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Old 02-05-2014, 05:46 PM   #1
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Exclamation Halo Vegan Garden Medley Dry Dog Food

As per title.... Does anyone have opinions on this food? It appears to be the only other all vegan dog food on the market besides Royal Canin...which I really don't want to feed due to the unavoidable corn content in their products.

I am desperate to find an alternative to Dick Van Patten Natural Balance since they merged with Del Monte back in May. We've been using this since Jenna got vasculitis in March 2013 and it was working beautifully, but now I see other owners are beginning to complain online about the product quality. I find stray kibbles from other types of DVPNB varieties in the vegetarian kibble and Jenna cannot have animal proteins. Both she and Ebon are starting to have problems: itching, scratching at ears and face, indigestion, vomiting (Ebon), diarrhea (Ebon), runny eyes (Jenna), chewing on feet and legs (especially Jenna) and coughing/sneezing or hiccups (both)...and Jenna has been turning her nose up at the kibble for about a week or more. She's been acting a bit odd for a month though really if I think about it. I know she must sense something although she will eat it if hungry. It doesn't smell the same to me and I am worried about how much longer we can go with this stuff before she winds up with a reaction as she did to Del Monte Milo's Kitchen dog treats last year.

I have a call in to my vet, but if anyone can recommend an all vegetable/no rosemary food (I know it's likely not going to bother her but don't want to take a chance) I need some info so I can go in with ammunition. I know he's not going to want to take her off NB, (until she rashes out again and needs treatment) as it's the only thing she can eat, so neither do I...but if it's going to eventually make her ill again I want to nip that in the bud.

Many thanks for any and all replies.
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Old 02-06-2014, 06:50 AM   #2
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Below is the nutritional info. It does have rosemary extract, didn't you say that was a no-no? Also, it has flax seed and white potato - do either of those make your kiddo itchy/irritated?

Ingredients: Green Peas, Chickpeas, Pearled Barley, Oat Groats, Pea Protein, Whole Flaxseed, Sunflower Oil, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Potato, Sweet Potato, Alfalfa Meal, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Watercress, Spinach, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Dicalcium Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dried Kelp, Natural Vegetable Flavors, Flaxseed Oil, Carrots, Dried Apple, Dried Blueberry, Dried Cranberry, Chicory Root, Taurine, Rosemary Extract, L-Carnitine, Potassium Chloride, DL Methionine, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D-2 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Cobalt Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Ethylene Diamine Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein 20.0% (Min),
Crude Fat 10% (Min),
Crude Fiber 8.5% (Max), Moisture 10% (Max),
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 1.75% (Min),
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* 4.25% (Min)
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Old 02-06-2014, 09:03 AM   #3
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I would honestly go with the RC over Halo if she has such issues with possible contamination, etc. No idea where Halo is made. When I asked about a year ago, they emailed me and all they said was it was made in the US. NO idea where it's manufactured, where their ingredients are sourced from, what the ash levels are in the food (calcium/phosphorus), plus it's got lots of ingredients that could be of issue (look at all the spinach, parsley, lettuce, alfalfa, etc, it's just unnecessary if you're looking for a simple food that works for her issue). RC specifically formulates their foods for dogs with issues. I think you would be better off knowing their facilities are more likely to not cross contaminate etc.

I must say the protein/fat levels are shocking though. How old is Jenna? I would be concerned about an adult dog having so little protein/fat. Can you not give her anything else to possibly boost the protein a bit? That's just the lowest of the low. And I believe the lowest recommended protein % for an adult dog by AAFCO.

Here is the Royal Canin vegan (which doesn't contain corn):

Ingredients

Oat groats, rice, brown rice, potato protein, natural flavors, coconut oil, dried beet pulp, vegetable oil, flaxseed, monocalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, powdered cellulose, salt, potassium citrate, fructooligosaccharides, potassium chloride, L-lysine, taurine, choline chloride, marigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.), vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), biotin, D-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin A acetate, niacin supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement], trace minerals [zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], beta carotene, rosemary extract, preserved with natural mixed tocopherols and citric acid.

Crude Protein, (min) 17.00%
Crude Fat, (min) 8.00%
Crude Fiber, (max) 4.60%
Moisture, (max) 10.00%






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Last edited by Britster; 02-06-2014 at 09:04 AM.
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Old 02-06-2014, 09:15 AM   #4
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I would skip Halo too...flaxseed oil is very fragile, breaks down if exposed to light, heat & air...gets rancid fast. Doesn't stand up to cooking in high temps & kibble is basically that. That's why it's recommended grinding your own fresh flaxseed @ home. Anything flax gives my dogs soft stool. I have to wonder what kind of feeding trials were done (on Halo) & what scientific research was done if they used flaxseed oil. RC does feeding trials & has scientific data to back up their claims. BTW, corn is a good source of protein, esp if your dog can't have meat protein.
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Old 02-06-2014, 11:06 AM   #5
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Can I suggest you look on yahoo groups for a group on this illness. Generally there are many people with lots of information on diet and care.
My friend has a Yorkie with a liver issue and found a support group in yahoo they talk about so much stuff it made her feel less alone and happier about home cooking for her little guy
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Old 02-06-2014, 11:13 AM   #6
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Can I suggest you look on yahoo groups for a group on this illness. Generally there are many people with lots of information on diet and care.
My friend has a Yorkie with a liver issue and found a support group in yahoo they talk about so much stuff it made her feel less alone and happier about home cooking for her little guy
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Old 02-06-2014, 12:17 PM   #7
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Could you feed The Honest Kitchen's Preference and instead of adding meat, add more veggies that are high in protein? Preference - Grain Free, Homemade Dog Food Mix | The Honest Kitchen
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Old 02-06-2014, 02:02 PM   #8
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Thank you everyone.
I really don't know if flax causes Jenna or Ebon any trouble. I mostly have concern that DVPNB may be losing control of quality and I just don't want to see Jenna succumb to vasculitis again. It started with Milo's Kitchen dog treats and since I don't want to buy from Del Monte again I was grasping at straws for an alternative.
My vet called this morning and said if Jenna isn't throwing up, having diarrhea, losing weight or shows a rash he's unwilling to change her food. This does nothing for my worry about her as you can imagine.
He says he has a homemade recipe but did not offer it. So I guess I sit on my hands and hope Jenna doesn't develop a problem that he listed.
It's just so frustrating. We will be moving by September to California (central coast) and I only hope we can find a vet there that I can feel confident in. Her current vet did save her life last year and I'm grateful, but I really want to get her off commercial dog food at some point. Especially since he mentioned the market is getting flooded with corn...she doesn't tolerate that well either I think. Would the corn be causing the itching?
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Old 02-06-2014, 03:42 PM   #9
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I honestly know nothing about vasculitis, so don't know the seriousness of it, but how do you know she can't have meat? She absolutely NEEDS to be on a vegan food? How did your vet come to this conclusion?

Have you ever spoken with a vet nutritionist, not simply a vet? I would check out the BalanceIT website. You can purchase a supplement, and view free recipes (although for special needs dogs, you WILL have to have the approval of your vet), but there is no reason you can't do as you wish with your own dog. If you want to homecook, talk to the vet about it. She is your dog, you make decisions. Your vet can't force you NOT to homecook if that's what you wish to do. It just doesn't like he's very willing to help?

And I seriously wouldn't worry about corn. That sounds like the least of your worries. In a study of 278 cases of food allergies in dogs where the problem ingredient was clearly identified, beef was by far the biggest culprit. Dairy was number two at 55 cases. Wheat came in third with 42 cases. Soy and corn were actually minimal offenders, coming in at 13 and 7 cases, respectively. In fact, protein sources are more often to blame than grains. Beef, dairy, chicken, egg, lamb, soy, pork and fish were responsible for 231 of the food allergies, while wheat, corn and rice combined accounted for only 54.

So yes corn COULD be causing itching, but food allergies are not as likely as environmental.
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Old 02-07-2014, 07:48 PM   #10
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Thanks Britster
Yes, it was determined last year that any meat protein continued the reaction that resulted in systemic vasculitis. It almost killed her. Jenna was put on vegan dog kibble and cleared up, albeit with the help of a month's worth of pentoxifylline and no steroids, which she couldn't tolerate when they were used. She has eaten DVPNB Vegetarian Kibble and nothing else since March of 2013. She's a good weight and happy most of the time, but to see her beginning to get finicky about her food, having issues with her skin/ears and possibly her digestion and subsequently finding that there are many complaints on the Natural Balance website has me nervous.
I used to feed Royal Canin for Yorkies when she first came to us, but she seemed to have lots of itching problems on that as well. I read that the corn could be causing this and so stopped using it. She went to home cooked meals for the last few years and did a bit better, but I am not sure now if any of the itching went away completely. So I am wondering if it is an environmental cause as you suggested.
She also has extreme separation anxiety and will chew herself raw if I leave her too long. But I am almost always here so I can't see that this is necessarily an emotional problem.
The only vet nutritionist (I think) in our state is in Anchorage and about impossible to get hold of. My vet has tried without success. When Jenna got ill time was of the essence and as far as I know no further attempts at communication have been made. As a result I don't think any input now would be received well. And since this vet is the only one I have who knew what to do with Jenna to help her I am not comfortable alienating him, just annoyed by his reluctance at present.

I am keeping an eye on her...and our other dog as well...at the first sign of trouble of course there will be action taken...it's just something I wish we could avoid instead of having to wait and see. I just hope that by wanting to take a pre-emptive strike in regards to Jenna's well being that I am not being seen as neurotic and an over-protective dog mom who should be ignored in the case of more tangible evidence. This is liable to do more harm for Jenna than good.
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