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This Wysong Epigen Canine and Feline Food formula is the first starch-free dog food on the market. Most commercial dog foods contain some level of starch to bind the ingredients together but this formula utilizes a unique patent-pending process which negates the need for starchy ingredients. Not only is this recipe starch-free, but it contains 60% meat, 60% protein, and a minimum of 11% fat. These statistics make it one of the most biologically appropriate commercial dog foods on the market. In addition to being loaded with nutritional value, Wysong Epigen Canine and Feline Food is highly palatable and formulated to meet the nutritional needs of both cats and dogs. There is some question regarding the truth of this statement because dogs and cats have different nutritional needs. According to animal nutritionists, cats have higher needs for protein than dogs and, because this formula contains an advertised 60% protein, it may be true that this formula is good for both cats and dogs. Before you purchase this brand of dog food, however, you would be wise to consider the ingredients used to make this dog food and how they impact the total nutritional value of the product.
Ingredients List
Chicken Meal, Organic Chicken, Meat Protein Isolate, Chicken Fat, Gelatin, Natural Flavor, Coconut Oil, Chia Seeds, Taurine, Calcium Propionate, Choline Chloride, Apple Pectin, Fish Oil, Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Chicory Root, Hemicellulose Extract, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, Yeast Culture, Minerals, (Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins (Ascorbic Acid [source of Vitamin C], Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus lactis Fermentation Product
Explanation of Top 5 Ingredients
The top 5 ingredients included in Wysong Epigen Canine and Feline Food are: Chicken Meal, Organic Chicken, Meat Protein Isolate, Chicken Fat, and Gelatin. Below you will find a brief explanation of each of these ingredients:
Chicken Meal – While it may not sound like it, chicken meal is actually an incredibly valuable source of protein. Chicken meal, and other meat meals, are simply fresh meats that have been rendered (or cooked) to reduce them to a moisture content of 10% or less. This means that meat meals contain up to 300% more protein than fresh meats.
Organic Chicken – Listing a high-quality source of animal protein first earns this Wysong Epigen Canine and Feline Food bonus points. It is important to consider, however, that fresh meats like chicken contain up to 80% water. Once the food is cooked, then, the actual volume of meat is much less than the original volume. Still, having a high-quality protein like organic chicken first on the ingredients list is much better than listing a grain or another starchy carbohydrate like many dog food formulas do.
Meat Protein Isolate – This ingredient is the result of the process through which meat protein is separated from the bone by heat processing. The resulting product contains about 90% protein (minimum), 1% fat (maximum), and 2% ash (maximum). Meat protein isolate can be derived from a variety of meats but the Wysong website states that this meat protein isolate comes entirely from pork so it can be considered a valuable addition to this Wysong Epigen Canine and Feline Food formula.
Chicken Fat – Judging by the name alone, you might think that chicken fat is an unhealthy ingredient to include in dog food. In reality, fats are the most highly concentrated form of energy available to dogs so they play an important role in a balanced diet. Chicken fat, because it comes from a named source, can be considered a high-quality addition to this formula.
Gelatin – This ingredient is a colorless, flavorless food additive that is derived from the collagen found in certain animal by-products including skin, bones, and connective tissue. In pet food, gelatin acts as a gelling agent to bind the ingredients together and it provides little nutritional value.
Other Notable Ingredients
Aside from the top five ingredients, there are several other notable ingredients found in Wysong Epigen Canine and Feline Food. Some of these ingredients include: dried beet pulp, coconut oil, chia seeds, tomato pomace, dried barley grass powder, dried kelp, fish oil, and chelated minerals. Dried beet pulp, according to the Wysong website, is a source of dietary fiber and prebiotics. Many sources agree, however, that dried beet pulp is a controversial ingredient that is often used as a filler. The same can be said of tomato pomace, the leftover ingredient from tomato processing for making ketchup and tomato sauce. The Wysong website lists this ingredients as a source of digestible fiber and lycopene. Dried barley grass powder provides a variety of vitamins and minerals, as does dried kelp.
Fish oil, coconut oil, and chia seeds provide health fats for your dog. Fish oil is particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids and, because it comes from an animal source, it has a high bio-availability for your dog. Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids which may help to improve your dog’s digestion and to maintain skin and coat health. Chia seeds are typically ground into a meal and they are rich in dietary fiber as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Chelated minerals are those that have been chemically bound to a protein molecule which makes them easy for your dog to absorb.
Conclusion
Overall, this Wysong Epigen Canine and Feline Food is a high-quality pet food made largely from organic ingredients. The fact that this formula contains four meat-based protein sources in the first five ingredients is a good thing – it may also be a bonus that this formula is starch-free. Dogs do not require a large amount of dietary fiber or carbohydrate in their diet so many commercial formulas that are high in starchy carbohydrates are low in nutritional value. The carbohydrates in this formula, however, largely come from fruits and vegetables rather than grains.
Note: One important thing you need to consider before feeding your dog this food is that high-protein diets are not recommended for dogs with kidney problems. According to animal nutritionists, adult dogs only need to get about 15% to 30% of their daily nutrition from protein. A higher percentage of protein in the diet is not harmful, as most of the excess will be excreted in urine or burned for fuel. Dogs with kidney or liver problems have a difficult time digesting and metabolizing excess protein so this type of high-protein diet is not recommended for dogs with kidney or liver problems.
Paw Rating
This Wysong Epigen Canine and Feline Food receives a paw rating of 5 out of 5. Not only is this formula high in protein, but most of the protein comes from high-quality, meat-based sources. In addition to being high in protein, this formula provides an above-average amount of healthy fat and a below-average amount of carbohydrate. There is some question regarding the fact that this product is marketed for both cats and dogs because these two species have differing nutritional requirements, but it would seem that this formula does provide above-average nutritional value for dogs.
