Taste of the Wild calcium levels

[makedonce78]

I e-mailed the company to find out the calcium/phosphorus levels of their food and they responded today:

The calcium for the dog formulas ranges from 1.9-2.1% as fed. The
phosphorus is 1.1-1.4%.

Let me know if there is anything else that I can do for you.

Janet L. Rettenmaier, DVM, MS
Veterinary Services
Diamond Pet Foods
Meta, MO 65058
ph. 573-229-4203



I like the ingredients, but the calcium levels seem a bit too high for my pup. He is 5 months, weighing at 42lbs.

What do you guys think? Is it safe to use it as a food rotation for a few months without long term consequences?

[MyloveMydog]

Thanks for finding out that info for me. The calcium does seem a little high. hmmm. Hopefully someone knowledgable will respond.

[Misskiwi67]

This food is absolutely NOT appropriate for a large breed puppies, and I'd even avoid it in medium breed puppies under 7-8 months of age. Small breeds and adults will not be effected by the elevated calcium levels.

[makedonce78]

Thats what I thought What a bummer. When can they eat these grain free-high calcium foods? When they are over 1 you or 2?

[Misskiwi67]

Thats what I thought What a bummer. When can they eat these grain free-high calcium foods? When they are over 1 you or 2?

Dogs begin to regulate their calcium absorption around 6 months of age. For a food with double the recommended calcium level for large breeds, I would avoid it completely in a growing (less than 2 years of age) dog that will be over 70 pounds, and wait until 8-10 months of age for smaller breed dogs.

[1lila1]

Timberwolf adds extra calcium to their foods because they recommend adding 24% of the diet as raw meat and sweetbreads. I'd be careful with puppies, as Missikiwi says, and add the raw meat to the kibble when they're older.

[makedonce78]

Thanks for the replies girls....and 1lila1 - why wait adding raw until the pup is older? I have read even here that its OK to feed a pup raw



Anyways, I e-mailed the company back and said "thanks for the reply, but the calcium level is too high for my pup and I have to wait until he is at least close to 2 years of age" (in short) and this is the reply I got (it sounds like she is trying to make me buy the food ASAP):


It's OK to switch pups to the adult foods when they have finished their
growth spurts (breed specific, not age specific), so go by his growth,
and not by his age.

Have a great week!

Patricia L. Farrar, DVM
Veterinary Services
Diamond Pet Foods
Meta, Missouri 65058
573-229-4203

[1lila1]

Oh sure, raw is great for puppies. I feed my dog a raw diet. When I said "be careful", I just meant that feeding a high calcium food PLUS raw meaty bones to a puppy is probably not a good idea. Plus with puppies it's especially important to make sure to get the Ca:P ratio right. But yes, raw is great for pups if done properly! I guess I should've been more clear.

[chewbecca]

I JUST ordered a 15 lb. bag of their pacific stream smoked salmon-whatever-it's-called-food.

I'm hoping it works out well for Ella because I need to get her off of Timberwolf (such a sad, sad day for me) and Orijen's protein is more than what I care for in a kibble (dry form). I add my own raw meats to her food.