Quote:
Originally Posted by ajcstr  OK, just a couple things
First, you can probably argue how much protein should be in dog food till the cows come home and never get an agreement, even among experts so all the research in the world won't give you a definitive answer.
Second, Natural Balance is a quality product and you the jump from Hills to Natural Balance is definitely a move in the right direction.
But .... Though I'm sure its fine for all dogs, I aways thought the LID formulas were for dogs with allergies hence the limited ingredients. Also, as the name of the product implies the main ingredient is potato, not duck. If you want to go with Natural Balance, consider the Ultra Premium formula which has a little more protein, from several sources, and also comes in a small bites form. (though I just reread what you said about the cat getting into the food so that may be enough to sway you).
I know I go CRAZY figuring out what to feed. I think there is a lot of crap out there and as long as you stay clear of that I really think the differences between one quality brand and another are probably small. One additional thing I do is rotate a couple different foods because I have read that it reduces the risk of the dog becoming allergic to a particular protein. What I am saying is you don't have to settle on ONE food.
Finally, I always thought puppies needed more protein to support growth but there are a lot of "all life stages" food out there so who knows. |
I know the protein argument really has no right answer, but being a new mama I'd rather stick to the resource I'm following if I am able (e.g. Yorkshire Terriers for Dummies).
Maybe once I'm a little more experienced I'd feel more comfortable diverting from the protein guidelines.
I was looking at the L.I.D. because it is grain free and that's a huge deal for me. Even BB isn't grain free. Also, as I mentioned, I don't want my cat getting into anything she's allergic to by accident. In addition, I'm more comfortable staying within the recommended protein ranges as per my book (whether it actually means anything or not), so I'm not looking to raise the protein levels. The premium formula is within protein levels, but it is not grain free. I figure I can supplement with treats or wet food if my pup needs more protein correct?
Has anyone feeding their puppy the Natural Balance L.I.D. experience problems with protein levels being too low? I know it meets adult yorkie requirements, but puppies need slightly more.
BanditSocks2: "Maybe you could consider California Natural? It's also limited ingredient and I believe has more meat."
I will have to look into this brand. I have not considered it. If it is L.I.D. I will certainly check it out. I am slightly concerned about the NB protein being too low for a puppy.