Eukanuba-Bad, Better, Or Worse?

[Giselle]

Re: the protein issue. We had a long discussion about high protein and kidney problems with a vet tech on another board and a conclusion was made that high protein was certainly alright for healthy dogs. However, high protein diets were not okay for dogs that may have a pre-existing kidney issue since the organ would be aggravated (pretty DUH, lol).

True, the term filler has always been used quite broadly, but I believe the majority of dog owners tend to connect "corn" with "filler" because of the fact that corn is generally a lower-end ingredient. Because of its low protein content and high amount in dog food, it is natural to tend to avoid corn and call it a filler. What's disturbing is that while corn's protein percentage is a mere 8%, its biological value is a meager 60 (compared to an egg's biological value of nearly 95). Of course, we all know that the lower the quality of the protein the more you must feed. Thus, kibble companies jack up the amount of corn. So three posts later, this is why I consider corn to be a filler

I think we're darn near about to beat a dead horse, so I'll leave it to the Norden Laboratories to speak for me:

Providing a pet with maximum nutrition doesn't mean merely supplying an adequate daily amount of commercial pet food or supplementing it with treat-type vitamin/mineral tablets. Nor does feeding a pet a scientifically formulated prescription diet ensure that its maximum nutritional needs are met. The fact is that no commercial pet food, no matter how balanced or how high quality its ingredients, can meet the nutritional needs of every pet. Each animal has its own unique nutritional needs based on age, size, and a level of stress. The only way to meet those needs is by supplying a carefully balanced amount of all required nutrients in doses that can be customized for any cat or dog.

[GreyhoundGirl]

Wow....

[iamgobsmacked]

Corn fillers in pet foods are a source of allegens for many pets. Meat by products may contain the remains of euthanised pets.

Eukanaba is made by Proctor and Gamble the same company that Produces Iams. Iams animal cruelty is legendary. So of course it is a matter of conscience of whether one chooses to help support this trade.

http://www.doglogic.com/petsinfood.htm

http://www.liferesearchuniversal.com/petfood.html

http://frrhealthypet.com.hosting.dom....com/id35.html

iams/eukanuba
http://www.iamscruelty.com/

* http://www.uncaged.co.uk/news/2002/asa2.htm

* http://www.pandgkills.com/boycott/globalday_06.html

* http://www.itsjustmee.co.uk/testing.html

[iamgobsmacked]

BTW the poster who supplied the information from Norden Labs. Re complete nutrition bang on. The day any species can obtain complete nutrition in a single bag is the day the pet and health food companies can stop paying millions of dollars in research. We still have a lot of gaps in our understanding of Pet Nutrition. Which is why it is recommended that a few quality pet foods be alternated from time to time in order to offer the variety and nutrition our pets need. Just like people need to alternate food groups in order to obtain the maximum value and derive the various vitamins from the different food groups.

Also many of the added vitamins and pro-biotics added to clever marketing of pet foods are synthetic extractions of mere components of the vitamin. The heat process alone required for the processing of foods renders many of these supplements ineffective.

Also Flax seed oil, while deriving higher prices for the extraction method are still inferior ,to the whole fresh ground flax seed. The flax seed oil is missing the very important component of Lignans, that is present in the whole ground seed but not in the more expensive oils.

Live enzymes, pro-biotics are subject to integrity breakdown in the heating process. Fresh yogurt or Kefir added as a treat or supplement will provide inexpensive sources of natural beneficial bacteria. Yogurt provides valuable "transient" bacteria to keep the gut clean, while Kefir provides beneficial bacteria that is able to colonize the gut.

Any animal coming off a course of antibiotics should be offered these treats to replace beneficial bacteria and flora. And periodic supplementation with the above will keep the gut and digestive tract healthy. The source of many skin diseases, inflammatory conditions etc, begin in the the enteric nervous system (the gut). Beyond skin conditions, enteric system disorders are the second largest health issues affecting pets.


Pet Foods:
What's Really In Them?
http://www.nzymes.com/Articles/whats...inpetfoods.htm

http://www.bull-terrier-skin.com/kefir.htm

http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks...i_nervous.html

[borzoimom]

I wont get into the facts of the use of rendering plants -several- for this meat protein they use which includes but not limited it- beaks, feathers, hyde, hooves, cancerious tumors etc- or even the fact they use ethoxyquin as the perservative at these rendering plants, and the mother company doesnt have to list it as it wasnt done at their final processing plant. I will not even discuss that the kibble can swell to 3 times its weight in a wet 100 degree environment ( such as the stomach) and having deep chested dogs my whole life- bloat is always a fear until I went to raw. ( btw- I lost a shepherd to bloat suddenly on Iams..) ( continueing to bit my tongue off.. ).. However- what makes me upset is that the quality of their food, and all the money in advertising- even sponsering a huge dog show circuit, receiving all this money- yet they have not improved the quality of the ingredients. Put it this way- you can now buy this food at a walmart or grocery store- does that tell you how much its worth?????

[Catlady711]

Yup, just knew it would turn into a pet food war again.

[borzoimom]

bring it on .. how about this site.. this just makes you sick ... This a dog food rendering plant situation. and not the one not listed as an offender is Bil Jac.. ( I feed raw by the way- but keep bil jac incase I loose power..) http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2035804&Ne=2