Dog Community

Posted : 8/28/2006 11:38:24 AM

jessies_mom,

What ideally should the ash content of foods be, do you believe, in order to not possibly harm (or at least lessen the possibility) a dog?
I ask you this because you seem pretty knowledgeable in this area [

] thanks for your help!

And, thank you, Carol, for your help!

jessies_mom

Posted : 8/28/2006 11:43:14 AM

Jessie's mom--Do you have further info on the concentrated meat meals=high ash? I was considering trying Barking at the Moon at some point in the future

Papillon, who, as you may know, is a graduate student studying companion animal nutrition is the one who first mentioned the high ash content of EVO; [linkhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=128345&mpage=2&key=ash%2Chigh%2Cprotein] http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=128345&mpage=2&key=ash%2Chigh%2Cprotein[/link]

I'll e-mail Solid Gold and post their response here; chewbecca's going to contact Nature's Variety. When we have their answers we will know if in fact high protein equals high ash. Jessie is allergic to chicken so I couldn't feed her the original EVO and Barking At The Moon isn't available in my area. I was thinking about trying the EVO red meat but the ash contnt isn't available at their site like it is for the original formula.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/28/2006 11:47:02 AM

ooh, then NV's raw instincts would be out for you since its main meat ingredient is chicken.

I simply emailed NV and asked them what the EXACT level of ash is in their raw instincts.

I hate saying this, but my uneducated guess (and that's exactly what it is) is that it's going to be high or they probably would have that info on their bags or website.
I could be completely wrong, but I would think they'd know this is a concern for some people and would be proud of their low level ash content if that were the case.

Carol Cameron

Posted : 8/28/2006 2:16:22 PM

Hi Willow, sorry for the delay, but its Monday[:'(]

I don't know about the Turkey formula, I'll ask Mark tomorrow, but as far as the beef, you should probably try the Bison. Its not really gamey, it is farm raised in New Zealand, and it was enough like beef that China would not let our distributor import it over there.

Carol

chewbecca

Posted : 8/28/2006 2:26:39 PM

oooh.
Dang. What is a good, safe level of ash?
Or did I miss this?

Carol, as soon as I am due to get Ella some more food, It's Wild and Natural for her!
And I CANNOT wait for the canned food[

]

kelly_c

Posted : 8/28/2006 2:36:20 PM

I just ordered a bag of TWO Wild and Natural. Once I gradually work it in to their diet, can I switch back and forth? For example, I am going out of town for a few days next month and my son and husband will be taking care of Duke and Charlie. I think it would be easier for them to feed just the kibble, so I plan to slowly introduce the kibble mixed with their raw for a few days and occasionally feeding it as their meal. Will it be ok to let them just eat the kibble for a few days while I'm gone if they are used to it by then?

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/28/2006 2:36:42 PM

In other words, most super premium foods will have high protein, but do they go the extra mile to remove the excess calcium that can be harmful to the dog. Are they more interested in profit than a safe product?

wow, that's interesting. It is true that all of the other no-grain/high protein kibbles out there (other than TO's) have disturbingly high levels of calcium. Now explained.

Carol Cameron

Posted : 8/28/2006 2:48:36 PM

Kelly,

Its perfectly safe to feed just the kibble. The guidelines on our website are for people who would like to add raw to their dogs diet. It is not necessary and we have several that have written to me lately, show handlers and breeders, that tell me that when they go on the road, TWO is all they take with them

Carol

kelly_c

Posted : 8/28/2006 2:52:53 PM

Somehow we got into a conversation about ash and harmful calcium in dog food.
I was hoping to get more response to the question I posted. I feel ignored [&o]

chewbecca

Posted : 8/28/2006 2:59:26 PM

ORIGINAL: chewbecca

I feed it. Ella likes it.
She doesn't seem to have any problems on it.
Another GREAT grain-free food is Timberwolf Organics. I chose NV raw instincts because it has a higher protein level than most. Innova Evo will be suggested by several. I don't know why, but I tend to stay away from that food. I wouldn't say it's bad, it's not. I just prefer NV and Timberwolf.

Uh, I answered you. Now I feel ignored...[

]

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/28/2006 3:08:31 PM

sorry kelly. Have you thought about feeding one of the freeze-dried raw products that are available when you go on trips? otherwise, a good kibble is fine. I much prefer TO' s wild n natural nutritional profile to any of the other high-protein/no grain kibbles that are available.

kelly_c

Posted : 8/28/2006 3:41:31 PM

Its perfectly safe to feed just the kibble. The guidelines on our website are for people who would like to add raw to their dogs diet. It is not necessary and we have several that have written to me lately, show handlers and breeders, that tell me that when they go on the road, TWO is all they take with them

Thanks, I actually meant when switching back and forth from raw to kibble will I mess with their systems. I feel good about TWO, I just want to know the right way to switch back and forth.

I was just kidding about feeling ignored [

]

jessies_mom

Posted : 8/28/2006 6:20:11 PM

Jessie's mom--Do you have further info on the concentrated meat meals=high ash? I was considering trying Barking at the Moon at some point in the future

I already received a reply from Solid Gold and the ash content is 9.8%.

jessies_mom

Posted : 8/28/2006 6:43:03 PM

jessies_mom,

What ideally should the ash content of foods be, do you believe, in order to not possibly harm (or at least lessen the possibility) a dog?
I ask you this because you seem pretty knowledgeable in this area thanks for your help

Actually I learned about the ash content of EVO from papillon, who will have her doctorate in companion animal nutrition in a few months; [linkhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=128345&mpage=1&key=ash%2CEVO%2Chigh]http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=128345&mpage=1&key=ash%2CEVO%2Chigh[/link]
[linkhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=128345&mpage=2&key=ash%2CEVO%2Chigh]http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=128345&mpage=2&key=ash%2CEVO%2Chigh[/link]

A lot of dog foods don't list the ash content so I wouldn't get too concerned about Nature's Variety Raw Instinct until you hear from them. I'm having a hard time finding information online about what is considered a safe level of ash for dogs; I'm going to e-mail John at Eagle Pack and I'll post his reply on this thread.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/28/2006 8:32:24 PM

I PMed Papillon about it and she said that nothing over 8% would be OK in her opinion.
I hope she doesn't mind that I shared that info.[

]

Rotating Raw and Kibble