Eukanuba dog food
October 29, 2008
Filed under BLUE Buffalo, Dog Food Reviews, Dog Food Tips, Eukanuba, Fromm, Innova, Nutro, Wellness
Eukanuba dog food review
Eukanuba is manufactured by a subsidiary of Procter&Gamble called Iams. The brand name “Eukanuba” was given by Paul Iams, which means “something supreme”. However, we do not recommend this dog food brand due to questions regarding the quality of its ingredients.
Another sore point is the inclusion of Eukanuba dog food in the 2007 melamine pet food recall. Although the manufacturer has taken steps to correct this mistake, there are still Eukanuba canned formulas and kibbles which may still be in the FDA recall list. Thus, dog owners should check with the list first before buying dog food for their dogs.
Eukanuba dog foods are grain-based formulas which are combined with chicken as their main source of animal-based protein. There are many variants of Eukanuba dog food designed to meet the nutritional needs of different breeds of dogs, different life stages, and dogs with special needs.
Most Eukanuba dog food formulas have chicken and chicken by-product meal as the main source of protein. There are also those that incorporate turkey, lamb, or venison but these are incorporated as raw ingredients which means it still contains about 80% water that evaporates during processing leaving only about 20% of meat.
On the other hand, chicken by-product meal is a meat concentrate which means it has 300% more protein compared to raw meat sources. However, the question as to the sources of the ingredients arises. Being a by-product, the usual ingredients will include slaughterhouse waste and parts of the chicken which have been considered unfit for human consumption.
Being primarily a grain-based formula, a large percentage of its ingredients are carbohydrates. Eukanuba incorporates any of the following carbohydrate sources in its dog food products— rice (brown, brewer’s), sorghum, corn (meal, grits), and barley.
Corn is not easily digestible and since the source has not been identified, there is a possibility that livestock feed grade corn has been used.
Brewer’s Rice is considered a poor cereal grain by-product while dried beet pulp is an inexpensive filler however it has also been associated with improving intestinal health.
None of the various Eukanuba dog food formulas contain chelated minerals and probiotics. Chelated minerals are easily absorbed and used by the body while probiotics provide beneficial microorganisms that will enhance the digestive process.
There is no sign of plant-based protein sources which could have contributed to the protein levels of the product.
Customer Reviews
One of the main concerns of dog owners regarding Eukanuba dog food products is its being an expensive dog food line, without the quality of ingredients to justify the price. There are also dog owners that cite the poor quality ingredients that contributed to digestive upsets and excessive weight loss of their dogs.
Allergies are the most common problems that dog owners report when feeding any Eukanuba dog food formula to their pets. They attribute this to the incorporation of corn and chicken, both well-known dog food allergens. Dog owners also report of alopecia or hair loss and low energy levels.
While we do not recommend this brand, we have heard numerous testimonials of readers who report that they have not experienced any significant problems when feeding Eukanuba dog food product to their dogs for many years.
Eukanuba Quick Links:
- Eukanuba Dog Food Consumer Rating
- Eukanuba Breed Specific Dog Food Review
- Eukanuba Special Needs Dog Food
- Eukanuba Maintenance Dog Food
- Eukanuba Small Breed Dog Food
- Eukanuba Large Breed Dog Food
- Eukanuba Premium Performance Dog Food
- Eukanuba Naturally Wild Dog Food
Please visit the links listed below for Eukanuba dog food reviews by formula.
Have a comment or question about our Eukanuba dog food review? Want to share your experiences with others? We welcome your comments!
Eukanuba dog food reviews
Eukanuba Dog Food comes in a wide variety of different formulas. We are going to take a in depth at each formula. For more information on the following formulas simply click on the one you want to view.
Eukanuba Breed Specific Dog Food
Lets first start by taking a look at Eukanuba’s breed specific dog food formulas. Let me first note that breed specific dog food is nothing but a marketing scheme. A Boxer doesn’t need any different of a recipe than a German Shepherd. The breed specific formulas come in the following:
- Eukanuba Boxer Formula Dog Food
- Eukanuba Dachshund Formula Dog Food
- Eukanuba German Shepherd Dog Food
- Eukanuba Labrador Retriever Formula Dog Food
- Eukanuba Yorkshire Terrier Formula Dog Food
Eukanuba Special Needs Dog Food
Eukanuba dog food also comes in formulas that are marketed towards dogs with special needs. These formulas include the following:
- Eukanuba Sensitive Stomach Dog Food
- Eukanuba Healthy Joints Dog Food
- Eukanuba Sensitive Skin Dog Food
- Eukanuba Weight Loss Dog Food
Eukanuba Maintenance Dog Food
Eukanuba Maintenance dog food formulas include the following:
- Eukanuba Puppy Growth Dog Food
- Eukanuba Adult Maintenance Dog Food
- Eukanuba Adult Maintenance Weight Control Dog Food
- Eukanuba Adult Maintenance Small Bite Dog Food
- Eukanuba Senior Maintenance Dog Food
Eukanuba Small Breed Dog Food
Eukanuba Small Breed Dog Food is focused towards the smaller breeds. The Eukanuba Small Breed dog food includes the following formulas:
- Eukanuba Small Breed Puppy Dog Food
- Eukanuba Small Breed Adult Dog Food
- Eukanuba Small Breed Weight Control Dog Food
- Eukanuba Small Breed Senior Dog Food
Eukanuba Large Breed Dog Food
Eukanuba Large Breed Dog Food is focused towards the smaller breeds. The Eukanuba Large Breed dog food includes the following formulas:
- Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Dog Food
- Eukanuba Large Breed Adult Dog Food
- Eukanuba Large Breed Weight Control Dog Food
- Eukanuba Large Breed Senior Dog Food
Eukanuba Premium Performance Dog Food
- Eukanuba Premium Performance Active Dog Food
- Eukanuba Premium Performance Sporting Dog Food
Eukanuba Lamb and Rice Dog Food
- Eukanuba Puppy Natural Lamb & Rice Formula Dog Food
- Eukanuba Weight Control Natural Lamb & Rice Formula Dog Food
- Eukanuba Large Breed Natural Lamb & Rice Formula Dog Food
- Eukanuba Adult Natural Lamb & Rice Formula Dog Food
- Eukanuba Lamb & Rice Senior Dog Food
Eukanuba Naturally Wild Dog Food
- New Zealand Venison & Potato
- North Atlantic Salmon & Rice
- Country-Grown Turkey & Multigrain
Eukanuba Dog Food Consumer Rating
How much do you feed a Britteny Spaniel female that is one year old and two months we are confused on the amount and how many times a day.
Carol,
I’d recommend that you ask this question in the forum: http://www.dogfoodchat.com/forum/
They will be able to help you out!
I HAVE A YORKIE SHE IS 7 MONTHS I HAVE HER ON THE SMALL BREED PETITE RACE FOOD BY EUKANUBA PUPPY I WAS PLANING TO KEEP HER ON THIS BRAND AND MOVE HER UP TO THE YORKIE ADULT WHEN SHE TURNS ONE I REALLY WANT THE BEST FOOD I CAN PROVIDE FOR HER IS THIS THE BEST FOOD FOR HER PLEASE HELP I TRY TO BE THE BEST DOG OWNER I CAN I JUST FEEL SO BAD TO THINK I COULD BE GIVING HER ONE OF THE WORST FOODS OUT THERE
Could you review Eukanuba Naturally Wild?
eukanuba is, in my opinion, a food that is not worth the money. if you want poor ingredients then buy a cheaper food like iams or pedigree. people tend to think that eukanuba is a high quality food just because of the advertising and time on the market.
as for the naturally wild line of eukanuba, it really isn’t that bad. it has no corn or wheat gluten and no by-prodcuts which is more than what the other eukanuba foods can say. so overall naturally wild would be a fine food to give your dog.
but as always, do more research into your dog’s breed and specific needs (allergies, etc.)
This is really a bad product and you need to read whats in it and get educated. The following is in one of the products this company makes and all 4 are low grade. Brewers rice is as bad as it gets.
2.Chicken By-Products
3.Corn Meal
4.Ground Whole Sorghum
5.Brewers Rice
Carol,
It really doesn’t matter her age, just how much she weighs. I recommend you ask your vet. Cyrstal,
I personnaly have researched Eukanuba, and, I have found it is my second favorite dog food, after SolidGold. I would recommend it for your Yorksire Terrier.
Yvonne,
I don’t think you can! LOL!! I mean, Eukanuba’s Naturally Wild is pretty clean. I have researched all kinds of their food, and, I have found it pretty good compared to others, like Ol’Roy, Hill’s, Purina, Nutro, and many more. I say this from me having already researched this food, or I would not offer advice.
To Yvonne I am a dog nutritionist for the pet chain I work for and I would be delighted to review Eukanuba Naturally Wild, I will rate the Venison one but the others are on the same level.
Venison, Potato, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Brewers Rice, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Chicken Meal, Fish Meal, Dried Egg Product, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Brewers Dried Yeast, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dicalcium Phosphate, 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), Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), DL-Methionine, Rosemary Extract.
Venison wouldn’t really be the first ingredient because it is weighed before the water is removed. Since it is about 80% water it should really be down further on the list. Making Potatoes the Main ingredient And those are a good source of starch and some protein. Then we have grains, at least the Sorghum and Barley are “better” grains, the brewers’ rice is just empty filler. Chicken meal is good protein and at least it is in the first five ingredients, it comes at the end which means it makes up a fairly small portion of the food. Fish meal is a good protein but I cannot find anywhere on their website stating that their fish is Ethoxiquin free, Ethoxiquin is a preservative that is added to fish frequently and is banned in several countries because it is thought to increase your risk of cancer. I’m not saying that it has it in it, but normally when a company does not use it the make sure you know it. Dried egg product is another good protein source but it is now so far down the list it really doesn’t make a difference. Chicken Fat adds to it its fat content and adds to the flavor. Now we’re down to the small stuff so I’ll point out the good and the bad. Beet pulp is another empty filler that some dogs are very sensitive to. Fish oil is good because it will give it extra fatty acids. I love the fact that they are using natural preservatives instead of BHA or BHT. The Rosemary Extract may trigger seizures in dog with Epilepsy
In my Opinion this is a decent dog food, not the worst but not the best either. I hope this helped if you have any more questions E-mail me at [email protected]
Fay I totally disagree. This is whats in the top 5 of thier large breed puppy, which is what my dog is. Drop the chicken to No 5 and CORN is no.1, I just can’t seeing it getting much worse, sorghum would be No. 2 which is a very low rated grain, No.3 would be By products what a laugh by products, Brewers rice is now No.4 another very low quaility grain. With all due respect, this is a very very low grade dog food in my book and really grain heavy. I would expect to see alot of problems with a dog that was on this diet for a long time.
1.Chicken
2.”"Corn Meal”"
3.Ground Whole Grain “Sorghum”
4.Chicken “By-Products”
5.”Brewers Rice”
Try one of these products instead
Artemis
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
Natural Balance*
California Natural***
Jess, I agree with you that the vast majority of Eukanuba foods are very poor quality foods. I was reviewing specifically the Naturally wild New Zealand Vanison and Potato formula which is better than (not by a great amount) the other types of Eukanuba. I never recommend feeding Eukanuba but someone wanted a review.
Here is some info on this product and it doesn’t surprise me.
•In March 2007, the most lethal pet food in history was the subject of the largest recall ever. Menu Foods recalled more than 100 brands including Iams, Eukanuba, Hill’s Science Diet, Purina Mighty Dog, and many store brands including Wal-Mart’s. Thousands of pets were sickened (the FDA received more than 17,000 reports) and an estimated 20% died from acute renal failure caused by the food. Cats were more frequently and more severely affected than dogs. The toxin was initially believed to be a pesticide, the rat poison “aminopterin” in one of the ingredients. In April, scientists discovered high levels of melamine, a chemical used in plastics and fertilizers, in wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported from China. The melamine had been purposefully added to the ingredients to falsely boost their protein content. Subsequent tests revealed that the melamine-tainted ingredients had also been used in feed for cows, pigs, and chickens and thousands of animals were quarantined and destroyed. In early May, scientists identified the cause of the rapid onset kidney disease that had appeared in dogs and cats as a reaction caused by the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid, both unauthorized chemicals. The fallout from this recall is ongoing as of May 2007 so
Unfortunately, our family labrador retriever died of kidney disease a year ago. She had been fed Eukanuba her entire life (she was 9 when she died). I have absolutely no proof that Eukanuba is the one to blame but after doing research on the product I found there were many bad reviews on it.
It’s really upsetting that I didn’t take the time to do the proper research beforehand but I really think she would have lived a longer, healthier life on a better diet.
My dog has been eating Eucknuba Adult Small Bite Maintenance dry dog food for quite some time. A couple months ago he started having an upset stomach and vomiting. His stools have also been very runny. Could there be something in the dog food that has caused these changes? Sometimes he goes for a couple days without being sick, but them he throws up a short time after having eaten this particular dog food. I realize there was a recall at one point but has the food on the store shelves been changed and no longer cause dogs to get sick? We are taking him to our Vet this coming weekend to have a thorough check up. Let me know if there’s something we should know and if we should stop feeding this particular dog food to our dogs. Thanks.
YES, THIS IS TERRIBLE DOG FOOD, ALL THIS CRAP IS BAD FOR DOGS!!! See my post above……
1.Chicken, OK
2.””Corn Meal”” BAD
3.Ground Whole Grain “Sorghum” BAD
4.Chicken “By-Products” BAD
5.”Brewers Rice” BAD
Like Kathy Bates message above, I think something wrong with last bag of food we got of this for our puppy. This was what he had for some time with seemingly no problems until a new bag we started at end of February. We’re switching now to one of the ‘whole’ food types (California Natural) as I’m concerned about ingredient as well as quality of this one.