A new Grain Free: Earthborn Holistic® Primitive Natural™ Grain-Free Dog Food

[Zuki]

Happened upon this yesterday at my local pet supply place and grabbed a brochure to look it up. Has anyone tried it? Opinions?

http://www.earthbornholisticpetfood.com/primitive_natural/index.php

They are offering a $3.00 off coupon on the site as well.
Earthborn Holistic® Primitive Natural™ Dog Food: Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein, not less than 38.00% Crude Fat, not less than 20.00% Crude Fiber, not more than 2.50% Moisture, not more than 10.00% Vitamin E, not less than 200 IU/kg Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), not less than 0.10%* Omega-6 Fatty Acids, not less than 3.30%* Omega-3 Fatty Acids, not less than 0.55%* L-Carnitine, not less than 15 mg/kg* *Not recognized as an essential ingredient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.


Earthborn Holistic® Primitive Natural™ Dog Food: Ingredients

INGREDIENTS: Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), Dried Egg Product, Tomato Pomace, Apples, Blueberries, Carrots, Peas, Spinach, Garlic, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Taurine, Cottage Cheese, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Beta-Carotene, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Oxide, Magnesium Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, L-Carnitine, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K Activity), Biotin, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Manganese Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Products.

 

[Tricia2]

I just tried it last week, I got a free 6lb "sample" and my VERY fussy GSD loves it! Finally, something she'll eat that I'm happy with too. We've been through EVO Red Meat, Wellness Core, Canidae ALS Grain Free and Taste of the Wild Bison. She used to get Canidae's old formula but ever since they changed the formula she has been eating around most of the kibble we have tried.

 

[kagricola]

I just bought a bag today (using the coupon) after trying the a sample bag. Sundance loved it and he has very few dry foods he will eat. He had no loose stool problems which he did have with Orijen. My pet supply place also started carrying Acana, so I bought some for the dogs and cats to try as well.

 

[Tricia2]

FYI: The package and website didn't list the per cup caloric measure, so I emailed them....are you ready for this...............717 calories per cup...Mama Mia! I see they have added it at the bottom of the the guaranteed analysis page.

I'm feeding my 55 and 65 pounders 1 cup twice a day and they are both crazed maniacs that burn the calories.

But I'm also feeding 1 cup servings to my old guy who's 110 lbs and pretty sedentary. He's seeming more peppy. And all three have definitely got a shine they didn't have before we started.

I'm sticking with Acana Pacifica for Lulu, she's doing great on it, no more cow plop poops.

 

[mikeyisme]

I think I might try it. I changed Riki from Nutro to taste of the wild and she started getting flaky skin and itching a lot. so I will try it to see if it clears up.

 

[mikeyisme]

I just got a few sample bags. they gave me 2 and my 4-legged kids gobbled it up like I've never fed them before. The price is pretty reasonable, too.

 

[Ginny]

no info. provided on calcium and phosphorous content

 

[Tricia2]

no info. provided on calcium and phosphorous content

You're right, Ginny. Not on the website or packaging. I just sent an email. They got back to me very quickly on the calories. I'll post when I get a reply.

 

[JackandKelly]

Does anyone know who manufactures their food? DO they manufacture their own or is it at a facility that manufactures other dog foods too?

 

[Ginny]

Another consideration which we've been discussing in another thread is the fact that the fish meal is more than likely preserved with ethoxyquin.

 

[Tricia2]

Another consideration which we've been discussing in another thread is the fact that the fish meal is more than likely preserved with ethoxyquin.

This is a copy of the email I received from Midwestern Pet Foods Marketing VP on May 29th:

Dear Patricia,

Thank you for your interest in our newly reformulated Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Dog Food. I have consulted with our canine nutritionist with your request for caloric information. She has informed me that Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Dog Food supplies 5184 kilo-calories per kg or 717 kilo-calories per 4.75 ounce cup. We will be adding this information to our website and packaging.

In response to your concerns, our pet foods are now formulated with only natural preservatives. Mixed tocopherols are a source of vitamin E. Vitamin C is provided by ingredients such as blueberries, apples, and tomato pomace which provide antioxidant properties. Our turkey meal and chicken meal are USDA Human Grade hormone free, antibiotic free and ethoxyquin free, meat, flesh tissue and skin only. Our turkey meal, chicken meal, and whitefish meal have undergone FDA inspection and independent laboratory testing and have been found to have no ethoxyquin residual.

PRO PAC Pet Foods is a division of Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. We manufacture and package Earthborn Holistic formula dry pet food in company owned manufacturing facilities in Illinois. We have been in business since 1926. Plants are inspected regularly and keep up with all food manufacturing guidelines.

Our pet food is safe for humans but we do not recommend feeding it to humans.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or concerns.

Cindy Montgomery
VP, Marketing
Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc.
9634 Hedden Road
Evansville, IN 47725

 

[Ginny]

Our turkey meal, chicken meal, and whitefish meal have undergone FDA inspection and independent laboratory testing and have been found to have no ethoxyquin residual.

Not sure how tests are showing no residual ethoxyquin since the US Coast Guard requires that all fish slated to become meal, be treated with the chemical and lots of it. I guess it's possible that one batch came back free of it, but that doesn't mean that every batch will. I wonder how often they're testing.

As Peter stated, Eagle Pack keeps their fish on ice and state on their website that they've waiver permits issued by the gov't. If this company had such permits, I'm sure they'd publish that info. I saw nothing on their site about any of this. Also, turkey and chicken meal aren't usually preserved with ethoxyquin so their mentioning those seems misleading.

I guess I'm becoming a cynic... Not a warm and fuzzy feeling.

 

[Tricia2]

I think you raise some good points, Ginny. I've got a request for more info on cal/phos out, maybe a follow up phone call is in order.

Which Eagle Pack product is grain-free? I'm scanning their line-up, am I missing something?

 

[Ginny]

Unfortunately, I'm not finding any grain free E P. Hopefully it's in their future. Since mine don't have issues with grains (knock on wood), I'm looking to get rid of the ethoxyquin. I may go with Canidae's Chicken and Rice which has no fish meal and supplement with proteins.