You don't think a 19 year old chihuahua is old??:rolleyes: You think because you feed an expensive food that your dog will live to be older than mine? Believe me, just by feeding your dog more expensive food doesn't mean it's going to live longer

There are many ways in which to comply with AAFCO guidelines. In many cases, dog food manufacturers simply throw in a bunch of vitamins and minerals to meet the standards. This doesn't mean that they're making a quality food. In many cases, the added vitamins and minerals are the ONLY thing that qualifies the food as being 'nutritious'. The rest of the food is mostly filler and poor quality protein. Even some 'better' brands rely on too many added vitamins and minerals to meet the requirements. Adding vitamins and minerals is an admission that the food ingredients do not measure up to meeting the requirements. Saying that any food that meets AAFCO requirements is just as good as any other is ridiculous. With that logic, we could all just eat cardboard and take a bunch of vitamins to get our nutritional requirements. The Dog Food Project is a good source in determining ingredients to look for and which ones to avoid in making dog food choices. My own opinion as to why dogs don't live longer in spite of getting a better diet is that the typical modern dog is being over-vaccinated and being bombarded monthly with flea and heartworm preventatives. It is a constant toxic attack on the dog's whole system that contributes to premature organ failure and cancers.

Hummm, have you ever looked at the more expensive purina brands? They don't all have corn as their first ingredient.

yeah, i think the brand name pet foods are ridiculous. i bought jackson this semi-expensive stuff, have tried 3 different "brand name" brands of foods, and he hates them all. he prefers to eat my other dogs food which is just regular purina or kibbles and bits or something of the sort. all my previous dogs lived long and healthy lives and never ate all high quality food.

Thank you for this post! I couldn't agree more!

Yes, I figured there was some consultation with a veterinarian. Unfortunately, not all vets are educated/researched in animal nutrition. ALL dog food is REQUIRED to meet AAFCO standards. All that means is it has the required vitamins and minerals... it has NOTHING to do with quality control or the actual ingredients. I should make this clear- all dog food that is "complete nutrition" is required to meet AAFCO standards.

Umm, I never said that my dogs would live longer than yours because I feed expensive food. I hope you realize that there are thousands of genetic, environmental and just plain ole' luck factors that have to do with the longevity of an animal. It is absurd, however, to make such a generalized statement that feeding cheap food = a long life. That would be as absurd as saying expensive food = long life. I do have a choice to leave out the crap that my dogs don't need- such as fillers, by-products and cancer causing agents and preservatives, and damn right I'm going to make that choice in the best interest of my boys.

Just because it's the second or third ingredient doesn't make it any better....

I've been around my area now for over 25 years, Purina has it's "Protein Technology" plant here - I've seen (and smelled) what goes in their dog food. But you go right ahead and feed it, and good luck!

My parents had a Pom when I grew up. They fed her Alpo from a can. The dog lived a 12-15 yrs. That food is disgusting. It even smells bad. I know it is a low quality food, and has all the worst ingredients. Even though the dog lived to a rightful old age does not mean it was the healthiest, or in the best shape she could of been.

I do believe that this entire thread was started to create a stir in people. :eek:

I don't care if corn is the LAST ingredient on the list. I won't feed it or any food with grains.

I agree with you!

I just went to purinas site and printed of coupons for $3 off the purina pro plan, maybe you can find one on there for your dogs food.

"You are what you eat" is not only for people. I've seen it first hand with my baby. I now feed raw but when I switched her from a garbage kibble she was on when I got her to Evo the change in her was dramatic. She had much more energy, her coat grew well and had a tremendous shine, and her poop was much less. I don't know about living longer but I know she felt a whole lot better!

I'll continue to waste my money.

Sorry girls, NO, it was not started to start a stir, I did that stuff back when I was in my teenage years..:confused: I saw it on t.v and there are new people that come on here, they say they are feeding purina or pedigree, and everyone jumps all over them saying, that's not good food, etc etc. I have had dogs 50 years, until I came in to yt, I had my dogs on what a lot of you call"crap" food. All I'm saying, is everyone needs to start feeding what they want, as long as it's working for them, and STOP telling people what too and what not too feed. I have probably had more dogs in my life than most people(right now, between my siblings and mom and myself) that makes 5 of us), we have 22 dogs. Had dogs all my life(healthy ones), and I think everyone is making too much out of this, what should we feed crap. To each his own. Remember the recalls? I never once saw purina on there.

And, that is your decision. All 6 of my dogs are healthy, they sure don't eat EVO..:confused: And they all have a lot of energy and play, even the 11 year old. And, they all have great coats.

Thought you said A vet told you ? :confused: You know this whole topic is one that most YT'ers feel very strongly about.... Most of us want to feed the best, highest quality foods that we can to our Yorkie's. They are like children to us, more then just a "dog" So why start a thread where people are going to get upset about, and want to argue?
It is up to us, and we will continue to feed our yorkies the best foods possible. If you want to feed your dogs Purina foods then go for it. Just don't think that the rest of us are going to feel like it is a great , nutritious food.
This is going to start a stir because we love our Yorkie's so much and want the best for them. Can you see that from my perspective? ;)