Pedigree Dog Food Top Ingredients (PEDIGREE is a trademark of Mars, Incorporated.)

Ground yellow corn – mostly filler, provides very little protein and is hard for dogs to digest. Some dogs may be allergic to corn

Meat and bone meal – cheap source of protein typically containing mostly bone, which is difficult for dogs to digest. Not human grade.

Corn gluten meal – again, mostly filler, hard to digest and may cause food allergies.

Chicken by-product meal – may consist of parts that are not desired for human consumption or that have been condemned.  Part may include organs, bones, blood, ligaments, heads, feet, feathers, hair, etc.

Animal fat (preseved with BHA/BHT6) – if the fat source is not named specifically (such as in this case by Pedigree) is is most often redered fat, grease from restaurants, or oils that have been condemned for human consumption. BHA and BHT are potentially cancer causing agents.

Wheat mill run – filler, small protien source, grains are hard on most dog’s digestive systems, may cause allergies.

Natural poultry flavor – again a generic term that provides little help in determining nutritional value

Rice – filler, small protien source, grains are hard on most dog’s digestive systems, may cause

Salt – Usually added to improve flavor

Personally I do not use Pedigree Dog Food

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Here is an excerpt from his answer that is valuable:

“Your two dogs need to get on a more healthful diet. The high-fat and high-protein puppy food should not be given to most breeds after six to eight months of age. And for some breeds, especially Labrador pups, such a diet is actually harmful. Studies indicate this diet can make developing hip dysplasia significantly worse, and lead to weight-control problems later in life.

“Many factors could be making your older dog gain weight, become less active and begin to decline in health. Aside from the often-dubious ingredients in processed and animal junk foods, and the nutrient deficiencies and pesticide contamination of conventionally grown pet foods, we have environmental chemicals all around us. Many of these are called endocrine disruptors, and they can play a role in both dogs’ and humans’ weight problems. The Canadian province of Ontario just banned lawn-and-garden pesticides — an important step for pets, wildlife and us!

“Then there’s the bisphenols that line food cans and fire-retardant bromides in aerosol dust that can affect the thyroid and immune system. There are so many endocrine disruptors everywhere, and many have been found in blood samples of cats and dogs living in what we would call regular homes. I do not mean to be an alarmist, but these multiple health issues call for much greater vigilance over the use of household cleaners, detergents, room deodorizers, as well as what we eat and feed to our pets who share the same environment.”

To summarize:

- Puppy food should be discontinued when a dog reach 6-8 months of age.

- Use only quality dog food and avoid animal junk foods.

- Be cautious with use of pesticides, lined food cans, aerosols, household cleaners and deodorizers.

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6 stars-Innova,Natures Variety
5 stars-canidae
or not on the star rating I found
Purina One or Pro Plan
In the foods like nature’s variety is feeding less food better then feeding more.

Like with what my dog is eating now he eats 4 cups but with nature’s variety he would eat 2 3/8.
I am thinkin of going with the Natures Variety but I may go with Canidae or Innovs. I just haven’t made my mind up yet.

i would go with your first groupings of food. absolutely nothing wrong with canidae, but i like innova and natures variety better.

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We’ve found some more great blog posts on comparing dog foods you might like to take a look at:

• Dog Information – What You Need To Know – This dog food comparison article informs the reader that there is both misinformation and lack of information on the subject. The author states that some brands sold at local stores are of poor quality and that the Bones and Raw Food …

• Comparing Your Dog Food Options: Because Your Dog Is Worth It. – The price tag is not going to tell you that the food is healthy knowing what to avoid will be one of the keys when you do your dog food comparison. Just like with human food, reading the ingredients is key. …

• Your Dog Trusts Which Food You Put In The Bowl – The price tag is not going to tell you that the food is healthy knowing what to avoid will be one of the keys when you do your dog food comparison. So, read all the ingredients. Are most of them natural? Do they have a lot of additives? …

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We’ve found some great blog posts on comparing dog foods you might like to take a look at:

• Dog Food Facts – dog food recipes dog food recipe homemade dog food homemade dog food recipe wellness dog food organic dog food dog food allergies dog food nutrition homemade dog food recipes home made dog food dog food comparison free dog food recipes …

• Healthy Nutrition through Dog Food Comparison – It is important for you, as a pet owner to read the pet food label carefully. You must read and understand the label in order to make a dog food comparison so that you can distinguish between the desirable and [...]

• Dog food comparison-What are you feeding your dog? – I’ve also learned that when it comes to dog food comparison, pet owners only compare two things.Price and flavor.If i knew a certain type food could cause my dog to get cancer or any other life threatening illness, price and flavor …

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When reviewing the opinions of many canine nutritional experts this is a bit disturbing based on the ingredients shown on the label:

~Review of Ingredients~
Ground yellow corn, soybean meal, ground whole wheat, corn syrup, poultry fat, Meat and bone meal (Animal Fat Preserved with BHA and Citric Acid), Chicken by-product Meal, Rice, Animal Digest, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin D and E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulafate, Manganous Oxide, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Meadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex Source of Vitamin K, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid
Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070331111958AAZ7D2R

Their first question is where is the meat? Ingredient labels must show ingredients from first to last based on their wet weight. Based on a review of the ingredients this dog food is mostly grain. The majority of which is corn a known allergen to many dogs with little actual nutritional value.

The only protien sources are unspecified fat and meal sources which according to my review of much of the literature often proves to be undigestable and could come from any number of sources such as euthanized and diseased animals, including cats and dogs. The one specified animal source in this dog food is shown as a by-product which generally means everything but the meat. The food also contains the toxic preservative BHA, which is a know carcinogen.

Frankly it is a sad state of affairs when the top selling dog food in the country is of this low quality compared to many other brands.

Organic Dog Foods

Hypoallergenic Dog Foods

Diabetic Dog Foods

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The variety being recalled is Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites, according to the California Department of Public Health.

The problem is that Salmonella can cause serious or even fatal abdominal illness, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, in both people and animals.

And even though the problem is in dog food, people who fail to adequately wash their hands after handling the contaminated dog food could expose themselves to salmonella. Yes, you can get salmonella just from handling a contaminated material and not washing your hands afterwards.

Also, animals that show no outward symptoms of the disease can still spread it to other animals and even people, so if at some point in time you think your dog may have been exposed to Salmonella it is important to watch for any of the symptoms described above and see a Vet immediately if you notice any such behavior.

This is just one of many reasons that people should pay more attention to their dog’s diet and health needs. Other reasons to avoid, or at least thoroughly investigate, commercial dog foods include poor quality ingredients, poor nutritional value, ingredients that may be toxic or cause allergic reactions, additives and preservatives that may be toxic or cause allergic reactions, and the lack of vitamins and other nutrients necessary for your dog’s overall health and vigor.

Souce: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080812-1748-bn12recall.html

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There are several kinds of nutrients that dogs need to survive, namely: amino acids from proteins, fatty acids from fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and good quality water. First, make sure the foods being compared contain the essentials.

A brief review of these required nutrients follows.

Fatty Acids – Dogs cannot create fatty acids that are necessary to sustain life and must eat enough dietary fats to provide for internal body functions such as, carrying fat soluble vitamins, cell structure and function, skin and coat health, immune system functions, vision and brain function.

Amino Acids from Protein – There are 10 essential amino acids dogs bodies cannot make, thus dogs can’t survive without eating proteins. Quality protein should come from animals rather than from ingredients known as “animal byproducts”.

The National Academy of Sciences suggests that an average size adult dog (weighing 33 lbs.) needs approximately 25 grams of protein and 14 grams of fat on a daily basis. Puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs actually need more than twice that amount.

Carbohydrates – Dogs get some of their energy from carbohydrates. Studies suggest that an adult dog’s diet can include up to 50% carbohydrates with preferably no more that 2.5-4.5% coming from fiber that contributes little by way of energy or nutrition for your dog.

Again puppies require more than twice the calories required by an active adult dog. Pregnant Dogs need between one and two-thirds more calories than an active adult dog. Nursing dogs may require as much as 2-4 times the calories than an adult dog depending on the number of puppies being nursed and the age of the puppies. Older dogs that are less active may need 20% less calories than middle aged adult dogs.

Vitamins & Minerals – Many vitamins and minerals are known to be essential to your dog’s optimal health. They include the following: Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin B1, Riboflavin, Vitamin b5, Niacin, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid and Choline, Calcium, Potassium, Chlorine, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sodium, Manganese, Selenium and Iodine.

These provide vital nutrients that are neccessary for strong bones and teeth, nerve impulse transmission, cell signaling and enzymatic reactions, just to name a few.

Once you have made sure that the dog foods you are rating include these essential nutrients you can then focus your efforts on rating the quality and quantities provided by each dog food source.

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