Do you know what is in the food you give your dog? How to differentiate the good products from the bad in the market? In this article, I will try to explain the ultimate review of pure balance dog food.
First, let’s know about the different types of food.
Types of foods:
- Croquettes
- Canned
- Dehydrated / lyophilized / air dry
- Prepared flood
- Homemade raw
For this article, I will focus on dry food since most people give. But it’s sad to say, the formulas “puppies, adults, etc.” exist because it reassures the customer and not because it is better for the dog! It is also a question of marketing since the company knows very well that by seeing “puppy” written on the bag,
The important thing is in the list of ingredients, a subject that we will discuss later!
Table of Contents
Pure balance dog food review
First, your dog’s age will determine which formula from each manufacturer you should compare.
If your dog has a year or less, you choose a puppy formula.
Or your dog is over a year old. Then, you will choose an adult formula (sometimes called maintenance).
When the dog seven years old and over (or five years old if it is a large breed), you will choose a senior formula.
Each formula (puppy, adult, or senior) is adapted to the specific needs of your dog. For example, a puppy formula will have more protein to help your dog grow and develop his system.
The goal of the adult formula is to maintain an ideal weight (do not gain or lose). Finally, the senior formula is easier to digest. The level of fat and protein is lower to prevent the dog from gaining weight since an older dog does less physical activity.
Notes: For females used for breeding, they are usually given the puppy formula to provide additional nutrients for lactation.
From the age of 6 months, it can feed a small breed puppy an adult formula. However, I find it a bit early (I prefer 9-12 months).
Also, the other option is to choose food that we call “all life stages”,.) which is a food formulated to work for a puppy, an adult dog, or a senior. It’s just that the food generally contains 2% more protein than the adult formula. Take the test, you will see! The two percent more can be obtained by simply increasing the portion.
When to feed your dog? – Review of Pure balance dog food
For dogs (as for humans), eating provides nutrients in the blood, which cause them to vary, among other things, the sugar level. Eating more frequently will therefore help prevent hypoglycemia which is a drop in blood sugar.
To avoid a hypoglycemic attack (which happens mostly to puppies), be sure to feed your dog at least twice a day: morning and evening. Even better: always leave him his food (by controlling the portions on the other hand).
That way, he will have his fill, here and there, throughout the day. It will be the best way to avoid hypoglycemia since eating a croquette here and there during the day. Then, his sugar level will vary very little.
Note: the portions written on the bags (depending on the dog’s weight) are for a full day. If you are giving it in two meals, be sure to divide the portion in half! In addition, the portions are indicative only. It may very well be that your dog eats a little less (frequent) or a little more (less frequent).
How to switch from one food to another?
Before deciding on the new food, you want to feed your dog, it is crucial to know how to switch between brands.
To not disturb the dog’s digestive system (which could cause diarrhea), it is essential to make a slow transition from the old to the new food.
For example:
- Day 1: 75% old, 25% new
- Day 2: 50% old, 50% new
- Day 3: 25% old, 75% new
- Day 4: 100% new food
Note: If you find that your dog is developing gas, loose stools, or diarrhea, stay on the same “mix” until it settles. If it lasts for several days, your dog may be intolerant to an ingredient in the new food (more on this below). However, in most cases, a 3-5 day transition goes perfectly well!
Food allergies or intolerances:
Symptoms of an allergy? The dog scratches, bite its paws, licks excessively, has nausea and vomiting.
An intolerance occurs when the digestive system has difficulty digesting food. It is a digestive disorder instead of an immune system response (as in an allergy). Symptoms of intolerance? Digestive distress: gas, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What are the foods most often involved?
It is rare for a dog to have a true allergy. However, the majority (90%) of reactions are, in fact, intolerances.
Such as:
- Beef
- Dairy products
- Chicken
- But
- Corn
- Soy
- Yeast
- Lamb
- Fish
If you notice your dog has an allergy/intolerance to their new food. Try comparing the two foods to find what could be different. For example, if your dog’s old food was turkey and the new one is chicken, chances are the chicken is the problematic element. Do the test with fish food to see if the reaction goes away. If so, you will know that you should avoid foods that contain chicken in the future.
Carnivorous or omnivorous?
It is a debate that has going on for some time. Is the dog a carnivore or an omnivore? All the scientific evidence, which I will present to you here, points to the fact that the dog is a carnivore!
By studying the dog’s DNA, specialists have been able to prove that the dog has been a descendant of the wolf for around 15,000 years. In addition, the dog’s body has all the traits of a carnivore. Whether through the shape of its teeth or the functioning and design of its digestive system.
A dog does not chew its food. It cuts its food. To compare, let’s take the cow, which is a recognized herbivore. You all have the image of a cow chewing a long time before finally swallowing. That is because the cow’s jaw moves from side to side. In addition, the cow’s back teeth are flat and not sharp.
The flat teeth are made to crush the kernels (corn) that the cow eats into tiny particles. True omnivores (like humans) have the combination of two types of teeth: flat and pointed. Dogs have no flat teeth: all of their teeth are narrow and pointed like all carnivores! In addition, their jaw only moves up and down and not left to right like a cow (herbivore) or human (omnivore) without chewing.
Then the salivary glands of herbivores and omnivores produce an enzyme called amylase. The salivary glands of carnivores do not produce this enzyme, which is used to convert carbohydrates into sugars BEFORE they enter the stomach. Dogs produce this enzyme, but AFTER the food has entered the digestive system, either the pancreas and small intestine, which doesn’t help digestion.
Digestive system: Pure balance dog food review
Finally, herbivores (cows) have a digestive system about ten times the length of their body, which is not the case with dogs. This long digestive system in the cow is used to digest a diet made from plants. Another reason why dogs are made to eat meat!
That said, the dog has evolved from its origins, coming from the wolf. His system has adapted to be able to digest something other than meat, like grains and vegetables. They can survive on a diet made up of almost just beans, but to excel, a dog needs meat!
So now you know why the dog is carnivorous and needs as much meat as possible in its food!
Proteins and Amino Acids
A dog necessarily needs protein to live. The protein can come from plants (grains) or animals (meat). Much like us, when we choose our food at the grocery store. The quality of the protein we offer our dog will significantly influence its health.
Imagine spending your life eating meat, although it is a protein. Let’s face it; our body will surely like it better than we choose a good fish! Let me give you another example: a pair of leather boots is protein. Is this a GOOD protein for your dog to eat? Not! It is called biological value. The higher the number, the better the protein.
Here is a table with some examples
Food Biological value:
- Whole egg 100 (best possible)
- Meat meal (chicken, turkey, beef, fish) 92
- Fresh fish) 83
- Beef (fresh) 80
- Chicken / turkey (fresh) 79
- Brown rice 57
- Corn 50
- Soy 47
- But 45
- Wheat gluten 40
A protein with a low biological value (rice, wheat, soy, corn) will be more challenging to digest. It will make the kidneys work harder to evacuate the surpluses, which serve as a filter for the body. That assimilating what is good and transforming it.
Also, which is less good to eliminate. On the other hand, the body will quickly recognize a good protein. Knowing that our dog will generally eat the same food over a very long period. It becomes essential to offer him quality proteins, mainly coming from meat.
Coming back to our subject, what matters is not directly the proteins but the proteins containing amino acids.
Imagine proteins as a locomotive, and each amino acid is a wagon.
What happens if only one drops out?
The entire process is slowed down since each amino acid acts on the others, like a production line in a factory. If a person is not at his post, the whole production stops! That is why food must contain all ten elements.
Studies have even shown that dogs can recognize if their food contains all ten elements and that they may refuse to eat food lacking a single amino acid. Commercial foods – technically – contain all ten elements. However, they can find their way around naturally (which is desirable) or synthetically.
More concretely and very simply, we could say that proteins mainly use to nourish the muscles.Whether it contributes to the growth of the puppy or the muscle regeneration of the adult dog following physical effort. They are also used for the development and maintenance of the skeletal system and the immune system.
FAQ on pure balance dog food review
1. How to make the croquettes?
You can make croquettes by using the baking-extrusion process. This same process used in human food to make puffed aperitif biscuits or breakfast cereals.
2. How to make dog food?
The croquettes: They come from a cooking-extrusion which subjects to the combined effects of pressure and temperature (90 to 150 ° C) for a short time (20 to 30 seconds) a hydrated mixture of raw materials in flour.
3. What’s in the croquettes?
A good kibble makes up mostly of various quality meats and fish. As well as a bit of vegetable and fruit to provide all the essential nutrients to our carnivorous friends.
4. Is dog food suitable?
Further proof of this is that on the scale of the canine population. Dog food has already made it possible to increase the life expectancy of dogs and reduce their nutritional deficiencies. So to feed your dog well with kibble, you have to choose them well.
Conclusion on pure balance dog food review
You now understand why it is important to check two things on the packaging of food. The protein rate (%) and all the protein quality (to know if the proteins come mainly from meat or grains).
You will also notice that the diets of veterinarians (for sick dogs) are all made with proteins with a meager biological value (rice, wheat, soy, corn). What sense do you find in donating proteins?That are difficult to transform for the body of an animal. Whose organs are already malfunctioning? It doesn’t make any sense! We will come back to veterinary foods later.
