I recently went back down the dog food rabbit hole after feeding Nutisource to my girl for several years and so glad to have discovered both your and Dr Rea’s channels, I’m finding them both so helpful and informative! I originally chose Nutrisource after hours of online reading, mostly on dog food advisor and analyzing ingredients (sigh), it was a local to me company in MN, and ultimately my vet at the time said that’s what she fed her dog. I wish information about how to truly assess dog food, read labels, and understand the nutrients was information that is more readily available to pet parents who are just trying to do the very best for our babies! Looking back I had no idea what to look for or where to even begin, and definitely had negative bias toward the “big” brands. I’m strongly considering switching to Hills because the science and research done to back it up is very important to me and of course the nutrient levels- from the info I’ve seen it seems that in general Hills is closest to the recommended nutrient levels than other brands by far. I’m wondering about the AAFCO statements- in reviewing some Hills varieties it seems like many of them do state “formulated” vs tested. With Hills having such a reputation for research, is it safe to assume that the evidence is there to back it up even if the AAFCO statement says formulated? Also, I’m interested in your thoughts on why calcium and phosphorus levels aren’t printed on bags or at least more readily available on company’s websites, given how vital they seem to be to a pet’s health? Thank you so much for your videos!

I must say I fell down the ‘ingredient list’ rabbit hole and boy it never ended. I was constantly fearing I was not feeding my kitten the best. I tried raw food, even cooked my own food, yet it never sat right with me, the ingredients didn’t make much sense and confused me even more when raw food beans weren’t open with the amount of taurine, phosphorus and calcium levels. THEN I found you channel! I must say you are a life saver. I’m happy and confident now with what I feed her, which is Hills. And she loves it ! Dare I say more than any of the home cooked or raw food. The other day I even gave her some of the left over home cooked cat food I have. She turned her nose up😂.

Glenn I have spent weekend listening to your and Dr. Rea and your arguments are making sense. I have been watching your videos on kibble brands evaluations looking for a good one to get off raw feedings. One of my concerns is even small bags last a long time and I worry about them becoming rancid. My little 5 year old Rudi is only 14 lbs. Do you think I can put it in a freezer to keep fresh? Silly question perhaps as are these foods preserved somehow?

If someone had told me years ago I'd be feeding my dog Hills Science Diet wet canned dog food, I would have looked at them like they had two heads. But, after doing my own research, talking with the company, listening to "real" pet nutritionists and how our dog went after this canned wet food and his stools are the best they've ever been, I was won over as is our dog on how much he loves it.

Thank you for all your videos as well as trying g your best to educate the people watching your videos. My dog just turned 15 months old and the vet couldn’t be happier with his health. I’ll continue to trust my vet and trust the science.

Made my vet smile today when I was bringing my new rescue in for the first time when I said "it's the nutrients that matter, not the ingredients". This vet was by my side through five years of home cooking for my last dog with IBD, with the support of a vet nutritionist. I have spent the past 8 months since my dog passed, working through the trauma of her disease and deep diving into nutrition has been a big part of it. I was just petrified of feeding a new dog the wrong thing. Your videos have been a great help, so thank you so much for the great information you share with the public.

You say don’t listen to someone who is not a veterinarian or a board certified nutritionist. Ironically, that includes you. I was a math tutor at a community college. I worked for the professor who taught me. I could teach her class. I had students tell me that I made things easier to understand. That did not make me a professor. Happy Mewsday!

Thank you for sharing🎉

Love your podcast. Learned so much from you and Dr Rea. Put my dog on Science diet Dental and Adult chicken. Lost a few pounds and great teeth. Looks greet. Nice to know he is getting best nutrition. You both are great. I let all my dog and cat owners to watch you both. Gus is healthy and happy.

Thanks Glen for another great video. Have u ever done an analysis of kibbles and bits. I know you have done some of the cheaper brands. I've always thought of this to be one of the worst but must taste one of the best bc lots of picky dogs will only eat this as I learned from my senior dog who became very picky after age 15 which I've shared w you before. I recently found out she likes tiki brand fish variety so I'm glad she likes one of the supposed healthier brands although after your analysis with nutrition maybe it's not. The dogs don't only eat kibble but I do incorporate into diet along with can, dehydrated , some cooked stuff and raw frozen so Idk what these foods would be like solely feeding. But the kibbles n bits makes me feel guilty however many animals eat this regularly as their only diet but idk how many have allergies, poor coats etc off that. My dogs typically eat about 25% to 40% kibble on a daily basis and my picky girl has to have can mixed in and not every can she likes...feeding can be a big process but she eats all her meals once it appeals to her so not skipping any which is most important esp now she has some dementia at 16 years. So this has been going on for a year and I'm grateful for your videos. Bc I thought most brands WERE dangerous to feed prior to watching your channel.

I wish I would had found your channel sooner. I totally relate to all the pet parents who have been left so confused with all the voices on social media . My girl with early kidney disease and urinary issues was just put on Hills c/d multi stress. She loves the food! Now, I'm strongly considering putting them on an early kidney disease diet. I looked into farmina vet life renal, and the Protein is 29% with good mineral content. Your opinion on this formula would mean the world! It does make me nervous to think of giving them such low levels of protein when they are not there yet. Which brands do you recommend for renal? Thank you for your knowledge.

Have you reviewed the new Hills Adult salmon? If not can you please?

Hi Glenn, I am curious when do ingredients matter plus the nutrients of a food. For example, my choice of food is royal canin for my pup. Established company, employs nutritionists etc but a lot comment and say that they use cheap ingredients and are very carb/grain heavy vs the high cost they are charging for food. When does the ingredients panel actually matter and are there some ingredients in a food that you really should stay away from other than the obvious like artificial dyes?

A friend says her dogs eat raw that there vet put them on raw and dogs are healthy they are sport and protection dogs they say no vet has said anything bad about it?

What would you say about “Peas” being an ingredient in dog food?

It is so confusing 😢trying to decide what is best for my best friend who has been on a raw diet for two years. His blood work is perfect and he has never been on flea meds or had a flea I have been listening to three of the people you mentioned in videos. After my last boy died from cancer I began an internet search to find a better kibble but opted for raw diet. I have yet to find a Vet who agrees with it. I find your discussion of ingredients list a total new take. I appreciate your work and your kind responses. I plan to look at Dr REI next. I

I have a 1 year and 16 year small breed. They are always eating each other food? What food can i feed them safely?

he was (85lbs). He no longer gets tables scraps because I won't let him go near my dad. He's finally losing weight but needs to go down to 65lbs. He's an English Cream Golden Retriever that eats Purina Sensetive Skin and Stomach (3 cups per day). I want to give him the best dog food avilable. What do you recommend? He broke his leg when he was young so he also eats vetriflex vitamins to help his joints and gets a greenie but I'm starting to brush his teeth. Also, he has allergies. I really just want to give him the best and help him have the best life. I found you because I keep hearing that Carna4 is great as well as Orijen and Essence. If there is anything you suggest can you please tell me why I want to learn but i really need help. Thank you!

I know that nutrition is the most important, but I’ve heard to avoid food made in China because it can make the pet sick. Trying to check where it comes from usually leads to ingredient market. What is your opinion on this?

There’s probably no way to get around the fact that there are NO companies who make a kibble which is not on the high to too high amount of carbs. So that changes the conversation to how much carbohydrate do cats and dogs need. I’m not sure about dogs but have learned enough about cats to try as best I can to give my “kids” mostly canned…and I know what % carbs on “as fed” basis are in each can. I think many of the people you hear talk about urinary diets potentially causing urinary problems in cats could be because they are thinking about the dry prescription foods. Or in some cases, the prescription foods pushing the phs values too extreme in the other direction, causing crystals again.

Another great video Glenn. why do these "ingredient-ists" still harp on about dogs being carnivores? It drives me crazy every time i hear that. Dogs are NOT carnivores (this is a fact) they can get all necessary nutrients from both plant and animal matter. They do not need meat. So this makes them a Omnivore NOT a carnivore. so it always irritates me when people are so bent on how much meat is in the first 5 ingredients, Plus the fact they can only utilise so much protein before it gets flushed anyway. Then the next thing they target are carbohydrates, yes both dogs and cats can digest grains not only are they a good energy source, but they are excellent for gut health. The fibre that comes from those carbohydrates fuel prebiotics which is excellent for a good microbiome. Basically everything Ingredient-ist say can be debunked and dismissed. Some good news, The Aussie facebook group i moderate has a few more hills converts! These were people that have in the past heavily criticized hills, However they actually took a chance and tried it and are completely amazed by the results. I'm stunned everyday when i look at my 9y/o beagle mix who has the energy of a pup and her coat and gut have never been so good... she's fuelled By Hills!!

9:59 - you're kind of avoiding the elephant in the room that a lot of the "ingredient-sts" are just petite bourgeois complaining about being oppressed by haute bourgeois, and when pet parents already don't trust corporations, reading the ingrdient panels is tthe only control they feel they have over the food production. Most pet parents don't know small pet food companies are not required by AAFCO or USDA/FDA to provide a more accurate nutrient profile.

Isn't there an ethical piece to the puzzle that keeps being thrown around? I'm a new cat owner and a happy West Coast kinda guy. The "fresh meat-only" marketing makes me cringe. We shouldn't use animal byproducts thus making use of the whole animal? We need to kill separate animals for our pets? We can't use vegetable protein? Gotta keep killing animals? Is that sustainable on a large scale or even ethical? These new hippie pet ethics are asking for a bloodbath of animal death to feed millions of pets worldwide. I'm not a vegetarian but I find this disturbing. Science has hopefully given us new answers other than a constant trip to the butcher. Just my thoughts....

I’ve never heard anybody defend meat meal, sorry no. If there was anything quality about it, it wouldn’t be listed as mystery meat.

Please just stop