Husse dog food

The Husse brand appeared in Russia in late 2010 – early 2011. Initially, as often happens with new products, it generated interest among breeders, but also a fair amount of mistrust. Information about Husse dog food was spread primarily through breed-specific and topical forums, and it was only available for purchase online. Today, it's still much easier to buy the brand's products online than to find them on the shelves of your local pet store.

Manufacturer

Husse is a Swedish brand founded in 1987 by TradeMark Service LE AB, headquartered in Stockholm. This brand produces not only pet food but also a wide range of nutritional supplements (including for horses), treats, various accessories, and even cat litter. TDA-Proekt is the official distributor of Husse in Russia.

For 30 years, the company has consistently pursued its core mission: "A healthy lifestyle for pets," which directly depends on the quality of its nutrition. Therefore, according to the manufacturer, their product formulas are developed by a team of experienced veterinary nutritionists and produced on modern equipment using a unique, patented, next-generation technology.

As a result of all the developments and production methods, modern Husse dog food is a super-premium quality diet with high digestibility, free of GMOs, synthetic flavors and colors, consisting of high-quality ingredients.

Assortment

All products of this brand are divided into two segments: professional diets (the Pro line), available only to breeders, and the super-premium, classic line of diets.

The presence of a line of nursery food sets this brand apart from others and is certainly a strength. It demonstrates a serious approach to their business, and therefore to the quality of their products.

The rest of the diet is represented by a range of dry and canned foods. Dry diets can be divided into categories.

Super Premium

The main group of diets, which are usually divided according to the age, size, breed of the pet and the level of its activity.

• For small breeds, there are 4 feeding positions with small granules called "Mini".
• For the smallest puppies, we offer food from the "Valp" series. It can be used as a complementary food for babies as early as the third week of life, and it is recommended to introduce it as a main diet from the age of four weeks.
• Husse's team also focused on pets with special nutritional needs, creating diets for neutered and spayed animals (Sterilised), and for diabetics and those prone to weight gain (Light).

Grain Free

A line of grain-free products consisting of two foods—Opus Farm and Opus Ocean—that are single-protein and gluten-free. Their recipes are based on chicken or salmon, with grains replaced by potatoes and peas. Grain-free diets are well-suited for pets with sensitive digestion.

Sensitive

Formulas specially created for dogs requiring hypoallergenic food, or those with a sensitive digestive system. Six types of food are presented here, so owners can choose the most suitable option based on their pet's age, size, and special needs.

Digest

Adult diet with lamb, rice and salmon:

• Digest Giant – the recipe is identical to the previous one, only with larger granules, for large and giant breeds;
• Valp Digest – puppy formula with lamb, rice and partially hydrolyzed chicken;
• Optimal – food for active pets with increased energy requirements, based on chicken and rice;
• Ocean Care – a formula based on salmon and rice, for pets over one year old;
• Light – a chicken and rice diet designed for overweight animals, as well as for pets with reduced activity.

Canned food

Husse brand canned food includes pâtés (Pâté) and chunks in gravy (Chunks in gravy). Pâtés are available in laminated packaging (300g) and 400g jars in three flavors. Chunks are available in 400g and 1275g jars in four varieties. The manufacturer emphasizes that it uses only high-quality meat and by-products in its canned food, and does not use preservatives, chemical additives, or artificial flavors. Therefore, its products are healthy and natural, and are highly digestible and have a taste that pets enjoy.

In addition to a selection that meets all nutritional needs, the Swedish brand Husse offers free home delivery and a high level of service to every customer.

Evaluation and analysis of the composition

Let's analyze the ingredients of Husse Opus Ocean, a Grain Free adult dog food marketed as a low-carb, single-protein diet for pets. According to the manufacturer, it has a higher fat content and an 82% animal protein content. This diet is also suitable for pets with food intolerances or sensitive digestion.

It's worth noting that the ingredients listed on the Russian-language website differ significantly from the English version. The latter is more detailed and includes the AAFCO seal, so we'll use that information.

Guaranteed Nutrient Analysis:

• Proteins (min) – 35%;
• Fat (min) – 16%;
• Humidity (max) – 12%;
• Ash content – ​​8.5%;
• Fiber (max) –5%;
• Calcium (min) – 1.3%;
• Phosphorus (min) – 0.8%.

We estimate that this diet contains approximately 23-25% carbohydrates, above-average protein, and above-average fat. It's also low in carbohydrates compared to typical dry foods in this segment. This means that your pet will get 33-34% of their calories from protein, 37-38% from fat, and 28-29% from carbohydrates.

But not all proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are created equal, so their quality is just as important as their quantity. So let's look at the composition of this recipe, specifically the first seven ingredients:

• Salmon meal.
• Potato.
• Peas.
• Potato protein.
• Pork fat.
• Flax seeds.
• Plant fibers (cellulose).

This list could be extended to include a number of other ingredients. But realistically, components located this far down the list (except for some food additives) cannot affect the overall rating of this product.

Analysis of components

The feed contains the following main components:

• The first ingredient on the list is salmon meal. A processed salmon concentrate, this meal contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh fish itself. Fishmeal is typically made from cleaned and dried whole fish or trimmings, but fish processing by-products can also be used.
• The second ingredient is potato. This product is considered a gluten-free source of easily digestible carbohydrates. However, other than its calorie content, potatoes offer little nutritional value for dogs.

• The third ingredient is peas. Peas are a high-quality source of carbohydrates. And, like all legumes, they are rich in natural fiber. However, peas contain approximately 25% protein, a factor that must be taken into account when evaluating the meat content of this dog food.
• The fourth component is potato protein, the dry residue remaining after starch is removed from potatoes. This product contains over 80% protein and is plant-based, meaning it has a lower biological value than meat. Potato protein is also a less expensive component that can significantly increase the total protein content (the amount stated on the packaging)—an important detail to consider when assessing the actual amount of meat in a given recipe.

• The fifth ingredient is lard, a product obtained from pork and its tissues during the rendering process. Rendered lard significantly improves the food's appeal to dogs. It also contains a high percentage of linoleic acid and vital omega-6 fatty acids. While it may not seem very appetizing, lard (in moderation) is actually an acceptable ingredient in dog food.
• The sixth component is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids. When ground into flour, flaxseed is also rich in soluble fiber. However, flaxseed contains approximately 19% protein, which should be taken into account when assessing the actual amount of animal protein in this diet.
• The seventh ingredient listed is vegetable cellulose—an indigestible plant fiber. It's typically made from vegetable byproducts. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, plant fiber offers no nutritional value to dogs.

Controversial or questionable ingredients

The remaining ingredients in Husse Opus Ocean, which are closer to the end of the list, have virtually no impact on the nutritional value of the recipe or its quality, with four notable exceptions:

• Firstly, the product contains yeast extract. This substance is used as a food additive or flavor enhancer. However, it is a highly controversial ingredient due to its content of glutamic acid (its chemical relative is monosodium glutamate). Some believe that the use of yeast extract has side effects associated with the development of certain human diseases (Alzheimer's disease) and obesity.
• Hydrolyzed animal protein, also known as animal digest, is a chemically hydrolyzed mixture of animal by-products that is typically sprayed onto the surface of dry food to improve the flavor of the product.
• Additionally, minerals are listed here, but they are not chelated. This significantly impairs their absorption by the body. Non-chelated minerals are typically used in low-quality feeds.
• Finally, this food contains menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K associated with liver toxicity, allergies, and abnormal red blood cell destruction. We question the use of this substance in any dog ​​food.

Price

The price of Husse canned dog food varies between 180 and 220 rubles for a 400g can, and about 330 to 380 rubles for a 1275g package.

A 12 kg bag of grain-free food costs depending on the flavor:

• Opus Farm (with chicken) – from 5800 to 6100 rubles.
• Opus Ocean (with salmon) – from 7650 to 7950 rubles.

Digest Sensitive hypoallergenic food with lamb and rice will cost:

• 2 kg – from 1210 to 1372 rubles.
• 7 kg – from 2780 to 2890 rubles.
• 15 kg – from 5690 to 5895 rubles.

Reviews of Husse food

The first dog owners to appreciate this brand's products were professional breeders. That's why the largest number of reviews of Husse dog food are found on breed forums. These reviews include both positive and critical reviews.

Valentina, owner of Kurzhaars:

"Both my picky eaters, Sheila and Sparky, absolutely love Husse food and have been eating it since last year. Sheila used to suffer from severe allergies, which led to numerous skin problems. Since switching to Husse, she hasn't had a single hint of an allergy: the dogs look healthy and happy, and I couldn't be happier!"

Konstantin, owner of the dog Bentley:

"Our beloved dog, Bentley, always had problems with itching and an upset stomach. We changed his food several times and gave him various probiotics recommended by the vet. After reading reviews, we bought grain-free dog food, but it only reduced the symptoms, not completely solved the problem. Then we started giving Husse Sensitive, and it literally transformed our dog within a week. There are no symptoms at all! Now Bentley seems much more alert, he doesn't scratch, and his digestion is back to normal. Thank you, Husse, for helping our little guy become healthy and happy!"

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