High quality food should contain
at least two sources of protein in the first
four ingredients.
Meat is the most natural source of protein for
cats and dogs and contains the amino acids most
important to pet health. A mix of meat proteins
(such as chicken and fish) helps round out the
amino acid profile of the proteins included in
the food. If a list of ingredients begins with
whole chicken followed by three or more grains
and no other meat proteins, it is likely that the
food contains considerably more grain than meat.
Pure Woof and Pure Purr contain
Pork and Chicken Meal. Meals are 11 times more
protein-concentrated than "meat". Foods that list "real
chicken" or “chicken” first include the water weight in this
ingredient. Chicken in this form consists of 70% water. Consider what “meal” is:
Chicken meal is considered
to be the single best source of protein in commercial
pet food. All of our chicken comes from USDA
approved plants and is hormone and antibiotic
free. It is an excellent source of Omega 6 fatty
acids, a natural coat and skin conditioner. This
ingredient is very digestible, very palatable,
and very expensive.
Pork Meal digestibility is
second only to Fish Meal and far more digestible
than beef. Fat levels are about the same as fish
meal. Our Pork Meal comes from facilities preparing
meat for your dinner table, and is shipped fresh.
Parasites are non-existent in the U.S. hog industry
today. Pork Meal, unlike bacon, is very low in
nitrates. Pork Meal is an expensive ingredient
so you seldom see it in other pet food brands.
It is very palatable and is a hypoallergenic
ingredient. It has an excellent amino acid and
Omega fatty acid profile.
High-quality food should NOT contain meat
by-products or “meat” and bone meal.
Using an animal by-product (e.g. chicken by-product),
or more than one animal by-products, for a food's
main protein source is indicative of a low-quality
product.. Animal by-products are any part of an
animal not acceptable for human consumption. Ingredients
listed as by-products are not required to include
actual meat and may refer to pieces of the animal
including feathers, beaks, and chicken feet. Meat
and Bone Meal is a convenient catch-all term for
whatever offal and refuse happens to be rendered
that day. This is where the worst stories about
pet food come from. Many renderers accept for processing
items such as road kill, euthanized pets from shelters
and veterinary clinics, cut-away cancerous tissue,
out of date supermarket meats, restaurant waste
and other unappetizing ingredients. Needless to
say, the presence of MBM on a label is a signal
that the food is of inferior quality.
High quality food SHOULD contain high
quality carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are used in pet food primarily to
provide energy. Energy is required for the central
nervous system, normal and high levels of physical
activity and is also needed when anabolic activities
like gestation, lactation and growth are proceeding
at a high rate. With little or no dietary carbohydrates
available there is added strain on fat and protein.
This extra burden on fats and proteins can cause
serious problems at birthing time. Judicious use
of carbohydrates in a meat meal based formula,
(i.e. corn, not listed first on the ingredient
panel) is a nutritionally sound and healthy use
of corn and other quality carbohydrates.
Pure Woof and Pure Purr use corn, brown
rice, and oatmeal.
Corn is an ideal ingredient
when used correctly in a formula. It is 99% digestible,
an excellent energy source, and one of the best
natural Omega 6 fatty acid sources. Our corn
is completely pesticide free. Omega6 fatty acid,
sometimes referred to as linoleic acid, is found
in safflower, sunflower, corn and evening primrose
oils and Borage oil. It is also present in poultry
fat and pork fat but very little is present in
beef or butter fat. Found in common pet food
ingredients such as corn and chicken fat, it
is a required nutritional component of the canine
and feline diet. It cannot be synthesized within
a dog or cat’s body so it must be consumed
in some form of food so that other fatty acids
can then be synthesized internally. Linoleic
Acid maintains skin and coat condition in dogs
and cats. Without enough linoleic acid dogs and
cats may experience dull, dry coat, hair loss,
greasy skin and increased susceptibility to skin
inflammation. When the skin is already irritated
due to insufficient high quality fat sources
in the diet, any additional irritant such as
pollen, dust, bacteria or dampness can trigger
intense itching.
(Whole) Brown Rice is a high
quality source of carbohydrates and natural fiber.
Highly digestible, vets recommend it for pets
with digestive upsets. This is the same boxed
rice you see at the market, except our supplier
buys the broken pieces that mothers don't want
to see in the box. It is not pre-processed, and
is ground fresh.
Oatmeal (Pure Woof only),
the new star of the health food industry, is
an excellent source of quality fiber. The veterinary
dermatology group recommends using oatmeal on
dogs with skin allergies, both as a shampoo and
in the diet. Our human grade oatmeal is non-GMO,
has not been irradiated, and contains no processing,
chemical, nutritional or medicinal additives.
High-quality food should NOT contain carbohydrate
food fragments.
Fragments are lower-cost by-products of another
food manufacturing process. Fragment ingredients
include wheat bran, wheat flour, rice flour, and
wheat middling. These pre-processed ingredients
have had much of their nutritional value leeched
from them.
High-quality food should contain healthy
fats.
Fat is looked upon negatively in many health conscious
circles, but is actually a very important nutritional
requirement in animal diets. Fats serve many functions.
They increase the palatability of food, provide
a media for fat-soluble vitamins, and affect food
storage. They also are essential for healthy coat
and skin, reproductive efficiency, and kidney function. Current
research confirms the value of Omega 6:3 fatty
acids to maintain healthy skin and coat. Research
has shown that Omega nutrients can minimize the
risk of heart problems, help fight cancer, enhance
brain functioning, help reduce the effects of arthritis
and improve diabetes management.
Pure Woof and Pure Purr use chicken fat
and flaxseed.
Chicken Fat is the highest
of all animal sources in linoleic (Omega 6) acid
(over 23%), an important element for skin and
coat health. Our fat is pure and clear and originates
in USDA plants processing chickens for our dinner
table.
Flaxseed is the whole seed
of the flax plant. What makes flaxseed so outstanding
is its mix in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Together these fibers aid in digestion and help
to prevent constipation, thereby offering protection
against cancer. Flaxseed is also an excellent
source of Omega 6 and Omega 3 essential fatty
acids. These fatty acids help produce the
soft, luxuriant coat on your pet. Research also
shows flaxseed has wide ranging health effects,
involving cardiovascular, endocrine and immune
system benefits.
High-quality food should NOT contain generic
fats.
“Animal Fat” is an example of a generic fat. Animal fat is a byproduct
of meat meal processing. The origin of the contributing animals is never known,
and the resulting oil is
very low in linoleic acid.
High-quality food should contain whole,
unprocessed fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are excellent natural sources
of essential vitamins. All of our fruits and vegetables
are human grade.
Pure Woof uses peas, carrots, apples,
and blueberries. Pure Purr uses peas, carrots,
apples, and cranberries. Peas are high in vitamin A and
beta-carotene. Peas also provide a good source
of natural niacin and other B vitamins. Carrots provide beta-carotene,
an antioxidant that promotes healthy eyes, skin,
and a healthy immune system. Apples are an excellent source
of dietary fiber. About 81 percent of the fiber
is soluble; most of it is of a type called pectin.
Apples also provide some vitamin C and beta carotene,
and potassium and boron. Blueberries and Cranberries aid
in maintaining a healthy urinary tract, urinary
pH, and act as a taste stimulant. Blueberries
contain a higher antioxidant level than any other
fruit. Blueberries and cranberries are both good
sources of Vitamin C and fiber.
High-quality food should NOT contain artificial
preservatives.
Commonly used preservatives include BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin,
and propylene glycol. BHA/BHT is short for Butylated
Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene
(BHT), both of which are chemical preservatives.
BHA and BHT have been banned from human use in
many countries. In the US, they are still permitted
in pet foods.
Glucosamine
Pure Woof uses human-grade
glucosamine from an FDA-inspected plant, which
manufactures this material for pharmaceutical
and nutraceutical companies. Glucosamine rebuilds
joint cartilage, improves joint flexibility,
and reduces pain. Our Glucosamine is added after
our food is cooked to ensure that your pet receives
a maintance dose each time he eats.
