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Why is BLUE dry dog food currently not on the Whole Dog Journal's 2008 Recommended List?
We've been receiving questions recently from pet parents wanting to know why BLUE dry dog food is not on The Whole Dog Journal's Approved Dry Dog Food List this year after being on the list since 2004.
Unfortunately, because of a misunderstanding regarding the deadline for when information needed to be submitted, BLUE dry dog food could not be added to The Whole Dog Journal's 2008 list.
Part of the new requirements for being on this year's list is to provide the names of the manufacturers that produce BLUE dry dog foods. As many BLUE pet parents know, we have always been forthcoming with this information. CJ Foods in Bern, Kansas and Dad's Pet Care in Meadville, Pennsylvania make BLUE dry dog foods.
Both of these manufacturing partners share the same commitment to quality and safety that we do, and to making sure that our furry friends get the healthiest food possible.
Importantly, BLUE dry dog food continues to meet the ingredients criteria set forth by the Whole Dog Journal—high-quality animal protein, whole grains and vegetables with no animal by-products, artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.
Being on the Whole Dog Journal's Approved Dry Dog Food List is important to us, so we have provided them with all of the information necessary. We're hopeful that the Whole Dog Journal will include BLUE dry dog food on an update to their website or in a future issue.
We'll keep you posted!
Can you explain your feeding recommendations for kittens? Is it OK to feed the BLUE Adult Cat food to my 4 month old kitten?
First, the individual cat's requirements will vary based on age, activity level and environment. You should always adjust the amount of food eaten based upon optimum body condition. BLUE Adult Cat food has been formulated to meet all AAFCO's requirements for growing kittens.
There are guidelines printed on the BLUE Adult Cat food bag for cats one year and over.
Kittens generally require two to three times more food per meal than adult cats. Begin feeding moistened BLUE cat food at 4-5 weeks of age. Recommended feed is 3-4 meals per day.
As a guideline for the amount of food to feed your kitten, follow these directions.
"Start your kitten off with 2-3 times the recommended adult cat feeding. After each meal observe your kitten. The size (girth) of his or her abdomen (belly) should NOT exceed the size (girth) of his or her chest. If it does, at the next meal reduce the amount of food by 25%."
I have read that cooking destroys nutrients. Is that true?
Cooked food is classified as being "dead" food. This means that many of the vitamins have lost up to 75% of their potency and the naturally occurring enzymes, delicate nutrients and co-factors have been destroyed by the heat of cooking. This goes for both canned and dry foods. BLUE LifeSource Bits are COLD formed thereby retaining the activity of these essential nutrients so your dog or cat can best realize their benefits.
My current pet food lists "poultry by–product" as the number one ingredient. What is poultry by–product?
Poultry by–product is chicken meat that has been derived from ground necks, feet and intestines. BLUE Life Protection Formula does not use any poultry by-product in any of their dog or cat foods.
My current pet food lists brewer's rice as the first ingredient. What is brewer's rice? What is the difference between brewer's rice and the brown rice used in BLUE's Life Protection Formula?
Brewer's rice is classified as the fragments of milled rice (rice that has been processed and has had the nutrient rich bran layers removed). All of BLUE's formulas contain brown rice which retains the nutrient rich bran layers that are rich in vitamins, minerals and beneficial fiber.
All of BLUE's Life Protection Formulas contain probiotics such as Lactobacillus Acidoplilus and Bifidobacteria and other bacteria. Why?
Friendly bacteria such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacteria help to replenish the beneficial bacteria that is found in your dog and cat's intestines. These bacteria are required for the proper digestion of food. Don't confuse friendly bacteria with the harmful type such as E. coli or Salmonella, which can cause gas, diarrhea and sickness. Clinical studies have shown that administering friendly bacteria can actually help to reduce the levels of harmful bacteria.
Doesn't the heat of cooking kill friendly bacteria? If this is true, how effective is the friendly bacteria used in BLUE's Life Protection Formulas?
BLUE's Life Protection Formula with LifeSource Bits uses a special process that adds the friendly bacteria after the dog and cat food has been cooked. This process helps to preserve the effectiveness and health benefits of the friendly bacteria.
In reading the ingredient list of my current pet food I notice that it contains minerals such as sulfates and oxides. What are these minerals and why are they not found in BLUE's Life Protection Formulas?
Sulfates and oxides are inexpensive and the economic basis for their use in most mass-produced pet foods. They are also inorganic forms of minerals and are not well absorbed into the body. A good example is iron oxide, a mineral which is a coloring source for many foods. Iron oxide is rust and not well absorbed by the body. BLUE uses only the highly absorbable mineral chelates and proteinate.
I have heard the expression 4–D when referring to chicken in pet foods. What does 4–D mean and does BLUE use 4–D meats in their formulas?
4–D chicken and by–products is chicken meat that has been rejected by USDA food inspectors as not being fit for human consumption. The reason is that the chickens were presented (D)ead, (D)ying, (D)iseased or (D)isabled to the plant for inspection and did not meet the inspector's qualifications as chicken that could be sold for human consumption. This type of chicken is often the main ingredient in commercially prepared dog and cat food. BLUE only uses fresh chicken meat in all their dry formulations.
Much of the literature states that grains are not healthy for dogs and cats. Is that true?
Grains are rich in beneficial fiber, complex carbohydrates and essential amino acids. When cooked, grains closely resemble the intestinal contents of a wild dog or cat's prey and supply complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids that are not found in meat. The grains therefore help to enhance, balance and supply dogs and cats with essential nutrients that are required for the maintenance of wellness.
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