A Look at Ol' Roy Dog Food by Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart's In-store Dog Foods Are as Good as Pedigree, but Without a "blue Ribbon" Price Tag

By Alex Diaz-Granados, published May 31, 2006
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Until her untimely passing in April of 2003, Mary Joe, my Labrador retriever, hardly ever ate canned dog food. She started out by eating Purina Puppy Chow until she stopped liking it, then moved on to Iams Puppy Formula, then - with the exception of a few instances when she had to eat special vet-approved canned food during her illness - she ate Eukanuba Lamb and Rice Formula almost exclusively. We preferred to give her dry food for various reasons: it is sometimes healthier, especially for a dog's teeth, and it's less unpleasant to serve, since many canned dog foods have a strong odor and a somewhat icky consistency.

As an occasional pet-sitter, however, I have had to feed my canine charges the food their owners buy for them. More often than not it's dry food, but every so often there's some canned food thrown in the mix, so to speak.

Currently (May 2006), I am taking care of my neighbor Elena's Labrador-husky mix Laika while her owner is away on a Mediterranean cruise. One of her son's co-workers was supposed to go in the mornings to feed Laika and a handful of stray cats Elena has "adopted," but from what I see, I'm the one who's taking on all the food-related duties. So not only do I make sure Laika isn't lonely and that she gets walked, petted, and brought over to my house for at least six or seven hours, but I have to make sure all the food bowls have something for the small menagerie.

Although Elena has several cans of "wet" dog food from Pedigree, she left more than six cans of the cheaper but equally nutritional Ol' Roy brand from WalMart, including a can of Ol' Roy Hearty Cuts In Gravy Country Stew Flavor.

Named after the late Sam Walton's bird dog (whose portrait graces the label), Ol' Roy Hearty Cuts In Gravy Country Stew Flavor is just one of several flavors in this more affordable (at 41 cents a can) brand of dog food.

 
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Oh, and by the way Mr. Diaz-Granados, Pedigree and Eukanuba aren't much better. Both are corn-based foods. In fact, there isn't a food that Walmart sells that I would recommend to my worst enemy's dogs! Science Diet is also corn-based, and is only recommended by veterinarians because of the huge kick-backs they get from selling it. Last I checked, dogs were carnivores...not herbivores. Cattle eat corn, not dogs. I personally feed Dick van Patten's Natural Balance kibble. This is an excellent food! My dogs have never looked and felt better! However, it is pricey. If you're looking for a lower cost food that's more nutritionally sound, try Nutro products. Nutro isn't excellent, but if you're watching pennies, it's better than those "floor sweepings" foods such as Ol' Roy and Pedigree. They can be found at all Petsmarts and most feed stores. Just make sure the formula isn't corn-based.

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Posted on 06/17/2008 at 5:06:51 PM

 
Well, this is comment comes 2 years late, but wow...I'm shocked and not even sure how to respond. The only "stupid" people I see out here are the author of the article and recommender of such a horrific food as Ol' Roy, Alex Diaz-Granados, and Haley Whitaker, the one who was saying that those commenting against Ol' Roy were "stupid". It's painfully obvious that these two are completely oblivious to the detrimental and serious effects this food and others like it have on the health and life span of their dogs. For the sake of their own dogs, let's hope they do eventually listen, learn and "get a clue". These two are probably the same type of people who tie their dogs to stakes with heavy chains in the backyard. Sigh...

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Posted on 06/17/2008 at 5:06:06 PM

 
Man, that author needs to get a CLUE! And feeding the veterinarian garbage is no better. Ever read the INGREDIENTS in that vet stuff? It's nothing but Corn, SAWDUST (Yes, SAWDUST), Peanut Hulls, SOY (yet another proven allergen) and BY-Products. Were you in a coma during the recalls? Google the "4 Ds" No WONDER his dog had an "untimely" passing!! You, seriously, need to do some research on those INGREDIENTS, Mister. You're ON the Internet! Just google it.

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Posted on 06/14/2008 at 8:06:39 PM

 
*Carrageenan - Possibly used as a binding agent or thickener. High amounts that contain poligeenan may cause gastro-intestinal ulcers. (Should be lower on the list) *Garlic powder - Helps with relieving gas and keeping fleas at bay, but it must be used sparingly because, as like onions, they can cause anemia, but are not as toxic and are safe in small doses. (Should be lower on the list) *Steamed bone meal - Although this may seem like a good source of calcium (as dogs and cats tend to be on the lactose intolerant side) it is incredibly high in ash content which can lead to bladder and urinary tract infections and kidney failure/stones. And crude protein at 8% is alarmingly low! If doubt any of this, I challenge you to take it to ANY vet and have them check the facts.

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Posted on 01/27/2008 at 1:01:37 AM

 
*Meat-by products - Almost no specification as to what kind of meat. Can be any type of mammal. Again, inconsistency may cause digestive problems. *Wheat Flour - More and more dogs are starting to develop allergies to wheat, corn and soy. Whole grains are a much healthier source of carbohydrates. *Wheat Gluten - Unnecessary binding agent, filler, and incredibly poor source of protein. *Salt - Large quantities may cause electrolyte imbalances, leading to possible neurological and muscular disorder. (Should be lower on the list) *Caramel Color, Yellow 6, Yellow 5 - Food coloring has ABSOLUTELY NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE FOR ANIMALS, HUMANS, OR PLANTS. It's there to be eye candy. This is only marketing to humans as dogs obviously could care less what color their food is. *Onion extract - Onions are poisonous to dogs and cats and can cause Heinz body anemia. *Carrageenan - Possibly used as a binding agent or thickener. High amounts that contain poligeenan may cause gastro-intestinal ulce

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Posted on 01/27/2008 at 1:01:45 AM

 
(I know this is 2 years late, but I feel people should read anyway) First of all, I must state that your comparison of Ol' Roy to Pedigree is absolutely bang on. Reason being, they're both two of the worst commercial dog foods in circulation. I highly doubt that Walmart or Mars (owns Pedigree, most famously known for M&M candy and Mars Bars) really have much interest in quality pet nutrition. Granted, Mars does infact also own Royal Canin, Nutro, and Greenies which as far as nutrition goes are O.K. but still pretty low in ingredient quality, ingredient source consistency and over all nutritional value. The nutritional information posted for this Ol' Roy can just screams junk, and I'll tell you why: *Poultry - Does not specify what poultry. Could be chicken, duck, turkey, goose, etc. Most likely to be chicken or turkey, but this inconsistency in protein source can very much adversely affect the dog's digestive system, possibly causing diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and such. *Meat

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Posted on 01/27/2008 at 1:01:49 AM

 
Janet, I found that odd because I have be feed my pedigreed bloodhound ol roy for 4 years and have never had a problem. I also have 4 other dogs who eat it also and have never had a problem with them either. I also found it funny because I found this on the internet: Some breeds are prone to developing colitis. Boxers are very susceptible, but it is not known why this is so. Deep ulcers may develop in the colon wall, and the condition is called "Boxer ulcerative colitis." So maybe it was not the dog food it is just your boxer. Apparently you did not read up on your information on the illness.

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Posted on 01/15/2008 at 9:01:57 AM

 
I SEE STUPID PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Posted on 01/10/2008 at 12:01:26 PM

 
i dont eat dog food ] so how would i know if i liked it or not

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Posted on 01/10/2008 at 12:01:48 PM

 
i am not stupid you r the one that is STUPID!!!1

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Posted on 01/10/2008 at 12:01:05 PM

 
"You are the stupid person" is posting in reply to a post by "I see stupid people" made in october. For a follow up, check http://www.fda.gov/cvm/FOI/DFreport.htm

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Posted on 12/23/2007 at 9:12:11 PM

 
Do a search on "pentobarbital in dog food" and you will see that Euthanized animals have been found in some commercial dog foods...

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Posted on 12/23/2007 at 9:12:49 PM

 
What they do is fill a large syringe with air and inject it into the heart of the pet. It is a quick death. It is actually quicker than the drugs normally used when you are there to supervise the act. It is also more painful to the animal than drowning or smothering them. I have seen a cat climb a chain holding a florescent light, fall and climb it again for more than ten minutes, she was trying to get away from the pain and of course us. It is horrid and the main reason I left the practice of Veterinary medicine. Anything that says byproducts, and all of the dog food you buy does, will include the COMPLETE carcass of dead pets, racing dogs, farm animals not deemed fit for human consumption and horses. yes, even the hooves. To Alex: I found you from your signature in Team Wealth Builder. I am Mari.

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Posted on 12/18/2007 at 11:12:58 PM

 
I fed my pedigreed Boxer Ol' Roy dog food for about three months several years ago. I drove a truck at the time and that was about all that I could get while I was on the road. (Ziggy went on the truck with me along with her buddy, Lor, a Bob cat that I had rescued.) Although this article is about the canned food, I fed Ziggy the dry, I would not recommend this food. At the end of that three months I had Ziggy in the hospital for almost two week with Colitis, a condition that she had gotten from eating the food that consisted mainly of meat flavored rice. As for the comments that I read here: Why must we be so mean to one another? I just don't understand that. I worked for a Veterinarians clinical service for many years, as an assistant, and let me set a few things straight about euthanasia. If you are not there to physically supervise the euthanasia sodium phenobarbital or sodium pentobarbitol is rarely used. It is expensive and from my experience most Vets are cheap!

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Posted on 12/18/2007 at 10:12:53 PM

 
(continued) @ Mandy, You may want to consider that the needle was in the pitcher to begin with. @Petra, Most dogs will have gastrointestinal distress when you alter their food. If you switch from cheap foods to premium ones, you will often see the same thing. @ all The Food and Drug Administration has found "very, very low levels" of sodium pentobarbital--the chemical used to euthanize animals--in some brands of dog food, said Stephen Sundloff, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. The agency is investigating whether the traces are "of any significance at all," Sundloff said. A search for canine and feline DNA in the same foods tested (including Ol' Roy) showed CONCLUSIVELY that these foods did NOT contain rendered pet remains.

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Posted on 12/09/2007 at 10:12:44 AM

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