Dog Community

Professional Pet food bad?

Posted : 6/23/2006 12:10:40 AM

Hi all! I have a few questions regarding Professional Pet food. The lil man, Simba, is a 5-year old rottie. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that he used to eat Pedigree.. Crying

A sales person at my local pet supply store recommended that he try [linkhttp://www.professionalpetfood.com/DietSelectionDog.html]Professional Pet food[/link] (in adult dog chicken & rice), since switching from Pedigree to Canidae or Nutro Ultra could make him sick. Should I still be concerned about the recall back in December 2005? Is there any reason why he should not try Professional pet food? It seems to get rave reviews, yet people on this forum seem to hate Diamond-brand products...

Also, I got the following information from their website:

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein 26.0% minimum
Crude Fat 15.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 3.0% maximum
Moisture 10.0% maximum
Ash 5.0% maximum
Phosphorus 0.6% minimum
Omega-6 Fatty Acids* 2.5% minimum
Omega-3 Fatty Acids* 0.4% minimum
Glucosamine Hydrochloride*/Chondroitin Sulfate* not less than 400 ppm.
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile.

Ingredients:
CHICKEN, CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT MEAL, RICE FLOUR, OATMEAL, WHOLE GRAIN GROUND CORN, CORN GLUTEN MEAL, CHICKEN FAT (PRESERVED WITH MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), BEET PULP (SUGAR REMOVED), FLAXSEED, EGG PRODUCT, NATURAL CHICKEN FLAVOR, FISH MEAL, BREWERS DRIED YEAST, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SALT, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, IRON PROTEINATE, ZINC PROTEINATE, COPPER PROTEINATE, FERROUS SULFATE, ZINC SULFATE, COPPER SULFATE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, MANGANESE PROTEINATE, MANGANOUS OXIDE, ASCORBIC ACID, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, BIOTIN, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, SODIUM SELENITE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, MENADIONE SODIUM BISULFITE (SOURCE OF VITAMIN K ACTIVITY), RIBOFLAVIN, VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENT, FOLIC ACID.

I know that corn should not be the first ingredient listed, but is corn in kibble okay? Are there any ingredients that are questionable? And what in the world is ash (remains of something that's burned [sm=eek.gif]) ?

Sorry for all the questions! I had no idea there was so much to learn about dog food, and it seems like the more I learn, the more questions I have!

-Carol

err.. Checked out the [linkhttp://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/46/46556.html]archives[/link] and realized this is a re-post... Sorry!

Melissa Camiel

Posted : 6/23/2006 8:04:24 AM

I wouldn't feed it. I don't like the by-products, corn gluten, or menadione. I think that sales person was completely wrong about a dog getting sick on Canidae or Nutro Ultra--he probably was a rep for Professional Pet food!! And the recall doesn't sound too good either....
But, its up to you what to feed. If you think it sounds okay and your pup does well on it, then go for it! Its a big step up from Pedigree!

cyclefiend2000

Posted : 6/23/2006 9:00:16 AM

i would think that switching cold turkey from one food to another might give your dog loose poops for a couple of days, but i cant see why it would make them sick. i would probably switch to either canidae or nutro ultra instead of professional. [sm=2cents.gif]

shamrockmommy

Posted : 6/23/2006 11:17:58 AM

Yeah, this is probably a food I wouldn't feed. Not necessarily because of the corn (the food I feed has whole corn in it and the dogs do great) but the by products, beet pulp and flaxseed tend to bother me a bit.

I think your dog might get loose stool no matter what you switch him to- do it gradually over 10 days or so and he should be fine. If a food continues to give him loose stool, check to be sure you're not overfeeding, as overfeeding can cause loose stool. If you adjust feeding amounts and still have loose stool, then something might not be agreeing with him.

Canidae is good as is Nutro Ultra. They both have a LOT more calories than pedigree, so be aware that the feeding amounts are going to be much lower than that of pedigree.

Good luck, let's hear a progress report.

dvet

Posted : 6/23/2006 12:01:37 PM

absolute only comment I have is, as previously stated...never just switch from one food to the next without a few days of acclimation...sudden changes can cause dietery problem but a gradual change usually is no problem

jessies_mom

Posted : 6/23/2006 3:28:04 PM

There are two grains and two products made from grain in the first six ingredients which means you're paying for a lot grain, the fish meal is too far down the list of ingredients to be of much benefit. Canidae All Life Stages has four meat meals in the first seven ingredients and many on this forum feed Canidae and have great results. It may be more expensive than Professional Pet Food but it has 468 k/cal per cup so you probably won't be feeding as much. Many dog food bags have a timetable for switching your dog to a new food and they usually recommend at least a week.

Ash is present naturally in pet food and is not added to it. It is made up of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals and is from the bone content of the meat meals. Too much ash can cause kidney problems.

Sarah

Posted : 6/23/2006 3:55:34 PM

I wouldn't feed this food. Period. But if you MUST, the lamb & rice formula looks better:

LAMB, LAMB MEAL, RICE FLOUR, OATMEAL, WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE, BREWERS RICE, CHICKEN FAT (PRESERVED WITH MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), BEET PULP (SUGAR REMOVED), FLAXSEED, EGG PRODUCT, NATURAL FLAVOR, BREWERS DRIED YEAST, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SALT, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, IRON PROTEINATE, ZINC PROTEINATE, COPPER PROTEINATE, FERROUS SULFATE, ZINC SULFATE, COPPER SULFATE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, MANGANESE PROTEINATE, MANGANOUS OXIDE, ASCORBIC ACID, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, BIOTIN, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, SODIUM SELENITE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, MENADIONE SODIUM BISULFITE (SOURCE OF VITAMIN K ACTIVITY), RIBOFLAVIN, VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENT, FOLIC ACID.

Atleast is doesn't contain any corn or by-products. Plus, the grains seem healthier, like brown rice instead of corn.

Carol

Posted : 6/23/2006 4:00:39 PM

Wow... thanks for all the responses!!!

I found it a bit odd that the sales person asked about Simba's skin before inquiring about anything else, then he pointed me straight to Professional. I figured he wanted what's best for Simba and suggested what I should feed him without bias... err.. This other lady said that switching from Pedigree to Canidae or Nutro Ultra would be too big of a leap for Simba; she mentioned something about Pedigree being too complex.

Simba seems to really like Professional in the chicken and rice forumla, so maybe I'll have him stay on this for a bit, then gradually switch to Canidae?

Thanks again for all the help! I really appreciate it ! [

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ron2

Posted : 6/23/2006 6:31:05 PM

Plus, the grains seem healthier, like brown rice instead of corn.

Corn is not unhealthy but some dogs don't do well with it. Of the grains used in pet food, rice is the most digestible. But they're all digestible through the cooking processes that are used.

loveukaykay

Posted : 6/23/2006 6:55:44 PM

I would switch when you can and Nutro Ultra would be a good choice... Im not familiar with Canidae but from what Ive read here its a good choice also. A lot of foods are removing Menadione from their formulas so I would also look for one without that in it. Grains are not bad IMO, but they should not make up the bulk of the food. The closer you can get to human grade food the better IMO... meaning try to find one without the by-products and that sort of thing. Just better to know whats in it instead of a general term. I do like the Nutro foods although I have switched from that once I learned more about nutrition.... the only Nutro I have a problem with is the Lite. Lots of us here feed Innova, Solid Gold, Wellness... etc just to give you an idea of what we choose. Every dog is different so I think most important is finding one that keeps your dogs coat shiny, poops small and firm, less itchiness... that sort of thing... every dog is different and may do better on a different food. Good luck.

willowchow

Posted : 6/23/2006 6:58:37 PM

I have to say, none of the things that have been previously pointed out would stop me from feeding it (to a dog that didn't have the problems mine does). But, what would stop me is the fish meal, which (from what I've read) is normally preserved with ethoxyquin (sp), a chemical preservative that you do want to stay away from. It can cause illness such as cancer. There are some companies that don't use it but my guess would be that this one does.

For what it's worth, my red flags aren't corn or protein specific by-product necessarily. But, BHA/BHT, ethoxyquin, propylene glycol are. Those are chemicals that not only can make your dog sick but they aren't necessary anymore with the new ways we can keep things fresh. And, propylene glycol is used to keep foods of a soft consistency (like soft treats) which I know can also be done without that anymore as many good soft treats don't contain it. (Zuke's moist treats, for example)

I also stay away from anything that says meat by-product as I want to know what exactly my dog is eating as she's got allergies.

Alice

Posted : 6/23/2006 7:49:19 PM

Ash in dog food? Ive never heard of that before.

jessies_mom

Posted : 6/23/2006 8:57:43 PM

Ash in dog food? Ive never heard of that before.

"Ash is present naturally in pet food and is not added to it. It is made up of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals and is from the bone content of the meat meals. Too much ash can cause kidney problems. "

From my post above. You see it listed in "guaranteed analysis".[align=right]

jessies_mom

Posted : 6/23/2006 9:02:27 PM

Lori brings up a good point about the preservatives, especially ethoxyquin; it's only allowed in human food in trace amounts in a few spices.
I agree that grains are not bad and Jessie's food has two grains; brown rice and oatmeal; dogs digest cooked grain and benefit from it but the food did seem grain heavy to me.

Carol

Posted : 6/23/2006 10:45:26 PM

yeesh ! there's soo much to take in... it's amazing how informed everyone is. maybe i really should get the Dog Health & Nutrition for Dummies book.