How to increase your dog's health by learning the ingredient's in your pet's food

Nutrition: 'Series of processes by which food is taken in and used by animals and plants for growth, energy, etc.; nourishment'

Oreo has been on the HealthyPetNet (HPN) products for six years and even though she is 12, she thinks she's still three years old. Her coat is shiny and her eyes are as bright as when I first saw her due to this superior product. The HealthyPetNet veterinarian-formulated products include only human-quality ingredients, to ensure the health and well-being of dogs and cats. These healthy pet food products contains no wheat, corn, potentially harmful chemical additives, artificial colors or flavors. Their holistic foods are made with an exclusive “fast-cook” process, to lock in natural flavors and nutrition, in order to help build a strong foundation for a long and healthy life for your dog or cat.

For the most part, your dog eats the same food every day. That is why carefully choosing a food is so important to your dog's long-term health. Every ingredient in either the dog or cat food is carefully chosen to work with all the others to provide your dog with a wholesome, highly-nutritious and perfectly-balanced meal every day, every year...over a long and loving lifetime.

HealthyPetNet is a small company comprised almost entirely of pet parents and is dedicated to improving the health and happiness of companion animals. The product formulator, Dr. Jane Bicks, DVM, is one of the nation’s leading holistic veterinarians. She choses every single ingredient in every single products based on its quality and safety. The HPN's food manufacturer is APHIS -certified to sell pet food on the European market, which has more stringent regulations than in the U.S. for pet food manufacturing. Life's Abundance dry food for either your dog or cat is cooked quickly at low temperatures to help retain its high nutritional value. They maintain strict inventory controls to ensure quality and safety and is delivered to your door within six weeks of being made. Some store-bought pet food could be anywhere from six months to one year old.

Life’s Abundance Premium Health Food is veterinarian-formulated with select ingredients to help your dog achieve and maintain optimum health. We use a “fast-cook” process to help preserve the nutritional value of each and every wholesome ingredient.

HPN foods are made with the finest ingredients, including …

- A proprietary blend of vitamins and minerals
- High-quality protein from chicken and catfish meals for strong muscles
- An antioxidant system including vitamins A, C and E
- A selection of nutritious vegetables and fruits
- Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and a shiny coat
- Calcium and phosphorus to support developing and aging bones
- Dietary fiber to help maintain a healthy digestive tract

Since they use only wholesome ingredients, this formula contains
- No artificial flavors
- No artificial colors
- No corn or corn gluten
- No wheat or wheat gluten

Life’s Abundance is concentrated nutrition in every bowl.
- A balanced blend of calcium and phosphorous to support growing and aging bones.
- The kibble has tested extremely positively with both puppies and adult dogs, regardless of breed or size.
- Optimal protein levels for growing puppies and adults.
- Unique blend of antioxidants that support dogs throughout their life cycle.

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Click here to listen to a short audio from Dr. Jane Bicks
BEYOND THE FIRST FIVE INGREDIENTS! While the first five ingredients play a significant role in the nutritional make-up of your dog’s food every single ingredient is important. For nearly a decade, tens of thousands of dogs and cats have been eating and thriving on Life’s Abundance foods. HPN attribute's this success to the painstaking attention to detail. Each and every ingredient in Life’s Abundance food is carefully chosen to work with the other to supply your companion animal with a highly nutritious and perfectly balanced meal every day, every year over a lifetime

HIGH-QUALITY PROTEINS – Proteins are the building blocks of all living organisms. Protein is essential for all bodily functions including those of the brain, heart, skin, skeleton and many others. Life’s Abundance contains at least 26% of high-quality protein. Look for identifiable animal proteins such as "chicken meal" rather generic terms like "poultry meal," which can consist of any fowl (turkey, chicken, geese, etc.).

CHICKEN MEAL VS. CHICKEN? Some foods contain chicken meat or chicken parts, which naturally hold a fair amount of water. We prefer to use chicken meal because most of the water has been removed, which makes it a concentrated source of protein. This means that there is a greater “protein content” in one pound of chicken meal versus one pound of chicken meat. That’s why high-quality chicken meal is a key ingredient in Life’s Abundance foods.

WHOLE GRAINS - Whole grains are an excellent source of protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, zinc and other essential minerals. They also provide the kind of carbohydrates that deliver sustained energy to your dog. We include the natural goodness of Ground Brown Rice and Oat Groats in Life’s Abundance Dog Food.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS – The proprietary blend of vitamins and minerals in Life’s Abundance foods was carefully selected to work in concert with all of the other ingredients to enhance the overall nutritional value of the food.

ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM – Among other nutrients, our antioxidant system includes vitamins A, C and E plus vegetables and fruits. The colorful skin and flesh of different vegetables and fruits contain phytonutrients, essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Each vegetable and fruit was carefully selected for its unique nutritional properties.

CHICKEN FAT - We believe the primary fat source in dog food should be animal-based because these fats contain a profile of fatty acids that are easily metabolized and generally more available to the body. Animal fats can vary in quality, so look for a species-specific fat like “chicken fat” (versus “animal fat”) to be certain of the kind of fat your dog is eating.

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS – Omega-3 fatty acids are some of the most extensively researched natural nutritional ingredients in the world. Among its many health benefits, the omega-3’s in Life’s Abundance help support healthy skin and a shiny coat. We also included flaxseed meal for its outstanding nutritional profile and its contribution to healthy skin and coat.

DIETARY FIBER - Fiber is required in every diet to maintain healthy intestinal tract and good nutrient absorption. We use beet pulp, which is the fiber from the gray sugar beet (sugar removed). Many studies have demonstrated that beet pulp performs better than many other types of fiber.

DIRECT-FED MICROBIALS – These ingredients are similar to those found in supermarket yogurts. Direct fed microbials help support healthy immune and digestive systems.

Here’s how to compare your brand to Life’s Abundance.

1. Get your bag of food. Look for the Ingredient Statement on the label.

2. Read the first 5 ingredients. They play a significant role in the nutritional make-up of a food.
- What are the protein sources? We believe the primary source should come from quality animal protein, not vegetable protein or grain. Foods that list 2 or more grains in the first 5 ingredients may have more vegetable protein than animal protein.

Life’s Abundance primary protein is chicken meal. Why? Because chicken meat contains a certain amount of moisture; however, chicken meal is a concentrated source of chicken protein because most of the water has been removed. Therefore, it stands to reason that you get a greater “protein content” in 1 pound of chicken meal versus 1 pound of chicken.
- What about grains? Two or more grains listed in the first 5 ingredients means your food may have more vegetable protein than animal protein. Grains such as soy, corn, corn gluten and wheat gluten can be difficult to digest, which means less nutrition and more clean up.

Life’s Abundance lists only 1 grain in the first five ingredients, ground brown rice.
- Are there by-products? Some manufacturers consider by-products inferior sources of protein and, depending on the source, they can be difficult to digest.

Life’s Abundance does NOT contain by-products ingredients.
- What are the fat sources? Some fats are better than others. We believe the primary fat source in dogfood should be animal based because animal fats contain a profile of fatty acids that are easily metabolized and thus are generally more available to the body. Life’s Abundance contains chicken fat.

3. Does your food contain other health-promoting ingredients, such as: Vegetables, Beet fiber, Antioxidants, Proteinated Minerals or Bacteria cultures.

Your dog deserves the very best food. How does your food measure up?

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