Dog food choices?

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I have a 7 month old terrier mixed breed male puppy. He is wonderful and keeps me active, he is super active. He is neutered and up to date on all shots, flea and tick treatments, and heartworm prevention. He is currently on Science Diet Natural chicken and brown rice puppy formula. I have been researching and learning about all the possible dog foods available, and it is crazy. There are so many choices! I particularly liked a dog food called Wellness. This food is from a company I have heard of, Old Mother Hubbard, and it seems to have good ingredients. However, as just a pet owner I do not really know what I am reading when I read the ingredients. I was hoping you could give me some insights into Wellness dog food. Is Wellness dog food a good food? I have been told that holistic or natural dog food like Wellness have not been proven like Science Diet so they are not good foods, is this true? Thanks for any help with this confusing topic, I am sure alot of people ask you about dog food. Its very difficult to make sure my pup gets what he needs and he means to world to me so I want only whats best for him. He has had some minor skin issues and allergies which is another reason I am looking for a better food. Any help would be super.

ANSWER: Hi Sara,

The short answer here is that yes, Wellness is indeed a superior food to Science Diet.
A quick look at the ingredients should tell the story:


Science Diet:
Chicken, Brown Rice, Soybean Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Chicken Meal, Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Dried Egg Product, Flaxseed, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Oats, Apples, Cranberries, Fish Oil, Peas, Carrots, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Iodized Salt, Broccoli, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Potassium Chloride, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), DL-Methionine, L-Tryptophan, Taurine, L-Threonine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract. "

While Science Diet has tried to dress up its packaging to look more "natural" this is still a problematic food; the inclusion of soy and wheat would remove this food from  even a possibility in my books, and I continue to be amazed that companies use oxide forms of minerals when we now have the research to show they are not well absorbed by dogs (NRC Nutrient Requirements of Dogs, 2006).

Wellness' ingredient list is much more impressive:

Wellness Just for Puppy:

" Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Salmon Meal (a natural source of DHA - Docosahexaenoic Acid), Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Ground Brown Rice, Tomato Pomace, Rice Bran, Tomatoes, Natural Chicken Flavor, Rye Flour, Carrots, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, Ground Millet, Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Vitamins [Beta-Carotene, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement], Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols (a natural preservative), Chicory Root Extract, Garlic, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Green Tea Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation products.

This is a naturally preserved product."
http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_wellness_dry_index.html

Now, the ingredient list is only part of the story,and one needs to look at the Guaranteed Analysis and other information from the website to really compare. But it's utter nonsense to say a company like Wellness "hasn't been proven"...what is that supposed to mean? Wellness uses the same AAFCO standards as other foods. Wellness has bene around over 12 years now, I was buying it for my first Ridgeback when HE was a puppy. Would a company this big be using unreliable research? They use the same research as Hill's and then better ingredients. I personally am in a unique situation as I've been working in this field for many years and I've seen literally hundreds of cases where health problems radically improved when a switch was made from a foor like Purina, IAMs, Hill's to a top quality premium food. I've also moderated or been a member of any discussion forums and over the years this story has echoed into the thousands.   I strongly advise you to consider a switch especially if your pup is already showing the reaction to wheat and soy I'd expect. And whenever someone says things like "premium foods haven't been tested" please ask them what their canine nutrition credentials are. Premium foods have of course been tested, scientifically and over years of use now. The market for holistic dogfood is very competitive and it is HUGE; large companies can't afford to use shoddy research.  And time after time, they're proven to be much more supportive to health than the old style, grain-based, inferior-ingredient foods.

All that said, there are foods I like more than Wellness. I figure if you are going to go premium and spend top dollar, better get the best of the best. But Wellness is far better for your pup than SciDi. I would just like to see a gluten free diet for a puppy who is itchy at only 7 months.

Sorry to write as mall book. It just bugs me that someone would try to prevent you from upgrading your dog's diet at such a critical time, and it's such an absurd accusation. I mean, did they work for Hill's? <g>

Let me know if I can help anymore.
All the best, Catherine


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

QUESTION: Thanks for the positive advice. I have been thinking the same when people say its not proven. Honestly, most of the people I have heard this from were vets and vet techs who sold Hill's so I imagine they were bias. My pup did have demodex but without treatment it suddenly dissappeared but he still has alittle itching. He is on Zyrtec, as prescribed by the vet as it is suspected but not verified that he has allergies. I bought a bag of Wellness today and am going to start switching him over slowly. I had read alot that wheat and soy causes allergies in dogs but I had always been told Science Diet was best without doing the research for myself. I am sure there are even better foods out there then Wellness but I can barely pay for the Wellness. Are there better foods within the price of Wellness you would recommend? Or, is Wellness balanced and proper enough to use since I already bought it? He is a pit bull mix which I know now are prone to skin issues so I want to make sure I do all I can to keep him healthy. My Eddy also has anxiety so he needs alot of special care. Other then his skin and anxiety he is a wonderful pup and super active and playful so I want to make sure I can give him the best care I can within my means. I also have bought some of the treats, the jerky and biscuit ones, are those good to feed as well? I also got canned food for free with the dry food, is the canned food as good as the dry food? I just want to make sure all the Wellness products are as good as the dry food seems to be. Thanks again for your reassurance and expertise. I will slowly switch him to Wellness and hopefully his itching will go away.

Answer
Hi Sara,

You better get a cup of coffee before starting on this answer. :)

First; sometimes people are resistent to progress - not something I personally understand, but it happens. Every day of my life I deal with at least one vet who "can't believe" the improvement in the dog after a dietary switch(this is often after switching from commercial to home made, but I also see myriad cases of improvement  when grocery-store brands are replaced with premium). Because I work partly on-line, I meet vets all over North America and some in Europe as well. I often have the pleasure of receiving phone calls from vets who want to know more about what I'm doing; one is taking my course at the moment. So things do change, but it takes time and education. I like to think that I present modern information about food and the power of diet in a balanced way, but some will always resist. At least a vet or vet tech will have some basis for their opinion, as they work in the field and have some - limited, but some - nutritional training.   I find that respectful enlightenment helps a lot of vets to re-think what Hill's taught them in college. Hill's is really all they learn, so naurally they rely on it.


Next; Allergy is one very common reaction to wheat and soy in the diet.
Still, it's important to remember that chicken, corn and beef are also common "problem foods". It can take some time to find the ideal formula for a sensitive dog, but I am going to suggest you check out the following:



http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/LambDog.html

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/VenDog.html

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_wellness_simple_food_solutions_index.html


http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products/default.asp?id=3


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

http://www.frommfamily.com/products-fs.php

I'm suggesting here that you compare local prices and availability, as well as test the actual food on your pup. Hopefully the itching will be related to wheat and soy and no premium food will contain either; but it's also possible that other allergies (or intolerances) may be present and in this case, some experimentation is necessary. It isn't that Wellness is not the best food, it's a good one allright - but more about matching which premium diet is optimal for your individual.Just for Puppy does contain chicken and I see so mnay dogs who can't handle it. These links are just given so you can have something to fall back on in the event your pup is still itchy on the Wellness. The not-so-good news is some allergic dogs itch no matter what diet (commercial) I out them on. The better news is, at the least he will be getting far better nutrition on Wellness than on Science Diet. The good news is that if the allergies are severe, home made diets can offer a lot of relief, although admittedly they are much more work and I strongly recommend professional guidance (or at least join a good yahoogroup run by experienced people who can help you go it alone).

With allergy,a limited ingredient, novel-protein food can be a great help, and trust me, you want to nip this in the bud. A duck, lamb or fish based food may be a better bet, and I also prefer not to see vegetable oils (but this is hard to avoid). Allergy is one of the most common issues I work with and one of the most challenging. Often we need to use a strict elimination diet and multiple supplements just to give relief (and avoid potentially harmful medications). I'm very glad you've decided to look into nutrition as a foundation for your pup's future wellbeing; if you need more help or ideas, I'll be happy to help.


A couple of final comments; there does seem to be a relationship between the nervous system (high levels of cortisol) and inflammation/itching. Make sure your pup has a lot of exercise to burn off the energy, and maybe check into Tellington Touch to help as well. www.ttouch.com In my "other" life I'm a student of TTouch, for the past 12 years, and have found it amazingly helpful with all my animals. Just something to consider.


Treats: I usually have no problem with treats and cookies from a quality company, but you might want to limit them for now. Cookies almost always contain both gluten and heated vegetable oils, both are a no no for the sensitive dog if possible to avoid. If you want to contact me at home I will send you a cookie recipe that is nutritious, easy to make and they LOVE. Canned products are also excellent; it's a myth that dry food cleans teeth. Raw bones and tooth brushing clean teeth. Grain heavy dry foods actually add to plaque build up. I'm not a raw diet fanatic at all, I feel it is one option of many but should be used according to the knowledge level of the owner and the particular animal; that said, raw fed dogs have far and away better teeth than do kibble fed, in terms of tartar build up. You can usually add some canned food to the dry to make it more palatable, but some ingredients in canned foods (carageenan is a common offender) will irritate the sensitive pup's  bowel. I might try the dry food alone for a couple of weeks and see, and that means no cookies, jerky or canned.  What you can do for treats is stick to foods that your kibble contains - in this case, chicken and salmon (if you go with the Just for Puppy). Just cook a chicken breast and use bits of the meat for training; if you want my recipe it is gluten free and salmon-based. But when you're addressing allergy, less is more. So I'd select one of these foods, wean it in slowly, give it a full two weeks with limited treats, and note reaction.

I hope this helps, I definitely need another coffee now!
Oh - and I can provide scientific referencing for any statement I ever make. I work with vets who demand this, and they continue to demand it even after they've seen radical improvement in the dog, just to  find out why. Nothing I say is speculation - or if occasionally I do refer to my own experience, which is admittedly extensive in this field, I will clarify that. To say I'm merely speculating when I advice, is a personal attack based on a total lack of knowledge. :) In the courses I teach I am adamant about separating the science we possess from theories we can explore that arise from it. Both are critically important to advancement of knowledge in this field.


Take care and best wishes,
Catherine