less expensive dog food

BigJake · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:53 am Post subject:

So is it about what is in the food or how much it costs?

Below is the contents of what I feed.

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein 23.0% Minimum
Crude Fat 13.0% Minimum
Crude Fiber 4.0% Maximum
Moisture 10.0% Maximum
Ash 6.5% Maximum
Calcium 1.1% Minimum
Phosphorus 0.9% Minimum
Phosphorus 1.1% Maximum
Sodium 0.3% Maximum
Selenium 0.4 mg/kg Minimum
Vitamin E 300 IU/kg Minimum
L-Carnitine * 40 mg/kg Minimum
Beta Carotene * 5 mg/kg Minimum
Omega-6 Fatty Acids * 2.0% Minimum
Omega-3 Fatty Acids * 0.3% Minimum
Glucosamine Hydrochloride *
not less than 750 mg/kg
Chondroitin Sulfate *
not less than 250 mg/kg

Ingredients:
Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, whole grain brown rice, white rice, rice bran, beet pulp, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), egg product, flaxseed, natural chicken flavor, brewers dried yeast, potassium chloride, dried chicory root, glucosamine hydrochloride, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, chondroitin sulfate, beta carotene, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, L-Carnitine, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

h20fwlkillr · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject:

For me, it isn't the ingredients. I mainly look at 3 things when evaluating a dog food.

#1. Calories Is the food going to provide the massive amounts of energy that a field dog needs without feeding excessive amounts of food to get the required calories?

#2. Does the dog do well on it? If the dog doesn't do well on a particular food, it is worthless.

#3. Price/Availability Is the food priced at an acceptable level and is it readily available?

If the food passes the 3 tests, the ingredients are fine. I kind of giggle when someone mentions a food made with human grade ingredients. It is a gimmick to sell food. Dogs don't process food the same way as humans. They are much more adaptable than we are. I look at it this way. If you put out a bowl of dog food, a big pile of road apples and a road kill opossum thats been dead about 3 days all side by side, which one do you think the dog will eat? The answer is the opossum (calories) then for dessert, the road apples (necessary fiber and a good compliment to the aroma of the opossum) and then, if there is any room left in his belly, the dog food. All without getting the runs.