Performatrin Ultra Food: Puppy Food

Question
QUESTION: Hello!
I have a 5 month old Shih Tzu x Lhasa Apso and I have been feeding him Purina Puppy Chow ever since I brought him home at 8 weeks old (The breeders fed him the same kind). I've been discussing with various people about switching him to other food brands that are healthier. The people that I have spoken to told me that the commercial brands such as Purina, Pedigree, Iams, etc are full of corn -- fillers, which they cannot digest and the food just passes through their system.
I recently went to Pet Valu and the owner suggested Ultra Foods Performatrin Chicken and Brown Dry Rice. I haven't let my puppy try the food yet, but I was wondering if it was a good brand. I don't want to spend too much money on the higher end brands, but I'd like a brand that was in the mid-range but still healthy! Your input would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Michelle Tran

ANSWER: Hi there Michelle,

First off, I want to say that I never like to lecture people about their choices. However, when you buy a puppy, for that first year their nutritional needs must come first. Many people just look at the price of the food at the checkout, but the reality is, the cost of keeping a dog has to be considered over the course of their whole life. If good nutrition saves you a huge amount in veterinary bills - not to mention the happiness of your little dog - isn't it worth it? And the growth phase will affect the rest of their life; this is, IMO, no time to skrimp on diet.


Let's have a look at the two foods in question here, starting with Purina Puppy Chow:

Ingredients
Whole grain corn, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal, whole grain wheat, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), soybean meal, brewers rice, meat and bone meal, barley, beef, sugar, propylene glycol, animal digest, fish oil, tricalcium phosphate, salt, phosphoric acid, dried yeast, sorbic acid (a preservative), potassium chloride, dried carrots, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, dried peas, calcium propionate (a preservative), choline chloride, added color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2), Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, manganese proteinate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium carbonate, Vitamin B-12 supplement, DL-Methionine, calcium pantothenate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin D-3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

and now, the Performatrim product:


# Chicken
# Chicken Meal
# Whole Brown Rice
# Oatmeal
# Whole Rice
# Pearled Barley
# Dried Egg Product
# Salmon Meal
# Chicken Fat stabilized with Mixed Tocopherols (a natural source of Vitamin E)
# Tomato Pomace
# Sunflower Oil stabilized with Mixed Tocopherols (a natural source of Vitamin E)
# Whole Millet
# Whole Rye
# Natural Chicken Flavor
# Alfalfa Meal
# Fresh Whole Sweet Potatoes
# Fresh Whole Carrots
# Peas
# Potassium Chloride
# Lecithin
# Sea Salt
# Calcium Carbonate
# Flaxseed
# Chicory Root Extract
# Dicalcium Phosphate
# DL-Methionine
# Pumpkin
# Whole Cranberries
# Fresh Whole Apples
# Whole Blueberries
# Dried Kelp
# Choline Chloride
# Whole Blackberries
# Spinach
# Taurine
# Dried Yeast
# Yucca Schidigera Extract
# Fresh Garlic
# Ascorbyl Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C)
# Lactobacillus Acidophilus
# Lactobacillus Caesi
# Bifidobacterium Bifidium
# Streptococcus Faecium
# Zinc Proteinate (source of Chelated Zinc)
# Zinc Oxide
# Iron Proteinate (source of Chelated Iron)
# Ferrous Sulfate
# Vitamin E Supplement
# Ground Ginger
# Manganese Proteinate (source of Chelated Manganese)
# Manganous Oxide
# Dried Camomile
# Ground Fennel Seed
# Dandelion
# Rosemary
# Basil
# Sage
# Copper Proteinate (source of Chelated Copper)
# Copper Sulfate
# Dried Lemon Balm
# Vitamin A Supplement
# Niacin
# Thiamine Mononitrate
# Riboflavin
# Vitamin D3 Supplement
# Peppermint
# Calcium Pantothenate
# Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
# Inositol
# Beta Carotene
# Vitamin B12 Supplement
# Folic Acid
# Biotin
# Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex

Overall, the Performatrim is a nicer food, but still not quite what I'd call premium. And, is this an all life stage food? When we consider a food for a pup, we need to look at both the ingredient list AND the nutrient composition.


Here's the Performatrim:

22.0% min
Crude Fat    12.0% min
Crude Fiber    4.0% max
Moisture    10.0% max
Calcium    1.1% min
Phosphorus    0.8% min
Vitamin E    150 IU/kg min
Omega 6 Fatty Acids*    1.8% min
Omega 3 Fatty Acids*    0.3% min

and here's the Purina:
Crude Protein (Min)   27.0%
Crude Fat (Min)   12.0%
Crude Fiber (Max)   4.0%
Moisture (Max)   14.0%
Linoleic Acid (Min)   1.5%
Calcium (Ca) (Min)   1.1%
Phosphorus (P) (Min)   0.9%
Iron (Fe) (Min)   150 mg/kg
Vitamin A (Min)   10,000 IU/kg
Vitamin E (Min)   100 IU/kg

I don't really count the higher protein in the Purina as much of that number is based on corn.
So, all things considered, yes this is a much better choice.

If you wnat to see what a  truly optimal puppy diet looks like, let me know. Otherwise, my advice is - switch to the Performatrim.
ASAP.


Catherine



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Catherine
I understand I cannot skimp out on my puppy's diet. Unfortunately, I'm a student in university and my parents are paying for my puppy's food. If it were up to me I would definitely be buying the best out there, but I can't seem to convince them that the other brands of dog food are much healthier and would essentially lead to a longer healthier life. They argue that other people buy the cheaper brands and their dogs aren't dead. Also, my veterinarian did not say anything negative about Purina.  I will definitely keep trying to convince them though.

Although with that said, I would still like to know what a truly optimal puppy into adult dog diet would look like!

Also, the Performatrin is a life stage dog food, it has specific bags for specific sizes of dogs as well (small dogs, medium, into large).

Thanks again,
Michelle

Answer
Ok - keep up the good word, and if you want a lot of solid info, join the yahoogroup or join ThePossibleCanine on facebook. But the yahoogroup has a lot more info, as it's much older.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ThePossibleCanine-Nutrition/

Here is one puppyfood I really like:

http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/show-product.php?formulation=psb

And an article you might show your parents:
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?more=1&p=359

Hope this helps, and the new food works well for you It's much better than the Purina, and the list of ingredients clearly shows that.
Catherine