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Uber-celebrity cook and daytime talk show host Rachael Ray has recently announced that she’s planning on launching her own “super premium dog food” called Nutrish. She’s basing it on recipes she uses for her pit bull Isaboo, and proceeds from the sales will go to Rachael’s Rescue, a charity she founded to help abused animals.
The ingredients don’t list onion so that’s a start, right?
Rachael says: “It seemed like not a lot of extra time to donate to something that could potentially raise millions of dollars for championing these little creatures that can’t speak for themselves.” A cat food line is currently in the works.
To be honest, I’m surprised it’s taken this long! Will you check out Nutrish or stick with what you’re currently feeding?
[image used with permission from newscom.com]
this dog food contains corn and soy ingredients that cause liver problems and ear infections, especially in certain breeds such as schnauzers,yorkies,westies, st bernards and more. it is garbage :(
how do you get a free tast test for my dog
Wow. A lot of mis-informed people. I have been looking for a more natural food for my CaneCorso and Bull Mastif and recently began feeding them Taste of the Wild. Check it out and be sure to read the ingredients. Anybody who knows anything about nutrition will be impressed. Nuff said!
I really want to warn people to look good and hard at Rachel Ray’s Nutrish dog food. For economical reasons, I switched my puppy’s dog food (he just turned 1 yr.) from an organic brand to Rachel Ray’s. Big mistake. After approx 10 days, I had my dog at the vet asking why he’s shedding and flaking like crazy(falling out in clumps when petting him) and whining to go out to pee every 5 minutes. Look, aren’t we all trying to get the best for the least amount of money? That’s what I thought I was doing. I blame myself for not doing the research on this food that we would do with any other food brand…just because she’s Rachel Ray…and I thought she would pay good attention to the natural ingredients we all want in food. That’s all…just venting and hoping others don’t make the same mistake I made.
What percent of Nutrish is protein?
The words Animal Fat doesn’t concern anyone? Just like when one uses the word Meat, same thing, they can’t tell you what source it came from. There is so much more but if you care about your pets, then take a few minutes out to research the ingredients. There is another big named brand that advertises how healthy their food is. If one would take the time to read the package they would see that company adds sugar to their food.
Research, your pets will thank you.
1083 days ago
[...] a Comment // It may be surprising to pet owners to learn that a cat or dog can develop a food allergy to a food the animal has been eating for years. That’s because it [...]
I would never feed my dog a dog food “premium” or not that has corn meal or anything corn related as a major ingredient. The woman above who says her dogs stools are bigger probably is seeing what happens when you feed your dog too much “filler.” And filler is what corn is. Period. I think RR is a good cook and I LOVED the idea of her making real food recipes for dogs – but this dog food in a bag with meat meal and corn is a joke.
All the Eukanuba, Hills, Iams stuff is the same. It’s poor quality. I’ve been feeding my dogs an alternating diet of Fromm’s whitefish & sweet potato and Merrick’s. Both are REAL premium dog foods and when you think about it, how can we complain about spending 1/8 of the price of food on our dogs than we spend on food for ourselves? Premium, quality foods DO NOT COST AN ARM AND A LEG!
1098 days ago
[...] a free sample of Rachael Ray’s Nutrish dog food from Walmart.com while supplies [...]
I have to say that I was a little skeptical about giving this food to my dog because I figured all the excitement over this food was just due to it being a celebrity brand. Well, I was wrong. My dog lost his mind over this food. I am amazed at how much he likes it and for a dog to love dry food this much is awesome! It’s good for him and the proceeds go to help other animals which makes me feel good about buying it too. We cannot say enough great things about this food and it is THE ONLY dog food we will ever buy again. I can’t wait til they come out with the cat food for my kitties!!!
Thanks Rachel Ray and Nutrish!!
I looked at the ingredients on Nutrish, saw the words “corn” and “gluten” and put it back down. I feed my dogs Orijen, EVO and Addiction. We rotate protein sources every 3-4 months (fish, kangaroo, beef, poultry.. thinking of trying Addiction La Porchetta). We also do a bit of raw feeding and Addiction raw dehydrated formulas. While I don’t believe grains are at all necessary for dogs’ health, I do like vegetables for all the good things they provide that just meat alone can’t. Not every dog is the same, some of my mine have allergies and sensitivities that we adjust their diets around. Sure, maybe your dog will do “ok” on something like Nutrish or Eukanuba, you can do a lot better for them though.
I don’t know if this food is good or bad.What I do know is that the first dog I had was feed the cheapest store brand,ate table scraps,small portions of ice cream,beef bones,chicken bones(the neighbor was feeding him these and we didn’t know till we had to take him to the vet to have him cleaned out and he told us of his findings.Had a talk with neighbor)and he was 18 years old(people years) when we had to have him put down.I lost a good friend that day.
Let me start by saying that the quality of the ingredients in Rachel’s food is not what’s in question. Honestly, she probably believes that this food IS good for your dogs, just as any vet student would believe Hill’s food is a proper diet. They will give you reasons to believe it is not harmful, but the reasons they provide that it’s beneficial are morbidly wrong. It’s true, knowledge is our greatest weapon.
First off, I am a fan of grain free or meat based (with whole grains) diets, NOT corn based! The claim that corn taken out of its shell is more digestible is not completely false. What is false is the statement that dogs can utilize the proteins and amino acids in corn. Although dogs have become domesticated, evolution has provided them with a shorter digestive system that is unable to harvest the 3 amino acids and the minuscule protein that corn contains, quite unlike herbivores who have a long digestive tract with rough GI lining that is made for break down cellulose and gluten(found in plants.) For a truly balanced diet, dogs need 22 amino acids, 12 of which are naturally synthesized in their body, the other 10 must then be provided in the foods they eat. Eggs, meats and some organs are the best source of these acids, and are easily absorbed by the body. These ingredients are also much more expensive than corn is.
Also, to comment on corn and rice being a good source of energy because of the carbohydrates is false. These are simply fillers. The only acceptable one is brown rice, and only because it actually contains SOME nutrients, even tho they are not all absorbed. Dogs and cats do not get their energy for carbs ike humans or other omnivores, the get it from protein. So when a food has the first or second ingredients being rice, corn, or any plant matter, it does nothing more than increase the amount of waste your dog produces. Protien sources on the other hand provide them with the essential nutrients and amino acids while giving them energy to stay healthy and fit.
It also humors me to finally find some one who says high protein diets cause kidney damage. I don’t mean that in a harsh way, but is my first time to have some one use that in a real debate. I had never even heard of that until I was doing research on the benefits of meat based diets. The study that was used for this information was actually done on RATS!!!! An animal that has a grain based diet!! Don’t be ashamed for believing this, when companies such as vet recommended Science Diet tell you these things, it is hard not to go on their word. Sadly, medicine is a busness, one that prays on the ignorance of people to make its profit.
What is more dangerous to your dog is things like dried beet pulp. It is very high in sugars and can lead to diabetes or pancreatic problems. This is one of the ingredients that causes dogs to become “addicted” to low quality foods. Imagine, if your kids were feed cakes and fatty meats for years, would they want to eat skinless grilled chicken? Of course not, but that does not mean it’s good for them by any means. Yes it is hard to switch dogs that are used to these sugars, but a dog will not starve himself if there is food available.
Sadly, when most people take their dog to the vet thinking the dog has allergies, the vets will recommend Hill’s prescription, this is unfortunate because the things your dog may be allergic too is the main ingredients. Then there can be many repercussions from this diet change that only require more and more medical attention (that’s a bonus for your vet, but some times a death sentence for you dog)
Although grain free or real premium diets are more expensive per bag, it actually saves you money. Firstly, you feed your dog significantly less of the premium dog foods because the nutrition is more concentrated, unlike foods with fillers that just fill your dogs stomach. Secondly, I guarantee you that you will have less problems when you go to your regular vet appointments. Thirdly, they will increase your dog’s life span, and that makes both you and your dog very happy.
I am not trying to tell any one what to feed their dog, that is none of my business. What I am trying to do is open peoples eyes to what dogs really need and what is truly harmful, do not take my word alone. Please, do your own research and make sure to reference who sponsors the sites you go to.
Maybe she is giving away free samples and coupons for her food because Rachael Ray actually cares about dogs and believes in her product. Some people are turning their nose up at people who feed their dogs her food, just because she is a celebrity. In my eyes, she is a fellow dog owner that loves her dog and I find it difficult to believe that anyone like that would come up with a product that would be harmful towards pets. If you ask me, she probably had her pitt exactly in mind while coming up with the ingredients. It certainly isn’t the money that she’s after considering that she donates the proceeds to non-profit charities that benefits animals. That in itself is reason enough for me to try it.
Because it’s from RR, it is supposed to be “good”? Some people would feed their dogs dirt if it comes packed nicely with a celebrity name on it! My dog became allergic to almost every dog food on the market within a year. He had diarrhea every day. I had astronomical vet bills from all these blood test and stool samples, antibiotics and office visits. I did have enough common sense to refuse HIlls SD though because I only needed to read the ingredient list to realize that every food he ate was better than Hills SD. A friend of mine recommended Natural Balance Fish and Sweet Potatoes, normally a food for dogs that have the itches. Guess what? Tiger’s diarrhea stopped within a day, the Omega 3 from the fish is excellent for his coat, and he has had no problems since 7 months. I do add some boiled chicken and a spoon full of either yogurt or canned pumpkin to his food, and he loves it. This food has no additives, no wheat, no corn, no fillers, and the protein from fish is easy to digest. Over time I will start cooking for him fulltime though, because one never knows when these manufacturers get too big and start messing with ingredients, as it happened in the past. A small bag is a hefty $16, but I do save the hundreds of dollars I spent at the vet. And my vet was “stunned” that the diarrhea was gone within a day by switching to the right food. As most vets, he had no clue about nutrition. They just love to sell SD because the get part of the proceeds from Hills. It’s true, ask. I wonder why RR started a campaign to give away pretty good sized free food samples that also include a coupon for another free bag if her food is so good. If a product is excellent, you don’t need to give it a way for free – think about it!
Also, just an, FYI: corn is digestible. The husk of the kernel, however, is the least digestible part. If you fail to “process” a corn kernel, it is because you didn’t chew it properly. Corn on the cob needs to be masticated diligently in order for you to benefit the most from its nutrition. If you gulp the kernels they will pass right through you.
Boy, it is always amazing to see how indignant people are in conveying their “knowledge” about what dogs can and can’t eat and the overblown outrage over views that differ from theirs.
Let me offer a piece of general observational wisdom. Dogs are no more wild animals, than tomatoes are wild plants. They are a product of our experimentation with natural selection. People, have selectively bred dogs for thousands of years, often with results very detrimental to their health, like hip dysplasia. Also, depending on how removed the bloodline is from the original wild dog from which it came, we have bred them to the point to where they are easily prone to a variety of individual adverse reactions to different foods, even raw meats. Wild dogs maintain a state of stasis with not only the prey in their habitats but the bacteria upon which they depend to digest their prey. This does not exist in the same way in a domesticated environment unless you create that balance with a close monitoring of their diet. Often you’ll need to add probiotics to aid in them keeping a healthy digestive system. I recommend looking that up too.
Obviously anyone researching info cares for their pets. I have three happy and very healthy dogs and am always looking out for their best interests in not only feeding them, but changing it up from time to time to break the monotony of their lives and introduce some variety, hence me coming here after seeing RR’s commercial for Nutrish. My lovelies enjoy changing foods and like to transition them between different things a few times a years to open up their experiences. They also love my cooking which I give them little samples on a regular basis. :) Not one of them has turned out finicky and I am happy to give them well-researched options. Reading nutritional labels on dog food is no different than reading those on the food you consume. The more you educate yourself, the better off you and your pets will be. That combined with the close observation of your pet’s activity levels, stools, coat, breath, weight, odor, etc., will lead to the happiness of both pet and owner.
If your dog loves Nutrish, is healthy, happy and and gets good checkups. You have succeeded. If not, then there are plenty of other options. It’s not the end of the world. Just don’t think that what works for your dog is going to work for someone else’s and don’t be obstinate in absorbing information or overbearing in offering your opinions.
I’ve read enough to try it out.
I like RR, but lets think about something. She is a marketing tycoon. Proceeds go to good causes, but her backers are making some good profits off it, you have to know. They are not donating anything. This is another “natural” marketed bag a fillers. I recently became involved in my Boxers diet because she was getting sick…licking her chops constantly, vomiting, lethargic, looked at me like I was crazy when I fed her. I had to beg her to eat. Tried all the commercial foods, and then started researching. Who would have thought dog food was killing our pets? I am not nieve’ any longer. I make my Lili her meals along side ours now, meats, some veggies and fruits, because I do believe there is benefit in that. It can’t hurt. I can’t process corn, how can I expect her to, not to mention all the discusting things they make dog food out of.
I have started my golden on Nutrish for about 2-3 months now. She loves it. I am actually quite concerned about this product after reading all the above comments. Concerned about the proper food she receives, does Rachael Ray feed her dog Nutrish, is this Nutrish processed at a plant where many other name brands are being processed
The question was about the exact use of the term “meal” regarding the BEEF AND CHICKEN MEAL which is used as the first ingredient. And if provided by reputable sources the MEAL part simply refers to dehydrated meat source versus whole beef or chicken which in the long run adds less protein overall because of the water weight.
The more important concern should be the “Brewer’s Rice” which is the second ingredient in the beef dog food and the third ingredient in the chicken food… If you look it up, it is the left overs of processing rice and only contains 1/4 to 1/2 the whole rice kernal and therefore 50-75% less nutrients. Even the Rice Seconds that are also left over from processing Whole Rice have 1/2 to 3/4 of the rice kernal and therefore 25-50% MORE NUTRIENTS THAN BREWER’S RICE!
And the inclusion of corn, soy and wheat in most of the products are going to be a triple threat in the long run… These are actually the top three allergens for dogs: Keep an eye on your dog for hot spots and chewing on their feet after they have been on the food a while, or even at first if they already are allergic to these ingredients…
Any corn product other than whole corn kernals tends to be an allergen and all corn is just bulk filler.
And if you look up information on the web, most dry kibble is sprayed with all kinds of things that make the food more pallitable, so don’t count on the ingredients being any better because your dog loves it! Years ago my Cocker Spaniel didn’t want to eat anything but Kibbles and Bits, but she ended up with diabetes from all the horrible ingredients! But, it tasted good???
And you should really be concerned if your dogs stools are actually larger than on a different food – - – It means your dog cannot process the nutrients in the food and/or there is just too much filler and it is passing straight through!! Please don’t be offended, but what happens to you when you eat corn on the cob?? Do you think that corn on the cob is providing you with a lot of nutrients when it gets “processed” so quickly?