* I titled this post Covid because I think during Covid oversight and regulations of the manufacture of pet food really went slack. And it's not getting better.
Where do I start?
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has written guidelines on how to evaluate pet food. But they don't actually evaluate foods themselves. So other people have. I found this list of foods that meet their standards on Reddit. Purina, Hills, Ian’s, Eukanuba, and Royal Canin circa about 2022. Please note this could change at any time depending on formula changes, recalls.
Here are the guidelines at WSAVA
Here is a graphic of the guidelines
Here is the Reddit post
Here is the Reddit group r/dogfood
There is a woman on Instagram who keeps informed about pet food. If you join her "community" (free) you will get her updates on foods she approves. Her name is Rachel Fusaro. I strongly back her opinions.
For so many years I fed my collie, Maximus, Merrick Salmon and Sweet Potato formula. And he lived to be fifteen so I consider that a success. I chose this because I wanted a food without wheat, I don't like wheat, I don't think wheat is good for dogs. Plus I don't want to feed my dog a food with chicken. Because if it has chicken in it, it then can sneak in "meat by products" which can include euthanized animals. The Merrick salmon & sweet potato brand did not include "meat by products" only salmon. So then I can at least hope there is no euthanized animals included. No one every euthanizes a salmon so unless they are lying about ingredients I am OK. Now, sometime during Covid, I think, manufacturers started looking for a good cheap filler and they fell upon peas. Well, then there was one study that showed that a dog fed a lot of pea filler was at much greater risk for heart attack. When I got a new puppy in 2022 I was going to feed him Merrick salmon & sweet potato formula but I read that pea article and noticed Merrick's salmon & sp formula now contained quite a good portion of pea filler. So I did switch to Merrick salmon and brown rice recipe. Does not have wheat or peas or "meat by products". I would like to do more research to see if I can find a better dog food, read Fusaro's info, when I have time.
*Pea update Jan 2024: I have been reading up and it appears the pea filler/heart disease theory has been debunked. I'm not exactly sure and I don't think pea filler is good for a dog so I am still avoiding peas as an ingredient.
I don't like the current Purina Salmon & Rice formula because it has wheat in it plus "poultry by product meal" which makes me suspicious. If they cleaned it up maybe I would consider it. Especially because I just read that Purina bought Merrick so it is going to be basically the same thing soon, I think.
Yes I would consider a "raw" diet. I just don't have time right now. Maybe in the future.
** if your dog is sick, throwing up, etc. go old school. Feed your dog hamburger and rice exclusively. This is not for feeding long term but should work to get your dog through a digestion problem. Then you can slowly introduce an approved kibble to see if it is the kibble that caused your problem. And consult your Vet of course first.
For Maximus I would feed about 1/4 kibble, 1/4 meat or fish (usually canned mackerel), 1/4 canned unsweetened pumpkin, and 1/4th yogurt. Twice a day. He was never sick a day. He did injure his hind leg when he tore out chasing a flock of turkeys, the injury really flared up in his last days. But he was never sick.
*canned fish has salt in it. That is unfortunate but I compromise by just feeding 1/4 of the meal if I use a canned meat
UPDATE Dec 2023: my collie is refusing to eat kibble at all. I don't blame him. So I have started to feed him some chicken (from frozen), a scoop of pumpkin, and rice. And a scoop of yogurt. I'm going to be working on my recipe as time goes on.
Some good groups on Facebook
I can't keep up with recalls so I stopped trying. I did find a list that seems to be comprehensive so I will link here in case you want to search the history.
