Andy Gets His Grub On

I mentioned last week that Andy's ready to transition to an adult dog food. We took the pup on a field trip to a local pet supply store yesterday and after some comparison shopping purchased a bag of Merrick's Classic Real Lamb, Brown Rice, and Apple Recipe. I've mentioned before that I don't think there's much difference between high-end brands of pet food; Blue Buffalo, Wellness, Merrick, Natural Balance, etc. are all excellent options. There is however a huge difference between these brands and your average super market selection. The high-end brands are committed to using natural, quality ingredients: no animal byproducts, no fillers or artificial ingredients, and offer grain free or limited ingredient options (for dogs with allergies). I think we owe it to our pups to give them the highest quality diet within our means.

According to the Dog Food Adviser "dog food manufactures are required by federal law to list all of a product’s ingredients in descending order of their pre-cooking weights." This essentially means the first 5 ingredients are the "most abundant items anywhere in a product." Take a look at the ingredients listed in the dog food your pup currently eats. If you don't see a non-by product protein or if you see corn listed in the first 5 ingredients, neither of which has much nutritional value, it's time to reconsider what you're feeding your dog. 

Here are the first 5 ingredients listed in Merrick's Classic Real Lamb, Brown Rice, and Apple Recipe: Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Peas, Sweet Potato. The Classic line contains 50% protein and healthy fat, 25% fresh produce, and 25% whole grains, is rated 5/5 on the Pet Food Adviser website and is "enthusiastically recommended" by them. That's good eating! Natural, nutritious, and balanced for a happy and healthy Andy.

Merrick Classic Real Lamb, Brown Rice, and Apple Recipe
Available at most retailers
$34.99 (15 lbs) | $55.99 (30 lbs) | +/-

Ingredients:

Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Peas, Sweet Potato, Barley, Chicken Fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), Pea Protein, Oats, Natural Flavor, flaxseed, Carrots, Apples, Blueberries, Organic Alfalfa, Salmon Oil, Minerals (Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Rosemary Extract

Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude Protein (min.) 25.0%, Crude Fat (min.) 15.0%, Crude Fiber (max.) 3.50%, Moisture (max.) 11.0%, Omega-6 fatty acid (min) 4.0%, Omega-3 fatty acid (min) 0.35%, Glucosamine Hydrochloride (min) 800 mg/kg, Chondroitin Sulfate (min) 800 mg/kg. 3638 kcal/kg or 440 kcal/cup ME (metabolizable energy) on an as fed basis (calculated).