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A Look at the Ingredients of Abady Dog Food: Just the Facts
I will attempt to remain as objective as possible during this analysis. Sorry if it is consequently a bit dense.
Based on the Abady Classic Formula for Maintenance and Stress
Chicken By-Products Meal AAFCO definition: "consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice"; A very vague product with a high amount of variability. While the nutrient composition is comparable to chicken meal, it is not as digestible to the animal.
White Rice Inexpensive energy source. Low nutrient quantities.
Menhaden Fish Meal Not used for human consumption because Menhaden fish spoil very quickly along with having a low palatibility. A very bony fish. Must be rendered and preserved immediately to maintain product viability. Most importantly, Menhaden contain an enzyme called thiaminase which can cause thiamine deficiencies. Being the third ingredient on the list, this is concerning and the diet must be fortified with substantial amounts of thiamine to counteract the thiaminase. It is possible that the thiaminase may denature the thiamine present in this feed, so it may be necessary to supplement. High in DHA and EPA forms of linoleic acid.
Lard AAFCO definition: "the rendered fat of swine." A low grade fat with a high palatibility. While it is very high in linoleic acid (Omega 6 fatty acids), the important of the two essential fatty acids is not the quantity, but the ratio between the two. Linolenic acid (Omega 3) deficiency is much more common than linoleic acid deficiencies. It is very low in linoleic acid. Inexpensive energy source. High in cholesterol. Low nutrient density.
Safflower Oil: Good source of linoleic acid. Very heat stable.
Beef Fat Interchangeable with tallow. AAFCO definition: "Fat with titer above 40 degrees Celsius, obtained from the tissue of cattle in the commercial process of rendering." Very low in linoleic acid, while high in linolenic acid. High palatibility. Inexpensive energy source. High in cholesterol. Low nutrient density.
Dicalcium Phosphate High in both calcium and phosphorus.
Beef Meat and Bone Meal AAFCO definition: "The rendered product from beef tissues, including bone, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices." A very vague and variable product. While high in protein, it has poor nutrient availability to the animal.
Potassium Chloride: An inexpensive inorganic source of potassium with low availability to the animal.
Undefatted Beef Liver: No AAFCO definition available. Possibly high in fat since liver is usually very high in fat unless defatted. Generally, liver is very nutrient dense and contains substantial quantities of Vitamin A, Iron, and 5 B Vitamins. One should use caution when feeding liver, however, since vitamin A is present in a form that is not able to be regulated by the body and may result in Vitamin A toxicity.
Flaxseed Oil: High in linolenic acid in the form of ALA. ALA is unusuable to the canine; only EPA and DHA are available.
Whey Protein Concentrate: Inexpensive protein source with high bioavailability.
Choline Chloride: High in choline (a B vitamin). Negatively affects the stability of several vitamin and inorganic mineral sources, including Vitamin A, K3 (menadione sodium bisulfite complex), thiamine mononitrate and niacinamide. A less expensive and less bioavailable source of choline compared to lecithin.
Natural Flavor: AAFCO definition: "A substance, such as an extract or spice, that add flavor to a product." It could be any substance that adds flavor.
Menhaden Fish Oil: An inexpensive by-product of making menhaden fish meal. No vitamins or minerals present. Good energy source. High in DHA and EPA forms of linoleic acid. High in linolenic acid.
Ferrous Sulfate: An inexpensive inorganic source of iron with low bioavailability. Can affect the availability of other nutrients.
d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate: A synthetic vitamin E supplement. Contains half the bioavailability of organic sources of vitamin E.
Magnesium Oxide: An inexpensive inorganic source of magnesium with low bioavailability.
Zinc Oxide: An inexpensive inorganic source of zinc with low bioavailability.
Ascorbic Acid: Vitamin C.
Vitamin A Acetate: An inexpensive source of vitamin A used in place of beta-carotene. Unlike beta-carotene, the uptake of vitamin A from vitamin A acetate is unable to be regulated by the body posing a risk for vitamin A toxicity.
Taurine: An essential amino acid for dogs, source unspecified.
Niacinamide: A source of niacin. Absorbancy is affected by choline chloride which is also present in this product.
d-Calcium Pentothenate: A synthetic form of pentothenic acid (B5). Shown to have similar availability to natural sources.
Inositol: Vitamin B8.
Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex: A source of antioxidants derived from citrus fruits.
Ergocalciferol: An animal-derived source of vitamin D. Usually unnecessary in animals with adequate access to the outdoors.
Manganese Sulfate: An inexpensive inorganic source of manganese with low bioavailability.
Riboflavin: A B complex vitamin.
Potassium Iodide: An inorganic source of iodine. Frequently shown to cause reactions due to sensitivity including goiter formation, exhaustion, and painful muscles. Iodine sensitivity is a fairly common sensitivity. Poor regulation of uptake of iodine from this source can result in toxicity.
Phytonadione: A plant-based source of vitamin K. Vitamin K supplementation is unnecessary in dogs with a healthy microbial population.
Thiamin Hydrochloride: An inexpensive inorganic source of thiamine with low bioavailability.
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride: An inexpensive inorganic source of pyridoxine with low bioavailability.
Cupric Oxide: An inexpensive inorganic source of copper with low bioavailability. A confirmed neurotoxin.
Chromium GTF An organic source of the trace mineral chromium with a high bioavailability.
Sodium Selenite: An inexpensive inorganic source of selenium with low bioavailability. Overdose may result in selenosis, but this is true for an selenium-containing compound.
Folic Acid: Vitamin B6. Source not confirmed.
Biotin: Vitamin B7.
Cyanocobalamin Concentrate: Source of B12.
Concerns:
-Absence of a muscle meat with high nutrient availability
-High concentrations of linoleic acid and low concentrations of linolenic acid
-Use of protein-dense supplements to bolster protein counts
-The use of mineral products with low bioavailability
-Contains two compounds that alter the actual amount of thiamine in the feed
-Contains potassium iodide
-Contain cupric oxide
-BEYOND THIS POINT, I AM NO LONGER COMPLETELY OBJECTIVE-
Is every ingredient in this feed bad? No.
Would I feel comfortable feeding some of the ingredients of this feed to my dogs? Yes.
Would I feed this recipe of Abady dog food to my dogs? No.
ants: That took way too much work.
I will attempt to remain as objective as possible during this analysis. Sorry if it is consequently a bit dense.
Based on the Abady Classic Formula for Maintenance and Stress
Chicken By-Products Meal AAFCO definition: "consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice"; A very vague product with a high amount of variability. While the nutrient composition is comparable to chicken meal, it is not as digestible to the animal.
White Rice Inexpensive energy source. Low nutrient quantities.
Menhaden Fish Meal Not used for human consumption because Menhaden fish spoil very quickly along with having a low palatibility. A very bony fish. Must be rendered and preserved immediately to maintain product viability. Most importantly, Menhaden contain an enzyme called thiaminase which can cause thiamine deficiencies. Being the third ingredient on the list, this is concerning and the diet must be fortified with substantial amounts of thiamine to counteract the thiaminase. It is possible that the thiaminase may denature the thiamine present in this feed, so it may be necessary to supplement. High in DHA and EPA forms of linoleic acid.
Lard AAFCO definition: "the rendered fat of swine." A low grade fat with a high palatibility. While it is very high in linoleic acid (Omega 6 fatty acids), the important of the two essential fatty acids is not the quantity, but the ratio between the two. Linolenic acid (Omega 3) deficiency is much more common than linoleic acid deficiencies. It is very low in linoleic acid. Inexpensive energy source. High in cholesterol. Low nutrient density.
Safflower Oil: Good source of linoleic acid. Very heat stable.
Beef Fat Interchangeable with tallow. AAFCO definition: "Fat with titer above 40 degrees Celsius, obtained from the tissue of cattle in the commercial process of rendering." Very low in linoleic acid, while high in linolenic acid. High palatibility. Inexpensive energy source. High in cholesterol. Low nutrient density.
Dicalcium Phosphate High in both calcium and phosphorus.
Beef Meat and Bone Meal AAFCO definition: "The rendered product from beef tissues, including bone, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices." A very vague and variable product. While high in protein, it has poor nutrient availability to the animal.
Potassium Chloride: An inexpensive inorganic source of potassium with low availability to the animal.
Undefatted Beef Liver: No AAFCO definition available. Possibly high in fat since liver is usually very high in fat unless defatted. Generally, liver is very nutrient dense and contains substantial quantities of Vitamin A, Iron, and 5 B Vitamins. One should use caution when feeding liver, however, since vitamin A is present in a form that is not able to be regulated by the body and may result in Vitamin A toxicity.
Flaxseed Oil: High in linolenic acid in the form of ALA. ALA is unusuable to the canine; only EPA and DHA are available.
Whey Protein Concentrate: Inexpensive protein source with high bioavailability.
Choline Chloride: High in choline (a B vitamin). Negatively affects the stability of several vitamin and inorganic mineral sources, including Vitamin A, K3 (menadione sodium bisulfite complex), thiamine mononitrate and niacinamide. A less expensive and less bioavailable source of choline compared to lecithin.
Natural Flavor: AAFCO definition: "A substance, such as an extract or spice, that add flavor to a product." It could be any substance that adds flavor.
Menhaden Fish Oil: An inexpensive by-product of making menhaden fish meal. No vitamins or minerals present. Good energy source. High in DHA and EPA forms of linoleic acid. High in linolenic acid.
Ferrous Sulfate: An inexpensive inorganic source of iron with low bioavailability. Can affect the availability of other nutrients.
d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate: A synthetic vitamin E supplement. Contains half the bioavailability of organic sources of vitamin E.
Magnesium Oxide: An inexpensive inorganic source of magnesium with low bioavailability.
Zinc Oxide: An inexpensive inorganic source of zinc with low bioavailability.
Ascorbic Acid: Vitamin C.
Vitamin A Acetate: An inexpensive source of vitamin A used in place of beta-carotene. Unlike beta-carotene, the uptake of vitamin A from vitamin A acetate is unable to be regulated by the body posing a risk for vitamin A toxicity.
Taurine: An essential amino acid for dogs, source unspecified.
Niacinamide: A source of niacin. Absorbancy is affected by choline chloride which is also present in this product.
d-Calcium Pentothenate: A synthetic form of pentothenic acid (B5). Shown to have similar availability to natural sources.
Inositol: Vitamin B8.
Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex: A source of antioxidants derived from citrus fruits.
Ergocalciferol: An animal-derived source of vitamin D. Usually unnecessary in animals with adequate access to the outdoors.
Manganese Sulfate: An inexpensive inorganic source of manganese with low bioavailability.
Riboflavin: A B complex vitamin.
Potassium Iodide: An inorganic source of iodine. Frequently shown to cause reactions due to sensitivity including goiter formation, exhaustion, and painful muscles. Iodine sensitivity is a fairly common sensitivity. Poor regulation of uptake of iodine from this source can result in toxicity.
Phytonadione: A plant-based source of vitamin K. Vitamin K supplementation is unnecessary in dogs with a healthy microbial population.
Thiamin Hydrochloride: An inexpensive inorganic source of thiamine with low bioavailability.
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride: An inexpensive inorganic source of pyridoxine with low bioavailability.
Cupric Oxide: An inexpensive inorganic source of copper with low bioavailability. A confirmed neurotoxin.
Chromium GTF An organic source of the trace mineral chromium with a high bioavailability.
Sodium Selenite: An inexpensive inorganic source of selenium with low bioavailability. Overdose may result in selenosis, but this is true for an selenium-containing compound.
Folic Acid: Vitamin B6. Source not confirmed.
Biotin: Vitamin B7.
Cyanocobalamin Concentrate: Source of B12.
Concerns:
-Absence of a muscle meat with high nutrient availability
-High concentrations of linoleic acid and low concentrations of linolenic acid
-Use of protein-dense supplements to bolster protein counts
-The use of mineral products with low bioavailability
-Contains two compounds that alter the actual amount of thiamine in the feed
-Contains potassium iodide
-Contain cupric oxide
-BEYOND THIS POINT, I AM NO LONGER COMPLETELY OBJECTIVE-
Is every ingredient in this feed bad? No.
Would I feel comfortable feeding some of the ingredients of this feed to my dogs? Yes.
Would I feed this recipe of Abady dog food to my dogs? No.