Anyone Feed Their Puppy Ziwi Peak? Need Advice!

I have a 16-week-old Havanese puppy who weighs around 8.5 pounds, and I’m thinking of starting him on Ziwi Peak’s air-dried food. The feeding guide only starts at 11 pounds, though… any advice on how much I should be feeding him? Thanks!

Ziwi isn’t WSAVA compliant, and honestly, they don’t acknowledge the concerns about grain-free diets potentially being linked to heart issues (DCM) on their site. They talk up their products a lot, but it feels like marketing.

If you want to give your pup the best chance at a healthy life, I’d stick with a WSAVA-compliant brand. Check out the recommendations in this forum’s Wiki!

@Emerson
Isn’t the FDA’s concern specifically about certain legumes? I remember reading that both grain-inclusive and grain-free diets had these ingredients…

The FDA’s answer on this seems a bit unclear.

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fdas-work-potential-causes-non-hereditary-dcm-dogs

@Campbell
Yes, they mention non-soy pulses (like peas and other legumes) are in higher quantities in many grain-free diets, which could be why grain-free is often flagged for DCM cases. Legumes are more common in grain-free recipes, so they show up more in these reports.

@Emerson
So you’re saying the FDA’s concerns with DCM are linked to legume content in the food?

@Emerson
But the FDA hasn’t said legumes are the cause, right? They’ve been used safely in dog food for years.

The FDA’s focus has been on common ingredients and correlations, not specific causes. It feels like saying legumes are risky isn’t quite fair when it hasn’t been proven.

@Campbell
What I wrote is directly from that FDA report you linked, almost word-for-word, and I’ve also used info from this forum’s Wiki. Feel free to disagree, but the Wiki is well-researched by the mods.

@Emerson
According to the FDA FAQ:

“The FDA doesn’t yet know the exact link between these diets and cases of non-hereditary DCM. They’re still looking into genetics, underlying health conditions, and other factors.”

The Wiki advises caution but doesn’t confirm any cause.

Correlation isn’t the same as causation. Also, should we trust the FDA’s input on this or not?

Ziwi might not be the best long-term option for your pup. My advice would be to look at the Wiki here and make sure you’re clear on what WSAVA-compliant foods are about.

Also, talking to your vet about the best options can make a huge difference—trust the vets over the marketing.

I have a Havanese too! I went down the “natural food” rabbit hole and tried various brands that didn’t work out. My pup had tear stains, skin issues, and even anal gland problems. Eventually, I switched to Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach, and all those issues cleared up in just a few weeks.

From one Havanese owner to another, please go with a WSAVA-compliant food. It doesn’t have to be Purina, but make sure it’s compliant to avoid the troubles I went through!

I used to feed Ziwi but after a scare at the vet, I switched my two dogs to a vet-recommended food. Now, I only use Ziwi as an occasional treat. They still get all their nutrition from their main meals, and they’re thrilled with the treats!

All my dogs are on Pro Plan.

It’s the only brand I fully trust.