Review on 🐶 ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Dog Food – Natural, High Protein, Grain-Free with Superfoods: A Limited Ingredient Option by Audrey West

I saw Ziwi Peak at a local pet store a few years ago but didn't buy it because the price was a lot lower then than it is now. Looking back I didn't buy it because I wasn't really knowledgeable about proper dog nutrition which is a common problem these days but with the internet people are becoming more educated. First when my dog was a puppy and a few years old we settled on Purina Puppy Chow and then we tried several brands from the pet store some not very good and some advertised on TV great Brands and some obscure online only brands that contain all grains, carbs and veggies alongside a mix of meat proteins and god knows what else. After my dog had health problems from a bladder infection a few years ago the vet prescribed the food for that alone, very expensive and upon further investigation I saw that the #1 ingredient was corn after feeding my dogs. This is within a month or so I quit. I committed to feeding better quality pet food and the problem went away and never came back. I also have a new vet. Dogs are carnivores based on their non-domestic ancestors, they can certainly eat some of them, but having them as a main diet or in a high percentage is not what nature intended for them. I have tried several higher quality brands over the years. In an attempt to curb the paw licking and chewing that had become frequent, the vet said it was a yeast infection and mentioned it could be food. I went to Grain Free, tried many different brands, Wellness, Taste of the Wild, Nutrisca, Orijen, Acana and Fromm to name a few. I actually lost count of all the foods I tried, I eliminated chicken from my diet thinking it was a chicken allergy, it helped a bit but the licking and paw gnawing continued. My dog also had problems with yeast because I still smelled very little of it. There were times when the food completely lost interest and wasn't ready by dinner time. I then switched to a grain free fish diet for a while, tried a few other brands, Zignature was the last but had to stop because of the sodium percentage. Then I got a message from the vet that my dog was in an early stage. congestive heart failure, which now requires daily medication. I also started doing my own research and also blamed myself for the diet I was feeding. I've read that a low taurine diet and a diet high in lamb and rice can cause taurine deficiency. Also, dogs with CHF need to be fed a low-sodium diet, most dog foods on the market contain manure in addition to salt, why is it needed? Maybe a little sodium, but a high percentage or just the old 'salt' listed in the ingredients is too much. So, blaming myself for my dog's condition, I set out to find a low-sodium food that would meet my needs. Requirements, I tried a few but most were still too high in % Sodium or didn't even state them, after emailing them I found out most of them were too high. Then I found Ziwi Peak and their website is very clear, shows sodium and also added the taurine benefit my dog needs, I ordered a small packet and fed it mixed for a week, noticed my dog ate it and passed they take a last bite from the old one or didn't want to finish their meal at all. This led to another bag and another, eventually I switched to 100% Ziwi Peak. It's been over a month now, my dog looks forward to feeding time, eating the food and leaving nothing behind. Stool volume has decreased significantly, no more fillers or things just harmful as nature intended. Also noticed a marked improvement in breathing as well as no problems with bowel movements or loose stools. Skin improves, nibbling and paw chewing is reduced. Any nutritional benefits that have been identified are bearing fruit and I hope it will continue to be so. My dog loves Ziwi Peak and Ziwi Peak treats. The cost is high, but when you weigh the positives and the vet visits you might avoid to feed him along with a happy, healthy dog, it's a small price to pay. Additionally, as Ziwi Peak points out, the portion sizes are smaller than typical for foods high in fillers and carbohydrates, and believe it or not, the recommended daily feeding size satisfies my dog's hunger quite adequately, and the included measuring cup in each pack is touch a nice thing. I also have to commend Ziwi Peak's customer service, I received a bag that smelled different than what I'm used to, I was concerned although there was probably nothing wrong, it was a tear or it wasn't sealed properly. When I emailed Ziwi Peak, less than 1 hour later I received a response from the company's co-founder offering to send a replacement bag. When it arrived they not only replaced the bag but included a free Ziwi Peak Venison Treats bag which made mine the dog is very happy. So I would rate the customer service #1, which also matches the quality of the food.