What are you feeding your dogs?
I've been doing the Evo kibble with Natures Variety RAW. Just bought my first bag of Royal Canin Dachshund food because I didn't want to drive 30 miles (one way) to buy more Evo in Chattanooga.
This site http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ says the Royal Canin ain't all that good.
What are you feeding and where do you buy it.
We feed Penny Royal Canin HP-19 (Hypo Allergenic Food) that we get from our vet
The Royal Canine for Daschunds is the only dog food that Parker will eat.
My dogs are eating the Royal Canin too. They seem to like it, it's there first bag....we'll see.
I tend to rotate foods though from a beef base to a chicken base to a turkey base. I think feeding the same thing over and over and over contributes to allergies, my opinion and expeirence with Lucy. If I feed her the same thing for too long she starts having skin problems.
Wheat Gluten, it was a bad shipment of Wheat Gluten from China that lead to thousands of dead dogs and cats. Remember the pet food recall about a year ago?
the page for Royal Canin
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=1538&cat=all
The first ingredient in the food is a named meat product. It is the sole significant meat product in the food, and our confidence that this product contains a decent amount of meat is low. There is a further meat product 8th on the ingredient list, but this is not only a minor ingredient but is inclusive of water content (about 80%). Once that is removed, as it must be to create a dehydrated product, the ingredient will weigh around 20% of its wet weight. Ingredients are listed in order of weight, and the dehydrated ingredient would probably be more accurately placed much further down the ingredient list. It is highly unlikely that this ingredient makes any significant contribution to the overall meat content of the food.
The main grain in the food is rice, which is a decent quality grain, but brewers rice is a low quality grain and byproduct.Corn is another low quality ingredient. It is a difficult to digest grain that is commonly associated with allergy problems. Corn Gluten Meal is the dried residue from corn after the removal of the larger part of the starch and germ, and the separation of the bran by the process employed in the wet milling manufacture of corn starch or syrup, or by enzymatic treatment of the endosperm. In plain English, that bit of the corn leftover after most of the nutritious bits have been removed. Wheat is believed by many to be the number one cause of food allergies in dogs, and wheat gluten is a low grade product similar to corn gluten. Cellulose is “purified, mechanically disintegrated cellulose prepared by processing alpha cellulose obtained as a pulp from fibrous plant materials”: otherwise known as sawdust. The husks of rice are further filler.
Beet pulp is controversial filler which appears to be used in large quantities in this food. It is a by-product, being dried residue from sugar beets which has been cleaned and extracted in the process of manufacturing sugar. It is a controversial ingredient in dog food, claimed by some manufacturers to be a good source of fibre, and derided by others as an ingredient added to slow down the transition of rancid animal fats and causing stress to kidney and liver in the process. We note that beet pulp is an ingredient that commonly causes problems for dogs, including allergies and ear infections, and prefer not to see it used in dog food. There are less controversial products around if additional fibre is required. Soya oil is a further substance commonly linked to food allergies.
22 views and 2 replies, come on folks, fess up and spill the beans....
I have just recently switched Sol to Solid Gold Holistisque for Seniors. He loves it and is doing better on it than the Pedigree.
Darcel
I feed Nutro. Zack gets the senior formula and Zena gets the lamb and rice. I have been using it for 20 years and love the coats they have on it and they have all done really well on it as far as being healthy. They love the blueberry and apple treats too.
Merion & the ZZ's
I feed Cajsa and Gretchen Solid Gold, Just a Wee Bit. Mostly because Cajsa is allergic to tomato and doesn't do so hot on artificial color/preservatives/ingredients. She also won't eat lamb, so it kind of limits the foods I can buy for her. Gretchen eats whatever I give her and never has a problem, so I cater to the sensitive tummy. I think JAWB is bison and salmon based as for meat protein. They like it and a 15 lb bag lasts about 6 weeks for both of them.
My pair get Hills R/D as dried food oliver a 1/3 cup and Amy gets about 9 pieces of kibble and about 30g raw meat or my dog sachets still 30g.
Roberta
We feed the Purina One for sensitive systems (Salmon and Rice). Its not the best quality, but unfortunately in our area, our choices are very limited. I'm probably going to switch Porky to a hollistic food trout and sweet potato soon. I have just been dreading the fact that we'll have to drive two hours to get it. :doah:
I'm also feeding Solid Gold Just a Wee Bit right now. It's immensely popular, even with my picky eater (even though it wasn't the first few days-they hated it at first) and it's doing a great job packing weight on Winston (which is HARD!).
I've tried nearly every premium dog food brand out there. The only one that really gave me problems was EVO, and that was after a long break without it and going back to it-my dogs suddenly started drinking and peeing like crazy. It's ultra high in protein (around 46% versus 25-28% for most premium brands) and it was too much for my guys systems. None of my guys will touch the Royal Canin Dachshund formula for some reason-they loved the Mini Puppy 33 when they were babies. We've had Taste of the Wild (Bison good, other one I tried, not so much), Canidae (two thumbs up-that'll be my rotation food when they get tired of Solid Gold), Innova (pretty good), Nutro Naturals (I think-gave them very soft pooh-ick), and my winter pick, believe it or not is Purina's Pro Plan Selects, which is their premium version of regular Pro Plan. You can get it at Petco. It's a decent low calorie food for the times of the year when they're not exercising as much-they get to eat as much as the Solid Gold but take in fewer calories. I'm not normally a Purina fan-however, this one has my vote.
we eat solid gold hundeflocken, we get it at a local store that sells all the good stuff you will see everyone feeding, such as the royal canine and those type of brands. we have had great results with it for over 5 yrs and 4 dogs! we never have had to express anal glands!! no alergies, no fussy eaters, just some gas sometimes but i swear thats my hubby blaming it on the girls!! we found this food on recomendation from someone here!! :thumb:
We are just finishing up our Royal Canin allergy formula (venison and potato). Maddie does well with this food but since I can only get it at the Vet whom we are choosing not to see anymore, we are now transitioning her to California Natural that she REALLY likes! Since we learned from our Allergy Testing that it wasn't food that she was allergic too (except for brewers yeast.....very allergic) we feel that we really don't need an allergy formula.
Hmmmm
Well this can be a touchy subject for some. I think every one has to make of their own mind about what is right for their own fur-kids based on their health, etc...
So now that my disclaimer is out of the way... :wink:
I feed my kids Wellness Core, low fat version. It's low-carb, no grain, low fat. I've had problems with foods that contain corn and pork products for my two, but for many others its not a problem.
PS
When Franky was going through Chemo he loved the Nature's variety raw.... they were the freeze dried medallions and they were only thing he would even think about eating and would keep down. I cannot get them in my area anymore & not keeping weight on is no longer an issue
Quote from: doxielady5569128 on September 10, 2008, 04:54:34 PM
We feed the Purina One for sensitive systems (Salmon and Rice). Its not the best quality, but unfortunately in our area, our choices are very limited. I'm probably going to switch Porky to a hollistic food trout and sweet potato soon. I have just been dreading the fact that we'll have to drive two hours to get it. :doah:
Mail order might be a good solution for you...if you can find it mail order.
As for myself I found a new source fir the Evo and Natures Variety. Now I only have to drive 15 miles one way to get what I want.
I also believe that rotating foods is important in my household. I've found that if I feed one thing for too long that Lucy will devolope skin problems...mostly in the form of skin yeast infections. I had this problem many moons ago with her. She had that yeast skin infection that just would not clear up. According to the vets treatment, I was giving baths every three days with a special shampoo...yada yada yada etc etc... Anyway, after months of treatment I took her to the vet and the dog handler there says "when's the last time you changed there food?" I changed foods and the skin problems went away.
Sorry, I'm still behind, recovering from moving over 150 engineers and support personnel from one building to another building at work. At least we can actually see outside!!!!
I feed Ozzy a combination of dry (Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice small bites), mixed with Dick Van Patton's Natural Balance Chicken and Beef.
Ozzy wolfs (pun intended) it down and I cannot be more pleased with his coat and eyes, not to mention his energy.
Conrad eats Solid Gold Hundenflocken. When he was younger, he ate Flint River Ranch. He did really great on it, but I found that ordering it was a pain in the rear.
Quote from: Clarese on September 11, 2008, 09:40:44 AM
Conrad eats Solid Gold Hundenflocken. When he was younger, he ate Flint River Ranch. He did really great on it, but I found that ordering it was a pain in the rear.
My sentiments exactly !!! I did the same thing and I am loving the fact that Petco now carries Solid Gold !!!
Are you all unpacked and settle in ?!?!?!?!?
Quote from: JetEd73 on September 11, 2008, 06:44:06 AM
Mail order might be a good solution for you...if you can find it mail order.
As for myself I found a new source fir the Evo and Natures Variety. Now I only have to drive 15 miles one way to get what I want.
I also believe that rotating foods is important in my household. I've found that if I feed one thing for too long that Lucy will devolope skin problems...mostly in the form of skin yeast infections. I had this problem many moons ago with her. She had that yeast skin infection that just would not clear up. According to the vets treatment, I was giving baths every three days with a special shampoo...yada yada yada etc etc... Anyway, after months of treatment I took her to the vet and the dog handler there says "when's the last time you changed there food?" I changed foods and the skin problems went away.
That's a great idea. I think I may have found the food we are looking for at a local pet shop!! :apls: I'm going to call them and double check that they have the right formula and then go pick it up. It will still be a 45 minute drive, but well worth it!! I am not a big fan of the purina. If they don't carry what we want we'll just start ordering his food online and having it shipped to us.
We change Porky's food frequently because our vet reccommended it for Porky's allergy problems. Thanks again for you great advice!!
Patches eats Premium Edge weight reduction dog food. Buddy was on Canidae ALS which they just changed their formula which has caused some dogs to get diarrhea which has me upset after reading www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/canidae so now trying to find a new food for Buddy maybe Patches too.Just do not understand a company like Canidae they have something good going then they ruin it by changing the formula.I get tried of reading labels all the time trying to find a good food that does not cost a fortune and is good for the dog too. I hang out at www.dogfoodanalysis.com allot looking at different dog foods.
papbouv
Barb,
Yup, I'm pretty much unpaced and settled. I have been so busy at work, though, that I have not had a chance to get my license and registration changed over. Hopefully, I'll be able to get those chores done next week. I love that we can get Solid Gold at PetCo, too! I was worried that I would have to switch him back to FRR when we moved.[
DFB and I keep talking about going to Canton, but we will be out of town during the next one, and I will be out of town during the one after that...
Clarese are you anywhere near the storm?
Hallie gets eagle pack holistic select canned (rotate between chicken and beef) mixed with chicken soup for the pet lovers soul senior (sob!) and a few unsalted canned green beans with cosequin. And then she gets some healthy dog treats, yogurt, organic baby carrots, broccoli, etc a little during the day (not a lot).
Quote from: Clarese on September 11, 2008, 07:07:19 PM
DFB and I keep talking about going to Canton, but we will be out of town during the next one, and I will be out of town during the one after that...
]
Canton? Canton, Texas?
First mondays? You mean the BIG BIG BIG flea market?
I used to live in Henderson Texas, been to the Canton flea market many times.
I feed Califonria Natural - have had no problems at all. Started on Natures Variety (kibble) - but they didn't seem to like it as much.
***I have a question for those that said they fed Natures Variety raw - do you mix it with kibble or anything else?? I was excited when I brought that home but Sofie ate it so fast that she threw it up right after (I assume that is why she threw up). This happened more than once. I tried to mix it with kibble but it kind of holds its shape and doesn't mix so well. I would love to continue it, but looking for suggestions.
~ Brooke
I've always feed my crew a variety of foods so I think as a result their stomachs aren't as sensitive as a dog that eats the same thing over and over.
Right now I'm feeding the Natures Variety Raw in two sittings. 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at dinner time, then I let them free graze the Evo Kibble.
Feed her smaller amounts until she gets used to it.
or maybe it's too cold for her, especially if all she's used to is kibble...or room temp canned food.
Your defrosting it before you feed the raw. Right?
Yes, I thaw a couple at a time in the fridge and them I let them sit out for about 30 minutes (covered still in bowl on container) so they aren't so cold prior to fedding her. I will thaw a couple more today and give them to her tomorrow and see how it goes.
Ha - I could never leave kibble out - Sofie would be a horse!! She is always starving (or so she thinks).
patties or medallions?
My crew either gets 3/4 of a patty...in two feedings
or
5 of the little medallions.
and it's entirely possible that she just cant stomach the raw diet. It's hard to determine, you'll have to be the judge.
Medallions. I only gave her 1.5 in the morning and 1.5 at night - with a tiny bit of kibble. She is only 10 pounds - well 11.7 now (she was od prednisone for a bit) so we are dieting. :crazyeyes:
poor thing sounds like her system is just a little sensitive.
my crew weigh 16-17 pounds, thus they get more food.
I've just started Molly and Schatzi on the Wellness Weight reduction formula (or less active formula-I looked at too many different descriptions to remember anymore). So far they love it. We were using the Natural Balance lower calorie formula, but Molly's skin got worse instead of better. I'm hoping Wellness will work for her. We are pretty certain hers is a food reaction. I would love to use Solid Gold Holistique, but they only have it in 40lb bags at our Petco and I'm not willing to buy that much and find out it isn't going to work. I may end up trying to find it in a smaller bag if the Wellness doesn't work for her. Luckily, Schatzi doesn't seem to have a problem with any food so I've been able to keep them on the same thing.
Evo is as close to raw as you can get so so they say the protein is very high which they say is ok for young adult dogs but may not be good for older dogs I may try it this winter not sure what I'm going to feed may try Wellness too.'Papbouv