Thoughts on Citric acid in dog food???

I just wanted some opinions on some dog foods I am interested in. The first food is Wellness, Natures Variety and Canadaie.

One of my concerns is, I was reading on a boxer forum about Citric acid (used to preserve food) can cause bloat when the kibble is watered down. Read this site and go down to the part of preservatives.
http://www.boxerworld.com/feeding/
I always water down kibble and add canned food with every meal, I also own 5 dog breeds which are prone to bloat. This concerns me.

As far as I can see Wellness only uses mixed tocopherols to preserve their dog foods. But, Natures Variety http://www.naturesvariety.com/ does use citric acid. I am really impressed by the ingredients that natures variety uses and the way they process kibble.
Insert from site:
Nature's Variety realizes how heat compromises many food components. So several of these heat sensitive food ingredients -- including probiotics, enzymes, nutritious oils and fats, and certain vitamins and minerals -- are dry enrobed back on the outer surface of the finished product through a process called Bio-CoatingTM. All Nature's Variety products are naturally preserved with vitamins and herbal extracts and hermetically sealed in oxygen limiting packaging.

The CANIDAE - All Life Stage Benefits does not use citric acid to preserve either. http://www.canidae.com/

I would like to rotate my dogs on these 3 brands of food. I am just concerned about Nature's recipe and the citric acid. Every thing else about this company sounds wonderful.

has any one fed Natures variety? what are your thoughts on the ingredients?

I got an answer on this straight from Nature's Variety. They said there is no documented proof of citric acid causing a dog to bloat. They have done research on bloat them selves and this is what they say.

http://www.naturesvariety.com/news_arch.lasso?-Token.id=1038
Consumption of commercial dry dog food is thought to play a role in development of gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV). A recent study1 found that Irish Setters consuming a single food type were three times more likely to develop GDV (bloat) than Irish Setters fed a mixture of food types. Inclusion of table foods in the diet of large-breed and giant-breed dogs was associated with a 59% decreased risk of GDV, while inclusion of canned foods was associated with a 28% decreased risk.

To help prevent GDV Nature's Variety recommends food rotation and inclusion of fresh food in the diet, to include our 95% meat based canned diets and/or our fresh frozen (raw) diets in your feeding regimen, which all contain high moisture and no cereal grain.

1 M, Raghavan, et al., 2004. Diet related risk factors for gastric dilation-volvulus in dogs of high-risk breeds. JAAHA 40:192-203.

http://greatdanelady.com/articles/on_my_soap_box_purdue_bloat_study.htm

scroll down to "Citric Acid/Fats etc.". the entire article is worth reading tho.

Thank you Mordy! I never thought to check on the Great Dane lady's website. You are a wealth of information. Now from what I understand from her article is that citric acid is not a cause of bloat. That is wonderful news.
Quote from Great Dane lady