

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Dried%20Kelp

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Yucca%20Schidigera%20Extract

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23L-Carnitine

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23L-Lysine

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23L-Lysine

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Glucosamine%20Hydrochloride

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Turmeric

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Sunflower%20Oil%20(source%20of%20Omega%206%20Fatty%20Acids)

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Sunflower%20Oil%20(source%20of%20Omega%206%20Fatty%20Acids)

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Dried%20Chicory%20Root

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Dried%20Chicory%20Root

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Oil%20of%20Rosemary

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Salt

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Dried%20Yeast%20(source%20of%20Saccharomyces%20cerevisiae)

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Dried%20Yeast%20(source%20of%20Saccharomyces%20cerevisiae)

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Dried%20Lactobacillus%20acidophilus%20fermentation%20product

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Dried%20Lactobacillus%20acidophilus%20fermentation%20product

http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/healthy-holistic-blue-life-protection-formula/lpf-adult-chicken-and-brown-rice-recipe/%23Dried%20Bacillus%20subtilis%20fermentation%20product


Blueberries, Cranberries, Apples, Blackberries, Pomegranate, Spinach, Pumpkin, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Garlic, Alfalfa Meal, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Turmeric, Sunflower Oil (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Chicory Root, Oil of Rosemary, Salt, Caramel, Dried Yeast (source of Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product

Minerals

Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride,

Vitamins

Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), d-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement

Lamb and Oatmeal Recipe

Ingredients

Deboned Lamb, Oatmeal, Whole Ground Barley, Turkey Meal, Peas, Menhaden Fish Meal (source of DHA-Docosahexaenoic Acid), Whole Ground Brown Rice, Tomato Pomace (source of Lycopene), Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Whole Potatoes, Sunflower Oil (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Fish Oil (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Alfalfa Meal,

Figure 12 - Blue™ Lamb and Oatmeal Recipe

27


Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Cranberries, Apples, Blackberries, Pomegranate, Spinach, Pumpkin, Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Garlic, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Turmeric, Dried Chicory Root, Oil of Rosemary, Salt, Caramel, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Yeast (source of Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.

Minerals

Calcium Carbonate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Potassium Chloride

Vitamins

Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), d-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement

28


Canidae® For Dogs

Figure 13 - Canidae® boasts, "Superior quality in every bag"

Why It's Worthy Canidae® boasts, "Superior quality in every bag," with no corn, wheat,

soy, grain fractions, fillers or "by-products." Listed among its benefits:

Four human grade meats -- Chicken, Turkey, Lamb & Fish Ten natural skin & coat conditioners Balanced Omega 6 & 3 fatty acids Digestive enzymes, probiotics & superior digestibility Antioxidant vitamins & amino acid chelated minerals

29


Palatability Formulated for all life stages -- puppies, adult, seniors & overweight Completely guaranteed

Where to Buy The Canidae® website (http://www.canidae.com/) features a search

engine for locating stores in the United States carrying its products.

A Word of Caution The makers of Canidae® do not specify whether the food should be

introduced gradually or not. However, they do offer very specific, easy to understand feeding guidelines for puppies, adults, seniors and overweight and pregnant dogs.


Canidae® dry dog foods:

Canidae® All Life Stages

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Rice Bran, Peas, Potatoes, Oatmeal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Millet, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed Meal, Ocean Fish Meal, Choline Chloride, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Inulin (From Chicory Root),

Figure 14 - Canidae® All Life Stages

30

http://www.canidae.com/


Lecithin, Sage Extract, Cranberries, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract, Sunflower Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Papaya, Pineapple

Minerals

Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite

Vitamins

Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid

Canidae® Lamb Meal & Rice

Ingredients

Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Cracked Pearled Barley, Rice Bran, Peas, Millet, Canola Oil, Lamb, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed Meal, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Inulin (From Chicory Root), Lecithin, Sage Extract, Cranberries, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract, Sunflower Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Trichoderma

Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Papaya, Pineapple

Figure 15 - Canidae® Lamb Meal& Rice

31


Minerals


Vitamins


Canidae® Platinum™

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Rice Bran, Peas, Potatoes, Oatmeal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Millet, Turkey Meal, Lamb Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed Meal, Ocean Fish Meal, Choline Chloride, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Psyllium Seed Husks, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Inulin (From Chicory Root), Lecithin, Sage Extract, Cranberries, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract, Sunflower Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried

Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Papaya, Pineapple

Figure 16 - Canidae® Platinum™

32


Minerals


Vitamins


33


Fromm Family®

Figure 17 - Fromm Family® consider themselves the pioneers of "premium pet food," first introducing the concept in 1949

Why It's Worthy

Fromm Family® offers, "Three incredibly refined product lines," that are naturally formulated in "small batches" for quality assurance. The product lines are Four-Star Gourmet, Holistic Gold Nutritionals and Fromm Family Classics. They consider themselves the pioneers of "premium pet food," first introducing the concept in 1949. Their products are,

Only fresh, natural ingredients, including hand-trimmed meats Free of chemicals, artificial flavors, preservatives, "by-products" or

fillers Highly palatable Easily digestible due to the use of prebiotics and probiotics Corn and wheat-free

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Formulated with optimum fatty acids ratio Completely guaranteed

Where to Buy The Fromm Family® website (http://frommfamily.com/) features search

engines for both online and brick-and-mortar retailers. Stores carrying its products are available throughout the United States and Internationally. They also include an application to become a dealer, and consider themselves, "selective in [their] retailers."

A Word of Caution

The makers of Fromm Family® do not specify whether the food should be introduced gradually or directly, but they do offer very specific, easy to understand feeding guidelines.

Complete Ingredients Listing

Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals® Duck & Sweet Potato

Ingredients

Duck, Duck Meal, Pearled Barley, Sweet Potatoes, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, White Rice, Dried Whole Egg, Millet, Dried Tomato Pomace, Safflower Oil, Cheese, Flaxseed, Carrots, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Apples, Green Beans, Chicken Cartilage, Cranberries, Blueberries, Salt, Chicory Root Extract, Alfalfa Sprouts, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Parsley, Probiotics.

35

http://frommfamily.com/


Minerals

Calcium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Copper, Cobalt, Iodine, Selenium

Vitamins

Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, Choline Chloride, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Riboflavin, Thiamine, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Biotin

Fromm Holistic Gold Nutritionals® Adult Gold

Ingredients

Duck, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Oatmeal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Chicken Fat, Lamb, Potatoes, Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Whole Egg, Salmon Oil, Cheese, Flaxseed, Brewers Dried Yeast, Alfalfa Meal, Carrots, Lettuce, Celery, Chicken Cartilage, Salt, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Probiotics

Minerals


Vitamins


Figure 18 - Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals® Duck & Sweet Potato

Figure 19 - Fromm Holistic Gold Nutritionals® Adult Gold

36


Fromm Family Classics® Adult

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Oatmeal, White Rice, Chicken Fat, Menhaden Fish Meal, Dried Whole Egg, Beet Pulp, Cheese, Flaxseed,Brewers Dried Yeast, Salt, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Probiotics

Minerals


Vitamins


Figure 20 - Fromm Family Classics® Adult

37


Halo, Purely For Pets®

Figure 21 - Halo, Purely For Pets® advocates, "Natural and Holistic Pet Care."

Why It's Worthy Halo, Purely For Pets® advocates, "Natural and Holistic Pet Care." Their

food product is:

All natural Of human-grade quality Comprised of USDA-approved chicken and vegetables (carrots,

zucchini, squash, green beans and celery) Free of chemicals, artificial flavors, preservatives, "by-products" or

fillers

38


Halo contends their product is the equivalent of a balanced, homemade

diet, without all the work. They also "guarantee" noticeable health benefits in just 30 days. Halo prides itself in having never been recalled ever.

Where to Buy

Halo's website (http://www.halopets.com/) has a convenient retail locator feature. You can also order directly from their website. Halo encourages you to contact their customer support staff at 800-426-4256 to or via email for feedback on their products, services or the company.

A Word of Caution

Halo does not specify whether the food should be introduced gradually or directly, but they do offer very specific, easy to understand feeding guidelines.


Per their website, the following is a complete ingredients listing for Halo, Purely For Pets® dry dog food:

Spot's Stew Wholesome Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

Chicken, Eggs, Pea Protein, Oats, Vegetable Broth, Pearled Barley, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols And Citric Acid), Whole Peas, Chicken Liver,

Figure 22 - Spot's Stew Wholesome Chicken Recipe

39

http://www.halopets.com/


Salmon, Flax Seed, Salmon Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Pea Fiber, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, Green Beans, Carrots, Cranberries, Zucchini, Alfalfa, Inulin, Salt, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product.

Minerals

Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Magnesium Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Taurine

Vitamins

Folic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement ,Choline Bitartrate, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Ascorbic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin

40


Holistic Blend®

Figure 23 - Holistic Blend® offers, 100% natural dry dog food formulas and certified organic canned food formulas

Why It's Worthy Holistic Blend® offers, 100% natural dry dog food formulas and certified organic canned food formulas. This Canadian company lists among the highlights:

Recommended by both holistic and conventional veterinarians DHA for brain development

41


Free range meats Chelated minerals, whole grains, fruits, antioxidants and herbs Minimally-processed ingredients cooked at low temperature heat Hypo-allergenic Promotes healthy skin and coat Highly digestible and palatable Balanced Omega 6 & 3 fatty acids (5-1 ratio) Ingredients allow for smaller feeding portions Free of BHA/BHT, ethoxyquin, artificial additives, colors and flavors Made without animal "by-products," growth hormones, corn, wheat,

sugar, salt, beet pulp or soya.

Where to Buy

The Holistic Blend® website (http://holisticblend.com) features a store locator search engine for Canada, US, and Puerto Rico.

A Word of Caution

The makers of Holistic Blend® boast that their products have been:

“formulated to exceed the standards set by AAFCO nutrient profiles. However, all pet foods when cooked or baked at a temperature exceeding 290 degrees Fahrenheit will cause some of the vitamins and minerals to be destroyed. We don't believe any pet food manufactured under these conditions to be 100% completely balanced, and suggest supplementing to obtain the maximum level of nutrition.”

Additionally, unlike most of the other companies listed here, they do not use probiotics or digestive enzymes. They assert,

42

http://holisticblend.com/en/


“Contrary to what other commercial pet feed companies will tell you, probiotics and digestive enzymes are heat-sensitive, and are destroyed at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember, other commercial pet feed is cooked or baked at a minimum of 290 degrees Fahrenheit.”


The following are complete ingredients listings for a sampling of the Holistic Blend® dry dog foods:

Lamb & Rice All Life Stages Canine Formula

Ingredients

Lamb Meal, Whole Ground Millet, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Wild Salmon Meal, Yeast Culture, flax Meal, Sunflower Oil, Alfalfa, L-Lysine, Cranberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Cinnamon Powder, Rosemary Extract.

Minerals

Calcium Carbonate, Ferrous Sulphate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Proteinate, Sodium Selenite,

Manganese Proteinate, Cobalt Sulphate, Calcium Iodate, Copper Proteinate.

Vitamins

Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin,

Figure 24 - Holistic Blend® Lamb & Rice All Life Stages Canine Formula

43


Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Chicken, Rice & Vegetable All Life Stages Canine Formula

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Whole Brown Rice, Hulless Barley, Chicken Meat, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols, A Source Of Vitamin E), Potato, Natural Chicken flavour, Sunflower Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols, A Source Of Vitamin E), Wild Salmon Meal, Dried Whole Eggs, flax Meal, Yeast Culture, Dried Kelp, Tomato, Carrots, Pumpkin, Cranberries, Spinach, Broccoli, Green Apple, Blueberries, Pears, Bananas, Rosemary Extract, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Capsicum, Chamomile, Dandelion, Paprika

Minerals

Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, L-Lysine.

Vitamins

Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, L-Ascorbyl (Source Of Vitamin C), Inositol, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Beta-Carotene, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement

Figure 25 - Holistic Blend® Chicken, Rice & Vegetable All Life Stages Canine Formula

44


Natura®

Figure 26 Natura® Pet Products brand encompasses 4 pet foods for dogs: Innova, California Natural, Healthwise and Evo

Why It's Worthy

The Natura® Pet Products brand encompasses 4 pet foods for dogs: Innova, California Natural, Healthwise and Evowhich cater to different pet needs and life stages.. Natura®also carries Mother Nature which for healthy pet treats. Natura® pet foods:

Are of human-grade, all-natural quality

45


Are free of "by-products" Use whole pet food ingredients that are nutrient–rich and unaltered Comprised of USDA-inspected chicken, turkey and lamb Use only Grade-A dairy products Are free of artificial preservatives, colors or additives

Where to Buy

Natura's website (http://www.naturapet.com/) features a search engine for locating a local store that carries its products in the US and Canada. The company does not offer online purchasing, nor does it encourage internet retail.

Their website "was developed as a consumer education resource where pet owners can learn about pet nutrition, ingredients and to compare the many brands of pet food side by side." They do include handy tools such as the Feeding Profile Wizard (how much should you feed your pet?), the Product Wizard (which one is right for your pet?), The Comparison Wizard (compare their foods with other popular and comparable brands) and the Ingredient Wizard (detailed information on hundreds of pet food ingredients).

A Word of Caution

Natura® does not indicate whether their different varieties should be offered gradually or can be introduced directly.


46

http://www.naturapet.com/


Per their website’s Ingredient Wizard, the following are complete ingredients listings for a sampling of the Natura® dry dog foods:

Innova Dog Dry®Adult Dog Food Large Bites

Ingredients

Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Barley, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols a Source of Vitamin E), Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Peas, Sunflower Oil, Eggs, Apples, Tomatoes, Carrots, Blueberries, Pumpkin, Herring, Salt, Pears, Menhaden Oil, Cottage Cheese, Green Beans, Parsnips, Alfalfa Sprouts, Dried Enterococcus faecium, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus, Dried Lactobacilus casei, Rosemary Extract

Minerals

Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate

Vitamins

Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Betaine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Beta Carotene, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Folic Acid

Figure 27 - Innova Dog Dry® Adult Dog Food Large Bites

47


Innova Puppy®

Ingredients

Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Barley, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Peas, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols a Source of Vitamin E), Herring, Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Menhaden Oil, Apples, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Carrots, Pumpkin, Eggs, Salt, Pears, Sunflower Oil, Dried Chicory Root Extract, Cottage Cheese, Green Beans, Parsnips, Alfalfa Sprouts, Dried Enterococcus faecium, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus, Dried Lactobacilus casei, Rosemary Extract

Minerals


Vitamins

Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Betaine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Beta Carotene, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Folic Acid

California Natural Chicken Meal & Rice®

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Rice, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a Source of Vitamin E), Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Salt, Rosemary Extract

Minerals

Figure 28 - Innova Puppy®

48



Vitamins

Vitamin E Supplement, Betaine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Beta

Carotene, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Folic Acid

Figure 29 - California Natural Chicken Meal & Rice®

49


Newman's Own® Organics

Figure 30 - More than 70% of all ingredients used in the formulation of all Newman's Own® Organics pet foods are organic.

Why It's Worthy

More than 70% of all ingredients used in the formulation of all Newman's Own® Organics foods are organic.

Organic refers to the food and also to how the food is produced. The growing or raising of organic food is based on a system of feeding and farming that mimics natural ecosystems and maintains and replenishes the fertility of the soil.

Organic foods are also produced without the use of chemical pesticides, are minimally processed and are not irradiated or contain any chemical additives or preservatives.

50


Newman's Own® Organics foods:

Boast the use of Bell & Evans Chickens, which are raised in a free-

roaming, stress-free environment, and fed an all-natural, completely all-vegetable diet that does not contain any types of antibiotics, preservatives, additives, hormones or steroids

Use "chicken meal," provided by Bell & Evans which is said to be preferable to whole chicken meat as it is a concentrated, protein-rich powder containing 10% water and no fat

Are free of all "by-products", chemical additives, artificial preservatives, colors and dyes

Are free of wheat, corn or soy Use organic, nutrient-rich brown rice Are free of brewer's rice Use Probiotics, which promote normal bowel health and help in

digestion and conversion of food into nutrients, and which are added after the food has been cooked, which preserves their effectiveness

Use chelated minerals (joining minerals to a protein), which increases the body’s ability to absorb

Contain high levels of antioxidants, including Ester-C®, which is a potent water-soluble antioxidant that may enhance the absorption of Vitamin C Are complete and balanced and meet all the nutritional guidelines set by the AAFCO

Additionally, Paul Newman gives away all his after-tax profits from the

royalties from Newman’s Own® and Newman’s Own® Organics to educational and charitable organizations. Paul and Nell Newman, "have chosen to donate all of the charity money generated by the sale of the pet food to organizations that support animals’ well-being."

51


Where to Buy

Newman’s Own® Organics pet food will be sold initially in independent specialty pet stores nationwide. The website (http://www.newmansownorganics.com/pet) features a store locator (for the US only) search engine to assist you. The website also has links to its online retailers.

A Word of Caution

Newman’s Own ® Organics does not indicate whether their different varieties should be offered gradually or can be introduced directly. In addition, because they are available only in specialty stores, these products may be hard to come by in your area. For this writer, the closest store carrying Newman’s Own ® Organics pet foods is 20 miles away.

Further, Newman's Own® website asserts that the use of the phrase "human grade ingredients" on its packaging (as we have seen on many other products) is prohibited by the AAFCO. Nonetheless, they maintain that the use of Bell & Evans chicken and organic grains are human grade and fit for human consumption.

Complete Ingredients Listing Per Newman's Own®, the following are complete ingredients listings

for a sampling of their dry dog foods:

Adult Dog Formula

Ingredients

Chicken, Organic Barley, Organic Oats, Organic Peas, Chicken Meal, Organic Sorghum, Organic Soybean Meal,

Figure 31 - Newman’s Own ® Organics Adult Dog Formula

52

http://www.newmansownorganics.com/pet


Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Organic Brown Rice, Organic Millet, Organic Rice, Organic Flax Seed, Dicalcium Phosphate, Organic Carrots, Natural Flavors, Salt, Dried Kelp, Parsley Rosemary Extract, Dehydrated Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dehydrated Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dehydrated Bifidobacterium Thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dehydrated Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product

Minerals

Potassium Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Complex (Source of Chelated Zinc), Iron Amino Acid Complex (Source of Chelated Iron), Manganese Amino Acid Complex (Source of Chelated Manganese), Copper Amino Acid Complex (Source of Chelated Copper), Cobalt Proteinate (Source of Chelated Cobalt), Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide (Source of Iodine), Sodium Selenite

Vitamins

Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Lecithin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Biotin

Advanced Formula

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Organic Oats, Organic Barley, Organic Peas, Organic Soybean Meal, Organic Sorghum, Organic Brown Rice, Organic Millet, Organic Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Organic Flax Seed, Dicalcium Phosphate, Organic Carrots, Natural Flavors, Salt, Lecithin, Parsley, Rosemary Extract, Dehydrated Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dehydrated Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dehydrated Bifidobacterium

Figure 32 - Newman’s Own ® Organics Advanced Formula 53


Thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dehydrated Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product.

Minerals

Potassium Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Complex (Source of Chelated Zinc), Iron Amino Acid Complex (Source of Chelated Iron), Manganese Amino Acid Complex (Source of Chelated Manganese), Copper Amino Acid Complex (Source of Chelated Copper), Cobalt Proteinate (Source of Chelated Cobalt), Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide (Source of Iodine), Sodium Selenite

Vitamins

Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Biotin

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Wellness®

Figure 33 - Wellness® boasts of creating balanced diets, "similar to high quality human diets --a healthy blend of meats, vegetables and grains."

Why It's Worthy For dogs, Wellness® created balanced diets, "similar to high quality human diets -- a healthy blend of meats, vegetables and grains." Wellness®

products:

Use real, USDA-inspected, hormone-free meat as the first ingredient and primary source of protein

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Provide healthy fiber and energy via wholesome grains such as rice, barley and oatmeal

Derive all-natural antioxidant protection through the use of fruits and vegetables

Use wholesome vegetable fats and oils for skin and coat health Include Pre- and Probiotics to aid digestion Are free of animal "by-products" and fillers, corn, wheat, soy and dairy Are free of artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT & EQ), colors and flavors Employ a host of phyto-nutrients, vitamins and minerals

Wellness® products include canned and dry formulas for puppies, adults, seniors and special-needs.

Where to Buy The Wellness® line is a product of Old Mother Hubbard® pet foods. The

website (https://www.wellnesspetfood.com/index.aspx) features a search engine for both online and brick-and-mortar retailers.

A Word of Caution Old Mother Hubbard® recommends a gradual transition to its

Wellness® line over the period of several days.

Complete Ingredients Listing Per the manufacturer, the following are complete ingredients listings

for Wellness® dry dog foods:

Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe

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https://www.wellnesspetfood.com/index.aspx


Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice, Rye Flour, Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Whitefish, Tomatoes, Carrots, Natural Chicken Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Ground Millet, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, Chicory Root Extract, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Garlic Powder, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried

Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride.

Minerals

Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate

Vitamins

Vitamin E Supplement, Beta-Carotene, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Biotin, Folic Acid

Complete Health Adult Lamb & Barley Recipe

Ingredients

Lamb, Menhaden Fish Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice, Rye Flour, Tomato Pomace, Salmon

Figure 34 - Wellness® Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe

Figure 35 - Wellness® Complete Health Adult Lamb & Barley Recipe

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Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomatoes, Ground Millet, Natural Lamb Flavor, Carrots, Ground Flaxseed, Spinach, Apples, Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Chicory Root Extract, Garlic Powder, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Taurine

Minerals


Vitamins


Complete Health Adult Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe

Ingredients

Whitefish, Ground Barley, Rye Flour, Menhaden Fish Meal, Ground Pearled Barley, Sweet Potatoes, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Fish Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve

Figure 36 - Wellness® Complete Health Adult Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe

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freshness, Taurine, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract.

Minerals


Vitamins


Complete Health Healthy Weight Deboned Chicken & Peas Recipe

Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Barley, Rye Flour, Peas, Tomato Pomace, Tomatoes, Natural Chicken Flavor, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Carrots, Ground Flaxseed, Spinach, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Apples, Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Taurine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Chicory Root Extract, Garlic Powder, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product,

Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract.

Figure 37 - Wellness® Complete Health Healthy Weight Deboned Chicken & Peas Recipe

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Minerals

Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate

Vitamins


Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley Recipe

Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Rye Flour, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Tomato Pomace, Whitefish, Natural Chicken Flavor, Tomatoes, Ground Flaxseed, Ground Millet, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Carrots, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Blueberries, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Taurine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Chicory Root Extract, Garlic Powder, Spinach, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation

Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract.

Figure 38 - Wellness® Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley Recipe

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Minerals


Vitamins


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Popular Brands Not In Our Recommended List

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Here are some of the popular brands that did not make it in our recommended list. We also included the reason/s why they did not make the cut.

Alpo – The use of chicken by-products, poultry by-product meal and corn as the first ingredient.

Eukanuba – The use of chicken by-product meal, fish meal and dried egg product.

Iams - The use of chicken by-product meal, fish meal and dried egg product.

Pedigree – Corn as the 1st ingredient listed plus the use of chicken by-product meal, meat meal, meat and bone meal, animal fat, BHA and BHT

Kibbles n’ Bits – Corn as the 1st ingredient listed, soybean meal as the 2nd ingredient, beef and bone meal, animal fat, BHA & BHT, animal digest, artificial flavoring and coloring.

Purina Pro Plan – The use of menadione sodium bisulfate, poultry by-product, animal digest, dried egg product, dried beet pulp plus nonspecific animal fat source

Purina One – The use of menadione sodium bisulfate, poultry-by product, animal digest

Purina Veterinary Diets – The use of menadione sodium bisulfate, poultry-by product

Purina Beyond - The use of menadione sodium bisulfate, dried egg product

Purina Beneful – Corn as the first ingredient listed plus the use of menadione sodium bisulfate, animal digest, use of artificial colors

Purina Chef Michael’s – The use of menadione sodium bisulfate, poultry-by product, animal digest, artificial colors

Hill’s Prescription Diet (Dry Weight Loss/Solution) – The use of dried beet pulp

Hill’s Ideal balance – The use of dried beet pulp

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Hill’s Science Diet – The use of chicken by-product meal, animal fat and dried egg product.

Ol Roy from Walmart – The use of menadione sodium bisulfate, corn listed as 1st ingredient, corn germ meal as 2nd ingredient, meat and bone meal, soybean meal, beef tallow, animal digest, artificial colors.

Healthy Advantage – Ingredients include dried egg product, dried beet pulp chicken by-product

Affinity - Animal fat and beetroot pulp are used in the product. Brekkies – Cereals as the 1st listed ingredient, non-specific

meat and meat products, the use of artificial colors Nutro - The use of dried beet pulp which can irritate and

damage intestinal tract. Cesar – The use of carrageenan – a suspected carcinogen Diamond – The use of dried beet pulp, egg product, non-

specific fish meal Tuffy’s Gold - The use of menadione sodium bisulfite complex,

beet pulp, chicken-by-product meal, poultry fat, dried egg product, non-specific fish meal

Tuffy’s Professional Feed Farm – The use of menadione sodium bisulfite complex, poultry-by-product meal, beet pulp, non-specific fish meal, poultry fat, BHA preservative

Tuffy’s Retail/Grocery – The use of corn as the 1st or 2nd listed ingredient, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, meat and bone meal, poultry fat, BHA preservative, non-specified origin fish meal, poultry-by product, animal fat

Tuffy’s Supreme Pet Foods – The use of menadione sodium bisulfite complex, poultry-by product, poultry fat or animal fat, BHA preservative, beet pulp

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