Digestibility of Performance Dog Foods

Today's dog food world can be compared to the American wild west of a begone era. There are very few laws and even fewer law enforcing regulators. Fact is, even federal agencies charged with providing product assurance do not require pet food manufacturer's to list how high or low the quality of their ingredients are on their labels. This makes it difficult to compare products of differing brands. However, many high quality food manufacturers are more than welcome to run independent "digestibility studies" to verify the quality of their ingredients and food formula's. Make note: if a company does not run these type of studies or is apprehensive about making these quantitative digestibility numbers public information...please rise now and raise the red flag of concern.

Here is where the proverbial rubber meets the road. There is an inverse relationship between a food's digestibility and the resulting fecal volume.

• Factoid: The HIGHER the digestibility of a dog food, the LOWER the fecal volume.

A dog(and any other living organism) can digest and utilize more nutrients in a higher digestible food therefore less stool is eliminated. I think this is simple science everybody can easily understand. To research the digestibility of your own dog's food normally requires a call to the manufacturer to get their foods combined protein digestibility percentage(although not required to be put on bags some high quality, reputable manufacturers display this information readily on their website)

There is a basic mathematical formula to determine the overall digestibility of the protein source. Take the crude protein percentage(found on bag) multiplied by the digestibility percentage(found by calling manufacturer) equals the true digestibility of the protein source. For example if the crude protein is 30% and protein digestibility is 84.6% multiply: 30 x 0.8460 = 25.38%. There you have it! A very quick and efficient method to discover how truly digestible the protein portion of your dog's food really is.


If you're feeding multiple gun dogs it is a good idea to know how digestible the food really is. It will save you a ton of money in the long run! The more they absorb during digestion, the less you need to feed!


Individual protein sources contain different levels of amino acids and each protein is different in its ability to be broken down into these amino acids. Hence, not all proteins are created equal as some are better than others. The ability of a protein to be used by the dog and its amount of usable amino acids is summarized as protein quality  or Biological Value, BV for short. Egg has the highest BV and sets the benchmark standard for which other proteins are judged at a 100 score. Fish meal are close behind with a value of 92. Beef is around 78 and soybean meal is 67. Meat and bone meal and wheat are around 50 and corn is 45.  These are just a few examples of the individual digestibility of common ingredients.

The bottom line is certain proteins are hard for dogs to digest therefore they pass them without absorbing the needed nutrients in a timely manner. The result can hit your wallet or pocket book as well. The lower the digestibility of the food the MORE your have to feed to fulfill your dogs needs. The higher of course, the less! Hopefully by using the basic formula posted above and doing your own research and due diligence the conscience gun dog owner can get to the "meat" of the food he or she is shelling out hard earned cash for every month. Sorry, Pun completely intended.

Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

Dr. Tim Hunt On Dr. Tim's Dog Food

Sled dog racing sparks the notion of a well trained canine team pulling it's human musher across the frozen tundra to ultimate victory. It is also considered to be the ultimate test of canine endurance, strength, and performance. But where does the sled dog world collide with our gun dog planet? They are both superior canine athletes asked to work hard under extreme conditions. But again, were does the physical needs of a marathon running Alaskan Husky intertwine with those of a rocket propelled English Pointer?

Their collective bond is found at the very root of canine performance and that common denominator is high quality nutrition.  As conscientious owners, it is our responsibility to supply our working dog(s) the proper fuel to run hard, long, while remaining happy, healthy, and ready to do it all over again tomorrow.

It is not everyday I have the privilege of interviewing a man of Dr. Tim's caliber. His practical knowledge, combined with his education and experience, has led to improving the performance of canine athletes through his dry food formulas. Please note, his dog food formulas are ones he has personally concocted. Dr. Tim is, in my own opinion(and that of many others), pushing the envelope of canine nutritional science and the results have been outstanding. Thank you Dr. Tim for taking the time to answer the following questions...

What is your background and history of Dr. Tim's Pet Food? "I've been a Vet for 22 years(graduate of Michigan State University's School of Veterinary Medicine) and racing sled dogs for about 18 years. Have fed a heavy raw based diet with a kibble for many years with my mix of witches brew. Made it in my garage in a cement mixer and realized more dogs could benefit from a much better kibble(dry dog food) than what was currently on the market. I developed Momentum and began selling it about 6 years ago. Pursuit and Kinesis followed there after. I have raced in the States, Canada, Europe and Alaska and have worked the Iditarod as a vet many times and have run it as well with my own dogs."



What do you feel separates Dr. Tim's dry dog food from the rest of the "pack"?
"That the ingredients are all bioavailable, needed by the dog for fuel their metabolism like it is meant to be fueled, made in such a way as to have a very high digestibility, pre and probiotics included, protein make up to allow for building and maintaining the dogs muscle, allow for increased endurance, very high Omega 3 cold water fatty oil-highest of any food on the market that I know of.  I have what a working dog needs. The metabolism of a husky and a gun dog is not that different, actually very close. Some difference with glycogen replenishment but overall very similar. Basically, the food(Dr Tim's) is devised by a vet that actually gives a shit."(authors note: I agree with Dr. Tim so the profanity was not removed because I also gives a shit about quality canine nutrition! Thanks for your understanding. -Mark) 

Dr. Tim's "Momentum" formula is a 35% protein / 25% fat mix. What "type" of gun dog is this a good fit for this? (by type I mean activity level, drive, daily conditioning and work etc) "This would be one step above Pursuit, the 30/20, and would work very well for a hard working gun dog. Personally, I think this is the best choice for a working dog, period. It just costs a bit more," said Dr. Tim. (Following quotes from Dr. Tim's website) "Momentum has been formulated to help facilitate the stamina, endurance and performance of canines; the food contains highly digestible low ash proteins, fats and carbohydrates to allow your athletic dog to reach their full potential. In addition, supplements are included to decrease the stresses that dogs’ bodies undergo in highly competitive situations that may produce stress diarrhea. These supplements include prebiotics, externally applied probiotics and multiple fiber sources such as rice, psyllium, beet pulp, oatmeal and chicory root. Momentum also contains chelated minerals, kelp, selenium, natural antioxidants and L-carnitine. To minimize allergic reactions, corn and soy products are not used in Momentum

"In your Momentum formula one ingredient stands out as unique(or we just have not seen it in other competing performance formulas) It called, Porcine Plasma. Can you elaborate on this ingredient? "This is a very high quality source of some specific amino acids that greatly benefit the dog in muscle building and maintenance. Barry Bonds kind of stuff!"

Your "Pursuit" formula is 30% protein 20% fat mix. Again, what type of gun dog do you see this formula being fed to?  Any dog that does some level of exercise benefits from it. Even a house dog does very well on it but is just fed less. The key is how much you feed in relation to the overall weight and exercise the dog is undergoing. Less food is needed with a good 30/20 type diet or above. Ours is 95% digestible and thus you feed much less than what you are used to. Most companies are happy with an 80 percent digestible rate, thus you pay for extra calories in the dogs stool, in essence. You get what you pay for in the long run. Also, the idea a high protein causes kidney disease is incorrect," responded Dr. Tim. (According to Dr. Tim's website) "Pursuit Active Formula Dog Food has been created for dogs with a moderate to vigorous activity level. This high protein, low ash formula allows your lively dog to tap into just the right amount of energy needed throughout the day. Externally applied probiotics and prebiotics support the beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, while natural antioxidants and Optimal Vitamin Nutrition DSM® help to keep your dog’s immune system as strong as possible. Whether your dog is playing catch, jogging or herding sheep, our premium ingredients deliver tasty nutrition based on what your dog really needs to thrive. Make every day a healthy, strong day – and worry free for you – with Pursuit."


I noticed your food is one of the few on the market today that includes both PRE and PRObiotics in it's formula. What exact does this mean for the health and well-being of working gun dogs? Is it an aid against stress related diarrhea? Could you also elaborate on what causes stress diarrhea etc? "Prebiotics are starches that escape digestion in the small intestine and are used by the beneficial bacteria of the large intestine. We want to promote that. Probiotics are benficial bacteria added to the diet to stimulate the immune system of the GI tract and beyond plus they act against harmful bacteria by forcing them out, more or less. Probiotics are added to our kibble after the extrusion process to maximize their viability as the heat of extrusion can kill them. Stress diarrhea is caused by a few different factors, most notably how well conditioned the dog is, the fiber composition of the diet and the digestibility of the included starches. When a dog is working hard, the amount of stool in the colon can have a "slap" effect on the sides of the colon, thus causing irritation. This stool can also pull a lot of water along with it as it travels the colon and this leads to soft stools. Multi factored causes but diet plays a huge part in it."


On your site you also offer a topical muscle massage ointment called Algyvet. Could you envision this product being beneficial for gun dogs? "Absolutely," said Dr. Tim.  "This stuff, an athletic balm for dogs, has been widely used in the sled dog arena and I have found it to be very useful for muscle injuries."


Dr. Tim, do you have any other issues or concerns you would like to add about your dog food? Dr. Tim rounded up our interview by concluding, "Nutrition is constantly evolving and much has been learned in the past 10 years or so. There is a lot of fluff type ingredients that can be included for miracle results and I have resisted that temptation. What should be in the food, in my opinion at this date, is in there. And it is made at a plant that I trust. It took me 6 plants to find the right plant to make my recipe and what a difference that makes. That has been part of my learning about nutrition for dogs, nearly as important as some of the ingredients. Dogs are meant to be fueled by fat, and high levels of them. When we slowly bring a high fat diet into play with a dog they become more efficient in their metabolism and actually will need less food. And become stronger, have more endurance and stay much healthier."

Dr. Tim Hunt is not your average veterinarian and his dog food is not your average bear. In my own opinion, he signifies the forefront of a truly revolutionary movement in quality canine nutrition. Witnessing small companies like Dr. Tim's coming to market with realistic research, practical knowledge, quality ingredients, and scientifically backed formulas proves we might finally break the Fortune 500's falsified, kung fu like grip on the performance dog food world. The big brands should take notice that there are honest to goodness cowboys out there like Dr. Hunt who are not scared to make super premium jet fuel for canine athletes while using the the absolute, very best ingredients possible... AND while maintaining reasonable price points to do so! Not to mention, it is extremely reassuring to performance dog owners that the very food they are feeding is the result of someone who truly understands what working or sporting dogs need to become world class athletes in their own right. I personally thank Dr. Tim Hunt  for taking the time out of his busy schedule to reply to my questions. Without any doubt, it shows his commitment, passion, and professionalism. Here at northUpland that is proof positive that Dr. Tim is a high quality dogman! Thanks again Doc, we appreciate your contribution and continued help spreading the word about proper gun dog nutrition. To visit Dr. Tim's website please visit http://www.drtims.com/ Thank you


As always...if you have questions or comments feel free to drop me a line at northupland@yahoo.com Thanks for reading.


Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

What is Meal?

Meal. It doesn't sound like a very appetizing or healthy dog food ingredient. On the contrary, some forms of Meal found in dog food formulas can be an excellent addition to your dogs diet. Let's get to the bottom of what Meal really is and understand the positive and negative aspects of its inclusion in the majority of foods on the market today. As always, we boil it down to blue collar science here at northUpland and into terms we can all clearly understand, aka: High Quality Meal vs. Low Quality Meal.

High Quality Meal
Whole Meat Protein Meal: Any whole meat(identifiable meat source named on the ingredient list) as a whole meat meal is an excellent source of protein such Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Lamb Meal etc, etc. In fact, whole meat Meals are a more "potent" protein source then their own counterparts whole meat flesh form. The production of whole meat Meal starts with dehydration of clean, deboned flesh. It is then dehydrated to eliminate the moisture. Finally it is ground down into a fine meal. This all takes place prior to the ingredients being mixed and cooked into kibble. I think we can all agree Chicken is a great source of protein, but as a Meal it becomes a highly concentrated protein form. Why? Chicken, as well as all other whole, premium cut meats, are full of moisture. When dog food ingredients are cooked moisture within the Chicken meat is eliminated and the "weight" of chicken as a primary ingredient is shrunk considerably. Important note; ingredients listed and advertised on dog food bags are in PRE COOKED percentages. Chicken Meal on the other hand, has already been dehydrated and then ground down before the cooking process thus eliminating the moisture content and giving it a higher percentage of ingredients.  In other words, if Chicken Meal is listed as the first ingredient compared to just Chicken listed first, there is considerably more protein content in the Meal first formula because of the Chicken Meals' dehydrated precook state. Furthermore, Chicken Meal is more readily digestible than just Chicken. As a dog's digestive system processes Chicken Meal, it's inherit "ground" physical quality helps it breakdown in the stomach and intestines faster, thus becoming readily absorbed into the dog's system much quicker than whole chicken meat. Again, we only used Chicken as an example here but the same can be said for all other whole protein meats and meal such as Lamb, Salmon, Duck, Venison, etc.

Low "Ash" Whole Meat Protein Meals: These are considered "superior" meat protein sources. For example, Low Ash Chicken Meal consists of chicken meat and some accompanying bone, and “ash” denotes the amount of bone that's ground into the meal. The lower the ash content equates to a higher grade meal and a more pure protein source. The chicken is ground into a powder (meal) after the fat and water are removed, and the end result is a very concentrated, highly digestible protein, rich with amino acids, essential fatty acids and minerals (ash) that provide calcium and phosphorous.

High Quality "Meals" Make Great Canine Athletes.
Dewey: Five In The Bag and Still Looking For More.


Low Quality Meal
These are meals listed below are commonly used in lower grade dog food that come from "uncertain origins" and in our opinion should be avoided.  

Meat Meal: The generic term "Meat" (with no identifiable named source precluding) is highly suspicious as to actually what the meat really is! It's kinda of like fast food chains mystery meat! There are substantiated claims that Meat Meal contains more disgusting things than we would like to imagine so we will avoid writing them here.

By-Product Meal: Defined as a `meat(name source) by-product is: "The non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. Again, "anonymous"(unnamed) meat source precluding a by-product meal makes this ingredient even more ambiguous as to its origins.  


Vegetable and Grain Meal: Grain and vegetable meals are generally used in dog food to keep the cost of production low. Manufacturers use products like corn gluten meal or soybean meal as an alternative to a more costly and higher quality ingredient. Soybeans, linseed, and corn may appear as meals in pet food.  Corn Gluten Meal in particular is commonly used and is a concentrated form of protein that is very difficult to digest. Using this type of ingredient allows the food to advertise high protein content even though your dog might not actually digest or benefit from any of it.


Bone Meal: The rendered product from mammal tissues, including bone, exclusive of blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. Bone Meal offers a very limited source of nutrients and is not well "defined" ingredient. Like mystery Meat Meal It goes into the suspect list!

I hope this helps shed some light on the vast differences of what Meal real is in its various forms and compositions. I realize it is a confusing retail world out there full of colorful dog food bags and the mass marketing hype that surrounds this entire industry. If you ever have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to give me a shout. Email me at northupland@yahhoo.com or post a comment below. You have my word that I will give you my unbiased opinion. Please remember, we here at northUpland are trying to make our good gun dogs even better through proper nutrition and planned fitness. Thank you for reading my blog.

Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

True Performance

As gun dog owners I believe we all strive for the same collective results. A dog that works hard and covers a lot of ground. A dog that is well trained and highly motivated. A dog that is fit and physical. A dog that truly loves to hunt for us and share the thrill. At the end of the day when the last feather floats to the ground, our gun dogs are truly our most faithful and trusted companions. But what are we doing to return their hard work, devotion and commitment? Better yet, what are we doing to make our good dogs great?

Like all living organisms, it starts and ends with nutrition. Food is the fuel that steams our dogs engine and stokes the fire within. Without quality food your dog will never reach his or her full potential in the marsh, woods, or field. These days more and more manufacturers are focusing on producing high quality dog foods. Unfortunately, there are still those owners who believe dog food found at a grocery store is just as good. This simple is not the case. Canines specifically produced and trained to hunt are animal athletes. With any athlete, the quality of their diet dictates their overall performance on the field of play. Over the past year many of my blog posts have hopefully shed some light of the positive and negatives effect of both proper and improper nutrition. Fall is upon us and most hunting seasons across this country are only days away from opening. Unfortunately, for a dog to fully adjust to a food change it can take 4-6 weeks to see any results in the field. But it is never to late to switch from an inexpensive "grocery store" brand to a premium food. If this is your first visit to my blog I urge you to read past posts titled,  Pocket Guide For Dog Food Consumers, The Holistic Gun Dog, and Performance Dog Foods for a more in depth look.

But you may ask, what makes a dog food low or high quality? Great question but one you can answer for yourself very quickly by following these helpful red and green flags. Here is my blue collar round up on things to watch for...

Red flags for low quality dog foods contain:

• ANY Grain source as #1 ingredient
• High amounts corn, soy, and/or wheat grain sources in ingredients overall/any combination
• Grain Gluten in ANY form(low grade protein source)
• Unspecified mystery "Meat" ingredients such as Meat Meal, Meat By-product, etc
• Synthetic preservetives such as, BHT(Butylated Hydroxyanisole), BHA(Butylated Hydroxytoluene), Propylene Glycol, Ethoxyquin
• Food coloring agents aka; color #whatever 

Green flags for high quality dog foods contain:

• Whole meat or whole meat meal proteins such as chicken, duck, beef, bison, fish, lamb, etc as the first ingredient
• Low overall grain ingredient content and gluten free
• At least 2 meat type proteins in top 5 ingredients(including meat protein meals which are a very high source of quality protein)
• Natural preserved with mixed tocopherols(vitamin E)
• Powerful antioxidents such as blueberries, cranberries, etc
• Contain Prebiotics and/or Probiotics aka; Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium



Nothing better than seeing a well fueled, hard charging dog having fun hunting birds!

  The above mentioned red or green flags are a great way to quickly establish whether or not a dog food is grocery or premium. But be advised, some manufactures who are considered "premium" producers slip red flags into there formula's to cut costs. Do NOT be fooled. Do your due diligence and read the label in it's entirety. Do not be fooled by the disclaimer on every bag of food in this country: Approved by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages. The AAFCO has in most nutritionists opinion regulate and allow a very low level(base minimum) of acceptance on what they consider a food "formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the the minimum nutrients in dog food". In other words, all dog food for sale in America must reach these low standards before they can even be allowed to bring the product to market. Yep, even Ol' Roy met AAFCO approval so that is not saying much!

I hope this brief round up helps you make a more educated decision when shopping for your gun dogs next bag of food. There are some really wonderful manufacturers out there doing the right thing for our dogs. I don't guarantee many things but I will guarantee this; switching your dog to a high quality diet will vastly improve their performance in the field and in the home. Don't be scared away from the higher prices. If the health and wellbeing of your fourlegged hunting partner is important to you, price should not be the first concern.

Best of luck out there. -Mark



Pocket Guide for Dog Food Consumers

These days more and more gun dog owners are asking questions about proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and other dog food nutrients. It is reassuring to know people want straight answers and are serious about supplying their hunting partners with the best nutrition possible. It is a confusing retail world out there with hundreds of dog foods to choose from. It is also long overdue that I put together a sort of "cliff's notes" or pocket guide to better help the dog food consumer. I invite you to comment on this post at the end or email with your direct questions to northupland@yahoo.com I thank you all for taking the time to care about your dog's nutrition!

Proteins are the basic building blocks of life. Protein intake ensures cells, tissues, organs, enzymes, hormones and antibodies are digested for growth, maintenance, reproduction, repair and energy. Meat proteins such as chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, bison, venison, duck, and fish have complete amino acid profiles. That simple means they contain all of the amino acids your dog needs. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and are divided into essential and non-essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are ones that cannot be manufactured by the body in sufficient quantities and must be supplied in the working dogs diet. Examples of essential amino acids are carnitine, arginine and lysine. Non-essential amino acids are ones that your dog can produce naturally in sufficient quantities. Protein levels for working gun dogs should be right around 30% give or take the amount of activity. That percentage can be found right on the bag in the guaranteed analysis. But buyer beware! An advertised  30% protein rating can be misleading. Some manufacturers use vegetable based protein gluten, a.k.a. "corn gluten" to boost the protein rating.  Because of vegetable gluten's composition it leads to an inherent lack of digestibility. Most of the "advertised" protein content will be eaten and excreted by your dog with very little nutritional protein absorption ever taking place.  

Fats are the most concentrated form of food energy for dogs. Fats provide your gun dog with more than twice the energy of proteins or carbohydrates! Fats are essential in the structure of cells and are needed for the production of some hormones. They are also required for absorption and utilization of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, and E. The correct balance of fats can be found in top rated healthy dog food. Importantly, fats supply fatty acids which dogs need for a multitude of reasons—from helping to provide healthier skin and coat to reducing inflammation in joints. Dogs can produce some of the fatty acids they need, but not all of them so these "essential" fatty acids must be supplied by their diet. Essential fatty acids are divided into two groups—Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Ingredients like chicken fat and sunflower oil are great sources of Omega-6 fatty acids while flax seed, herring oil and salmon oil are key sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. Fats should range around 20% and like Protein, can be found right on the guaranteed analysis portion normally located on the back or side of the bag. Again, like protein, this can be a higher or lower percentage given your dogs needs. It all depends on what you feel your dog must intake given their active level. The base range for a highly active sporting breed is around a 30% Protein/20% Fat mix diet so use that as your base line in judgement.

Carbohydrates are another source of energy for dogs. Unlike human marathon runners who scarf down plates of pasta before a big race, dogs rely on carb's as only a minor source of "boost" energy. Think of your dogs gas tank burning like this; fat first, protein second(unused protein gets stored as fat so the cycle continues). Carb's role in a dog's metabolism is to covert it to Glucose and pack a quick, immediate energy source that is very rapidly burned off. Whole grains such as, brown rice, barley and oats, are all low-fat sources of highly-digestible complex carbohydrates. Whole grains are also a rich source of dietary fiber which is crucial for healthy intestinal function. Whole grains are also helpful with the common problems of constipation in dogs, which can be caused by a diet that is lacking in fiber. Notice how we did not mention whole corn, wheat or soy? These are all low grade grains and contribute as only a minor source of glucose conversion.

At 8 weeks old, Dempsey, was started on a super premium diet. He will be a future bird hunting athlete for many years to come!

Vitamin A helps promote healthy bones, teeth, coat, skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Vitamin A is important to the immune system and has been known to help ward off or fight respiratory infections

Vitamin B12 is necessary for proper growth and used to treat some types of nerve damage and pernicious anemia. B12 is also helpful in the recovery process our canine athletes endure during times of hunting or sporting related exercise.

Vitamin C is the world's most potent antioxidant immune booster. It is known to help prevent bacterial, viral and degenerative diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, auto immune disease and cancer. Vitamin C is water soluble and can lose potency when exposed to high temperatures. A favorite dog treats is baby carrots. I highly suggest trying them as a low cost/ great source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Potassium, and Calcium for your own dog(s). I would further suggest buying the organic/no preservative version as they are free of pesticides.

Vitamin D promotes skin, bone, connective tissue and heart health. It is necessary for the proper absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus. Just like your mother always said...drink your milk for strong bones...a strong supply of the Big "D" is an essential for your working gun dog.

Vitamin E is another valuable antioxidant that helps improve circulation and cardiac output.

Mixed Tocopherols are a natural preservative made from Vitamin E and found in all premium foods. Tocopherols are a good thing to see on an ingredient list. Watch out for harmful synthetic preservatives such as BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, or propylene glycol that provide no nutritional value and have been associated with possible toxic side effects. FYI, synthetic preservative are used by low grade dog food companies because they are cheap!

Ingredients to look for...
There are not many dog food companies who add true Probiotics(healthy bacteria cultures to aid in digestion) Think of it like Actevia yogurt for dogs(you know the Jaime Lee Curtis commercials!) There are a few companies out there that add Probiotic cultures so when researching look for ingredients like Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bacillus Subtilis, Bifidobacterium Thermophilum, Bifidobacterium Longum and Enterococcus Faecium. Each of these are active dehydrated cultures added after processing. They are activated on ingesting the food and help to maintain normal bacteria balance in the lower intestine. They aid in digestion and reduce the occurrence of diarrhea, contributing to colon and rectum health. The dog food companies who add active bacteria cultures for healthy digestion are the companies who truly separate themselves from the pack. Rest assured, their first concern is your dogs health, not their profit margin!

Many manufactures now add Prebiotics. Prebiotics are, in layman's terms, health food to help boost naturally preexisting Probiotic cultures already active in your dog's digestive system. Natural prebiotics are complex carbohydrates added to the ingredients of the food during the manufacturing process. The food is then eaten by your dog releasing the prebiotics or their technical term Fructo Oligo Sacharides(FOS). Finding a food with either(pre or probiotics) is a step in the right direction to a healthy dog! Please note, both Probiotic and Prebiotic ingredients are very low in actual volume so on the foods ingredient they are normally found towards the bottom.

It would be also helpful to look for foods that include high levels of potent Antioxidants such as cranberries and blueberries. Why? Some free radicals arise normally during metabolism. The canine’s body’ immune system cells purposefully create them to neutralize and help ward off viruses and bacteria. Environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides can also spawn free radicals. Normally, the canine body can handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur over time to your dog's health and well being.

When shopping for a new dog food keep these helpful hints in mind...

• The top 10 ingredients usually comprise 80% or more of a dry pet food’s entire formula and give you a great perspective of its ingredient quality.
• All pet foods must list the ingredients present in their food, in order of weight. But understand, moisture content can lessen the volume in the ingredients. FYI. Ingredients are listed as "before cooking" weights and high moisture proteins can "shrink" greatly during the kibble cooking process.
• Whole meat protein based "meals"(previously ground dehydrated meat before cooking) are 300% more potent as a protein source than a pure meat source!
• Super premium pet foods have whole chicken, duck, venison, bison, lamb, turkey, beef, fish or other known quality meat protein sources in whole form or meal form as the first ingredient and a combination of at least 2-3 meat protein sources in the top 5 ingredients.
• "Animal By-Product" is by ingredient classification: "Animal by-products are ground, rendered, and cleaned slaughtered meat carcass parts such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, bones, heads, and intestines (and a small amount of feathers in the case of chicken) It is also known that the quality of animal by-products is very inconsistent between batches(sometimes more beaks and feats than quality organ meat etc). If you do choose a food that contains any "by-products" at minimum make sure they are a "named" protein. Aka, "Chicken" by-product etc. A compnay that just says "meat" by-product is probably hiding something even more disgusting than I would like to think about!
• If you pick up a bag of dog food and the A#1 very first ingredient is a grain source the red flags and sirens should go off in your head! I advise dropping the bag where your stand and moving on quickly!
• Some pet food brands list their ingredients in several different ways so that the ones of lower quality appear farther down the ingredient list. For example, a product list could contain chicken, ground corn, corn gluten, ground wheat and corn bran. And, if you were to group all of the corn ingredients as one, they would probably far out-weigh the amount of chicken in that food. This is a manufacturer's trick and a nonregulated loop hole when listing ingedient evidence!

Starting your new puppy out with a super premium food will not only prove it's worth to his or her energy in the field but in the overall health of their lives. It is never to late to switch your dog, regardless of age, to a food with premium ingredients. Remember, as humans we have the luxury of choosing our own diets. Your trusty four legged athlete does not! Feeding them right will prolong your time in the field as well as their life as your best friend.

Best of luck out there. -Mark