There are just a few causes I’m so choosy about what I feed my canine. Over my six years with iHeartDogs, I’ve seen some really scary remembers, and I’ve learn each article about meals, labels, and substances that stay on our web site. I’ve gotten to be fairly good about studying labels, assured evaluation charts, and searching up recall historical past. Some pet mother and father are “helicopter parents,” I’ve at all times been proud to say that in the case of my canine’s meals, I’ll hover over the bowl to make sure that my pup is getting solely the perfect.
My requirements for pet food are very excessive. I’ve pals who don’t perceive and giggle at me as a result of I select to home-cook all my pup’s meals from meals I purchase on the identical grocery retailer the place I get my very own groceries. I need to know each ingredient. I need to know the place these substances got here from. I would like to make sure my canine’s meals is balanced so she will get all of the vitamins she must run, play, and snuggle.
For these causes, bulk-bag meals has been a no-go in our residence since Lilo got here to stay with me. They by no means appeared very interesting within the first place. All the kibble I had ever seen appeared extra like little ornamental pebbles than precise meals, and wasn’t one thing I felt needs to be in my canine’s bowl, a lot much less her physique. The ingredient lists on the baggage within the retailer are an avalanche of not-very-delicious-sounding phrases like “chicken flavor,” “bone meal,” and “butylated hydroxyanisole.” Yuck.
So once I was requested to check out A Pup Above’s Whole Food Cubies, my first intuition was to cross. I instantly went to take a look at the substances record on the meals so I may level out all of the explanation why I didn’t need to give it a shot – and was fairly shocked at what I discovered. This just isn’t kibble the way in which I do know it. This is one thing new and totally different.
A First Look at A Pup Above
The very first thing I observed on A Pup Above’s web site was the phrases “100% human grade”. I’ve by no means seen these phrases on a bundle of dry pet food earlier than. “100% human grade” implies that each ingredient used within the recipe is protected for people to eat. This just isn’t the sort of commonplace most firms go to simply to grind up and press all their meals into little brown pellets – however that’s not what A Pup Above is doing anyway. Seeing these phrases, I appeared carefully on the substances record to verify. Everything listed appeared like one thing I had eaten myself lately. Turkey. Chicken. Beef. Pork. Single-word substances that weren’t adopted by the phrases “meal” or “flavor.”
I additionally observed one other phrase I hadn’t seen on any pet food of any type, ever. “Nutridry.” I do know that when any meals is cooked, it loses a number of the vitamins to the warmth. A Pup Above’s Cubies are cooked utilizing a singular cooking methodology referred to as Nutridry that mixes the perfect features of dehydration and air-drying cooking processes meant to protect extra of the pure taste, aroma, and dietary worth of the substances they use of their meals. And since they’re taking care to make use of such high-quality substances in every recipe, it is sensible that they might need to profit from each morsel.
I requested each query I encourage pals to ask about their canine’s meals. Where are the substances sourced? What’s within the meals? Is it nutritionally balanced for a wholesome meal? And each single reply was available on A Pup Above’s extra-transparent web site.
I’ve by no means seen something prefer it earlier than, however on A Pup Above’s web site, you’ll be able to enter the lot quantity out of your packaging and discover the place all of the substances in your canine’s meals had been sourced. I’m thrilled that A Pup Above is utilizing animal-based protein (actual meat!) from U.S. farms with out hormones or antibiotics. Their different substances are listed and proven to be non-GMO and pesticide-free. Every ingredient listed is sourced from international locations with good requirements for meals security and it’s made within the U.S. in a USDA-inspected kitchen. It makes me really feel a lot better about giving Lilo dry meals.
Just two days later, Lilo’s pattern pack was on the door. You can attempt A Pup Above too and have nice meals at your door very quickly. Try A Pup Above and get $50 off your first order of $100 or extra with code IHEARTDOGS.
Our Taste-Tester
In the grand outdated custom of iHeartDogs, I did attempt the meals myself. I don’t suggest it for human use, even whether it is protected for human consumption. However, I’m not the goal demographic for A Pup Above’s Whole Food Cubies so I didn’t have to love it. (It even has a notice on the field for curious pet mother and father: not for you!)
Lilobean Gonzalez got here to me at about 9 months outdated from a pal who bit off greater than they might chew with a brand new pet. After shedding my Ziggy, I used to be in search of a pup to fix my damaged coronary heart, and I agreed to take her in. I used to be hesitant as a result of I knew she had been having some severe abdomen issues for about six months. Her sensitivities inspired me additional to be the “helicopter mom” together with her meals. So lengthy as she has been with me, Lilo has had do-it-yourself meals with grocery-store-bought meat and veggies. No desk scraps, few treats.
It is each her abdomen and her palette which might be delicate. It drives me loopy that I can spend perpetually getting ready and cooking meals for her, which she’ll give a single sniff and switch her nostril up at. I might not be an excellent prepare dinner however I’ve seen a number of the issues she places in her mouth, so I’m somewhat offended. I used to be involved that her refined tastes may put her off dry pet food, however I made a decision to offer it a shot anyway.
Making a Great First Impression
I used to be shocked that the “samples” within the sampler pack had been so massive. These are every cereal-box sized, with the field of Pork Porchetta being somewhat bigger than the others. I’ve to confess that I really like the packaging. But I additionally know that something may conceal behind brilliant colours, fairly photos, and flashy fonts. The actual data is within the particulars. I discover that two of the recipes, the Beef Pot Roast and Pork Porchetta are grain-free, however the Chicka Pupatouille and Turkey Pilaf each state that they’ve “friendly grains.”
I choose to feed Lilo a food plan that incorporates grain, however I used to be questioning what “friendly” grains are. According to A Pup Above, these grains assist ease digestion and add fiber to your canine’s food plan. Both “friendly grains” recipes comprise barley and oats, which I fortunately eat from my very own bowl. I used to be looking out for issues like corn, corn meal, and wheat gluten, however was glad to see that they’re not utilized in A Pup Above’s Whole Food Cubies.
There are a number of different phrases I’m comfortable to see on the field. “Whole food,” “farm-to-bowl,” and “complete and balanced.” Whole meals implies that my canine isn’t getting these meat or grain “meals” I discussed earlier – which are sometimes created from no matter is leftover after the tastier, extra nutritious meat is reduce out. They’re additionally usually processed with added fillers and preservatives that aren’t the perfect for my Lilo, so I keep away from them.
“Farm-to-bowl” means A Pup Above is utilizing their substances quickly after they’re harvested. This is improbable as a result of I would like my canine to eat recent, wholesome meals. Food that’s saved away for lengthy intervals dangers contamination, rot, and shedding its dietary worth over time. The sooner it makes it into the bowl, the higher.
“Complete and balanced” is what actually makes me really feel assured about giving this meals to Lilo. As a wholesome, 15 lb. grownup Shih-Poo, she will get all of the vitamins she must stay a cheerful, wholesome life from this field. Double-checking the assured evaluation, I can see that she’s going to get loads of protein, fats, and fiber from A Pup Above’s Whole Food Cubies. Every ingredient within the recipe has a goal.
I do occur to have a bag of dry kibble readily available in case of an emergency. I pulled just a few items out to check. The big-brand kibble I obtained from a shelf jogs my memory of hamster pellets. And although A Pup Above says it’s made with actual substances and entire meals, I used to be shocked that I may see precise meals within the cubies! I may see oats and what seemed to be candy potato and turnip within the dry A Pup Above meals. It seems precisely the way in which it might if I had put it into my dehydrator.
It seems good, it sounds good, and since she will need to have smelled one thing good, my taste-tester was desperate to get a chunk, making it troublesome to get an image.
The Taste Test
Before I opened the field I used to be nervous I’d have a tough time getting my choosy lady even to attempt the meals. It will need to have handed the sniff check, although, as a result of as soon as the field was open, she appeared at my ft like a magician. Trying to get a photograph of the person cubes to point out the seen substances, Lilo was pushing her muzzle in opposition to the lens to get the Cubies in my hand.
I used to be in search of 4 issues once I served her: would she eat it, would she have the ability to really feel full on the really useful serving dimension, would she nonetheless have sufficient vitality to play, and would she keep good digestive well being?
The field offers a short, easy information for serving by weight. I used to be somewhat cautious as a result of the field recommends solely 3/4 a cup per day for a canine Lilo’s dimension. I wasn’t positive she would have the ability to fill her stomach on solely that a lot. She clears her bowl of do-it-yourself meals, a few cup a day, and generally nonetheless appears hungry.
Unlike once I prepare dinner for her, by which she acts like I’m feeding her slop, Lilo instantly took to the cubies. She dug proper in. Not solely was the prompt serving sufficient for her, she even left just a few cubies behind and went to take a nap after her meal. I left her remaining cubies out in case she determined she was nonetheless hungry later, however she was content material for the remainder of the day. I questioned if she left some behind as a result of she didn’t truly look after it, however the subsequent day she ate simply as enthusiastically as she had the primary time. In reality, any time I contact the field to maneuver it or look over the substances once more, she comes working over, ready for me to serve her.
Lilo could be very enthusiastic about her Cubies. I’ve at all times identified that she loves crunchy meals, nevertheless it has been actually exhausting to discover a wholesome method to incorporate some enjoyable crunch into her recent meals.
I saved a detailed eye on Lilo’s vitality ranges for just a few days. She’s a reasonably lazy lady, however she will get her occasional bout of zoomies and loves chasing squirrels within the yard. She has been rather more playful with the cats this week (which they don’t love) and is keen to go outdoors. It seems like she’s getting sufficient from her meals to keep up her common vitality ranges, if not a bit extra.
The closing check passed off within the yard. Several issues in pet food may cause an upset abdomen, together with low-quality substances, fillers, and an absence of considerable fiber. Before I adopted her, Lilo had severe abdomen points that left free stools throughout my pal’s home. She has a delicate abdomen that has reacted to each kibble she has ever tried. Her sensitivities are the primary purpose I’m so cautious about how I feed her.
I needed to make sure that Lilo would proceed to have common actions which might be simple to select up – an easy-to-see signal that digestion goes easily. I used to be ready for somewhat mess as a result of we had been transitioning to a brand new meals, nevertheless it by no means got here. So far because the yard check can inform me, Lilo’s new meals retains her digestive well being proper the place it must be.
Try A Pup Above and get $50 off your first order of $100 or extra with code IHEARTDOGS.
Homemade Food vs. A Pup Above Whole Food Cubies
As I stated, I’m used to cooking for my canine. I’ll be trustworthy, although, that it isn’t my favourite factor to do. When I first instructed her vet I needed to prepare dinner for her, she raised her eyebrows and tried to speak me out of doing it. I discovered fairly shortly that it wasn’t going to be all enjoyable. I do have some complaints that I see A Pup Above’s Whole Food Cubies may assist repair.
It seems like an excellent thought to prepare dinner on your fur child, however balancing meals on your canine could be tough. Like people, your canine wants sure nutritional vitamins and minerals to keep up optimum well being. You additionally should make sure that you’re giving your canine sufficient diet to stay, however not a lot meals that they’re overeating. A Pup Above’s Whole Food Cubies are full and balanced based on AAFCO pointers, that means that they hit the mark the place your canine’s well being is anxious. Your canine can stay a cheerful, wholesome life on simply what’s contained in the field, so there’s no purpose to fret that I’m giving Lilo an excessive amount of meals or too little of something she wants.
It kills me to do it, however the meals I make Lilo must be saved in plastic baggage. Once they’re used, they’ll’t be reused and although they’re recyclable, they should be cleaned earlier than they’ll go within the bin. I’ll be trustworthy that they usually simply find yourself within the rubbish. A Pup Above’s Cubies are available 100% recyclable packaging and there’s no mess to scrape off the bag or field. It makes me really feel so a lot better to chop down on the waste we’re creating.
I’ve additionally identified for a very long time that dry meals has some nice dental advantages. Dry meals scrapes tartar from a canine’s tooth as they chew, which might help forestall some plaque buildup. For a canine that hates to have her tooth brushed, that is one thing I actually needed for her, however I didn’t need to sacrifice the standard of her meals. The Cubies have extra texture and are bigger than the emergency kibble I hold in my cupboard, however nonetheless dimension for her smaller-breed mouth. I can hear her crunching and chewing; it seems like clear tooth to me.
Cooking for Lilo takes up quite a lot of time and area within the kitchen. I make sufficient meals that I don’t should prepare dinner every single day, however I’m nonetheless within the kitchen for possibly a strong hour each time I make a batch for her. Then I’ve to discover a place to retailer it in my freezer amongst all of the meals I hold for my household. I even have to recollect to defrost a serving every single day, which I’m not nice about doing, so it usually will get microwave defrosted, which I hate. A Pup Above’s Whole Food Cubies could be saved in any dry place and could be served instantly. It says “scoop and serve” on the field and it truly is that straightforward! I additionally love that the bag contained in the field is resealable, which makes it a bit simpler to maintain the cats out of it – apparently, they’re additionally followers of the scent.
I even have a criticism in regards to the scent that the meals I make leaves in Lilo’s muzzle. If I don’t clear her up instantly after every meal, she smells like a grimy dish rag. The Cubies crumble, however don’t stick in her fur, leaving her smelling a lot better. It might not seem to be that massive a deal, nevertheless it turns into very disagreeable when she leaves the scent all around the furnishings.
Despite the time and storage woes and the dish rag scent, I need to make sure that Lilo will get protected, high-quality, human-grade meals so she lives an extended, comfortable life. I didn’t imagine that it was one thing that could possibly be achieved with dry pet food. But each time I attempted to seek out one thing incorrect with A Pup Above, I solely discovered issues they had been doing proper.
Making the Switch Simple
I don’t know if Lilo would forgive me if I took her A Pup Above Whole Food Cubies away from her, and although I actually just like the Cubies, I don’t know if I’m able to say goodbye to recent meals fully simply but.
A Pup Above has an possibility for pet mother and father like me, who need their canine to eat wholesome meals and nonetheless have all of the comfort and crunch of dry meals! You can create your personal combo of recent and dry pet food on A Pup Above’s web site and have it shipped to your door! A Pup Above’s recent meals is held to the identical excessive requirements and created from the identical high quality substances they use of their Whole Food Cubies. I be ok with feeding Lilo a combination, so she will get all the advantages of recent meals in addition to the style and crunch she appears to like with the Cubies.
I wholly suggest A Pup Above’s Whole Food Cubies to any pet mother or father who needs to maintain their pup comfortable and wholesome. You can attempt A Pup Above and get $50 off your 1st Order of $100+ with code HEARTDOGS.
