Pug-specific food by Royal Canin

[bumble]

Thought this was interesting:

Royal Canin has pushed the frontiers once again with the development of Pug 25, a food tailored specifically to the needs of Pugs. With a unique kibble shape for their short muzzle to grasp, added protection for their loose, folded skin, and special ingredients to maintain an ideal weight, Pug 25 was designed for no other dog -- because Pugs deserve the greatest nutritional attention.

[MandyPug]

I call it a scam, not pushing the frontier. It's basically the same ingredients as all the other grain rich, corn inclusive, by-product and chemical laden Royal Canin formulas. I'd avoid it at all costs.

Funny thing the dog food business is, advertising trumps ingredients to most of the public. So in this case, saying it's FOR pugs or even just having a pug on the bag will get alot of pug owners to buy it. Likewise with other breeds.

I'll ALWAYS strongly encourage people to look past marketing and look at ingredients first, not what pretty picture is plastered on the front of the bag.

[bumble]

I call it a scam, not pushing the frontier. It's basically the same ingredients as all the other grain rich, corn inclusive, by-product and chemical laden Royal Canin formulas. I'd avoid it at all costs.

Funny thing the dog food business is, advertising trumps ingredients to most of the public. So in this case, saying it's FOR pugs or even just having a pug on the bag will get alot of pug owners to buy it. Likewise with other breeds.

I'll ALWAYS strongly encourage people to look past marketing and look at ingredients first, not what pretty picture is plastered on the front of the bag.

That's just a quote I read; I think it's a scam, too. Paddy's on good stuff (Nutro NC) and likes it; I wouldn't change it). But just think of the size of their business if they made a food for every breed!

[MandyPug]

That's just a quote I read; I think it's a scam, too. Paddy's on good stuff (Nutro NC) and likes it; I wouldn't change it). But just think of the size of their business if they made a food for every breed!

Lol they make quite a few different ones for different breeds! People love things tailor made to them and love "personalized" things, that's why these things succeed so well (despite being such rip offs). I do love talking to Royal Canin reps at conventions for pet industry retailers, they say the strangest things!

The thing is John Q. Public is attracted by flashy labels and colours and tv ads. Beneful is one of the biggest selling foods despite being absolute trash! It's so sad that a couple flashy colours, a pretty dog picture and some pictures of corn and beef on the label can pull in so many isn't it?

[CracklinRosie]

Obviously some very strong feelings here about food. :) Our pup likes Royal Canin (Puppy 33) and our vet says it's fine for her (it's also all she's ever known).

We got a coupon at a Pug Rescue-sponsored event for the "pug-specific" Royal Canin and will give it a try, now that's she's 10 months old.

[PugLady3]

I call it a scam, not pushing the frontier. It's basically the same ingredients as all the other grain rich, corn inclusive, by-product and chemical laden Royal Canin formulas. I'd avoid it at all costs.

Funny thing the dog food business is, advertising trumps ingredients to most of the public. So in this case, saying it's FOR pugs or even just having a pug on the bag will get alot of pug owners to buy it. Likewise with other breeds.

I'll ALWAYS strongly encourage people to look past marketing and look at ingredients first, not what pretty picture is plastered on the front of the bag.

Amen to that! I'm sure that it's not the worst thing out there that you could feed to your pug but that certainly doesn't mean that it's good either. Based on the ingredient list, I would avoid it too. I noticed that they're sponsoring the big Chicago Pug party and I believe Milwaukee Pugfest as well. Marketing/advertising at it's best.

[MandyPug]

Obviously some very strong feelings here about food. :) Our pup likes Royal Canin (Puppy 33) and our vet says it's fine for her (it's also all she's ever known).

We got a coupon at a Pug Rescue-sponsored event for the "pug-specific" Royal Canin and will give it a try, now that's she's 10 months old.

I see the outcome of poor nutrition in pets every day and it's very sad. Just because your dog likes the food doesn't mean it's good for them, would you say cat poop is good for dogs? Some dogs really like it, so by the logic that "my dog likes it" it must mean that cat poop is good for the dog. Your dog shouldn't be spitting it out, but saying you feed it because they like with no regard for ingredients it is like feeding your child mcdonalds every day "because they like it".

Vets get a VERY small education on nutrition, just like our GP doctors for humans. In vet school the average is one single course on nutrition, and low and behold the textbooks and lectures are given by hills, royal canin, iams/eukanuba, and purina. So take what your vet says about food with a grain of salt as they're not well educated in nutrition unless they put in their own time to either research themselves or become canine nutritionists (which frankly isn't much better in some cases due to those courses being often taught by the same reps from the big companies).

Here's some articles to read, some are in PDF format (sorry if that doesn't work on your computers, i can't find the non-PDF ones):

What Vets Learn About Nutrition

Prescription Vet Diets an Breed Specific Diets

Nasty Substances to Watch for in Pet Foods

When you see people with pets that are so disgruntled by the claims these companies make that are false and misleading, looking for something better for a pet that is clearly not getting the right nutrition, you further your research. Vets are good at their trade which is life saving proceedures, surgeries, and diagnostic skills. What probably 99.5% of vets are NOT good at is nutrition and preventative medicine (no i don't mean flea and tick prevention), nutrition is the foundation of total health and if the nutrition isn't there and good health cannot be expected to follow.

[Pugpillow]

You've got to hand it to them - helluva marketing scheme. Caveat emptor.

[Lolas_Daddy]

I was about to ask about this as well, however I now have two sources saying "no" the good people of Pugvillage and my Pug's breeder (who is a dog nutrisionist).

I have to admit when I seen the AD I was hooked in a wee bit, but that is what this forum is for right!? to get the majority opinion across!

[Magicre]

what does royal canin's breed specific experts say about feeding a mixed breed....like a puggle.