3 Best Limited Ingredient Dog Foods For A Happy And Healthier Pet
Have you ever read the ingredients list on your dog’s brand of food? If you have, you might be a little confused. Ethoxyquin, Propylene Glycol, BHT — the list of chemicals goes on. What is all this stuff, and is it really safe for your pup to be eating? I Heart Dogs says no. These are preservatives. Along with other chemicals commonly found in dog food, they can cause all sorts of nasty problems. That's why there are Limited Ingredient Dog Food brands.
Ethoxyquin has been linked to liver and kidney damage, blindness, and even cancer. Propylene Glycol is a chemical used to prevent mold growth in dog food, and is commonly found in antifreeze. Prolonged exposure causes blockage of the intestines and cancerous lesions. BHT and its cousin, BHA have been linked to kidney damage and cancer in pets and humans.
Comparison Table
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What can you do to prevent these nasty chemicals from hurting your best friend?
Limited ingredient dog food comes to the rescue. Especially if your furry friend has allergies which cause digestive or skin problems, limited ingredient food can be a godsend. In fact, many brands of limited ingredient food are made specifically for dogs with allergies.
Theoretically, this type of food has only a few limited ingredients and weans out bad chemicals, detrimental grains and “filler” additives like corn.
According to Pet MD, it’s impossible to define exactly what constitutes limited ingredient food. It varies with each Limited Ingredient Dog Food brand and is not regulated at the government level.
That’s why it’s important to choose the right brand when shopping around. Once you do decide to make the switch for a happier, healthier pup, there are a wide variety of foods to choose from. Some brands that tout themselves as limited ingredient brands still have some gross stuff in them.
3 Best Limited Ingredient Dog Food Brands
Acana Single Protein Limited Ingredient Formula
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This dog food ticks of all the boxes for a healthy, happy dog. Acana Singles are formulated to emulate a dog’s natural diet as it would be in a wild habitat. It contains mainly meat protein and fruits, with a few other vegetables like spinach and kale thrown into the mix.
Veggies like these add extra antioxidants, vitamins and minerals so your dog gets the nutrition he or she needs and deserves. Acana Singles are recommended by Rover as one of the best hypoallergenic foods you can get for a dog with allergies that cause skin or digestive problems.
The Best but Expensive
Acana Singles come in four flavors: Lamb and apple, duck and pear, pork and squash, and wild mackerel. It’s a rather expensive brand. You’ll pay up to $$$ for a 25 pound bag. However, it’s the cream of the crop when it comes to dog food.
Every ingredient is easy to pronounce, and easy on your best friend’s stomach a well.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Natural Dry Dog Food
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Rachael Ray Nutrish is exactly as advertised. 6 ingredients? You can’t get much more limited than that. And of the 6 ingredients, zero are chemicals.
Lamb meal and brown rice make up the majority of this tasty food. Ground rice comes next, followed by beet pulp, chicken fat and chicken meal. Is lamb meal the same as lamb? It’s not exactly fresh lamb, but it’s just as functional and healthy as a protein source.
Produced Through Rendering
The difference is how it’s cooked. Dog Food Advisor informs that meat meal is the product produced by the process of rendering, wherein meat is stewed down, then baked in order to evaporate the water and make a concentrated protein meal.
This means that the lamb meal contained in this brand actually provides more protein than whole lamb. Rachael Ray Nutrish is an economic option at just $ dollars for a 28 pound bag.
Although as of now there’s only one flavor, and one is all you really need to get your pup on the road to good health.
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food
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The Wellness Simple brand provides dogs with a tasty meal suitable for most ages and breeds. It always contains protein as the first ingredient. You can choose from duck, lamb, whitefish, turkey or salmon, always paired with ether oatmeal or potatoes as a whole carbohydrate your pup can digest safely and easily.
Helps Solve Digestive Issues
This limited ingredient dog food brand is especially good for dogs with digestive issues, and can sooth the tract of many a dog who has problems after dinner time. It contains flaxseed and Omega 3 fatty acids to promote a healthy coat, shining nails and high levels of energy in your dog.
You can choose canned or dry food depending on the tastes of your pet. It’s in the mid-level price range at around $$ dollars per 26 pound bag.
You and your pup will both love a healthier, happier dog.
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