“The Enforcement Issues Committee under the Association of Animal Control Feed Officials (AAFCO) met on August 3rd, 2015, to discuss the potential misbranding of feed ingredients and finished commercial feeds. This discussion came about thanks to the persistence of Dr. Jean Hofve, a Colorado veterinarian who is passionate about feeding healthy food to pets. She proposed the discussion based on multiple studies performed by scientists around the world that showed mislabeling of pet food. The studies were performed to determine which animal proteins were found in different canned, dry, and treat pet foods on the market compared to what they were labeled to contain. I’d like to say the results were shocking, but sadly, they were not.
In one study 20 of 52 pet foods either contained proteins not listed on the label or did not contain proteins that were listed on the label. In a second study 10 of 21 foods were mislabeled. In a study involving over the counter, limited ingredient, venison pet foods for allergic animals, 3 out of 4 products contained soy and chicken proteins that were not listed on the label. Ten of 12 hypoallergenic diets were found to have mammalian, fish, and avian proteins, even though they were not labeled for multiple proteins.”
Source: Dr. Judy Morgan’s Newsletter
DepositPhoto/Tempusfugit1980
Why Some Dogs Can’t Eat Dry Dog Food
Rodrigo was the reason we transitioned our dogs to raw dog food. No matter what food we fed to our dogs, eventually Rodrigo developed digestive issues.
This year I’ve been learning more about AAFCO as Dr. Cathy Alinovi and Dr. Judy Morgan share their experiences through their newsletters. The above excerpt is from a newsletter I received from Dr. Judy Morgan last week.
Nearly 50% of pet foods on the market are mislabeled. Those of us raising dogs with food allergies are pretty much screwed if we can’t trust the labels on dry dog food.
My Dog’s Protein Allergies
Rodrigo has an intolerance to a growing list of proteins:
Chicken
Turkey
Beef
Bison
Buffalo
After eating these proteins, he develops loose stool and gas. If he continues a diet of these proteins, then he develops diarrhea, his butt becomes irritated, and I have to express his anal glands. If I still continue feeding him these proteins, then his body stops absorbing the nutrients (because of diarrhea), and he loses weight rapidly.
FullBucket daily canine powder and Olewo carrots help, but it’s easiest to remove these proteins from his system.
If a dry dog food has chicken, beef, or poultry, then after a period, he won’t be able to eat the food.
Elimination Diet to Identify Protein Allergies in Dogs
Lucy Postins, CEO of The Honest Kitchen, shared the following elimination diet protocol for dogs on Dogs Naturally Magazine, advising you on the week by week steps to help identify your dog’s allergens. Invest in a spiral notebook to help keep track.
CLICK HERE FOR ELIMINATION DIET PROTOCOL FOR DOGS
Don’t forget that dogs have environmental allergies too, which won’t be revealed in an elimination diet. However, I’ve found that a healthier diet has improved Rodrigo’s digestive system and reduced his allergy symptoms in the Fall and Spring (itchy paws).
When an Elimination Diet is Too Complicated
When, like me, you’re just too overwhelmed to conduct an elimination diet, there more options.
Limited Ingredient Diets for Dogs –
The Honest Kitchen offers three recipes (fish, chicken, and turkey) that only have six ingredients, and they’re getting stellar reviews from dog lovers.
Brave (grain free fish dog food): All ingredients dehydrated: MSC certified pollock, organic coconut, chickpea, celery, pumpkin, spinach, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate.
Marvel (grain free turkey dog food): All ingredients dehydrated: Cage-free turkey, parsnip, navy bean, organic coconut, pumpkin, parsley, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate.
Thrive (grain free chicken dog food): All ingredients dehydrated: Chicken, organic quinoa, sweet potatoes, spinach, parsley, organic kelp, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate.
Carna4 is a high-quality dry dog food that bakes their “kibble” in the oven for a short period, at moderate temperatures to avoid mass nutrient loss. Slowly baking dry dog food eliminates the need for them to use synthetic vitamin-mixes, which can be harder for some dogs to process.
Grain Free Duck Formula: Duck, pork liver, eggs, organic sprouted barley seed, potato, salmon, sweet potato, organic sprouted green lentils, organic sprouted flax seed, organic sprouted red lentils, peas, apples, carrots, sea salt, kelp, rosemary.
Home Cooking for Dogs –
I found home cooking to be too cumbersome and expensive for four dogs, because I not only need novelty proteins (Rodrigo), I need vitamins and minerals to make the diet balanced. When I do cook for our dogs, I use a huge crockpot that can make a few days of food, and I follow recipes in Feed Your Best Friend Better, by Rick Woodford. A new cookbook, I’m thumbing through is The Healthy Hound, by Paris Permenter
Raw Feeding for Dogs –
I chose raw feeding, because it’s easy for us and best for our dogs. I order all of our dogs’ food online:
Wazzuor: a local raw food co-op
Raw Paws Pet Food
Darwin’s Natural Pet Products
I mix raw meat with base mixes by The Honest Kitchen, adding supplements based on each of our dogs’ needs:
Fish Oil from Bonnie & Clyde Pet Goods
Green lipped mussel, turmeric, ground kelp, apple cider vinegar
Super Essentials, Green JuJu
Nupro Joint & Immunity Support
FullBucket Daily Canine Powder
Canine System Saver
Serenity Zen Dog & Cat by Natura Petz (to treat Zoey’s mild anxiety)
Quality Dry Dog Foods –
If dry dog food works best for your lifestyle, then I recommend ordering an allergy test for your dog and developing the habit of reading ingredients panels carefully.
Allergy Test for Dogs:
Glacier Peak Holistic
Gut Instinct Nutrition and Intuitive Healing
3 Dry Dog Food Brands I Recommend:
Open Farm Pet
PetKind Tripe Dry
ZiwiPeak
Want to make your dry dog food even healthier? Soak it in bone broth. I make a batch in my crockpot – it’s easy, takes few ingredients, and the dogs love it. Bone broth makes dry dog food easier to digest for most dogs and entices picky eaters.
When it comes to buying the best food for your dog, know that not all brands are being straight forward about what’s in their food. You may think you’re feeding your chicken intolerant dog a food with duck or lamb, but you’re actually feeding him or her chicken and beef too. Read the ingredients and question the brand (many respond to calls and emails), because our dogs count on us to be their advocate.