Author Archives: Misty Pines

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Whole Dog Journal Best Dry Dog Food 2025

Category:Nutrition

What’s the Best Dry Dog Food? 2025’s Top Picks in 8 Categories

For 2025, we’ve named the dry dog foods we like best in a number of categories, such as best adult maintenance food, best puppy food, best budget food, best lower-fat food, and more. But keep in mind that the most important selection criteria is not whether a food is one of our favorites, but whether a food works for your dog.

When it’s time to buy food for your dog, how do you choose? Do you just look for something you’ve heard of before? Go with whatever they were feeding at the shelter or breeder? Shop by price? Ask your veterinarian?

Any of those selection methods might result in a good choice—or you could end up with a wildly inappropriate diet for your dog. Choosing a dog food is not a one-size-fits-all proposition! No food is “best” for all dogs; there’s not even a single pet food company whose products are ideal for all dogs!

Here’s how we choose foods—and our top picks for different types of dogs or situations. We hope that your search can be facilitated by the process we used to select our top recommended dry dog foods (and nearly 20 runners up) in eight different categories.

Start With Our Approved Dry Dog Foods List

You’re likely aware that there are hundreds of dog food companies and thousands of foods to choose from—and the vast majority are not, in our opinion, all that great. To winnow down the contenders, we’ve created a list of companies that make the kind of foods we like: “WDJ’s Approved Dry Dog Foods”. When we go shopping, we consider only foods from companies on that list.

Next, we look at the individual products made by these companies. We’ve made a spreadsheet for each product they offer and entered every bit of information about them: their complete list of ingredients, amount of protein and fat they contain, whether they are formulated for adult maintenance or can be fed to growing puppies—and if so, whether or not they can be fed to large-breed puppies, who shouldn’t consume high levels of calcium and phosphorus.

By using the spreadsheet, we can scan, sort, and compare ingredient lists. We start our search for any type of dog food by analyzing the candidates’ ingredients, looking for attributes of quality—as well as traits that tend to indicate low-quality foods.

Finally, to select the best candidates for foods for specific dogs, dogs whose needs are typical of a certain type (such as highly active dogs, fat dogs, large-breed puppies, etc.), or dogs who belong to humans with budgetary limitations or ethical qualms about buying a meat-based diet, we use more refined criteria. We’ll describe those criteria within each category of foods.
SUBSCRIBER ONLY: The Complete List of Whole Dog Journal’s 2025 Approved Dry Dog Foods

All Life Stages Dry Dog Food/Puppy Food

By law, every dog food label bears a tiny statement that tells consumers whether the product is “complete and balanced” (contains all the nutrients a dog needs in appropriate amounts). This is known as the nutritional adequacy statement or the AAFCO statement, as it references the Association of American Feed Control Officials, who developed a set of nutritional standards for puppies and pregnant or nursing females (called “growth and reproduction”), and a separate set for adult dogs (“adult maintenance”).

If the food has been formulated to meet the needs of dogs in a growth or reproduction phase, the AAFCO statement may reference “growth,” “growth and reproduction,” or “dogs of all life stages.” Growing, pregnant, and nursing dogs need more protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, and several other minerals than adult dogs—but it’s fine for adult dogs to consume foods with these higher nutrient levels; thus the “all life stages” label.

Whether we’re looking for a food for a growing puppy or a reasonably active adult dog, we look among prospects that have moderate levels of protein. The minimum percentage of protein for growth is 20% “as fed” (how it’s listed on product labels). There is no maximum dictated by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles, but few foods exceed 40% protein as fed, so we’d consider 30% protein (as fed) to be moderate; we look for foods with protein levels around that number.

If the food contains supplements such as probiotics, taurine, or glycosaminoglycans (i.e., glucosamine, chondroitin), we want to see them listed on the guaranteed analysis, indicating they are present in verifiably beneficial quantities, not just token window dressing.

Whether we are shopping for a food for a puppy or adult dog, our preference is always for a product with meat and/or a meat meal in the top two ingredients; more meats in the top five or so spots on the ingredients list are even better. We also prefer legumes (such as peas, chickpeas, and lentils) to be used only in minor roles (below the 5th or 6th position on the ingredients list).

Dry Dog Foods for “Adult Maintenance”

Adult maintenance foods often contain lower levels of protein and fat than foods that are formulated to meet the needs of puppies and nursing or pregnant mothers. But, again, AAFCO has not issued maximum levels of fat or protein for any life stages, and some foods formulated for adult maintenance may contain more fat and protein than some foods for all life stages. So, when shopping for an adult maintenance food, take a peek at the protein and fat levels in any food you consider to make sure the amounts are appropriate for your dog. Less-active or overweight adult dogs don’t need foods with super high levels of protein or fat.

If you are unsure about what level of fat is appropriate for your dog, compare the caloric content of the foods you are considering. Fat contains more than twice the calories (9 per gram) of protein and carbohydrates, which each contain 4 calories per gram.

Low Fat Dry Dog Foods

The legal minimum amount of crude fat in a dry adult maintenance food is 4.95% (“as fed,” a term that means this percentage is expressed for the form of food that is in the package); for puppies, the minimum is 7.65% (as fed). In this category, we selected foods with fairly low (but not the lowest) amounts of fat for adult dogs; none of our selections would be appropriate, however, for growing puppies. The dogs who are most in need of low-fat foods are those who are inactive and sedentary, have diabetes, are overweight, have pancreatitis, or are of a breed that is genetically predisposed to pancreatitis.

Remember that dry dog foods contain protein, fat, and carbohydrates; you can’t make a kibble without carbs! When you reduce the amount of any one of those three macronutrients, one or both of the other two will rise—so some lower-fat foods will contain increased levels of protein, some will contain increased levels of carbohydrates, and some will contain increased levels of both. This is where, as always, you need to take your own dog’s unique needs into account. Does he do better on higher-protein or higher-carb foods?

Our top picks in low-fat foods reflect products that take a balanced tack, with increased amounts of protein and carbs. We didn’t select the foods with the very lowest amounts of fat that are on our Approved Dry Dog Foods list. If your dog has suffered one or more episodes of pancreatitis, you may wish to look among those products with the very lowest possible fat levels.

High Protein Dry Dog Food

To repeat, there are no established maximum values for protein in dog food. Dogs can eat and thrive on food that contains twice (or even more) than the minimum amounts of protein they require. This amount of protein is not necessary, however, and foods with high protein levels are much more expensive than lower-protein foods. That said, some dogs absolutely do better on high-protein foods than they do on foods with more moderate or lower protein levels. Particularly active dogs, fit senior dogs, and canine athletes—particularly dogs who are used in endurance or cold-weather activities—may do better on high protein foods.

We don’t generally select foods with the very highest levels of protein for our favorites; we chose foods that were among the highest 20% or so.

Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food

There isn’t a commonly agreed-upon definition of limited-ingredient dog foods. Some manufacturers will use just five or six major ingredients (the sources of protein, fat, and carbs) in their limited-ingredient foods, while others will contain 10, 12, or more.

Usually, those of us who are considering a limited-ingredient diet are either feeding a dog who is sensitive to either known or as-yet unknown ingredients, trying to prevent aggravating a hypersensitive (allergic) response, or trying to identify which ingredients the dog can digest without triggering an adverse response. The more ingredients a food has, the harder it is to identify exactly which ingredient is troubling the dog—so our bias in selecting favorites in this category is for foods with as few major ingredients as possible.

Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

In our opinion, grain-free foods became far too popular (and for no particular reason!), which led pet food makers to search for every non-grain carbohydrate source they could find (because, again, you can’t make a kibble without carbs). Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and legumes (peas, lentils, chickpeas, and beans) were the most popular ingredients pressed into service to meet the demand for grain-free foods.

In 2018, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration started a firestorm of controversy by publishing a preliminary advisory warning of a possible link between grain-free foods and the incidence of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Despite much study, that link has not been proven, though a link between higher rates of DCM and foods with high inclusions of legumes is still suspected. Today, we feel confident that there is no link between the broad category of “grain-free foods” and canine DCM, and that even foods with a high legume inclusion are safe for dogs as long as their maker adds adequate amounts of taurine and/or its metabolic precursors, methionine and cysteine.

Pet food makers like the higher inclusion of legumes because they can serve double duty as a carbohydrate source as well as a source of protein that is less expensive than animal protein. But the amino acid profile of animal proteins suit dogs better than plant-based proteins. So we feel most comfortable recommending grain-free foods only when they contain a relatively low inclusion of legumes, and for dogs who have a demonstrated lack of ability to thrive on foods that contain grain.

Budget Dry Dog Foods

Our “budget” foods are more expensive than the cheapest foods you can find, but that’s because the cheapest foods you can buy would be disqualified from our approved foods list by several criteria.

The least expensive foods usually use plant proteins (such as corn and peas) rather than animal proteins as their main protein sources. They often contain unnamed animal protein and fat sources (identified on the ingredients list only as “meat,” “meat meal,” or “meat and bone meal,” and “animal fat”)—or just “animal by-products or “poultry by-products.” And, finally, the least expensive foods usually contain highly processed grain by-products—waste from the human food industry. We just can’t recommend those foods.

Dry Dog Foods Containing Alternative Proteins

While they are quite rare, some dogs are hypersensitive (allergic) to all or most animal protein sources. Also, many people have ethical, moral, and/or environmental objections to raising and killing animals to feed their dogs. Fortunately for individuals of both kinds, there is an increasing number of complete diets for dogs that contain no “dead animal” sources of protein.

We’re aware of fewer than 10 foods that fit in this category. Some are vegetarian, some are vegan, and some are . . . well, we’re not quite sure what to call products that use insect sources of protein!

Note that all of these meat-free foods are formulated for adult maintenance only; none are appropriate for puppies.

SUBSCRIBER ONLY: The Complete List of Whole Dog Journal’s 2025 Approved Dry Dog Foods


Best All Life Stages Dry Dog Food

Wellness Core Digestive Health Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice

Things we like:

  • Three meats in the first six ingredients
  • Inclusion of marine micro-algae oil, a vegan source of EPA and DHA
  • Many nutrients on the guaranteed analysis, including EPA and DHA (especially beneficial for puppies) and taurine

First 10 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal, turkey meal, dried plain beet pulp, chicken fat, flaxseed, pumpkin

Protein: Min 31%

Fat: Min 15.5%

Calories: 421 Kcal/cup

Cost: $3.15/lb

Runners up:

  • Dr. Gary’s Puppy Recipe
  • Tender & True Small Breed Organic Turkey & Oats Recipe
  • The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken Clusters for Puppies

Best Adult Maintenance Dry Dog Food

Stella & Chewy’s Superblends Raw Blend Whitefish & Salmon Recipe

Things we like:

  • Three meats in the first six ingredients
  • Many extra nutrients on the guaranteed analysis, glucosamine, chondroitin, taurine, probiotics
  • Baked food, not extruded

First 10 ingredients: Whitefish, whitefish meal, oatmeal, barley, sunflower oil, salmon, flaxseed, tomato pomace, cod, quinoa

Protein: Min 27%

Fat: 14%

Calories: 453 Kcal/cup

Cost: $2.77/lb

Runners up:

  • Annamaet Original Ultra Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Formula
  • Nulo MedalSeries Ancient Grains Adult Beef, Barley, & Lamb Recipe
  • The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken Clusters

Best Lower-Fat Dry Dog Food

Chicken Soup for the Soul Classic Weight Care Dry Dog Food, Brown Rice, Chicken, & Turkey Recipe

Things we like:

  • Maximum % of fat also listed on guaranteed analysis
  • Though meat is not first on ingredients list, two fresh meats and two meat meals immediately follow brown rice (2nd–5th)
  • Peas play a supportive role, but not too high on ingredients list (7th)

First 10 ingredients: Whole grain brown rice, chicken, turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal, cracked pearled barley, peas, oatmeal, white rice, faba beans

Protein: Min 21%

Fat: Min 6%, Max 9%

Calories: 328 Kcal/cup

Runners up:

  • Blackwood Lean Senior Chicken Meal with Ancient Grains (Min 6.5% fat)
  • Eagle Pack Reduced Fat (Min 6% fat)
  • Grandma Mae’s Low Fat Entrée (Min 7% fat)

Best High Protein Dry Dog Food

Rawz Meal-Free Dehydrated Chicken, Turkey, & Chicken Recipe

Things we like:

  • Ingredients list starts with two dehydrated meats, then two meats, then three organ meats
  • Despite high protein, moderate fat level (12%)
  • Taurine added to formula

First 10 ingredients:  Dehydrated chicken, dehydrated deboned chicken, chicken, turkey, chicken liver, turkey liver, turkey heart, pea starch, dried peas, tapioca starch

Protein: Min 40%

Fat: Min 12%

Calories: 462 Kcal/cup

Cost: $6.65/lb

Runners up:

  • Orijen Amazing Grains Fit & Trim (U.S. Formula) (42% protein)
  • Wellness Core+Wholesome Grains Puppy (37% protein)

Best Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food

Essence LIR Ocean Recipe

Things we like:

  • Novel protein from two species of fish (whitefish and herring) may benefit dogs with allergies to more common proteins
  • Quinoa is also a novel carb source for many dogs
  • First 10 ingredients: Whitefish, herring, whitefish meal, herring meal, quinoa, pumpkin, olive oil, dicalcium phosphate, natural whitefish flavor, calcium carbonate

Protein: Min 35%

Fat: Min 17%

Calories: 429 Kcal/cup

Cost: $4.54/lb

Runners up:

  • Earthborn Holistic Venture Turkey Meal & Pumpkin
  • Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

Best Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Petcurean Go! Solutions Carnivore Grain Free Chicken, Turkey + Duck Senior Recipe

Things we like:

  • Six meats and meat meals in the first six spots on the ingredients list
  • Several legumes, but low on ingredient list (even combined, not present in an excessive amount)
  • Added taurine

First 10 ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, salmon meal, deboned chicken, deboned turkey, deboned trout, potatoes, peas, tapioca, lentils

Protein: Min 32%

Fat: Min 14%

Calories: 394 Kcal/cup

Cost: $3.68/lb

Runners up:

  • Farmina N&D Brown Lamb, Norwegian Kelp, & Carrot Recipe
  • Halo Elevate Grain-Free Red Meat Recipe Adult

Best Budget Dry Food

Triumph Wild Spirit Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

Things we like:

  • Deboned meat (a lower-ash ingredient) and a meat meal 1st and 2nd on ingredients
  • Many extra nutrients (including probiotics) on the guaranteed analysis

First 10 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, ground brown rice, pearled barley, oat groats, rice bran, chicken fat, dried plain beet pulp, flaxseed meal, natural chicken flavor

Protein: Min 25%

Fat: Min 15%

Calories: 362 Kcal/cup

Cost: $2.33/lb

Runners up:

  • Chicken Soup for the Soul Classic Adult Dry Dog Food Chicken, Turkey, & Brown Rice Recipe ($1.96/lb)
  • Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal ($2.31/lb)

Best Alternative Proteins Dry Dog Food

Jiminy’s Good Grub

Things we like:

  • Eco-friendly, humane, sustainable formula
  • Grub protein is highly digestible and prebiotic (helps feed beneficial bacteria in the gut)
  • Baked, not extruded

First 10 ingredients: Dried black soldier fly larvae, oats, dried yeast, sweet potato, potato protein, sunflower oil, brown rice, dried plain beet pulp, dicalcium phosphate, natural vegetable flavor

Protein: Min 28%

Fat: Min 14%

Calories: 426 Kcal/cup

Cost: $4.12/lb

Runners up:

  • Natural Balance Vegetarian Recipe (protein sources are peas and potato protein)
  • Open Farm Kind Earth Premium Insect Kibble Recipe (protein sources are black soldier fly larvae and dried yeast)

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Collagen for Dogs: Here Are 6 Things You Need to Know for Your Furry Friend

Category:Health,Nutrition Tags : 

Written by Caroline Nicks, NASM CPT

Updated on July 1, 2024

Collagen is not only the most abundant protein in humans—it’s the most abundant protein in dogs, too.

Often dubbed as the “glue” that holds the body together, collagen makes up one-third of the protein in your furry friend. Thus, it’s crucial to maintain adequate levels to keep your dog feeling healthy and pain-free.

But, how much collagen should you give your dog, and when should you begin supplementation? Read on to get your most pressing questions answered.

The Importance of Collagen for Dogs

Essentially, collagen is just a fancy word for protein. A protein that’s found in your dog’s skin, fur, bones, tendons, cartilage, gut lining, and more.

Your dog naturally produces collagen on his own; however, his collagen levels diminish with age. Although research has yet to discover how much collagen dogs lose each year, we do know that humans lose approximately 1% of their collagen each year (1).

So, it’s safe to assume that your dog is losing 1%—if not more—of his collagen every year. This steep decline in collagen can lead to aching joints, upset digestion, and a dull coat.

Native Note: Always consult with your veterinarian before adding a supplement to your dog’s routine.

The Top 3 Benefits of Collagen for Dogs

Now that you know collagen is just as important for your furry sidekick as it is for you, let’s address the top 3 way collagen can support your dog’s health…

1. Collagen for Your Dog’s Bone and Joint Health

With collagen loss comes bone loss and cartilage loss. And with cartilage loss often comes osteoarthritis…

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint diseases in both humans and companion animals—large dogs and horses, in particular. It’s painful, degenerative, and highly inflammatory, affecting your dog’s synovial joints and leading to a loss of mobility.

However, collagen peptides may be able to help.

In one 2021 study, 52 dogs with early symptoms of osteoarthritis were fed collagen peptides for 16 weeks.

NativePath Blog Post Image

In just four weeks, dogs had a significant reduction in tenderness and pain. By week 16, all dogs showed a decrease in femoral joint sensitivity and an increase in their quality of life (2).

2. Collagen for Your Dog’s Gut Health

Your pooch needs a healthy gut, too.

Collagen aids digestion by rebuilding the protective lining of your dog’s gut. This is crucial since, over time, things like bacterial imbalance, inflammation, and stress can create “gaps” in his intestinal lining.

In short, collagen “seals and heals” those gaps by forming connective tissue and providing healing amino acids like glycine and lysine to the intestinal lining.

Glycine—the most abundant amino acid in collagen—has been shown to enhance the intestinal mucosal barrier (a layer of thick mucus that allows the uptake of essential nutrients and immune sensing). This, in addition to glycine’s ability to suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, can soothe your dog’s digestive system (345).

Another abundant amino acid in collagen is lysine. In multiple animal studies, it was found that the metabolism of lysine is needed to maintain the integrity and function of the gut, as well as produce intestinal glycoproteins (3).

3. Collagen for Your Dog’s Skin and Coat Health

Dogs don’t need to worry about wrinkles, crow’s feet, or frown lines (lucky them). However, I’d like to think that they care about keeping their fur coat soft and shiny. 

Your dog’s skin is made up of 70% collagen. As that collagen declines with age, his skin becomes thinner and drier—resulting in a loss of luster and shine (6).

Age isn’t the only thing responsible for your dog’s collagen decline. Free radicals like stress, pollution, and pesticides play a role, too (7). Luckily, supplementing with a high-quality collagen powder can help neutralize those free radicals, and in doing so, bring life back to your dog’s fur.

When to Start Giving Your Dog Collagen

If your dog is showing signs of pain, lack of mobility, or lack of agility, then it may be time to start supplementing with collagen. 

Collagen depletion is a natural part of the aging process. Luckily, lost collagen can be restored through proper supplementation. And the earlier you begin collagen supplementation, the more likely you are to reduce the risk of potential ailments.

Can I Give My Dog “Human” Collagen?

As long as your “human” collagen supplement contains just one ingredient (grass-fed collagen), then it’s 100% safe and effective for your dog to supplement with, too. 

However, dosing for dogs is different from humans…

Collagen Dosing for Dogs

Collagen dosing varies depending on the size of your dog. 

Use the following formula as a general recommendation for your dog’s daily collagen dose:

Dog’s Daily Collagen Dose (in grams) = Dog’s Body Weight (in pounds) x 0.33

So, if your dog weighs 50 pounds, you will give him 16.5 grams of collagen powder.

How to Incorporate Collagen Into Your Dog’s Diet

The simplest way to incorporate grass-fed collagen powder into your dog’s diet is to simply sprinkle it on his food.

If your dog’s daily dose is 16.5 (like the example above), sprinkle about 5 grams of collagen over his food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Bottom Line

Collagen for dogs is essential—especially as your furry friend gets older. Supplementing with collagen may help reduce your dog’s aches and pains, stiff joints, and irritated digestion while enhancing the silkiness and shine of his coat.

Don’t give your dog just any collagen, though. It’s important that he ingests a high-quality grass-fed collagen powder that doesn’t contain any additional fillers, sweeteners, or ingredients. In short, the collagen supplement should only contain one ingredient: Collagen.


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The Harsh Reality of ‘With’/’And’ in the Names of Pet Foods

Category:General Pet Information

The Harsh Reality of ‘With’/’And’ in the Names of Pet Foods

And the misleading images that go with them.

 

One of the most common pet food names (regardless of brand) includes the word “with”, such as ‘with chicken’ or ‘with beef’. As example:

The above Purina One dog food is named: “Lean Muscle Support with Real Beef“. The package includes an image of a large chunk of beef on the label.

Take a guess…in a 15 pound bag of ‘with Real Beef dog food’, with that image of a chunk of beef on the label, how much beef is required to be in that pet food?

Per pet food regulations, ‘with’ included in the name of a pet food requires the product to include a minimum of 3% of the named ingredient; in this case a minimum of 3% ‘real beef’.

The reality of ‘with’.

For a 15 pound bag of dog food that includes ‘with’ in the name (‘with chicken’ or ‘with beef’ and so on), the manufacturer is ONLY required to include less than 1/2 pound of beef (or chicken or…) in the entire 15 pound bag.

3% of 15 pounds is 0.45 pounds.

When we break this down even further, looking at how much beef or chicken is in the daily amount a 30 pound dog would consume daily, the harsh reality gets even worse.

Feeding directions for the above Purina dog food recommends a 30 pound dog should consume three cups a day. Chewy.com states there are approximately sixty cups of dog food in a 15 pound bag resulting in an estimated (minimum required) 0.0075 pound of beef per cup (or 0.12 ounce beef per cup).

In three cups of dog food (to feed a 30 pound dog daily), the manufacturer is ONLY required to include an estimated 0.36 ounce of beef.

Per pet food regulations…the manufacturer – allowed to display an image of a chunk of beef on the label, allowed to name the pet food ‘with Beef’ …

… is ONLY required to provide a 30 pound dog with an estimated
1/3 ounce of beef daily.

The reality of ‘and’.

When two ingredients are stated in the name of a pet food, example:

This Nutrish cat food includes two ingredients in the product name; Chicken & Shrimp. The product label includes an image of shrimp and chunks of chicken.

Pet food regulations state when two ingredients are in the name of the product, the manufacturer is required to include a minimum of 3% of each named ingredient. In this case, this cat food is only required to contain 3% chicken and 3% shrimp.

When you calculate how much chicken would be required in a 2.8 ounce container – the reality becomes LESS THAN 1/10th of an ounce of chicken and LESS than 1/10th of an ounce of shrimp in the 2.8 oz container (0.084 ounce of each ingredient per 2.8 oz container).

Nutrish recommends approximately 3 containers daily for a 10 pound cat.

In three containers of cat food, the recommended feeding amount for a 10 pound cat, the manufacturer is ONLY required to include 0.252 ounce of chicken and 0.252 ounce of shrimp (in all three containers).

Per pet food regulations…the manufacturer – allowed to display an image of two chunks of chicken on the label and two pieces of shrimp on the label, allowed to name the pet food ‘Chicken & Shrimp’ …

is ONLY required to provide a 10 pound cat with an estimated 1/4 of an ounce of chicken daily and an estimated 1/4 of an ounce of shrimp daily.

Many pet food labels contain hugely misleading images making pet owners believe the pet food contains something more than microscopic portions of meat for their pet daily. Regulatory authorities allow industry to deceive consumers.

These same requirements of a minimum amount of a named ingredient applies to any pet food that includes ‘with’ in the name or includes two ingredients in the name. Ask your pet food manufacturer how much of the ingredient included in the name of the product is actually in the pet food.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food


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The Authoritative Guide to Feeding Your Dog and Cat

Category:Nutrition

https://media.library.cornell.edu/media/Feed+Your+Pet+RightA+The+Authoritative+Guide+to+Feeding+Your+Dog+and+Cat/1_ro4vbr3x/5069111

Feed Your Pet Right: The Authoritative Guide to Feeding Your Dog and Cat

From DCAPS February 05, 2013  


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Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs

Category:Nutrition

Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs

Did You Know

Some raw feeders believe dogs don’t need vegetables and can exist on meat alone, but there are many good reasons to include fresh fruits and veggies in your dog’s meals. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and sources of dietary fiber for your dog. Consider making them a part of your dog’s daily diet.

The following are very beneficial, easy to add fruits and vegetables: Asparagus, Broccoli And Broccoli Sprouts, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Carrots, Mushrooms, Celery, Leafy Greens, Garlic, Green Beans, Bell Peppers and Pumpkin.

Visit https://blog.fourleafrover.com/ for more information about these healthy additions to your dog’s diet. And because it’s pumpkin spice season: continue reading below to learn the benefits of feeding your dog pumpkin.

Pumpkin has many health benefits for your dog, including high fiber content that supports their digestive system. It is packed with nutrients that are good for them and most dogs love the taste of pumpkin so it’s easy to feed.

Here are some properties of pumpkin that support your dog’s health.

Vitamins and Minerals

Pumpkin is packed with nutrients your dog needs. It’s a great source of Vitamins A, E, and C, which are important for the immune system, brain function, eyes, and skin health.

Pumpkin also contains important minerals like potassium, copper, manganese, and iron that each play a role in cellular functions. This is a great reason to add pumpkin as a part of your dog’s regular diet.

Eye Health

Like other orange vegetables, pumpkin contains a lot of beta-carotene, which is a precursor for vitamin A. Once it converts to vitamin A in the body, it helps improve vision as well as boosting overall immunity and skin and coat health. The carotenoid zeaxanthin also protects your dog’s eyes from light damage.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants protect your dog from dangerous free radicals in the body. Free radicals are damaged cells that steal molecules from other cells. They’re a natural by-product of metabolism and exposure to toxins in the environment. If free radicals are uncontrolled, they can harm your dog’s cells and even their DNA. Antioxidants in pumpkin include plant pigments, called carotenoids: Beta-carotene, Zeaxanthin and Beta-cryptoxanthin. Carotenoids help lower cancer risk and degenerative disease. Studies show that they may also be good for bone health. Like beta carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin also forms vitamin A. Zeaxanthin contributes to slowing down the aging process, improving heart health, increasing glutathione levels, and reducing inflammation of the skin.

AntiParasitic

Pumpkin seeds are a natural and effective way to remove parasites like worms from your dog’s digestive tract. The seeds contain the amino acid cucurbitin, which paralyzes worms. Studies in both rats and puppies have shown the ability of pumpkin seeds to get rid of intestinal worms.

Fiber

Pumpkin is a good source of fiber, which is great for your dog’s digestive health. The soluble fiber content in pumpkin absorbs water, which can help to solidify runny stool when your dog has diarrhea. The fiber can also help with the opposite problem, by loosening up the packed stool in the case of constipation. The fiber in pumpkin can also help your dog feel full for longer and can also help prevent anal gland problems.