Nutrient Analysis help

 Dogs can make vitamin K and C, but not A.

jessies_mom

 Dogs can make vitamin K and C, but not A.

Thanks for the correction. I wasn't sure on vit A. It's been a while since I studied that.

ron2

Thanks for the correction. I wasn't sure on vit A. It's been a while since I studied that.

 You're welcome. It is confusing, especially since dog food companies often supplement vitamin K and C. That makes it hard to tell by looking at the ingredients which nutrients a dog's body can and cannot produce. How's Shadow doing on the EP; do you notice any difference from the Nutro? I tried the Nutro Lamb about a year ago and Jessie did better on it than EP (her coat wasn't as dry) because it has more zinc and linoleic acid. However, about a month after I started her on it,  she had an ear infection, then another one a month after that, so I stopped feeding it.

jessies_mom

How's Shadow doing on the EP; do you notice any difference from the Nutro?

He's doing fine. His coat is soft and looks great (I'll try and a get a pic tomorrow in natural light). He likes the food well enough. It's as good for him as the old Nutro formula was, as far as I can tell. These days, it is a better food than Nutro, IMO. I had always figured that EP would be the go-to food if Nutro didn't work out. In this case, Nutro quit making that formula. And now, they've changed their formulas to meat first, instead of meat meal. And the meat meal in Nutro is now down past the grains. Now doubt, they can get similar numbers for as-fed but I'm a little superstitious. I think meat meal should be first and I'm willing to pay for it. Nutro's senior formula is grain first and I fed one bag of that while deciding. According to Nutro, you can feed senior at 5 years but I don't think Shadow's ready for a grain-first food just yet. And I notice that EP senior has meal first. I think any dog that doesn't have kidney problems can eat meat meal their entire lives and it's better suited for them if one is feeding kibble. But that's my opinion.

As for linoelic acid, lamb meat or meal is fairly well stocked in linoleic acid. If I needed to, I can supplement with nutricoat (which is carob flavored). Just a few drizzles. I did it sometimes, in the past, when Shadow was younger. I haven't done it yet with EP and I don't see a need to do so. His coat looks outstanding to me. And he's got the energy to still do zoomies around the yard, like we did earlier today. That's another good sign. It is still a breath-taking sight for me to see him run at full tilt boogie.

ron2

As for linoelic acid, lamb meat or meal is fairly well stocked in linoleic acid.

  That's true; but because of what allergies do to her system, (increase transepidermal water loss), Jessie needs a food that's high in linoleic acid and zinc, which is why I tried Nutro Lamb, and it did improve her coat. I agree with you about how important it is for meat meal to be the first ingredient, and senior dogs not needing lower protein foods unless they have kidney problems. Some companies such as Purina and Royal Canin have increased the protein in their senior foods. Purina did a study in which one group of senior dogs were fed a diet that was 16 and a half percent protein; another group was fed a diet that was 34 percent protein; the group fed the higher protein diet lived longer. Jessie's diet is 37% protein dry matter basis, which is about 35% protein as fed. She's ten and still does zoomies.
 

As promised, here are pics from this morning.

No supplements. Just EP Lamb Meal and bits of meat here and there, and a few training treats, now and then.