The ingredients seem better to me in one of the foods, but the Calcium:Phosphorous ratio seems better in the other. In the long run, which would be the better food to feed (assuming that the dog (adult) does equally well on both)..? [These are both "allergy" foods]

Food A:
Protein: 18% (dry matter)
Fat: 17%
Fibre: 1.6%
Calcium:0.79%
Phosphorous: 0.58%
Ingredients: Potato, potato starch, duck, potato protein, pork fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid)...
also has powdered cellulose, duck by-product meal and ethoxyquin further down the list.

Food B:
Protein: 23%
Fat: 11%
Fibre: 3%
Calcium: 1.1%
Phosphorous: 1.0%
Ingredients: Potato, duck meal, duck, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols)...

Thanks, in advance!!

I would go with Food B out of the choices and only because it has the meat protein in the second ingredient spot. Its odd that they both begin with potato and that the one has potato starch. I am definately not a food expert though, lol, but I do like to go with foods that are high in meat. My food also has a high protein percentage because of that.

The dog food I get also has potato but its listed after the meat..
I feed Innova Evo Red Meat, and in that food the first ingredients are:
Beef, Lamb Meal, Potatoes, Egg, Sunflower Oil, Buffalo, lamb, venison, Beef Cartilage, Herring Oil
Because of all of the meat in this food the Protein is 42%. Oh and the Calcium in my food is 2.11% and the Phosphorous is 1.27%. My vet recommended this food to us and both my dogs are doing awesome on it.

Thanks Tracey!

Unfortunately I have to stick with the duck/potato combo as it's the only combination of protein and carb that won't give Henry the runs. :( I know that there are other duck/potato foods (eg. Fromms) out there, but they also have additional ingredients that set Henry's GI system off. These are the only two that have minimal "other" ingredients (ie. no other meat proteins, veg, fruits etc)

Both his Conventional Vet and Holistic Vet feel that he has mild IBD, and he is currently supplemented with probiotics and digestive enzymes. He's never had a solid, formed poop in his life, until the past few months (I've been feeding Food A which is a vet-diet). The only reason that I'm looking for other foods is that I'm not at all crazy about the ingredients in Food A.

Thanks Tracey!

Unfortunately I have to stick with the duck/potato combo as it's the only combination of protein and carb that won't give Henry the runs. :( I know that there are other duck/potato foods (eg. Fromms) out there, but they also have additional ingredients that set Henry's GI system off. These are the only two that have minimal "other" ingredients (ie. no other meat proteins, veg, fruits etc)

Both his Conventional Vet and Holistic Vet feel that he has mild IBD, and he is currently supplemented with probiotics and digestive enzymes. He's never had a solid, formed poop in his life, until the past few months (I've been feeding Food A which is a vet-diet). The only reason that I'm looking for other foods is that I'm not at all crazy about the ingredients in Food A.

Oh, I see :) Is Food A working for him? If it is then I would probably keep him on it until everything goes back to normal (stools etc.) Food B might be better but sometimes for sensitive stomachs you just have to find what works :) Good luck..I hate food searching, lol.

Ugh!! I hate the food rollercoaster too!

So far so good on Food A (knock wood!!)...

I agree with Tracey. Food B looks better, but if Food A is working then by all means don't worry about it. Many of us have been right there with ya on the food rollercoaster. Some dogs can't handle some of the richer foods and have to go with a lower protein, higher carb type diet.

my $0.02 worth,
Food A-
ethoxyquin- I avoid it AMAP http://www.avianweb.com/ethoxyquin.htm
Citric Acid - I avoid that as well because I've had food go rancid in my damp New England hamlet. Also has been advised not to add water with food containing this acid (screws with some stomachs)
Higher fat content I wouldn't consider a plus
Potatoes / potatoe startch = sugar. Not at the top of my "desireables" list either

Food B-
Like the higher meat meal, protien, and the canola oil adds omegas
also like the exclusion of citric acids and ethoxyquin.

Truethfully - I wouldn't buy either. But, I'd think "B" is the lesser of evils.

Have you seen; http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/how-do-you-rate-the-foods.html (for example)

Wellness- Fish & sweet potatoe? (yams much different than white potatoes)http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=324&cat=4

Food B for sure. Why ,duck meal 2nd ingredient. No meal at all in food A. Food A had by product something to avoid. Canola oil in B is good vs pork fat in A. ethoxyquin in A is not good. Protein in A seems awfully low.

But if A is working for you and you have problems finding a food working for you and this does than use it.

I would not feed Food A...18% protein is very low for a Lab and I also don't like to see ethoxyquin on the list of ingredients. This can be toxic to dogs...:(

I would definitely go with Food B.