Citric acid as a preservative....is that healthy?

[Deborah Eiermann]

"I have been feeding Parker, my chocolate doodle, Orijen dry dog food. I
read on-line that they are now preserving the Orijen with the Citric
Acid. Does anyone know anything about the effects of citric acid on
dogs?  I have heard it is not healthy for them. On one website they said
if the food is preserved with citric acid, you should not give your dog
water for a while after he eats. Never explained why.........so I am
very puzzled. I don't want to feed Parker anything that would hurt him.
Is it smarter to change foods every once in a while? I really want to
keep him on grain-free foods. Thanks!"

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

There are some references to citric acid contibuting to bloat. Take a look at these link:

http://www.dogforums.com/5-dog-food-forum/25083-citric-acid-preserv...

http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm

http://blog.halopets.com/2009/06/01/does-citric-acid/

http://www.2ndchance.info/bloat.htm

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

Hi Deb! Was going to sit back and let others on this one but could not resist. First, hop on over to the food group ~ I bet it is the most reliable source on the web for dog food and there is so much valuable information there, no shortage of information only time ;)

In the states the preservative of choice in fish based kibbles is ETHOXYQUIN. If you think citric acid might hint at not being optimal google ethoxyquin. There are manufacturers that incur more expense for the safety of our beloved pets and they use Tocopherols. Alternative preservatives include but are not limited to vitamin E, C and rosemary.

[Deborah Eiermann]

Thanks for all the replies. I will go to all the websites and do a little research! I am very confused about this "doggie healthy eating" thing. I know that some dogs are prone to bloat, and I noticed in the one article that it does say that citric acid contributes to it. It also said not to have an elevated dish for the dog. I am glad that Parker is not a dog that gobbles his food down. He nibbles all day! Wish there were better cheap dog foods out there, but you get what you pay for. I would rather eat peanut butter & jelly and hot dogs before I feed Parker and our cat Baxter junk!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Citric acid is a weak organic acid that is present in many fruits and vegetables. It is a natural preservative and is also used to add an acidic taste to foods and drinks. In biochemistry, it is important as an intermediate in the Krebs cycle and therefore occurs in the metabolism of virtually all living things
Although I was unaware of the connection between bloat and citric acid in dog foods, and I'm glad to have this info, I have no intention of switching Jackdoodle from Orijen. IMO, it is still the best food dry dog food out there, and Champions Foods one of the most reliable and trustworthy companies you could find.
The greatest risk from citric acid seems to be when the food is premoistened, so for those whose dogs are at greatest risk for bloat, I would not add liquid to the food. Otherwise, I think that like everything else, we have to weigh the benefits against the risks. As Dianne commented, I would much rather have citric acid in a dog food than BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, or many of the other dangerous preservatives used by many dog food companies.

[Deborah Eiermann]

Good to hear that you wouldn't switch foods either. Parker Doodle's food is served to him dry. I don't moisten it. I will keep him and the cat on Orijen. If you ever do switch dog foods, please let me know why and what you switched to. There is so much on dog foods out there - and you don't know what to believe and what now to believe. Sometimes negative things are written by the competition too. I have always had a dog and just fed them grocery store dog food. But then when I met Diane from Trinity Doodles, she taught me a lot about foods and of course about doodles! Thanks for all the replies. Parker Doodle and I thank you! Woof, Woof.............

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Deborah, please do join us in The Food Group here on DK...we try very hard to thoroughly research these issues from a fact-based perspective. We also have an up-to-the minute recall section, thanks to Dianne!

[Deborah Eiermann]

Diane is wonderful, isn't she!

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Karen -

Thanks for putting this information in perspective.

Andy

[Deborah Eiermann]

Yes, a big thank you to Karen and Jack too!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Glancing through the references, the connection between bloat and citric acid seems sketchy at best. I would think that if there is a connection the amount of citric acid and other factors would be important as well. I would not switch my dogs food based on this alone.

[Deborah Eiermann]

I think I will keep Parker on Orijen and just continue to rotate the Orijen flavors unless my vet tells me different. He has done very well on the food. I was just concerned when I saw the article on the citric acid. Thanks everyone for your advice! Deb and ParkerDoodle