[GreatDaneMom]

alright, there is sooo much talk about foods on here and a lot of "what do you think about..." and "does this sound good....". while i think its great a lot of you look for second opintions. i think this is a good thing for people to know when reading the ingredients on the bag. sometimes, the difference between, chicken and chicken meal doesnt mean much to some people, but it will help to know what your dog is getting in each right? i thought this might help people who dont know what each kind of ingredient means, and what they do (or dont do) for your dog. i still think its great to ask second opinions though if you have never used the food!

first know that your ingredients are listed in order of percentage. the top ingredient is what most of your food is, then it goes down from there.

lets start with your meat...we will use Chicken...
chicken meal = excellent, i would eat that!
chicken = good, but it could be a little better.
poultry = bad, because it is not necessarily chicken...
chicken byproduct = parts of the chicken that probably wouldnt even make it into balogna
poultry byproduct = we dont really know what parts of the chicken this is, but we will put it in there anyway...
poultry byproduct meal = those parts we dont know about in concentrated form

now, most foods contain grains... grains should not make up a large percent of the food. therefore they should be lower down on the ingredients list.
RICE is the most digestable grain and is best as brown rice, but BARLEY and OATS are also alright. CORN should be avoided because it is the least digestable. WHEAT may want to be avoided because many dogs are allergic to it. your grains are alright as long as they are in meal or ground form, this way they hold the most nutrients. any other form and they begin to lose their nutritional value. the only RICE TO AVOID is BREWERS RICE, this is the leftover from rice after all the nutritional value has been taken out. basically, rice leftovers.... watch for fillers, you can find this by looking for ingredients that are listed over and over again, but with different names. (ex: ground rice, brewers rice, rice flour...)

next... things that sound weird. if it sounds like you wouldnt want to eat it, its probably not good. things like LARD, ANIMAL FAT, ANIMAL DIGEST.. gross. animal fat and animal digest has been found to often contain rendered animals, which can be diseased animals, animals that died before slaughter, roadkill, and euthanized pets from animal shelters. how sad is that? Also dont buy food that contains MENADIONE, even though this is a vitamin supplament, it can couse health problems.

NOW- here is a list of ingredients and their functions.
Anise
Anise aids in digestion and helps to eliminate gas and bloat.

Apple Pomace
Apple Pomace is high in fibre, which aids in keeping the digestive track clear. It is also a natural source of calcium, iron and Vitamins A, C, and K

Biotin
Biotin strengthens the claws and keeps them from chipping and cracking.

Brewers Rice
Brewers Rice is one of the most digestible grains available. Rice is a carbohydrate that provides a quick source of energy and good stamina.

Calcium Iodate
Calcium Iodate is a source of Iodine for proper hormone replacement that controls the metabolism.

Calcium Pantothenate`
Calcium Pantothenate is an enzyme for energy metabolism.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide quick energy and promotes healthy growth your dog needs to stay healthy.

Cassia
Cassia aids the digestive system and acts as an antiviral agent.

Chamomile
Chamomile aids the digestive system.

Choline Chloride
Choline Chloride enhances the digestive system in the stomach.

Cobalt Carbonate
Cobalt Carbonate is required for normal stomach functions and vitamin absorption.

Copper Sulphate
Copper Sulphate is essential to hemoglobin function, as well as bone growth and maintenance.

Corn Gluten Meal
Corn Gluten Meal is an excellent source of protein that gives energy.

Dried Whole Egg
Dried Whole Egg is high in protein with superior bio-availability.

Fats
Fats are essential to every cell in the body. The fat content in Whole Life will supply your pet with the energy needed for an active lifestyle.

Ferrous Sulphate
Ferrous Sulphate is an iron compound that helps prevent anaemia.

Folic Acid
Folic Acid provides the Vitamin B that helps to develop strong claws.

Fresh Chicken
Protein is the building block of life. We use these meat sources for a balanced and complete amino acid profile. Chicken and lamb are among the highest digestible proteins available.

Garlic
Garlic acts as an antibacterial agent and improves the cardiovascular system and may also enhance the immune system functions.

Horseradish
Horseradish is an antibacterial that also adds flavour to the blend.

Iron
Iron is found in Apple Pomace, Oatmeal and Ferrous Sulphate, and is an essential mineral needed to maintain a healthy metabolism.

Juniper
Juniper is a gastrointestin al antiseptic that aids in the function of the kidney.

Kelp Meal
Kelp Meal is a natural product made from Ascophyllum Nodosum seaweed that is harvested from the sea. It supplies natural vitamins and chelated minerals, which increases the immune and glandular systems and improves the digestive capacity.

Lamb Meal
Lamb Meal is an excellent source of protein. It is great for muscle development and overall body maintenance.

Lecithin
Lecithin aids in the absorption of the other ingredients in Whole Life, and helps to improve the condition of the skin and the coat.

Manganese Oxide
Manganese Oxide is an electrolyte that is essential in the maintenance of a strong body.


Minerals
Minerals are key to building strong bones and strong teeth, maintaining balance of fluids and aiding metabolism. Important minerals include calcium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc and iron are contained in every Whole Life formula.

Natural Flavors

Niacin
Niacin is a form of Vitamin B that helps in digestion.

Oatmeal
Oatmeal supplies carbohydrates and amino acids, and is a good source of fibre. It is also high in iron.

Potassium Chloride
Potassium Chloride plays a vital role in the osmotic balance between cells and body fluids. It is the water balance in the body.

Poultry Fat
Poultry Fat makes Whole Life Pet Food highly palatable. Poultry Fat is high in Omega 6 (3.4%) and other essential fatty acids needed to develop a healthy skin and shiny coat. It also provides energy, and acts as an antioxidant.

Poultry Meal
Poultry Meal is a good source of protein and fat that provides the essential energy component, and provides the fresh meaty flavour that dogs love. It also promotes muscle, tissue, bone and teeth development.

Protein
Protein provides amino acids essential for maintaining tissue and organs. Coat hair is 95% protein. Skin cells are made up of protein and fats. The Whole Life supplies your pet with the protein needed to maintain strong bones and muscle

Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride is a good source of Vitamin B6 that helps protein metabolism, and helps the formation of red blood cells.

Riboflavin
Riboflavin promotes growth and good metabolism.

Rosemary Extract
Rosemary Extract is a natural antioxidant.

Salt
Salt is a natural and necessary element in your pet’s overall health.

Sodium Selenite
Sodium Selenite is a source of selenium that acts as a biological antioxidant.

Thiamine Mononitrate
Thiamine Mononitrate is a good source of Vitamin B.

Thyme
Thyme is an overall tonic for the functions of the body.

Tomato Powder
Tomato Powder increases blood circulation and acts an antioxidant.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A

Vitamin B
Vitamin B is provided in Niacin and Thiamine Mononitrate promotes proper metabolism and appetite.

Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a source of enzymes that aid in proper growth.

Vitamin C and E
Vitamin C and E are necessary antioxidants that help to prevent the breakdown of unsaturated fatty acids which are essential for cell membrane growth and thus your pet’s growth and development in general. If unsaturated fatty acids breakdown they could affect the flavour of the food.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps in the absorption of the calcium.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps to maintain a dog’s healthy immune system. As dogs age, antioxidants like Vitamin E can help reverse the age-related decrease in immune response

Vitamins
Vitamins play an important role in enzyme reactions and metabolic functions.

Water
Water is the biggest component of blood and cells. It helps disperse heat and regulate body temperature. And it aids in digestion.

Wheat
Wheat is a far better grain to digest than corn or soybean, and using a combination of different forms of grain-ground wheat, wheat flour, wheat germ meal, and ground rice is better than using just one grain. Humans, as well as pets, have certain foods they should not eat. While a wheat base is acceptable to most dogs, it is up to each pet owner to make this determination. We purchase the grains for our dog food recipe from General Mills and Pillsbury, not directly from the farm. The cost is greater; however, we are insured of receiving the finest quality for our healthy dog food without the risk of mold or other harmful toxins.

Whole ground flax seed
Flaxseed is an excellent source of Omega-3 (0.5%) essential fatty acids, which help to keep the skin and coat in tip-top shape, and maintain lower cholesterol levels.

Yeast Culture
Yeast Culture is a beneficial bacteria that assists proper digestion.

Yucca Schidigera Extract
Yucca Schidigera Extract is an anti-inflammatory that reduces joint pain and inflammation. It also reduces urine and stool odour.

Zinc oxide
Beneficial in reproduction and healthy skin.

Zinc Proteinate
Zinc Proteinate gives your pet a healthy skin and a soft coat.

[GreatDaneMom]

im sorry its so long, but i really wanted to get that out there. it hit me when i came across a thread titled "Purina Rules!" that maybe some people dont know what they are putting into their pup. i hope no one is offended, i just think nutrition is a HUGE part of a pups life.

[onyxdaily]

I definitely think it's important information that alot of people don't know. Before the pet food recalls, I had no idea that Purina wasn't good food. And years ago, I actually fed my dog Ole Roy (wal-mart brand), then decided I should switch to the "quality" food, so I made the switch to Purina. Since the recall, I did alot of researching and reading and learned alot about dog food and how to read the labels, and I was shocked that what food is the most accessible / most advertized is what I now consider unedible for my dogs.

[sheltiem0m]

Great post. I would agree that dog nutrition is extremely important (I like to think of it as preventative medicine)

The only thing I would like to add is that even if the first or second ingredients are meat, you still have to be careful in analyzing how much grain is present. I've seen some companies whose foods list something like chicken and lamb as the first ingredients.......and then follow it with a variety of grains. Two problems with this:

1. chicken or lamb as opposed to chicken meal contains a lot of water and bumps the protein up to top spot on the ingredient list even though there actually isn't that much meat in the food.

2. by using multiple grains in lower amounts, companies can still have meat be the first ingredient and follow it with rice, corn, barley etc... The food may be 80% grains, but meat is listed first because the grains are spread out amongst many different types that individually comprise smaller percentages.

I have seen many people deceived by these "tricks" that dog food companies seem to use....and understandably so.

[GreatDaneMom]

after i posted this i went back and read over the two bags of food i have right now... the old... and the new... when i read the old, i wanted to puke. i hated having her on it from the begining, but i really didnt have a choice. she was sick and if i changed her food she would get worse and worse, it was the only food that was working with her, not against her. but now im switching her to Chicken Soup, and i read over the label again... i have to say, for a name that i had gotten sick of hearing due to the books (yes i have one....for the horse lovers soul...im so ashamed) its a good food. im happy with it, and Chloe seems to be too. she wont even touch her old food. and as i said in my post, you have to be careful of the listing of grains with different names, and that they should be farther down on the list.

[Leanie]

Chicken meal or anything meal is a by-product.

[cascabel]

Originally Posted by Leanie

Chicken meal or anything meal is a by-product.

Actually the AAFCO distinguishes between the two as follows:

Chicken meal~chicken which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size.

(The definition of chicken is given as the clean combination of flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken or a combination thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads,
feet and entrails.)

Chicken by-product meal~consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice.

[all4thedogs]

Meal and By-products are NOT one in the same. A by-product can be made into meal from, but a meal itself is not a byproduct.

Meal is grinding a protein (like CHICKEN meal) and removing the moisture.

By-products are left over pieces of said protien.

I prefer my dogs protien to come in MEAL form, they dont eat any by-products.

[Wimble Woof]

Originally Posted by GreatDaneMom

now, most foods contain grains... grains should not make up a large percent of the food. therefore they should be lower down on the ingredients list.
RICE is the most digestable grain and is best as brown rice, but BARLEY and OATS are also alright. CORN should be avoided because it is the least digestable. WHEAT may want to be avoided because many dogs are allergic to it. your grains are alright as long as they are in meal or ground form, this way they hold the most nutrients. any other form and they begin to lose their nutritional value. the only RICE TO AVOID is BREWERS RICE, this is the leftover from rice after all the nutritional value has been taken out. basically, rice leftovers.... watch for fillers, you can find this by looking for ingredients that are listed over and over again, but with different names. (ex: ground rice, brewers rice, rice flour...)

All in all a very helpful list, thank you....

However, I am curious to know where it comes from as it contradicts itself a bit....

Brewers Rice
Brewers Rice is one of the most digestible grains available. Rice is a carbohydrate that provides a quick source of energy and good stamina.

Previously stated above.....

the only RICE TO AVOID is BREWERS RICE, this is the leftover from rice after all the nutritional value has been taken out. basically, rice leftovers.... watch for fillers, you can find this by looking for ingredients that are listed over and over again, but with different names. (ex: ground rice, brewers rice, rice flour...)

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide quick energy and promotes healthy growth your dog needs to stay healthy.

Carbs are a good part of the dog diet however it is important to take a good look at how much carbs your dog is intaking...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=284&aid=458

Carbohydrates can occasionally cause medical problems including obesity and maldigestion. Obesity occurs when your dog's energy needs are exceeded and the extra glucose created by the digestion of the carbohydrates is stored as fat. Realize that an excess of carbohydrates, fats, or proteins can all lead to obesity, but carbohydrates are usually the cause since they are typically the most common energy source and are easily converted to glucose

Corn Gluten Meal
Corn Gluten Meal is an excellent source of protein that gives energy.

A plant protien source though, dogs dont need their protiens coming from plants at all. Its important for someone reading the back of a bag of dog food to be able to recongnize when the food is using corn as protien as apposed to a carb.

Fats
Fats are essential to every cell in the body. The fat content in Whole Life will supply your pet with the energy needed for an active lifestyle.

As will protiens, and cause less potential problems such as obesity. Fats are important but in moderation, I dont think they should be in the first few ingredients personally.
And again as stated origionally...

its probably not good. things like LARD, ANIMAL FAT, ANIMAL DIGEST.. gross. animal fat and animal digest has been found to often contain rendered animals, which can be diseased animals, animals that died before slaughter, roadkill, and euthanized pets from animal shelters.

Folic Acid
Folic Acid provides the Vitamin B that helps to develop strong claws.

HUH? Folic acid has far more superior benifits than that....

Fresh Chicken
Protein is the building block of life. We use these meat sources for a balanced and complete amino acid profile. Chicken and lamb are among the highest digestible proteins available.

This is important to focus on indeed!

Lamb Meal
Lamb Meal is an excellent source of protein. It is great for muscle development and overall body maintenance.

Poultry Fat
Poultry Fat makes Whole Life Pet Food highly palatable. Poultry Fat is high in Omega 6 (3.4%) and other essential fatty acids needed to develop a healthy skin and shiny coat. It also provides energy, and acts as an antioxidant.

Poultry fat would fall under fats, same thing, just a different source.

Poultry Meal
Poultry Meal is a good source of protein and fat that provides the essential energy component, and provides the fresh meaty flavour that dogs love. It also promotes muscle, tissue, bone and teeth development.

Just plain ol protien sources that are understood such as stated above does the same thing, so I think you would be wiser to look for actual Poultry

Protein
Protein provides amino acids essential for maintaining tissue and organs. Coat hair is 95% protein. Skin cells are made up of protein and fats. The Whole Life supplies your pet with the protein needed to maintain strong bones and muscle

This is important to remember when reading the back of a bag.

Wheat
Wheat is a far better grain to digest than corn or soybean, and using a combination of different forms of grain-ground wheat, wheat flour, wheat germ meal, and ground rice is better than using just one grain. Humans, as well as pets, have certain foods they should not eat. While a wheat base is acceptable to most dogs, it is up to each pet owner to make this determination. We purchase the grains for our dog food recipe from General Mills and Pillsbury, not directly from the farm. The cost is greater; however, we are insured of receiving the finest quality for our healthy dog food without the risk of mold or other harmful toxins.

From above.

WHEAT may want to be avoided because many dogs are allergic to it.

See how I am confused?
Its far too common for pet foods to make out mediocre and completely un necissary ingredients out to be such a good thing.
The best way to understand whats in your pets food, is find multiple sources for information on the ingredients, never just stop at the first source. For every thing stated on the internet, there is something contradicting it, I think its wise to have knowlege of both sides.

Also dont buy food that contains MENADIONE, even though this is a vitamin supplament, it can couse health problems.

And be sure that when looking at a bag to not have any issues in emailing the company to find out what their Vit K source is... Because Menadione is a source for Vit K and is what it is used for in dog foods.