Features of Ontario dog food

Every pet owner strives to provide their pet with a balanced, nutritious diet. However, people who have just started a pet can find it difficult to understand all the advantages and disadvantages of feed mixtures. Today we will dwell in more detail on the super-premium feed of the Ontario brand - we will consider their composition, talk about the advantages and disadvantages.

Ontario pet food manufacturer is a Czech company Placek Pet Products Ltd. The company was founded by Dusan Plasek in 1989 and was originally conceived as a small family business. Over the years, the company has grown to the size of a huge holding and has confidently taken one of the leading positions in the segment of goods for animals. The company's products are sold in the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Slovakia, Russia and Ukraine. In addition, the holding owns a large network of retail outlets in the countries of the European Union.

The company has developed several brands, one of which is the Ontario trademark. The first products of this series were presented in 2004, but within a few years they managed to gain popularity among dog breeders in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, as well as the Baltic countries. Russian dog breeders learned about new feeds much later - in 2013, the products were not advertised in any way, so many users do not have information about this diet.

The dog food recipe was created by leading experts in the field of pet nutrition, with the participation of professional veterinarians. Manufactured in Canada. By the way, this is how the name of the product and its logo arose - a maple leaf in a red and white color scheme.

The manufacturer claims a multistage control system for the rations produced. According to him, all raw materials used are environmentally friendly, they do not contain genetically modified additives and meet the most stringent criteria. Exceptional product quality is confirmed by the Global Pets Forum Award, which the brand received in 2014.

The product belongs to the super premium category rations. Each ration package contains the words “low grain formula”, which means “reduced proportion of grain crops”. In addition, the packaging contains information that the finished product is 60% natural meat and fish, includes rice / potatoes, and herbs. Many foods are fortified with chelated micronutrients, salmon oil, prebiotics and organic selenium.

However, the manufacturer provides accurate information on the content of only a few components in the product. Therefore, we can only guess about the share of some of them, for example, rice. The composition includes the following ingredients.

• Dehydrated poultry is at the top of the list. - it is the main supplier of animal protein. In terms of protein content, this product is inferior to fresh chicken, since during the cooking process it undergoes heat treatment and drying. However, if good quality raw materials were used, then the product obtained from it will also provide complete protein. Chicken is quickly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract of the dog, therefore it is often included in the diet of these animals.
• On the second line - potatoes or rice, they act as a source of carbohydrates with a low glycemic status. Potato flakes provide your pet with fiber. Thanks to these substances, the pet receives energy that is important for growth, development and an active lifestyle.
• The presence of plant fibers helps to cleanse the intestines, improving microflora, eliminating constipation and obstruction. In addition, potatoes, unlike cereals, do not cause allergies in dogs. The product contains useful vitamins, micro- and macroelements. However, potato flakes are obtained using steam drying; the raw material is usually poor quality potatoes or peels.
• Rice - dietary cereal, the main advantage of which is its hypoallergenicity. The usefulness for dogs depends on the type of rice - it can be brown, white or crushed. The manufacturer does not provide information on what kind of cereal was used. Therefore, it can be assumed that the product contains the cheapest raw materials.
• Usually rice in dog food replaces allergenic wheat and corn. However, if it is listed among the first components in the general list - most likely, its main task comes down to reducing the cost of the product. This is exactly the case with Ontario feed.
• Another component is dried fruits, most often apples and berries. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fortified with pectin. The product contains a lot of fiber, thanks to which it improves the digestion of the animal, promotes the formation of feces and removes toxins from the intestines.
• Chicken fat closes the list of main components. It is one of the most common types of lipids found in ready-to-use dog foods. Contains a high concentration of linoleic acid, maintains the beauty and health of the skin and coat of the animal.

Thus, the following advantages of the feed can be distinguished:

• the main component of the diet is meat, which supplies animal proteins to the body;
• the source of carbohydrates are potatoes or rice, which do not cause allergic reactions in dogs;
• contains useful mineral and vitamin supplements;
• the manufacturer has provided a wide gustatory palette, which is designed for dogs of different weight groups and different ages;
• the product is high in calories, thanks to this, the pet is saturated even after a small portion;
• lack of preservatives, attractants and flavor enhancers;
• affordable cost.

However, there are also disadvantages. First of all, this is the lack of information on the composition of antioxidants and the proportion of some carbohydrate components. In addition, the manufacturer does not inform the breeders about their product well.

Dry rations are offered under the Ontario brand. In the general assortment, there are basic lines for animals of small, medium and large breeds. Within each group, diets are divided according to age characteristics.

• Puppy / junior - for young puppies, from 1 month to 1 year (if we are talking about miniature breeds) or from 1 month to 2 years (for large animals);
• Adult - adult dogs 1-7 years old (small and medium breeds), 2-7 years old (large animals);
• Senior - diet for older dogs from 8 years old and above.

As part of the proposed diets, each pet owner can choose different tastes:

• beef;
• lamb meat;
• chicken meat with potatoes;
• fish with rice.

Of the special areas in the assortment list of rations, only one item is presented - the Weight Control feed mixture. The product is intended for obese animals, made on the basis of turkey meat with the addition of potatoes.

The wet food range includes 15 different rations. They are intended primarily for adult animals. For babies, manufacturers produce only two types of canned food:

• with chicken, rice and linseed oil;
• from pieces of chicken with fish.

For adult animals, there are several more options for wet food:

• beef with vegetables;
• chicken with vegetables.

In this case, the vegetable component can be represented by celery, carrots or peas. The product is sold as canned food in cans of 200 g, 400 g and 800 g. In addition to the typical tastes of chicken, beef and sea fish, you can also find quite exotic combinations of ingredients here. For example, veal with sweet potatoes and dandelion, or even goose with cranberries.

A separate product line of Ontario is represented by delicacies. This product is used for pet training as a reward for correctly executed commands. It can also be given to pets between meals to whet their appetite. The most popular are:

• double sandwiches of chicken and pollock;
• dry duck bones;
• soft chicken strips.

The delicacies have a balanced composition based on 100% animal protein. The product is distinguished by exceptional taste and aroma characteristics. Such a treat will appeal to every dog.

The manufacturer recommends observing the following dosages:

• for dogs of small breeds - 1 stick per day;
• for medium-sized dogs - 1-2 sticks, depending on the breed and activity of the animal.

Ontario feeds are not advertised on television, so they are communicated to dog breeders through word of mouth. The reviews that can be found on thematic forums are usually positive. Dog owners note the balanced complete composition of the product and the presence in the assortment portfolio of feed in granules of different sizes - this allows you to choose a diet for both large animals and mini-breeds.The food contains a large amount of meat, while the manufacturer provides all the necessary information about which raw materials were used and what is its share.

There are no beet pulp, corn and other products that create ballast for the digestive system and, moreover, cause allergic reactions. The food contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Pets that have switched to this brand of food look active. Their fur becomes smooth and silky.

The feed is made by order of a Czech company at the manufacturing facilities of Canada.