Hi,

I have heard that most of the fish used in the manufacture of, fish variety, complete is preserved with Ethoyxquin. Since this preservative is added at the fish suppliers or processors then the dog food company does not have to list it as an ingredient.

Does anybody know if this is the case with the fish used by the fish4dogs company?

Thank you

I don't know, have you asked the suppliers?

Had a quick look online, the fish4dogs website says that it has no preservatives, however, they surely must preserve the fats to stop them going rancid, and give it a half decent sell by date-

some manufacturers use mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E) which is a preservative, I'm not sure what fish4dogs do, if you want to be sure, its best to ring and ask them straight!

I will do that, thanks. It isn't what Fish4dogs are adding though, it's their suppliers. That's how Ethoxyquin can be in a dog food even though owners try to avoid it. 

Will be interested to hear if you find out. I asked F4D twice through email. They answered my other questions but avoided that one both times, so seems rather suspicious to me!

Its pretty safe to assume that all dry foods containing fish also contain Ethoxyquin unless the manufacturer specifically states that it doesn't,2 that don't contain Ethoxyquin are Orijen and Taste of the Wild.

I phoned and spoke with the nurse and she was quite emphatic that F4D's does not contain Ethoxyquin. The fish goes from the boat to filleters then straight to the manufacturers, who make food for 3 dog food companies, and nothing is added at any point along the supply chain. She said that the company were very  devoted to an additive free food.

I found them very helpful. The son of the company directors often attends the Champ shows and he is pretty clued up on it as well and would be happy to answer all questions. The vet nurse told me to have a word with him at the shows they attend.

I may well call them again tomorrow and question why they have been evasive when other people have asked about Ethoxyquin.

What did they say?

It's doesn't add up because their site says ' no preservatives' but they must use something. I think they need to say 'no artificial preservatives'. The product does have vit e in it.

There is more than that doesn't add up with the food. The ingredients % V's the Analysis% does make sense.

What do you mean?  I'm interested in what you have worked ouy.

My friends veteran male developed celulitis after going onto the food, he ended up with swellings on his rear, taken off the food he recovered, so there seems to have been something in it that disagreed with him.  he is normally Barf fed with a bit of complete if they go away, mainly Autarky.  My friend tried it wanting to encourage her puppy to eat better.

When I spoke with them they aid that the fish was taken from the suppliers to be filleted etc. They collected the bits that the manufacturers of human food didn't want, frozen and took it to their manufacturer who produces complete for 3 dog food companies. I still wonder though what goes in as a preservative when it is being processed as surely something has to be added.

I have asked this question but never received a specific reply and am wondering why.

Has anyone else heard of dogs having developed problems on this food? 

I can't comment on the ingredients etc, but wanted to add my experiences of this food - we haven't developed problems, but we have fixed some.

My boy has been out of coat since April. He was fed on Arden Grange and JWB and the coat he had, was in fantastic condition, just not increasing.He was also a picky eater, who would eat only miniscule amounts a day

He's been on F4D for a month, and his coat is coming back at a rate of knots.. AND he now asks for and eats his dinner :) so for us, the ingredients suit :)

He's been on F4D for a month, and his coat is coming back at a rate of knots

Only small issue with this is that most dogs coats suddenly grow at this time of year and I have found all my dog owning life that they all eat well in winter. :-)  Sorry not dismissing your claim on the food I hope it is BUT sometimes it takes more than a month to really see a foods worth if that makes sense.

>Only small issue with this is that most does coats suddenly grow at this time of year

True. Winter coats grow in winter, when it's cold; if they didn't I'd be really worried.