I know, this topic is probably so done, but I need to share. :nana:
I was feeding Brandee, our Golden, who is nearly 9-years-old, Sensible Choice her entire LIFE. The manufacturer (I was told) was to discontinue it, so I decided since I was needing to change Cali to dog food and get her off the puppy food (Sensible Choice, as well) that I would just do it now. I decided to go with Natural Balance Ultra Premium. It came highly recommended and I've read a lot of really good things about it! The bonus is...they BOTH can eat it-and it's less expensive! Have my dreams come true? I was looking for a comparable food to Sensible Choice (at least 4 stars) and I just looked up Natural Balance Ultra Premium on the dog food analysis site and it is 4 star.
NOW-the problem is....Cali is such a snot :exactly: that when I mix in the new food...she will pick out the old food & leave it on the floor! :rolleyes: I'm glad she loves the new food (she was never fond of the SC anyway) but man, she's gonna get a tummy ache (hasn't yet after 2 feedings). SC seems to have produced uber-firm stools in Cali :eeew: so maybe this change will be better than hoped for. I just love :heart: the puppy to adult feeding that this new food has to offer!
I'd like to hear others who have used/tried or are currently using Natural Balance Ultra Premium. Thanks! :thumb:
ADD: I was just 'surfing' the dog food analysis website and found some of the most highly talkied about foods, such as: Eukanuba, Iams, Pro Pac & Pro Plan! Huh? Should we really be confused now? OR-is it just specific types (small breed, light, etc.)? I don't think it's the entire brand/line...but WOW-when I saw the VERY foods that VETRINARIANS put SICK/ILL pets on (Science Diet types) makes me so sick! If MY vet would say "Well, she has this problem, feed her _______ by Science Diet", I'd find something better. OK-steppin down... :soapbox:
Every dog is different if you find something that works for that dog and you like it its available and the price is right I say go for it.I still think Science Diet since so many vets carry it they must get somekind of kick back from selling it. Maybe the Science Diet Speciality foods are OK short term but some of the ingredients are really something I would not want my dog to eat.Some dogs eat Old Roy from Walmart all their lives and then live to a fairly old age so its a crap shoot to know what to buy their are so many foods out there mind boggling.Just read the ingredients do the best you can and hope for the best.Even that Rachael Ray is into dog foods suppose to be such a great food duh has soy bean meal in it allot of dogs are allergic to soybeans?
Papbouv
I swear by Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Adult Light Formula.Fed many others but this is the one I've settled on.
That's a mouth full(no pun intended).Price is right,both dogs love it and they are of a healthy weight.Both are regular but not "too" regular if you get my meaning.
I'm convinced that the formula is
quality food + food rotation = healthy dog
I'll buy 2-3 different foods and feed em on a rotating basis. I think it helps keep them from developing allergies. I know for a fact that if I feed Ms. Lucy the same food for too long she developes skin problems usually in the form of skin yeast infections. Because they are used to getting a variety of different foods they don't get sick when they get one food one day and another food the next. Inotherwords....I don't have to mix foods.
I agree with Papbouv that every dog is different and it is trial and error. I also agree with JetEd that rotation is good. I don't change brands so much as I change meat ingredients (beef to chicken etc). I also feed Chicken Soup, I feed the senior kibble(sob! Senior...already!!!) when I was doing my search, I went with the best ingredients I could find with the least amount of calories. I mix the kibble with Eagle Pack Holistic Select canned (a high quality canned can be even better than kibble) and also canned no salt green beans to help fill her tummy up without too many calories.
Cali isn't being a snot LOL. She is just doing what many dogs typically do when being fed a new food. They do get tired of eating the same thing day after day just like we would (but they can't understand it's good for them in their case) so when they are offered something new and different, they will often go for that first. It may not necessarily mean she likes it better then her usual food, it could be that if you didn't feed her her old food for several weeks then offered it again instead of her new food, she may go for the old again because it is a change of pace. Regardless, one dog can do poorly on a food and another can do great on the same food so you just need to test it out and see how she does. Choosing a dog food can be a complicated task!