Both flaxseed oil and fish oil provide omega-3 EFAs. However, the omega-3 EFA in flaxseed oil (ALA) is an inactive form and must be converted to EPA and DHA, the active forms of omega-3 EFA.

How much you should feed your pet depends on its age and activity level.  Daily feeding amount in food label only serves as a reference.

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.”

– Josh Billings

The first three ingredients are the most important in pet food. You can tell if the food is grain based or meat based.

"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat."

- Ellen Perry Berkeley

Brushing your dog's teeth at least 3 times a week is essential for good dental health.  Train your dog to accept teeth brushing early on. 

Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains a chemical called theobromine. The first signs of theobromine poisoning are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased urination.

Dogs and cats most often develop allergies to the protein in meat and dairy products.  Hydrolysis is a method to break down protein molecules to prevent food allergies.

Preservatives such as Ethoxyquin and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) are banned from human consumption. Avoid them in pet food as well.

Pet food usually includes these essential nutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, water.

“Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”

– George Eliot

"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats."

- Unknown

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

– Anatole France

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”

– Roger Caras

Some nutrients are lost due to heat and high pressure in pet food production.  Vitamins and minerals are added to make the food complete and balanced.

Paraben and its derivatives are commonly found in pet shampoo to prolong shelf life, but they may cause allergic contact dermatitis in pets and human.

Small breeds tend to live longer than larger breeds. Tiny and toy breeds only become "seniors" when they are around age 10.

Digestive enzymes and probiotics can help maintain a healthy digestive tract and improve the absorption of nutrients.

“The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.”

─ Mark Twain

Ingredients in pet food should be high quality and highly digestible. Your pets cannot digest feathers, hide or hoofs (animal digest / by-products).

"In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this."

- Terry Pratchett

Grapes, raisins and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs. Currently, it is not known why these fruits are toxic. Individual dogs have different sensitivities to these fruits.

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”

– Will Rogers

Complete and balanced pet food are those with added vitamins and minerals.  Those without are labeled as food for supplementary feeding only.

Some low-quality cat litters contain crystalline silica dust.  Crystalline silica can may accumulate in your cat’s lungs, resulting in silicosis.

The majority of essential oils are toxic to cats. All cats lack glucuronyl transferase, a liver enzyme, that helps to break down most essential oils.

Dogs scoot because of overly full anal glands. Adding fiber to your dog's diet can minimize the necessity of manual anal gland expression.

Freeze drying is a process that involves freezing the product, lowering pressure, then removing the ice by sublimation. In contrast, conventional drying uses heat to remove water.

Some common house plants are poisonous to dogs and cats. If you see your pets chewing on the plants, it is better to remove the plants.

Wise Pet is a holistic pet shop selling only high quality natural pet products. We provide free delivery on orders over $400.  Delivery will be made within 2-4 business days.  For delivery under $400, please refer to shipping policy. Tier price discount and volume discount are available for selected products (please check our discount page for details).   

Notice: Wise Pet was founded in 2003, specializing in premium pet products.  We have absolutely no relationship with [Wise Pet 寵物士多].  For any product defect problem regarding [Wise Pet 寵物士多], please contact that company directly.

Rate Your Dog Food

RATE YOUR DOG FOOD

 

START WITH A GRADE OF 100

1) For every listing of "by- product", subtract 10 points.

2) For every non- specific source ("meat" or "poultry" or "meal" or "fat") reference, subtract 10 points.

3) If the food contains BHA, BHT or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points.

4) For every grain "mill run" or non- specific grain source, subtract 5 points.

5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients, for example, ground brown rice, brewers rice, rice flour are all the same grain, subtract 5 points.

6) If the protein sources are not meat and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points.

7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points.

8) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points.

9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points.

10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points.

11) If lamb is the only animal protein source, subtract 2 points.

12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points.

13) If it contains wheat, subtract 2 points.

14) If it contains beef, subtract 2 points.

15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point.

EXTRA CREDIT:

1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points.

2) If the food is endorsed by a registered nutritionist, add 5 points.

3) If the food is baked and not extruded, add 5 points.

4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points.

5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points.

6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points.

7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points.

8) If the food contains barley, add 2 points.

9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points.

10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point.

11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point.

12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one: count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but count "chicken" and "lamb" as 2 different sources), add 1 point.

13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point.

14) If the vegetables have been tested as pesticide free, add 1 point.

 

94 - 100+ = A

86 - 93 = B

78 - 85 = C

70 - 77 = D

< 70 = F

 

Below are just a few commercial dog foods that already have been scored. Please figure the score on your food and be sure that you know as much as possible about the food that you are feeding.

 

ALPO PRIME CUTS / SCORE 81 = C

ARTEMIS LARGE/MED BREED PUPPY / SCORE 114 = A+

BIL-JAC SELECT / SCORE 68 = F

BLUE BUFFALO CHICKEN AND RICE / SCORE 106 = A+

BURNS CHICKEN AND BROWN RICE / SCORE 107 = A+

CANIDAE / SCORE 112 = A+

CANINE CAVIAR / SCORE = 121 A+

CHICKEN SOUP SENIOR / SCORE = 115 A+

DIAMOND MAINTENANCE / SCORE 64 = F

DIAMOND LAMB MEAL & RICE / SCORE 92 = B

DIAMOND LARGE BREED / SCORE 99 = A

DIAMOND PERFORMANCE / SCORE 85 = C

DICK VAN PATTENS NATURAL BALANCE ULTRA SUPREME / SCORE 122 = A+

DICK VAN PATTENS NATURAL BALANCE VENISON & BROWN RICE / SCORE 106 = A+

DICK VAN PATTENS DUCK & POTATO / SCORE 106 = A+

EAGLE PACK HOLISTIC / SCORE 102 = A+

EUKANUBA ADULT / SCORE 81 = C

EUKANUBA PUPPY / SCORE 79 = C

HUND-N-FLOCKEN ADULT BY SOLID GOLD / SCORE = 93 B

IAMS ProActive Health Mini Chunks/  69 = F

IAMS LAMB MEAL & RICE / SCORE 73 = D

INNOVA DOG / SCORE 114 = A+

INNOVA EVO / SCORE 114 = A+

INNOVA LARGE BREED PUPPY / SCORE 122 = A+

KARMA ORGANIC DOG FOOD / SCORE 120 = A+

KIBBLES N BITS/ SCORE 50 = F

MERRICK WILDERNESS BLEND / SCORE 127 = A+

NATURAL BALANCE POTATO & DUCK DOG FOOD ALLERGY FORMULA / SCORE 106 = A+

NATURE RECIPE / SCORE 100 = A

NATURE RECIPE HEALTHY SKIN VEN. / SCORE 116 = A+ 

NUTRO MAX ADULT / SCORE 93 = B

NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE OATMEAL / SCORE 101 = A+

NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE LAMB & RICE / SCORE 98 = A

NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE LARGE BREED PUPPY / SCORE 87 = B

NUTRO ULTRA ADULT / SCORE 104 = A+

PEDIGREE LAMB AND RICE / SCORE  50 = F

PURINA BENEFUL / SCORE 17 = F

PURINA COME-N-GET IT / SCORE 16 = F

PURINA DOG / SCORE 62 = F

ROYAL CANIN NATURAL BLEND ADULT / SCORE 106 = A+

SCIENCE DIET ADVANCED SENIOR / SCORE 63 = F

SCIENCE DIET PUPPY / SCORE 69 = F

SOLID GOLD / SCORE 99 = A

SOLID GOLD WOLFING BISON DRY DOG FOOD / SCORE 109 = A+

TIMBERWOLF ORGANICS / SCORE 120 = A+

WELLNESS SUPER5MIX DRY DOG FOOD / SCORE 110 = A+