It seems that I am always writing articles about manufactured dog food. But, if that is true it’s only because I am passionate about good nutrition for Chihuahuas! Case in point — My Pebbles has lived with heart disease for many years and is now in heart failure.

Pebbles and Heart Disease

Why? Because I fed my Pebbles a “premium” brand name dog food “rated” as one of the best. Years later and after it was too late for my poor Pebbles, the FDA came out with a warning and a list of dog food brands that cause heart disease! You guessed it … my “premium” name-brand dog food was on the list! You can learn more about it

HERE

The only reason she is still alive is because of the research I’ve done on canine nutrition and the diet that I have fed her since.

Keep in mind the cases mentioned in this report were only those that were reported. I had no idea when Pebbles was diagnosed therefore I didn’t report it and who knows how many other cases there were/are that were never reported.

So, that brings us back to Myths about manufactured dog food.

Dog Food Myths

There are bitter disagreements even among veterinarians and dog nutrition experts about types of diets for dogs. Let’s see … there is

• Vegan
• vegetarian
• raw
• ketogenic
• gluten-free
• paleo
• organic

Pros and cons for each of these diets you’ll find all over the internet and on social media. That gets shared and misinterpreted over and over. It’s no wonder there are so many myths and misconceptions out there.

Busting The Myths:

MYTH #1, True or False? Any bag or container of dog food that says “complete and balanced” and meets the AAFCO’s nutrient profile has the same nutrients.

TRUTH: The truth is the legal definition of “complete and balanced” is not defined by an agency, government-regulated group (in US). Rather, this advisory group is in association with the American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)

The dog food nutrient profiles are made up of only the minimum values for all the nutrients required by a dog that can be toxic if eaten in excessive amounts. All that is required is that the food meets the minimum nutrient values and if it doesn’t exceed this it can be labeled as a “complete and balanced” diet.

The truth is it takes a lot of trial and error to find a dog food that supports your dog’s requirements for a healthy mind and body.

MYTH #2: If it says “premium” on the bag, then it has to be better than those that don’t say that they are “premium”.

TRUTH: The word “premium” is a marketing term and means absolutely nothing. The manufacturer is not required to prove that their dog food is better than another. They are not required to show any data or any studies to prove their claim of “premium”.

MYTH # 3: The best dog food for a Chihuahua is (—– fill in the blank …).

TRUTH: It doesn’t matter what you put here … you’re wrong. There really is no such thing as a “best dog food” when it comes to manufactured dog food.

All dogs are individuals. Just like humans, dogs can live on a diet of fast food, high-fat processed food, and prepared frozen foods. Some humans, however, would die eating such a diet exclusively. Some humans can’t eat foods that contain gluten. Not all humans like a certain food, ie strawberries, for example. Some humans are diabetic and need a special diet to stay healthy.

It is the same with dogs. All of the above-mentioned can pertain to dogs, too. Although a dog may live on any dog food there are much better-quality diets that are specific to your individual Chihuahua’s nutritional needs for a longer life. It’s just not always easy to find.

MYTH #4: Once you find a diet that suits your individual Chihuahua you should never change it.

TRUTH: Who do you think benefits from that reasoning? Not your Chihuahua — the pet food company that manufactures that brand of dog food.

It is true that if you feed your Chihuahua the same dog food for months or years then you change it your Chi could experience some stomach upset. That is why it is recommended that when you change food you should do it gradually.

Just like humans, dogs do very well on a variety of foods and enjoy the different flavors and textures. In fact, the more variety, the stronger their immune system becomes. If you change your Chihuahua’s food regularly it is not necessary to do it gradually because they won’t experience stomach upset (there are always exceptions).

My suggestion is to rotate at least three different dog foods from different pet food companies throughout the year. Why? Because no two foods contain the same nutrients or at the same levels. When you rotate, their food your Chihuahua gets a more rounded and balanced diet.

There is an exception and that is dogs that are intolerant to change and/or are allergic to a number of different foods.

MYTH # 5: The more the food costs, the better quality it is.

TRUTH: It is true that the cheaper the food, the lower the quality of that food. However, there are so many factors that affect pricing, the above statement is false.

Some companies spend more money on advertising than on the quality of the ingredients and then pass the advertising costs on to the consumer — you.

There are bargains in dog food and one way to find one is to compare the price per pound of dog foods with similar ingredients and macronutrient (carbohydrates, fat and protein are called macronutrients.)levels.

MYTH # 6: You should ask your veterinarian what brand/type of dog food is better for your Chihuahua.

TRUTH: Ahhh, many believe this to be true, however, the truth is a veterinariay clinic or hospital is a business. As such, your veterinarian will suggest a dog food that they sell in their clinic or hospital.

Instead, ask your veterinarian what he or she feeds their dog. I can safely guarantee that if they are honest, it won’t be a dog food that they sell.

Don’t get me wrong: I respect and appreciate veterinarians. I have worked in a very busy veterinary hospital. Rather than an entirely profit motive veterinarians are susceptible to marketing as we are. They can be convinced that a certain dog food brand is the best quality by a talented salesperson or an informative seminar they attended.

What about prescription dog food sold exclusively in veterinary clinics or hospitals? That this is better for your Chihuahua with specific health issues is also a dog food myth. If you worked 12 hour days and could barely keep up with your workload would you rather have a 30-minute talk with your client about a diet that is better for a dog with heart disease or kidney disease and why, or suggest one sold in your clinic that has those features even though, it may not contain all the necessary ingredients or nutrients that your dog needs?

Keep in mind, not all veterinarians are interested in or knowledgeable about canine nutrition. Nutrition is not a required subject in veterinary medical school.

What Did I Feed Pebbles?

After her diagnosis of heart disease at age 6 (she is at this writing 14, thanks to NomNom and a fresh food diet), I changed her diet to NomNom, formerly NomNomNow. Why? There were a number of reasons I chose NomNom.

1. It is formulated by a veterinary nutritionist. One that studied and specializes in canine nutrition.
2. It does not go through a manufacturing plant. It is made in their own kitchen with freshly grown ingredients.
3. They use restaurant-quality proteins. If they won’t eat it, they don’t put it in their food for your Chihuahua to eat either.
4. It is gently cooked and there is no frying involved to insure the vital nutrients are sealed in.
5. They are pre-portioned down to the calorie for your Chihuahuas optimal health and weight.
6. Convenience! It is delivered to your door. All you do is take a package out of the freezer, thaw, and put in their bowl. What could be easier than that?
7. Cost. The price for a Chihuahua is comparable to store-bought dog food.
8. Variety. They have 4 different recipes and you can buy a variety pack to rotate as I recommended above.
9. Taste. My dogs just absolutely love it!
10. They answer their own phones and will address any questions you may have.

Now you can get 50% off NomNom exclusively from ChiChis And Me! Try it, if your Chihuahua doesn’t love it (oh, but they will!), you can cancel any time.