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by Blitzen on 01 September 2013 - 20:09
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/beaverdam-dog-food/
Link to Dog Food Advisors evaluation of Beaverdam.
Link to Dog Food Advisors evaluation of Beaverdam.
by Nans gsd on 01 September 2013 - 21:09
Bhaugh: just because of the super market shopping, prices of meat and selection is limited at market. Need to get a hold of a good butcher, have looked but to no avail. Will keep looking but am still just contemplating all right now. Also the balance involved. Have a few good dog deli's but also limited to prepared ground, etc. Nan
by EddaSG on 02 September 2013 - 00:09
Have you all seen this article from Dog Food Advisor?
This is mostly why I began feeding raw to my two GSDs.
I worked for a vet several years ago that contracted someone to pick up the euthanized pets from the freezer once a week....for the rendering plant. Thought nothing of it at the time, but now....... Basically all kibble is made from what is bought from rendering plants. Unless a company has their own butcher and rendering plants, which I doubt very seriously any do, because the expense would be out of sight.
I live in an area with several rendering plants, and have been on the road behind trucks going to the rendering plants a couple times ---- the stench can not be described.
I would love to believe I could open a fresh bag of kibble and have good meat, nutrients, veggies, etc., just the right combination for my loved dogs. I have to be realistic though, with what I know now, that's a fantasy. Even high-quality pet food......everything comes from those rendering plants. So, just wanted to see if anyone has read this? It's disturbing.
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/shocking-truth-about-dog-food/
This is mostly why I began feeding raw to my two GSDs.
I worked for a vet several years ago that contracted someone to pick up the euthanized pets from the freezer once a week....for the rendering plant. Thought nothing of it at the time, but now....... Basically all kibble is made from what is bought from rendering plants. Unless a company has their own butcher and rendering plants, which I doubt very seriously any do, because the expense would be out of sight.
I live in an area with several rendering plants, and have been on the road behind trucks going to the rendering plants a couple times ---- the stench can not be described.
I would love to believe I could open a fresh bag of kibble and have good meat, nutrients, veggies, etc., just the right combination for my loved dogs. I have to be realistic though, with what I know now, that's a fantasy. Even high-quality pet food......everything comes from those rendering plants. So, just wanted to see if anyone has read this? It's disturbing.
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/shocking-truth-about-dog-food/
by Eldee on 02 September 2013 - 07:09
I just cannot for the life of me believe the smaller companies like Orijen, Annamaet, Canidae, etc... would be using dead animal waste in their foods. Slap me up, down and sideways if I am wrong. Now, maybe Ole Roy, ok, I would believe that.
The smaller companies have a reputation to live up to and the company would be destroyed if that fact were true.
The smaller companies have a reputation to live up to and the company would be destroyed if that fact were true.
by Nans gsd on 02 September 2013 - 12:09
OOOOOOOH yeah, I have read it all and that is why I went to raw also. BUT, really I don't think a company like Orijen would use our dead dogs, etc. .... JHC I hope not anyway.
I just need to fill in with some kibble while my puppy is doing the change over that is probably going to be it. Am thinking along the lines of Petcurean NOW Salmon or sensitive; comes out of Canada.
OK, bye for now. Nan
PS: Had not heard of Beaverdam before, not really impressed with ingredients though, all seems to be more of the same s- - - . JMHO... Sorry but NO for me. If I am going to use kibble I want something that has been used by many successfully without recalls'; without a lot of extra ingredients added to complicate the formula; simple, clean, and not 38% protein if I can help it. Nan
I just need to fill in with some kibble while my puppy is doing the change over that is probably going to be it. Am thinking along the lines of Petcurean NOW Salmon or sensitive; comes out of Canada.
OK, bye for now. Nan
PS: Had not heard of Beaverdam before, not really impressed with ingredients though, all seems to be more of the same s- - - . JMHO... Sorry but NO for me. If I am going to use kibble I want something that has been used by many successfully without recalls'; without a lot of extra ingredients added to complicate the formula; simple, clean, and not 38% protein if I can help it. Nan
by Eldee on 02 September 2013 - 13:09
A letter from Orijen/Acana..............In case anyone is interested.
Thank you for your email, I'm pleased to hear that the ACANA Regional diets work well for your 3 dogs! I'll try to answer all of your questions below, I apologize for the length of the email. :)
Salmonella
In over 27 years of making ACANA, we have never had a recall. When it comes to food safety, we follow the same protocols as any food processor making human foods. Our Quality Assurance protocols require all products must have a negative Salmonella lab result from a Government of Canada accredited laboratory before shipping-there is no exception to this policy.
The FDA regularly examines and samples all food products entering into the USA, and on January 31, 2011 the FDA concluded that a sample of ACANA Grasslands Dog "appears to contain Salmonella". The FDA refused the product for import and issued an Import Alert. This resulted in border crossing delays and subsequent shortages of ACANA Grasslands Dog.
Although all of our previous lab results showed negative Salmonella results, the FDA required extensive additional sampling. Champion complied with all FDA requirements, sending samples of ACANA Grasslands Dog to a third party FDA certified lab. Without exception the test results from each sample tested negative for Salmonella.
While these samples tested negative for Salmonella, the FDA maintained an Import Alert until they finalized their documentation process, this was a very lengthy process.The ACANA Grasslands product was never recalled, having never tested positive for Salmonella.
Chicken Meal
All of our fresh meat ingredients and many of our fruits and vegetables originate in Canada. There are some however that do not. While our focus is “fresh and regional”, our greatest objective is always to be ‘Biologically Appropriate’, which means matching our foods to the eating anatomy of dogs and cats. As high protein dry dog and cat foods cannot (yet) be produced using fresh meats alone, we use the highest quality dried meat ingredients that are available. For example, in the case of chicken meal, the highest North American quality is without question from the USA. It’s important to note that we do not source from any US producer, but from one of the 2 USA chicken processors that produces chicken meal exclusively from USDA chickens that are passed ‘fit for human consumption’ by the FDA, and that has the appropriate European Union quality designations (EU 1774).
While there are producers of chicken meal in Canada, none are producing from chickens passed fit for human consumption and none attain the ingredient quality available from our US supplier (which is, by the way, also much more expensive than the Canadian suppliers). At present, Canadian chicken meal is made with spent hens (from egg laying operations) as well as chickens that have died, but are not processed in a federally inspected facility, or were not passed as ‘fit for human consumption’ by the Government of Canada.
When faced with choices we are again guided by our Biologically Appropriate mandate and know that our consumers expect us to uphold the highest possible standards. In this case, chicken meal made from chickens passed fit for human consumption in a USDA certified facility is preferable to local chicken meal made from chickens not subjected to any standards and certainly not passed fit for human consumption.
Fish
I think that the confusion with the article by Freshwater Fish Company comes down to terminology. The Freshwater Fish Company considered a “by-product” to be what is left of the fish after the fillet has been removed and sold into the human market. In the pet food industry a by-product refers to parts of the animal or fish that would not be classified as fit for human consumption.
All ORIJEN and ACANA meat and fish ingredients are produced exclusively from animals and fish that have been passed as fit for human consumption, and all are produced in human grade facilities (no by-products, no 3-D animal parts). After the fish has had the fillets removed we put the fish rack through a process that allows us to pull the remaining meat off the carcass. It is the remaining meat and fat that we are using, a very high quality ingredient- the same fish that goes into human-grade “fish cakes”.
Previous to Champion’s partnership with The Freshwater Fish Company of Canada, they only used the traditional cuts of fish. After fillets were removed, the rest of the fish was disposed of.
In 2005, Champion approached Freshwater Fish Company and proposed that we provide them with the processing equipment necessary to remove the remaining meat from the fish rack — provided they sell the fish to us exclusively and that it be fresh. If we did not purchase this fish, and the Freshwater Fish Company owned their own processing equipment, this fish could be sold to the human food market for use in fish cakes. Did you know that most of our fish is Kosher too?
Thank you for your email, I'm pleased to hear that the ACANA Regional diets work well for your 3 dogs! I'll try to answer all of your questions below, I apologize for the length of the email. :)
Salmonella
In over 27 years of making ACANA, we have never had a recall. When it comes to food safety, we follow the same protocols as any food processor making human foods. Our Quality Assurance protocols require all products must have a negative Salmonella lab result from a Government of Canada accredited laboratory before shipping-there is no exception to this policy.
The FDA regularly examines and samples all food products entering into the USA, and on January 31, 2011 the FDA concluded that a sample of ACANA Grasslands Dog "appears to contain Salmonella". The FDA refused the product for import and issued an Import Alert. This resulted in border crossing delays and subsequent shortages of ACANA Grasslands Dog.
Although all of our previous lab results showed negative Salmonella results, the FDA required extensive additional sampling. Champion complied with all FDA requirements, sending samples of ACANA Grasslands Dog to a third party FDA certified lab. Without exception the test results from each sample tested negative for Salmonella.
While these samples tested negative for Salmonella, the FDA maintained an Import Alert until they finalized their documentation process, this was a very lengthy process.The ACANA Grasslands product was never recalled, having never tested positive for Salmonella.
Chicken Meal
All of our fresh meat ingredients and many of our fruits and vegetables originate in Canada. There are some however that do not. While our focus is “fresh and regional”, our greatest objective is always to be ‘Biologically Appropriate’, which means matching our foods to the eating anatomy of dogs and cats. As high protein dry dog and cat foods cannot (yet) be produced using fresh meats alone, we use the highest quality dried meat ingredients that are available. For example, in the case of chicken meal, the highest North American quality is without question from the USA. It’s important to note that we do not source from any US producer, but from one of the 2 USA chicken processors that produces chicken meal exclusively from USDA chickens that are passed ‘fit for human consumption’ by the FDA, and that has the appropriate European Union quality designations (EU 1774).
While there are producers of chicken meal in Canada, none are producing from chickens passed fit for human consumption and none attain the ingredient quality available from our US supplier (which is, by the way, also much more expensive than the Canadian suppliers). At present, Canadian chicken meal is made with spent hens (from egg laying operations) as well as chickens that have died, but are not processed in a federally inspected facility, or were not passed as ‘fit for human consumption’ by the Government of Canada.
When faced with choices we are again guided by our Biologically Appropriate mandate and know that our consumers expect us to uphold the highest possible standards. In this case, chicken meal made from chickens passed fit for human consumption in a USDA certified facility is preferable to local chicken meal made from chickens not subjected to any standards and certainly not passed fit for human consumption.
Fish
I think that the confusion with the article by Freshwater Fish Company comes down to terminology. The Freshwater Fish Company considered a “by-product” to be what is left of the fish after the fillet has been removed and sold into the human market. In the pet food industry a by-product refers to parts of the animal or fish that would not be classified as fit for human consumption.
All ORIJEN and ACANA meat and fish ingredients are produced exclusively from animals and fish that have been passed as fit for human consumption, and all are produced in human grade facilities (no by-products, no 3-D animal parts). After the fish has had the fillets removed we put the fish rack through a process that allows us to pull the remaining meat off the carcass. It is the remaining meat and fat that we are using, a very high quality ingredient- the same fish that goes into human-grade “fish cakes”.
Previous to Champion’s partnership with The Freshwater Fish Company of Canada, they only used the traditional cuts of fish. After fillets were removed, the rest of the fish was disposed of.
In 2005, Champion approached Freshwater Fish Company and proposed that we provide them with the processing equipment necessary to remove the remaining meat from the fish rack — provided they sell the fish to us exclusively and that it be fresh. If we did not purchase this fish, and the Freshwater Fish Company owned their own processing equipment, this fish could be sold to the human food market for use in fish cakes. Did you know that most of our fish is Kosher too?
by Nans gsd on 02 September 2013 - 14:09
Thank you for posting that Eldee; very informative and helpful for making my decision. Nan
by Eldee on 02 September 2013 - 15:09
This should help you as well with your decision. Ingredients in Orijen Regional Red
INGREDIENTS
Boneless Angus beef*, boneless wild boar*, boneless lamb*, beef liver*, boneless pork*, pork liver*, whole herring*, lamb liver*, beef meal, lamb meal, herring meal, salmon meal, Pollock meal, beef tripe*, bison*, lamb fat, whole egg*, red lentils, chickpeas, green peas, yellow peas, green lentils, herring oil, pea fibre, yams*, sun-cured alfalfa, pumpkin, butternut squash*, spinach greens*, carrots*, Red Delicious apples*, Bartlett pears*, cranberries*, blueberries*, kelp, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, Enterococcus faecium.
INGREDIENTS
Boneless Angus beef*, boneless wild boar*, boneless lamb*, beef liver*, boneless pork*, pork liver*, whole herring*, lamb liver*, beef meal, lamb meal, herring meal, salmon meal, Pollock meal, beef tripe*, bison*, lamb fat, whole egg*, red lentils, chickpeas, green peas, yellow peas, green lentils, herring oil, pea fibre, yams*, sun-cured alfalfa, pumpkin, butternut squash*, spinach greens*, carrots*, Red Delicious apples*, Bartlett pears*, cranberries*, blueberries*, kelp, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, Enterococcus faecium.
by bebo on 02 September 2013 - 17:09
in the US, feeding raw doesn't quite help you get away from rendering product you don't deem desirable since it's an integral part in almost all commercial livestock feed, including many commercial cattle feeds. add to that live animal dosing with antibiotics, growth hormones, beta-blockers, etc., which need to be dropped a mere 30 days prior to slaughter, as well as the feeding of genetically engineered feedstocks, your only bet to get "clean" raw is to grow/ranch your own, buy from small, preferably certified organic, producers (e.g, oregon tilth cert not usda cert), and/or luck out and have access to export stock (e.g., Japan and EU bound meats). since Canada has stricter feed, labeling, and slaughter guidelines for domestic production/consumption than set forth by the USDA (and FDA), companies like champion (orijen, acana) and petcurean (now, go) enjoy a lot of success in the US with what's often perceived as "clean(er)" sourced kibble. pretty much the same holds for human-grade meats and resorting to a local butcher over, say, a big grocery chain, doesn't necessarily guarantee you different inputs, just better or, in the case or raw, more suitable cuts.
by Nans gsd on 02 September 2013 - 20:09
All true Bebo but at least it could and should help with some areas; like helping to build or re build muscles that may have atrophied on older dogs, like being able to control meat vs fat content for your various aged dogs; like being able to help keep weights in check young and old; helping by knowing exactly what your dog is eating as far as type of meats and if you have allergic dogs; easier to pin point what protein sources they are allergic to. That type of thing. I am not saying it is the be all end all but in a lot of cases I do feel it can be very healthful and helpful. JMHO Thx again, Nan
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