Updates on opinions/experiences w/ Honest Kitchen?
 

I am considering "Embark" bc it is all life stages - I have a 2 year old and an 18-week old.

How is Honest Kitchen going for those using it?

When I first tried "Honest Kitchen" for Toto, I bought samples of all of it. The "Force" was the only one that she loved so I discussed each one and the ingredient list with our vet. He heartily approved Force and told Toto that she made a very nutricious choice!! :p I like it because I can add meats & veggies and alter percentages of fat, protein, etc. if I want.

I also ordered the samples

Two weeks ago I started adding, Force, and the Embark along with Gordon's kibbles. Gordon was so picky with the dry food that I had trouble finding kibbles he would eat. It had gotten to the point that I had to feed Gordon his kibbles out of my hand and almost had to force him to eat what little he ate.

He loves the Force and the Embark , he eats all that is in his bowl and when I am preparing it .....he sits and waits for it.

I just ordered 4lbs of each this morning, and hopefully I have enough of the samples to last till the order gets here.

I feel safer with him on the Force and Embark......the only thing I was worried about was him refusing now to eat kibbles. My vet told me as long as I brush his teeth at least three times a week .
I am using the Petzlife Gel and the Petzlife spray.....so hopefully that will help.
I also use Missing Link as his supplement.

I haven't added anything with the Force or Embark....but I do give him cottage cheese or yogurt as a snack.......also fresh fruit and carrots.

I was stressing out on what to give him with all the recalls and did a lot of research.....I feel nothing is 100% safe......but I feel at least for Gordon that Honest Kitchen is a big thumbs up.........

So, if I'm understanding correctly - you CAN add things to the formulations, but you don't HAVE to - is that correct?

In other words, is the Embark and/or Force a complete dietary meal in and of itself?

You CAN add things, but you don't HAVE to :) There's one that doesn't have any meats, I forgot what it's called...But you do add meats to that one :) Good luck!! I will be getting samples soon too!

This is what I found on a site about Honest Kitchen's feed:

All Honest Kitchen foods are formulated to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance and you don't have to add anything to make them 'complete'. However, the original idea behind these diets was as a base for a raw or other home made diet and to facilitate that, they are somewhat 'lite' in terms of fat and protein, so that your own choice of raw, or cooked, meat can be added, if desired.It is entirely a matter of personal choice (and your dog's taste!) whether you add in extra meat and other ingredients, or not. Most people with younger and more active dogs like to mix in the additional meat, and those with senior or overweight animals usually prefer to feed the food alone.



I feed Gordon both the Force and the Embark......I alter his morning meal and evening meals. I do it because he likes the taste of both. Since Gordon is on a regular diet...the nutritionst I consulted thinks he doesn't need anything added. She said , I could add if wanted. I do give him either fruit, yogurt , or cottage cheese for the snack everyday.

Mine eat verve............

The Preference is meat free, has 12.0% protein and 5.0% fat.
The Force has meat and is 21.0% protein and 14% fat.
The Embark has meat and is 29% protein and 16 % fat.

The Verve if I'm not mistaken is for senior dogs.


I feed the Force and Embark without adding anymore meat, I feed it alone.

Verve
n. Great Enthusiasm or Liveliness, Energy, Vivacity, Zeal.
Organic rye, organic barley, hormone-free beef, organic flaxseed, organic oats, carrots,alfalfa, potatoes, eggs, red and green bell peppers, spinach, apples, cranberries, chicory, parsley, peppermint and rosemary.

Life Stage: Adult maintenance; senior dogs; moderate to lower activity levels.

Mine are moderate to lower plus I customize it by adding what I want ;)

Think very carefully about feeding any dog food at all. Ask the company if they will give a tour so you can actually see what goes into this food and exactly what it's made of. Do you realize they do NOT have to tell you exactly how it's made and what's really in it.
I talked to one of you who sent me a PM and ask my opinion of this food. I then wrote to William Cusick who put this article out; http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/03.html and ask his opinion since I have not done any research on it. This is his response to me:
You asked: "The company that makes Verve dog food say that their dog food has been FDA approved. Do you know anything about that?"


As Roger Hoestenbach, (in response to a question about pet food advertisements and labeling) stated when he was President of AAFCO, ". . . the large manufacturers are protected by the Constitutionally guaranteed right of speech, which doesn't require that speech to be truthful or with reason."


You asked: "Is there a list of dog foods that are FDA approved to your knowledge?"


The FDA does not have a list of dog foods they have approved.


You asked: "How can anything be all natural or holistic if it contains all those preservatives and chemicals?"


It can not be.

Yours truly,
William D. Cusick, The Animal Advocate
http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/index.html