When selecting pet food, it’s essential to prioritize brands that uphold rigorous industry standards and best practices in nutrition research, formulation, and manufacturing. Having experienced the heartache and emotional—and financial—toll of copper-associated hepatopathy with my beloved Old English Sheepdog, Riggs, I can say that the disease consumed me. It has profoundly shaped my approach to pet care.
With a clear understanding of the disease, I’m confident that Baby Gentry is set up for a healthy future. While the past lingers, it doesn’t dictate my outlook. The lessons learned from Riggs guide me as I focus on providing Gentry with the best care possible.
Copper storage disease is a devastating yet complex condition. It results from a confluence of genetic predispositions and environmental factors, with diet serving as a modulating rather than deterministic influence. While mutations in certain genes affect copper metabolism, nutritional intake interacts with these genetic factors, either exacerbating or mitigating copper accumulation. With this understanding, my focus for Baby Gentry is on providing a balanced, evidence-based diet tailored to support his growth and lifelong health, rather than simply reducing copper.
As the administrator of Canine Copper-Associated Hepatopathy – An Evidence-Based Approach, I lead a growing community of dedicated pet owners focused on successfully managing copper storage disease, like I did with my beloved Riggs.
The rise of genetic testing for genes like ATP7A and ATP7B has added complexity to the conversation. While these tests offer valuable insights, they can also result in confusion and misinterpretation. Many pet owners struggle to understand the implications of these genetic markers, leading to unnecessary worry or misguided dietary changes.
When Sheepdog Riggs was diagnosed, copper storage disease was virtually unheard of. Navigating his diagnosis felt like uncharted territory, with limited resources and fewer answers. However, increased awareness, research, and advocacy have since brought this condition into the spotlight. This growing publicity has more pets diagnosed earlier and more accurately, but it has also sparked concern among pet owners, many of whom worry about their dogs’ risk, even without genetic or clinical evidence.
As a result, many pet owners are scrutinizing copper levels in commercial diets. While their concerns are valid, veterinary nutrition science and internal medicine emphasizes the need for a nuanced approach. Focusing solely on copper content is insufficient; a multifaceted strategy is essential. The best path to safeguarding dogs like my new puppy, Gentry, lies in evidence-based nutrition.
Looking at a single nutrient is a flawed way of evaluating the diet.
Beyond the Numbers: The Complexity of Nutritional Science
It’s crucial to understand why focusing solely on a single nutrient, like copper, is a flawed approach when making dietary decisions. Nutrition is a complex science; a diet is not just the sum of its individual ingredients but rather the result of how those components interact with each other and within the dog’s body.
Many pet owners take the initiative to contact manufacturers directly about copper levels in their dog’s food—a process that can be cumbersome and unreliable due to the frequent changes in formulations. While this approach may appear proactive, it overlooks the broader complexities involved in overall diet formulation.
Copper’s absorption, storage, bioavailability, and excretion are influenced by various factors, and this is why I do not support making dietary decisions based on labels, ingredients, or isolating nutrients.
While a manufacturer’s stated copper content provides a baseline, isolated metrics of a diet do not reflect the intricate biochemical interactions that influence nutrient absorption and metabolism. Therefore, a multifaceted strategy is essential. The best approach to safeguarding dogs like my new puppy, Gentry, lies in evidence-based nutrition that considers the complete dietary profile.
Copper’s absorption, storage, bioavailability, and excretion are influenced by various factors. For this reason, I do not support making dietary decisions based solely on labels, ingredients, or isolated nutrients.
These interactions mean that simply knowing the copper content of a diet cannot accurately predict how much copper your dog is actually absorbing or storing.
Ensuring Gentry’s Nutritional Needs Are Met
Complete and Balanced Nutrition
When selecting food for Baby Gentry, it’s crucial to ensure the diet is both complete and balanced. These terms are used to define formulations that meet the specific dietary needs of pets.
A complete diet contains all the essential nutrients required to maintain health, ensuring that every necessary protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamin, and mineral is provided in the correct proportions to support daily functioning to meet their specific life stage needs.
However, a diet that is simply complete isn’t enough. To optimize your pet’s health, the nutrients must also be in the correct proportions to each other.
A balanced diet ensures that nutrients are not only present but are also provided in a way that allows for optimal absorption and utilization. This means the nutrients are in the correct proportions and ratios relative to the amount of energy consumed. If the proportions of nutrients are off, it could lead to imbalances that negatively affect Gentry’s health. Therefore, both completeness and balance are necessary for optimal health and longevity.
Complete and Balanced
A “complete and balanced” diet is a term used to describe pet foods that meet both of the above criteria. This means the food:
• Contains all essential nutrients required for health.
• Provides these nutrients in the correct proportions and amounts.
In the context of pet food regulation, the “complete and balanced” designation is often verified by adherence to nutrient profiles established by organizations like the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) or by passing feeding trials that demonstrate the food supports overall health. If a similar product has undergone an AAFCO feeding trial and met the required nutrient profiles, other products with comparable ingredients and formulations may be considered to meet these same standards for nutritional adequacy without needing a new trial.
- Choosing a Brand
Selecting the right brand is the critical first step in ensuring your dog’s nutritional needs are met. While the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming—especially now that I’m back in the pet store world after Riggs’ strict, controlled diet for copper-associated hepatopathy limited our choices for so long—a sound approach began with choosing a brand that adhered to globally recognized standards, such as those set by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).
WSAVA Guidelines: The Gold Standard in Canine Nutrition
The WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee’s guidelines are designed to help pet owners and veterinary professionals assess whether a pet food meets the highest standards of nutritional quality. These guidelines are straightforward and practical, making it easy to verify if a brand aligns with recommended criteria.
When evaluating a pet food brand, start by checking the manufacturer’s website for the following information:
If this information isn’t readily available, reach out to the company directly. If they cannot provide clear answers, it may be a sign to reconsider your choice. On the other hand, if the manufacturer meets these standards, it’s worth investigating further to ensure the food is a good fit for your pet’s long-term health.
What Brands Follow WSAVA Guidelines?
Not all pet food brands meet the rigorous standards set by the WSAVA, but several reputable companies consistently adhere to these guidelines. These brands are known for their commitment to nutritional science, quality control, and transparency. The brands that currently align with WSAVA guidelines include:
• Purina
• Royal Canin
• Hill’s Science Diet
• Eukanuba
• Iams
For therapeutic or prescription diets, these brands stand out due to their proven ability to effectively address specific health concerns:
- Hill’s
- ProPlan
- Royal Canin
WSAVA Does Not Endorse, Approve, Recommend, or Support Specific Companies or Products.
It’s important to understand that the WSAVA provides guidelines for selecting pet foods but does not certify, approve, or endorse any specific brands or products. Therefore, any claim or marketing of being “WSAVA compliant” is not an official designation and should be carefully scrutinized. Beware of misleading marketing terms to appeal to pet owners who recognize the importance of these standards. These claims are often unverified.
When in doubt, consulting a veterinarian is the best way to ensure your dog’s diet is safe and nutritionally appropriate.
When selecting a food for Baby Gentry—or any dog—it’s essential to consider several factors that influence their nutritional needs. These include:
Signalments: This refers to the dog’s age, breed, size, activity level, and health status.
1. Life Stage: As an Old English Sheepdog puppy, Gentry required a diet formulated for puppies was essential to ensure he received the right balance of nutrients for growth and development.
2. Size: Large-breed puppies like Gentry benefit from diets specifically designed for their size. These formulations help prevent rapid growth, which can lead to joint and bone issues later in life.
3. Activity Level: Gentry, being a typical puppy, is active but not a sporting or working dog, so his diet needed to reflect his moderate energy needs.
4. Nutritional Adequacy Statement: It’s crucial to look for foods that come with a nutritional adequacy statement. In the U.S., this statement is provided by AAFCO, indicating that the food meets the minimum nutrient levels required for dogs of a specific life stage and size. In Canada, pet foods are regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which ensures that pet foods meet safety and labeling standards. While AAFCO guidelines are not legally binding in Canada, many Canadian pet food manufacturers still use AAFCO standards as a benchmark for nutritional adequacy.
5. Adherence to WSAVA Guidelines: Finally, I evaluated whether the diet aligned with the WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines.
*This is currently the diet Gentry is being fed, and it has been carefully chosen based on his specific needs as a large-breed puppy. My approach to selecting his diet involves:
- Consulting with my veterinarian and breeder for expert guidance.
- Ensuring the diet aligns with WSAVA guidelines and meets appropriate nutrient profiles.
- Monitoring his growth, weight, BCS, and overall health to ensure the diet is working for him.
It’s important to note that Gentry’s diet is subject to change as he grows and his nutritional and health needs evolve. What works for him now as a puppy may not be ideal as he transitions into adulthood or if his health needs shift. Regular check-ups with our veterinarian and ongoing monitoring of his growth and condition will help ensure his diet continues to meet his needs at every life stage.*
In selecting the right food for Gentry, I ultimately chose Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy.
Purina Pro Plan diets employ full-time veterinary nutritionists, conduct rigorous feeding trials, adhere to strict quality control protocols, and prioritize evidence-based research to ensure balanced and safe nutrition for dogs. Their formulations are carefully crafted to maintain consistent nutrient profiles, ensuring that essential nutrients are provided in the correct proportions and amounts.
This stands in stark contrast to the recent shift in consumer preferences toward boutique and raw diets and novel ingredients. As highlighted in this paper, many pet owners are drawn to these trendy ingredients. While these options may seem appealing, they often result in unbalanced nutrient profiles, particularly when it comes to the rise in copper.
Historically, dog diets from legacy brands like Purina, Hills, and Royal Canin have been comprised of a mixture of grains, animal proteins, and byproducts—ingredients that have stood the test of time to meet a dog’s nutritional needs. These formulations keep nutrient profiles intact, providing a reliable foundation for health and well-being.
In contrast, boutique and raw diets often prioritize marketing over science, using buzzwords to appeal to consumers. Unfortunately, these diets risk health for the latest hype. I felt confident that Gentry’s nutritional needs were being met without unnecessary risks.
Oh, Poop! (Because Puppies Happen)
Let’s be real—puppies get diarrhea. It’s just part of the journey. However, despite its strong reputation and scientific backing, and Gentry’s family doing well on Purina Pro Plan, Gentry wasn’t thriving as I had hoped. I reminded myself of an important truth: every dog is unique.
When Gentry didn’t improve, I didn’t head back to the pet store to start a cycle of trial and error with boutique diets or trendy formulas. I also didn’t turn to unproven or unsafe home remedies. Instead, I went straight to my veterinarian for answers, as well as notifying my breeder. We ran tests to rule out underlying issues—fortunately (and unfortunately), all the results came back negative. While this didn’t give us a specific diagnosis, it did tell us that the issue was likely dietary and not a good fit.
With this information, we decided to transition Gentry to an Rx diet—specifically, Hill’s. His symptoms resolved, and he began to thrive. Hill’s, like Purina, is a brand that aligns with and exceeds the WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines.
Hill’s Prescription Diets are specifically formulated to address a variety of health conditions, from digestive issues to liver disease, and are backed by decades of research and clinical expertise. Their commitment to science-based nutrition and transparency in their formulations gave me confidence in their ability to meet Gentry’s unique needs.
The Challenge with Our Current Diet | All Life Stages
While our Hill’s diet is labeled as an All Life Stages (ALS) diet—meaning it meets the nutritional requirements for puppies, adults, and seniors—it is not specifically formulated for large-breed puppies. This distinction is important because large-breed puppies have unique nutritional needs, particularly when it comes to controlled growth and bone development. The concept of ALS dog food has become a focal point in canine nutrition debates, balancing convenience against concerns about long-term health outcomes.
Supporting a Puppy’s Rapid Growth and Development | Understanding Large-Breed Puppy Nutrition
Supporting a puppy’s rapid growth and development requires some meaningful differences in formulas, especially for large-breed puppies like Gentry. To ensure his diet met his unique needs, I turned to trusted sources like AAFCO, Small Animal Clinical Nutrition (SACN), and Tufts University. All three sources align on the following key recommendations for large-breed puppies:
- Calcium and Phosphorus: Calcium: 0.8-1.5% on a dry matter basis (DMB).
- Phosphorus: Balanced with calcium at a ratio of 1.2:1 to 1.4:1.
- Excess calcium or phosphorus can lead to skeletal abnormalities.
- Calories: Lower calorie density to prevent rapid growth, which can strain developing joints and bones.
- Protein and Fat: Moderate protein (22-26% DMB) and fat (10-15% DMB) levels to support growth without excess energy.
Developmental Orthopedic Disease (DOD) Prevention: Diets for large-breed puppies often include joint-supporting nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin; DHA
How our Hill’s RX Diet Compares
Hill’s i/d is an All Life Stages (ALS) diet, meaning it meets the nutritional requirements for puppies, adults, and seniors. However, it is not specifically formulated for large-breed puppies. Here’s how it stacks up:
- Calcium: 1.03% as fed (1.13% DMB), which is within the safe range.
- Phosphorus: Not explicitly listed, but typically balanced with calcium in Hill’s formulations.
- Calories: Moderate calorie density, with portion control recommended to prevent overfeeding.
*Before: Gentry had difficulty keeping weight on, which can be just as concerning as rapid weight gain for a growing puppy.
After: With Hill’s i/d, Gentry began to thrive, maintaining a healthy weight. Most importantly, his sensitive gastro issues resolved and his stools were perfect. This suggests that the diet’s balanced calorie content and digestive support were better suited to his needs.
- Protein: 24.7% as fed (27.0% DMB), which is appropriate for large-breed puppies.
While the diet meets the minimum nutrient requirements for growth, it doesn’t quite address the unique needs of large-breed puppies as precisely as a formula specifically designed for them would.
Diet Approved
Given Gentry’s age (he was a little older when we transitioned him) and his specific health needs, both my veterinarian and several Hill’s representatives that I contacted approved the use of Hill’s i/d. They emphasized that:
- The diet’s digestive support was critical for resolving his immediate health issues.
- We also agreed to monitor Gentry’s growth closely and adjust his diet if needed.
This collaborative approach ensured that Gentry’s nutritional needs were met while addressing his health concerns.
Water: The Most Vital Nutrient
Water is the most important nutrient by quantity and performs numerous and diverse functions in the body.
Water quality also plays a role in managing copper-associated hepatopathy. With Riggs, we used distilled water—a common recommendation for dogs with copper storage disease due to its purity. However, we upgraded to reverse osmosis (RO) water for Gentry. using the Express Water RO5DX system, which is more advanced.
Key Takeaway
While Hill’s i/d is not specifically formulated for large-breed puppies, it meets Gentry’s immediate needs and aligns most importantly with his health needs. However, large-breed puppies have unique nutritional requirements that may not be fully addressed by an All Life Stages diet and this a lingering consideration remains.
This experience reinforced the value of flexibility and adaptability when it comes to pet nutrition. It’s important to work closely with your veterinarian and stay vigilant about your puppy’s growth and development. Finding the right diet isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence, patience, and a commitment to doing what’s best for your individual dog at the time. It’s a reminder that even the most well-regarded diets may not be the perfect fit, and that’s okay.
As dogs grow and their needs change, their diets need to change, too. Whether it’s transitioning from puppy to adult food, adjusting for health conditions, or simply finding a better fit, being open to change is part of responsible pet ownership. Gentry’s journey is an ongoing process of learning, adapting, and prioritizing his well-being every step of the way.
Good boy, Gentry!
Relying on reputable sources in the veterinary industry provides a foundation of credibility and ensures accurate and trustworthy information for pet owners. For more information:
Synergistically Yours
Danielle & Bugaboo Baby Gentry
Dedicated to Sheepdog Riggs | forever in our hearts
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