How to choose the best Kibble
When you are going to buy a kibble for either your cat or dog I would like for you to have some tools to help get the most out of your pet food brand. You should always be aware of what is in the label. So if you if you have not done so already, go ahead and turn the bag around to have a look. The goal when you are reading the nutrition panel is you want as little fillers as possible and good sources of animal based proteins;
Zero CORN, WHEAT, SOY, WHEY, or really any Grain ( particularly because in KIBBLE form which is processed this is a huge source of sugar, that spikes glycemic index, contributes to weight gain etc.)
Avoid White potato, potato starch and really any derivative of this kind with WHITE potato. ( Reason being it causes severe skin irritation in certain dogs and yeast build up in the ears. I am not entirely sure why but it does. Working with holistic vets they agree and in kibble especially the white potato is contributor to most skin irritation/ inflammation in dogs.Not always every animal but a good majority so just watch for signs.)
Following the pattern of minimal fillers you also want No Carmel ( Which blue buffalo famous to use) No tapioca starch or tapioca at all (major source of sugar spike .)
These fillers wreck havoc on animals GI tracts and other imperative organs. Please please please take in consideration that overtime these sugars will start to manifest in disastrous ways. Be meticulous and scrupulous in what you are buying for your animals. You not only need to be minimal with fillers but also you want transparent meat sources. You need to know where they are getting the meat. Dog food is not regulated nearly to the extent it should be and there is terrifying results of this negligence with; liver disease, rise in Diabetes in animals, and sadly even severe bleeding which caused death. Even if you decide not to use what I have recommended below just use this as a guide to traverse the kibble industry and give your pet the most for your money.
Kibble + Raw = Happy Animals
Highly, Highly recommend you implement a form of Raw food in addition to your pets kibble. Keep in mind animals have a stomach acid at a PH level so acidic it could burn a car battery. That being said it disproves the mythology of animals becoming ill from raw meats. Now there are alternatives for humans/animals if they have a medical issue where there immune system is suppressed or compromised. But traditionally speaking if you have a top notch healthy animal you wanna continue that pattern and feed them a natural source of animal based protein. Kibble is processed food so it does reduce the viability of your animal receiving all the nutrition they need just from kibble alone. The list I have provided below will consist of some of my favorite kibble brands and than elaborate more on Raw food and how to incorporate them and the brands I would suggest.
PRICE can be a major concern from some pet owners. There is an investment to supporting your animals health and wealth. It is worth spending extra now for your animals health to ensure less medical bills in the future. Now I gave you the criteria in the first paragraph to give you the capability to look into your foods as well. If the kibble I have featured are too expensive or not what you think your animal is suited for. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE start getting curious and looking into any and all foods you buy. For not only your pets but yourself too. Alright you ready here we go.
Orijen/ Acana- Orijen is a Canadian based company that controls every aspect of there meat sourcing. They are a multi-source kibble that can sometimes be to rich for certain animals because of how nutrient dense it is. The six fish formula is my absolute favorites. There beautifully designed ingredients has a powerful amount of omegas that make any coat shine.
Open Farm- My heart absolutely swooned for Open farm when it first came to our store. This is the best possible sourcing you can ask from any kibble company. They are a self sustaining farm that has such a clean formula. If you are having weight issues or compromised immune systems this is my highest recommendation. Truly exceptional food.
Fromm- Some people have heard of Fromm. This was the first food I ever learned about in the holistic world. Fromm has been around for over a hundred years and is still family owned to this day. There commitment to animal nutrition has been scrupulous. There grain free line is incredible. They do tend to use white potato in most of their brands which is why I am ever hesitant to mention them. But they are a great company so they deserved the credit for sure. Just again make sure you monitor your animal. If you notice itching or yeast build up maybe take a look at another brand or another ingredient line.
Nulo- This kibble is available both in boutiques and now in petsmarts. It is a healthy option for any dog and the price point is absolutely fantastic for the quality you are receiving. If you have animal that is sensitive to chicken , they have chicken free line too. They are a multi sourced protein pet food that is worth every cent. They are independently owned company so the scrutiny for the meats is still within reach.
Again there is many foods not mentioned here that I would also recommend. These just happen to be the ones I have seen great results from and versatility. But NOT the only ones. So Do not hesitate to ask questions or give feedback :D.
Now Let's talk RAW FOODS !!!!!!
In considering your Raw food selection you want similar discrepancy as you had with your kibble. Makes sure you're aware of sourcing and quality. Animals preference as well. Now you may not be aware but there is three main ways you can incorporate raw foods; Dehydrated raw, Freeze Dried raw, and lastly Frozen Raw. They all yield the same in terms of nutritional benefits so you can't go wrong either way.
Primal- As a food I must tell you I am partial to this line because this was the food that gave my dog her sight back. I had a saint bernard and she had glaucoma a condition that impaired her eyesight. So I changed her kibble and incorporated the freeze dried raw and it was astounding the difference. The fact that she could see really blew my mind. So primal is incredible they come in both freeze dried and frozen raw. HIGHLY recommend.
Bravo- One of my favorite companies in terms of Raw food versatility. They really work in our favor. They have many different options in there lines with exquisite meat sourcing. They are little more difficult to find in stores but well worth it. Just make sure if you are feeding raw as the main source of nutrition for your animal that you buy the whole balanced formula vs. there basic meat.
Tuckers- I love tuckers they are another good quality frozen raw company. They have fantastic ingredients and good overall values as a whole. They are a whole and balanced meal similar to primal and pretty accessible in most stores.
The Honest Kitchen- Dehydrated raw is like oatmeal so you can pick the consistency in which your dog may prefer. You can use as a food topper or whole and balanced meal. I absolutely Love The honest kitchen for this purpose. They have a huge line and incredibly meticulous in there meat sourcing and manufacturing.
As with the kibble there is raw foods I may have not mentioned but does mean that they are not good or viable. Just be curious provide variety and if your not using raw as a main food source just incorporate it in small amounts weekly. Your animal will still reap the benefits.
