Learning Objectives

• Understand what humans fed dogs throughout history
• Gain basic knowledge regarding canine nutrition
• Understand the main different categories of dog food
• Understand the basics of reading a dog food label
• Understand the most important things to know when deciding on dog food.

Mainly considered to be carnivores, dogs have adapted and evolved to become omnivores. Dogs, wild and domesticated, have become familiar with diets that include various types of meat, vegetables, fruits, and carbohydrates.

According to the three studies below, dogs have been consuming a diet rich in grains since humans started transitioning from a hunting and gathering lifestyle to agriculture and settlement.

1. The University of Barcelona – Dog burial as a common ritual in Neolithic populations of north-eastern Iberian Peninsula – 14 February 2019
2. The Royal Society – Amy2B copy number variation reveals starch diet adaptations in ancient European dogs – 1 November 2016
3. Heredity – Diet adaptation in dog reflects the spread of prehistoric agriculture – 13 July 2016

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What does written history tell us about how we fed our dogs?

Cynegeticus by Xenophon, 431-354 B.C.

Roman farm dogs (approximately 2000 years ago) - Marcus Terentius Varro wrote a manual on farming, that advised providing dogs with meat and bones, and barley soaked in milk.

Near the end of the 14th century, Gaston III, the eleventh Count of Foix Count in Southwestern France, wrote a book in which he described how his greyhounds were to be cared for. They were to be fed: bran bread, some of the meat from the hunt, and if the dog was sick, goat’s milk, bean broth, chopped meat or buttered eggs.

Dog Breaking, Major-General W.N. Hutchinson, 1847

568. Having mentioned condition, I am led to observe, that in America I saw a pointer, which, from being hunted, I may say daily, Sundays excepted, could not be kept in condition on oatmeal and greaves (‘Greaves’ is defined, in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, the protein-containing residue of rendering, after partial separation of fat and water.), but which was put in hard flesh, and did his work admirably, when Indian-corn meal was substituted for the oatmeal. I have not seen it used in this country, but I can fancy it to be a heating food, better calculated for dogs at regular hard work than when they are summering.[105] It is well known that no food should be given in a very hot state,—not of a higher temperature than milk-warm; and that evening is the proper feeding-time, in order that the dogs may sleep immediately afterwards, and not be full when they are taken out for their morning’s work.
569. In India, I remember complaining to an old sportsman that I had much difficulty in keeping my dogs free from mange. He at once asked if I did not give them beef-tea with their rice. I acknowledged that I did. He said it was of too heating a nature. I tried mutton-broth, agreeably to his recommendation. Every vestige of mange vanished, but yet I could hardly believe it attributable to so slight a change in their diet, for very little meat was used. As the mutton was much dearer, I again tried the beef. It would not do. The mange reappeared. I was, therefore, obliged to return to the mutton, and continue it. The teeth of dogs show that flesh is a natural diet; and if they are wholly deprived of it when they are young, they will acquire most revolting habits,—feeding upon any filth they may find, and often rolling in it. The meat should be cooked.

House and Pet Dogs; Their Selection, Care and Training 1890

Training the Dog – Robert Tell Lemmon,1914

While dietary needs vary depending on numerous factors (age, breed, lifestyle, health, activity level), any dog’s diet should regularly include certain proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Insufficient and imbalanced amounts of these nutrients can lead to malnutrition or weakened immune systems, thus making dogs more vulnerable to illnesses. Additionally, excess intake of any nutrient may also be detrimental to a dog’s health and well-being.

Generally speaking, the amount of food a dog consumes should keep them healthy and able. Commercial, raw, or home-cooked diets may be given to dogs to satisfy their nutritional needs. However, it is impossible to create universal nutrition and dietary plans for all breeds and ages due to various needs and cases.

Digestive System

The process of digestion breaks down complex food and nutrient molecules into simpler, more soluble units for easier absorption and use by dogs’ bodies. Foods that require digestion are fats, carbohydrates, and proteins—all of which are indispensable in a dog’s diet.

It is important to note that not all human food may be consumed by dogs as each of their digestive systems differ. Some foods may be harder and longer to digest for dogs; thus, it is beneficial to know which foods and how much of these may be given to pets at a given time.

Compared to herbivores, dogs have fewer premolars and molars which are for crushing food rather than tearing flesh and muscle—the primary reason why dogs often swallow larger bites of food with little to no chewing. However, compared to cats’ dental patterns (carnivore-focused), dogs’ dental patterns suggest that they are more capable of having omnivorous diets.

Nutrient Groups

Macronutrients

Proteins and Amino Acids

Dogs need protein in their diets. Essential amino acids serve as building blocks of proteins that dogs cannot produce independently. Proteins of higher quality normally contain a good quantity and balance of almost all essential amino acids. Consequently, dogs primarily sense and select foods that are richer in protein, avoiding meals and foods that lack such. Although dogs may survive on vegetarian diets, these would only be ideal if such meals contain sufficient protein and vitamin D.

Proteins have several key roles in a dog’s body. They serve as structural components (hair, skin, nails, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage), muscle-action regulators (myosin and actin), homeostatic control mechanisms (insulin, glucagon), substance carriers (hemoglobin, lipoproteins, transferrin), and immune systems (immunoglobins) to name a few.

Fats and Fatty Acids

Dietary fats, a type of lipid (hydrophobic compounds), supply the most concentrated source of energy in a dog’s diet. Chiefly acquired from animal fats and seed oils of grains, fruits, and vegetables, these types of fats supply the essential fatty acids that serve a number of functions in dogs, such as carriers of essential fat-soluble vitamins, role players in cell structure and function, skin and coat maintenance (omega-3, omega-6), and food taste enhancers.

Insufficiencies in fats such as omega-3 and omega-6 bring a number of health problems which include dry and coarse hair, skin lesions, vision problems, impaired brain function, and many other physiologic problems. Contrarily, it must also be noted that too much fat and lipid intake would be harmful as these may bring health problems like obesity and pancreatitis. Thus, it is important to regularly include such fats and fatty acids in a dog’s diet in healthy quantities to ensure ideal health conditions.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates, which include sugars, starch, and dietary fibers, are main source of energy for animals, especially those that are omnivorous. Not necessarily an essential nutrient, carbohydrates still hold numerous roles in a dog’s metabolism as they provide energy for essential body systems to function.

As nutrients, however, carbohydrates act as a primary energy source which allows amino acids and fatty acids to be synthesized and used for building and maintaining health. Additionally, excess consumption of these may be converted into body fat and stored as these help in the metabolism of other compounds.

Carbohydrates may be classified into three groups, all of which have distinct purposes, namely: absorbable carbohydrates (glucose and fructose—directly absorbable, no digestion needed), digestible carbohydrates (broken by intestinal tract enzymes), fermentable carbohydrates (starch and fibers—fermented by microbes into fatty acids and gases), and non-fermentable carbohydrates (cellulose and wheat bran—caloric intake decrease, minimal source of energy).

While the primary role of carbohydrates is to provide energy for the body, these also have a protein-sparing effect. When there is a sufficient or surplus intake of carbohydrates, protein is spared from being used for energy, thus used for tissue repair and growth instead. On the contrary, insufficient carbohydrate intake would force the body to utilize protein as an energy source, reducing the volume usable for tissue repair and growth.

Micronutrients

Vitamins

Dogs require vitamins in their diet, but only in low quantities. Vitamins play vital parts in various metabolic activities; thus, it is best to integrate these into their meals. These are needed in small concentrations to function as essential enzymes, enzyme precursors, or coenzymes in metabolic processes.

There are five distinct physical and physiologic characteristics that define vitamins, namely:

1. It must be an organic compound different from fats, proteins, and carbohydrates;
2. It must be a component of a diet;
3. It must be essential in small amounts needed for normal physiologic function;
4. Its absence must cause a deficiency syndrome; and,
5. It must not be synthesized in quantities sufficient to support normal physiologic function.

NOTE: These definitions vary from species to species as not every vitamin may be essential to all.

Dogs need two types of vitamins: fat-soluble and water-soluble.

Fat-soluble vitamins: these vitamins are found in animal fat. Dogs absorb them through their intestinal tracts with the help of dietary fats and store them here for later use.

• Vitamin A (retinol)
  • mainly needed for eye function
  • also responsible for growth, fetal development, skin health, immune function, and cell function
  • deficiency may lead to vision and motor impairment, skin lesions, respiratory ailments, and increased susceptibility to infections
  • excess amounts may lead to joint abnormalities, poor reproductive performance, and weight loss
  • best sources: liver, fish, carrot, cod liver oil, leafy greens, egg yolks, dairy

• Vitamin D (cholecalciferol)
  • allows body to balance minerals, like phosphorus and calcium, for healthy bone growth
  • deficiency may lead to bone disorder and weight loss
  • toxic in excess amounts as they may lead to kidney failure
  • best sources: sunlight, fatty fish, salmon, eggs, cheese, yogurt

• Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol)
  • main antioxidant
  • helps the body create red blood cells
  • also essential for cell function and fat metabolism
  • deficiency may lead to immunodeficiency, muscle weakness, poor sterility in males, dermatosis
  • best sources: most commercial dog kibbles already have sufficient quantities of vitamin E, green leafy vegetables, plant oils (coconut, hemp, olive)

• Vitamin K (phytonadione)
  • instrumental in activating blood’s ability to clot and form protective scabs
  • deficiency may lead to an increased tendency to bruise and bleed
  • best sources: liver, meat, vegetables

Water-soluble vitamins: these vitamins are less strict when it comes to quantities as they dissolve in water and are continuously being flushed out of the body; thus, regular amounts may be needed to sustain a dog’s need.

• Vitamin B (B-complex)
  • this group of vitamins work together to maintain healthy metabolism and help a dog’s body build bones, teeth, and tissue
    • B1 (Thiamine): helps in energy regulation, carbohydrate metabolism, and ion channel activation
    • B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B12 (Cobalamin): help facilitate enzyme function
    • B6 (Pyrodixine): responsible for glucose generation, red blood cell and nervous system function, hormone regulation, immune response, niacin synthesis, and gene activation
    • B5 (Pantothenic Acid): helps with energy metabolism
    • B9 (Folic Acid): plays roles in amino acid and nucleotide metabolism and mitochondrial protein synthesis
  • deficiency may result in inflammation of the nerves, blood disorder, heart failure
  • best sources: these vitamins may be found in most foods

• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
  • dogs are able to synthesize vitamin C from glucose, thus not needing large quantities of such
  • serves as antioxidants
  • best sources: fruits and vegetables

Minerals

There are twelve minerals in the periodic table that are known to be essential nutrients for dogs. Minerals serve as structural components for the body (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium), portions of body fluids and tissues (sodium, potassium, phosphorus, chloride, calcium, magnesium), as catalysts and cofactors in enzyme and hormone systems (iodine, selenium), and as aids in the oxygen delivery system (iron).

Dogs require magnesium, potassium, and sodium for nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and cell signaling. Selenium, copper, and molybdenum aid in a wide variety of enzymatic reactions.

Availability of minerals in a diet, as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of how a mineral is utilized by a dog, can be affected by several factors. These include the chemical form of the mineral which affects solubility, the quantities and ratios of other dietary components that the mineral interacts with metabolically, age, gender, species of the animal, the intake of the mineral, the body’s requirement, and numerous environmental factors.

Minerals included in a dog’s diet are best sourced from meat-derived foods, but plant-derived foods are also beneficial. This is due to the fact that minerals’ organic forms present in meats are as available as those from inorganic mineral supplements, while those found in plants are usually less available.

Additionally, plants contain anti-nutritional factors, such as phytate, oxalate, goitrogens, and fibers, making meats better sources; however, this should not prevent or discourage owners from feeding their dogs fruits and vegetables.

Water

Types of Feeding

Commercial

Unarguably the most popular type of feeding in the US, 90% of dogs and cats in the country have been reported to consume more than half of their daily caloric intake via commercial pet foods. Owners and veterinarians usually prefer to give their pets commercial diets due to their availability, extensiveness, economy, and practicality. Commercial diets are available in four basic forms: dry, moist (canned, packed, pouched, etc.), semi-moist, and raw.

Dry commercial diets

• also known as “kibbles”, these are the most common, most convenient, and usually, most economical
• normally made by mixing all ingredients into a dough and then baked
• can be bought in the form of kibbles, biscuits, pellets, meals
• generally balanced when it comes to protein, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals 
• usually designed for specific life stages (puppy, adult)
• some may have special formulas tailored different needs (breed specific, infused with meds, hi-protein, etc.)
• contains the greatest concentration of nutrients and energy per unit weight than foods with higher moisture content
• primary disadvantage would be palatability due to dryness

Moist commercial diets (canned, packed, pouched, etc.)

• loaf, chunks/chunks in gravy, or chunk-in-loaf
• may be “complete and balanced” or designed for supplemental feeding
• prepared by blending meat and fat ingredients with water, then mixed with dry ingredients, and heated
• vary greatly in nutrient content, nutrient availability, and digestibility due to various ingredients
• usually higher in fat, sodium, and phosphorus compared to dry foods
• moisture content means higher water intake, which is beneficial to dogs with urinary tract health concerns, and chronic renal failure
• more palatable and digestible than kibbles
• may be used together with dry food to add nutrients, texture, and palatability
• “meaty chunks” are usually textured soy products (TSP)
• higher moisture content affects nutrient density, less nutrients per 100 grams compared to other food types

Raw

While still a controversial means of feeding and debated continuously by veterinarians, nutritionists, pet owners, and advocates, raw food diets are now being considered as alternatives for pets. Also known as “BARF” diets, which stands for either “bones and raw foods” or “biologically appropriate raw foods”, these include different parts and types of meats ranging from livestock to wild game.

Raw food diets include commercially complete foods and combination diets. Commercially complete foods include fresh raw, frozen raw, and freeze-dried raw varieties—all of which are directly given to a pet with little to no additions. For combination diets, owners purchase meats which are then mixed with kibbles, vegetables, fruit, etc.

Advocates of raw feeding claim various health benefits which include improved coat health and dental benefits. Others also state that this is the proper way of feeding due to the fact that dogs’ wild ancestors and their present-day co-species survive with such diets; however, there is still no compelling scientific evidence to support such statements.

On the contrary, numerous studies have found that raw diets have a tendency to be unbalanced (excessive or lacking) when it comes to nutrients. These can also present significant parasite and microorganism risks to pets and their families due to the uncooked and unsterilized nature of such diets. Increased rates in cases of periodontitis, tooth fractures, and nutritional imbalances have also been associated with feeding of raw meats and bones.

Additionally, several health problems have been linked with feeding pets raw food which include risk of nutritional imbalances, gastrointestinal obstruction and perforations, bacterial contamination, and parasitic infections.

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BARF diet

A typical BARF diet is made up of 60-80% of raw meaty bones (RMB), that is bones with about 50% meat (e.g. chicken neck, back and wings) and 20-40% of fruit and vegetables, offal, meat, eggs, or dairy foods.

Prey model diet

5-10% organs (1/2 of this amount is liver)
10-15% edible bones
80-85% muscle meat (and the rest of the critter)

Adult dogs:

Feed 2 to 3% of the dog's ideal body weight.

Puppies (divided in 2-3  meals):

2-4 months of age, 8-10% body weight

4-6 months, 6-8% body weight

6-8 months 4-6% body weight

8-12 months 3-4% body weight

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Home-cooked

While not the most popular feeding type amongst owners, some prefer to make home-cooked meals for their pets as this gives them more control on quantity, quality, and budget. Even though the majority of pet owners in the United States favor the convenience, cost, and reliability of commercially produced foods and diets, there are some that would still make efforts to cater to their pets’ needs.

A good number of dogs have without a doubt had access to table food, thus introducing them to another dimension of food. Varying from household to household, owners will either feed dogs the same food they eat or make special meals for them. As long as nutritional requirements are met and there are no toxic ingredients (onions, chocolates, grapes, etc.), there will be no apparent problem when it comes to this type of feeding.

However, when such nutritional requirements are not met, risk of medical complications such as osteodystrophy, osteopenia, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, and pancreatitis. Also, there have been several instances wherein recommendations of homemade diets were still inadequate and imbalanced. Deficiencies of calcium, vitamins A and E, potassium, copper, and zinc were common due to lack of inclusion of proper sources for such vitamins and minerals.

When creating home-cooked meals for dogs, owners should always take into consideration the quality of ingredients they use. A good rule of thumb would be to choose ingredients that an owner will eat themselves as this will dictate the healthiness and digestibility of the meal. It must also be put to mind that poor feeding management rather than faulty diets may be worse as under-feeding or over-feeding may occur. Healthy quantities should be kept to avoid malnutrition.

Any food fed to a pet needs to be handled and cooked properly to ensure that all bacteria and parasites that may cause disease are killed. Safe food handling and preparation methods determine whether or not the final diet will be safe for consumption. It is always important to practice proper handwashing as this is the single most important step of preventing the spread of bacteria, viruses, and pathogens which cause food-borne diseases.

Cooking also improves digestibility. Cooking, however, does not eliminate problems caused by the endotoxins released by E. coli and Clostridium botulinum. It is important to remember that cooked food contaminated by these bacteria may no longer be decontaminated and must not be consumed.

NOTE: All diets should be prepared according to specific standards recommended by a veterinarian or nutritionist—with no substitutions, additions, or omissions unless advised.

Which is the Best?

• "Depends" on individual dog, environment, and capability of the owner
• Pros and cons to each
• There are no studies that prove a quality diet from any category improves overall lifespan
• Oldest confirmed dogs ate very varied diets:
  • Bobi, 31 years - "Ate exactly what the owners ate" soaked in water to remove spices.
  • Bluey 29 years - kangaroo, emu, table scraps, some commercial food.
  • Bramble 27 years- rice, lentils, vegetables (reports of some eggs / unknown diet before adoption).

What is important?

• Weight! Keep dog fit: How to determine the ideal weight.
• Calcium/Phosphorus ratio:
  • Ca:P ratio of 1.2 to 1.4:1.
  • Some say this ratio could rise to 2: 1, but it should never drop below 1:1.
    • Calcium ratio too high - (decreased bone reabsorption) leads to the abnormal leg bone and spine growths, etc..
    • Calcium ratio too low - anxiety, painful skeletal deformations, plantigrade gate, etc..
    • AAFCO - Balanced for All LIFE STAGES
• Joint nutrition - Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
  • whole foods - cartilage, tracheas, etc..
  • supplements - Glycoflex 3, Agility, etc..
• Quality ingredients - know the source, confirm all nutrients are available
• WATER!!! Do not deprive ever
• Pay attention to your dog's unique reactions to food. Like us, they have individual sensitivities.

Reading Labels

Read FDA article on reading labels here: Dog Food Labels – Information from FDA

• What is allowed in the product name (95% rule, 25% rule, 3% rule, "flavor rule"
• Net Quantity Statement
  • cost per kg
  • calorie per kg (good for feeding less volume)
  • cost per calorie (best for determining affordability - NOT cost per kg)
    • 1 kcal or kilocalorie is equivalent to 1 large Calorie or 1,000 calories
    • canned food - multiply values by 4 (because of water content to get rough comparison)
• Ingredient list

Reading Ingredient lists:

• AAFCO statement always most important (balanced for all life stages)
• Listed by weight
• meal vs meat (75% water)
• Starch holds food together, adds calories, some protein, and micronutrients
• animal-based proteins
• plant-based proteins
• fat source
• micronutrients

Ingredient Splitting

• Many similar ingredients can be used to look like there is MORE of something even though it may be the same or less volume of a single ingredient
• Less marketable ingredients can also be split up into different components or similar but not identical ingredients to push the ingredients further down the ingredient list, although if the ingredients are combined by volume they would likely be the first ingredient listed by weight.

"Grain Free" marketing

• often deceptive - dogs have always been fed a diet of grains for thousands of years
• Grain-free diets replace grains with other plant-based proteins that have not been traditionally used
• focus on the type of grain/ethology rather than the label "grains".

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We will use the examples below during the discussion.

Hill’s Science diet Adult large breed
Chicken, Whole Grain Wheat, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Meal, Pork Fat, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Soybean Oil, Lactic Acid, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Iodized Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Oat Fiber, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene, Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Cranberries, Green Peas.

PEDIGREE ADULT – CHICKEN, RICE, AND VEGETABLE FLAVOR
GROUND WHOLE GRAIN CORN, MEAT AND BONE MEAL (SOURCE OF CALCIUM), CORN GLUTEN MEAL, ANIMAL FAT (SOURCE OF OMEGA 6 [PRESERVED WITH BHA & CITRIC ACID]), SOYBEAN MEAL, NATURAL FLAVOR, CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT MEAL, DRIED PLAIN BEET PULP, GROUND WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT, SALT, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, BREWERS RICE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, DRIED PEAS, ZINC SULFATE, DL-METHIONINE, VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, NIACIN [VITAMIN B3], BIOTIN, DRIED CARROTS, L-TRYPTOPHAN, BHA & CITRIC ACID (A PRESERVATIVE), BLUE 2, YELLOW 5, YELLOW 6, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE [SOURCE OF VITAMIN B5], RIBOFLAVIN SUPPLEMENT [VITAMIN B2], RED 40, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE [VITAMIN B6], COPPER SULFATE, SODIUM SELENITE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, FOLIC ACID

ORIJEN ORIGINAL
Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, yellowtail flounder, whole eggs, whole atlantic mackerel, chicken liver, turkey liver, chicken heart, turkey heart, whole atlantic herring, dehydrated chicken, dehydrated turkey, dehydrated mackerel, dehydrated chicken liver, dehydrated turkey liver, whole green peas, whole navy beans, red lentils, chicken necks, chicken kidney, pinto beans, chickpeas, green lentils, lentil fiber, chicken fat, natural chicken flavor, herring oil, ground chicken bone, chicken cartilage, turkey cartilage, dried kelp, freeze-dried chicken liver, freeze-dried turkey liver, whole pumpkin, whole butternut squash, kale, spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, whole carrots, apples, pears, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, zinc proteinate, mixed tocopherols (preservative), chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, althea root, rosehips, juniper berries, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product.

CANIDAE® ALL LIFE STAGES DOG FOOD WITH LAMB MEAL & RICE
Lamb meal, brown rice, cracked pearled barley, rice bran, peas, millet, canola oil, lamb, tomato pomace, natural flavor, flaxseed meal, potassium chloride, choline chloride, suncured alfalfa meal, inulin (from chicory root), lecithin, sage extract, cranberries, beta-carotene, rosemary extract, sunflower oil, yucca schidigera extract, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), minerals (iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite), papaya, pineapple.
We preserve this food naturally using mixed tocopherols, a natural source of vitamin E. CANIDAE® Lamb Meal & Rice Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages.
We preserve this food naturally using mixed tocopherols, a natural source of vitamin E. CANIDAE® Lamb Meal & Rice Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages.
Life’s Abundance
Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Oat Groats, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Tomato Pomace, Pearled Barley, Flaxseed Meal, Egg Product, Yeast Culture, Natural Flavor, Fish Oil, Whitefish Meal, Dicalcium Phosphate, Lecithin, Salt, Carrots, Potassium Chloride, Celery, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Blueberries, Vitamin E Supplement, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Fructooligosaccharide, Broccoli, Taurine, Beets, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Parsley, Lettuce, Iron Proteinate, Pomegranate Extract, Selenium Yeast, Copper Proteinate, Inositol, Watercress, Spinach, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Manganese Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.

Contains a source of viable, naturally-occurring microorganisms.

CALORIE CONTENT (calculated): Metabolizable Energy (ME) = 3,706 kcal/kg, 458 kcal/cup.
Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages including growth of large size dogs (70 lbs. or more as an adult).
What are the reasons for not feeding raw