anyone know anything about this brand? My lil gal is such a mcdonalds gal and only wants dry stuff, so I bought some kilos of eukanuba, which was supposedly the best in the store. Its supposed to be 80 actual meat, and for dry food, it looks pretty meaty and moist...any experiences with this brand?
faithless
I think that Iams/Eukanuba used to be absolutely awesome. Until they were bought and and went grocery store. I'm not that thrilled with the quality any longer, but that's just my opinion. :wink
They have a pretty good record, according to wikipedia, apart from a minor scandal back in 2002. Since then, they seem to have pretty rigorous controls. Aside from that, she absolutely loves it. She's been complaining loudly for the last 10 minutes that she cant have anymore, and she's never done that before. I guess this is her new diet, for the time being, anyway.
Eukanuba Adult Chicken Formula:
Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Meal, Corn Grits, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Sodium Bisulfate, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Brewers Dried Yeast, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Salt, Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients are listed in order of weight. When you extract the water from the first ingredient, chicken, only 20-30% of the weight remains. When you compare that dry weight to the rest of the dry ingredients behind it on the list...the chicken would drop much lower on the list ingredient. Making the majority of the protein coming from the by-products and corn. When you add the corn meal and grits together the combined weight is probably more than the by-products making corn the primary ingredient in this food. Corn and by-products are not good sourcs of protein for cats, corn is a high allergen for cats. Sodium Bisulfate (aka menadione) is a controversial ingredient. Eukanuba does not declare their ingredient sourcing (is it coming from China?). They also don't declare the quality...human grade vs animal feed grade. With animal grade they can use moldy vegetables, insect infested grain etc. And the stuff isn't cheap...you can get much better quality for less money.
Basically the only saving grace for this food that raises it a step above utter junk is that is does have some real chicken in it.
Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Meal, Corn Grits, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Sodium Bisulfate, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Brewers Dried Yeast, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Salt, Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients are listed in order of weight. When you extract the water from the first ingredient, chicken, only 20-30% of the weight remains. When you compare that dry weight to the rest of the dry ingredients behind it on the list...the chicken would drop much lower on the list ingredient. Making the majority of the protein coming from the by-products and corn. When you add the corn meal and grits together the combined weight is probably more than the by-products making corn the primary ingredient in this food. Corn and by-products are not good sourcs of protein for cats, corn is a high allergen for cats. Sodium Bisulfate (aka menadione) is a controversial ingredient. Eukanuba does not declare their ingredient sourcing (is it coming from China?). They also don't declare the quality...human grade vs animal feed grade. With animal grade they can use moldy vegetables, insect infested grain etc. And the stuff isn't cheap...you can get much better quality for less money.
Basically the only saving grace for this food that raises it a step above utter junk is that is does have some real chicken in it.
I dunno about that, it certainly feels more like meat in the hand, and its also more moist than supermarket dry food, which is good. They did have a grain-free one though, Ill get that next time.
Well, my vet who has 9 cats, 5 dogs, and breeds dogs, says youre wrong. The chicken weight is dry chicken weight and he heartily recommends the brand which he says, has its best reputation ever at the moment. He said this despite the fact that I was just gong to buy a bag of his most expensive, grainfree food, and didnt after his recommendations. I'll be listening to him, thanks.
I would like to quote an excellent reply someone had in another post:
Why did you post this thread/ask for opinions if you didn't really want people to offer you their opinions?
No offense, and I'm not going to say who is right and who is wrong, as I'm not well knowledged in cat nuturient. But it seems to me you already have you mind pretty much made up. Then why bother posting and asking for opinions? If all you want is people agreeing with you, please mention it in your subject or original post. Save others lots of time from typing in vain.
Why did you post this thread/ask for opinions if you didn't really want people to offer you their opinions?
No offense, and I'm not going to say who is right and who is wrong, as I'm not well knowledged in cat nuturient. But it seems to me you already have you mind pretty much made up. Then why bother posting and asking for opinions? If all you want is people agreeing with you, please mention it in your subject or original post. Save others lots of time from typing in vain.
well here is the Guaranteed Analysis for Eukanuba Adult Chicken Formula
Taurine (minimum)0.16%
Ash (maximum)7.00%
Crude Fat (minimum)21.00%
Moisture (maximum)10.00%
Crude Protein (minimum)34.00%
Crude Fiber (maximum)2.50%
If you do the Math Dry Carbs=28.3% and wet carbs=25.5%
A good food is less than 10% Dry carbs so you can listen to you vet or you can do your own homework numbers don't lie
Taurine (minimum)0.16%
Ash (maximum)7.00%
Crude Fat (minimum)21.00%
Moisture (maximum)10.00%
Crude Protein (minimum)34.00%
Crude Fiber (maximum)2.50%
If you do the Math Dry Carbs=28.3% and wet carbs=25.5%
A good food is less than 10% Dry carbs so you can listen to you vet or you can do your own homework numbers don't lie
My bad, I thought you were asking for opinions. Next time we can skip all the typing and just jump to the last post.
No problem Yingying
First, use the Nutritional Analysis figures whenever possible, as these are true numbers for each flavor, while the Guaranteed Analysis numbers are averages. Unfortunately, manufacturers seldom print NA numbers on the food labels, using instead the GA numbers. Their websites will sometimes provide NA info.
Looking at the Guaranteed Analysis (GA) on the label, add up the values for protein, moisture, fat, fiber, and ash (if listed - sometimes it is not). Then subtract those values from 100 - the difference is the wet matter carbs. So, if we have a food with 78% moisture, 11% protein, 5% fat, 2% fiber and 1.5% Ash, the calculation would look like this:
78.00 + 11.00 + 5.00 + 2.00 + 1.50 = 97.50 Subtract that from 100, and the remainder, 2.50, is the WET matter carbs.
However, when comparing the carbohydrate contents of any food, it must be done on a dry matter basis, even with dry food, as dry does contain some small amount of moisture. So, looking at the Guaranteed Analysis on the label once again, subtract the moisture content from 100 - in this case, the difference is 22. Then divide your wet matter carbs by this number. So...
2.50 divided by 22. = 11% carbs on a dry matter basis.
This is an easy formula, and once you've done it a few times, you will be able to look at the GA and pretty much know what the carb content is based on the values given. Remember, though, ingredients are just as important as the carb content - you want food with no grains (including rice or soy) no veggies, fruits, glutens, or cornstarch, and no gravy. Broth is fine, as long as it is not thickened with starches.
For your convenience, an electronic tool to calculate carbs on a dry matter basis is available at Sweetkitties. The file to download is CarbCalculator.zip
Takes a little time to figure it out, but I have a diabetic cat, so I had to.
First, use the Nutritional Analysis figures whenever possible, as these are true numbers for each flavor, while the Guaranteed Analysis numbers are averages. Unfortunately, manufacturers seldom print NA numbers on the food labels, using instead the GA numbers. Their websites will sometimes provide NA info.
Looking at the Guaranteed Analysis (GA) on the label, add up the values for protein, moisture, fat, fiber, and ash (if listed - sometimes it is not). Then subtract those values from 100 - the difference is the wet matter carbs. So, if we have a food with 78% moisture, 11% protein, 5% fat, 2% fiber and 1.5% Ash, the calculation would look like this:
78.00 + 11.00 + 5.00 + 2.00 + 1.50 = 97.50 Subtract that from 100, and the remainder, 2.50, is the WET matter carbs.
However, when comparing the carbohydrate contents of any food, it must be done on a dry matter basis, even with dry food, as dry does contain some small amount of moisture. So, looking at the Guaranteed Analysis on the label once again, subtract the moisture content from 100 - in this case, the difference is 22. Then divide your wet matter carbs by this number. So...
2.50 divided by 22. = 11% carbs on a dry matter basis.
This is an easy formula, and once you've done it a few times, you will be able to look at the GA and pretty much know what the carb content is based on the values given. Remember, though, ingredients are just as important as the carb content - you want food with no grains (including rice or soy) no veggies, fruits, glutens, or cornstarch, and no gravy. Broth is fine, as long as it is not thickened with starches.
For your convenience, an electronic tool to calculate carbs on a dry matter basis is available at Sweetkitties. The file to download is CarbCalculator.zip
Takes a little time to figure it out, but I have a diabetic cat, so I had to.
Thanks a lot for the explaination! It's very helpful 
One follow-up question: What's the "reasonable" amount of carb in cat food? I would assume all commercial food has some carb in, so what's the threshold that I should be alert if the carb amount go beyond it (e.g., if the carb content is more than 10% then it's no good)?
One follow-up question: What's the "reasonable" amount of carb in cat food? I would assume all commercial food has some carb in, so what's the threshold that I should be alert if the carb amount go beyond it (e.g., if the carb content is more than 10% then it's no good)?
I did. I didnt want snipyness. But, please lets forget that, since the thread has become more productive since.
34% protein is a very high protein source, higher than lean beef, for example. You have to start drinking concentrated protein drinks to surpass that. The difference one must allow for, with dry foods, is the lower moisture content. Once you add the dietary necessary moisture, the protein % diminishes.
Wow, that's an awful lot of carbs to feed your cat!
I have to agree, why ask for opinions if you're just going to go with what your vet says anyway? I don't feel the need to explain about veterinary feline nutrition education, as it's all been said, but go ahead and believe whatever will make you happier.
I had a vet who had 5 cats and 3 dogs. It didn't stop her from insisting that my cat had diarrhea caused by a bug for 6 MONTHS, over a food intolerance. I changed my cat's food following my own research, lo and behold my cat miraculously recovered. Lesson learnt: don't believe everything your vet tells you.
I have to agree, why ask for opinions if you're just going to go with what your vet says anyway? I don't feel the need to explain about veterinary feline nutrition education, as it's all been said, but go ahead and believe whatever will make you happier.
I had a vet who had 5 cats and 3 dogs. It didn't stop her from insisting that my cat had diarrhea caused by a bug for 6 MONTHS, over a food intolerance. I changed my cat's food following my own research, lo and behold my cat miraculously recovered. Lesson learnt: don't believe everything your vet tells you.
I did explain, however, that not only is he a vet, he is a catlover with 9 cats, a doglover with 5 dogs, and he is also a dogbreeder. This sounds like a pretty reasonable source, so far. For a quick, over the counter, exchange, we got into a fairly in-depth conversation, and he was obviously passionate about it. He even said that he thinks the supermarket brands shouldnt be allowed to call their product "food." He was perfectly familiar with the argument that the weight of chicken can sometimes be wet and sometimes dry, he pointed to the text on the package which showed they weighed the dry chicken content, we discussed raw which he was cautious in recommending, unless you were willing to spend the time learning which minerals and supplements were needed, and we discussed a liitle amino-acid stuff, such as taurin.
Im a bodybuilder, and so Ive read loads of literature on diet and digestion etc, attended Uni lectures, and also have a general interest in cat health, so we held a fairly complex 7-8 min conversation on the topic.
As indicated above, counting at home may be misleading, without exact information from the manufacturer. He may be wrong. So far, he seems a pretty reliable source.
Im a bodybuilder, and so Ive read loads of literature on diet and digestion etc, attended Uni lectures, and also have a general interest in cat health, so we held a fairly complex 7-8 min conversation on the topic.
As indicated above, counting at home may be misleading, without exact information from the manufacturer. He may be wrong. So far, he seems a pretty reliable source.
Please, what is this nonsense that I didnt want other opinions. At the very first suggestion of another product, I thanked for the information and said I would try that next time I buy her food. I objected to the somewhat snarky tone that came later, is all.
Yingying
Auntie Crazy is right in the wild your cat would be eating 3-5% carb food. There is a book by Dr. Hodgkin Your Cat Simple new Secrets To a Longer, Stronger Life. Very good book I think everyone with cats should read.
No not all commercial food has carb's in it, however the only one I can think of off the top of my head is Fancy Feast Tender Turkey Feast Kitten it has 0 carbs However all dry food is bad. 7 months ago all i feed was dry. One of my cats almost died from DKA and thats when I learned he was Diabetic(caused by the dry food) There were times my B/G meter would only read HI when I tested his B/G's But I'm happy to say with only feeding him caned food under 10% carbs he no longer need's insulin(almost 2 months now) you might want to check out this site Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition :: healthy cat diet, making cat food, litter box, cat food, cat nutrition, cat urinary tract health it will explain more on Food than I can
Auntie Crazy That's interesting what you said about the online carb converters, because I use them a lot and can't afford to be wrong, so Thank-you
Auntie Crazy is right in the wild your cat would be eating 3-5% carb food. There is a book by Dr. Hodgkin Your Cat Simple new Secrets To a Longer, Stronger Life. Very good book I think everyone with cats should read.
No not all commercial food has carb's in it, however the only one I can think of off the top of my head is Fancy Feast Tender Turkey Feast Kitten it has 0 carbs However all dry food is bad. 7 months ago all i feed was dry. One of my cats almost died from DKA and thats when I learned he was Diabetic(caused by the dry food) There were times my B/G meter would only read HI when I tested his B/G's But I'm happy to say with only feeding him caned food under 10% carbs he no longer need's insulin(almost 2 months now) you might want to check out this site Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition :: healthy cat diet, making cat food, litter box, cat food, cat nutrition, cat urinary tract health it will explain more on Food than I can
Auntie Crazy That's interesting what you said about the online carb converters, because I use them a lot and can't afford to be wrong, so Thank-you
Thanks AC and Westfayetteville (that's a long id...) for the answers. These are certainly very useful info. Oh why it has to be so complicated. If only manufacturers can put the carb amount in their analysis on the label...
PS: @Westfayetteville it surprise me that Fancy Feast has 0 carb food. I always thought FF is one of the bad brand. But again, carb content is not the only rule of thumb, so maybe FF get this one right but missed other important factors?
PS: @Westfayetteville it surprise me that Fancy Feast has 0 carb food. I always thought FF is one of the bad brand. But again, carb content is not the only rule of thumb, so maybe FF get this one right but missed other important factors?
Yingying
By the way my name is Troy
I just joined this site yesterday, and poking around I kinda got that most people here don't like Fancy Feast, however they have about 7 different types of food that are under 10% carbs, you also have EVO, a few Proplan, By Nature and I'm sure there are more but Fancy Feast has the most that are more available to me, and seems to be OK to the cats I have.
By the way my name is Troy
I just joined this site yesterday, and poking around I kinda got that most people here don't like Fancy Feast, however they have about 7 different types of food that are under 10% carbs, you also have EVO, a few Proplan, By Nature and I'm sure there are more but Fancy Feast has the most that are more available to me, and seems to be OK to the cats I have.
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