Carna4 dog and cat food review: How does it score against competitors?
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- Опубліковано 8 тра 2024
- In this video we will evaluate the Canadian brand carna4 for both dog and cat food. We will see how they score on the guarantied analysis, the aafco, statement, ingredients and feeding guide. We will also point out the marketing pitfalls so you can decide if this food is right for your pet.
#Carna4 #petnutrition #pethealth #dogfood #catfood #naturalpetfood #healthydiet #petwellness #holisticpetcare #petproducts #petnutritionist #balanceddiet #petfoodreview #petcare #petlover #petstore #premiumpetfood #petnatural #healthychoice #petlife #unveilingthetruth
Instagram: @animaldocrea
UA-cam email: animaldocrea@gmail.com (please no medical advise questions)
Amazon store of my favorites: www.amazon.com/shop/animaldocrea ( i do get a small commission for purchases that helps support the channel):
None of my videos are sponsored in any way. I do not receive any perks, free food, or "kick backs". The content provided is my own opinions based on my Veterinary Doctoral degree, continuing educations, and personal experiences in practice.
Helpful websites, often sited on this channel:
AAFCO: petfood.aafco.org/labeling-la...
American College of Veterinary Nutritionists: acvn.org/
World Small Veterinary Association Nutrition toolkit: wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/...
Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Text: www.markmorrisinstitute.org/s...
Free access to the Merk Manual: www.merckvetmanual.com
Please note that these videos are for educational purposes only. They are not intended for diagnosis or treatment of any animals. If you have questions regarding your pet's health or are having a pet related emergency, please contact your personal veterinarian. My Credentials:
Bachelor of Science, Animal Science: Emphasis in Animal Biology
Honors: Cum Laude 3.85/4.0 GPA
University of Florida, 2005
(relevant coursework includes but not limited to: MAC3472 Honors, CHM2045, CHM2045L, MAC3473 Honors, CHM2046, CHM2046L, ANS3043, ANS3317L, ANS3384, CHM2210, CHM2211, PHY2053, PHY2053L, ANS3006C, ANS3206, PHY2054, PHY2054L, CHM2047, MCB3020, MCB3020L, VME4103, ANS3440)
Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
University Of Florida College of Veterinary Med 2009
3.4 GPA/4.0
Small Animal General Practice 2009-present - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
I have been feeding my dogs for 6 months now and I a lot of improvement; shinny coat, their breath doesn't stink anymore and their overall health is much better. I used to feed them Merricks, Hills, Instinct, among others and they smelled bad, their breath was horrible so I think this food is very good.
We've been feeding this to our Havanese since the start. No issues and she's doing well.
@@grantmcalpine6364 It is a great food; better than feeding them synthetic vitamins and doubtful protein. With the current Purina issue I think big brands need to rethink the way the make their products.
Thanks for the review!
@Doc Rea I absolutely look forward to Thursdays is my favorite day of the week you’re my favorite UA-camr. As a dog trainer, behavior specialist working at the shelter. You really give me a inside knowledge that I don’t have.
Thank you for a great video. Much appreciated. I have studied pet nutrition for 20 years and but took time away from educating myself in this filed, getting back to my passion
Glad to hear it!
Im so confused about the point system. It doesnt matter where the protein comes from as long as its within the AAFCO standards? It doesn’t matter weather the vitamins are synthetic and added or come from the main ingredients? It doesn’t matter what vitamin balances are in it as long as its not grain free? It doesn’t matter if it has harmful chemicals or dyes? The average watcher of this video looking for advice on weather a dog food is good or bad is gonna think that Samsclub dog food is the same as your highest quality dog kibble because its not grain free, not raw, and falls within AAFCO guidelines on protein/fiber/fat/moisture balances. Never mind that one gets its meat from roadkill/diseased farm animals and another uses proper human grade meats. Does any of this not matter?
It does matter, but the nutritional values have to be there first. And the parameters aren’t aafco, they are optimal nutrition numbers from the specified text. There is no point in entertaining a food that doesn’t meet optimal nutrition even if it’s made from gold. That’s the point. I review what I’m asked, if someone asked for me to review a nutritionally adequate food made of “perfect” ingredients I will.
I completely agree with you!
I think ingredients really matter.
Dr. Rea, can you do a review on NutriSource Element series?
I am always surprised when the expensive ones are average… can you review Authority everyday health adult?
Sorry to comment again - but can you do a review on Zesty Paws 8 in 1 multivitamins ? I give my girls 1 a day. They are dachshunds so I want them to have a supplement with some good stuff for their joints and skin. We moved to Florida not long ago and their skin is a little more itchy down here then when we lived in the Carolinas, not sure why but maybe the grass or humidity.
Can you review Open Farm Ancient Grains formula? Possibly and/or their new ancient grains Raw mix formula? I’m trying to find another food for my dog who is on Carna4 now & I’ve been seeing open farm ads a lot recently - would definitely love to get a more informed insight on that brand :)
Set to post next week 😉
Hello. Thank you for taking your time to review the foods. If you had a Goldendoodle puppy who is not very active, what kibble dog food would you give?
What age and what is the anticipated adult weight
Can you review Halo Hollistic dog food?
Exilent video @AnimalDocRea thank you for posting it.
I’ve had my almost 3yo Laponian Herder (adopted him at 8mo) on Carna4 for the last year and a half or so but have been considering switching him off of it due to slightly looser then I’d like bowl movements. The insight into his feed overshooting his needs is very enlightening.
That said he has been not just been doing well but in fact thriving on it. He’s holding at a pretty stable 57lbs (+/-2lbs) on 3 cups of feed a day split into two feedings. I’m curious what toy might suggest trying him on as he moves into his adult years? We do have a relatively active lifestyle. At a minimum he’s getting 5-7km a day of on leashed walking time in addition to an hour or more at an off leash park with other dogs daily.
My pups are thriving on it too
You have a ways to go before having to change over to a senior ( unless labs along the way dictate otherwise). It sounds like things are going well so I wouldn’t be in any rush to rock the boat too soon.
Informative video. Love the sound and video effects. And during the hurricane. You are amazing. Carna is another case of "too much of a good thing" Except ice cream. There is no such thing as too much ice cream! LOL
I think they are very close, if they just put a little more effort they would be there
@@AnimalDocRea Maybe they are emulating the large corporate brands. LOL. Crazy question: If I were to mix a wet food high in nutrients with a brand low in nutrients, would that mitigate the high levels somewhat?
@edschulhof6303 its by percentage so theoretically yes
@@edschulhof6303 I’m just not sure how you would calculate the nutrients, you would have to do like a dilution calculation
@@AnimalDocRea Thank you. That opens more possibilities. It's a simple mixture problem in Algebra. Mix two, or more, foods to get under the maximum amounts.
Thanks so much for your video. My girls have been on the farmers dog and Carna4 for a few months. I do a small handful of carna4 on top of their farmers dog. The reason I did this was to try give the girls similar to what they used to get. Unfortunately unbeknownst to me, their old dog food (Fromm) is not very good for them! They’d been on it just over a year, we moved to the US from Hong Kong so it was hard for me to try understand the pet food standards here. Hong Kong dog food is a mix of mostly UK, Canada and Chinese dog food. They were on UK dog food when we lived in HK which has slightly better standards than Fromm.
Anyway their whole life they’ve been given canned wet food with a small handful of kibble. So that’s why I’m doing the farmers dog with a small handful Carna4.
doc. what kibble do you recommend
I don’t make recommendations because every pet and owner is unique. I’m just teaching you how to logically make the best choice for you
I was hoping you would touch base a little about non-synthetic vitamins and sprouted grains. Does the source of the vitamins and minerals make a difference?
I have learned sooooo much from your videos which is a blessing and a curse lol
Those topics are beyond the beginner level of this video but I do have a link to full text clinical nutrition textbook in the comments for those that want to explore these topics in depth. It’s free.
8 year old American Pitt Bull Terrier not very active, itchy from pork and possibly beef. Does well with chicken. Suggestions for kibble to mix 50/50 with Ollie? ty
A truly diagnosed food allergic dog would need to be on a prescription hydrolyzed diet to control puritis. No OTC diet would be restrictive enough to control symptoms. Get with your vet to see about a work up for food allergy vs atopic dermatitis, rule out infection, rule out endocrinopathy, and then potentially do a 8 week food trial with one of the hydrolized diets. If diagnosed and responding to food trial after 8-12 weeks, you can then start to systematically reintroduce single source proteins. You would not be able to mix any food outside of the prescription diet during the 8-12 week food trial or your pet will relapse and results may be erroneous.
What would be a good food to look into for my 10yr old dog? Thank you for all your help!
Puppy foods scoring 7-10
ua-cam.com/play/PLpfecaMYsipIV_f-gpYKQPVDszowFCbLU.html
Adult Dog foods scoring 7-10
ua-cam.com/play/PLpfecaMYsipJpPpEuGV8xoGQfKlLBXXQh.html
Much appreciated!
Hello,
Great video, thank you for taking the time to do this. I have been using Orijen for my Pomeranian and I was thinking to transition to Carna4 easy chew fish dog food. I understand looking at the nutritional value is important. However, equally important is the quality of the ingredients where those nutrients are coming from. I was hoping to see a head to head comparison of top 3 kibble food on the market. Also, it would be beneficial to see your expert non-biased review on the actual process used by those companies that goes into making the kibble and seeing if it makes a difference at all. As far as the calcium and phosphorus, in a dog with normal kidney function, wouldn’t those nutrients in excess get filtered out by the kidney?
Lastly, thank you for your time, looking forward to more videos and your response.
They do get filtered, but like any filter, the more you use it, the shorter the lifespan.
Thank you for your response. Out of the foods you have reviewed, what are the top 3 best kibble foods on the market based on veterinarian guidelines?
The amount of information out there regarding pet nutrition is quite bit. Marketing doesn’t make it any easier.
Adult Dog foods scoring 7-10
ua-cam.com/play/PLpfecaMYsipJpPpEuGV8xoGQfKlLBXXQh.html
I watched the videos in the link, thank you. Essentially, what I took away is to compare the dry basis matter of the dog food you wish to buy to the daily recommended amount found on the links you provided. Look at the Aafco statement. Pay close to attention to the protein, Ca and P concentrations. My remaining questions are:
1. What dog food do you give your dogs, how long have you been feeding them that particular food?
2. Assuming the nutrients are within the recommended daily amount, how does the quality of the ingredients make a difference, and how do you know if the ingredients come from a quality source?
3. Do you have a video link to all kibble food that are not formulated ? The only one I saw in the videos and at the actual pet store was Purina one +plus?
1. I'd rather not say what I feed because every time I do, people feel like they need to attack me and I'd rather not promote negativity on this channel. Besides, its not about me, its about you picking what is right for you. If you are really interested you can email me. 2. I'm not sure how you would know the quality of ingredients as a company can say whatever they want and post pictures of whatever they want, but unless they let you visit the plant it would be hard. I have heard that if the ca and phos are in a good range that is a good indicator of quality because it takes good processing and quality ingredients to keep excess minerals low so I go by that 3. I do to have a link to a list of non-formulated foods, sorry.
Thank you for all your information. I've watched many of your videos trying to find the best food for my dog. I've yet to see a video (unsure if you have one) that says what your favorite food is. I'd love to hear what you feed your pets.
Email me, I don’t discuss my pets on this channel not to appear biased
Carna4 is absolutely 100% an excellent dry kibble food. My dog had the runs for weeks and we couldn’t figure out what was going on. Took her to the vet and was on antibiotics and unfortunately did not help. We stopped feeding the current food that she was eating and we switched to Carna4. Holy moly! what a difference. huge turnaround. She is back to normal, and her stools are perfect. I highly recommend Carna4. I completely disagree with the score of this food based on your analysis. It should definitely be a few points higher. especially of all the kibble food that is out there. I also don’t really agree with your "for all life stages" knockdown or point deduction. I don’t think that is fair in my opinion. It all depends on the ingredients that are in the food and what works best for your dog. You just have to figure out a portion that is right to give to your doggy. To each their own. 🤷🏽♂️ The only knock down of this food for me is the price. It’s way too much! Although Carna4 is draining my pockets 🤑 I am not going have my dog suffer. She loves it and I’ll continue to go with it if it’s not making her sick. I like that it does not have added synthetics or vitamins. I myself want control over that. I don’t really trust these big brand companies, adding all of these synthetics and Vitamins. I don’t know how accurate the amounts they are putting into these foods. I also don’t know how accurate these machines are, or who is putting the amounts in these foods. Some dogs may not need all of them. Some dogs may even be allergic to them. Who knows. I'm just guessing and assuming here. I’m no doctor. That’s just my opinion. I'm probably just a worry wart and overthinking all of this. I’m just going to stick to a food that has very simple limited ingredients that I know and that I can read and pronounce. I don't think I want all of that mumbo-jumbo stuff after the word "SALT" on the majority of all dry dog food kibble. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the ingredients list of your dogs food after "SALT". Anyway, overall I love watching your videos and love your input and how thorough you are. I really appreciate it. it has really helped me with my research. Keep it up! 🫶🏽
Thank you so much for al the videos . I’ve learned a lot. Can you please make a video with the healthiest kibbles recommendations ? I have a 5 month old mini golden doodle ,14 lb expected to reach 15-20lb. I’m feeding honest kitchen brand , puppy formula based on your review ,and add some meat ,vegetable and fruit to the bowl . I soon need to change to adult formula and I’m so confused .Thank you in advance !
I have a playlist with some good options. Also it’s ok to addd fruit and veggies to the food, but avoid meats as this will unbalance the diet and add excessive calories
Adult Dog foods scoring 7-10
ua-cam.com/play/PLpfecaMYsipJpPpEuGV8xoGQfKlLBXXQh.html
As usual, excellent info! They have a website that you just want to love the food! but nutrients ruin that!
I want so bad for these foods to at least get the GA right, they have such a generous range to work in. If they could just put that little extra effort It would make for so much happier videos.
@@AnimalDocRea than what would this grump old Hills rep complain about if they actually made healthy food? I’d have to start making politics and religion videos!
I am no vet, but from what I have read and heard I thought aafco was established on minimum guidelines for nutrients. Can you help explain?
Yes , AFFCO is most concerned with making sure a diet is t deficient, they do not put much emphasis on overdosing
Awesome video can you review NutriSource element and annamaet dog food
I’ll add it to my list
@@AnimalDocRea awesome thank you
Carna4 is an excellent product, my dogs have been eating it for the past 7 years. Every year at the Vet they both get a great grade on health!!!
Just make sure to keep up the yearly bloodwork to make sure they can keep up with the excess minerals and protein as they age (especially for dogs over 7yrs) That bloodwork yearly is key because by the time they are clinically ill enough for your vet to detect on physical exam, 75% of the kidneys are lost. But as long as it’s working and you are being proactive, no reason to change yet.
@@AnimalDocRea what other brands do you recommend for dog food?
@metal1mark73 I don’t make any recommendations I just review the numbers because many factors go into what is right for the individual. Here is a playlist of ones that fall closest into the optimal standards and the list grows every week so check back often or subscribe! Adult Dog foods scoring 7-10
ua-cam.com/play/PLpfecaMYsipJpPpEuGV8xoGQfKlLBXXQh.html
Is there any benefit to wet vs dry food?
Yes wet has higher moisture content so it is usually preferred in general for pets that have kidney issues, need weight loss, or cats in general. With that added benefit however it is more expensive to feed and requires more stringent handling
@@AnimalDocRea thank you!
I had my dog on Purina Pro-Plan based on a Doc Rea review. A frw weeks ago he began having terrible diahrea, and then vomitting blood. He was in deep distress, and we had an emergency vet visit and follow ups with our vet. Long story short, he improved on a bland diet, when I mixed back in the pro plan, he immediately took a turn for the worse again. I took him off that food, and he bounced back again. I will never feed Purina to an animal that I own, ever again. I can't verifiably say that this food was the cause but experientially I am convinced. There seems to be a lot of issues with prominent commercial brands. I'm not writing this to blame anyone, but I would like to see a deep dive on on issues with prominent kibble brands.
Sorry about your dog, glad he is better. This shows that every pet is different and there is no one size fits all when it comes to food. One of my cats gets sick on many commercial pet foods. I feed mostly homemade and one wet food that seems to be OK. There are pets that can't eat raw/homemade, that do well on commercial food. It's a process. Happy Mewsday
Totally agree with Ed, glad your pup is better
@@AnimalDocRea Thank you. If we were in Oz, you would be Glinda! ❤
I’d love videos on PawTree and Spot and Tango as those two are highly pressed upon scrolling my feed these days lol 😂
I've emailed spot and tango for a complete nutrient profile for their diets as their website is quite deficient in any real nutritional information. Hopefully they get back to me with some information of substance
That is a question I am amazingly qualified to answer. I was actually on the first to know list for apoquel 2 years before it was released to market so I have extensive knowledge on how the product works, the pros the cons and the science behind it and cytopoint. I’m also know the myths surrounding it…I’ve literally had access as a clinician to this product years before everyone else… derm is actually kinda of my thing…
That would make a great video
I just had my pit mix to sleep after months of fighting an autoimmune disease he developed after receiving a cytopoint shot. He was treated foe pemphigus by UT In Knoxville and it was definitely the shot. They turned it in as such. I realize this was a rare occurrence but when it’s your dog it’s not rare.
@sherrylong7774 sorry to hear that, reactions are so rare and I’m sorry it happened to you
"Exceeding", doesn't mean "Overdosing". Their portion/serving size can be less as indicated on the bag compensate for the rich nutrient content.
It’s a proportionate ratio, the numbers are on a percentage basis so by feeding less, the percentage is the same. it’s not nutrient dense as the kcal/me is 4000 or less which is what this review is based on ( please refer to the sited text in the description box if you are not familiar with nutrient density calculations ) My reviews place all diets in an even playing field by ensuring all diets are convert to a DM basis. So yes, it is overdosing, or oversupplementing if you prefer
Can you do Open Farm RawMix Front Range Recipe Dog food and Open Farm Rawmix Open Prairie Recipe Cat Food?
Great suggestion!
This is disappointing. My 14-month Cockapoo has been on Carna4 since 8 weeks of age. My Vet told me it was all marketing bull. I figured because he sold a specific brand in his office, which was why he was balking at Carna 4. About two weeks ago, my dog started eating old poop at the dog park. I asked his trainer what she thought. She, too, was like too much protein for a pet dog, the label recommendation for portion is too low, and on and on. I wanted to do the best for my dog, but now I feel duped by marketing. She told me to increase his intake, hopefully this will work.
I’m sorry about that. With this channel I hope to educate owners and dispel the myths that tricked you and many others. Please know your vet only wants what’s best for your pet and they may sell food, but they only sell it because they believe in it and it is easy for them to have something they believe in on hand vs all the hundreds of options out there. I’m glad though you found the channel and know how to differentiate marketing from actual nutrition
which dog food has a 10? I have been studying many hours and it seems there is no kibble that has it all!
I’ve not found one yet on this Chanel but that’s not because it doesn’t exist, it’s because I only review what people ask and no one has ask the right question yet.
What dog food(s) are between 8-9
Adult Dog foods scoring 7-10
ua-cam.com/play/PLpfecaMYsipJpPpEuGV8xoGQfKlLBXXQh.html
Oh it’s just 1 company
I highly doubt the "over nutrient" problem is a factor given how little they exceed this. Also, given the fact that some nutrients are also lost even in the slow cook (baked) process this is a non-factor.
The nutrients listed on the package are the final product so the number listed is what it is regardless of the method of production. Overtime over supplementation can be an issue when done daily and do remember that these numbers are by percentage so a small
Percentage change can equal a great overall quantity. Lastly, small incremental changes in things like minerals is significant from a medical
Standpoint . For example, calcium on lab work at 9 is no big deal, but at 11 may mean your dog has cancer. So yeah, it is a factor even with how little they exceed.
For when you mention that ingredients should be secondary, are you stating that no matter the source, it shouldn’t really matter? Protein density in a road kill chicken is identical to one that is alive, are you saying this shouldn’t matter?
Obviously its within reason, hence secondary, not completely irrelevant
Just curious, how many road kill chicken have you ever crossed...zero?
It was a hypothetical scenario to create comparison between a road kill, and none roadkill chicken. Hypothetically, protein density in both are identical; therefore, hypothetically, assumed from what Rea is saying, is that it isn't something to consider whether a chicken is road kill, diseased, etc. Ofcourse, presumed from her statement. Not irrelevant, as she mentioned, but secondary. Personally, that's a red flag for me, and it might not be for you, but we are both entitled to our own beliefs. @@xanderbaldwyn3980
No hate on this vet, but it was weird seeing a vet using a generative AI software to get an idea about what she is reviewing. Not only was a single source pulled out, but it was also entirely inaccurate. Furthermore, that generated content shouldn't have been used since that single nutritional breakdown represents a product that she was reviewing. It was a general "chicken nutrition breakdown for Carna4" however, there are about 3 or so different chicken products from them. I'm all for analytical research, I majored in microbiology initially then now switched to major in Computer Science. Whether her flaw is found in the backing that she is using or not, one thing for sure is she shouldn't be using that generative software if she want her source to really back her up. @@xanderbaldwyn3980
@@ZaryaTheLaika you seem to have misread my comment
Since you are a vet and not a canine nutritionist, I will cut you some slack. No one should really be expecting you to advise on dog food. I feel that vets are spread so thin when it comes to expertise. If I ever need a consult for nutrition, I will seek out someone who has the education. to your second point, you are incorrect. Each batch of Carna4 is 3rd-party tested to ensure each nutrient, probiotic, and enzyme. I agree with you that some nutrient levels should not be exceeded, such as calcium and copper. But, keep in mind that AAFCO guidelines are not optimal. They are the minimum requirements, so exceeding minimums can sometimes be closer to optimal.
Thanks for bringing up some important distinctions. My reference is small animal clinical nutrition text so I’m referring to optimal ranges expressed in that text not AAFCO for the very reason you mention. I do also agree a boarded veterinary nutritionist would have superior knowledge to myself, but that should not be confused with the term “certified dog nutritionist” for Wich there is no standard for education and no licensing board. I get asked and am expected to use nutrition throughout my practice so I utilize what training I received in my animal science degree and doctoral degree to answer those questions and feel it is my responsibility to continue my education with yearly seminars and professional conferences. Vets use nutrition and the chemistry of how both micro and macro nutrients affect the body every day so I feel comfortable working with nutrition.
@@AnimalDocRea Thank you for your response. Can anyone access the optimal range information? I feel that nutrition and ingredients have equal value. There are at least a couple of boarded vet nutritionists out there that agree with me. For example, Dr. Laura Gaylord, and Dr. Donna Raditic. They are both active in CANWI.
It’s available to you for free. I have a full text link to small animal clinical nutrition in the description box. There are probably several chapters that may interest you.
@@AnimalDocRea Thank you!
Meow…!!! lOl
Can I eat it as a human?
Not sure, you would have to call the company
Thanks for this review. I have been feeding my dog Carna 4 in all of their varieties for about 6 months. I didn't like that it was grain free and always added some of Stella & Chewy's Raw Blend and Wholesome Grains (chicken, quail, and duck recipe)
I guess, I bought into the hype of the marketing for Carna 4. It is very hard to know what is the best food for my dog.
Have you ever reviewed Stella and Chewy's dog food? My dog (chocolate lab and greyhound) always did well on it. I only tried Carna 4 because it was free of synthetic vitamin packs.
Thank You for all of your hard work! The information is excellent and much needed for all of us pet lovers!
What brand do you feed your dog or dogs?
I don’t discuss what I feed my dogs as I do not want to appear biased or promoting any particular food. It also changes based on my pets needs
It's not fair to say that Rea is completely wrong; she might be coming to her conclusions due to the influence of U.S. standards. We all know that organizations like the U.S. FDA are heavily lobbied, including the influence of vets within schools and colleges who receive free formulas, and that can skew data.
Rea does make some valid points, but what we often overlook is that both humans and dogs tend to thrive on minimally processed foods instead of extruded and lower-quality options. In this context, Carna 4 seems like a better choice than 95% of the market, especially for those who can't afford fresh cooked or raw foods.
Thanks for the comments, totally agree with FDA and heavily lobbied so no you can’t totally trust them on anything not just food. And although I do agree vet schools likely get funding to further research in many subjects not just food, this does not exclude other companies outside the “big three” from funding the same universities to investigate their claims. If money and free recipes was the key to getting vets on board, and I’m not saying that’s what’s happening , why aren’t these other companies that are just as big and have just as much money doing the same thing. Research takes money so you have to invest. It seems they much rather spend their money finding out how manipulate the consumer via marketing than investing in the numbers. I can’t help it, I’m a numbers girl and I think most other vets are too.
Oh and yes, I follow US standards. I’m not really trained in other countries standard so I stick to what I know. I started the channel to show a general approach to picking pet food, demystify lables, ect. To give people an easy place to start when they are standing in the pet food isle. It isn’t and never was meant to be micro-analyzing ingredients or formulas, getting highly philosophical or anything like that. It’s just a first line approach to make commercial pet food simpler for those that want a simpler logical, stepwise approach to commercial diets.
Calcium stored in blood, best joke I heard in awhile.
I was shocked to read that. A very “inventive” way to convince people all life stages is good. I guess I take some solace in knowing that enough people are paying attention to that now that they feel the need to get inventive!
I’m going to disagree re points on protein, calcium and phosphorus. Only in excess by 1% protein, .5% calcium, and .1 phosphorus. That seems very minor.
Also, prior to carna4 I went through so many diets. My pups had so many skin issues. They have environmental allergies.
Vet recommended apoquel/cytopoint and prescribed food. I said no. Began feeding this food 3 months ago. Went back for a follow-up and received a clean bill of health.
Vet no longer recommended apoquel/cytopoint or prescribed food.
It’s certainly just a starting point but there rules are the rules. Also small increments in the ca/phos are very significant even 0.1 %. It’s one of those parameters where the minor details are important. If it’s working I’d just check labs every 6-12 months to be sure. It’s not cookie cutter for everyone, just have to be aware of the risks/reward and treat it appropriately. I’ve lots of clients that I disagree with their food choice, we just agree to stay up to date on regular physicals and bloodwork. Also keep in mind apoquel and cytopoint are only for atopic dermatitis (aka seasonal allergies) and would not work for a food allergy dog theoretically, and seasonal allergies tend to wax and wane so you may not be out of the woods yet. I’m glad though right now you are in a happy place.
percentages are very misleading. I called the company and asked for the actual protein, calcium and phosphorus in grams per 100 kcals, the most precise way to compare foods. Their chicken diet for dogs has a guaranteed analysis of 52% protein! Sorry but that is nutritional insanity! as the good doc said, once you go beyond optimal, you are overtaxing your pets body systems, especially kidneys. And with that high a protein level from meat, no matter how high quality, the calcium and phosphorus is going to be extremely excessive. i want to like this food with all the wonderful sounding sourcing and ingredients but if they deliver unbalanced excessive nutrients. you're paying extra to put your dog at a higher risk of disease as he ages. That's simply clinical nutrition.
as far as allergies, in my 34 years of working with vets and allergies, it is extremely difficult to identify specific allergens and causes and very often hard to know which diet will relieve the signs, especially between skin and GI issues. really happy your dog is doing well but for your vet to then stop using those meds and proven veterinary diets that have decades of research and clinical proof of efficacy, based on your one dog......is a bit of an overreaction. fresh, raw, freeze dried, kibble......is not a factor in managing allergies and food sensitivities. But we wont argue with success for your pup!
ill try and post the nutrient numbers when I get them. I think youll be surprised.
@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy I’m confused. In this video the percentage dry matter basis for protein was 31% for the chicken diet. Not 52%
@PetFoodPuzzleGuy thanks for researching those numbers
@@AnimalDocRea their allergies are environmental, not necessarily food related. I live in southern CA so here seasonal allergies are every season. We’ve been dealing with it for the past 1.5 and Carna4 seems to help. Though they still have the occasional itch it’s not as drastic and no more constant hot spots.
Yikes!
I got suckered into buying this food once, but I returned it because I was genuinely worried my animals were going to break their teeth on it. It was hard as rocks!! I tried soaking it but it doesn’t seem to really absorb water. Even test bit down on one myself and I couldn’t break it without worrying about my own teeth. Really wondering why they think kibble hard enough to chip teeth is acceptable.
Thanks for sharing your kibble experience, without actually buying the food some people may not know that.bi don’t buy them for reviews because I don’t want to be wasteful.
Why did you remove my comments from this post? Not very transparent of you. Very disappointing. I don't trust people who do that.
Not sure what you mean, but UA-cam does monitor comments and occasionally some do get removed by their algorithm if they violate the community guidelines for comments
@@AnimalDocRea Thank you for your response. That is weird, for it to be removed because it did not have any violate the community guidelines, as far as I know. It just requested you to do a score a dog food. Oh, it may have had a link in the comment. Not sure if that would make a difference or not. Oh well. I am glad to hear you did not remove it. All the best.
@allison2001022 yes, links will get removed. Feel free to email me the link
you should hide your face when you showing the feeding guide and other.
No way hide your face! LOL "And the way you look tonight!" - Jerome Kern / Dorothy Fields