Is this a good puppy food?

PuppyLove

Hey everyone,
Our puppy is coming tomorrow, so excited, we were just out puppy shopping. This food was recommended on a couple of dogs sites for puppies, I'll let you know what it is after.

Ingredients
Maize, poultry meat meal, poultry fat, herring meal, maize gluten, full fat linseed, skim milk powder, egg powder, minerals, preserved with propionic acid, contains natural antioxidants.

muttlover87

The food is mostly Maize. Which makes it no, not so good. Not in my opinion at least. Its barely digestable. Also theres no being able to tell whether a puppy food is good unless you show us percentages of the calcium and phosphorous in the food. Calcium to phosphorous ratio should be 1.5/0.9 % If that is higher it could actually lead to bone deformities and bone and joint issues later in life. (Once believed to be caused by protein: no longer the case). I also wouldn't trust this food because they do not list all chemicals and minerals. I also dont like the stated poultry meal. Its unspecified. All you know is that the meat came from a bird. Who knows maybe they added in some pet birds that were put down and decided to call it "poultry".

Criosphynx

Aside from the Maize (corn for us in the US) the food looks ok.. I don't like that they had to "add in" minerals....try to get one without corn...especially for the first ingrediant

PuppyLove

Thank you both, I have found that most foods I've looked at don't list all the ingredients.

Heres the ingredient analysis, may help you all judge the food a little better. Oh and it's called Red Mills Leader Puppy. An Irish brand.

Raw Protein 30.00%, Raw fat 16.00%, Raw fibre 2.00%, Raw ash 9.00%, Moisture Content 10.00%, Minerals, Calcium1.5% Phosphorus 0.85%, Sodium 0.48%, Magnesium 0.09%, Iron 75 mg/kg, Zinc 70 mg/kg, Copper (Sulphate) 25 mg/kg, Selenium 0.2 mg/kg, Vitamin A 10.000 iu/kg, Vitamin D3 2.000 iu/kg, Alpha - Tocopherol (Vitamin E) 200 mg/kg, Digestible Energy 16.8 mj/kg

Criosphynx

The important thing to remember is that even though the protien/fat levels etc are correct it doesn't mean the dog can digest the present fat/protien.

For example you could get fiber from grinding up an old boot, don't mean the dog can digest it.

So if the protien comes from corn, but the dog can't digest the corn well (or at all) then the amount of protien the dog is really getting is much lower.

does that make sence?

PuppyLove

Yeah thanks
Problem is they all seem to have maize, maybe we just don't have great food here. Is this food really, really bad for the puppy?

Sorry guys, I just don't have a clue when it comes to stuff like this

Criosphynx

Unfortunately I don't know what you guys have available there that may be your best option for now.

muttlover87

Well since I'm not sure of your options I agree that maybe you just dont have any good pet foods around you. Have you tried searching for more pet stores in your area? Sometimes they are hidden very well, and usually the smaller more family like businesses have the healthier foods. Just google "pet stores near (your city)". If you cant find any others than Id say its fine to feed that food. The calcium to phosphorous ratios are spot on, and that is one of the most important factors in a puppy food. And at least the two meat types in it are a meat meal so it could have more meat and fat that actual maize, no way to really know for sure, but it should be OK to feed.

pawzaddict

The first ingredient in dog food should be meat. Do you have a local pet store chain like petsmart or petco? If not what types of stores do you have? Some feed stores (mainly for cattle, chickens, etc) sell good dog food

gerbilgirl

I have found Redmills Active great for my dogs when they're training hard . Really like the food and the reps are passionate about it. And I work in a pet shop so we hear the truth about foods. And yes it is a super premium food at half the price some super premiums are.