There are multiple tables below.
| HealthyPetNet | Flint River | Wellness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What | Life’s Abundance | Original Puppy & Adult | Fish and Sweet Potato |
| Where to get | Independent rep mail order | Independent rep mail order | Natural grocer or specialty pet food store |
| Daily Serving Size for 30 lb dog | 1.5 cups | 2 cups | N/A presume 1.5 cups |
| Bag Size | 20 lb | 20 lbs | 15 lb |
| Best Price w/o tax * See explanation about pricing | 31.05 autoship + 7.95 S&H = 34.90 ***** |
32.99 + No S&H + No tax | 31.79 |
| Cost per serving | .65 Best value |
.82 | .79 |
| Protein | 26% | 23% | 22% |
| Metabolizable Energy (ME) Calories: kcal/cup | 441 | 477 | 400 |
| First five ingredients ** See cautions about reading too much into the ingredient placement |
Chicken meal Ground brown rice Potato product Chicken Fat Dried Beet Pulp |
Chicken Meal Whole Wheat Flour Ground Rice Lamb Meal Poultry Fat |
Whitefish Ground Barley Rye Flour Menhaden Fish Meal Ground Pearled Barley |
| Chelated minerals | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Probiotics, Digestive support | Yes | No | Yes |
| Antioxidants | Yes | No | Yes |
| Natural DHA/EPA | Yes | No | Yes |
| Other | Contains Lysine, an essential amino acid, one of the things I look for. Alfalfa leaf meal, another plus. | Contains WHEAT, a no-no;dehydrated alfalfa meal is a plus. | Alfalfa leaf, a plus. |
| Diamond Naturals | Breeder’s Choice | Wysong | Castor & Pollux | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What | Lamb Meal & Rice Adult Dog Food | Avoderm Lamb Meal & Brown Rice | Maintenance Dog Food | Organix Dog Food |
| Where to get | Pet food stores like Petsmart, PetCo | Natural grocer or specialty pet food store | Natural grocer or specialty pet food store, Wysong online | Natural grocer or specialty pet food store, Solid Gold online |
| Daily Serving Size for 30 lb dog | 2 cups | 2 cups | N/A, presume 2 cups due to corn | N/A, presume 2 cups |
| Bag Size | 20 lb | 17.5 lb | 8 lb | 15 lb |
| Best Price w/o tax * See explanation about pricing | 16.79 + 15.49 S&H = 32.28 | 19.59 in store25.49 + 15.49 S&H = 40.98 | 10.75 in store13.29 + Actual UPS Shipping est. 10 = 23.29 |
27.99 + 15.49 S&H = 43.48In store price is 25.99 |
| Cost per serving | .80 | .55 to 1.17 |
.67 to 1.40 |
.64 to 1.08 |
| Protein | 23% | 20% | 24% | 28% |
| Metabolizable Energy (ME) Calories: kcal/cup | 337 | 341 | N/A | N/A |
| First five ingredients ** See cautions about reading too much into the ingredient placement |
Lamb meal Whole grain Brown rice White rice Cracked pearled barley Fish meal |
Lamb Meal Ground Whole Brown Rice Ground Whole Rice Oatmeal Rice Bran |
Chicken Ground Corn Ground Wheat Ground Brown Rice Ground Oat Groats |
Organic Chicken Chicken Meal Organic Peas Organic Extruded Soybean Seeds Organic Barley |
| Chelated minerals | No | No | No | No |
| Probiotics, Digestive support | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Antioxidants | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Natural DHA/EPA | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Other | Made in APHIS-certified plant to rigorous EU standards. | Avocado oil | Contains glucosamine, soybean seeds |
| Kumpi | Blue Buffalo | Canidae | Solid Gold | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What | Adult Dog Food | Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe | Lamb Meal & Brown Rice | Hund-N-Flocken Adult Dog Formula |
| Where to get | Natural Grocer of specialty pet food store, Kumpi online | Pet food stores like PetSmart, PetCo | Natural grocer or specialty pet food store | Natural grocer or specialty pet food store, Solid Gold online |
| Daily Serving Size for 30 lb dog | N/A, presume 2 cups because of corn prominence | 1.5 cups | 1.5 cups | N/A, presume 1.5 cups |
| Bag Size | 20 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb | 15 lb |
| Best Price w/o tax * See explanation about pricing | 25.99 in store priceor 34 with free S&H from online store | 22.99 + 15.49 = 38.48 PetSmart s&H is only 7.99 |
21.99 + 15.49 S&H = 37.48 ****** 2008 Price Increase. As of 8/24/08, price is 26.79 + 16.79 S&H = 43.58 |
20.75 + 14.18 S&H = 34.93 |
| Cost per serving | .64 to .85 |
.96 | .70 | .87 |
| Protein | 22% | 25% | 24% | 22% |
| Metabolizable Energy (ME) Calories: kcal/cup | N/A | 462 | 468 | 367 |
| First five ingredients ** See cautions about reading too much into the ingredient placement |
Corn Meal Chicken Meal Chicken Fat Dried Beet Pulp Lamb Meal |
Deboned Chicken Chicken Meal Whole Ground Brown Rice Whole Ground Barley Oatmeal |
Chicken Meal Turkey Meal Brown Rice White Rice Lamb Meal |
Lamb Lamb Meal Brown Rice Cracked Pearled Barley Millet |
| Chelated minerals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Probiotics, Digestive support | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Antioxidants | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Natural DHA/EPA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other | Website does not provide ME or kcal. States: “Can you compare the calories in a three ounce brownie to the calories in three ounces of chicken?” | Alfalfa meal a plus. | Sun-cured alfalfa meal, a plus. |
Criteria:
No by-products
No unnamed meat products, such as “animal” or “meat”
No chemical preservatives (i.e., BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin)
No artificial flavors or colors
No corn, wheat, soy, or sorghum
Includes probiotics
Proteinated or chelated vitamins and minerals
Assumptions: Analysis is based on feeding 30 lb dog, 20 lb bag of “normal” dog food (not “senior” or “working dog”), minimum guaranteed protein above 22%. 80 cups per bag. Assume ordering through PetFoodDirect.com, PetSmart.com, or the manufacturer’s online store, which “levels the playing field” by making these premium foods available to all.
Teresa Holladay, “The Pet Food Lady”
http://holisticpetfood.wordpress.com
Filed under: Holistic Pet Food, Pet Food Comparisons | Tagged: alfalfa, Cats, Dogs, health, holistic, linkedin, Pet Food
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Interested to see your views on holistic and natural foods in the US. I have been looking at the same area in the UK and come to similar conclusions on http://www.pet-food-choice.co.uk/Holistic_pet_food.htm
John
I have heard that Halo, Life’s abundance and Harmony Farms is the best, safest and most ethical pet foods out there right now. Is this true and if not what is the best dog food, that doesn’t use corn, wheat, soy, by-products, dangerous chemicals, other dogs and cats
or animal digest in them? Thank you for your time!
Sabrina,
That sounds like a good list to start with. I’m a Life’s Abundance fan, myself, you can get it from my sister at http://ushealthypet.net, but at some point, it’s all about how easy it is to get it and how much it costs.
I would say you should avoid anything at a grocery store but I just saw Paul Newman’s brand in my grocery store so things are definitely changing. And now Wellness and Dick Van Patten’s food are being sold at the PetSmarts and PetCos.
TREATS are where you really need to read the label. They are the culprits for “animal digest”. Truly, spend money on good treats so that you don’t give your pets really bad junk food as a way of showing your love.
I’ve been told that when you see a health food previously available only in specialty stores showing up on grocery store shelves, that the manufacturer has lessened the quality in order to be marketable and able to be competitive on grocery store shelves.
I don’t know if that’s true in all cases or if it’s true at all but I tend to be leery of them unless the owner himself swears that he hasn’t lessened the quality in order to sell more product.
Regardless of an economic “crisis”, my girls won’t be going to lesser quality food for the sake of money because I can’t afford them to get sick!!!
Take Care Dog Lovers!!
Donna