Kibble Blending - How This Simple Trick Can Help You & Your Pet

Like most dog owners who grab the same brand and flavor of one particular dog food time after time, what most don't consider is how this WILL affect them and their pet at one time or another.   This is why  I have always incorporated a practice to my very own dogs and educate to my customers of what I call "kibble blending".

I came up with is logical practice for pet owners who use dry kibble as the primary base of their dog's diet because of two particularly important reasons.  First, not all dog foods are created equally and manufacturers don't source from the same protein, fruit and vegetable producers,  In addition, they are all formulated differently.  Therefore, a dog fed the same brand/formula over and over again can, overtime, become deficient in certain vitamins and minerals (yes, even when they say their food is "balanced"), or has a higher risk of developing a food allergy.  Moreover, as their body becomes so "structured" to one particular food, it can become a major issue when you decide or forced to change their food.   As an example, just think of a child eating DRY CEREAL for each meal.  The box says it's balanced and complete with all the essential vitamins and minerals needed.  However, would you consistently feed your child the same cereal for every meal, seven days a week for months to years and think that's all they need to be healthy?  Of course not!  They would become deficient  in something plus would have a hard time digesting a whole new food after eating the same thing for a long period of time.   Realistically, foods are constantly being rotated throughout the day during each meal and snack as each delivers different sources and levels of vitamins, minerals, proteins, etc. In addition, it also conditions the body to accept a majority of what is eaten without a upset stomach as well.  If humans and wild carnivores, like the dog's cousin, the wolf, eat a rotation of different foods, why do we then feed our pets the same food over and over again and expect them to be healthy?.

The second most important factor in kibble blending is the fact that most major brands, can at one point or another, go through a short but sometimes long pet food recall for one reason or another and stop production of a formula or as I've seen, the entire brand!   I see it time after time with many "non regular" customers scrambling to find some type of dog food that is equivalent to what their dog was previously on and then faced with the fact that they may endure a period of stomach issues while their pet "adjusts" to the new food.   This is why if kibble blending was incorporated into your dog's diet, such a problem would be non-existent to you and your dog, plus it helps optimize your pet's health in the long run.

How to Transition To Kibble Blending:

1.  Purchase a food bin; whether it's a counter top one or a larger floor based type.
2.  Fill the container with 3/4 of your dog's normal food and thoroughly blend 1/4 of a newer formula (different protein and from a different manufacturer).  NOTE:  Add a probiotic to your pet's food daily to help increase natural flora to the intestinal area to help digestion to newer proteins and foods.. We recommend Animal Essentials Plant Based Enzymes.  
3.  When your container is half gone, add only the newer kibble you previously added to fill to top and blend thoroughly again and serve..
4.  Repeat step #3
5.  When your container is almost empty, purchase a small bag of the newer food you previous introduced with another newer brand and protein.  Again, using 3/4 to 1/4 ratios while increasing the second newer brand while your container becomes empty and supplying your pet with a probiotic daily.
6.  Continue this practice with 2 or even 3 brands; consistently rotating brands and formulas.

Side Note:  Personally, I use 3 different brands and purchase only 5 lb bags to make up a 15 lb bag as I have small dogs.  Because my dog's bodies are conditioned to kibble blending & the rotation of different foods for many years, I thoroughly mix all 3 brands in a large container at once until well blended and serve at each meal along with incorporating canned or raw foods as a "food topper".  This not only helps them not to become "fussy" with their meals, but it never puts my dogs in the position of a "food shock" from a pet food recall.  Lastly, it delivers them a full range of natural moisture, wholesome proteins and a wider range of vitamins and minerals derived from veggies and fruits which ultimately puts their bodies in pristine condition. .

The Science Diet Scam, Just One of the Many...

When it comes to nutrition for pets; especially dogs since that is my specialty, most people will tell you that I take it very seriously. With all the years of being in the pet industry, I have discovered so much misleading information that it sickens me because MOST people rely on recommendations and "expert advice" from professionals, especially veterinarians. Now, before I go any further on this topic, I must say that I do have a high respect for all veterinarians when it comes to the diagnoses and treatment of certain diseases and disfunctions of animals and thier surgical abilities to fix, mend and treat parts of the animals anatomy. However, in my opinion, most lack the ability to use common sense when it comes to nutrition based on the repeated facts "outside" of the Science Diet teachings. What I mean by this is that Science Diet themselves is the company that goes into all veterinarian colleges and teaches them for a few weeks (out of six years of collage, mind you), their recommendation of nutrition for pets. Have you ever walked into a vets office and not seen any Science Diet literature or a vet pushing you to feed it to your pet or that of a prescription diet, unless you have sought out the advice of an holistic veterinarian? Think about it....

This is where I start my debate. It is for certain that dogs have evolved from there closest living relative; the wolf. Now, ask yourself what does a wolf eat. Of course, flesh/muscle and organs from another animal (meat/protein) with a secondary source of fruits, vegtables and perhaps some plant materials that may have been in the stomach of that freshly killed animal. Now, as a carnivore where dogs are in the same classification of the wolf, why is Science Diet then, who claims to be the leader in optimium nutrition for pets, goes as far as labeling their brands as "vet recommend" to foods that mainly consist of inappropriate ingredients for a carniovre to eat? Let's break it down.... there is approximatley 50% of carbohyrates in every single brand of Science Diet (mostly all poor quality grains that are KNOWN to cause skin issues - hummm, the biggest organ of the body), by-products that are usually left behind and consumed by the "scavengers" of the wild, and a slew of chemical preservatives KNOWN to cause cancer and many other medical issues? Now, I will further contest to the fact that even if Science Diet mentions a single protein source as the first ingredient or even the second, once you have extracted the moisutre out of that protein, you are left with very minimimal protein as all flesh/muscle is approximately made of 80% moisture to begin with. This is why higher premium foods will always add a few listed proteins, including "meals".  Are you following me here?

Now, this is where I make my case in point. As mentioned, if you ask a vet what food he recommends your pet to eat, I am almost going to guarantee Science Diet is amoung one of them.. So your pet begins his/her dietary journey with Science Diet and then months to maybe years later, all of a sudden your dog is itching/scratching excessively. Trips to the vet has ruled out fleas and other conditions but tells you he is suspecting that there is a food allergy and is prescribing you Hills Presciption Food, perhaps the DD formula. Well, this is what I find eronic about this whole scenerio. Corn, wheat, soy and any type of gluten is highly known to cause skin and coat issues consisting of your dog scratching excessively, chewing at it's paws, etc.. which for years, your dog was eating but the DD formula of the prescription food does not have any corn, wheat, soy or gluten in there. Weeks go by and all of a sudden your dog is feeling some sense of relief. The result - the prescription food was a "miracle" and solved the problem. Interesting, huh? However, this is where it goes deeper than that. If you look closely at most of all the Science Diets and Hills Prescription foods, there are other bad ingredients in there, as mentioned, that are known to cause the BIG C, yes, cancer and other major medical issues!

To end my case, I have put together a list of ALL the big dog food manufacturers I consider a waste of your money and a jeopardy to your dog's overall health over time.  As you can see, it's just not Science Diet.  This is why I labeled this blog that they were one of the many in this "scam".  In my general opinion, I find it very interesting that they all have a "prescription food" line after your dog has been on their regular brands for some time.  However, NOT ONE holistic dog foods manufacturer that produces a food that are FREE of the junk they put into their foods don't have a "prescription" food.  Hummm...just some "food" for thought on this case point.

MANUFACTURER: PURINA

Brands:

Beneful

Alpo

Chef Micheals

Dog Chow

Mighty Dog

Moist n’ Meaty

Purina One

Pro Plan

Puppy Chow

THEIR PRECRIPTION DIET BRAND:   Purina Veterinary Diets

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MANUFACTURER: COLGATE/PALMOLIVE

Brands:

Science Diet

THEIR PRESCRIPTION DIET BRAND:  Hills Prescription Diets

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MANUFACTURER: MARS / WALTHAM  

Brands:

Pedigree

Royal Canin

Cesar

Nutro

THEIR PRESCRIPTION DIET BRAND:  Royal Canin Veterinarian Diet

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MANUFACTURER: PROCTOR & GAMBLE

Brands:                                                                          

Iams

Eukanuba

NOW HAVE ACQUIRED THE FOLLOWING OTHER BRANDS FORMALLY OF NATURA PET PRODUCTS AS OF JUNE 1, 2010:

Innova

Evo

California Natural

Health Wise

THEIR PRESCRIPTION DIET BRAND:  Eukanuba “Special” Formulas &  Iams Veterinarian Diet