Nutrients vs. Ingredients

As in human nutrition, a body needs nutrients - from ingredients - like protein, fat and fibre to function. Ingredients are simply vehicles that deliver this mixture of nutrients to the body. When choosing the ingredients for pet food, it's the total nutrient balance of ingredients that's important.

Nutrient is a metabolically useful component of food, which may be essential or non-essential.

Some nutrients provide energy. Protein, fats and carbohydrates provide the body with fuel, just like petrol in a car. Different nutrients are needed in varying amounts per day. For example, both humans and animals require kilograms of water but only micrograms of certain vitamins.

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Cat Nutrition/Dog Nutrition

thanks for the information

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Chinchilla cages/Chicken house/Hamster cages

The info from Hills is correct, but of course what interests a lot of people on this forum is the quality and provinence of the ingredients

I do have the same opinion with you. That’s why I always prefer nourishing dog chews with all essential ingredients.

Are you saying that it doesn't matter what the ingredients are, as long as long as they are providing nutrients?
As we know from human nutrition, it it much better to get, for example, Omega 3, from eating fish, than from vitamin supplements.

I think quality ingredients are important in providing quality nutrients. It is more beneficial for the dog to get its nutrients from meat than from grains, as that is what they are designed to digest.

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Woody on Youtube
Playing with mum 4 weeks oldhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL-uSp6vczQ

Woody and Saffie play fightinghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w400xYi32gw

Both are important to me.

I was surprised to find that Hills was a member of this forum. Isnt this advertising?

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This is from one of the american sites I frequent so some of the foods are avalable in the states only, but it is interesting reading.
I realize this may be imperfect, but whoever created it was on the right track. They could have gone into more detail, asked more questions, but hey, I'm not saying it is the be-all and end-all of dog food scoring, but it isn't a bad outline at all! At least it gives some relevance "how good is mine compared to...)
Remember: Just because it's a GOOD dog food doesn't mean it's the RIGHT food for your dog!

Note: Because there are food allergy points in the scoring system, evaluate a food as it pertains to your own dog!
Remember, just because it's a good dog food, it might not be good for your dog. Be sure to take into consideration your dogs breed, age, and dietary needs when choosing his food.
If your dog food isn't on the list, please evaluate yours and add it to the list!

Start with a grade of 100.
1 - for every listing of "by product" subtract 10 points.
2 - for every non-specific animal source (meat or poultry, meat meal, or animal) reference subtract 10 points.
3 - If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points.
4 - For every non-specific grain source (mill run, whole grains) subtract 5 points.
5 - If the same grain is listed 2 or more times in the first 5 ingredients (rice, rice flour, brewers rice all being "same grain"), subtract 5 points.
6 - If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points.
7 - If it contains any artificial dyes or colorants subtract 3 points.
8 - If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn subtract 3 points.
9 - If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points.
10 - If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points.
11 - If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points.
12 - If it contains soy or soybeans subtract 2 points.
13 - If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat) subtract 1 point.
14 - If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef) subtract 1 point.
15 - If it contains salt subtract 1 point.
Extra Credits:
1 - If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points.
2 - If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist (not television personalities) add 5 points.
3 - If the food is baked, not extruded, add 5 points.
4 - If the food contains probiotics add 5 points.
5 - If the food contains fruit add 3 points.
6 - If the food contains vegetables (not corn or grains) add 3 points.
7 - If the meat sources are hormone and antibiotic free add 2 points.
8 - If the food contains barley, add 2 points.
9 - If the food contains flax seed oil (not just flax seed) add 2 points.
10 - If the food contains oats or oatmeal add 1 point.
11 - If the food contains sunflower oil add 1 point.
12 - For every different meat protein source (chicken, fish, turkey, lamb et al) add 1 point.
13 - If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin add 1 point.
14 - If the vegetables have tested pesticide free add 1 point.
Grading:
A = 94 - 100
B = 86 - 93
C = 78 - 85
D = 70 - 77
F = 69 or less

Here are some of the foods that came pre-graded. If you feed one of these I suggest you re-grade it according to your own dog:
Alpo Prime Cuts - C / 81
Artemis Large/Medium Breed Puppy - A+/114
Authority Harvest Baked - A + / 116
Authority Harvest Baked Less Active - B/93
Beowulf Back to Basics - A + / 101
Bil-Jac Select - F - 68
Blackwood 3000 Lamb and Rice - C/83
Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice - A+/106
Breeders Choice Chicken & Rice - A+/101
Burns Chicken and Brown Rice - A+/107
Canidae - A+/115
Chicken Soup Senior - A+/115
Diamond Maintenance - F/64
Diamond Large Breed 60 plus - A/99
Diamond Performance - C/85
Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Ultra Premium - A+/122
Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Venison and Brown Rice - A+/106
Dick Van PattensDuck and Potato - A+/106
Eagle Pack Holistic - A+/102
Eukanuba Adult - C/81
Eukanuba Puppy - C/79
Flint River Senior - A+/101
Foundations - A+/106
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium D/73
Innova Dog - A+/114
Innova Evo - A+/114
Innova Large Breed Puppy - A+/122
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice & Vegetables - A+/110
Members Mark Chicken & Rice - C/84
Merrick Wilderness Blend A+/127
Natures Recipe - A/100
Natures Recipe Healthy Skin Venison & Rice A+/116
Natures Variety Raw INstinct - A+/122
Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal & Rice C/81
Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy - A+/101
Nurtrisource Lamb & Rice - B/87
Nutro Max Adult - B/93
Nutro Natural Choice Lamb & Rice A/98
Nurtro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy - B/87
Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free - B/86
Nutro Ultra Adult - A+/104
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice - F/23
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult - A+/109
Pro Nature Puppy - C/80
Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach - A/94
Purina Beneful - F/17
Purina Dog - F/72
Purina Come & Get it - F/16
Purina One Large Breed Puppy - F/62
Royal Canin Mini Adult 27 - A+/101
Royal Canin Boxer - A+/103
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult - A+/106
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7 plus - F/63
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies - F/69
Sensible Choice Chicken & Rice - A/97
Solid Gold - A/99
Solid Gold Hund -n-Flocke Adult (lamb) B/93
Solid Gold Wolfking Adult Dog Bison - A/97
Summit - A/99
Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural - A+/120
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken - A+/110


Mo