*I have always fed my chi's Science Diet Small Kibble for small puppies but will change them soon as they will soon be 7 months old. Time flies.*
*Ann * On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 3:27 PM, Deanna Corey <[email protected]>wrote: > > > For me I would not feed Royal Canin...chicken meal is not a clean source of > protein as it is a rendered product...and as such dead,dying and diseased > animals can be used... > There are other ingredients I would not feel comfortable with. The second, > third, and forth ingredients are rice, brown rice and oats...way too much > grain content for me as well as chemicals instead of real food. Also the use > of Rosemary has been questioned as it is a toxin...I would not ever feed > royal Canin, especially to small dogs. There are so many other better foods > out there. But this is just my opinion! > > *Chicken meal*, according to the Association of American Feed Control > Officials<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_American_Feed_Control_Officials> > (AAFCO), > is the dry > rendered<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendering_(food_processing)> product > from a combination of clean chicken<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken> > flesh > and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from whole carcasses of > chicken, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and > entrails.[1]<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_meal?wasRedirected=true#cite_note-Dog_Food_Project-0> > A *meal* in general is "an ingredient which has been ground or otherwise > reduced in particle > size."[2]<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_meal?wasRedirected=true#cite_note-aafco_fim-1> > > Chicken meal is ground up chicken meat that has been carefully dried to a > moisture level of *10%*. The protein content is *65%* and the fat level > is *12%*. Regular chicken contains about 70% water with 18% protein and 5% > fat. To create chicken meal, ingredients are placed into large vats and > cooked. > [3]<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_meal?wasRedirected=true#cite_note-2> > This > rendering process not only separates fat and removes water to create a > concentrated protein product, it also kills bacteria, viruses, parasites and > other organisms. Because meat can be rid of infectious agents through the > rendering process, “4D” animals (dead, dying, diseased or disabled) are > allowable chicken meal ingredients. While not always present, the possible > inclusion of these ingredients makes chicken meal always considered unfit > for human > consumption.[<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_meal?wasRedirected=true#cite_note-3> > 4<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_meal?wasRedirected=true#cite_note-3> > ]<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_meal?wasRedirected=true#cite_note-3> > > > Ingredients for royal canin, chihuahua > > Chicken meal, rice, brown rice, oatmeal, soy protein isolate, chicken fat, > natural chicken flavor, dried egg product, dried beet pulp (sugar removed), > pea fiber, anchovy oil (source of EPA/DHA), potassium chloride, soya oil, > sodium silico aluminate, fructo-oligosaccharides, sodium tripolyphosphate, > DL-methionine, taurine, calcium carbonate, Vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol > acetate (source of vitamin E), inositol, niacin supplement, > L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), D-calcium pantothenate, > biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin supplement > (vitamin B2), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A acetate, folic > acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement], choline chloride, > marigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.), Trace Minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc > oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, copper > sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], glucosamine > hydrochloride, L-carnitine, tea (green tea extract), chondroitin sulfate, > rosemary extract, preserved with natural mixed tocopherols (source of > vitamin E) and citric acid. > > T > Wagging Tails in the Dog Park! > Deanna and the Dog Park Gang: > Nugget, Shuai Li, Mable, Mouse, Myrtle, Madison, Caleb and Maxine > From the mountains of CA > > http://swlf.lilyslim.com/v3T7m8.png?h9j6wId9 > > On Feb 10, 2011, at 11:50 AM, Joan Croft <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Someone wrote earlier that Chihuahuas need puppy food longer than other > breeds. It is just the opposite. Chihuahuas can start adult food at 8 > months. The larger breeds need puppy food longer because their growing > stage is longer also. > > As I said, I feed Royal Canin Chihuahua…and I just looked at the bag and it > confirmed that is for Chihuahuas 8 months and older. Puppy food has a lot > of added calories and fat that puppies need to grow. If you keep your > Chihuahua on puppy food too long, you are not doing it any favors as the > added fat and calories can cause heart problems and joint problems later in > life. > > Desi was already a little ‘hefty’ as my vet said; the vet had me put him on > adult food at 4 months and it still took another 6 months to get the fat off > of him. He is doing well, has more energy than Dolly ever had and grew well > with the puppy food. Perhaps you should check with your vet to see what > he/she believes is the proper age to change the food to adult food. > > > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On > Behalf Of *Joan Croft > *Sent:* Wednesday, February 09, 2011 11:14 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* RE: [Chihuahuas] Another question... > > > > > > I have Dolly & Desi on Royal Canin Chihuahua food. > > Royal Canin has a small puppy food also…I was feeding Desi that when he was > little. > > The only time that mine have stomach issues is when they are at someone > else’s house and eat the food that they have left out for their dogs. > > Dolly had serious colitis as a baby and so she was on Science Diet ID and a > little canned puppy food, but when she was old enough to be on adult food > and her stomach had been doing well, I put her on the RC. I knew that it > had a money back guarantee if she didn’t like it. > > Dolly loves it; Desi loves it….Desi loves anything that he can eat! > > My vet says that I shouldn’t change a thing because they are both doing so > well on it. The RC Chihuahua has everything that the Chihuahua needs…stuff > for their coats, their hearts, their more sensitive tummies, and for their > joints. > > I know others feed other food; but I just have to say that RC Chihuahua has > been excellent for my two. The kibble is very small also, and quite easy to > chew (although Desi refuses to chew his food!) > > > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On > Behalf Of *Angela Mose > *Sent:* Wednesday, February 09, 2011 8:45 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [Chihuahuas] Another question... > > > > > > I am wondering what would be the best diet to wean our new chis to? The > breeder starts them on Science Diet, then for some reason, she switches to > Puppy Chow. I think she said it was because some of her pups were have > stomach upset. I was thinking of using Royal Canin eventually, but I need > some input form you much more seasoned chi parents. I know that RC is very > expensive and I'm not sure if it is really the best diet for them or not. I > have read that because chis are so small that it is vital for them to get as > much useable nutrition as possible for their small stomachs. I also have > read that they need frequent small meals, but I'm not sure about free choice > feeding because I do want to be able to housebreak them. Any pratical > guidance would be appreciated, as I want to get off on the best foot > possible. See, my big dog is very low maintance. The only thing he can eat > is a lamb and rice diet because anything else just runs through him, > especially the food he steals off of the 3 yr old's plate. You'd think that > after eight years he would realize that food in bowl good, food not in bowl, > bad. Oh, well. At least he (big Alex) is a rescue dog. I would have liked to > adopt a chihuahua, but, they are scarce around here. > > Thank you so much for all of the help allready. > > Peace and Blessings to you all, > > Angela M > > > -- Ann
