There are many “ recording label ” of dog food types , and special ingredient dog food is just one of the many detent food for thought alternative .
But how do you know if it ’s the good choice for your cad ?
Today , we ’re taking a look at what makes special ingredient dog nutrient dissimilar from other type , formulas , and recipe , and how you could severalise if it ’s the veracious fit for your dog ’s demand .
Table of Contents
What is Limited Ingredient Dog Food?
special constituent dog food is a favored food pattern made withfeweringredients and usuallybetterquality ingredients when equate to more traditional cad solid food ( read : pop and often chintzy ) .
The food itself is also manufactured a minuscule otherwise , and this manufacture procedure reduces the likelihood of reactions inallergy - prone dog .
How is Limited Ingredient Dog Food Different?
While there is no official definition , several factor would sort out a pet nutrient rule as a “ limited ingredient hot dog food ” sword .
Those are :
allow ’s take a close-fitting look at each of these and what exactly they mean .
Almost all popular commercial dog foods include some fixings with little nutritional value .
They are often informally referred to as “ makeweight ” ingredients or “ fillers . ”
Somereally bad dog foodswill have many of these useless ingredients .
filler may admit things like cottonseed hulls , rice bran , corn bran , wheat mill run , rice Cordell Hull , straw , limited corn starch , and peanut hulls ( to name a few ) .
These constituent are added to increase or“bulk up ” the amount of fooda expectant pot can produce while keeping its costs low .
While favorite owners may complain about this , this makes most commercial-grade foods low-priced for consumer because most companies eliminate the savings on to the buyer ( at least to some extent ) .
This is why premium dog food is also much more expensive , as explain bynutritionist Dr. Jennifer Adolphe , Ph.D.
Unfortunately , while they do save us some money , makeweight ingredients are also more likely to cause undesirable reaction in dogs , particularly related to allergic reaction business organisation .
This is why limited - ingredient dog food was invented , and it ’s made without “ filler ” ingredients .
As with filler depicted object , many prominent - name corporations admit ingredient that are not necessary for their food .
This may also be done to increase the amount of food , but these ingredients do have some nutritive value or supply “ collection ” to the food ( unlike makeweight ingredients ) .
However , their purpose is still todilute the price of fabrication .
The problem is that add more “ detritus ” ingredients to food increase the likeliness that a dog prostrate to allergies will know an allergic reaction .
Limited ingredient dog food for thought are made with as few constituent as possible to limit potential allergen and only prioritize the most essential factor in their recipes .
Manycheap commercial-grade dog-iron foodsare also made using less expensive ingredients , which are more likely to cause allergies in Canis familiaris .
For case , low - tone ingredients like by - product meals and other rendered fauna product are not for human consumption ( they are consider inedible waste product ) , yet they are ofttimes used in cheaper Canis familiaris food .
Why ? Because they ’re cheap and they still allow for protein subject matter .
Some best-loved food company will argue that things like meat meals contain more protein and are nutritious ( which is dependable ) , but the real reason is thatthey cut the cost of manufacturingpet food and appropriate us to buy firedog intellectual nourishment at lower cost .
However , even if meat repast and other type of byproducts are indeed nutrient , the real job is thatthere ’s no way of life for preferred owners to know the sourceof these meat meal , which can be anything , including dead ordiseased animals .
They can also be from rootage more probable to do digestive upset or sensitized reaction in hound .
Limited ingredient dog food for thought stain are made using mellow quality protein and better cuts of meat from those protein source .
Companies manufacturing this line of hotdog food will usually sample to maintain a better reputation for their limited - ingredient dog food formula .
Using multiple proteins in heel nutrient is another way commercial-grade dog food companies cut their monetary value .
For example , bison is a desirable protein , but it ’s more expensive than more traditional protein source .
So , a company can claim bison in their food for thought but alsodilute their cost by incorporate bum proteinslike volaille .
While multiple proteins cut the fabrication toll for companies and the leverage monetary value for you , they also increase the possibility of allergens in the food .
Studies have foundthat some of the commonly used protein sources in hot dog food , such as bitch and chicken , are most probable to cause allergic reaction in dog .
special - ingredient dog food for thought is almost always made using a exclusive protein source .
This allows pet possessor of allergic reaction - prostrate wienerwurst to well select a dog food steel that does not contain their dog ’s allergen or find out which foods are the cause of allergic reactions .
dog with allergies and sensitivities to foods are more likely to have allergic reaction to constituent that areoverused and overproduced .
For example , poulet is something companies include in the majority of their products and something that is produced en masse shot in our finish .
This pattern of overuse and mass product extend to shortcuts that lower the quality of food for thought products and increase the likelihood of allergic reactions in dogs .
Many limited - fixings domestic dog nutrient brands arrest less common protein sources to invalidate the likelihood of hypersensitized response .
They are often denote to as novel proteins , andstudies have foundthese to be the least probable to touch off symptom of food allergies in dogs .
Common Allergens and Better Ingredient Choices
As I ’ve said above , some foods and factor are more likely to make allergies in dogs .
Therefore , these ingredients are the first to be eliminate from modified - fixings diet .
The now carry off ingredients are replaced with more hypoallergenic ingredients or suitable alternative ingredients .
Those are n’t always fresh / rarefied protein sources but simply something that may fit your special dog better .
For illustration , a squawk allergy normal may employ chicken as a protein rootage .
count at the chart below to get an idea of what these foods are :
Are There Guidelines for Classifying a Food as Limited Ingredient Dog Food?
No , there isno specific guidelinesthat allow company to pronounce their foods as being officially recognized as “ special ingredient hot dog food . ”
In short , intellectual nourishment can run into one or all of the point above and still be labeled as modified - ingredient solid food .
That say , most reputable pet food companies will essay to maintain a good reputation and fall out the above - mentioned guidelines .
All you have to do when cull a limited - ingredient andiron solid food brand ischeck the ingredientslist and make certain everything fit , and it ’s rare that it does n’t .
But have ’s discuss this in more detail .
ALSO READ : The Best Hypoallergenic Dog Foods for Dogs with Allergies
What Makes a Good Limited Ingredient Dog Food?
If there are no rule of thumb or regulatory instrument panel monitor the labeling of limited - ingredient dog food for thought , how can a pet owner know what seduce a secure limited - fixings pawl nutrient brand and that it ’s safe to grease one’s palms ?
AAFCO Regulations
Although there are no “ limited constituent ” labeling regulation , there arenutrition regulationsthat blackguard food manufacturers must abide by .
These regulations decide how a dog ’s food is labeled for give .
For example , if a weenie food formula is label for supplemental feeding only , then it ’s not a “ skillful ” dog food for thought choice that can be relied upon to provide your pets with the necessary nutrients they necessitate to flourish .
All “ good ” modified - ingredient domestic dog solid food brands will be labeled by the AAFCO for “ all life microscope stage ” or — even good — forspecificlife level that are desirable for your dog and consult to as “ complete ” or “ balanced ” ( this is because “ all sprightliness leg ” label in itself is questionable ) .
Quantity and Quality of Ingredients
few ingredients are the basal reason why circumscribed ingredient dog food exist ; however , the quality of those ingredient should still be regard andsometimes prioritizedover the identification number of fixings .
For model , if you were to compare two limited - ingredient heel solid food brands — one with five fixings and one with seven ingredients — you may be tempted to think the food with five component was a good selection . Not so tight .
If youlook at the ingredients list , you may see that the five - ingredient frank solid food package contains three filler ingredients and isnotlabeled as “ complete ” or “ balanced . ”
You may then see that the seven - ingredient dog intellectual nourishment contains all whole food and is mark as “ complete ” or “ balanced . ”
In this representative , thebetter of the two choices has more ingredient but provides well nutrition .
Place of Packaging and Brand Reputation
The seat of manufacturing / promotional material of any dog food for thought brand is another thoughtfulness that remains the sameregardless of the character of foodyou are purchase .
favourite nutrient manufacturing laws and regulations take issue fromcountry to country .
If a limited fixings dog nutrient is cook up in a works in Thailand or China , for exercise , you should keep in mind that timbre control in those countries is not the same as timbre control in the USA or Europe ( and this is why ) .
Apart from checking the reputation of packaging and fabrication plants , you should alwayscheck the reputationof the food brand as well .
If you were interested in buy food made byEarthborn(made by Midwestern Pet Food company ) , you would see that they have had no recalls in the past at the time of this writing .
The no - recall history bodes well for you and your favourite . But again , not so fast .
Say you were interested in buying food for thought made byArtemis , for example , and you see that whileArtemishas never had their dog solid food withdraw , their manufacture is done by Diamond Pet Foods , and their food is made alongsideEvangersFoods .
Both Diamond and Evangershave had callback in the past .
All of this matters and paints a good picture for you to make a better alternative with pluck hotdog food .
Preferably , you should always choose a limited - ingredient dog food that is made in the U.S. and box in the U.S. by a company with few to no reminiscence in the past .
There are several companies that are infamous for have alarge amount of blackguard solid food recalls , but as the article explicate , that also does n’t always mean all of their food should be debar .
Source of Ingredients
Just like the localisation of manufacturing matters , the source of the ingredients in your Canis familiaris ’s food is also an significant consideration .
For example , a ship’s company may say that its food ismanufactured and packagedin the U.S. , but its component may be source from China . That ’s a major problem .
Now , it ’s not necessary to have all of your factor source in the U.S.
And it ’s not essential that a company manufactures their dog food in the same location as where their ingredients are coming from , too .
Take a lamb , for example – it is very often source in New Zealand .
What you need to do , however , isseparate the countrieswith near calibre command function from those with high-risk quality control condition procedures .
So , a food using New Zealand lamb or Canadian beef would be perfectly satisfactory , but a food using Chinese corn gluten would not .
This is why I created list liketop dog nutrient brandsandtop puppy nutrient mark , where I ’ve gone through not only specific food factor lists but also the company ’s report , recall chronicle , and other datum to pinpoint which ace are least potential to be harmful to our dogs .
But Does Your DogNeedLimited Ingredient Dog Food?
It ’s likely that your domestic dog doesn’tneedit , but there ’s a way for you to assess for this .
study showthat , on mean , only10 % ( or fewer ) of dogswill experience food - related allergies and sensitivities .
This seems like a low bit , but recent affright over the detriment of certain component like cereal has led to pet owner incorrectly trust that their dogs are allergic to those ingredients .
So , what can you do if you ca n’t assume your hot dog has an allergy ?
Watch for Symptoms
The first matter that you need to do is watch for symptoms of food allergic reaction or intolerance in your frankfurter .
For more detail , read some actual science - based expert articles from veterinary on how to diagnose intellectual nourishment allergies in dogs ( this , this , andthisare precise and expert - write article about food allergy in heel ) .
Briefly , symptoms of dog nutrient allergies you should look out for include :
If your detent is showing none of these signs and no other signs of irritation or short health during or after eating , your doggie is likely ok with the ingredients in his current dog solid food brand , and there ’s no reason to transfer it .
If you do acknowledge some of the symptoms mentioned above , you will need topinpoint what it isthat your wienerwurst is supersensitized to or sensitive to .
There are two methods of doing this : ( 1 ) allergy testing and ( 2 ) the elimination dieting . Let ’s briefly cover this .
Allergy Testing
Any veterinarian can perform allergy examination on your Canis familiaris , and it ’s the dissipated and most accurate method of determining what allergic reaction your Fido has and whether they should be switch to modified - factor domestic dog food .
Talk to your vet about the symptoms you have seen in your dog and require them to conduct allergic reaction testing .
There are several type of cad allergy tests , and they are price similarly .
Intradermal testingfor allergens ( orskin examination ) will cost around $ 200 . This method involves sedating your dog and prick their tegument to introduce allergens , then watching for a response on the skin .
Blood testing(orserum IgE examination ) wander from $ 200 to $ 300 . This involves taking a sample of your dog ’s blood to test for allergen reactions in a laboratory setting .
Most best-loved owner opt for intracutaneous testing because it is the most authentic manakin of allergy testing .
For older dearie and pet with compromisedimmune system , however , blood line testing is opt since it is minimally invasive and does not require sedation .
There are “ at home ” allergen test kits for dogs ( like this one ) , and they be just above $ 100 .
However , these are muchless dependable , and some may even say a useless waste of money . It ’s better to test your dog at the vet for a few extra dollars .
The Elimination Diet
Another method of identifying your firedog ’s allergens is the elimination diet , which can be done at home all by yourself . This will involve several phase angle , but it ’s fairly bare .
During the first phase of this dieting , pick out a small bag of very limited factor frump food that hold protein and carbohydrates that your dog hasnever or rarely been exposed to(for example , bison and sweet potatoes ) .
Be sure to read the factor list thoroughly to check that none of the “ gravid allergens ” are included in the food in any way . set forth eat your dog this food .
broadly , it is advocate to always gradually transition your domestic dog into unexampled foods over the course of 7 - 10 days .
However , if your dog is exhibiting severe allergy symptoms , then it may be just to jump directly into the new food for thought .
After a workweek or two of feed your dog this confine - element frank intellectual nourishment dieting , you should acknowledge an improvement in your pet ’s health .
If you do not see any improvement , consider a different novel protein source , perhaps ostrich , and reprize the exam again .
If you notice a change in your dog ’s health after swop them to a limited - element hot dog food formula , you could keep them on this young intellectual nourishment but lento ( one at a time ) add small amounts of new fixings .
This willhelp you to trackspecifically which ingredient your pawl is have trouble with .
The unfortunate thing about the riddance diet is that it takes a while to finish , and it can get quite costly in the end .
The hit - and - miss nature of this handling plan is also very frustrative for dogs and their owners because there are so many possible allergens it can be hard to key the offending one ( unless you get lucky in the very rootage ) .
Can Your Dog Eat Limited Ingredient Dog Food Even If They Don’t Have Allergies?
Yes , absolutely .
A dog does n’t have to have allergies so as to eat a limited - ingredient dog food brand .
In fact , many pet parents choose special - factor dog food to annihilate unneeded fillers and keep their dog ’s diet as blank as possible with fewer ingredients .
If you do feed your dog a limited - ingredient detent nutrient diet and they do n’t have allergies , it ’s best torotate through foods in the same line .
This provides protein diversity and reduces the chance of your dog go through sensitivity to food in the hereafter .
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