Canidae® vs. Innova??

[krm223]

I was feeding McKenzy Solid Gold, but have just switched her to Innova. I have read such good things about both Canidae® & Innova. In your opinion which one is better? I think I am leaning toward Innova. Below are the ingredients in each one:

Quote: Canidae Dry Dog Food - For All Life Stages Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Lamb Meal, Chicken Fat, (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols And Asorbic Acid, Vitamins E and C), Fish Meal, Flax Seed, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil, Lecithin, Brewers Yeast, Natural Flavors, Monosodium Phosphate, Choline, Linoleic Acid, Rosemary Extract, Sage Extract, Ferrous Sulfate, Dl - Alpha Tocopherol (Source Of Vitamin E), Zinc Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Manganous Oxide, Riboflavin Supplement (Source Of B2), Yeast Culture, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidiphilus Fermentation Product, Dried Streptococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Niacin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, D-Biotin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium, Iodate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Papain, Bacillus Subtili, Aspergillus Niger, Yucca Schidigera Extract.

Quote: Innova Canine Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown, Rice, Potatoes, Ground White Rice, Chicken Fat, Herring, Apples, Carrots, Cottage Cheese, Sunflower Oil, Alfalfa Sprouts, Egg, Garlic, Probiotics, and Vitamins/Minerals

If you think that there is a better food than these two please let me know!

Kristy

[Becki]

In my opinion, the Innova looks better. I say that because it's got Turkey and Chicken listed at the top as opposed to turkey and chicken meal. They also don't have any preservatives (unless something listed there is a preservative I don't recognize). If I were choosing between the 2 I'd go with the Innova, but they do both look like decent dog food.

[Jade]

One problem with that list you gave for Innova is that it isn't complete. It doesn't tell what probiotics, what vitamins/minerals, it doesn't look like an "official" ingredient list. So it's hard to choose.

[krm223]

Becki, I was thinking the exact same thing as you regarding the "meal" ingredients in the Canidae.

Jade, The ingredients that I listed are the ones on the bag and on the official website http://www.naturapet.com/display.php...d%3D%271%27%5D .

The web site gives the following as more info on the 2 that you questioned:

Quote: Probiotics include Streptococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casei, and Lactobacillus Plantarum. These important probiotics are added to Innova formulations to help prevent disease and sickness. They are especially critical for dogs and cats that are under stress from shipping, showing, surgery, and kennel stays. Probiotics and their prebiotic partners are added to the food after the cooking process to preserve their properties.

Quote: Vitamins are organic compounds that function as parts of enzyme systems essential for the transmission of energy and the regulation of metabolisms of the body. Minerals are inorganic substances essential for a host of vital processes within the body. AAFCO regulates minimum standard quantities of vitamins and minerals in levels that pets need to survive. All pet food manufacturers supplement their products with vitamins and minerals. Beyond meeting these minimum requirements, all Natura products contain a complete vitamin and mineral supplement program that helps pets to thrive, not just survive. The minerals Natura uses are chelated, providing three to ten times greater assimilation than common minerals. Our Innova products also contain beneficial probiotic supplements, which are not required by the AAFCO minimums. Included in our foods are: Vitamin C (calcium ascorbate), Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), Vitamin A (retinol), Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganous Oxide, Vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), Folic Acid, Cobalt Carbonate and Biotin. Natura adds these important vitamins and minerals, in proper balance to its foods to ensure that your pet gets all the necessary nutrients for life and good health every day.

We are feeding Canidae and are very pleased. It is highly rated by Whole Dog Journal and is highly recommended by our holistic vet.

[BrendaLynn]

My dog doesn't care at all for Canidae. It isn't much to his liking he prefers Iams.

[Deja]

This thread is one that really interests me because I have decided to switch my dogs from Iams to Innova. I've been researching all the *super premium* (is that what they are called?) brands and comparing ingredients, etc...

I have a 6 year old Golden Retriever and a 4 month old Brittany- my dogs have always been on either Eukenuba or Iams. After reading about all the better foods out there and their benefits I really want to feed them the best diet I possibly can.

I've decided to try Innova and I've actually found a lot of local retailers that sell it. If anyone out there is feeding Innova I would love to hear what you think about it.

My baby Brittany is going to be field trained for upland game hunting and my Golden Retriever is just the best dog-buddy I have ever had. He's just an amazing, obedient, loving best friend. I want to keep them both healthy and strong for as long as I can.

Thanks for the info!

Deja

[opokki]

Im not currently feeding Innova to my dogs (I am using it on the cats though) but I have used it in the past and was extremely pleased with it and will definately use it again in the future. My mother's dog has been on Innova for about a year now and looks great...she has also been quite impressed with this food.

I've never used Canidae but have heard good things about it.

[Linda Lee]

I have been a long time user of Nutro dog foods and canned California Natural. The Innova sounds wonderful!
After reading through some posts here at PT, I have decided to switch to Chicken soup , which also lists 2 first ingred. as Chicken and Turkey, not "meal" like Calif. Natural dry food. I was sent a 6 pound sample dry food from a Chicken soup rep.- and my dogs seem to just inhale it when I held my hand out with a few peices . So i will be off to get stocked up on it soon when the other food gets low. I hope it's not too much more expensive than Calif. Natural though. Thought I'd just let you know about that new food, cause I think it's a very good new one out there. Although my local pet shop dosen't care to hear about it.

[Deja]

Well, after doing some reading and pricing and seeing what stores close to me sell which brand... I decided on Wellness.
It's cost is about 30 cents more a pound than the Iams I've always fed. I ended up choosing this brand because the pet supply store that I use is the only one close enough to me that sells any of the super premiums! I thought I could find Innova in a store near me.... nope

So... based on cost and how far I have to travel to buy it, it's Wellness for now. My vet seems pleased with my decision to switch to this brand. My puppy inhales the puppy formula and my older Golden Retriever seems to like it but is not enthusiastic about food right now probably due to the Lyme Disease and the strong antibiotics he's on. He *is* eating it though... He always seems to go for Max's puppy food and Max seems to want Jack's adult food! It cracks me up to watch the feeding ritual- lol.

I'll keep you posted on how I think they are doing on this food- if I notice any changes in their coats, skin, appearance, etc...

Deja

[glidertales]

We feed Canidae to our dogs cats and ferrets lol. On the website it explains why they use the meal. Check out this link.
Go to meat vs meal

http://www.canidae.com/