Yashanti Kennels

Nutrition is a critical aspect in the health and longevity of your dog. We feed several dogs and puppies, and we feed multiple breeds, so nutrition has to be right for each dogs make up, energy level, and needs.  It has to be readily available and affordable.  And it has to support a healthy immune system.  Our feeling is pay for it now or pay for it at the vets later.

We here at Yashanti feed only a premium grade of dog food  we are often asked what we feed and why.  I recently came across this article and encourage you to read what is stated here, and then to read the labels on your dog food.  We feed Evo, Taste of the Wild, Pro Plan Lamb and Rice, and Chicken Soup for the Puppy lovers soul alternating throughout the year.I have include the ingredients labels for those foods below this article.  The article was written and offered by   www.HealthyPetFoodUSA.com

Premium Pet Food Is Cheaper Than Mainstream Pet Food

Discount pet food brands are actually more expensive per serving than many of the highest priced brands. The explanation for this is found on the feeding instructions and the ingredients in the pet food itself. Every pet is different, and the amount of food your pet eats per day also varies with age and activity level. But according to the feeding instructions as researched and recommended by each pet food manufacturer, you will probably be surprised at the cost per serving.

The pet foods compared for this report are actual pet foods; all information on price and feeding instructions has been taken from the manufacturer's web site and from a popular pet food retailing website.

According to the web site of one of the most popular brands of dog food sold in the U.S., the feeding instructions tell you that a thirty pound dog would need to eat around three cups of food per day. The cost of this pet food breaks down to being about $.67 per cup. So that means Fido would eat $2.01 worth of dog food each day according to the recommended feeding instructions on the label.

But on the other hand, from a web site of a high end, all human grade ingredients, all U.S. ingredients dog food –- the feeding instructions tell you that a thirty pound dog would need to eat around 1 ½ cups of food per day. The cost of this food is about $1.16 per cup. This food seems to be about twice as expensive as the popular brand. However, according to the recommended feeding amount, Fido would eat $1.74 worth of dog food each day. That's a savings of $.27 per day to feed your dog a high quality, human grade ingredients, no risky imports dog food.

Some example pet foods that you find at Walmart, Target, and other discount retailers are Beneful, Pedigree and Kibbles & Bits. All of these pet foods are perceived by pet owners to be 'affordable' options to feed their dog or cat. Other less known brands available at pet shops and online that have a higher price tag such as Canidae, Felidae, Orijen, Life's Abundance, Wysong, and Wellness are perceived by pet owners to be 'high end' pet foods -- unaffordable options. Here's where they stand on price per serving -- listed lowest to highest cost per day.

Dry Dog Food - Daily Recommended Serving for a 30 lbs. dog, Cost per day:

* Life's Abundance $1.26

* Blue Buffalo $1.29

* Wysong $1.34

* Science Diet $1.42

* Kibbles & Bits $1.49

* Purina ONE $1.52

* Beneful $1.70

* Pedigree $1.80



Please Note: The above price list does not reflect any opinion on quality of the pet food ingredients. It is a price comparison. For a quality of ingredients/cost per serving comparison, pet owners need an understanding of a few common pet food ingredient definitions, should call the manufacturer to learn grade of ingredients and country of origin of ingredients (U.S. or China).

You might be thinking that the high priced pet foods simply put a smaller suggested serving size on the label so their foods don't appear to be so expensive. The recommended serving size for the high end pet foods is less because more nutrition is provided in the food, thus less needs to be eaten.
 
Let me remind you that the popular dog food brands contains by-products (chicken feet, cow intestines, lungs, spleens), imported ingredients from 'Asian sources', and risky chemical preservatives. The high quality dog food uses all human grade meat ingredients (No chicken feet, cow intestines, lungs, spleens), all U.S. ingredients, and natural preservatives. The savings you would have in your pocket from Not feeding the seemingly discounted brand is $.27 per day -- over $98.00 per year.

Please don't look at the price of the bag or can of pet food when considering what to feed your pet. As the chart shows you above -- there is far more to consider than the cost of the bag or can of pet food. Look at the ingredients (at least the first five) and consider cost per serving. Avoid pet foods with ingredients like by-products and chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin). Learn if ingredients are from U.S. sources. The actual savings of purchasing high quality dog and cat foods goes far beyond dollars per year, the true savings could be years added to your pet's life. When you see someone  buying that pet food that appears to be cheaper according to the price tag, tell them the truth is they are spending far more money. Send them this report! Feeding high quality is cheaper and many, many pet owners (including myself) will tell you it's healthier too!

EVO 

Turkey, Chicken, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Herring Meal, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Egg, Apples, Tomatoes, Potassium Chloride Carrots, Vitamins,Cottage Cheese, Minerals, Alfalfa Sprouts, Ascorbic Acid, Dried Chicory Root, Direct-Fed Microbials, Vitamin E Supplement, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract.

TASTE OF THE WILD

Bison, venison, lamb meal, chicken meal, egg product, sweat potatoes, peas, potatoes, canola oil, roasted bison, roasted venison, natural flavor, tomato pomace, ocean fish meal, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevesiae fermentation solubles, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE PUPPY LOVERS SOUL

Chicken, turkey, chicken broth, duck, salmon, chicken liver, whole grain brown rice, whole grain white rice, oatmeal, carrots, peas, potatoes, barley, egg product, guar gum, flaxseed, kelp, apples, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, rosemary extract, parsley flake, dried chicory root, flaxseed meal, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, ascorbic acid, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, thiamin mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, and sodium selenite

Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend (this is fed when we need something readily available from the local grocery down the street for a day or two until we can get our food delivered)

Lamb, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, poultry by-product meal (natural source of glucosamine), oat meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), soy flakes, pearled barley, fish meal (natural source of glucosamine), soybean meal, dried egg product, dried beet pulp, animal digest, glycerin, wheat bran, salt, calcium phosphate, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, Vitamin E supplement, manganese proteinate, ferrous sulfate, choline chloride, sulfur, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), niacin, copper proteinate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.

Now read the label of what you are feeding and ask yourself which would you rather eat?