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Originally Posted by LadyGemma  I am not an expert. But I have contacted pet nutritionists and they all agree the cheap brands are crap and full of fuller and that feeding that to your dog is like "feeding them McDonalds cereal every day (most say raw is best and I have looked at the ingredients of Primal and Stella & Chewy's are they are great)." They also say TONS of studies are paid for by the big, powerful corporations who have an interest in promoting their cheap filler food. Think about it, why would the government and scientists just be doing dog food studies? Where would the funding come from. It's the same with many vets who get samples and kick backs from the cheaper brands like Science Diet, etc. The good pet stores near me don't even stock stuff like that, only raw, and good brands like Weruva and Orijin, etc., and I really feel it's important to be a thoughtful consumer. Every one needs to do what they feel is best for their dog, but as a human nutritionist, I wouldn't feed my kids meat from Walmart or lots of processed stuff, I would feel them meat from Whole Foods and fresh fruits and veggies. Everyone is different though, lets learn from each other. I am so excited to get help and guidance from the knowledgeable people on this forum about my fur baby!  |
If you are a human nutritionist, I am sure you will agree that human and animal nutrition are not the same.
As for the pet nutritionists you spoke with, were they animal nutritionists? Vets who specialize in nutrition? I sort of doubt it.
My vet does not make a living off of Hill's Science Diet, nor has she EVER suggested any dog food for any of my pups or pups I foster UNLESS they had medical conditions in which case they had special nutritional needs. And, then I feed Hills, Purina or Royal Canin.
Hill's Science Diet is not a cheap dog food. I feed my pups who are not on RX food, Hill's Ideal Balance. I find it offensive how many people trash a company that does so much to make sure their foods are safe for our pets.
As for the pet stores you shop at...sure there are lots of pet stores selling "holistic" foods because that is where the money is now. People have been bombarded with super slick marketing regarding dog foods and ingredients. Many of these companies spend more on marketing than animal nutrition experts and/or feeding trials for good quality control. Many of them have problems with their packaging and that has led to many recalls due to salmonella.
Welcome to YT. Yes, we can all learn from each other. To me, the first step in learning is to be aware of the fact that each person has his/her own opinions and preferences as to what to feed the pets he/she cares about.