Rice: Arsenic Content

[BoxerDevotee]

My dog Bertie has been fed a turkey and rice-based kibble since he was a puppy, and he is now over six years old and very fit. As this diet agrees with him, I have not varied it at all. However, I have recently learned that some rice, particularly brown rice, contains fairly high levels of arsenic, and I am concerned about the cumulative effect this might have on his health. My last two dogs, who were on the same diet, both died from cancer (liver and pancreatic cancer) around the age of nine. Given that a build-up of arsenic is known to cause cancer, to which Boxers are prone, it would seem prudent to switch to a good non-rice-based diet, but which one? Any suggestions (I live in the UK) would be much appreciated.

 

[brodieboxer]

You may want to check out Farmina, an Italian company. It's just been introduced here in the U.S. and is drawing rave reviews among dog food fanatics, especially its N&D lines: http://www.farmina.com/?q=product-dog/view-line (my computer will translate the Italian; hopefully yours will, too!). It may be available in the U.K., as well. Is Acana available in your area? It's a popular kibble here, as well - Canadian made: http://www.acana.com/. What "good" kibbles do you have access to where you live?

 

[BoxerDevotee]

Thanks for your suggestions. Over here, James Wellbeloved is considered to be a good 'mid-range' food - hypoallergenic, no meat derivatives/ byproducts and reasonably priced. Orijen, which is a first class food, is also available; I tried it some years ago,but Bertie's urine became very strong-smelling and his stools, rather loose, probably because of the high protein content. Farmina is not available here, but Acana is, and I will certainly put it on my shortlist. Here is a link to an article on arsenic in rice which may be of interest: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/red-flag-ingredients/arsenic-rice-dog-food/