Beet pulp - what's so wrong with it?

[ElaineH]

It seems that there is a feeling of disquiet about the inclusion of beet pulp in most dog kibble. Can someone please tell me what the problem is? 

I understand that some dogs who are prone to irritations and local (especially ear) infections are best advised to avoid foods containing it. And I'm aware that it's just a cheap filler but surely it's necessary to have some sort of filler otherwise all dog foods would be very concentrated, very rich and dogs would only be allowed a very meagre ration for their meals. Does "cheap" necessarily mean "cheap and nasty"?

I've tried to research this but find that papers quoted online seem to say that there is no conclusive evidence that beet pulp is bad, and in any case fibre needs to be included in the diet. Obviously any online information from manufacturers who use the pulp is to be viewed as being skewed to the positive, but then they would say that wouldn't they? I'm trying to find unbiased information and failing. 

I'm more than prepared to pay whatever it takes to ensure that Morgan has the best possible diet without possibly buying expensive, non beet food just for the sake of it. Is there some sort of anti-beet snobbery at play here?

[Annette]

If something is added to food just to bulk it up I wonder why? Surely any vegetable would be good? Why resort to what is essentially a by-product except for the cost issues?

Also, if so many dogs are intolerant of it, then I am happy to avoid it to be honest.

As the owner of a dog who has recently started scratching I was shocked to read about this additive and to find that it was in the food I was using at the time. So that was enough to make me change to a beet pulp-free food and Buddy's itching has subsided!


I wouldn't feed that rubbish to my family so why to my dog? I would love to go back to raw feeding, but at the moment we can't. Possibly when we are settled again. At least then I will know what my dog is eating.

[Jane S]

Also, if so many dogs are intolerant of it, then I am happy to avoid it to be honest.

I haven't found any independent research suggesting large numbers of dogs are intolerant to beet pulp Some may well be (just as intolerances can exist to a wide range of other ingredients or foods) but there are also huge numbers of dogs being fed complete foods containing beet pulp without any problems at all. Of course, if you have a "sensitive" dog who you think may be reacting to certain ingredients such as beet pulp, then it makes sense to avoid foods containing it but I'm certainly not going to change our dogs' food just for the sake of it - they are all doing absolutely fine with no digestive upsets or itchy skin on Arden Grange even though it does contain the dreaded beet pulp

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

Im not changing mine from AG either. They are all in good health and its the only food I have found that Brie holds some weight on. Amber has also put on a nice amount of weight on it, the only problem is the poor boys also put on weight easily on it so I have to watch their intake, who said life was fair 

I did think of changing their food as when we put Amber on it she got an allergy type rash that got infected but as she hasnt had it since i think it was just a coincidence.

No upset tums or runny poos on it and the girls coats are nice and shiney, the boys would be if their coats were not such a wolly mess 

[Jessie_Pup]

Don't know if this is a coincidence with Jessie, but she starts ear infection when she has anything with beet pulp in, tried her with some biscuits a few months back with it in, and she started with ear problems.   She is on a dried food that does not contain any beet pulp and I check now anything I give her that it does not have any beet pulp in the ingredients and she has not had any more ear infections.

[Helen]

as far as I can see it's just a cheap filler.....my decision to change wasn't based on the allergy factor as Jarvis has no allergies (touch wood) but was due to the fact I thought that the addition of fillers like beet pulp is pretty pointless, and the fewer ingredients to me the better.

It's been about 6 weeks now since I changed his kibble and I don't think Jarvis has looked this good for ages - certainly much better than he was on burns when his coat was dull and scurfy and he lost weight, and better than on AG when he was prone to getting stocky.

Each dog is different.... 

[Annette]

Also, if so many dogs are intolerant of it, then I am happy to avoid it to be honest.

I haven't found any independent research suggesting large numbers of dogs are intolerant to beet pulp Some may well be (just as intolerances can exist to a wide range of other ingredients or foods) but there are also huge numbers of dogs being fed complete foods containing beet pulp without any problems at all. Of course, if you have a "sensitive" dog who you think may be reacting to certain ingredients such as beet pulp, then it makes sense to avoid foods containing it but I'm certainly not going to change our dogs' food just for the sake of it - they are all doing absolutely fine with no digestive upsets or itchy skin on Arden Grange even though it does contain the dreaded beet pulp

Sorry, that isn't quite what I meant. I can understand why you thought that though.

I only avoid it because Buddy started to get very itchy and someone mentioned the beet pulp (which I had never noticed tbh). When I changed his food the itching got a lot better so I think it may have been the beet. I don't want to put him back onto the "ofeending food" now though in case it all starts again.

I agree, if your dog isn't having problems with it and it's not harming him, then why change?

[september]

Interesting! Roxy has a runny weepy eye (no explanation, been vet checked) and its just one eye, but she also has allergies in the summer months that could be pollen which makes her eyes itchy.  She was fed on JWB and then I switched to Harringtons.  The Harringtons has beet pulp, not sure about JWB.  Anyone think swapping to beet free might help her eyes??

[Jan/Billy]

Billy is currently on steroids waiting to see a dermatologist for his constant itching. He is currently on AG. I had recently heard about Beet pulp and have already decided to change his diet from AG,I just haven't decided what to yet 


Those of you who feed a dried food that doesn't contain Beet pulp, which food do you feed please? 

[Jessie_Pup]

 Dylan and Jessie are on Barking Heads contains no beet pulp . I have also has a look at the Berriwoods website and they stock it.

You can buy it online  or you might be able to get it locally.

[Saffaroo]

I'm feeding Natural Balance fish and sweet potato - it's limited ingredient and no grain.  Both of mine are 'half barfers' so they have kibble only for breakfast    I like this one and they seem to do well on it - but I've gone this route mainly for Shelley (her ear infection/s) and Saffy's itching - now she doesn't. 

http://www.onlynaturalpet.eu/

Hope this helps.

[jann]

Billy is currently on steroids waiting to see a dermatologist for his constant itching. He is currently on AG. I had recently heard about Beet pulp and have already decided to change his diet from AG,I just haven't decided what to yet 


Those of you who feed a dried food that doesn't contain Beet pulp, which food do you feed please? 

Burns doesn't have beet pulp in it Jan

[Nicola]

Billy is currently on steroids waiting to see a dermatologist for his constant itching. He is currently on AG. I had recently heard about Beet pulp and have already decided to change his diet from AG,I just haven't decided what to yet  


Those of you who feed a dried food that doesn't contain Beet pulp, which food do you feed please?  

I took my lot off AG because of the beet pulp and Rodaidh's allergies. I don't know if he's allergic to it specifically (yet - I should get the results of his food allergy testing soon, it's taken a lot longer than the environmental test results for some reason) but I also think that it is just a cheap filler and it's not necessary, there are better quality alternatives available and therefore I'd rather not feed it; as Helen said, the fewer ingredients in their food the better (especially unnecessary ones). When I contacted them Arden Grange were unable to give me any good reasons as to why they include it in their foods. I tried them on Barking Heads lamb variety and thought it was pretty good but now have them on Healthy Paws (rabbit and brown rice) which they all love and are doing really well on, I've never seen them so enthusiastic about a dry food, they wolf it down and they're all very shiny and in good shape.

[Helen]

Billy is currently on steroids waiting to see a dermatologist for his constant itching. He is currently on AG. I had recently heard about Beet pulp and have already decided to change his diet from AG,I just haven't decided what to yet  


Those of you who feed a dried food that doesn't contain Beet pulp, which food do you feed please?  

Burns doesn't have beet pulp in it Jan

which variety Jan - the varieties that I have checked DO have it but it's not listed as a main ingredient.... 

[jann]

Billy is currently on steroids waiting to see a dermatologist for his constant itching. He is currently on AG. I had recently heard about Beet pulp and have already decided to change his diet from AG,I just haven't decided what to yet 


Those of you who feed a dried food that doesn't contain Beet pulp, which food do you feed please? 

Burns doesn't have beet pulp in it Jan

which variety Jan - the varieties that I have checked DO have it but it's not listed as a main ingredient.... 

The 'normal' varieties Helen      The only diets that contain beet pulp are the
higher energy diets: Canine Extra, High Energy Lamb and Canine Active, where
they provide a source of energy.