Hi-Tek Naturals Grain Free

[Denise & Sophie]

After reading in here last night about a recall on Diamond brand I had to find another brand of food. I had a hard time picking a grain free food. The clerk was wonderful and helped me over 30 mins till we read all ingrediences on many brands that I have never heard of. We check your list in here but this pet store didn't carry any of the recommend brands. I was wondering if any of you heard/used this brand. I chose Lamb meal and Sweet Potato formula and so far Sophie loving it!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have never heard of this brand before. The ingredients list and nutritional profile look fine, but I would want a statement from the company regarding the source of the ingredients, as well as an asurance that the salmon meal is not preserved with ethoxyquin. Usually, it will say "preserved with mixed tocopherols" after "salmon meal" if it does not contain ethoxyquin. The website gives a lot of info about cleanliness and quality control in terms of cross-contamination, which is good, but there is no mention of the ingredients being sourced in the U.S., and no mention of the food being free of ethoxyquin.

Denise, what is the name of the store? I cannot imagine that they don't carry any of the brands on the recommended list. Is it a farm supply store?

[Denise & Sophie]

Thanks Karen, the store is called Calico Creek and is privately owned by some local Vets. I will call the Company tomorrow and ask about ethoxyquin. I appreciate your help. Thanks, Denise

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Calico Creek carries Exclusive (House Brand), Royal Canin, Science Diet, Natural Choice by Nutro, Nutro Ultra Holistic, Eagle Pack Holistic, Chick Soup for the Soul Holistic and Pedigree to mention a few.

http://www.calicocreekfeedandpet.com/feed.html

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I saw that. The only ones listed that we recommend are the Eagle Holistic and the Chicken Soup.

It seems that this store is strongly geared toward the run-of-the-mill Big Dog Food brands that vets typically recommend and sell. I think that the fact that vets own this store accounts for this, as we have seen numerous times that the vets are not aware of most of the premium brands out there. This also stems from their not receiving any nutritional education other than seminars provided by Hill's and Purina, and what the salesman tell them.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I have never heard of the food either, but I looked the food and the company up. It looks pretty good. I agree, call or email and check where the ingredients come from

Email

[e-mail]

Phone

            478-272-2299      
            478-272-8826      
            800-284-4835      

[Denise & Sophie]

Thanks, for all your help I will call the company tomorrow and ask about the ingredients being from here. I'll let you know how I make out.

[Denise & Sophie]

I talked to the owner today and he told me they are a small company that has been around over 20 years. He told me they have recently added new products. He told me their ingrediences are from here and that they do not use ethoxyguini. He was very nice and very interested in what I had to say. Sophie seems to like this food so I am going to continue to buy it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's a nice answer, but here's the thing. It's never the company that makes the food that would be adding the ethoxyquin. By law, any fish meal that is shipped has to be preserved with something. It is preferred that it be preseved with vitamin E (mixed tocopherols). But many companies use ethoxyquin because it is much cheaper and more convenient. Unless this company is making their own fish meal from fish that they themselves are catching, they are ordering fish meal from somewhere. So even though his company does not use ethoxyquin, the company from whom he buys the fish meal may. Most dog food manufacturers nowadays have a statement to the effect that they do use fish meal preserved with ethoxyquin, because to say that they don't use ethoxyquin themselves is not addressing the issue.

[Denise & Sophie]

I sent an email asking if the vender they buy their fish meal used it. I will be interested in seeing his reply.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Rather than ask if the vendor uses ethoxyquin, I would ask "What is used to preserve the fish meal in your formula?" That requires something other than a yes or no answer, lol.

[Denise & Sophie]

Just heard back from company and they are going to have their vender do a statement.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Great, keep us posted.