What dog foods are best for copper sensitivity?

So, you guys!

I researched this ALL DAY yesterday.

If you want to feed a low copper diet (~7 mg/kg) to stave off any later onset symptoms of copper toxicosis, you don’t have many choices.

In fact…

I would STRONGLY caution you NOT to purchase the only two kibble choices I found specifically producing a low copper blend.

• Hill’s Science Prescription Diet Adult Hepatic
• Royal Canin Hepatic

Both of these foods have horrible ingredients that also cause negative health for your pet. (see below)

And both are prescription diets RECOMMENDED by many vets!

Here’s a list of ingredients for Royal Canin Hepatic. (I have highlighted the ingredients you should specifically AVOID when searching for kibble for your dog.)

Brewers Rice, Brown Rice, Corn, Soy Protein Isolate, Chicken Fat, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Natural Flavors, Vegetable Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Monocalcium Phosphate, Fish Oil, Pea Fiber, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Marine Microalgae Oil, Vitamins[L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source Of Vitamin C), Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Source Of Vitamin E), Biotin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex], L-Lysine, Trace Minerals[Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate], Taurine, Salt, Marigold Extract (Tagetes Erecta L.), L-Carnitine, L-Threonine, Magnesium Oxide, Rosemary Extract, Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols And Citric Acid.

If you weren’t aware, the closer the ingredient is to the beginning of the list, the more it’s used in the recipe.

PLUS…

Note the complete LACK of animal protein!

Dogs are carnivores, people!

Actually, dogs are facultative carnivores.

Definition: Animals that are primarily carnivorous but can digest and derive nutrients from plant-based foods when necessary.

Imagine if you fed this carbohydrate-heavy, poly-unsaturated fat-laden kibble to your dog for its entire life!

No, please don’t.

Let’s not even think about that.

From the frying pan into the fire, that’s what you’d be doing if you fed the above food to your dog.

Yeah… the foods above provide your dog with only the minimum copper needed to function, but the highlighted stuff causes:

1. Obesity
2. Insulin Resistance and Diabetes
3. Digestive Issues
4. Reduced Nutrient Absorption
5. Dental Problems
6. Chronic Inflammation
7. Oxidative Stress
8. Compromised Immune Function
9. Decreased Heart Health
10. Poor Coat and Skin Health
11. Energy Imbalance
12. Behavioral Issues related to poor brain function

Who wants that for their dog?!

And wouldn’t you know it…

Royal Canin’s Hepatic prescription diet costs

$140 for EACH 26.4 lbs bag!

But, that’s why you are subscribed to THIS email newsletter.

You want the truth.

Someone who can cut through the bull and present the facts for you.

Now…

Read this enlightening article discussing the controversy going on right now in the dog food world about minimum and maximum levels of copper in dog food.

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/hills-surveyed-pet-owners-regarding-low-copper-claims/

First of all, it’s important to know WHY copper is included in dog food.

Copper is actually an important dog food ingredient because:

1. Dogs need copper in their body to function properly. It’s an essential mineral that cannot be produced by the body.
2. Copper sulfate and copper proteinate incidentally have antimicrobial properties preventing fungus and mold from forming, although that’s not the primary reason for their addition.

But, just so you know…

Copper is naturally found in meat, especially organ meats.

Because how else do you think wolves in the wild are able to maintain proper copper levels in their bodies without having the big dog food companies add it into the kibble?

So, my conclusion for you is this…

A dog’s best diet is a

WHOLE PREY MODEL RAW DIET.

Here is a YouTube channel that I highly recommend for understanding how to feed a proper whole prey model raw diet.

https://www.youtube.com/@PawsofPrey

Based on available scientific data, a wild wolf's copper intake is estimated to range between 1–5 mg of copper per kilogram of food consumed, depending on the diet composition.

Although, if a wolf consumes organ meats in a proportionate amount (e.g., the liver making up about 2–4% of a prey animal's weight), the copper intake from a typical meal containing organ meat would be 5–15 mg of copper or more, depending on the specific prey species and its copper levels.

If you simply can’t feed a whole prey model raw diet, sadly, you can’t rely on any of the mainstream kibble manufacturers to help with this.

Luckily… for anyone who may have a dog with at least ONE gene for copper toxicosis (which we are now fully monitoring in our breed) I have found ONE dog food that I can recommend as a possible low copper alternative, so far.

https://sundaysfordogs.com/ingredients

It’s an air-dried dog food.

I am still researching, so when I have a bigger list (hopefully I’ll find more for you), I’ll share it here.

Alternatively, though, you could make your own home-prepared diet that is made complete and balanced with a veterinary-formulated supplement called “Balance IT Canine -cu” (“cu” is chemistry’s abbreviation for copper, and the minus sign indicates that it contains no copper).

Balanceit.com features a recipe-generating tool that owners can use to create their own complete and balanced home-prepared dog food diets. 

Read more about how to find low copper dog foods at Whole Dog Journal:

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/how-to-find-a-low-copper-dog-food/

(NOTE: These are NOT affiliate links. I am simply passing my research onto you.)

AGAIN… this is worth repeating.

• Copper toxicosis has only JUST been identified genetically by Embark DNA.
• I do not yet know the extent of copper sensitivity in the breed as a whole.
• Because of a recent DNA test revealing Patch’s homozygosity for copper toxicosis, we now know that this genetic issue is present in the main breed (not just coming in through the most recent crossbreed).
• I am working with Embark to find out about the other breeding dogs, so that you can learn more about if YOUR DireWolf Dog may have the gene.
• JUST BECAUSE YOUR DOG HAS THE GENE DOES NOT MEAN YOUR DOG WILL DEVELOP SYMPTOMS! (Because this is an incomplete dominant genetic condition.)

I will reveal more about copper toxicosis as I know more about it.

There is no need to panic.

Just be mindful that MOST kibble brands have a higher than minimum level of added copper in their recipes… (above 7 mg/kg).

Many have a LOT higher than minimum levels.

Just be mindful of this and select a dog food brand that has the lowest level of copper you can find.

(Without the preservatives, food coloring, animal byproducts, grains, and meat/bone meal labels you should already avoid.)

Okay… I’m sure that’s quite enough to get you started on your own dog food discovery for now.

===

P.S. I have decided Pumpkin Patch, my beautiful wolfie-looking boy from the Harvest Litter with the glorious almond-shaped eyes and the stunning wolf mask, must leave the Dire Wolf Project for the sole reason that he inherited two copies of copper toxicosis, which would give all of his offspring at least one copy of the gene.

I assessed him earlier as worth $10,000 to the project.

His temperament and outward appearance are simply stunning to behold.

So sweet-natured, loving, and patient.

Such a beautiful wolfish look to his face, eyes, and body structure.

It breaks my heart to have to let him go from the breed, but there you have it.

Health must ALWAYS come first.

So you have a chance at a fabulous dog that will only need a low copper diet to maintain great health and longevity.

If you are ready for an amazing puppy that just needs his family to be mindful of his diet, simply reply to this email as: INTERESTED!

And we’ll see if your family is the right one for our sweet Pumpkin Patch.

It’s a STEAL of a deal, folks.

Here’s a chance to own a breeding quality puppy in both temperament and outward appearance for a fraction of the cost.

I can’t believe I’m even going to post this price.

Because Patch is worth SO MUCH MORE than this.

But, I must let him go for the breed’s sake.

It’s not easy seeing a great dog leave us, but I guess that means one lucky family reaps the rewards of the Dire Wolf Project’s integrity and honesty.

What a lucky day for all of you.

We are willing to let Patch go for a minuscule

$3500.

(shipping not included)

Oh, the sticker shock I feel right now!

But I can’t let that sway me from what is the best for the breed.

Because of the Embark DNA copper toxicosis reveal, I’m actually going to do something I hardly EVER do.

I’m going to keep a puppy from the Harvest Litter that had a less-than-ideal temperament score for the SOLE REASON that he is completely CLEAR of all 250+ genetic diseases from Embark, including copper toxicosis.

So, welcome to the pack FARMER IN THE DELL!

While you don’t look nearly as wolfie…

And you don’t have that natural tendency to sit quietly in my lap and gaze into my eyes with your passionate soul…

You will bring some wonderful health benefits to the breed as we work to cleanse the lines of all signs of copper toxicosis.

And that is worth everything in the end.

Here is a link to learn more about (and see pictures) Pumpkin Patch:

https://direwolfproject.com/pedigree/7471/

Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.