ARNI is our own brand of cat food and dog food from the pet shop and dog boutique Het Vachtje, made with a single protein source, sweet potato and a fixed set of botanicals such as herbs, fruits and vegetables. In this blog, we will go through each category of what is in ARNI dog food and why we made that choice.
A good list of ingredients is only valuable if you know what the ingredients actually do. In our store, we regularly get that question: a customer turns the bag around, reads 'pomegranate, blackberry, broccoli, fennel' and wonders what those additions actually contribute. Nothing is more annoying than a nice label that you get nothing out of.
ARNI is our own brand and we have formulated the composition ourselves. That means we can also explain to you why each group of ingredients is in it. Below, we will go through the building blocks of the Natural Food line: the protein source, the carbohydrate source, the botanicals and what is deliberately NOT in it.
The foundation: one protein source per variant
The ARNI Natural Food line is monoprotein. That means: one animal protein source per recipe. Lamb, turkey, duck, horse, venison, rabbit, pollock or pork, and in the Small Breed line also chicken. One protein per bag, no mixture.
Why is that relevant? For dogs with a sensitive digestive system or suspected food sensitivity, it is difficult to figure out which ingredient they are reacting to when there are three proteins in one food. With one protein source, you have clarity. You can easily try a variant, see how your dog reacts, and eventually switch to another protein. This is not a medical diet in the medical sense, but the design does make it easier to recognize patterns.
For dogs without sensitivities, the monoprotein design also offers variety. You can periodically switch between lamb, turkey or horse without changing the basic recipe; only the protein and the matching botanicals change along.
Why sweet potato as a carbohydrate source?
In the ARNI Natural Food variants, sweet potato is the carbohydrate source. No wheat, no corn, no rice. This makes these variants grain-free. Our ARNI Premium line (chicken with rice, lamb with rice, turkey with rice, duck with potato, salmon with potato) does contain rice or regular potato, and is therefore not automatically grain-free. It is good to make that distinction before you choose.
Sweet potato is digested more slowly than many grains, which generally leads to a more even release of energy. In addition, sweet potato contains fibers that support intestinal function. For dogs that react to grains with complaints such as itching, loose stools or a lot of gas, a grain-free food can bring relief. We want to be honest about this: grain-free is not a magic word and not every dog needs it. For the dog that tolerates grain well, a food with grains is perfectly fine.
The botanicals: what do those herbs and fruits do?
The most striking thing about ARNI is the addition of a fixed set of botanicals: herbs, fruits and vegetables that are tailored per variant to the protein source. We divide them into four groups below. Important to say beforehand: these ingredients are added in workable amounts within a complete food, but ARNI is not a herbal remedy and not a medicine. What you read below is how these ingredients are traditionally used and what role they play in the recipe.
Herbs for digestion
Mint, parsley, fennel and nettle appear in various ARNI variants. Mint and fennel have traditionally been used to support digestion. Parsley is known for the breath and naturally contains minerals. Nettle has been used in animal food for centuries; to what extent the effect is reflected in a complete food is not scientifically well-substantiated, but the addition fits into the philosophy of ARNI to work with recognizable, traditional ingredients.
Fruits as a source of antioxidants
Pomegranate, blackberry, cranberry, blackberry and orange provide variety in plant-based components. These fruits naturally contain antioxidants and colorings that complement the plant-based side of the food. The amounts per kilo of food are modest, as you see in any formulated food; it is about the varied composition, not a concentrated supplement.
Vegetables for fiber and variety
Broccoli, zucchini, pumpkin and carrot provide fiber and additional nutrients. Pumpkin is regularly mentioned for dogs with fluctuating stools, because the soft fibers are easy to digest. Carrot has traditionally been known to support bowel movements. These are ingredients you would also find in a well-stocked vegetable drawer, and which ARNI uses as a base instead of as a marketing gimmick.
Papaya and the puppy variant
In the pork variant there is apple, in the duck variant orange, and in the puppy variant with turkey and duck, chamomile and dill have been added. Chamomile and dill are traditionally used for an unsettled digestive system, which can be pleasant especially for young dogs in the transition phase. Papaya, found in the turkey variant, naturally contains enzymes that support protein digestion.
What is deliberately NOT in ARNI?
Just as important as what is in it is what is not in it. ARNI contains no meat or fish by-products, no flavor enhancers, no artificial colorings and no artificial preservatives. What is on the bag as an ingredient is also in it. No 'animal by-products' or 'plant by-products' as a collective term; the source is stated per ingredient. That is the basic requirement for us for our own brand.
Which ARNI variant suits which dog?
A short routing, no ready-made answer. We are happy to think along with you in the store, because the right choice depends on the age, weight, sensitivity and current food of your dog.
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Lamb with mint, pomegranate, blackberry, broccoli and fennel: for the dog with a sensitive digestive system or changing taste preferences.
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Turkey with parsley, papaya, nettle, zucchini and pumpkin: for the dog that is used to variety or that reacts less well to chicken.
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Horse, venison or rabbit: less common protein sources, a good step if you are looking for a protein your dog has not had before.
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Pollock: fish as a protein source, for dogs that tolerate red meat less well or when you are looking for Omega fatty acids from a fish source.
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Small Breed variants: the same recipes with an adjusted kibble size for dogs up to approximately ten kilos.
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ARNI Premium (chicken, lamb, turkey with rice, duck or salmon with potato): a more affordable price point, with grains and potato as a carbohydrate source.
Frequently asked questions about the ingredients of ARNI
What is monoprotein food and when is it useful?
Monoprotein food contains one animal protein source per recipe. It is useful when you want to know what your dog reacts to, or when you want to offer variety without changing the entire recipe. For dogs without complaints, it is not a necessity, but it is a pleasant design.
Why sweet potato instead of rice or grains?
Sweet potato is generally well tolerated, provides fiber and has an even release of energy. For dogs that react to grains, that is a solution. For dogs that tolerate grains well, there is no objection to rice or grains; the ARNI Premium line does contain rice and is intended for that.
Are the botanicals in ARNI in active amounts?
The botanicals are added within a complete food and primarily have a function in the composition: variety, fiber and plant-based components. ARNI is not a herbal remedy or supplement. For targeted support for a specific problem, we would rather refer you to your veterinarian.
Can I just switch my dog to ARNI?
We recommend introducing ARNI gradually over seven to ten days: start with a quarter ARNI mixed with three-quarters of the old food, and build up slowly. This gives the gut flora time to get used to it.
Is ARNI grain-free?
The ARNI Natural Food variants are grain-free, with sweet potato as a carbohydrate source. The ARNI Premium line does contain rice (with chicken, lamb and turkey) or potato (with duck and salmon). So look at the specific variant, not at the brand name as a whole.
Questions or doubts about the choice?
Reading an ingredient list is one thing, knowing which variant suits your dog is another. Come in on Haarlemmerdijk 97-105 in Amsterdam, email info@hetvachtje.nl or call 020 341 33 63. We will look together at age, weight, sensitivity and current food and help you choose the right ARNI variant. Or, honestly, we will tell you when another brand from our assortment fits better.
View the full ARNI collection at hetvachtje.nl/collections/arni.