WSAVA and Pet Food ....Pros and Cons

many pet parents get confused when hearing about WSAVA compliant pet food. are those the only safe foods to feed your pet? Online folks consider it a conspiracy to promote the big food companies. so what's the truth? after 34 years in the pet food business, I have my own perspective.

[@StephanieStoudt-uv8nv]

I agree 100%! If a company cannot afford a board certified veterinary nutritionist, cannot afford their own manufacturing plants, they should have never gone in business.

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

If you were referring to my comment, it's more like a lot of these boutique brands upload videos and photos of their manufacturing plantts and I'm like "so you can afford all that but not a nutritionist "

[@StephanieStoudt-uv8nv]

Not specifically your comment but in general. So many of them contract out. Diamond makes a slew of brands like 4 health, Kirkland, taste of the wild, natures domain, some natural balance…,,

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

@@StephanieStoudt-uv8nv Ah, okay. Thanks for explaining. I know there's mail-order raw food companies where you get tubes of meat delivered to your front door when the seller repackages meat from the slaughterhouses, and assume that's what Glenn was talking about here. But then I realized he doesn't really review those companies on his channel, and neither most of the influencers on KZbin he is referencing. Only one I'm aware who participate in that practice is Conor Brady from Dogs First. But only bumped into his followers under Zak George's dog-training videos, never anywhere else. On that note, I never really understood why small dog food companies say they can't do peer-review studies, yet Siru Salin is working with Snellman meat-processing plant in Finland via the PoDoCo system and she says small companies can compete with Mars, Nestle etc. "Salin points out that there are many pet food enterprises in Finland that would not have the resources to carry out scientific research to support their product development. If small companies were to get together as a consortium or cooperative, they might be able to employ a postdoctoral researcher via the PoDoCo system, for example." "Ecological and healthy dog food from abattoir by-products" by Antti Kivimäki published by Suomen Kulttuurirahasto on Septmeber 15, 2021. But I suspect it's because a lot of these raw-food companies don't want to admit they source their ingredients from Cargill, Tyson, JBS etc.

[@safayat-seo-expert]

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[@Midwestyorkie]

Your channel and DocRea have opened my eyes in a brand new way. Thanks for your channel! You are making a BIG difference in people (and pet’s) lives!

[@debbieporter1513]

Thank you for this. It is so confusing and their are so many advertising campaigns, KZbinrs.... Picking my dogs food has become a twisted nightmare. I will watch more of you videos for more information

[@ThunderRunner]

This. Why is it such a terrible process to pick a dog food??? I don’t understand why this industry is such a nightmare.

[@debbieporter1513]

@@ThunderRunner Greed :(

[@StephanieStoudt-uv8nv]

And then there are the companies that declare on their website or bag that they follow WSAVA guidelines but they reword the questions to make them favorable to their company.

[@itsbutters69]

Makes me wonder about Zignature since they have that on their website.

[@sandypolsky5683]

I love your videos, Glenn. I don't know if you had a youtube channel two years ago, but I wished I had found you then to learn what I'm learning now. I kid you not, we tried our one year old dog in 2022 (he's now three years old) on probably no less than 12 kibbles, most high end foods, some considered medium end foods I would say, and either he loved the food, but it gave him diarrhea, or he didn't like the food and his stools were great. I also transitioned him as well in between changing foods as well. We found due to his teeth structure, he has to be on a wet can food. Even soaking small kibble in warm water was hard for him to chew. We were pulling our hair out trying to find him a good food at an affordable cost that agreed with him and he enjoyed. We didn't know what we were looking for, because we are not pet nutritionist educated. I am going to do what you talked about and call the small pet food company (Nutrisource) that we buy our dog food from and see what they tell me when I ask about the nutrition of his food and if they have a pet nutritionist in their company. You always give such good advice and education to us that are uninformed pet parents regarding pet food nutrition. Thank you so much! Whew, sorry this was so long!

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

Thanks Sandy! Dr Rea just did an excellent review of NutriSource! You need to check it out. Her channel is AnDocRea. You will learn lots from her!

[@sandypolsky5683]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy Yes, I watch her channel as well, but as usual, most of the dog food reviews, specifically Nutrisource of which I'm feeding my dog, eats the wet can beef and rice. Most reviews of this brand or any for that matter, is usually dry kibble. I did listen to her review of Nutrisource, but correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the nutrition be different between dry and wet? Thanks though.

[@anastasiamacaya5126]

Can you please make a video with a list of foods you think are good?

[@sandrarich9704]

What about squarepet dog food? Is it healthy for your pets

[@pandora_3314]

I’d love to know this too!

[@zanniesmom]

I found on the Pet Nutrition Alliance report that Hill's owns 96% of the manufacturing plants they use. Which makes me wonder, what are the other 4%?

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

Hey Zanniesmom, I’m like 99% sure it’s the treats. Hills has both dedicated canned and dry facilities.

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

13:58 - if you have the capital to own a factory and the machinery as well as hire the labour to run the factory, you can afford to hire a veterinary nutritionist

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

Excellent point!

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy Yeah, seems to be the elephant in the room Champion Petfoods, Rachael Fusaro (who owns her own me to dog food company), Karen Becker all seem etc to dodge. None of them talk about assets.

[@Zoe-tw9bg]

I’m a bit late to the party here, but I agree with what you’re saying! If my memory serves me correctly (from my nutrition lectures at uni), the AFFCO feeding trials require a minimum of 6 dogs and the trial lasts for 6 months, blood work taken from these dogs only assess PCV, haemoglobin, ALP and albumin. So super bare bones basic. It’s absolutely a good starting point compared to never feeding it to real dogs before it hits the shelves, but it’s absolutely not the be all and end all!

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

@@Zoe-tw9bg and it has nothing to do with on with testing therapeutic diets. Never too late!😊

[@onceuponabanyantree]

I would like to see you do a review on Old Guard Pet Company. It seems like this is an example of one of the "little guys" doing a lot of things right for a smaller brand.

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

ill give it a look! Thanks!

[@imdetto]

glenn showing off the guns. FYI: sounds like volume is turned down on your end. I could just be losing my hearing. Great video buddy! 👍🏼

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

lol! I actually just figured out how to use my microphone! Thanks for the feedback!

[@TJ-kz1ul]

All I want to know is where I can find Glenn's 4D Canned Dog Food? Apparently, it's super healthy and the picture on the can of wolves eating a dead carcass really appeals to my pug. He's been harassing me all week, begging me for this yummy food. 🐶

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

The, what a business opportunity!

[@TJ-kz1ul]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy Buddy will be first in line to help support your new business. 🐕 yummy pig snouts, pig feet, and anything else you can throw in there is just perfect!!

[@TheCaptjamestkirk]

Another very good informative video! Thanks.

[@George.J]

After my cat did well on Hill's T/D, I switched my kitten to Hill's kitten food, but unfortunately he did not do well on it. He will be an adult next month, and I'm weary of feeding him Hill's adult cat food. I will be going back to the previous brand I used. I think the problem for my specific cat is that he requires a bit more fiber than the kitten food provides.

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

George, puppies and kittens seem to do better on certain foods vs others for no clear reason. For a one year old cat there’s tons of healthy options out there.

[@George.J]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy There are lots of adult options from Hill's; I'm not sure what to pick and what would successful if I were to go back to this brand.

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

@@George.J well you have a money back guarantee on all these brands so you can try them without spending a fortune.

[@George.J]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy do you think perfect digestion helps in constipation?

[@ricardoavila3521]

Always very informative brother!😊

[@angelpalicki6399]

Thank you for sharing!

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

All ypu had to do was point out companies like Corey Nutrition could have made products like Inukshuk follow WSAVA guidelines based on how they try to control excess minerals but they just don't bother adhering to WSAVA, AAFCO or NRC or pursue feeding trials. They have the capital, supplies and machinery to do it. They just don't want to

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

Weruva and Medicus are also good examples of companies who have the resources to do the same thing as the Big Threes but chooses not to

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

@@ZaryaTheLaika yes. I mentioned Medicus in the video but Weruva is def another good example.

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy it's okay. You're being a little soft on the "little guys". Rip off the bandages. Some of these pet food companies upload photos and videos of thelr manufacturing plants

[@MichaelFineMusic]

To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as WSAVA compliance. They make recommendations only.

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

@@MichaelFineMusic you are kinda right. They give suggestions of what to look for(ask) in a food. They do not recommend any specific diet. The term compliant is used a lot just to say this food meets those suggestions. It was a good idea but like most good ideas is now being corrupted.

[@dumbartonyankee]

Wsava-compliant brands aren't very common here in the UK. Iams and Eukanuba are produced by a German company. That leaves just a few brands if you want to be very strict about it. I figure that Iams from Germany is probably OK. I also think that Butcher's wet food is probably good - it's a popular, long-established brand. I do now want to know if they make their own stuff. I just don't trust trendy companies on my social media. Anything that uses wolves in their graphics makes me suspicious. My chihuahua is not a wolf!

[@edschulhof6303]

You are just a ramblin; guy! LOL My daughter is the director of the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, host hotel for the Grand Prix next week. If you were to ask me, where is a good place to stay, what do you think I am going to say? WSAVA is funded mostly by Hill's, Purina, Mars and several pharmaceutical companies. Their guidelines came from a committee headed by Dr. Lisa Freeman, DVM. She also does work for Hill's and Purina. Formulated also means it was tested by a third party lab for nutritional adequacy. Happy Sardine Sunday!

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

Ed, Dr Freeman was never a Hills employee. She like others has been paid to lecture and do research. In all my years with Hills I don’t recall ever hearing her name till recently. You would think from social media she was running Hills.

[@edschulhof6303]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy Hill's did not want you to know Dr. Freeman was doing work for them. I hope you see the irony when one of your followers says not to listen to anyone who is not a veterinarian or a board certified nutritionist. "How can I miss you, when you never go away?" LOL

[@ZaryaTheLaika]

Receiving funding from Hill's, Purina and Mars is not the same as working for them. You might as well claim Indigenous land defenders in British Columbia are anti-oil because a few non-profit organizations received funding from Tides Foundation.

[@StephanieStoudt-uv8nv]

Same as the Colgate and other toothpaste companies donate to the ADA for research etc. Who else would. Why doesn’t every pet food company donate to WSAVA? They should!

[@edschulhof6303]

@@StephanieStoudt-uv8nv I would imagine most pet food companies don't donate to WSAVA because their guidelines were written specifically to exclude them. Peer reviewed? Glenn says most companies don't meet the WSAVA guidelines. That doesn't mean they are bad. Sounds like those who say all kibble is bad.

[@itsbutters69]

Zignature states they are WSAVA compliant.

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

Just started a video on them!

[@itsbutters69]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy I can't wait to see it!

[@jasonjheerts7801]

You lifting weights Glenn? You’re starting to look pretty ripped.

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

lol! I go to the gym regularly for stress release… and because murder is illegal!

[@edschulhof6303]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy You can say it. My comment was deleted.

[@PetFoodPuzzleGuy]

@@edschulhof6303 boy Ed! KZbin doesn’t like you!

[@edschulhof6303]

@@PetFoodPuzzleGuy I may have insinuated that dogs and cats should not be euthanized. Glenn should be allowed to relieve stress with certain groups instead.