Dog Food Nutrition Comparison

Blue Dog’s Pet Nutrition Revolution

After the recent pet food recalls, I conducted a dog food nutrition comparison and re-evaluated my dogs’ diets and educated myself about the pet food industry. What to feed your pet companions has become a hot topic among pet people of all backgrounds. Different philosophies abound from your friends, your vet, pet food companies, TV ads, books, etc. It’s hard to know what to believe.

To begin, the best way to approach any decision about your pet’s nutrition is becoming informed about what’s really in the food you are feeding and what the best options are for your individual pet’s needs. I have given a list of references at the bottom of the page so you can education yourself on these topics.

In the past few months, I have poured over as much information as I could get my hands on, spoke to as many people as I could on the topic, and had my eyes widely opened. I thought I had been feeding the best, most nutritious diet I could. I was not on many levels.
To be clear, I am a dog trainer, not a nutritionist. This article does not replace doing your own research, information gathering and decision making. That said, I do feel that I have learned enough to at least light a fire under other pet people to get them to look into their pet food choices.

Why does a “dog trainer” care about nutrition? In my years of experience with both my own and my client’s fur companions, I can say without hesitation that pet nutrition is strongly linked to behavior, just as poor (sugar, fast food, etc.) quality diets are linked to behavior problems in children. Trying to learn, process information, or simply be calm when you are riding a wave of over-processed, chemical laden diets is impossible. On behavior consultations for reactivity, hyperactivity, and other excessive issues, invariably those pets also have poor quality, grain based diets. Many times, I have seen a dramatic shift in behavior from a dietary change alone to a higher quality diet. So, I feel that diet is important beyond just a simple nutritional level.

Things to look for in a high quality food:

• Specific Meat Sources
(i.e. chicken, turkey meal, etc.)

• Whole Grains
(i.e. rice, potatoes, barley, etc.) and vegetables

• Human Grade Ingredients
Things you would eat yourself or that you at least know what they are by reading the label
Become a Pet Food Detective

To most pets, a “good” diet is any diet. It’s up to us to choose the best diet for them. There are poor quality pet foods, high quality pet foods and everything inbetween. How can you tell what’s what?

The clues are right in front of you – read that label! To start a dog food nutrition comparison, simply read the label on your current pet food. Just doing that may steer you towards or away from that food. See if the label indicates where the ingredients come from. Or call the customer service number listed on the label and ask where the ingredients come from (i.e. are any ingredients imported? from what country? etc.). If you don’t get answers, if you get a hard time, or if you discover that the ingredients in your pet’s food come from countries other than the USA, think about switching to another brand.
So what’s this going to cost me? Another important consideration is cost. I’ve found that I end up feeding my dogs less volume of food because without the fillers that are in most commercial pet foods, higher quality foods are nutrient dense. I feed them less, and they also create less pet waste. The cost for foods with superior ingredients and nutrition ends up being about the same as other mass produced products of lesser quality. If you do purchase from smaller pet food companies that are going for quality over quantity, also consider that you don’t end up paying for the endless advertising and product placement that conglomerate pet food companies spend to convince you the buy their food.

Which Brand is Best and How do I Find the Food?

It depends! The good news is that there are so many options for good nutrition for pets. Being a good detective will help you find the right food for your pet. My best advice is to look outside the grocery store or pet megastore for your next food purchase. Take a trip to your local, independently owned pet store, look around, read labels, and ask questions. Many pet stores carry sample packets that you can take home and try.

What do I feed my own dogs? Prior to the pet food recalls, I had fed my dogs “premium” kibble for 15 years and paid a “premium” price for what I thought was the “best”. My research on the pet food industry led me to experiment with home preparation of my dogs’ diets which I believe is the “best” diet. I could do it myself, it was easy, and it was not expensive. I buy the meat, vegetables and few supplements and with a little time and energy, my dogs are eating home prepared meals and thriving. In my observations, they are happier, healthier, behaviorally and physically sound as they never were on just plain kibble. Their coats are shiny, their breath doesn’t smell (which it had for years on kibble), and they poop so much less. I’ve listed some books below to help you if you want to learn how to do it all yourself. I also realize that most people don’t have the time or energy to home prepare their pet’s foods. The good news is there are lots of alternatives. One of which is simply switching to a better brand of kibble.

Things that should NOT be in your pet’s food:

• By-Products
Ingredients that are discarded and not suitable for human consumption which can include meat that from diseased, disoriented, or decaying animals, etc.

• Corn, Wheat, & Soy
Major components in many pet foods and can cause a range of issues in some animals from allergic reactions, skin problems, to hyperactivity and reactivity. Watch out for corn and other grain based fillers and glutens that could be used to hike up the protein content.

• Artificial Colors or Sweeteners
Why on earth would these be in pet foods? What happens when you feed your kids sugary junk food??

• Chemical Preservatives
(such as BHT, BHA and Ethoxyquin)

• In General
If you can’t pronounce it or don’t know what it is, it probably shouldn’t be in your pet’s food

The Bottom Line

The extra effort you take in time and consideration of pet nutrition is time well spent. Evaluating and upgrading your pet’s diet can be a big step towards many happier and healthier years together.

Resources for Dog Food Nutrition Comparison:

• What’s Really in Pet Food (Animal Protection Institute)

• Dr. Pitcairn’s New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn

• Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food by Ann N. Martin

• Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats by Kymythy Schultze

• Raw Dog Food; Make it Easy for You and Your Dog by Carina Beth McDonald

• Whole Dog Journal
A monthly newsletter and great resource for pet people. They rate premium pet foods and offer useful articles on nutrition, behavior and health.