A grain-free pet food: Innova Evo. For all the pet owners that

[amitten]

are worried about grain-related food contamination.

I feed this to my cat and he loves it and is very healthy. Now I'm happy to know that it's grain-free, in light of all the current warnings.

[crikkett]

1. Are their bags still printed with silvery ink?

it rubs off into the food and my coffee. I've spoken to my pet food store and their distributor about it but haven't been back to buy more in a few weeks.

[amitten]

2. Um...kinda, but it's on the outside and it never rubs off on me.

The food inside is not exposed to any ink...I pour it into a separate container that I scoop it out of.

[commander bunnypants]

3. I use it too.

but dang it aint cheap but the numbnuts are worth it


CB

[amitten]

4. Yeah, it isn't cheap. But neither is the vet. n/t

[Clark2008]

26. In your coffee?

:wtf:

[InvisibleTouch]

5. Good for cats, I think...

...but be careful with dogs. The protein content is way off the charts. Look at the percentages. Unless you're working a team of sled dogs, 40%+ protein is just too much, IMO.

Cats need more protein than dogs, which is why I say it should be okay, but I haven't had cats in many years.

[shortcake]

6. Could you explain a little more?

How much protein does a dog need? I'm using this for a lab mix and a bichon.

[shaniqua6392]

13. The amount of protein in Evo is good for an active dog.

Dogs and Cats do not need grains or carbohydrates. Here is a good site about pet requirements:

http://www.campaignfortruth.com/Eclub/240205/Petfood.htm

[InvisibleTouch]

18. I look for around 22-25%.

Too much and there's a potential for kidney problems. Yes, if you have a super-active working dog, they need more, but your usual house pet who plays indoors and takes walks and runs in the park doesn't need such an extreme amount. Dogs are more omnivorous than cats, who are obligate carnivores.

[kestrel91316]

7. If it contains no grain, what is the carbohydrate source???

A properly balanced diet is going to contain a CARBOHYDRATE SOURCE.

If all you feed a cat is meat protein, guess what WILL happen? Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism. I saw a cat with this once. Every bone in its body had collapsed due to osteopenia. It was paralyzed from all the spinal fractures. Mineralization of multiple organs. A horrible, PAINFUL, and totally avoidable death.

[trashcanistanista]

10. Innova Evo has

potatoes, carrots, apples, tomatoes, chicory, and fermentation products. No rice or corn.

[kestrel91316]

19. No comment.

[amitten]

11. Fruits and vegatables. But no grain. Plenty of carbs. n/t

[kestrel91316]

20. Where are the calories?

[amitten]

21. Listen Food-Nazi, if you are so concerned that I don't know what

to feed my pet after a lifetime of owning cats, feel free to PM me with your sage recommendations. I rescued my cat from a shelter and what I feed him is a damn sight better than what he got there, or what he would have gotten on the streets.

My cat is healthy, vibrant, and all his food is vet-approved by a man who spent his entire life working with various animals on farms all over Texas. If you think you know more than he does, kudos to you, Omniscient One.

[trashcanistanista]

8. I feed this to my three cats

one who is a diabetic and can't have high amounts of carbs except for the grass he manages to snack on outside. The cats like it and it is better for all of them.

Edited to say the amount of carbs in the Innova is sufficient for a diabetic cat. I was advised to read labels and find a food with the lowest percentage of carbs, to my knowledge this is the lowest. Cats do require some carbs in their diets but not nearly as much as many of the dried foods contain.

[Resuscitated Ethics]

9. Yummy food!

Had to search for a low carbohydrate for recently diagnosed diabetic 9-year old kitty. Vet recommended the new Purina prescription product but said the Science Diet prescription diabetes diet would be an ok backup. I called around, didn't find any Purina in stock, almost got Science Diet when all of a sudden the recall list included the first dry food: prescription diabetes Hills. I have no respect for Hills Science Diet since Proctor&Gamble bought them out in the nineties, and this was the last straw.

Natura Innova EVO, dry and wet, is very welcome in our house lately. It is lower in carbohydrates than the above mentioned prescription chows , and kitty loves it. The wet food was described to me at pet store as "a mouse in a can" eg all they need. Good stuff.

(The bag makes one lousy coaster so be advised.)

http://www.naturapet.com/brands/evo.asp

[Maine-ah]

22. had diabetic cat. Fed her Solid Gold.

welcome to DU :hi:

[americanstranger]

12. We feed it to our three kitties, and they love it.

We also mix the EVO with canned food from Merrick - http://www.merrickpetcare.com/store/canned_cat_food_55.php

And the doggie gets the 'Puppy Plate' dry food - http://www.merrickpetcare.com/store/detail.php?c=14&s=20280

They say right up front that none of their food is affected by the recall. Good to know.

- as

[shaniqua6392]

16. We feed Merrick too and our cats and dogs love it.

It is a really pure food without a bunch of junk in it and they make it in their own manufacturing plant. We feed our dogs a raw diet and supplements, but they like the Merrick as a treat. We have also begun to make our own pet treats and bones. There are easy recipes and I feel better knowing what goes into the treats too, as there are some treats involved in the recall.

[hang a left]

14. Just so you know...

you can't free feed with EVO. It is all protein.

[amitten]

15. No...it has carbs as well. It's just low-carb. n/t

[hang a left]

23. This is just what I was told by the feed store guy...

When I was changing food after the recalls, and I decided to go with Innova....the person at the store told me to not free feed with EVO because it was so high protein. I don't know if that is true or not...it is just what he said to me.

[trashcanistanista]

17. What do you mean by that?

Do you mean you can't leave a bowl out all day if you dispense the amount carefully? My cats like to come and go to their bowl. Also I always leave a little food out for the diabetic one just in case he feels like e needs to eat as he is on insulin.

[Maine-ah]

24. I never free fed my diabetic cat.

I also regulated at home and got her off of the insulin. Shocked the hell out of the vet with that one.

[trashcanistanista]

25. I'll try the solid gold.

I do home testing and don't think I can get him off the insulin, at least right now. He was given to me as an adult so I don't know how long he had untreated diabetes. It took me over a year to come up with his insulin doses based on a 12 hour curve and 3x day testing. I work nights so I am always worried if he feels like eating due to the insulin there is something out for him when I'm not home. I am always looking for better foods. It's wonderful you were able to get your's off insulin.

[Resuscitated Ethics]

27. Some cats just prone

to diabetes. Free fed three cats Flint River Ranch http://www.frrco.com . Two did great one got fat and ultimately diabetic. 'Sudden onset' was the diagnosis but the fact remains she was getting to be a tub o'. Once they get used to free-feeding it is hard to put just one on a diet without major social upheaval. I learned recently that if the universe gets out of whack for a feline, like when the sofa is moved or some such thing, their little livers can rebel in a hepatic lipidosis episode. Or like one of my rescued dears, pee in a corner any corner until universe is better.

Only a month into this, use FDMB for research and insight, and hope to be food regulated in the next few months.

[trashcanistanista]

28. FDMB is a good resource.

Thanks for your info. Yes, the only one of my cats that is diabetic is my Whalie. He is 15 pounds. His littermate, Willie, is normal weight. Whalie is very sensitive to any changes including the newest of walking the cat everyday to help him lose a little weight. He lets me know immediately when he doesn't approve of changes. He stands right in front of me and lifts his tale and pretends to pee on the TV stand. I have to get up and run to let him out. They are in control. I do the best I can for them.

[americanstranger]

30. Our oldest went into diabetic crisis back in January.

A week's stay in the hospital, plus taking him back twice, a feeding tube installed on his side, twice-daily insulin shots, the whole works.

We took him back just before Valentine's day to have him re-checked, and the doctor called to tell me that the cat didn't have diabetes any more. Go figure.

Doc said that 9 out of 10 cats that get to the shape my guy was in are done for. When my cat bounced back, the staff at the animal hospital starting calling him the Bionic Cat.

That cat officially costs more than my truck and my last 3 guitars combined. But he's my buddy and I'm glad he's still around, no matter what the cost.

- as

[shortcake]

29. So is this okay to feed my dogs or nor?

They seem to be doing well. This is the first time ever the lab mix hasn't had gas.