Eukanuba Dachshund Formula Dog Food
November 21, 2008
Filed under Dog Food Reviews, Eukanuba
Eukanuba Dachshund Formula Dog Food
Eukanuba Dachshund Formula Dog Food is made and manufactured by Procter and Gamble Pet Care. Eukanuba Dachshund Formula Dog Food is part of the Breed Specific group of Eukanuba dog foods. It is marketed towards the Dachshund breed.
Eukanuba Dachshund Formula Dog Food Review
The first thing I want to mention is the fact that I believe Breed Specific dog food formulas are nothing but a marketing ploy to make the consumer feel like they are getting something special for their. A Boxer doesn’t need any different of a food than a German Shepherd does. With that being said lets take a look at the first five ingredients and break them down.
Eukanuba Dachshund Formula Dog Food First Five Ingredients Analysis:
- Chicken
- Chicken By-Product Meal
- Corn Meal
- Ground Whole Grain Sorghum
- Ground Whole Grain Barley
Chicken is the first ingredient and is inclusive of its water content. With that being said once this ingredient is cooked and dehydrated, making it a dry ingredient, it will have lost most of its water content, thus making it fall further in the ingredients list. Chicken is a great ingredient and a wonderful source of protein.
The second ingredient Chicken By-Product Meal can be a good ingredient only when the manufactures state what is included in their by-products. In most cases the manufactures do not disclose this information, which only leads us to believe that they do not want the consumer to know. Chicken By-Products are defined as: consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice.” This is one ingredient that if the manufacture does not state what is included, you will want to stay away from.
The third ingredient Corn Meal is defined as:”ground corn germ which consists of corn germ with other parts of the corn kernel from which part of the oil has been removed and is the product obtained in the dry milling process of manufacture of corn meal, corn grits, hominy feed and other corn products.” Corn is a lower quality grain that has been linked to cases of allergies within dogs. Dogs have a hard time digesting corn therefor we believe that corn should not be used as an ingredient.
The fourth and fifth ingredients sorghum and barley are decent quality grains
Eukanuba Dachshund Formula Dog Food Full Ingredients List:
Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal (Natural source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Natural Chicken Flavor, Brewers Rice, Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Dried Egg Product, Fish meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Flax Meal, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Dried Chicken Cartilage (Natural source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), DL-Methionine, L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract.
Chicken Fat is the main source of fat content in this dog food and is the seventh ingredient. Before the main fat content you have two sources of meat and four sources of grains. Fish Meal is the third source of meat but falls father down on the ingredients list so its unlikely to plain a huge role in the overall nutritional value of this food. We couldn’t find anything on the manufactures website stating the use of ethoxyquin free fish.
Eukanuba Dachshund Formula Dog Food Full Guaranteed Analysis:
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| *Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. |
Review
I have 2 Dachshunds and I thought I was feeding them the best food because of the brand Eukanuba and made for Dachshunds, I didn’t notice how fat my dogs were getting until one of them couldn’t walk anymore. He was only 5 years old and we just had to have him put to sleep. Now my other Dachshund, she is only 4 years old and is ballooned out and having trouble walking. I am so upset, I paid extra money thinking I was feeding them the best food for my babies and realize now it was killing them.
THis is the worst food I have ever given my dog. He gained several pounds while on it and he also became incredibly lethargic. Sometimes we could barely make it down the driveway before he wanted to be carried. As soon as I stopped feeding he perked up and lost weight.
Dachshunds already need extra excersice and diet control so they do not gain too much weight, their short legs and long bodies can’t handle it. This food does the exact opposite of what it says it will do. Beware!!
Our dog Oscar (common name I know)has recently turned a year old. We switched from Science Diet puppy food to Eukanuba’s breed specific dachshund formula. So far so good… It was an easy transition (no stomach issues)and as a bonus he loves it! He has been on it for a little over a month and still weighs the same as before. To me it seems he has more energy (if that is even possible)and as others claim it has helped with his flaky skin. Another major improvement was with his little “gas” issue he had before the switch and for that we are extremely grateful! The main reason I chose Eukanuba was because of the “natural ingredients of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate to help maintain healthy joint and bone structure” as I am aware of the higher possibility of back issues later on down the road. I cant speak for the weight gain dilemma, but if I do notice a trend in the future it will be addressed then, but I will state every dachshund obesity case I have seen has come down to 2 simple things. Too much food/treats being served daily and lack of proper exercise… If that’s not the case then I feel it needs to be brought to the attention of their veterinarian as a underlying issue could exist. As of now only time will tell.
You just went from one terrible dog food to another terrible dog food. Why don’t you feed a decent food to your dog?? With that little dog it can’t be a money issue. Here is a list, notice how these foods don’t contain any corn , wheat or any of the other crap that is in this food. Ever wonder why this dog food has so many recalls?? Because it is crap and the manufacture could care less if your dog lived or died just as long as they got your dollar.
Blue Wilderness
Go
Horizon
Evo****
Innova**
Instrinct***
Orijen******
Taste of the Wild**
Wellness
Acana***
Fromm**
Merrick
Canidae
Evanders
Earthborn
Natrures Logic
Natures Variety
Solid Gold
Pinnacle
Timberwolf
Blue Buffalo
Halo
California Natural**
Karma*
Heathwise*