samralf said:
ETA: As far as the research I've done, this site offers the best and most objective analysis and review of dog kibble. I personally do not feed anything that's not 4/6 or better and all of my dog's kibble is supplemented with extra things she needs (yogurt as a probiotic to prevent ear infections, canned sardine for omega-3s to keep her coat in condition, additional meat that I am eating, and raw eggs).
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
Who are the people doing the research?? How are they qualified to rate dog food? I feed Charlie Prescription Diet Z/D because he has SEVERE allergies. I did read the label on his food and thought the chemicals listed were bad but not as bad as they say. Now what do I do? I don't want to feed my dog crap.
Your questions regarding that website and who does the research and how are they qualified to rate dog food, I think, are very valid.
I had a quick look at the 6 star rating products and had to laugh at the descriptions used for some of the ingredients "fresh caught Northern Whitefish", "Tonic Herbs and Botanticals". I think that a lot of this guff is there to make pet owners feel guilty and quite frankly it is ridiculous as apart from going and watching the process of making that particular dog food, how do you know it is fresh caught Northern Whitefish and not some other fish that was available that day? And blackcurrents? What's with that? Anyone fed their dog blackcurrents lately?
However, if your pet eats that brand of dog food, does well on it and is not reacting to any of the ingredients, why not feed it? After all, isn't that what we want, healthy pets who live comfortably and happily?
Also, someone said that the whole grains were mainly a source of protein in these diets. Whole grains are a carbohydrate source and in most of the diets I have looked at, including the "raw" diets there is good argument for including some carbohydrate.
In the wild carnivores eat primarily herbivores. For a herbivore to provide itself with enough energy, they must eat constantly. So, a carnivore will get a "stomach load" of carbohydrate every time it catches it's dinner and as they have the ability to break these down (just not as efficiently as a herbivore) they are a viable source of energy.
My parents and I have had five dogs, German Shepherd's and Labs. All have lived to middle teens and all have been fed a diet consisting of canned food, dry food, vegetables (two used to go and raid the veggy garden every chance they got), meat scraps, raw bones, rice, chicken, eggs and the odd scoop of icecream (yeah, well we all like a bit of junk food now and again). Personally, I think diet, exercise, comfort and a lot of attention are all just as important and help to keep a dog "young".