Innova Dry Puppy Food…Important Innova..tions For Fido!
Written: Oct 23 '03 (Updated Oct 23 '03)
Product Rating:
Pros: Probiotics & Prebiotics, Smart Food For Your Puppy
Cons: Not available everywhere
The Bottom Line: Innova is among a rather elite group of manufacturers that really are making an all out effort to bring a really terrific product to the marketplace.
At no time before have these words come to represent our love for these furry little guys who give us unbridled love and who have become important household members. We spend countless billions on our pets and the marketers of nutritional products are a major player for your pet dollars. Fortunately, the quest to separate you from your hard-earned buck is, in some cases, an earnest mission to bring a nutritious, healthy and balanced diet for your dog. Coupled with a little research, we can assure our dogs can reap the benefits of a good healthy meal. The folks at Natura Pet Products have done just that with their Innova Healthful Puppy Food.
They claim that their products close the gap between human and pet nutrition. This statement on the surface seems mad but on closer inspection is curiously true. All the ingredients in their products are either essential nutrients or have a neutral value in our own diets.
Many smaller pet food companies have emerged to contend for this lucrative market. Many of the better companies have established themselves and have a foothold making the "boutique" companies struggle to get some very good products broad distribution. I think the ingredient list for the Innova Puppy Food is intriguing as it is as strange as it is refreshing.
Ingredients
I will explain some of the more unconventional ingredients that comprise Innova Dry Puppy Food. For an explanation of the other ingredients, please refer to my other reviews of Nutro products.
Turkey - Provides an excellent source of highly digestible protein. This turkey product is human grade and is tested to be completely free of hormones, antibiotics and pesticides as well as any chemical preservatives.
Chicken - Much like the turkey, chicken is highly digestible, human grade and free of chemicals and preservatives
Chicken Meal - Considered the single best source of protein in commercial pet food, that it is human grade separates Innova from the pack!
Barley - An excellent carbohydrate source and as a result of using the whole kernel additional nutrients derived are protein, barley oil, bran, vitamins and minerals. This grain is unlike cracked pearl or barley flour used by many commercial pet food manufacturers which are purged of any nutritional value.
Brown Rice - Another source of rich carbohydrates and natural fiber. Brown rice is a little less digestible, however, than ground white rice but has greater nutritional value which warrants it's use.
Cottage Cheese - Cottage Cheese provides a wonderful source of Calcium, phosphorus, Protein as well as vitamins. Lactose levels are miniscule so as to not be an issue for lactose intolerant dogs.
Tomatoes - Known for their high vitamin C content, cooked tomatoes are resourceful for prostate health, which incidentally applies to humans as well.
Hemp Oil - Fatty acid essential in the development and maintenance of cell membranes to stimulate healthy skin and coat. Along with Chicken Fat & Ground Flaxseed, your puppy is provided with a balance of these Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids. Hemp oil happens to be a balanced combination of both Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids comprised 3 parts lineloic acid to one part alpha lineolic acid.
Chicken Fat - Your pet's intake is as good as the chicken source. Innova uses high grade chicken that is human graded and the result is a higher quality of chicken fat which is a rich source, comprising over 23% of daily requirements.
Flaxseed - Rich in soluble and insoluble fiber, Flaxseed aids in digestion and combats constipation as well as essential Omega6 and Omega 3 essential fatty acids, which aid in producing a soft luxurious coat and cancer fighting properties. Skin irritations and hot spots benefit from flaxseed and while it is not a cure-all for these conditions it certainly produces enough results to really tie these conditions into the realm of diet.
Potatoes - Comprised of Idaho Russets which include the skins on this steamed vegetable rich in antioxidants, Vitamin B, Carbohydrates, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin and potassium.
Herring - This table quality herring is rich in Omega 3 essential fatty acids
Apples - As a pome fruit, apples are rich in dietary fiber, 81% of which is soluble. Apples are a good source for pectin, Vitamin C, beta-carotene and potassium as well as Boron.
Carrots - A member of the Parsley family, steamed carrots in Innova, serve to preserve, naturally, both flavors and important antioxidants in their table quality whole fresh produce.
Alfalfa Sprouts - Rich in antioxidants, Alfalfa sprouts have long been associated with anticarcinogens, phytochemicals, enzymes, trace minerals and a host of other living nutrients which combat toxins, resist cell mutation and support the bodies immune system.
Eggs - A protein source with complex combinations of Amino Acids which aid in repairing muscles, organs, nails, hair, skin, ligaments and glands.
Garlic - A rich antioxidant, garlic is used for it's pleasing flavor to dogs.
Crude Protein Minimum...........26%
Crude Fat Minimum...............12%
Crude Fiver (Maximum)............3.5%
Moisture (maximum)..............10%
Vitamin E (minimum).............1000 IU/kg (70 Iu cup)
Lineoic Acid (Omega 6)(min)......3.9%
Fatty Acids (Omega 3(minimum)....3%
Total Microrganisms (minimum)...1,000,000,000 CFU/lb
Comprised of equal amounts of Enterococcus Faecium, lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casel, Lactobacillus Planterum
Calorie Content
400Kcal/kg
500kcal/cup
It's the attention to detail that is so fascinating about these ingredients. Things like the use of spring water for the moisture content, or human grade turkey, chicken and lamb for protein content. Caloric density allows more calories per ounce of food resulting in less total intake required and a reduced stool.
The essential Vitamins E, C, and A play an important role as antioxidants protecting your pet from cell damage due to environmental and biological factors
Probitoics & Prebiotics are the significant ingredients in the Innova product and, essentially, the reason I chose to look into it. Our food supply is so carefully monitored right down to the soil it is grown in,the net result is that we have vacated from the soil many of the essential living organisms that are vital for maintaining good health. The deficiency travels right along the food chain and finds it's way to our tables and your pets bowls. Yes, I am inferring that Pro & Prebiotics are recommended for humans as well and you can find it right alongside Innova Dry Puppy Food at your local health food store.
Probiotics - Are organisms that contribute to this balanced health by providing good bacteria into your digestive system, boosting immune function and resisting infection. The bacterial imbalance can and often leads to stomach and intestinal problems giving pathogenic (bad bacteria) a foothold in your digestive tract. Generally the most frequently used bacterial probiotic genera are Lactobacillus , acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, Escherichia and Enterococcus.
Prebiotics - On the other hand, are carbohydrates otherwise known as Oligosaccarides, and are generally found in fruits and vegetables like bananas, asparagus, garlic, wheat, tomatoes, Jerusalem artichoke, onions and chicory. Not digested, Prebiotic material go straight to the intestinal tract where they are captured by and used to promote growth by good bacteria reinforcing the cycle.
Road Test
The kibble in the Innova Dry Puppy Food is small and quite easily handled by the smallest breeds. Serving amounts are clearly marked on the packaging so you can be precise about just how much you are feeding. My Golden Pups literally ate the Innova up with no hesitation. I use Nutro for my older Golden Girls and alternate Wellness, Biljac or Innova to keep it interesting. I do find I have to add Glocosomine / Chondroitin into their diets when they are Innova since there is none, but that's easy. I like to make meal times interesting for the Golden's. Their energy levels have increased and their general look has improved since changing over from Science Diet. Their coats, teeth and overall health has markedly improved. Ear infections have become a thing of the past and with the exception of one, all hot spot occurrences have ceased.
Now What??
Pets are great little friends for man & child alike. If you have the opportunity to provide the best environment and nutrition for them, why not? Considering the lifespan of a Golden Retriever is anywhere between 9-14 years, I want to make certain that those years are free from the maladies that both environment and nutrition place before them. Good nutrition is not just a labor of love, the financial implications of a having a healthy dog can save thousands in Vets bills downstream. For my dollar, that's good economics.
Innova Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food has been designed to supply highly digestible ingredients and important micronutrients needed to satisfy the urgent ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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