OMNI DOG FOOD
It may seem a little counterintuitive to market another brand, Omni dog food, and most, if not all, vegan dog food founders are motivated by the same sense of responsibilities so we see ourselves as being part of the same force for better, on the same team. We are all concerned by the impact poor nutrition is having on our dog's health, and the environmental and animal welfare impacts of feeding them meat-based food.
While Omni and Bonza are both plant-based, vegan and vegetarian dog foods, there are differences. The following is intended to provide an insight into the differences so that you can compare Omni and Bonza quickly and easily.
Both Bonza and Omni Dog Food contain Methionine. Methionine is one of the 10-plus essential amino acids that dogs must get from their food. It is usually the first or second limiting amino acid in a dog's diet. It plays a vital role in their health - for skin and coat condition, eye health, heart health and more. It is also an initiator of protein synthesis. It serves as a precursor to other amino acids like cysteine which can then be converted into taurine. Methionine can also be converted into glutathione, an important physiological antioxidant.
Both Bonza and Omni contain Taurine. It is an amino acid nutritional supplement that is used to treat taurine-deficiency diseases such as dilated cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease. It is also effective in preventing retinal degeneration, a disease of the eye.
Although taurine-deficiency occurs primarily in cats, it may also occur in Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Newfoundlands, Dalmatians, Portuguese Water Dogs, and English Bulldogs. Taurine may also be effective for general heart disease.
L-Carnitine, is a vitamin-like compound made in the body from amino acids. It's found naturally only in animal-based protein sources. L-Carnitine is a vital nutrient that has many important functions in your dog’s body. A deficiency in this nutrient can result in a host of health problems, including muscle pain, lethargy, and most notably, heart disease. Recent scientific studies show that it can help reduce weight in overweight dogs. Bonza and Omni contain L-Carnitine.
Again Bonza and Omni contain chelated Zinc. Chelated minerals basically remove the inefficiency to ensure your dog is able to absorb and use the trace minerals that are ingested. Zinc is important for immune system function and thyroid function. Zinc deficiency can result in many problems for dogs, including: Lack of protection from infection, abnormal iodine metabolism, interference with normal cell developments including wound healing, and replacement of intestinal lining cells, skin cells, hair, and nails and interference with normal sexual function.
Omni contains Soy and Rice. Bonza does not. Apart from the fact that corn, wheat and soy are known allergens for dogs, we launched Bonza to do our bit for the environment and the future health of our Planet by reducing the environmental impact of feeding them. For this reason we chose not to include corn, wheat, soy or rice. Rice is the 2nd largest emitter of Methane after cows and sheep, a greenhouse gas 2500% more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere and responsible for 20% of total global emissions.
As monocrops, corn, wheat and soy are responsible for massive levels of deforestation, a reduction in soil quality, huge levels of water usage, harmful fertiliser use that increases the chances of runoffs that damage water ecosystems and pollute waterways and reduce biodiversity.
These 3 plant-based foods - corn, wheat and soy - are also known allergens for dogs.
For these reasons we will never use corn, wheat, soy or rice in our food.
Bonza contains probiotics while Omni does not. Probiotics are known to boost the healthy gut bacteria that help your dog to digest their food. They are a well-understood therapy for diarrhoea, gastrointestinal upset and other digestive orders. More recently, they’ve been found to counter urinary tract infections, immune system disorders and even anxiety.
The microbiome and the gut - brain axis is one of the most exciting new understandings about probiotics. Your dog’s gastrointestinal tract and brain, like your own, are in constant dialogue, and proper microorganisms in the intestines can help with mental and emotional regulation.
The combination of probiotics and prebiotics, known as synbiotics, is at the forefront of research into both animal and human clinical nutrition and their significant impact on health. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Omni does not contain iron or copper in a chelated form, whilst Bonza does. Chelated minerals are more expensive which is why most dog foods only use inorganic forms of minerals in their formulation. Research has shown that chelated minerals are absorbed at anywhere from two to five times the rate of the same minerals in their inorganic forms. Chelated forms of trace minerals are more important when feeding plant-based diets as many ingredients contain anti-nutritional factors, such as phytate, which can affect the absorption of vital minerals.
Choline:
Omni does not add Choline to their food. Bonza does. For dogs, dietary choline is required, if the body cannot meet the demand from the synthesis of methionine, which is often the case with high-fat diets. Choline is one of those multipotent nutrients that allows other metabolic pathways to express their full potential. Although limited animal studies have been conducted, there is evidence that choline may have beneficial effects in neurological conditions by supporting the cell structure and the production of neurotransmitters.
Additionally, choline has a significant role in lipid metabolism, and it has been researched for its effect on increasing fatty acid oxidation and efficient fat utilisation.
Bonza includes Glucosamine in our food, Omni does not. Glucosamine helps to stimulate cartilage growth and thicken synovial fluid, improving mechanical joint function and slowing the progression of arthritis – meaning less stiffness and discomfort for your dog as they age.
Scientists at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, conducted a review of 16 clinical trials of treatments for osteoarthritis in dogs. They reported their results in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and found that preparations containing glucosamine provided a “moderate level” of comfort, and were on a par with some prescription drugs.
Bonza includes MSM in our food, Omni doesn't. MSM is a naturally occurring supplement used primarily as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant for conditions such as arthritis and some cancers. MSM detoxes the body on a cellular level, by flushing waste out of cells. It also can dissolve harmful toxins floating around inside your dog's body. Once the bad elements are out of the cells, fresh nutrients can enter in their place. This leads to less disease and better function of the body.
Bonza includes a carefully selected blend of herbs and botanicals in our food. Omni contain none. Herbs and botanicals included in our formulation are turmeric, chamomile, ginger, echinacea, parsley, oregano, basil, sage and basil, The benefits for your dog include anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, digestive support, joint and mobility support, immune health and cognitive improvement.
These ingredients contain powerful phytonutrients which provide a host of benefits, both preventative and curative, for your dog throughout their lives.
Bonza includes a carefully selected blend of adaptogens in our food. Omni does not. Adaptogens are herbs, roots and other plant substances (like mushrooms) that help our bodies manage stress and restore balance. Adaptogens work at a molecular level by regulating a stable balance in the hypothalamic, pituitary, and adrenal glands. Included in our food are Siberian Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Reishi Mushroom and Turmeric.
Approximately 95% of all dry dog food, kibble and biscuits, are processed using what is called a ‘high temperature short time’ (HTST) extrusion method. This process heats the ingredients to temperatures of between 110ºC to 150ºC for between 60-270 seconds. Although little research has been undertaken on pet food, what has been done shows high temperature processing to be the most impactful on your dog’s food’s nutrient integrity (1, 2).
High heat processing impacts non-heat stable vitamins, particularly the B group vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E (4). While minerals are less affected by heat it can affect bioavailability, meaning that your dog may not be receiving as much of the mineral as they should be for their optimum nutrition and health (6).
Essential fatty acids, including the very important, and healthful, Omega 3, have been shown to be negatively affected by increased processing temperatures (7).
Probiotics, which are known to improve your dog’s gut health and microbiome, are also shown to be highly heat sensitive and their efficacy in optimising your dog’s gut, and overall health, is greatly degraded by high temperature processing (8).
Finally, protein, which is the very foundation of your diet and your dog’s is also affected by the processing temperature.
Increasing heat denatures protein and also results in the triggering of a chemical process, the Maillard reaction – the browning process of meat and other foods caused by heat. This leads to the formation of numerous toxic compounds including acrylamide and advanced glycation end products (AGE’s), both of which have been linked to a multitude of different disease states – including cancer, in people and dogs.
After much research and testing we chose to produce Bonza using a cold extrusion process, where the food is produced at temperatures of 70 °C, helping to preserve the vital nutrients in your dog's food and reducing AGE's.
Personalised Meal Plan & Delivery:
When you subscribe to Bonza, we ask you a variety of questions about your dog - breed, weight, age, sex and intactness, activity level and about any health issues they may have. These factors impact the exact amount of calories your dog should be eating each day to maintain peak health and wellness. We then provide you with an exact daily feeding amount which also allows us to schedule your next delivery to arrive 2 days before you run out. Never too much. Never run out. No more stress or emergency dashes for dog food. And you control it all with a click of a button in your dashboard.
Free Veterinary Consultation 24/7, 365 days a year:
As a subscriber we offer you free access to VidiVet, the UK's leading online vet consultation service, providing you with access to a vet at any time of the day via text or video. Peace of mind that you can get access to a UK qualified vet out of hours without the cost, and inconvenience, of visiting your vet unnecessarily.
Because the environment and restoring the health of the Planet is a primary driver for us, we chose to become members of 1% for the Planet. Our selected beneficiary of 1% of our total revenue is Trees for the Future, whose Forest Garden approach works with farmers in Africa, planting trees, fruit and vegetables, helping to restore degraded land, providing their families with food security and incomes to help their family's futures. For every box of Bonza delivered we contribute £0.67 to Trees for the Future enabling the famers to plant 3 trees.
We also work with One Tribe and Rainforest Trust to preserve the lungs of the Planet, rainforests. For every subscription delivery we make to you we preserve 20 rainforest trees storing almost 10 tonnes of carbon and sequestering a further 0.4 tonnes annually.
We hope this provides an informative understanding of how Omni dog food and Bonza differ. Whichever plant-based food you choose to feed your dog we thank you for playing your part in giving them better nutrition and helping to protect our planet from the harms of animal agriculture and the impact meat-based dog food.
Cost Comparison Omni vs. Bonza:
While on the face of it Omni appears to be slightly cheaper than Bonza (in truth less than half a cup of Starbucks a day!), when one considers the difference in inclusions and the benefits these offer your dog throughout their lives, we believe Bonza offers exceptional value against all other dog food, meat-based or plant-based.
A growing body of scientific research and vegan dog food studies point to the benefits, for your dog and the environment, of either adding more plant-based food to their diet or better still going entirely plant-based.
We chose to highlight the differences between the two foods with a simple motivation: helping owners make a considered decision on what the best nutrition for their dogs is, by providing what we hope is a helpful and accurate comparison of the composition of both vegan dog foods.
Bonza. Elevate Your Dog's Food Beyond Simple Nutrition.