Tag: Purina

  • Purina Heavy Metals Test Results

    Purina Heavy Metals Test Results

    We wanted to give you an update on Purina heavy metals test results, because the verdict is in!

    Numerous pet owners are worried about giving Purina pet food to their animals, citing concerns about potential toxins in the food. The concerns began in 2023 with a toxicology screening report from Kansas State University, which showed potentially elevated levels of certain metals in Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach food.

    Both Purina and the FDA have looked into this issue. The food was retested at two different labs.

    FACT CHECK: Repeated testing found that Purina foods are safe to feed. The initial test results were incorrect, due to an error that occured during testing.

    Update: March 6th, 2024

    After the first round of pet food samples Dr. Morgan sent for testing came back clean (January), she implored pet owners to submit kibble food samples from their homes.

    She sent these samples to the lab, and the food returned clean once again.

    This information was buried in a 14-minute video posted to her YouTube and Facebook channels on March 6th. Dr. Morgan has spent thousands of dollars trying to prove that something is “seriously wrong” with the food and continues to turn up empty-handed.

    To deflect from these test results, her video contains nearly 15 minutes of speculation and misleading information, including:

    • Conspiracies about other sites “scrubbing” information
    • Pet stores and brands dumping food by the truckload (which has always happened for various reasons; this is not new)
    • Pet brands are offering discounts and coupons (she believes that they are desperate to give the food away)
    • Speculation that the food contains “pesticides,” which are supposedly what’s causing the problem, and continued testing is needed
    • Statements about a widespread problem of pet food containing bugs, spiders, and spider webs (apparently, this is happening despite the supposed use of ‘pesticides,’ which is hugely contradictory to her argument)

    She spends a lot of time discussing her theory that the food contains pesticides and believes that they haven’t found a lab willing to find the contaminant.

    None of the foods tested positive, but she believes they haven’t yet found the right contaminant to test for.

    A few moments later, she blames the lack of verified reports from pet owners on veterinarians not testing the stomach contents of the dogs who died (during an autopsy).

    This is also contradictory because if the food comes up clean in lab reports, the stomach contents would also come up clean. It’s not like the stomach contents magically reveal the supposed contamination when the food seems to have nothing wrong with it.

    Statements like this are deliberate and meant to mislead pet owners into continuing to believe there is a problem despite the complete lack of evidence.

    Dr. Morgan is now imploring people to send her photos and videos of pet food in dumpsters. This is precisely the kind of conspiracy fodder needed to perpetuate this ongoing “kibble fiasco” and does little more than keep worried (and susceptible) pet owners busy.

    At the same time, she continues to drag this out.

    Update: January 30th, 2024

    Two independent lab results from Purina came back clean, and the tests that Dr. Judy Morgan sent also came back clean.

    She spent around $4000 to have lab tests done on Purina Pet food. In a video on her Facebook page on January 30th, she mentioned that they did not find heavy metals, Aflatoxins, Pentobarbital, Melamine, Vitamin D, Clostridium, Listeria, or Salmonella.

    I will discuss this further, but the key point is that Purina does not contain harmful levels of heavy metals. Any contrary information you encounter is rooted in online rumors and a social media campaign leveraging fear-based marketing to promote “holistic” alternatives.

    Purina heavy metals test results

    Kansas State University KSU Heavy Metals Report on Purina Food

    In November 2023, a post gained viral traction on social media, suggesting three dogs fell seriously ill after consuming Pro Plan Sensitive dog food. The post showcased a portion of a document containing toxicology results from the Kansas State University laboratory.

    The report highlighted heightened levels of specific heavy metals, leading to understandable concern among pet parents.

    Numerous individuals questioned the reliability of the report. Purina is renowned for maintaining an extensive quality control and testing program. The notion that they would distribute food with toxic levels of heavy metals to store shelves appeared far-fetched.

    Furthermore, the report lacked crucial details, including the specific Purina formula tested (such as the lot/batch number), and reference numbers or information providing context on what an average value might typically be for similar foods.

    Despite the red flags, the holistic pet community grabbed hold of this and started spreading it around as “proof” that Purina pet foods are dangerous to feed. That is another discussion, which I cover in depth in another blog post titled “Is Purina Dog Food Making Dogs Sick”. You can read it here!

    19

    Heavy Metals Analysis Testing Error

    An update was released on January 15th, 2024. Purina published that the samples were tested again by Kansas State University AND Iowa State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

    The results of both tests confirmed that there had been a testing error in the initial heavy metals analysis for Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach.

    Purina pet foods are, in fact, safe to feed.

    Occasional failures occur in all laboratories. Contamination, storage and processing errors and equipment malfunctions can contribute to issues that skew test results. This underscores the importance of repeating critical tests and screenings to ensure accuracy.

    Unfortunately, this now-debunked toxicology screening has caused untold amounts of anxiety and panic among pet parents! Some people are still spreading the initial report as fact, which is misguided, misleading, and disingenuous.

    6

    Purina’s Response to Online Rumors

    Purina says that as few as two consumer reports associated with any food or product will prompt them to investigate. Due to the viral spread of the heavy metal screening test result on social media, hundreds of reports related to various products in their line were generated.

    In light of this rumor, our Quality Assurance team has reviewed all incoming consumer contacts, manufacturing, and quality assurance data (this includes ingredient testing, analytical data throughout the production process, and quality assurance post-production testing) for the past year.

    Purina Media

    To clarify, Purina did treat this matter seriously. As numerous pet owners seek explanations for their pets’ illnesses and fatalities, it’s crucial to recognize that pets can fall ill irrespective of the food they consume.

    There is no concrete evidence suggesting that Purina has caused harm to any dogs. Social media reports seem to stem from individuals who neglected veterinary consultation, disregarded diagnosed conditions (such as Parvo, unrelated to pet food), or attributed every ailment, from obstructions to poisoning and genetic disorders, to Purina.

    The media team at Purina has responded swiftly to all reports and has published a page with information about the online rumors. You can read it HERE.

    1

    Is There a Silent Recall of Purina Food?

    Despite proof from multiple University labs that Purina Pro Plan pet food is safe to feed, anxious pet parents and social influencers continue to promote the idea that a recall is imminent.

    Purina has consistently addressed this issue through multiple statements on its social media platforms and website. However, some individuals are reluctant to accept these explanations.

    Individuals who suspect that Purina is concealing information promote the notion that the company is engaging in a “silent recall.” Their theory is that Purina is quietly pulling food from store shelves but is not publishing a recall with the FDA.

    Of course, this is a theory with no basis or proof. It’s important to emphasize that a “silent recall” is purely speculative and lacks substantiated basis or evidence.

    Purina remains readily available for purchase from major retailers like Chewy. If it is unavailable in a particular pet store, it’s more likely due to a stock issue than a recall.

    There is no such thing as a ‘silent recall,’ and quietly retracting product from the market that has been proven to be harmful to pets would be both irresponsible and illegal. Information about any recall is shared immediately with the FDA, consumers, retailers and veterinarians.

    Purina Media

    Whether people want to believe it or not, most veterinarians recommend brands like Purina, Hill’s, and Royal Canin because of the amount of quality control, testing, and nutritional science behind those brands.

    Unless the FDA publishes an official recall, there is little (if any) reason to be concerned.

    13

    Purina Heavy Metals Test Results from Dr. Morgan

    Dr. Judy Morgan, a prominent holistic influencer leading the anti-Purina campaign, purportedly sent samples of Purina pet food to independent labs for testing.

    There is no information available regarding how she acquired, stored, or handled the samples, and it’s unclear whether they originated from the homes of pet parents who allege that the food harmed their pets.

    Despite several weeks passing, those results are still pending. While she attributes the delay to the time-consuming nature of the process, questions arise as Purina has already disclosed the outcomes of their comprehensive tests.

    The whereabouts of Dr. Morgan’s test results remain uncertain; despite this, she continues to promote that the food is full of toxins.

    Author’s Note: I am actively monitoring this social activity and the dissemination of misinformation by Dr. Morgan and her followers. Should she present test results, I will assess their validity and provide an update here.

    Is Purina a Trustworthy Company?

    Ultimately, pet parents have a choice in deciding whom to trust.

    The credibility lies with thousands of practicing veterinarians, board-certified Veterinary Nutritionists, and consistent test results from various laboratories. It’s worth noting that 46 million dogs are fed Purina each year and lead long, joyful, and healthy lives.

    On the other hand, there exists an opposing viewpoint promoted by “holistic” veterinarians who often engage in fear-based marketing tactics. This perspective advocates the belief that extensively researched foods like Purina are detrimental to pets’ health and contain toxins.

    Followers of this viewpoint have been urged to discredit conventional veterinarians and be skeptical of preventive measures such as teeth cleaning, vaccines, and flea/tick medications.

    They leverage this information to promote online courses, books, and alternative foods and supplements (which conveniently, they sell).

    We see this at play in multiple very concerning Facebook groups, which are run or moderated by Dr. Morgan. A lot of easily debunked misinformation is being spread, along with a healthy handful of promotions and brand recommendations (including products that she either owns or has a strong financial affiliation with).

    I think the choice of who to trust is clear as day. I stand with science, evidence, and critical thinking. My dogs eat Purina Pro Plan and are thriving; the proof is in the pudding.

    Notably, with few exceptions, most other social media groups on Facebook are now restricting discussions related to the current “Purina Panic.” This indicates a substantial number of moderators in the pet community actively curbing the spread of misinformation, and we appreciate that!

    Share your perspective! Do you trust Purina, or do you suspect that Purina food may have affected your pet? Feel free to leave a thoughtful comment below. If you align with our scientific approach, please share this post, too!

  • Is Purina Pro Plan a Good Dog Food for Big Dogs?

    Is Purina Pro Plan a Good Dog Food for Big Dogs?

    When it comes to caring for our canine companions, one of the most critical decisions we face is choosing the right dog food. This choice becomes even more significant when you have a big dog, as their nutritional needs differ from those of smaller breeds. Among the many dog food brands on the market, Purina Pro Plan often stands out as a popular choice for pet owners. But is Purina Pro Plan a good dog food for big dogs?

    In this blog post, we’ll explore the key factors to consider when selecting dog food for larger breeds and examine whether Purina Pro Plan lives up to the expectations of providing quality nutrition and meeting the unique requirements of big dogs.

    In this post we will talk about:

    • The benefits of Purina Pro Plan for big dogs
    • Nutrition science & research
    • Whether or not Pro Plan & Purina Dog Food is healthy or not
    • Pet food marketing tactics and myths
    13

    The “Too Long, Didn’t Read” Summary about Pro Plan Dog Food

    I realize that my blog posts at times become long and involved. So I’m going to spare you that and give you a short run down (for those of you that just need a quick answer).

    Purina Pro Plan Large Breed is an exceptional food for all big dogs, including Great Danes.

    Now I understand you may have heard otherwise. As a big dog owner, you are bombarded online with cries to feed Victor, Diamond Naturals, 4Health, and Gentle Giants. You’re told to find foods with “low protein” and “better ingredients”.

    You’re even told that if you feed your dog a brand like Purina, Pedigree, or Iam’s, you are “feeding your dog fast food” (and thus, are a bad pet parent).

    Of course, if an influencer or brand rep can convince you that you are harming your dog, it’s much, much easier for them to sell you their product.

    Now if I have your attention, let’s deep dive into why Pro Plan is so popular and why it is a recommended brand for big dogs!

    6 4

    The Truth about Purina Pro Plan Dog Food

    One thing people don’t realize, or know, about the pet food industry is that a solid majority of pet food brands out there are manufactured by companies that:

    • Do not have a single qualified nutritionist on staff
    • Do not own or operate their own manufacturing facilities
    • Never test or research their food or formulations
    • Will sweep issues under the rug instead of issuing a recall
    • Create inconsistent products with nutritional values that fluctuate greatly from bag to bag
    • Use deceptive tactics on the ingredients list to make it appear wholesome and healthy
    • Formulate products that appeal to humans and their wallets, vs. products that are well researched and truly healthy for pets

    Many of these corner-cutting companies produce foods that are sold at a premium price point, with ‘good ingredients’ and wholesome stories health and family.

    So here lies the problem.

    Deceptive marketing in the pet food industry is a concerning and prevalent issue that puts the health and well-being of our beloved animal companions at risk. Many companies engage in practices that prioritize profit margins over the nutritional needs of pets. From enticing packaging that showcases images of succulent meats and fresh vegetables, to catchy taglines and misleading labels, deceptive marketing tactics can mislead pet owners into purchasing products that, while expensive, are actually subpar in terms of quality and nutritional value.

    This can lead to health problems, allergies, growth disorders, and chronic digestive issues for our pets.

    FACT: Purina Dog Foods are among only a handful of brands that are NOT cutting corners on formulation, nutritionists, research, or sound manufacturing and quality control practices.

    I used to be solidly against Purina foods, because a lot of marketing has gone into making all of us believe that it’s trash. Marketing is often far from the truth, however.

    17 1

    Is Purina Pro Plan a Good Dog Food for Big Dogs?

    Yes! Any Pro Plan Large Breed formula is ideal. Here are just a few reasons:

    • Purina employs a team of 100’s of top researchers, nutritionists, veterinary nutritionists, food scientists, and quality control specialists
    • All Purina formulas are some of the most well researched and heavily tested foods available anywhere
    • As a “big 5” company, Purina dog food is fed to billions of pets, successfully
    • Researchers at Purina have brought forth many peer reviewed studies that have helped veterinarians gain new understanding and insight into disease, cancer, nutrition, growth, dental care, and overall health

    Very, very few other companies can even come close to meeting these standards. So even if you question the “ingredients” or don’t like Purina as a company, you cannot deny that they are considered a leader for a reason.

    Consider this, too. If Purina was such a bad food, how is it that dogs lifespans have increased in the last 40 years (despite the fact that Purina Dog Food, including Dog Chow) are fed to a massive percentage of pets?

    The numbers don’t add up, which is what brings me back to this. Marketing.

    20 1

    Are Purina Dog Food Ingredients Good?

    There is not a single ingredient in Purina Dog food that isn’t backed by a lot of research, science, and published information. Purina even states that “Every Ingredient Has a Purpose”.

    Here are some common ingredients in Purina foods that are often misunderstood:

    Corn – Corn, when used in dog food, can be a valuable and nutritious ingredient. Did you know that corn is more digestible than beef?

    It offers an easily utlized energy source that provides the fuel dogs need for their active lifestyles. Furthermore, corn contains essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which contribute to a well-balanced diet. Corn is definitely not a ‘filler’, nor is it devoid of nutrition. Want to read more about corn in dog food? Check out this article from TUFTS University.

    Meat Meals – this misunderstood ingredient is actually a must have in kibble. Meat Meals are simple cooked before they go into the kibble; by grinding and dehydrating meat first, more meat based nutrition can be packed into the finished kibble! Here are some. of the other benefits:

    1. High Protein Content: Meat meal is a concentrated source of protein, as it is made by rendering meat to remove moisture and fat. This makes it an excellent protein source for dogs, supporting their muscle development, growth, and overall health.
    2. Nutrient-Dense: Meat meal is packed with essential nutrients like amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, which are crucial for a dog’s well-being. These nutrients help to maintain a healthy coat, strong bones, and a robust immune system.
    3. Enhanced Flavor: Dogs are natural carnivores, and they typically prefer the taste of meat. Including meat meal in dog food can make it more appealing, encouraging them to eat and enjoy their meals.
    4. Longer Shelf Life: Meat meal’s lower moisture content contributes to a longer shelf life for dog food, reducing the need for artificial preservatives. This can be especially beneficial for owners who want to buy dog food in larger quantities.
    5. Digestibility: High-quality meat meals are highly digestible, meaning that dogs can absorb and utilize the nutrients more effectively. This can be advantageous for dogs with sensitive digestive systems.

    Still not convinced? Check out these large breed Purina versions and see what you think:

    3 1

    Pet Food Marketing

    Influencers, bloggers, pet stores, and pet food brands often disparage big brands because that is how they tap into the emotional side of pet ownership. By pushing those emotional buttons, they can get the sale.

    Here are some common marketing deceptions in pet food:

    1. Misleading Imagery: One of the most common tactics is the use of misleading images on packaging that suggest high-quality, whole ingredients like succulent cuts of meat and fresh vegetables (which appeal to us humans). In reality, the actual product inside may contain lower-quality ingredients.
    2. Exaggerated Health Claims: Some pet food brands make exaggerated claims about the health benefits of their products without sufficient scientific evidence to back them up. This can lead pet owners to believe that they are providing the best possible nutrition for their pets when, in fact, they may not be.
    3. Renaming Ingredients: claiming to have “no by-products”, for example, and then hiding them (organ, bone, cartilage) in the ingredients list under different names (editors note, by-products are natural and biologically appropriate)
    4. “Natural” and “Organic” Claims: These terms are often used loosely, and many pet food products labeled as “natural” or “organic” may not meet the rigorous standards that consumers associate with these terms.
    5. Emotional Appeal: Some brands use emotional marketing tactics, such as heartwarming stories or claims of “premium” quality, to create an emotional connection with pet owners, often diverting attention from the actual nutritional content.
    6. Ingredient Splitting: Manufacturers sometimes break down similar ingredients into smaller parts to push more desirable components higher up on the ingredient list, creating the illusion of a higher quality product.

    I think the point I’m trying to make here is this:

    Feed the food that works for your pet, but make sure you are choosing the food that has science and nutritional research behind it. This means that you might consider Purina or any other “big” brand, despite what marketers and influencers have tried to convince you otherwise.

    Anecdotally, Purina saved my dogs life. They thrive on Purina, and I know many, many other dogs that do too. Don’t knock it until you try it 🙂

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

  • Dog Food Recalls – Should You Be Concerned?

    Dog Food Recalls – Should You Be Concerned?

    Dog food recalls are a scary business for pet parents. In 2023, Victor Pet Foods issued a massive recall of all formulas in their line because of salmonella contamination. As the details emerged, we learned that they had been selling contaminated food for nearly a year (if not longer). Before that recall, Purina voluntarily recalled a small selection of veterinary food (“Elemental EL” to treat allergies) from the shelf after receiving two reports of dogs who got ill (both dogs are fine now).

    How concerning are dog food recalls, anyway?

    (You can read more about the Purina Recall Here, and the Victor Recall Here).

    Recalls simply mean that a product is being removed from store shelves and distribution channels. Most times, consumers who purchased the product before the recall can request an exchange or refund.

    The 2022 Purina Recall is a great example of a recall that was done by the company out of an abundance of caution. They issued this recall even though numerous bloggers, influencers, and pet owners would present the issue as a source of panic and fear.

    6 4

    Are Dog Food Recalls Bad?

    Marketing has taught us to believe that recalls are a bad thing, or that recalls indicate that a company is not honest, truthful, or diligent.

    Many people reward pet food companies with no recall history, not realizing how nuanced this topic is.

    Of course, sometimes recalls are indicative of a much bigger problem. There are times when a company has been negligent or has poor quality control practices. (Victor, we’re looking at you!). If a company is particularly resistant to recalling a product, the FDA can require them to do so.

    Recalls can be an indication that a company is doing the right thing, too.

    Most of the time, recalls are done for very good reasons. There are numerous reasons for recalls, and many times, it’s actually related to a supplier, not the company that manufactured the product.

    31

    Dog Food Companies With No Recalls

    Unfortunately, the negative feelings generated about dog food recalls tend to make the idea of “no recalls” appealing.

    Having “no recalls” is a major reason that dog owners are drawn to certain brands. All of the largest brands (Purina, Royal Canin, Hill’s) have had recalls. These are mega-billion dollar (yes, billion) companies that feed a lot of dogs.

    Having no recalls is a red flag.

    Here is a list of reasons why a dog food company with no recalls can be a red flag:

    #1 – Small Market Share

    A company with a small market share (compared to a large company such as Purina, for example) has millions fewer dogs eating their food. If an issue comes up that could justify a recall, it’s much easier to sweep it under the rug instead.

    #2 – Recalls are Bad for Marketing

    For companies that actively market their history of “no recalls”, it can be an exceptionally tough pill to swallow if they do run into issues in the future. This can make a smaller company with a small market share more likely to avoid recalling something that it really should.

    #3 – Financial Instability & Small Dog Food Companies

    A smaller company with no recalls is also less likely to have the financial resources to accept the hit that comes to the bottom line. Not only are recalls bad for their public image but recalls can be devastating to their profits.

    When we as consumers applaud companies with no recalls, and avoid companies with recalls, we incentivize companies to keep potentially dangerous products on the shelves.

    7 3

    Dog Food Company Recall Issues

    Here are some recall issues that have popped up in the past, from companies who denied doing a recall (because remember, recalls are bad for the public perception of the brand). Notice the blatant disregard for the pet owners, and for the pets they are feeding.

    Champion Pet Foods (Orijen & Acana)

    This company has had multiple issues that should have warranted a recall out of caution, however, none were issued.

    In 2003, some of their products may have been contaminated by cows that had mad cow disease. Champion knew it was a potential problem and indicated that they were willing to offer refunds for concerned pet owners, but no recall was issued.

    In 2018, a supplier delivered beef tallow that was contaminated with Phenobarbital (a euthanasia drug). Champion Pet Foods used the contaminated tallow in production and many bags of food were distributed to suppliers. Once the FDA stepped in, the company retrieved unsold products but did not issue a recall for food that had already been sold.

    Champion (Acana / Orijen) did not recall food that was potentially contaminated with Phenobarbital.

    In 2019, the FDA released statements about a potential link between grain-free pet foods and the development of deadly nutritional DCM. (Since this time, many studies have shown a link between excessive use of peas, lentils, potatoes, and legumes and dogs developing heart conditions; these ingredients are common in grain-free foods).

    Champion Pet Foods, despite being implicated many times in early confirmed and ongoing reports, and despite making certain formulas that are loaded with suspect ingredients (lentils and peas) did not recall their grain-free foods. To this day they continue to deny any link.

    10 4

    Victor Pet Foods

    Victor Foods prides itself on never having had a recall, and it’s a major reason many people choose the brand.

    However, Victor has been implicated many times by pet owners and even veterinarians for dogs becoming sick on their formulas. Nutritional DCM reports have been confirmed (see THIS group for more information) and a lot of reproductive veterinarians will tell you that breeding issues are common for dogs fed Victor.

    Of course, they did end up issuing a massive recall in 2023 that prompted many of us to dig deeper into their practices. Turns out that Victor has been selling contaminated food for months; they were not testing their products for salmonella.

    Darwin’s Raw Pet Food

    In 2019, several kinds of Darwin’s Raw Pet food were found to be contaminated with salmonella. This is an unfortunately common problem with raw dog food in particular, and Darwin’s is not the only one to face pushback from the FDA regarding their practices.

    Darwin famously denied a recall and told consumers there was nothing to be concerned about.

    Read more HERE.

    1 3

    Pet Food Recalls That Are Alarming

    As we see above, some companies don’t recall things that should be recalled. This is a common practice with many stories we will never hear about (because it’s easy to hide small mistakes).

    Other companies recall things where the fact that there was an issue in the first place is alarming. Let’s dig into this:

    Midwestern Pet Foods (Sportmix, Wholesomes, Earthborn Holistic, Pro Pac)

    Midwestern Pet Foods was found to have serious issues with its manufacturing facilities, indicating poor overall quality control and testing practices.

    Many formulas were recalled because of salmonella and aflatoxins (both are deadly and yes, many dogs died).

    This is a good example of a brand where recalls are an indication of bad practices, and should be a clear red flag to pet owners that it may be best to avoid this brand altogether.

    Knowing that Midwestern Pet Foods had seriously nasty production practices in the first place should be alarming to all pet owners.

    Hill’s Science Diet Prescription Vitamin D Recall

    Like many brands (including Fromm and Purina), Hill’s has had to issue a recall regarding vitamin D levels in certain formulas of their foods.

    Purina issued its recall in 2022 after just two dogs turned up sick; the recall was voluntary and initiated by the company out of an abundance of caution.

    Fromm issued their recall in 2021 after certain canned foods had elevated levels of vitamin D.

    In the case of Hill’s, it was determined that they did NOT test their vitamin pre-mix before using it in the product. For a smaller company, this wouldn’t have likely been a huge deal. For a large company like Hill’s, many dogs were made ill by this oversight.

    This is an issue and Hill’s has been held accountable for it. It’s not a mistake that they are likely to make again and while we still recommend Hill’s, if you feel uncomfortable feeding it that’s understandable.

    12

    Critical Thinking & Educated Consumerism

    This of course brings up the discussion about being an educated consumer and using critical thinking skills to make decisions.

    Recalls save lives. In a perfect world, no dog food company would ever need to recall something. But it’s bound to happen, especially for companies producing food at a large scale.

    Some recalls are damaging and very alarming.

    Some recalls are helpful and done with safety and ethics in mind.

    Some recalls are potentially damaging, and the company learns from them.

    Some recalls that should happen, never do.

    It’s important to be alarmed for the right reasons.

    The 2022 Purina Vitamin D recall has generated more social media attention than almost any other in recent history. It’s a small recall related to just one product line, with no deaths or serious damage. In the history of recalls, especially among recalls that have caused death and damage, this should be a blip on the radar.

    To put this into perspective, Fromm Foods had a vitamin D recall in 2021…I bet you never even heard of it. There are very recent recalls as we speak from Fresh Pet and Primal Pet Foods as well.

    Despite this, bloggers, influencers, and pet owners are out in force with inflammatory headlines:

    • “Purina has TOXIC ingredients”
    • “Purina recall indicates deadly food!”
    • “Dogs Sick from Purina Food”
    • “Toxicity in Purina Foods”

    These kinds of misleading statements drive distrust for Purina and lead uneducated consumers to believe that all Purina foods have been recalled and that Purina itself is a bad company.

    Many of the same people who make these statements give a pass to Champion, Midwestern, Mid-America(Victor), and Darwin, even though their recalls (or lack thereof) are infinitely more dangerous and unethical.

    11 3

    How to Choose a Pet Food Company

    It’s no surprise that choosing a pet food company is hard; there are thousands of brands on the market, all with fancy labels vying for your attention.

    There are many ways to choose pet food, and some of the most popular ideas are actually among the worst reasons!

    Here is a list of things that many people prioritize when choosing a pet food, not realizing that they may be being misled:

    • The ingredients list (which is easy to build around consumer tastes, not necessarily quality nutrition)
    • The recalls list or lack of recalls (the whole point of this post)
    • Unregulated marketing terms such as holistic, super-premium, or biologically appropriate
    • Higher price point (which may mean nothing at all in terms of nutrition and quality)
    • False claims about the food preventing or treating certain conditions such as cancer
    • Pet store employees, influencers, and poorly qualified “canine nutritionists” who promote certain products as healthier or higher quality

    Are you falling subject to any of those common practices above? Take a step back and evaluate the credentials and qualifications of the people you source nutrition information from. Most nutritional information fed to us by pet stores, influencers, and food brands is nothing more than marketing.

    We recommend the Tufts Veterinary University Petfoodology Blog HERE.

    You can also look up legitimate and helpful stats (such as who formulates the food) on your brand at the Pet Nutrition Alliance.

    For recall notices and information, the most ethical, up to date, and informational source is the FDA. You can read the FDA list of pet food recalls HERE.

  • How to Choose the Best Dry Dog Food for a Great Dane

    How to Choose the Best Dry Dog Food for a Great Dane

    When it comes to choosing the best dry dog food for a Great Dane, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

    Not all dog foods are created equal, and some will be better for your pet than others! In this post we will discuss:

    • A list of the best foods for Great Danes, by brand, and handpicked to make your job easy!
    • How to read a dog food ingredients label
    • Deceptive marketing tricks to watch out for
    • What to look for in a Great Dane food
    • How to choose a dog food that is healthy for your pet
    • Information about dog food recalls

    This post does not cover raw, freeze-dried, or air-dried diets. We support balanced fresh feeding, however, that’s not the purpose of the post today.

    Here we will be covering kibble + wet dog food diets, which are the most popular ways to feed a Great Dane!

    The best food for any dog will of course be the one that they do best on.

    Keep in mind that a shiny coat and good stools are only minor indicators of health. A perfectly ‘healthy’ looking dog can suffer from congestive heart failure or other devastating disorders if the nutrition isn’t correct.

    That said, there are some important things to consider when you are on the search to find the best canine nutrition among the thousands of dog food options on the market today. Let’s dig in!

    12 1

    What to Look for in a Great Dane Dog Food

    Great Danes are not like other dogs. They are a giant breed with specific nutritional needs. Choosing dog food is even more overwhelming when we throw that aspect into the mix!

    In order to grow and develop properly, Great Danes need a diet that has the correct balance of calcium, phosphorus, and amino acids.

    Many health problems can arise when Great Danes are not offered the right dog food for their needs, especially when they are puppies and growing rapidly. The food you choose must be formulated for the dog’s life stage, which, for giant puppies means large or giant breed puppy food (more on this below!).

    When it comes to choosing the best dry dog food for a Great Dane, look for a food that meets the following criteria:

    Professionally Formulated Dog Food

    This key factor will help eliminate literally thousands of options, making it much easier to choose good dog food!

    Did you know that Fromm, a popular brand, is formulated by a chemical engineer? Victor, another popular brand, is formulated by somebody who has an online certificate in dairy cattle nutrition.

    These people are, unfortunately, not qualified to formulate dry dog food.

    While on paper these foods (and thousands of others like them) meet AAFCO bare minimums, they may be deficient in important amino acids and nutrients over the long term.

    We would never dream of buying baby formula that was created by people who were less than qualified to do so, especially if that food wasn’t also heavily tested and researched before being sold.

    This is an unfortunate reality, though, of many expensive pet foods.

    Your pet’s health is closely related to the quality and formulation of the ingredients in their food!

    This is not an area where you want to cut corners. Keep in mind, however, that a higher price does not necessarily mean higher quality.

    For an adult dog or definitely for a puppy, I recommend choosing dry kibble diets that were formulated by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists (DACVN), who are also directly employed by the actual brand itself for that purpose.

    Visit the Pet Nutrition Alliance HERE. ➡️

    Look up your brand and see! If they didn’t answer, refused to answer, or the food brand doesn’t directly employ a DACVN / ACVN or Veterinarian with a Master’s Degree in Nutrition, keep looking.

    Pro Tip: Having a ‘team’ does not count. Many times, what a statement like that actually means is that the brand pays an outside firm (consultants) to check boxes. Ask more questions.

    The Pet Nutrition Alliance has asked this question of hundreds of pet food manufacturers.

    Make sure that you verify that the name brand itself (Merrick, GO, or Earthborn, for example) has a qualified person formulating the brand of food, dedicated specifically to that brand, not the parent company.

    For example, Mars employs Veterinary Nutritionists that are dedicated to the Royal Canin brand, but not ones dedicated to the Nutro brand (also owned by Mars Pet care).

    2 1

    Meat Meal + Meat By-Product Meal to Reduce Bloat

    Meat meals are a nutrient-dense, high-protein, dehydrated form of organ meats and muscle, skin, and cartilage tissue that has been shown in studies to reduce the risk of bloat. Contrary to popular belief, they are a GOOD thing to see in your pets food!

    Bloat is a deadly condition in Great Danes and other large and giant breed dogs.

    Because meat meals are more likely to contain valuable nutrition such as liver, bone, skin, and cartilage, it makes sense that this ingredient can help keep your Great Dane healthy!

    Don’t be afraid of ‘By-Product Meal’. By-Products, such as liver, kidney, bone, and cartilage are commonly fed as part of a raw diet because they are SO nutritious.

    Animal byproducts are exactly what your dog needs in its diet. Not to mention, using the whole slaughtered animal is the ethical, economical, ecological, and responsible thing to do.

    Fresh ‘human grade’ meat, on the other hand, is roughly 70% water, so after it’s turned into kibble there may not be much meat or nutrition left. The nutritional value of muscle meat is much less than what is found in organ meats!

    Many pet owners have been misled by ‘fresh meat in kibble‘ marketing, and we think it’s time to change the narrative!

    It’s important to always choose dry food where meat meal (such as poultry meal) or meat by-product meal makes up the bulk of the nutrition.

    Grain-Inclusive vs. Grain-Free Diet

    Grain-free diets (kibble) replace grains and often some of the meat protein as well with ingredients such as lentils, peas, garbanzo beans, and potatoes.

    A grain-free kibble is NOT free of carbohydrates!

    While a ‘grain-free diet’ may sound healthier and may lead us to believe it has more meat, the truth is that it may have less meat, which could be devastating for your dog’s health.

    READ HERE for more information on how grain-free food and poorly formulated diets might cause sudden congestive heart failure in dogs.

    When choosing kibble, Great Danes should only be fed a professionally formulated grain-inclusive meat-based diet. Do not feed a grain-free diet to your dog without professional help from a board-certified veterinary canine nutritionist.

    You can find one HERE: https://acvn.org/directory/

    It’s important to note that many common grains used in premium dog food are good for a dog’s digestive system. They provide fiber which is great for reducing bloat risk and firming up stools!

    4 1

    Balanced Calcium + Phosphorus Ratios

    This is one of the most important factors to look for on a pet food label for Great Dane adult dogs and puppies, and one that is often overlooked!

    If the Calcium and Phosphorus levels are too high or too far apart from each other, it can cause nutrient imbalances that lead to weakness, tremors, heart palpitations, bone growth disorders (including knuckling, HOD, Pano, or Hip Dysplasia), or bone density issues.

    Studies show that giant breed puppies should NOT be fed excessive calcium. Many veterinary nutritionists (the experts on this topic) recommend keeping calcium at or below 1.2% and at 3.5g or less calcium per 1000kCal, especially for Danes under the age of two.

    This means that VICTOR foods are not safe or healthy to feed, as most formulas (Beef and Rice, Hi Pro, Professional) exceed this recommendation, often dangerously so!

    We recommend finding foods where the calcium and phosphorus are as close to a 1:1 or 1.3:1 ratio as possible, as well.

    Here is a common and acceptable dry matter analysis:

    1.1% calcium

    0.8% phosphorus

    You can also learn more about giant breed nutrition at The Giant Dog Food Project which displays the nutrient levels of over 600 brands and formulas.

    https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/nutritional-requirements-of-large-and-giant-breed-puppies

    14

    Puppy Food vs. Adult Food for Great Dane Puppies

    Many people believe that Great Dane Puppies should never be fed puppy food, as it may cause them to grow too quickly.

    This is a truly odd practice, given the fact that giant breed dogs experience explosive growth and don’t mature until 2-3 years of age. If any dog should have puppy food, it’s a Great Dane!

    Thankfully, science and research have solved an age-old problem, and now Great Dane puppies should be fed a large or giant breed puppy food until age 2!

    “Adult only” is dated advice based on old, outdated, and poorly researched dog foods. Unfortunately, many teenage Danes are suffering from nutritional deficiencies that result from ‘adult’ foods, making them incredibly lanky.

    They often also have chronic loose stools (from overeating to compensate for the missed nutrition) and low muscle mass.

    Large or giant breed puppy foods are the way to go. Our dogs deserve to have the status quo changed on this one.

    Here are our favorite brands and formulas of food for Great Dane puppies. These have been well researched, properly formulated, and proven in feeding trials for slow, even growth:

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    13

    How to Read a Dog Food Ingredients Label

    It may be tempting to choose your dog’s food based on the packaging or on appealing marketing claims, but it’s important to understand how to read the label and the ingredients.

    Below we’re sharing information about what you should be looking for on a dog food label!

    AAFCO Statement

    This statement simply indicates that the food meets the nutritional minimums required to be sold as balanced dog food.

    Being ‘AAFCO Approved’ is not a badge of honor, nor is it an indication of quality and health. It’s pretty easy to make a dog food meet minimums for certain nutrients.

    That said, the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) statement is important, as it will give you valuable insight on the dog food label into what the food is formulated for.

    For example, some dog foods are formulated for growth, puppies, adults, large breeds, small breeds, or seniors. Life stages are important to consider when choosing dog food!

    We like to see statements similar to the one below:

    “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of food) proves complete and balanced nutrition for (life stage).”

    https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/What-Is-AAFCO-and-What-Does-It-Do

    Guaranteed Analysis

    The guaranteed analysis is where you’ll find the minimum percentage of crude protein and fat, and the maximum percentages of fiber and moisture.

    You’ll notice that it’s slightly different with every single food.

    Contrary to popular belief, Great Danes can actually have food with higher protein levels. Too low protein can actually be detrimental to their muscle development and overall energy levels.

    The low-protein myth was debunked in studies, so you don’t have to worry anymore!

    19

    The Ingredients List

    Of course, you’ll want to look over the ingredients list too, but it’s not as important as some may have led you to believe. There are a lot of tricks companies use to make the ingredients list appealing and marketable, however, that doesn’t mean that the formulation is correct.

    Here are some things you want to look for:

    A food that contains a meat meal or meat by-product meal will almost always be the more nutritious choice.

    Watch out for ingredient splitting (see more below), which allows brands to tactfully, legally, and potentially dangerously reorganize the ingredients list to appeal to you and your wallet.

    Fancy additions such as spinach, blueberries, apples, or collard greens (for example) are there for marketing purposes and provide very little nutrition. If anything, they may be displacing meat.

    Fresh meat, deboned meat, and ‘raw’ meat in an ingredients list indicate ingredients that are roughly 70% water. Not only that, but once they are extruded (dried) into kibble they are no longer fresh and there isn’t much left, either. Think about this one for a moment.

    There is no such thing as fillers in dry dog food. (READ HERE)

    Logically, a company isn’t going to waste money on such things as it would increase shipping, manufacturing, sourcing, and formulation costs, not to mention kill dogs from malnutrition.

    Corn, for example, has a better nutrient profile than beef. Once it’s ground (for inclusion in kibble), it is 98% digestible and a fantastic source of linoleic acid (Omega 6).

    Of course, you want to choose a kibble with high-quality ingredients. This is where sourcing matters. Meat-based proteins from one company may not be held to the same standard as they are from another.

    10 3

    We recommend choosing a well-established dog food brand with solid and reliable quality control and sourcing practices.

    Recalls

    Recalls are actually a positive thing, indicating that a dog food company is willing to stand by their product and take it off the market if they find something wrong with it.

    Recently, Darwin’s pet food has been urged by the FDA to take some of its products off the shelves because of salmonella that was making pets sick. They refused...after all, recalls are bad for the marketing department.

    In another story, Victor pet food issued two recalls in 2023. Both of them were triggered by random 3rd party testing of their products, which is alarming. This is an indication that they weren’t testing for these things themselves. This has marred their “no recalls” record from the past, and caused many to realize that “no recalls” often means that the company is simply not looking for problems.

    I don’t know about you, but that’s not good.

    Just because dog food manufacturers claim “no recalls” doesn’t mean that they have a clean record. Ask more questions.

    https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-cautions-pet-owners-not-feed-certain-lots-darwins-natural-pet-products-due-salmonella

    Not only was Darwin’s caught avoiding recalls, Champion foods (the makers of Acana and Orijen) knowingly left food on the shelves that had been produced with contaminated beef tallow. The tallow tested positive for phenobarbitol (the euthanasia drug), and Champion chose not to recall the foods from that lot.

    “No recalls” is a shady marketing tactic. Don’t fall for it.

    12 2

    Deceptive Dog Food Marketing Tricks

    I’m going to outline some common deceptive marketing tricks that many dog food brands use to encourage you to make a purchase.

    I remember being very surprised by these the first time I’d heard them! After all, isn’t a fresh, holistic diet the better choice?

    Maybe not.

    The best dog food is not what you think. Read on…

    Ingredient Splitting

    With ingredient splitting, brands are able to effectively reorganize the ingredients list to be more appealing to you.

    The ingredient splitting trick makes it so that many foods can say ‘Real Chicken is the 1st Ingredient‘, even though the finished kibble is comprised mostly of peas.

    Yikes!

    I wrote a whole comprehensive blog post on ingredient splitting if you really want to dig in!

    Here are common ingredients that some dog food brands use, and how they might split them up.

    Pea Fiber, for example, on its own is ok. Where you want to be cautious is when you see 2 or more forms of the same ingredient:

    PEAS: Peas, Pea Fiber, Pea Protein, Pea Flour

    LENTILS: Green Lentils, Red Lentils, Yellow Lentils, Whole Lentils, Ground Lentils, Lentil Flour, Lentil Fiber

    POTATOES: Potatoes, Potato Flour, Potato Protein, Potato Fiber

    OATS: Oat, Oatmeal, Whole Oats, Oat Groats, Oat Fiber, Oat Flour

    The most nutritious dog food will be a meat-based diet focused on nutrients and amino acids, not one designed explicitly to sell you dog food at a premium price.

    31

    Unregulated Marketing Terms

    Many dog food companies are exceptional at marketing but don’t have qualified professionals or research to back up their claims.

    Not only that, it’s important to keep in mind that many common pet food marketing terms are unregulated and have no legal definition.

    This means that anybody can start a dog food company, have a company manufacture it for them, and then promote the food with any of the following terms:

    • Holistic
    • Super-Premium
    • Family-Owned & Operated
    • Biologically Appropriate
    • Species Appropriate
    • Healthy & Nutritious
    • Perfectly Balanced
    • Scientifically Formulated
    • Vet Approved

    Just because a food is labeled as “holistic and super premium” does not mean, in any way, that it’s actually better for your pet.

    As a matter of fact, the opposite may be true! Of course, we want to feed our dogs a high-quality diet. However, educated pet owners know how to sort out facts from marketing.

    False Claims

    Some dog food brands and influencers will use dubious and often false, unverifiable, or inaccurate claims that are designed to be misleading and confusing.

    By misleading and alarming you, they can easily generate profits for whatever brand of food, supplements, or education (books, courses, etc.) they are selling.

    Here are some common examples:

    • “Your pet will live longer on this food”
    • “This food prevents cancer”
    • “This food will eliminate allergies”
    • “Dry dog food has no nutrients”
    • “Kibble causes cancer”
    • “Corn is bad for dogs”
    • “Most dogs are allergic to chicken”
    • “Contains ‘fresh’ or ‘raw’ meat” (not possible after extrusion)
    • “Grains are bad for dogs and cause allergies and cancer”
    • “Purina, Royal Canin, Hill’s, Eukanuba, and Iam’s are junk foods full of fillers and diseased animals. They are not high-quality food”
    • “Recalls are BAD!”
    • “Kibble is full of fillers”
    • “Feeding kibble is like feeding your dog french fries or cereal for every meal”

    No food company should be making claims that their food will increase lifespan or reduce the risk of cancer, however, such statements are common.

    There are 300-400 new dog food brands each year in the United States. It stands to reason that they will say anything they have to in order to get your attention.

    It’s time for the dog community to stand up and learn to separate fact (science) from marketing buzzwords.

    Unfortunately, the veterinary community is weary. They want to help our pets, not harm them.

    4 4

    The Best Dog Foods by Brand

    When choosing food for your dog, I believe the following options are among the best nutrition you can get when choosing a kibble dry food diet.

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    24

    How to Feed a Great Dane

    When feeding your dog, we recommend the use of stainless or ceramic bowls which, unlike plastic bowls, will not harbor bacteria that can cause irritation and zits.

    For reference on how much to feed your dog, check out our Ultimate Great Dane Feeding Chart post!

    Small, Frequent Meals

    Studies have shown that feeding your dog smaller, more frequent meals may help reduce the risk of bloat (GDV).

    Large, single meals are not safe for large and giant breed dogs.

    We recommend feeding your dog at least 2, if not 3 meals each day. Encourage slow, stress-free eating!

    Wet Food or Fresh Food Toppers

    Studies have shown that adding fresh foods or canned wet food to dry kibble can help reduce the risk of bloat in large and giant breed dogs.

    I always add canned food to my dog’s diet! Not only do they absolutely love it, but I feel good knowing that they are getting some variety in their diet. Wet dog food tends to be lower in carbohydrates, as well.

    Extruded dry food is not bad, but there is some logic to giving dogs wet food containing moisture.

    Make sure you feed your dog quality canned food that matches your dog’s dry food. It should be a complete and balanced formula, not one created only for supplemental feeding.

    Supplements for Great Danes

    Don’t over-supplement your Great Dane!

    If you have chosen well-formulated dry food + canned wet food, you don’t need to go nuts with the expensive supplements.

    Here are some that you may need or want, depending on your dog’s needs!

    Esther C is commonly used for Great Dane puppies to help support their growth and reduce the chance of knuckling, HOD, or Panosteitis. While this is not well-researched, many people swear by it. Get Esther C HERE.

    Joint Support is ideal for dogs who are older (age 3+) or that are struggling with orthopedic issues, including poor structure, flat feet, arthritis, missing limbs, or dysplasia. I recommend GLYCOFLEX Stage III, get it HERE.

    Fish Oil can be helpful for dogs that struggle with dry or itchy skin and a dull coat.

    17

    Tips for Dogs with Allergies

    Some dogs have allergies. Most are environmental, but some are caused by a food allergy.

    The signs and symptoms of allergies and intolerances of any kind include:

    • Itching
    • Redness
    • Sore spots
    • Hair loss
    • Swollen paws
    • Hives

    These things can also be indications of other things, too. Not just allergies. Don’t immediately jump to food being the cause.

    All commercial dog food diets are likely to have been contaminated with grains or chicken, even if the ingredients list contains no grains or chicken. If your dog is truly allergic to those things, you need to feed your dog a hydrolyzed prescription diet from your veterinarian.

    Chances are, however, that your dog is not actually allergic to those things! Whole grains are very nutritious in dry dog food and don’t need to be avoided.

    Read HERE about how your Dane is not actually allergic to chicken.

    Blood and saliva allergy tests are NOT accurate and many times are nothing more than a money-grabbing scam. This is especially true of tests you can purchase and complete yourself.

    (Learn more about that here).

    A food trial elimination diet and careful monitoring of symptoms to identify triggers will be key. If blood or saliva tests are taken, repeat them with a different company for secondary results and use them as part of your treatment plan, not as the sole source of information.

    Many dogs with allergies actually have environmental intolerances. Constant food switching to ‘find something that works’ and bribery to encourage eating (which can unbalance the diet) will make these things worse.

    Instead, try this:

    • Talk to your veterinarian, have an open discussion
    • Choose a well-formulated food and stick with it for 4-6 months, minimum
    • Wipe dirt and dander from the fur and paws nightly using a damp towel
    • Ask about medicated wipes or shampoo
    • Talk about medications

    We recommend seeking veterinary advice for food allergies or anything related to your pet’s health for all dogs and pet owners.

    https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2017/01/food-allergies/
  • What are WSAVA Guidelines, and Why do they Matter?

    What are WSAVA Guidelines, and Why do they Matter?

    What is WSAVA, and what are WSAVA Guidelines? Why should I consider WSAVA recommendations and guidelines when choosing pet food? What are the WSAVA approved brands?

    This is a topic we recieve a lot of questions on, so I’m going to clear it up in one post! Before we begin, I want to make one thing very, very clear.

    WSAVA does not ‘approve’, ‘endorse’, or ‘recommend’ any brand of dog food. Any perception that they do is incorrect and likely misguided by other sources.

    What WSAVA does do, however, is provide pet owners with some easy to follow recommendations for choosing dog food.

    First, a little history:

    The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is a non-profit global veterinary association that was founded in 1994. It’s similar to the ADA as it related to toothpaste, for example.

    The mission of the WSAVA is to improve the health and welfare of small animals throughout the world.

    Today, the WSAVA has grown to include more than 200 member organizations in over 80 countries. Their collective efforts involve creating guidelines and recommendations that provide information, consistency, and standards between organizations and different countries.

    WSAVA is a non-profit organization that generates revenue from contributions, fundraising events, and activities. Anybody can contribute resources and financial support to help the cause.

    One way that they promote science and research is by developing guidelines for veterinarians and pet owners to follow. In this blog post, we will discuss what WSAVA is and how you can use their common sense guidelines to choose food for your dog!

    photo of person feeding dog outside
    Photo by Ricardo Esquivel on Pexels.com

    What are WSAVA Guidelines for Dog Food?

    The WSAVA has developed a set of guidelines to raise awareness for consumers who are looking to choose a quality, science-backed food for their pets. It’s important that I repeat this: the WSAVA does not endorse, certify, or recommend any single brand or formula of dog food.

    These common-sense WSAVA pet food guidelines offer pet owners a sense of security that they are making the right choice in pet food.

    Unfortunately, the pet food industry is complicated and many consumers have been misled by dubious marketing practices.

    I’m outlining the WSAVA Dog food recommendations below:

    #1 – Does the Dog Food Company Employ a Nutritionist?

    The most important thing to look for when choosing pet food is to find out if the company employs a legitimate nutritionist.

    You may be surprised to find out that the solid majority of pet food brands have NO nutritionist on staff at all! (More on this below).

    Appropriate qualifications for a dog food nutritionist are either a PhD in Animal Nutrition, or Board Certification by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) or the European College of Veterinary Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN).

    World Small Animal Veterinary Association

    It’s important to understand that not all nutritionists are created equal! There is a massive difference between somebody who took a short online course, and a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist (with a Ph.D. in animal nutrition).

    Somebody with an M.S. in Animal Nutrition or Animal Science is NOT qualified.

    When a company has no nutritionist on staff, they often rely on outdated recipes or consultants to formulate their food. Oftentimes, the company may even state that they “work with a team of nutritionists”. While this sounds great, it’s code for “we hired a consulting firm to look over our recipe”.

    Some people may be ok with this corner-cutting practice, but it’s been proven time and time again that having a qualified nutritionists on staff is necessary to ensure safe, reliable pet food formulations.

    So be sure to check what ‘kind’ of a nutritionist is on staff, if there is one at all!

    Author note: nutritionists who carry certificates from places such as DNU or DNMU (Dogs Naturally Magazine) or other online blogs and course platforms are not legitimate. These people often spread dangerous misinformation and may even be practicing veterinary medicine (such as treating and diagnosing allergies or stomach problems) without a license.

    To be clear, however, just because a company employs a qualified nutritionist, doesn’t mean that nutritionist is being used to formulate the diet your pet is eating, which brings us to the next point.

    (Read here for some common dog food marketing gimmicks)

    short coated tan dog
    Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels.com

    #2 – Who Formulates the Diet?

    Many consumers are surprised to learn that a lot of boutique dog foods are formulated by people with very few qualifications in small animal medicine and animal nutrition.

    When you are choosing puppy food or food for your adult or senior dog, verify that the company employs and is using a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DAVCN Diplomate) or a PhD in Animal Nutrition to formulate and test the food.

    Some companies employ a full team of DACVNs, who work in tandem with on staff companion animal veterinarians and professionals that have an M.S. or PhD in animal nutrition and related sciences.

    Other companies say they employ a “team of nutritionists” however what they really mean is that they only consult with people who don’t work for them. It’s important to read between the lines (read more about this HERE).

    Fromm family foods, for example, are formulated by a chemical engineer. It is only in 2023 that it seems they have hired somebody with an M.S. in Animal Nutrition (marginal qualification).

    Solid Gold “consults with” a nutritionist with a PhD (but doesn’t employ one).

    Diamond Naturals (also Kirkland/Costco, Taste of the Wild, Nutra Nuggest, and 4Health brand) “consults with” a nutritionist with an MS in animal nutrition (but doesn’t employ one).

    Victor Foods are formulated by somebody who has an online certificate in dairy cattle nutrition.

    When a company “consults with” or “works with” a nutritionist, what they are saying is that they have somebody only mildly qualified in their field being paid to formulate the food, or they are using a formulation software and then a consultant looks it over on paper.

    Many companies will respond to this question by indicating that they have a ‘team of highly qualified nutritionists‘. This is smoke and mirrors, as their ‘team’ is often comprised of off-site consultants who have no allegiance to the brand itself.

    Make sure the company actually has qualified people on staff and if they gloss over this answer? Look elsewhere…especially if the foods aren’t also being subjected to proper lab analysis and feeding trials to prove that they are safe, nutritious, and bioavailable.

    Fawnequin

    #3 – What is the quality control process for ingredients & the finished product?

    When it comes to quality control, not all companies are created equal.

    The best companies have a rigorous quality control process that starts with sourcing the highest quality ingredients from suppliers that they trust.

    They then test the ingredients upon arrival to ensure that they meet their high standards.

    After the food is manufactured, they test the finished product to ensure that it meets their nutritional specifications. This is assuming that when the diet was originally formulated, it was also subjected to a range of labs, testing, and feeding trials.

    Only then is the food sent out to be sold in stores.

    The best companies have a comprehensive food safety program in place that includes regular testing of ingredients and products, as well as sanitation protocols at their owned manufacturing facilities.

    They are also ready and willing to issue recalls if something goes wrong. When a company says ‘no recalls’, we get nervous! Companies without recalls may wish to uphold that term regardless of safety, and may not have been established long enough to yet have a recall (new and inexperienced) in the first place.

    Don’t be fooled by unregulated marketing terms such as ‘made in our kitchen’, ‘family oriented company’, and ‘human grade’. These things are NOT an indication of whether or not the food is manufactured with strict protocols.

    Many companies now like to gloss over their formulation practices and lack of feeding trials and nutritional lab results by putting a big emphasis on how they use a 3rd party lab to test for things such as aflatoxins and salmonella. Make no mistake, that’s important, but is that really all they are doing?

    What is WSAVA and What are WSAVA Guidelines?
    Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

    #4 – What kind of product research or nutrition studies have been conducted? Is it published in peer-reviewed journals?

    The best companies invest time and money into research and nutrition studies to ensure that their products are of the highest quality, and that our understanding of small animal health is always getting better.

    They also make sure that this research is published in peer-reviewed journals so that other experts can review it, verify its accuracy and learn from it.

    When a company says “we do our own research“, we get skeptical (and you should too).

    Any food brand can conduct ‘research’ by feeding a dog some food and making anecdotal judgments about their health. That’s not proper research, and there is a reason that many ’boutique’ food brands do not submit their research for peer review.

    Many dogs who appear robust, healthy, and shiny die suddenly from nutrition-related (secondary) DCM. The appearance of ‘health’ is not an indicator of actual health.

    Secondary DCM is a problem that is exclusive to untested, poorly formulated boutique food brands.

    In addition to participation in the greater scientific nutrition and animal health community, food companies should also be participating in comprehensive lab analysis of the finished products and AAFCO feeding trials (or better) to prove their formulation in real life, not just on paper.

    If they did not substantiate their food in actual trials, YOUR dog is the guinea pig.

    (See below, the highly tested and researched Royal Canin Giant Breed line from Puppy through Adult)

    63276 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1530038530
    Feed until 8 months of age.
    63278 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1530030508
    Feed from 8-24 months of age.
    62058 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1592946427
    Adult formula from 24 months on.

    What to Look For on a Dog Food Label

    When you are looking at a dog food label, there are a few things that you should pay attention to:

    – The guaranteed analysis (GA)

    – The nutritional adequacy statement

    – The feeding instructions

    The guaranteed analysis is a set of minimums and maximums that must be met by law. We’ve included more information below!

    (Read about why you shouldn’t judge a pet food label by an ingredients list HERE)

    Many people look to the ingredients list when choosing a dog food, however, this is a practice that often results in owners choosing poorly researched low quality foods.

    What dog owners need to understand is that the ingredients list is used for marketing.

    If you ‘like’ the way an ingredients list reads, chances are, it’s been strategically developed to appeal to you. Tricks such as ingredient splitting and fairy dust (dried blueberries and spinach, for example) are often used.

    Not only that, but ‘real meat as the first ingredient‘ or ‘first 5 ingredients are meat’ are actually a marketing trick, and in many cases, meat may not actually be the predominant ingredient in the finished product.

    (Read more about ingredient splitting and by-product meat meals here).

    32

    Nutrition adequacy statement

    This is an important one to look for. This statement must be present on all pet food labels in the United States and it indicates that the food and its nutrient analysis have been formulated to meet, or substantiated in tests to meet AAFCO standards.

    For puppies, you want to see a statement that the food was ‘substantiated in feeding trials’ for growth, for example.

    ‘Animal feeding tests using AAFCO Procedures’ means that actual science and research (AAFCO feeding trials) went into proving the nutritional adequacy of the formulation.

    ‘Formulated to meet’ simply means the food meets the minimum standard, but was not subjected to AAFCO feeding trials.

    ‘Comparable in nutritional adequacy to foods substantiated in food trials’ is less common, but still occasionally seen from small ‘family’ food brands.

    Read more about AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements here.

    How many calories per gram or serving of food?

    This is another important piece of information that you’ll want to look for.

    You can use this information to determine how much food you should be feeding your dog based on their weight and activity level.

    Some foods are more nutrient-dense than others! A higher quality food will, in general, have more calories per serving.

    When you switch to a science-backed diet for your pet, you may find you have to feed much, much less, so watch your dog’s body condition!

    4 1

    Does the company provide contact information?

    You want to be able to reach the company if you have any questions or concerns about their food.

    A good company will have a customer service team that is ready and willing to help you with whatever you need.

    Look for signs that they are truly a science-based company, and not using fluffy marketing to make you ‘feel good’ about the food.

    Here are some unregulated, but common “feel good” marketing terms that can be used in misleading ways:

    • Holistic
    • Family-Owned & Operated
    • Super-Premium
    • No By-Products
    • Meat as the first ingredient
    • Home cooked
    • Fresh
    • Made in our ‘kitchen’
    • Tested in our ‘kitchens’
    • No Recalls
    • Ancient Grains
    • Formulated by veterinarians
    • We use a nutritionist
    • We have a team of ‘nutrition experts’ (but no DACVN or ACVN in sight)
    • Wholesome

    Who makes the food?

    The best companies will be upfront about who makes their food, and they should own and operate their own facilities, especially if they are producing prescription or specialty diets that require detailed protocols and strict attention to detail.

    Many boutique food companies use a co-packer and don’t own or operate their own manufacturing facilities.

    This is a red flag, as they won’t have as much say in quality control, testing, or nutrition protocols.

    There are a small handful of all-purpose, unbranded pet food manufacturing facilities in the United States. These companies make a huge amount of co-packed boutique pet food brands.

    It’s essentially a lot of the same food and same practices…with a different label on it.

    Ask questions. Boutique foods are one of the biggest marketing schemes in the pet industry right now, and many people are falling for it!

    photography of three dogs looking up
    Photo by Nancy Guth on Pexels.com

    What Dog Foods are Approved by WSAVA?

    The WSAVA does not approve or sponsor any dog food. However, they do have guidelines that they encourage companies to follow in order to ensure the safety and quality of their products.

    It is a myth that foods are ‘approved’ or ‘sponsored’ by the WSAVA.

    What Dog Foods Follow WSAVA Guidelines?

    Only a handful of dog and pet food companies actually meet and stringently follow all WSAVA guidelines.

    These manufacturers include and are limited to:

    • Purina Dog Chow, Purina One and Purina Pro Plan
    • Hills Science Diet
    • Royal Canin
    • Eukanuba
    • Iams

    Where most other companies fall short is in not owning their own manufacturing facilities, and not employing qualified nutrition professionals. There are a select few companies who DO come close to meeting guidelines, but aren’t on the list above.

    Boutique diets from companies who do not follow these simple guidelines have the smallest market share of pet food sales overall, but are responsible for 100% of diagnosed nutrition-related secondary DCM cases (an often silent killer).

    These are OUR favorite foods for large and giant breed ADULT dogs, that meet WSAVA Guidelines:

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    Does WSAVA Receive Kickbacks?

    The WSAVA does not receive kickbacks from any companies, because they don’t specifically promote any particular company.

    In fact, they are a non-profit organization with the mission to “advance animal health and welfare worldwide.”

    Food companies of any type (both those that follow WSAVA guidelines and those that don’t) may contribute science, research, time and financial resources to the WSAVA.

    Ask questions about why boutique companies do not participate in research or the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and the global community this way!

    Additionally, food companies can choose to follow (or not follow) the established guidelines. These guidelines are common sense, so when a food company doesn’t follow them or spins their marketing to make you think that they do, we should be asking a lot of questions.

    Here is our list of science-backed large and giant breed puppy foods that meet WSAVA guidelines:

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    Do Veterinarians Receive Kickbacks from Dog Food Companies?

    This is a common myth, but it’s not true! In the United States, it is illegal for veterinarians to receive kickbacks from any companies, including pet food companies.

    If a food company gives a veterinarian a doormat with its logo on it, they cannot force the veterinarian to recommend that food. That would be unethical. Giving veterinarians sponsored items and asking them to promote the food are two different things.

    Some veterinarians might have a wholesale account to sell certain foods in their lobby. They will often do this so they can offer highly researched and scientifically formulated prescription diets to pets that need them.

    The question is not actually about whether or not veterinarians ‘receive kickbacks’ then, but truly about why veterinarians promote certain brands and not others.

    For a number of reasons, most veterinarians promote science-backed brands such as Purina, Hills, and Royal Canin. They are approached often about promoting ’boutique’ food brands, but they tend to steer clear (because…science and well, laws).

    It is not, however, illegal for pet store employees, ‘nutritionists’ with weak credentials, influencers (us included) and brand reps to earn commissions and ‘kickbacks’.

    As a matter of fact, these people make TONS of money recommending dog food to you. Remind yourself that the next time a pushy Blue Buffalo rep at Petsmart is telling you about how ‘gross’ and ‘nasty’ Purina is.

    But, Veterinarians aren’t Nutritionists!

    No, they aren’t.

    But they did go to 4 years of undergraduate school, followed by 4 years of veterinary medicine where they studied companion animal health, surgery, nutrition, and welfare.

    They took upper-level nutrition classes, usually taught by veterinary nutritionists, and then went on to apply this knowledge to every facet of health from the endocrine system to healing, urinary health, thyroid disorders, diabetes, allergies, and liver and kidney function.

    That’s definitely more than most of us and definitely more than your dog trainer, an employee at a pet store, the ‘Dog Food Advisor’ (a human dentist), or somebody you met in a Facebook group who ‘read the ingredients list’.

    The information in those courses and textbooks are often coming from ‘the Big 5’ food brands (Hills, Purina, Eukanuba, Royal Canin, and Iams), because those food brands are the ones most dedicated to health sciences and research, and thus have a lot of important and relevant information to share.

    The Purina Institute, for example, has contributed an insane amount of peer-reviewed data that is helping animals all over the world with everything from bloat to hip dysplasia, cancer and diabetes.

    Some of the veterinarians go on to gain additional certifications in nutrition (MS or PhD). Most veterinarians then, as a result, tend to look up to the resources and information coming from their more educated veterinary peers.

    So when a veterinarian is giving advice about dog food brands, they are getting their advice from actual science.

    Pet store employees, on the flip side, are not veterinarians at all and receive the information they share from food companies that want them to sell their products for, you guessed it, kickbacks.

    We will say this often: look past the feel good marketing start asking big QUESTIONS about boutique dog foods! Have more questions about nutrition? Leave a comment below!