Puppy - Mother and Starter

I have just had an email from an avid reader of my website who raised the following question :

I've just enjoyed reading your very informative web site particularly the feeding guide. In the section on what to avoid you say not to choose a food that contains peas along with other items such as grains etc yet when I look at the composition of your own brand of puppy food it contains peas! So I'm a little confused. I wonder if you could advise me.

A very salient point reader, and one which I had not explained up until now, but thank you for the opportunity:

“Yes, sadly I had to make a trade-off when requesting a new puppy food.

I had been very unhappy with the transition from a well-known weaner to the Salmon and Potato adult. There was a massive gap. The puppies development, due to inadequate nutritional content of the initial products, was very unsatisfactory. Follow ons had too high a mineral content, not enough fibre, leading to constant scouring, the inability to hold weight and develop bone density, giving bone length instead. Overall the hound looked out of balance. Therefore I was looking for a product to fulfil development up to 12 months at a slow and steady growth rate.

I was extremely concerned about bloat when writing the article, as most other breeders suffered this. However, bloat does not seem to be an issue in my lines, and when rearing, I have endeavoured to keep the burden on the developing digestive system to a minimum, and been pre-emptive.

Having spoken to the manufactures about these issues, and others they developed the puppy food. I have now tried this for a year with excellent results. Both for the whelping bitch and the puppies the transition is seamless. The pups continue on this now for up to a year. At some point, we do add the adult kibble, and it is here that rearing becomes both a science and an art.

I am now also trialling the new 5 Star Range, which is gluten-free and excellent for digestive issues. It appears to be an all-round winner for both adults and pups alike, but I fear it might lead to weight gain in some, as it appears to be a very tasty kibble.

However, as a pet owner, and unless I knew what conditions and issues were in the pedigrees, I would still look for an adult kibble which was low in ingredients which may cause gaseous digestion.
”

— Carla du Rose

Dental Treats

Our Dental Functional Treats are a great way to help maintain good dental health, helping to reduce tartar build-up, maintain white teeth and help to neutralise the infamous bad breath. Our Dental Functional Treats are healthy, nutritious and highly palatable. Our Dental Functional Treats have a satisfying ‘crunch’, making them irresistible to both dogs and cats. The crunchy kibble helps to remove unwanted tartar that builds upon the surface of the teeth.

Skin & Coat Functional Treats

The skin and coat form the single largest organ of a pet’s body, and it is the first protective barrier from the outside. Together, they go hand in hand to provide protection and immunity for the body to prevent bacteria/viruses from entering the body to ensure thermo-regulation. It is well documented that fish are a fantastic source of Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids. They play a crucial role in skin and coat health by contributing to the skin’s barrier function and helping to maintain moisture, which keeps the skin soft and supple. This recipe also contains added zinc, which plays an essential role in the production and growth of skin cells.

Digestive Treats

Having a healthy digestive tract is essential to help ensure your pet can absorb/obtain all the necessary nutrients from their food and contribute to their well-being.

The recipe has added probiotics, prebiotics, cellulose and an increased fibre level to help promote a healthy gut movement and support the growth of good bacteria, both of which are required to help support gastrointestinal health.

Bonaforte’s Digestive Treats Shop Here

Improving your Dog’s Gut Health via Pet Food Ingredients

Pet food ingredients can influence the gut health of dogs. Our Grain-Free recipes have been formulated with ingredients to help support gut health and promote healthy digestion.

1) Hypoallergenic Hypoallergenic diets are an excellent option for dogs with more sensitive digestion, as they can be used to help eliminate common allergens from the diet. Our Grain-Free range is hypoallergenic as the recipes have been formulated without grains (such as wheat, maize & barley), soya and dairy. We also have a large number of single protein recipes available to help eliminate specific proteins from the diet when necessary.

2) Prebiotics Prebiotics are classed as non-digestible ingredients that probiotics (the good bacteria in the gut) can feed off. These help to increase the populations of healthy bacteria in the gut to help support good digestion. This is why our Grain Free recipes are formulated with Prebiotics MOS (Mannanoligosaccharides) and FOS (Fructooligopsaccharides). One of the biggest advantages of prebiotics is that they are highly stable as they are unaffected by either temperature or long-term storage, so they are very beneficial as an ingredient in dry pet foods.

3) Fibre It’s thought that consumption of fibre can help to reduce symptoms in some dogs with gastrointestinal upset and support good gut health. Our Grain-Free recipes are formulated with beet pulp, which is an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fibre. Insoluble fibre helps to encourage good stool formation and promote normal gastrointestinal movement so that an optimal level of nutrients can be absorbed from the food. The soluble fibre also acts as a prebiotic food source for the ‘good’ bacteria in the gut to maintain normal digestive function.

4) Freshly Prepared Ingredients Here at Bonaforte, our manufacturers have Freshtrusion™ technology, which allows them to include Freshly Prepared meats in our recipes. These meats are of high quality, are easily digestible and gentle on the gastrointestinal tract, making them beneficial ingredients for those dogs with more sensitive digestion. High digestibility of these ingredients is also advantageous as it means that a high proportion of nutrients are available for absorption by the dog.

Grain Free Discussion

You may be aware of media outlets discussing the potential issues surrounding Grain Free dog food and specifically Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).

The company where we have our food made is striving to keep us as informed as possible to alleviate any concerns and ensure that you are provided with the correct facts, figures and published research. Their Nutrition, Food Safety & Innovation Advisor, has provided the following information to assist any concerns:

FDA

Since the initial alert issued by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2018 regarding an increase in the number of cases of atypical DCM in dogs in the USA, very little progress has seemingly been made into understanding the cause.

The latest ‘information’ released by the FDA (27th June 2019) merely provided limited details and statistics regarding the dogs and cats that have been affected as well as the types of diets they have been fed, what Brands of food have been fed and what ingredients they contain.

Based on data released by the FDA, diets characterised as grain-free were fed in 91% of DCM cases reported.

Unfortunately, data such as this has generated some attention-grabbing headlines and stories in various news and social media outlets. However, the fact is that the FDA has NOT found any specific causative link between any particular brand or type of diet (e.g. grain-free) or ingredient (e.g. peas, lentils, sweet potatoes) and DCM.

Facts and Figures

Given that an estimated 22 million dogs in the USA are fed grain free food, and grain-free foods have been available for 10 years or more with no problems reported, the number of dogs affected in the last year (560) is a tiny fraction (0.002%) and suggests that there is not a general problem with grain-free diets themselves. Furthermore, there is no similar issue in the UK or Europe, where grain-free diets are also widely consumed by dogs and cats.

Causes Unknown

The cause(s) for the increase in cases of atypical DCM remains unknown.

The FDA is continuing its investigation, working with scientists and nutritionists in the Veterinary Laboratory and Investigation Response Network (Vet-LIRN), and also with veterinary cardiologists.

In the meantime, it is essential to remember that no causative link between grain-free diets and DCM has been made and analysis of grain-free foods reported in DCM cases for levels of minerals, amino acids and other nutrients as well as contaminants such as metals have not found anything unusual compared to grain-based foods.

Bonaforte's Grain-Free Diets

Our Grain Free range is, of course, formulated to be nutritionally complete and balanced for the relevant species and life-stage in accordance with FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs. They also undergo analytical testing prior to release to ensure they are compliant with FEDIAF requirements. As such, they, therefore, provide all the nutrients needed for everyday health and well being in normal, healthy dogs and cats.

Taurine

Low blood levels of taurine is linked with DCM in some dogs. Animal protein is a rich source of taurine and the amino acids methionine and cysteine (which dogs can convert into taurine). Our Grain Free range contains high levels of both Freshly Prepared and dried animal protein sources to provide these essential nutrients.

We will continue to monitor this issue and the research being conducted and keep you informed of any future developments.

The Importance of Antioxidants

Protecting pet food against oxidation is more critical than ever.

Opportunity and risk The development of improved pet food diets with an optimum balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids has seen a significant nutritional improvement for pets. Antioxidants are a major opportunity for pet food manufacturers and brand owners to add to their marketing efforts. However, high susceptibility towards oxidation and how to minimise it remains a top priority for manufacturers and brands.

Types of Antioxidants In the past, antioxidants have been used in pet food to protect against fat oxidation, maintain taste and protect nutrients throughout the shelf life.

In modern times, antioxidants are used at various stages in the supply chain. This is in order to protect the quality of materials for animal nutrition, raw materials during rendering processes, bulk oils, pre-mixtures and fats. As fats remain an essential part of the diet, antioxidants will continue to play an important role in protecting fats against oxidation.

Looking ahead In the future, rising demand for healthy, nutritious and natural products will greatly impact the pet food market and the antioxidants are likely to change. But which antioxidants are natural, clean and safe?

Natural mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E) have a good image and are very important, because animal fats and oils contain very minimal amounts of vitamin E. A certain shelf life extension can be achieved with natural mixed tocopherols, however there is a limit for this.

Rosemary extract also known as carnosic acid is beginning to have an increasing importance and adds further shelf- life beyond what natural mixed tocopherols can provide. This is a natural option and does not impact on palatability.

Here at Bonaforte, we use both natural mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract to naturally preserve your foods. This is to ensure there is good shelf life and helps to maintain the quality, freshness and palatability in your recipes.

Bonaforte Complete feeding your fur babies the world’s finest pet food.

New research has revealed that people are buying pets to be their best friends and provide unconditional love. UK pet owners are spending 7.5 hours a day with their fur babies

Influence of Pets The research highlights that pets are a major influence to pet owners’ happiness, with 88% of them claiming they bought their four- legged friend for companionship. It was also found that 13% of animal lovers would rather buy a pet instead of having a baby. Whilst 8% of pet owners tell all of their worries to their animals and 5% say they depend on their pet for support. 78% of pet owners say they would rather buy a treat for their pet than themselves.

Here at Bonaforte, the Freshtrusion technology allows for more fresh ingredients to be used in dry pet foods than any other extrusion system in the world, including fresh meat and vegetables. This allows the best for pets as the technology cooks the meat at a gentle 90 C temperature keeping in the freshness and protecting the proteins.