Right after Raw Food Month, we ushered in celebration of our canned food. Perhaps you’ve already saw some promotions in store. This may also just be coinciding at a time when you’re considering switching brands from one canned food to another, or from kibble to wet. Here’s another list of some of the brands we like (but not all of them!) that you may find at Healthy Pets NW.
Open Farm
I wrote during Raw Month a bit about Open Farm and how much we love it at Healthy Pets NW. The quick rundown again is that Open Farm works directly with farms that are certified humane, and uses sustainably-caught fish in its formulas. They are transparent with their ingredients and try to be ethical and environmentally-friendly at every step in the process. This includes putting their Rustic Stew formulas in resealable tetra pak containers that are guaranteed to be BPA-free. Highly recommend.
Fussie Cat
Fussie Cat’s big thing is palatability: after all, if your cat won’t eat that high protein, low carb, food you put in front of them, they’re not going to be getting its benefits. And while there are a lot of resources on how to understand and work with your cat’s tastes, Fussie Cat uses cats throughout the formulation process to ensure their food passes strict taste tests. Their foods contain chicken or tuna bases with variations in supporting ingredients to adjust for different preferences.
Purevita and Nutrisource
Purevita and Nutrisource share the same parent company, KLN. What I like about these two is they are constantly improving their formulations. Purevita offers high content single-protein options while Nutrisource provides mixed-protein formulas that still allow for a rotational diet. Both of these companies put a lot of thought into making sure their foods aid healthy digestion and allow maximum ingredient bioavailability. Additionally, their canned formulas are formulated without the most irritating gums, and they are budget-friendly!
Osopure
Osopure’s biggest problem may be its branding. It generally doesn’t stand out on store shelves and a Google search reveals it shares a very similar name to dentistry equipment. That being said, Osopure has a loyal following of HPNW customers, especially for its canned food. If you are looking for a good limited-ingredient formula, Osopure has you covered while still being affordable. It’s especially good for the parents of fish-loving cats, as its canned formulas consist mainly of tuna and salmon.
KOHA
KOHA is another limited-ingredient brand, this time with more novel proteins. In the selections for dog food, you’ll find kangaroo and guinea fowl, both of which can be great for animals with tricky allergies. Cats also have the option to try kangaroo. KOHA’s foods don’t contain gums, but do have additional supplemental ingredients addressing particular health issues, such as cranberries to aid UT health for cats. KOHA also knows how to appeal to the humans who are buying the food – their packaging cites popular dishes such as brisket and barbecue in their slow-cooked stew line for dogs. It sounds absolutely delicious, but, like many of our foods here, is done with the complete intent of preserving nutrients in the best way for maximum absorption. Good stuff.
K9 and Feline Natural
K9 and Feline Natural are another favorite at Healthy Pets NW. It’s more expensive food, definitely, but very high quality stuff. The meat is raised in New Zealand, which has the highest standard of humane and healthy treatment for livestock – thus the beef and lamb used in their formulas have been treated well and won’t pass on hormones, antibiotics, etc. Not only that, but K9 and Feline Natural include underutilized body parts that contain a lot of nutrients. I’m talking especially about blood and tripe; blood contains essentials such as iron, but also electrolytes and other good stuff. Tripe is another example, and it’s great for dogs because it contains bioavailable probiotics, selenium, vitamin B12, among other things. It’s one of those things I’m wondering why people don’t eat more of.
Which of these foods have you tried? Which ones do you think your pet might like?
Editors Note: Meadow, Michael and Barb’s dog, love Lotus canned foods. Her three favorites are Just Juicy Beef Shank Stew, Just Juicy Pork Shoulder Stew and Venison Stew. Barb and Michael love the fact that Lotus is a micro-cannery that makes all their own products.