YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community


Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member!

Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us.

Go Back   YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community > YorkieTalk > Yorkie Health & Diet
Register Blogs FAQ Calendar JavaChat Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 05-19-2011, 06:59 PM   #1
Senior Yorkie Talker
 
Lucyana1129's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 231
Blog Entries: 2
Angry Help! Iams?

I'm having some serious issues with food lately. Right now I'm living with. My family while my husband is deployed. We should b going home soon but in the mean time I am at a loss as to what to do. When we got here (November) he was eating Solid Gold. He was doing fine. My family feeds their dogs purina. And there are cats in the house (yea...its been a little crazy here). All of a sudden he has decided he wants anything but what I try to give to him. I tried Wellness, Natural Choice. He simply walks away. He won't eat. As soon as the other dogs get fed he sneaks in and eats their food or the cat food. I try my best to prevent it but he does it almost every time. And if he doeesnt get their food, he won't eat. He has lost weight with me trying to get him to eat the food I got him. The easiest solution is to buy everyone Solid Gold. But these are big dogs and my family doesn't measure out the food. They just dump it in a big bowl. So it would be very expensive. I went out and bought Iams bc I figured it has to b better than purina and he needs to eat something. Well, he ate it but I've read nothing good about it. I don't know what to do. My other dog (a doxie) has gained so much weight being here and Bentley has lost some. Should I just feed everyone Iams on the basis that its better than purina or kibbles and bits? Then when we get home switch back to Solid Gold? Will all this switching hurt him? I just don't know what to do. I bought Iams Small Bites. Obviously not good for the bigger dogs but my family doesn't care like I do. Which also really annoys me. Needless to say, being here, having a baby, and dealing with all this has been rough. Next deployment I think id rather just stay home and deal with being alone. Can't wait for my hubby to be home. Anyways. That's a whole other story. Sorry this is so long. I'm just worried and confused. I want the best for my furbaby and I know Iams isn't really the best but its better than purina right? What should I do? Thanks in advance.
Lucyana1129 is offline   Reply With Quote
Welcome Guest!
Not Registered?

Join today and remove this ad!

Old 05-19-2011, 07:02 PM   #2
I ♥ Armani & Chloe
Donating Member
 
ArmaniMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 3,895
Default

Iams and Purina are really on the same level- neither one is better or worse.
__________________

Armani & Chloe
ArmaniMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2011, 07:11 PM   #3
And Rylee Finnegan
Donating Member
 
Ellie May's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
Default

I'd sooner feed my pup Iams than Purina. That said, as long as the Yrkie is doing well on whatever your family puts down (as long as it's not super high fat or whatever), then I'd just let it go. It's not worth the stress. I'd be much more concerned about making sure the doxie doesn't continue to overeat.

Yes, in a perfect world you would feed a better food (to all the dogs). But the expense is unrealistic with larger dogs around and you can't make them schedule feed (to take the temptation away from your Yorkie), so I'd just let it go as long as the Yorkie isn't bloating on it or anything. But yes, I'd sooner buy Iams if possible. Although if you are now in that price range, then I'd look at Sccience Diet Nature's Best. The thing is, once you get to Iams and SD, the "holistic" food isn't much more expensive.
__________________
Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶
Ellie May is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2011, 07:15 PM   #4
Owned by 3 furballs
Donating Member
 
JESSY_RN2B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 6,581
Default

Yorkies are like human kids. We try our darnest to feed em well and as soon as they try junk elsewhere they scarf it up. Haha
__________________
JESSY_RN2B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2011, 09:49 PM   #5
Senior Yorkie Talker
 
Lucyana1129's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 231
Blog Entries: 2
Default

It really is a lot of stress bc the big dogs are just in no way treated like mine are. My family thinks I'm crazy when I tell them that there's a huge difference in foods. I guess its only obvious to me looking at their dogs that have dull coats, hip problems, weight problems, and dental problems. They must think that's the norm. As for my doxie, I try and try to keep him away from it. At home he must b on a schedule bc whatever is put down, he will eat. I have just been trying to take him on more walks. I'm doing my best here but I hate feeling like I'm failing miserably. They are like my kids. Just like with my babies I hate the thought of failing them or thinking I could try harder. I keep telling myself only a few more months. My doxie has gained a good 10 pounds which is crazy. I worry so much about his back bc he's an older guy. Ill look into other foods that are a little more but with those big dogs not on any feeding schedule its tough. I've told them over and over not to free feed them. Of course I've told them over and over not to feed them from only one bowl too bc that seems dangerous. I do what I can but they always go back to what they have always done bc its easier. Ill look at Science Diet. Thanks guys. So grateful to have people that understand my concerns.
Lucyana1129 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 05:51 AM   #6
Yorkie Talker
 
terrilynncs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Albuquerque, NM USA
Posts: 16
Default

Is there anyway you could just start to feed the big dogs on a schedule too? and as someone already pointed out.... there really isn't a huge price difference between Iams and Solid Gold, if you could give meals out instead of just a big bowl of food, I bet the SG would end up cheaper and the dogs would look so much better! I work at a doggie daycare/boarding and it's amazing to me how people will not only spend a ton of $$ purchasing a dog, spend $$ for it to go to daily day care but then turn around and feed the dog the worst food on the market! Good luck with everything..... I hope things get better.
__________________
Terrilynn & Bella
terrilynncs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 06:15 AM   #7
I ♥ Armani & Chloe
Donating Member
 
ArmaniMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 3,895
Default

Maybe you need to start confining your dogs to your room- I would be really concerned about an elderly doxie gaining ten pounds.
__________________

Armani & Chloe
ArmaniMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 06:16 AM   #8
YorkieTalk Newbie!
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Charlottesville, VA, USA
Posts: 5
Default

You are so right about the difference a quality food makes in a dog's health and general well-being. Feeding dogs the cheapest food is the equivalent of us eating spaghetti-os everyday - you miss out on essential nutrients.

We feed our mini schnauzer Sammy Snacks. It's a local company in VA, made here. We were really sold on the product when we saw a visible change in our schnauzer's coat, appearance and energy. He just looked so much better - so we switched from the food the breeder gave us (Purina Pro Plan). A large (33lb) bag is about $45. I looked online and found that Iams was selling for about $33 for a large bag. It's totally worth $12 - but I know your family not agree with that.

I suggest trying Sammy Snacks - if it doesn't fly at home, then I agree with others to just make due...and return the dog back to quality food when you get home.

Here is the website for Sammy Snacks. They sell online but have started selling in shops around the country!

Sammy Snacks | Home
yorkietg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 06:18 AM   #9
YT 500 Club Member
 
AlicetheYorkie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 889
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by terrilynncs View Post
Is there anyway you could just start to feed the big dogs on a schedule too? and as someone already pointed out.... there really isn't a huge price difference between Iams and Solid Gold, if you could give meals out instead of just a big bowl of food, I bet the SG would end up cheaper and the dogs would look so much better! I work at a doggie daycare/boarding and it's amazing to me how people will not only spend a ton of $$ purchasing a dog, spend $$ for it to go to daily day care but then turn around and feed the dog the worst food on the market! Good luck with everything..... I hope things get better.
Maybe you can convince your family that it would save them money using a better food but using a schedual and the dogs would need less of that food than they do on the Purina (as long as they weren't free fed anymore, this is true if you work out the numbers for cost per day, especially if it's a more overpriced crappy brand like purina or iams). Sometimes people don't realize that and the cost factor might be enough to change their minds. I know people can be very stuborn with things like this, but would they reconsider if you offered to be the one in charge of feeding all the dogs, including theirs? Maybe if they agreed to that, they'd see the difference in their dogs' within the few months you're there and be convinvced in the long run (killing two birds with on stone)
As Ellie Mae said, I wouldn't stress too bad about your Yorkie eating the Iams or Purina for a while, the hard part might be getting back to something holistic (those other food have additives to make it palatable and that can almost literaly be addicting to the dog taste wise - which is probably why she won't eat the regular food for you) BUT, since your Doxi has gained alot of weight, that would honestly concern me more than anything else.
If I absolutely had no choice but to choose between Iams and Purina, I'd choose Iams, but only by a very small margin. If you get into using Science Diet - that's honestly going to cost the same as something holistic, so I wouldn't even bother there. I've used (until just recently) a holistic brand called Verus that tends to run a little less than some other high quality brands. It's not super easy to find though.
__________________
Jenn, mom to: Dayton , Alice ,Darla, Miya , Summer & Chooch
AlicetheYorkie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 11:27 AM   #10
Senior Yorkie Talker
 
Lucyana1129's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 231
Blog Entries: 2
Default

I tried taking over the feeding schedules for everyone. My family thinks their dogs aren't getting enough and feed them more when I'm not looking. Honestly, its ridiculous and has been the cause of quite a few of our arguements. I tried confining mine while the others ate but that turned into a huge argument bc my family said it wasn't fair that I lock theirs in the kitchen while they eat. So stupid. I'm taking my doxie to the vet to discuss what we can do but I know it will involve a new food and scheduled feedings. Since yesterday after giving it some more thought and hearing ur opinions I really would just like to keep them on Solid Gold. I guess I will just need to hover over them these last couple months to make sure they aren't eating the other' food. The others aren't mine and trying to reason with my family seems like a losing battle.
Lucyana1129 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 02:32 PM   #11
YT 500 Club Member
 
Marilize's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Cape town, South Africa
Posts: 703
Default

I really feel for you! I've been trying to convince my dad to stop free-feeding junk to his staffies, but he doesn't see the difference between Montego Classic (supermarket brand) and Orijen. Every time we visit, I have to keep my dogs away from their food bowl.

Where is the big bowl of dog food kept at your parents' house? My suggestion would be to find a way to cut your dogs off from any access to the food. That way, you won't have to stand watch all the time and they'll eat their food when they get hungry enough.

Sorry I don't have better advice. I haven't had any luck with my parents, but luckily I did manage to convert my sister to a holistic diet for her elderly lab. I think that it's really difficult to try and convince them of something they don't even think about, so don't waste your energy. Good luck!
__________________
Cash & Orio RIP Beautiful Joni
Marilize is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 03:12 PM   #12
Senior Yorkie Talker
 
Lucyana1129's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 231
Blog Entries: 2
Default

I'm pretty excited right now. I put the Iams down for everyone then decided that it is ridiculous. So I picked it up and made a big to do about preparing my pups' food. I added some warm water and let them smell it while I put their fish oil in and let it cool a bit. By the time I put it down they were so excited. They ate all of it. Both were measured the right amount and after eating they are too full to think about going to eat the Iams that's down for the others. I'm sure its not great for them to have it warmed and a little soft but the nutrition is better. I used to feed them Natural Choice. To my knowlledge its not the best but its pretty good. Well, I had some left and decided id try it again bc they seem to really dislike the Solid Gold and the bites r too big for Bentley. I hope u all agree its a decent food. Id like some opinionson what u all think. I know for sure its better than Iams.
Lucyana1129 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 05:58 PM   #13
YT 3000 Club Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: washington
Posts: 3,383
Blog Entries: 1
Default

Chester is on the new sundancer fron solid gold, it is their first chicken based food and he is doing great on it, it is 30% protein and is grain free and some say 1 grain, I pay 12.00 for a 4 lb bag at a pet store and at pet smart the same yucky iams is about the same price, chester has done very well on their wee bit as well bison as a protein source, solid gold is good food
chestermama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 06:00 PM   #14
YT 3000 Club Member
 
mscat's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hanford, CA
Posts: 4,895
Default

That must be difficult to live with family members that do not share the same beliefs as you do when it comes to feeding their pets. Sounds like their are a lot od animals too. For the cats, it is easy to just place their food up high . I am wondering if you are the one who get stuck providing food for all the animals? If you only have 2 small dogs then I woukd try and feed them separate from the rest. If that means putting them in the bedroom to feed on a schedule then that is what i would do. I would go back to what I was feeding, the solid gold , for your 2. I would be extremely worried about the doxie gaining 10 pounds. They have little legs and I have heard the breed can suffer from spine and back problems. I free feed my girls , but I do not have to worry about other animals in the home either. With your situation it would be best to feed on a schedule in your room . Your doxie probably needs to be on a special diet , to lose weight.
__________________
"No matter how little money & how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich."
mscat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2011, 06:07 PM   #15
I ♥ Armani & Chloe
Donating Member
 
ArmaniMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 3,895
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucyana1129 View Post
I'm pretty excited right now. I put the Iams down for everyone then decided that it is ridiculous. So I picked it up and made a big to do about preparing my pups' food. I added some warm water and let them smell it while I put their fish oil in and let it cool a bit. By the time I put it down they were so excited. They ate all of it. Both were measured the right amount and after eating they are too full to think about going to eat the Iams that's down for the others. I'm sure its not great for them to have it warmed and a little soft but the nutrition is better. I used to feed them Natural Choice. To my knowlledge its not the best but its pretty good. Well, I had some left and decided id try it again bc they seem to really dislike the Solid Gold and the bites r too big for Bentley. I hope u all agree its a decent food. Id like some opinionson what u all think. I know for sure its better than Iams.
At this point I wouldn't be as concerned about what they are eating, as how much they are eating- if you can find a way to limit the intake of your doxie and get him to lose weight- that is the best thing.
__________________

Armani & Chloe
ArmaniMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks



Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




Google
 

SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:39 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 970 971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 999 1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 1029 1030 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039 1040 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167