Hi,

About 3 years ago I bought a bag of complete puppy food & I can't remember what make it was. The food was small, disc shapes & instead of being crunchy biscuit like they usually are, it was squigy (I could squash it between my fingers) & oily to the touch.

I thought it was Nutro Lamb & Rice puppy food but when I went to buy some recently it was just crunchy biscuits. Does anyone know what the make of food was/is?

All the squishy types of nuggets are that way because they contain syrup or molasses, not something that a dog or human for that matter needs to be eating.

Oh it could well have been Hi-Life.  I use the plastic mince pieces in the adult as tiny dog treats, half a pouch in a pot lasts me ages for good recalls etc.

If it squishes it's bad It could have been hi life,or those ring things made by Gusto.

Why would being squishy make it bad?  I would imagine many dogs would enjoy the texture.

>Why would being squishy make it bad?<

Squishy diets otherwise known as semi-moist foods are that consistency because they often contain a high sugar or propylene glycol content.They stay that consistency only because of their very high preservative and sugar/syrup content.
Corn syrup is approved as a humectant and plasticizer,that is, an ingredient that can give the product dampness and flexibility,as well as preserving the food against decay.

Here is what it says in an article of one of my nutrtion books:

"Food scientists trying to develop similar products for people(similar to semi-moist dog foods) have acknowledged that despite our penchant for sweets,soft moist dog food is so sweet that "humans just wouldnt like it".
      Chemically derived from cornstarch,corn syrup produces the same energy highs and lows as table sugar and causes the same stress on the pancreas and adrenals,a condition that may cause diabetes.It's easy to see that corn syrup is an undesirable ingredient,especially when you consider the other shortcomings of such an isolated refined sugar..Not only does it dilute other nutrients in the food by providing "empty calories" devoid of vitamins,minerals,proteins,or fats,but it also can over stimulate the production of insulin and acidic digestive juices.These interfere with a dogs ability to absorb the proteins,calcium and other minerals that are in the food."

Here are some common ingredients often found in semi moist foods

propylene glycol
Potassium sorbate
ammoniated glyyrrhizin
sucrose
propyl gallate
sodium nitrate

The point is semi moist or squishy foods have to have added syrups,sugars and preservatives,and in much more quantity than the average crappy food to make them that texture.Just go out and take a look at the ingredients to any one of these foods and you'll see they are mainly a junk food marketed for dogs.

Yep which is why I only use them as a very tiny treat.   Just like sweets.  I thik it quite wrong that they are marketed as meals.

If these ingredients are approved in the UK you can rest assured, although they have for some rather scarily scientific names ;) they are perfectly safe in the quantities used.  I am not sure who your author is or their qualifications but I doubt all will agree with her opinion that sweet tasting food would be rejected by humans :) or indeed that this food is "so sweet".
The whole issue of sugar seems to be taking on the auro of something toxic!  As I have said before I don't eat a sugar free diet, unless you are a diabetic I doubt you do either.

Ktee, if you are going to quote from published material, please state the name of the author and the source (ie name of book, magazine etc) otherwise it means nothing at all - anyone could have written it.

Also a reminder to everyone to please not turn this thread into yet another argument - the OP asked for specific information and did not request anyone's opinion on the merits or otherwise of said "squishy food" ;-)

Thanks

>Ktee, if you are going to quote from published material, please state the name of the author and the source<

Sorry :o :) It came from DR Pitcairns complete guide to natural health for dogs and cats,written by richard pitcairn dvm,phd.

>did not request anyone's opinion on the merits or otherwise of said "squishy food"<

I always think it's a good idea to be armed with the pro's and con's and possible pitfalls before embarking on any diet.No, OP didnt ask about the merits of squishy food,but perhaps she didnt realise the possible negative health consequences to feeding such foods,but hopefully,now, she has learned enough here to perhaps look into why said food is squishy and the ingredients needed to make it that way and is now better able to make a sound decision on one of the most important things she will ever do for her dogs,and that is what she feeds them twice a day everyday for their entire lives.
For me,it's no different to a poster coming on saying they feed their dog nothing but bread and sugar everyday,they may not have asked if this is a healthy diet,but if i know something they dont,or have an opinion or particular interest in something they have mentioned,i feel it would be remiss of me not to bring it up.It cant hurt,and neither can a debate that may ensue from it.Many,many things have been learned from debates,heated or not. :)

>Yep which is why I only use them as a very tiny treat.   Just like sweets.  I thik it quite wrong that they are marketed as meals.<

Yep,i would have nothing against them being used as a treats every now and then,just like we have sweets/junkfood sometimes,hopefully not everyday, for,or after every meal though,but  nothing wrong with dogs getting a little junk food on a very irregular basis :)

>For me,it's no different to a poster coming on saying they feed their dog nothing but bread and sugar everyday

A whole lot different :) 
This should not be confused with human junk food not intended to be eaten exclusively, this is a complete food devised by nutritionists within the regulations current in the UK that demand that a dog food has to be safe and fit for purpose.  If you think they are breaking the law you really should report it to the Trading Standards Office rather than suggesting people are doing something wrong in feeding it.

>If you think they are breaking the law <

If i had my way many of the foods available would be banned! :( However there seems to be a very fine line between acceptable guidelines and breaking the law,and i do think our politicians have better things to do with their time than bother themselves about pet foods :rolleyes: :( .It wouldnt make an ounce of difference if myself or a thousand of us stepped up condemning these foods.The only way to put these companies out of business is to stop buying their foods,but first the consumers need to be educated on the pitfalls and negative health consequences to feeding these foods.By coming on to websites such as this one as well as the many more scientific sites available to us is the first step to learning what and what does not constitute an appropriate diet for ones dog.

>than suggesting people are doing something wrong in feeding it.<

I would go as far as to say owners are doing wrong by their dogs by feeding them foods made up of mainly sugars/syrups,cereals,preservatives and anything else so totally foreign to a carnivore's natural diet. I mean kibble is an un natural diet for a dog or cat as it is,why subject them to the bottom spectrum of the commercial food industry,when there are plenty of other "healthful" for lack of a better word commercial varieties available.There are too many decent foods to choose from these days,no need to feed the coloured,cereal based stuff anymore ;)

Why are so defensive of low quality dog food???
Only because the government gives the green light for it, does certainly not mean it must be really good for your pet.   The politicians make all sorts of rules I would never agree with. 
What amazes me is, that the dog food industry wants you to believe that you can not feed your dog properly UNLESS you use their product.

>the dog food industry wants you to believe that you can not feed your dog properly UNLESS you use their product.

Really?  I have never seen any literature or advertising from a commercial company suggesting people could not make their own diets just as successfully.

>It wouldnt make an ounce of difference if myself or a thousand of us stepped up condemning these foods.

It might if you were qualified to say so.  The food laws are defined by those that have demonstrated by qualifications that they understand what is safe and appropriate.
I think trying to put companies out of business when they are working within the laws, that people qualifed to do so have established, is not only unethical but quite probably illegal :rolleyes:
It may be your opinion that professionally developed complete foods are the bottom spectrum but the other view of course is that they are the result of years of research and successful use. Those of us that have used these foods with great success for many years are far more likely to subscribe to the latter.  Permitted colourings are totally harmless, if a little pointless :), unless the dog happens to be unlucky enough to have an intolerance.  Why cereal should not be fed is a mystery to me as my dogs have consistantly done better when I include it in their diet as do many more, particularly on the diets recommended for sensitive digestions such as Chappie.  My dogs don't really know what is foreign or not :) perhaps because their ancestors have spent a couple of millenium adapting constantly to whatever they humans have on the table for them.
You do keep very late hours, Ktee    Sometimes I think I am talking to someone in a different time zone :)

Despite my polite request, you two have continued your arguments so I'm locking this thread.