Yorkipower - Regarding Innova

[Ringo]

What do you think about Innova's fat and protein content in the dry puppy food? Are they too high for the average pet? Here's a link to the ingredients.

Thanks Again!

[yorkipower]

Wow Ringo! I don't recall ever getting a message with my "name" in it! I don't see the link but I am familiar with Innovas wet food. Before I answer your question - please note - I think Innova is an EXCELLANT brand of dog food -wet or dry. I have never fed the puppy food as the food wasn't readily available when my "kids" were puppies but, like I said, I do feed the wet adult formula on and off based on the food rotation my pups are on. As far as the wet food is concerned, yes, it is comparatively high in fat (the foods that are high in protien tend to be high in fat). Innova adult is something like 25% protien and 15% fat. Compare that to what I am presently feeding my dogs - Wysong - another great brand of dog food - which is way lower in fat though:


The ingredients listed below represent the entire contents of the product, excluding vitamins and minerals. Further questions regarding this product can be sent to: ingredients@waggintails.com.

Protein: 7.00 %
Fat: 4.00 %

Ingredients:
Chicken, Water, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Corn, Ground Extruded Whole Soybeans, Carrots, Barley, Bone Meal, Whole Egg, Yeast Culture, Ground Flax Seed, Dried Kelp, Dried Wheat Grass Powder, Dried Barley Grass Powder, Clove, Sage, Rosemary, Garlic, Black Pepper, Artichoke, plus essential vitamins and minerals

I think feeding your dogs high fat diets vs low fat diets really depends on the energy demands put on your dog. People in farming communities lived on high fat diets for hundreds of years (I am reminded of the "Irish" breakfast) but were not fat. It's because we and our dogs live comparitively sedentary lives, that we must watch our diets so carefully. When my dogs seem to be getting too lean, I up the fat, when they are getting chubby - I down the fat. Does this help?

[yorkipower]

Ringo - here's something else to consider:
One gram of protein or carb supplies 4 calories, while one gram of fat supplies 9. If you are feeding a fattier food, you need to feed less of that food because of the higher caloric content.

While the jury's out about whether corn is or is not a problem for dogs (Solid Gold advertises that they don't include corn because of the reported negative effects of corn in dog's diets. I honestly dont have a clue ), I agreed with the poster about Royal Canine not because i don't think Royal Canine to be a good mid- grade dog food, but because there's a growing epidemic of obesity among pet dogs - especially so with toy dogs!

When I brought Bun into the specialized vet center during his Addisson's crisis, the first remark the internist made was "wow! a fit Yorkie! I don't recall the last time I saw one of these!" More recently, my regular vet opt Bun's Pred dose by 1 mg, while this had indeed helped him, it has also added to his hunger pains. I remarked to my vet that I thought Bun was getting a bit chubby as I could no longer see his ribs. My vet laughed and said " you are probably the only client I have who would ever say that!" See my point?

[lickthestar]

Archie loves Innova. He used to eat the wet food but my vet recommended the dry (that's what she feeds her dog). It's great, but the triangles are a little big for him. The good thing is that Archie is very active and he goes outside a lot. Innova with a little hot water works just as well as the wet. I usually give him his regular dry food with a little bit of innova dry mixed in to give him the variety, and to make sure he's getting all the nutrients he needs.

[Ringo]

Thanks for the responses! I'm heading out of town, but wanted to say "Thanks!"

[yorkipower]

Welcome. I'll try to get to your exercise question today.