November 19, 2010

It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.

Carbohydrate (Part 2)

How to estimate carbohydrate
"Guaranteed analysis" provides information to estimate carbohydrate. "The protein, fat, ash, carbohydrate and water content [accounts] for roughly 100 percent of the total pre-cooking weight of any dog food...Subtract the reported protein, fat, water and ash percentages from the 100 percent total.  And you’ll get a fairly good idea of the carbohydrate content in that dog food (1)."

Estimates of Carbohydrate in select dry grain-free dog foods
  • Acana Pacifica ~ 27% (5), 27-32% (2)
  • Acana Wild Prairie ~ 26% (5), 26-31% (2)
  • Artemis Fresh Mix Maximal ~ 21% (3)
  • California Natural Grain Free Lamb Meal Adult ~ 57% (3)
  • Dogswell Nutrisca Chicken & Chickpea ~ 36% (3)
  • EVO Turkey & Chicken  ~ 12-18% (2), ~ 21% (3)
  • Orijen Six Fish ~ 20-24% (2), 30% (3)
  • Solid Gold Barking at the Moon ~ 24% (3)
  • Wellness Core Original ~ 39% (3)

Bottom Line:  Grain-free dry food is working for us and here is what I know for sure: 1) grain-free does not mean carbohydrate-free 2) grain-free costs more but because it is nutritionally dense, I feed less of it and 3) the border collies are doing well meaning they have no tummy issues with grain-free formulas. If and when I do use "grains" in a home-prepared meal,  I control the source and typically feed cooked white rice or cooked oats. This flexibility is a mainstay of our variety & rotation diet.

Resources:
(1) "How to Quickly Calculate the Carbohydrate Content of Any Dog Food" - DogFoodAdvisor
(2) Estimated from information on actual dog food label. First number is % carb (NFE) printed on label and second number is % carb from math formula.
(3) Dog Food Reviews by Brand - DogFoodAdvisor
(4) "Dry Matter Basis - A Better Way to Compare Dog Foods" - DogFoodAdvisor
(5) Pulled % carb from company website
(6) Grain-free Dog Foods - The Dog Food Project
(7) List of dry dog foods (non-grain free and grain-free) - DogAware

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