EVO Dog Food (Dry)

I have a questions about the Evo Herring and Salmon formula. The Evo fish is one of the few dog foods out there that does not contain tomato products (my dog is allergic), however I’m wondering about the quality and safety of fish in kibble.

Evo’s site states that they only feed high quality wild caught or farm raised fish. As I understood it, farm raised fish can be fairly unhealthy sometimes and may be fed pellets that contain antibiotics or other medicines.

Is there any way for me know my dog is getting good quality fish for certain?

This is just a guess ~~ I’m wondering if the larger kibble is not being digested as thoroughly as the smaller kibble.  Digestive enzymes working on the kibble would have an easier / faster time breaking down the smaller kibble.

Have you noticed a change in stool size?

Per the ingredient list above, the food has added probiotics but no added enzymes.  If you want to stick with the larger kibble size maybe it would be worth trying a supplemental enzyme to see if that helps?

Here is an odd observation I have made.

I began feeding my dog the Turkey and Chicken small bites formula in October 2011. It has been the best food I have ever used with him. He is definitely not a small dog (pyrenees/dane cross) but my pet store only had the chicken/turkey formula in stock in the small bites so I thought I would give it a chance. He loved it. I fed him significantly less than I did with other gr foods (totw, candidae, etc…). He also gas very small, tight stools. Most importantly he gains weight, and has a nicer coat on this food.

Then I decided to try the regular sized kibble when I saw it in the store this last time. It is as though something is extremely different in it. He simply does not have a solid stool on it, and seems as though he is so hungry still after eating. I am not sure if this will pass and he will adjust to the food, but I don’t feel he should have to since the only difference should be kibble size.

Sandy,

Thank you for the link.  I am a lawyer and practiced in California for many years so I understand the basis and nature of this law suit.  The question that came to mind was – what about all the other companies advertising “human grade.”  That seems to be the buzz phrase these days but there appears to be no regulations on this issue.  I think I’ve seen this phrase on almost every premium dog food web site.  For the moment I am sticking with Evo although switching to chicken and turkey.  I spent several hours looking at protein/fat/carb rations on a dozen different foods and Evo came up the winner.  Because carbs are my main concern – Evo fits the bill – P&G or not.  

I am not happy to be sure.  But I can tell you from my phone conversations from multiple pet food companies – they all have something to hide and they do it very well.  For some it is the nature of the ingredients, for some it is the origin of the ingredients, for some it is the actual nutritional analysis.  We are dealing with companies who are driven by profit – can you blame them- if they don’t make money they go out of business.  Having run my own business I understand that concept.

However, there is a difference between making money and knowingly endangering the lives of your target audience.  Of course pet food companies do not hold the patent on this concept.

Anyway – I am tired of trying to find the magic bullet.  So Evo is it for the time being.  I did decide to purchase ground beef to use with the kibble instead of the canned food – the canned food prices out at $4.10 a pound while I can buy ground beef for $2.70 a pound.  I am adding all the supplements and they still get the same kibble.  

Sharon

There is also Wysong Epigen.  http://www.wysongepigen.net/

And enzyme therapy, and mushrooms.
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/enzymes-and-your-dog/

http://www.petsuperfood.com/products/immunity/

http://products.mercola.com/mushroom-immune-support/

http://www.doctorsfinest.com/Enzymes_Probiotics_plus_4lb_p/ezpro.htm

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/digestive-enzymes-for-pet.aspx

Okay, so based on my current research either EVO Turkey and Chicken or Nature’s Variety Instinct appear to have the lowest carbs and overall best protein/fat/carb ratios.  The real question now about EVO is have they changed their formula.  I wonder if we can get an honest answer to that?

Sharon

So I switched my two boys with recent cancer diagnosis over to Evo only to discover that P&G bought them last year and there appear to be problems now.  I am getting tired of spending hours and hours researching these products.  It is so hard.  Am now looking at Honest Kitchen, Nature’s Logic, Mulligan Stew and Red Moon.  Would love to hear from others dealing with cancer and who may already have done the research.  Thanks.

Sharon

Arto – Check out Natura info @ http://dogaware.com/diet/dryfood.html

Remarkable Roger – Check out: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/11/Your-Favorite-Natural-Brands-May-Not-Be-What-They-Seem.aspx
https://www.msu.edu/~howardp/organicindustry.html

Each year The Whole Dog Journal has their approved dog food reviews & lists the company’s info including who makes their food.
http://www.mulliganstewpetfood.com/pdf/articles-research/Whole-Dog-Journal-Feb-2010.pdf

http://bigdogshugepaws.com/nutrition

If you go to the dog food’s website, look at the bottom of the page for the copyright mark – that should tell you who that brand is owned by.

Commercial Companies list I put together:
Del Monte Foods/Pet Products
Brands:Gravy Train, Jerky Treats, Pounce, Skippy, Meow Mix
Kibbles ‘n Bits, 9Lives, Nature’s Recipe, Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni,
Meaty Bone, Snausages

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.
Brands: Science Diet, Prescription Diet

Mars Petcare Inc.
Brands: Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin, Cesar

Nestlé Purina PetCare USA
Brands: Purina: Alpo, Beggin, Beneful
Beneful Snackin, Busy
Carvers, Cat Chow
Chef Michaels, Chew Eez
Deli Cat, Dog Chow
Fancy Feast, Felix, Fit &Trim
Friskies, Gourmet
Kit Kaboodle, Kitten Chow
Mighty Dog, Moist & Meaty
One, Pro Plan, Purina One
Purina Veterinarian Diets
T Bonz, Tidy Cats
Whisker Lickins
Yesterday News

I usually call the manufacturer and ask who makes their food and where do they source their ingredients from. Most companies will give you that info.

As far as vitamins & minerals coming from China – human vitamins come from there as well.

TOMO – I use to feed EVO until they were bought out by P&G – why support a company that tests on animals. I assumed down the road the quality of the brand would change.

I like to save the label and I compare it to a new bag. Sometimes the company will change the formula and not notify the consumer.

I’ve been feeding my 3yr old BT EVO Herring and Salmon for about 2years now and she has done wonderfully on it. She’s allergic to a lot of ingredients and has a sensitive tummy and I was excited that I found something that worked for her. However, recently I purchased a new bag and it seems that her stool has become much softer and smells much more putrid. I hate to jump to the conclusion that it’s because P&G bought them out, and are using lower quality ingredients, but nothing else has changed. From reading others comments here and other places, it seems my girl is not the only one having issues. I think it’s time to try something new..

I have a Siberian Husky but I’m unsure if she’s considered a Medium sized dog or a Large sized dog.

“The Dog Food Calculator was designed to be used for adult dogs only… not for puppies. And it should never be used for pregnant or lactating females.

Small to medium breeds may be considered adults after about six months of age.

But large and giant breeds shouldn’t be fed as adults until they reach somewhere around one to two years (depending upon the breed).”

Can I feed My 8 1/2 Month old Husky Evo food? I don’t see that they have any puppy formulas.

Remarkable Roger – I agree with most of what you said in relation to corporate takeovers and the agenda in increasing profits at the expense of inferior ingredients etc. However, as I understand it, there is no one kibble brand that has every single ingredient, vitamin or mineral, that are sourced from the one and only country. It is my understanding that many of the artificial vitamins and minerals, in particular, in most likely every brand of high to poor quality processed pet food, comes from China, and or internationally sourced, because it is simply cheaper.

I personally don’t have that problem because my money goes to butcher stores instead, for my dogs food. So that I can mimic their diet as close as possible to the prey model to which our dogs’ ancestors, the wolf, and its evolutionary diet, matches that of what Mother Nature intended. That’s also another way that you can be assured that your dog’s food can come from your own country’s farms, and abattoirs.

I am a new puppy owner, and quite a neophyte about foods. I find the factual analyses and practical content on this site to be VERY HELPFUL – Thank you!

I have noticed many comments (yours and contributors) about what appears to be a pattern of manipulating ingredients. Of course, we all support research and changes that improve nutrition and product quality. But this is America, and from my years of experience as a corporate consultant, I suspect that far more of this is intended to increase profits by selling a cheaper product to consumers who misguidedly rely on the products previous (but no longer justified) reputation for quality. A new version of “bait and switch”, as it were.

The problem seems to be aggravated even more by a high rate of acquisitions and takeovers. How many high quality products in the HUMAN food chain of America used to be made by INDEPENDENT companies with the OWNER’S NAME over the door (Hellman’s, Breakstone’s, Pepperage Farm, any number of others that you used to like), only to be “bought out” and turned into “food factories” churning out less nutritious and possibly even dangerous products just to boost profits and raise top management bonuses?

Now, it seems that the same thing is happening in the field of pet nutrition. Buy out the competition to reduce consumer choice and lower product quality to increase profits.

Given this environment, I suggest that your product ratings INCLUDE A CATEGORY TELLING WHETHER THE PRODUCT IN MADE BY AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED COMPANY OR A DIVISION OF A CONGLOMERATE. Another category indicating whether all ingredients are made in the US (or at least NOT in China) would also be very helpful! BUY AMERICAN!

I read that a lot Pyrmom. Here and other forum/blogs. And to add ‘insult to injury’, Evo costs like $66 per a 3kg (6.6lb) bag of it, in Australia. Are they kidding me!!!!

What’s more, is that the pet store that sells it, called Pets Paradise, would have customers believe it is the only grain free kibble in Australia. I really feel sorry for unsuspecting and otherwise, un-knowledgeable customers.