Our feline friends are classified as true carnivores because they must consume meat in order to survive. Canines are just slightly different from cats in their conversion of foods for life maintenance; dogs are classified as omnivores. They can survive on a diet of either plant or animal origin if it is balanced and diverse. But to thrive and not merely survive, dogs should have a source of animal protein - MEAT - in their diets. There is a huge difference between survive and thrive! Nature made the rules of biochemistry and nutrition and we mortals have no power (and no business, for that matter) to try to bend those rules. For that reason there are truly no adequate vegetarian diets for cats. For that reason dogs thrive on diets based on meat
http://www.petville.com/pet_communit...mnivores_.html

Dog are not true carnivores, because they can produce the essential
amino acids and do not have to ingest them in their diet. Cats are true
carnivores.
Veterinary Information - Diet Problems in Dogs

No by-products=Which i would presume would be No liver, no heart, no intestines, no kidneys, no lungs. If they have None of these ESSENTIAL ITEMS IN A DOGS DIET, Nutritional defiency would be one of my main concerns ?
Another concern is deboned meat=Don't dog & cats need calcium? if there meat that put in the food is deboned? there won't be any calcium? Right? which would result in calcium defiancy, Should I be concerned about this?

In the wild? Wouldn't a dog eat these internal organ of prey animals, in turn these prey of the wild dog would have some grains in there system before the wild dog ate them for dinner?

Explaining By-products
By-Product... Secondary products produced in addition to the principal products
If Meat is the primary product (meat refers to the skeletal muscles of the slaughtered mammal) then ...
Meat By-Products - the non rendered (uncooked), clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low-temperature fatty tissue and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hooves.

Think about this for a moment... in a free roaming and natural state, wouldn't dogs and cats feed on exactly these parts of a killed prey animal? Wouldn't a meat-eating animal consume the liver, stomach, lung tissue, and intestines of the prey? These tissues are what we call by-products! They happen to be very nourishing for meat-eating animals like the canine and feline!

http://www.petville.com/pet_communit...mnivores_.html
PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS

Puppy 28% PROTEIN, 17% FAT
Adult dog 18% PROTEIN, 9-15% FAT
Performance dog 25% PROTEIN, 20% FAT
Racing sled dog 35% PROTEIN 50% FAT
Lactating dog 28% PROTEIN 17% FAT


PetEducation.com - The Page You Have Requested Cannot Be Found

Adult Dogs I believe require 18%protein, some of the holistic foods are well into the high 35%protein and some reach well over 50%protein and others are other are excessivly low-some fall under 18%protein

My concern would be a High risk of kidney failure which in turn would shorten the life expectancy of the average dog with this level of protein-they seem far too high to be safe. Is this a reasons to be concerned?

My concern with grain free diets would be constipation due to the no grains and lack of Omega 3 are not in some of the natural dog food range which can cause problems, is this a reason to be concerned?

Human grade ingredience is another claim of these; Not all human food is safe for a dog?

Do they think everything that goes in our mouth is perfectly safe for our dog? Not true.

Avocado, Alfalfa and Marigold, Onions are toxic yet are common ingredients in holistic pet foods, why?

Cats cannot digest the starch in potatoes, also avocado, alfalfa and marigold are toxic, all of these are common in natural, holistic pet foods? Why
If it not safe for cats, It wouldn't be safe for dogs? Right or wrong?
http://www.cathelp-online.com/emerge...isonplants.php
Plants Toxic to Dogs
http://www.animalrescuegroup.com/art...c_to_dogs.html

Why are SOME people stated grain aren't digestable to dogs? I found an interesting article by a vet, who states grains are nearly 100&digestable to all dogs?
Veterinary Information - Diet Problems in Dogs

(Being australian we don't have many options with Holisic, organic and natural pet foods) and as we are renting we really don't need loose stool everywhere! the rental did accept the dog but reluctantly as long as she remains 100% outdoors-she always be outdoors, Since she is getting on at 9 1/2yrs old, during autmn and winter i brought her an outdoor all weatherbeta landa dog rug and now happily wears it overnight, she labrador x golden retriver)

How long have these Holistic Pet foods been in business and Have you used any of the Super Preimum pet foods?

What are the side affects that you've noticed? I read articles on dog food reviews that some of these holistic dog foods cause excessive gas, loose stools, excessibe stools, fast weight gain even on weight loss food,excessive shedding, poor & brittle coat, low patability, lack of long life-some dogs are dying before the age of 10yrs old on these fancy foods yet the holistic companies are say they increase life expectancy? Most dog life at minimum of 12yrs old, on other dog foods.

I am currently feeding Purina Proplan to my dog as we can get a huge packet at Pets at Home petstore that adopts OUT true shelter animals!-dogs doing fantastic on it, but I will change it to a different brand to give her variety in her diet. I refuse to buy dog food from petstore that sells irresponible breeding stock to impulse buyers or gives customers rude service, even if the food is cheaper!

Read these reviews
Pro Plan - Reviews on RateItAll
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Read the article by Chris
Pro Plan - Reviews on RateItAll

I am not using dog food analysis as a source as the people who run it do not have a degree in dog nutrition.

Dog Food Brands - RateItAll

Do i have a valid reason to doubt the holistic, natural or organic approach? What brands have you used?

Also another reasons I doubt holistic approach is the amount of Herbs they use? Do they believe every single herb on the market is safe, just because its natural?
My worry is that some herbs that are apparently safe are actually toxic-and alot of herbs have not be tested for safety on pets! Many herbs &essential oil actually can KILL cats and permanent damage liver and kidney and permanently affect the cats co-ordination

Or should I give it a go despite my serious doubts?

I am not feeding raw due these reasons! She does get a raw large bone! But I could NOT feed her a chicken carcas as the wings on the carcas could gert stuck in her throat due to her being a goobly!
Dog Nutrition 101 - The Dangers of a Raw Meat Diet - PurinaONE.com

Currently she perfectly healthy, coats perfect and shedding reduced on this food and VERY BOISTEROUS FOR HER AGE-Lol she was walking quietly until she spotted a boisterous dog, she stop stared and bolted toward this dog from a complete STOP!
her teeth have warn down abit but that expected, and there a little yellow, her front teeth are surprisingly white-. I have taken a video of my dog teeth eating a low fat biscuit TO GET HER TEETH IN THE PICTURE, She has an exposed root & chipped tooth-according to the vet its not infected and not causing her any pain. You cannot see this as you have to lift up her top gum to find it
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