Pet Foods Recommended for Healthier Skin and Coats
Nzymes.COM has NO ‘direct relationships’ with any specific pet food manufacturers or suppliers; we simply recommend foods that meet our specs for Super-Premium or Holistic. Such foods are manufactured to higher overall quality standards. This means several things: 1) being “meat based”; 2) they are more wholesome, nutritious and better balanced; 3) they typically include a “vitamins and minerals” package designed for better absorption by a pet’s body; 4) they avoid high-glycemic carbs (fast sugar delivery).
Why Should I Change Pet Foods?
After more than 20 years of working with top Veterinarians and Pet Nutritionists around the pet industry, we have clearly witnessed increased volumes of problematic “Pet Health Issues” related to the poorer quality pet foods and treats being sold commercially in the USA and globally. Such foods do not provide your pet with the sort of nutrition they actually NEED.
NOTE: Be sure to check the ‘guaranteed analysis’ for any considered food, to ensure it is appropriate for that BREED. Differences in needs of certain ingredients can VARY by breed or ‘size’. We urge you to spend time checking this.
Remember “NO-GRAIN” is Not a Guarantee of “NO SUGAR”!
Sugar content is very problematic with pet foods. And sugar FEEDS the inflammation issue at the heart of so many pet health issues, especially arthritis and itchy ‘dog skin problems’. The majority of commercially available foods found in local “supermarkets, large pet retailers and wholesale discount stores” utilize primary carbohydrate ingredients having a higher glycemic index – causing a ‘speedy’ conversion to sugar upon consumption. Check the top 8 ingredients in your pet’s food and if you see “wheat, corn, white rice, tapioca, potatoes, sweet potato, or any form of gluten” then for sure you need a food change. Items in RED below are typical ‘inflammation feeders’.
Review the Ingredients of Typical Pet Food Sold at the “Big Retailers” Described Above
INGREDIENTS: Beef, whole grain corn, barley, rice, whole grain wheat, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols, soybean meal, oat meal, poultry by-product meal, glycerin, egg and chicken flavor, mono and dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, salt, potassium chloride, poultry and pork digest, dried spinach, dried peas, dried carrots, MINERALS [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin D-3 supplement, riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K), folic acid, biotin], choline chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 2, garlic oil.
What About Meat?
When it comes to meat, please avoid any sort of “By-Product Meal” in choosing pet food. But, even when a meat is listed as 1st ingredient, such as Chicken or Beef, this indicates “weighed wet”, which means it will not be the actual primary ingredient (by weight) after water and bone is extracted.
All premium-quality foods will list a specific source of MEAT MEAL as the first or second ingredient. Meat listed in meal-form means the meat has been weighed only after water has been extracted, and contains higher real-meat concentrations. Such higher-quality foods will also be devoid of by-products as well as dangerous preservatives and additives. Pet foods of this quality are not generally found in supermarkets or large chain-stores, including the large corporate pet stores or discount chains. Instead, they will be found in small local pet stores within your community. Store-locator links on this page can help you find such dealers.
Pre ‘PET FOODS LISTING’ Notes
Kibble or Canned
These Brands/Formulas listed below are carefully vetted to be ‘suitable’ or OK for use with:
The Nzymes Healthy-Skin Program
Or with Basic Digestive Yeast Overgrowth or Candida Problems
IMPORTANT NOTE: The kibble listings provided here are not intended to be all-inclusive, or to infer that here are no other foods that will work for these common problems. But the ‘structure’ of the food is the most critical issue. GRAIN-FREE ‘Kibble’ foods are “allowed”, but ONLY those with a low glycemic profile like we’ve listed above.
If the foods listed below are not available in your area, you may find them online at Petflow.com. Remember, KNOW YOUR BRAND first as lesser quality foods are also sold at such sites. Reasonable shipping options make an online order feasible.
RECOMMENDED PET FOODS – Kibbles & Canned
BRANDS Recommended and ‘Allowed Formulas’
NutriSource and PureVita
2 NutriSource Brand Names – Available US/Canada/International
Store Locator —- Tel. 800.525.9155
NutriSource Kibble Dog Foods
• Standard Formulas – All Choices OK
NUTRISOURCE GRAIN-FREE DRY RECIPES
• Likely Higher Pricing than Standard
• Not All Formulas Approved – SEE APPROVED CHOICES – Print or Capture
NutriSource Canned Dog Foods:
NUTRISOURCE CANNED DOG FOODS
• Standard Canned/WET Recipes – ALL CHOICES
• Grain-Free Canned/WET Recipes – ALL CHOICES
PureVita Kibble, Dogs
PURE VITA DRY – The NutriSource ‘Holistic’ Label, allowed Recipes:
• Chicken & Brown Rice Formula
• Duck and Oatmeal
NOTE: No Treats from their list.
NutriSouce DRY Kibble, Cats
NUTRISOURCE DRY KIBBLE, CATS — Allowed Recipes:
• Cat & Kitten Chicken & Rice
• Cat & Kitten Chicken Meal, Salmon & Liver
• Senior / Weight Management Cat
NutriSource WET/Canned, Cats
NUTRISOURCE WET/CANNED for CATS — Allowed Recipes
Chicken, Turkey, Lamb & Fish Kitten Formula
Chicken, Turkey, & Lamb Cat and Kitten Formula
Chicken & Rice Cat Formula
PureVita Kibble, Cats
PUREVITA DRY Grain-Free KIBBLE – (The NutriSource ‘Holistic’ Label)
• Grain-Free Chicken & Peas
• Grain-Free Salmon Entree
NOTE: No Treats from their list.
PureVita Grain-Free Wet Food, Cats
PUREVITA Canned/WET Grain-Free – (The NutriSource ‘Holistic’ Label)
• Beef Entrée
• Chicken Entrée
• Turkey Entrée
• Whitefish Entrée
NOTE: No Treats from their list.
Acana Pet Foods
No Longer A Recommended Brand as of 9-1-2023 – Company Sold – Formulas have Changed
ZIWI - Air Dried Dog Food
• Beef
• Lamb
• Venison
• Venison & Fish
ZIWI - Moist Dog Food
• Mackeral & Lamb
• Venison
• Lamb
• Rabbit & Lamb
• Tripe & Lamb
• Beef
ZIWI - ORAL Health Chews
-
- Deer Hoofer Dog Bone
- Lamb Tripe
- Beef Weasand
- Lamb Trachea
- Lamb Drumstick
ZIWI - Air Dried Cat Foods
• Beef
• Lamb
• Venison
ZIWI - Moist Cat Foods
• Mackeral & Lamb
• Venison
• Lamb
• Rabbit & Lamb
• Beef
ORIJEN – Pet Foods
No Longer A Recommended Brand as of 9-1-2023 – Company Sold – Formulas have Changed
GOLD Nutritionals For Dogs
• Adult Gold
• Large Breed Adult Gold
• Puppy Gold
• Large Breed Puppy Gold
• Small Breed Adult Gold
• Reduced Activity & Senior Gold
• Weight Management Gold
• Large-Breed Weight Management Gold
NOT APPROVED ITEMS:
Heartland Gold, Gold Coast, & Canned choices from this Brand
GOLD Nutritionals for Cats
Dog Food Formulas - Kibble
• Adult
• Fundamentals
• Growth
• Senior
• Anergen
• Anergen 2
• Epigen all varieties (canned OK)
• Synorgon
• Nurture with Quail
* No Vegan – No Biscuits
RAW Dog Food
• Archetype
Healthy Dog Treats
• Dream Treats
Dry Cat Food Formulas - Kibble
• Fundamentals
• Nurture
• Vitality
• Uretic
• Senior
• Anergen
• Anergen 2
• Nurture with Quail
• Geriatrx™
* No Vegan – No Biscuits
RAW Cat Foods
• Archetype
Healthy Treats, Cats
• Cat Treats
Pulsar Dog Food
• Fish
• Chicken
• Turkey
Amicus Dog Food
• Puppy
• Adult
• Senior
Legacy Dog Food
• Puppy
• Adult
• Senior
Dry Dog Food (kibble)
• ALL 17 Formulas, as of 5-15-19
Wet Dog Food
• All 15 Formulas, as of 5-15-19
NOTE: N’ZYMES tends to recommend that KIBBLE should account for a higher majority of the diet, for more complete nutrition.
RAW Diets – Introductory Info
BARF BASICS - Understanding Their Usage
There are 4 types of Raw Diets that can be purchased, so it is CRITICAL to call the company and ask HOW to properly use these diets to ensure they are balanced and complete.
- Complete diets – with vitamins minerals and balanced calcium/phosphorus ratio.
- Straight raw meats (incomplete diets) – which need to be balanced in their calcium and phosphorus ratio before you use them. This is done with a companion product the company will instruct you to purchase. (These must be used with a variety of other foods in order to fufill a “complete diet” requirement).
- Grain/veggie/fruit diets – where you must add the raw meat.
- Commercial kibble – which is calculated to use up to 20% raw meat with the kibble.
PREPARED NATURAL FOODS - Just Add Raw Meat
CONSTRUCTION:
-
- These foods are a preparation of whole grains, fruits, and veggies.
- You must supply the meat protein and follow their directions exactly or you can unbalance the diet.
SUPER PREMIUM KIBBLE AND RAW
RECOMMENDATIONS:
-
- Please DO NOT use “just any kibble” mixed with meat for your pet’s complete diet.
- Kibbles shown below are calculated specifically so you can add NO MORE THAN 20% RAW MEAT with them and maintain the proper calcium and phosphorus levels especially important for large breed puppies.
Begin RAW Foods Vendor Listing
Primal Pet Foods – International
Availability: USA/Canada/International
Store Locator —- Tel. 866.566.4652
RAW for Dogs
• Beef
• Chicken
• Duck
• Lamb
• Pheasant
• Pork
• Quail
• Rabbit
• Turkey & Sardine
• Venison
• Beef & Salmon
Primal Treats OK to Use
• Dry Roasted Buffalo Liver Chunks
• Dry Roasted Chicken Shredders
• Dry Roasted Venison Liver Slabs
• Dry Roasted Venison Lung Puffs
• Jerky Chicken Chips
• Freeze-Dried Turkey Liver Munchies
• Jerky Chicken Nibs
Primal RAW for Cats
-
- Beef & Salmon
- Chicken & Salmon
- Turkey
- Venison
- Rabbit
- Pheasant
RAW Food for Dogs
FROZEN OR FREEZE-DRIED – Patties or Morsels
-
- Beef
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Lamb
- Duck/Goose
Or, to Choose According to Breed & Weight – PRODUCT SELECTOR
Stella's Dog TREATS
-
-
- Raw Coated Biscuits
- Carnivore Crunch
- Wild Weenies
- Single Ingredient
-
RAW Food for Cats
-
- Chick, Chick Chicken Dinner
- Duck, Duck Goose Dinner
- Absolutely Rabbit Dinner
- Tummy-Ticklin’ Turkey Dinner
Or, to Choose According to Breed & Weight – PRODUCT SELECTOR
Spring Meadows Natural Pet Food
*Preferred Food Source for our Nzymes Winnipeg/CA Associate – Brenda Johnson
Availability: Canada ONLY —– Find Retailers —- Tel. N/A
RAW for Dogs
RAW FROZEN AND FREEZE-DRIED DIETS FOR DOGS
-
-
- Chubs
- Dinner Bars
- Freeze Dried Diets
- Freeze Dried Treats
- Nuggets
- Nuggets – Fruites & Veggie
- Raw Meaty Bones
-
RAW for Cats
RAW FROZEN AND FREEZE-DRIED DIETS FOR CATS
-
-
- Frozen Cat Nibbles
- Freeze-Dried Cat Nibbles
-
Darwin's Natural Dog Food
• Chicken & Vegetable
• Turkey & Vegetable
• Beef & Vegetable
• Duck & Vegetable
Darwin's Raw Cat Food
• Chicken & Vegetable
• Turkey & Vegetable
• Lamb & Vegetable
RAW for Dogs
-
-
- Shebang’s Secret
- Decos Delight
- Midoris’s Mix
-
Final Recommendations and Advisements
Food Types OK to Feed w/Candida-Yeast Overgrowth Issues
- MEATS & PROTEIN SOURCES OK TO USE: Beef, Buffalo, Duck, Chicken (eggs), Fish, Pork, Rabbit, Turkey, Cornish Hen, Lamb, Eggs.
- NOTE: (No RAW Northwest Pacific Salmon or Steelhead).
- VEGETABLES OK TO USE: Asparagus, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Celery, Collard, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Green Beans, Kale, Lettuce, Parsley, Spinach, Squash, Yellow Beans.
- YOGURT PRODUCTS: Use plain yogurt only – NO SUGAR ADDED! Adding the Nzymes supplements to plain Yogurt can serve as an effective method of feeding the supplements to the more finicky pets.
- TREATS OK TO USE: Try to use treats that are MEAT-BASED ONLY, with NO wheat (especially wheat gluten), isolated white rice (& brewers rice), potatoes, or corn meal. Some suggestions are offered on the next Tab.
Safe/Healthy TREATS - Some Suggestions
Foods to Avoid When Battling Candida-Yeast Overgrowth Issues
Evaluating PRIMARY or SECONDARY Food Items for the Main DIET:
In Choosing Premium Dog Food: The first 8 ingredients should NOT include – potatoes, sweet potato, white rice (brewers), corn products, wheat products, gluten(any form), or Tapioca.
TO PROTECT YOUR PET YOU SHOULD:
Avoid PET FOODS or Treats that Contain: Meat-by-products, poultry-by-products, Tapioca, sausage, bacon, corn beef, lunch meats, smoked turkey, ham, sauces or gravies.
AVOID THESE GRAINS: Enriched flour, wheat, wheat gluten, white rice*, brewers rice, rice flour*, corn meal, corn gluten, millet, sorghum, rye, alfalfa, prepackaged bread, cereals, cookies, crackers, pretzels, and pasta. (*White rice may be ok if properly balanced in a quality food with brown rice or rice-bran).
AVOID THESE WHOLE VEGETABLES: Corn, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, Carrots, yams, etc. (amounts of these vegetables used in holistic pet foods are usually very small and likely not problematic).
AVOID PRODUCTS LIKE: Peanuts/Peanut Butter.
AVOID DAIRY PRODUCTS LIKE: Buttermilk, cheeses, and cottage cheese.
AVOID ANYTHING SWEET: Sugar, sorbitol, caramel coloring, honey, molasses, maple syrup, corn syrup, or Dextrose.
AVOID THESE TREATS: Milk Bones, Bonz, Beggin Strips, Snausages, Jerky Treats, Greenies, rawhides, pig ears and others. Look closely at the ingredients.
Other Dietary Recommendations
ADVISE EVERYONE ABOUT YOUR PETS’ RESTRICTED DIET
Make sure that ALL family members, neighbors, utility company employees and Postal workers are aware that your pet is on a RESTRICTED DIET and that it is NOT OK to give treats or any of the “problem foods” (no feeding from the table).
USE FILTERED WATER (Avoid Chlorine)
If possible, use filtered water for your pet. Chlorine used in city water will contribute to the breakdown of the GI tract’s natural Flora, making it more difficult to resolve yeast issues. Therefore, we suggest examining options to provide your pet either filtered water or bottled water. Two economical options would be – 1) an inexpensive Brita filter pitcher for your counter; 2) bottled water by the gallon or 2.5 gallons is quite inexpensive and will greatly help to protect your pet from further Flora damage – now and future. Dogs (especially) tend to drink lots of water in warmer months of the year – sometimes drinking for minutes at a time – and if that water is chlorinated, it can wreak havoc on digestive Flora.
