Here is what the Editor of dogfoodanalysis.com wrote for Acana

Pros: First ingredient is a named meat product.
Cons: Insufficient meat content, use of controversial filler.

The first ingredient in the food is a named meat product in meal form. The next ingredient is oatmeal which is decent quality. Rice bran is a grain fragment.


It is a concern to see chicken fat is the fourth ingredient. Research at Purdue University has identified fat in the top four ingredients of a dry food as a factor increasing the risk of bloat in large breed dogs (smaller breeds are untested).


Beet pulp is controversial filler. It is a by-product, being dried residue from sugar beets which has been cleaned and extracted in the process of manufacturing sugar. It is a controversial ingredient in dog food, claimed by some manufacturers to be a good source of fibre, and derided by others as an ingredient added to slow down the transition of rancid animal fats and causing stress to kidney and liver in the process. We note that beet pulp is an ingredient that commonly causes problems for dogs, including allergies and ear infections, and prefer not to see it used in dog food. There are less controversial products around if additional fibre is required.


We appreciate the inclusion of a whole egg and a range of vegetable ingredients in the food.


Note that this food uses citric acid as a preservative and therefore should not be premoistened prior to feeding (a bloat risk factor).

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Added on September 19, 2007, 12:27 amInitially I wanted to get Innova but then I decided to go with Acana as these are made from the manufacturer of Orijen. I will try to switch around a bit on my next purchase as changing your dog food periodically is a good thing: Read them here: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/changing_foods.htm

This post has been edited by Pennywise: Sep 19 2007, 12:27 AM

Yea, a lot of dog food will receive negative review but it depends on your own beliefs also la. Dont be too dependent on the website even though it gives us a very good headstart.

You can give it a try, then change to another brand.

My next purchase will be Innova followed by Evanger maybe. Nowadays, I mix Casper's breakfast and dinner with Inu canned food but I just realized today that it included by products also. Anyway, for me nevermind, let him finish them and then I will look for canned food without by-products next!

I have never heard about wetfood and kibbles will cause digestion. Maybe Hun can enlighten us with some of her knowledge? Kibbles eat like that very takda rasa wan wor. Wetfood eat on its own will eat a lot wan wor = higher cost.

I think kibbles around RM35 is considered cheap lor. Innova for Puppy, RM50 for 2kg I think.

Please post up the link if you found it again ok? Thanks, I am going to bed now.

Meal ground by this process and used in the form of pellets especially for pet food. from dictionary dot com

I kinda agree with joannalooidog, some of us are being too dependent on the review of the website. If you ask me, I would say buy whatever we can afford. If we have more money this month, eat better food. When we have less money, eat moderate food. When we are broke, then eat grass lor. It applies to humans too.

I agree the website will help to a certain extend like educating us which ingredient is not too healthy for dogs but somewhere in the world is a human feeding that particular brand with no problems throughout the dogs lifetime.

Decide what's best for your dog and your pocket. This advise was given to me by the Seapark Pet Supplies uncle. Many people say Eukanuba not good but yet it sponsored so many dog show and competition, same goes for Pedigree~! All the professional wont know they sucks meh?

Read this: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/changing_foods.htm

Science Diet, we say no good - but my gf's sister husband feed his dog for 15 years with Science Diet... now the dog age 16+ year, still healthy ok?

Does it mean it's bad? I told my gf its bad, she disagree.

I guess everyone have their story. Buy the brand you trust. Of course, I'd go for Orijen and other high end stuff compared to Pedigree and Eukanuba but then there are people who fed their pups all that throughout their life is still ok.

Not here to argue but like you said, up to individual to think which is best suited for their furkids. I understand where you're coming from and I think like you do - but sometimes when I speak to people around me, they proved otherwise so I just felt like sharing some differing opinion.

Share with us if you find out anything.

zeist,
It's called Orijen, not Orijin. I read Orijin, sounds like original. I couldnt quite make out your sentence in the first few post. Haha... Is this your first time having a pup? Allow me to share my experience.

First few months when the pup arrived at your place, feed it three times a day. 8am, 1pm, 6pm in little portion - those chinese soup spoon 2x full is enough. Your pup will poo a lot, each time after food. This is good, show the pup got healthy digestive system.

When the pup gets older 5 - 6 months, you can start giving more. 8am and 6pm is my feeding time.

Many other dog food, you can feed like 1/2 a 8oz cup. But Orijen, you feed 1/3 of the cup can already! Sort of like 20% less than what you would feed if it was some other brand.

The proper way to change your dogfood from one brand to another is done in a span of 5 - 7 days, to your preferences and believes.

Day 1 and 2 = 3/4 old food + 1/4 new food
Day 3 and 4 = 1/2 old food + 1/2 new food
Day 5 and 6 = 1/4 old food + 3/4 new food
Day 7 start = 100% new food

Some people just start with the new food like that if they know their pup do not have sensitive stomach. Suddenly change like this may cause SOME pup to diarrhea but over 2 - 3 days, it will be fine also. Just need to settle and get use to it. But due to the fact that a diarrhea can be messy and hazardous to health, people prefer the approach above.

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Added on September 19, 2007, 11:05 pmjaunty,
Raw food cannot mix with kibble... not canned food right? Or canned food considered raw?

This post has been edited by Pennywise: Sep 19 2007, 11:05 PM

Remember that Orijen is 40% protein which CAN be too much for your pup if you dont bring him out to run about often. Those protein turning into fats at such young age isnt exactly healthy so watch it with the amount you feed ok? Good luck with your new pup, dude!

That's a lot of work but I wish you all the best... I also want to give Casper the best, Orijen but then worry he cannot digest everything properly and too heaty for him will give him all those rashes again. So, I better stick with those with 24 - 28% protein types.

Actually all other brands are around 24 - 28% of protein. In the market, if I'm not mistaken, only Orijen and Evo is 40% protein.

When I said Evo, I meant Innova Evo. Innova Evo has been in the market longer than Orijen. I think they are the first people to come up with 40% protein dog food. They have more votes than Orijen on dogfoodanalysis.com when you look at their 6 star dog food.

Last time it's called Innova Evo but recently, Innova and Evo name split up I think. Innova is like Acana range and Evo is like Orijen range.

Naturapet.com is the manufacturer of Innova and Evo dog food, also some other popular brands including California Natural. Other manufactured are Healthwise, Mother nature, Karma and Natura which I dont think it's available locally or I've never heard off.

Championpetfoods.com is the manufacturer of Orijen and Acana.

Blackwood, I dont know much about it. Yes, you can feed it apples and salad but dont give those thousand island or tartar sauce ok? Dunno if they are harmful or not. Hun should be able to advise.


If it's a puppy, 3 - 4 times a day depends on portion. I fed mine 3 times a day. If I didnt have time, I would leave the food there only - when he hungry, he eat. No choice, had to work. Even if you just feed it a full breakfast and dinner, it wont die. Maybe before you leave for work / school during breakfast, just throw a Denta Stix as lunch snack lor until you return during dinner time.

Hahahaha... I have to admit that Orijen smell is quite power like Acana, Blackwood I dunno.

Yea... get puppy biscuit, it helps with strengthening and reducing tartar on their teeth. IF got money, go for branded like hollistic, else normal IAMS dog biscuit also can liao.

I think Orijen Puppy only got one type which is Chicken. But inside, it also contains salmon and turkey I think. Look at it's ingredient - it's really good. Here's the ingredient link: http://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/pro...ngredients.aspx

Lamb is good for puppies who are sensitive to chicken, yes there are such puppies. Beef, I wouldnt recommend as beef ATTRACT ticks. Casper is never fed with beef products except some Caesar beef. I really dont want to get troubled with ticks and all - troublesome and costly.

Yes, I agree with what Mochi has written here. Make sure you really bring your dog out to exercise for walks, EVERYDAY!

Dont everyday come back from work / school, too tired to bring it horrr... Today, I got back early and brought Casper out for 1 hour jungle trekking -both come back also wanna die liao. Burnt 876kilocalories stated in my Polar heart-rate monitor watch.

Dissing pedigree brand! Hahahahaha... Yes, dog biscuit can get anywhere wan actually.

Pedigree is long time brand liao - promote many event and sponsorship somemroe. Like I wrote about, got money, take the high end wan. It all depends on budget.

Are you planning on neutering your doggy? IF you are not going to get a female dog so soon, you have nothing to worry about - why neuter him?

Dont reply to me then, my replies is to help you anyway. Denta stix is for puppy, yellow packet, got 5 - 6 stix inside, quite long, can let doggy bite whole day at lunch snack lor.

You will probably fall in love with dogs and get a female later on... Just like me now.

I currently own one male pup of 11 months. His name is Casper, a westie. Yes, I am getting another westie, female. No, I am not into spaying or neutering them. I think it's cruel.

Its my dream to come home to a house of westies, so it's ok if they breed. I dont mind and I can support them, it's fine. Let nature takes its course.

zeist,
I am not kaki terrier, I only love west highland white terriers. I dont know how to love other dogs for now because I think these westie are the best for me.

Silver Silky? Never heard of it or seen it.

Dont take it seriously when madmoz shares with you some advise ok? I understand how all new dog-lover falls in love with practically every puppy they meet. Just be a responsible owner. We place our faith in you man.

Dont feel pressure. May you enlighten me with a picture of a silver silky?