[aimee]

Hi GSDsForever,

No real changes I’m aware of, though I have seen opinions from veterinary nutritionists leaning away from the relative importance of the ratio with the absolute values being the more important variable.

I’d personally look for a Ca level close to the recommended NRC level of 3 grams/1000 kcals. and stay with company that does growth feeding trials on large breeds. The company I went with used Labs in their trials, the breed I was getting, and followed them for 18 months with Dex, scans radiographs general blood work, hormone levels … over 1600 data points/dog.

I’ve been seeing some crazy nutrient analysis from smaller companies including one which reported that the level of Vit D in their food as 8 times the AAFCO’s Max limit , and another whose calcium levels , vit D and E were significantly less than AAFCO’s min in a diet labeled for growth. It is apparent from “conversing” with their “nutritionists” the companies have no clue.