Interesting- Dog Food

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

Well, Ann, as you know, we are what we eat. Also, when you take into account that a puppy's organs aren't fully developed until about 20 weeks of age the need for a quality food becomes vital. I do think most breeders here recognize that and make sure their pups get off to a good start. On a side note, my brother has a Rhodesian Ridgeback that he's been fighting a constant battle with over allergies. He's spent soooo much at vet over it with no results. I got him to switch over to the dry food I'm using but still she was breaking out. I then found out that the canned food he was feeding her was the chunky kind, with the gravy. I told him to try the loaf style of the same brand and now she's fine...no breakouts for a good while. Turns out the chunky style used wheat gluten for the gravy. So many brands use this in their chunky formulas and it should be avoided. Just a little FYI for those that feed canned.....Jim

I agree!!

Wheat can be so tough on these guys. I think Marcel has issues w/ wheat too. Good detective work on that gravy.

[phfgkl]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Oh, I was waiting to learn what was bad about the ingredients listed, I think I missed a few replies. Sorry.

Nancy, the one I had thought about getting before I got the solid gold was the pro plan with the salmon, and I didn't see anything bad in it, was wondering what everyone else thought of the ingredients in it, so you were kind of right.. There were a lot of different pro plan ones, and I went through the ingredients in all of them(on the website) and the one with salmon really didn't look as bad as the rest of them

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by phfgkl

Nancy, the one I had thought about getting before I got the solid gold was the pro plan with the salmon, and I didn't see anything bad in it, was wondering what everyone else thought of the ingredients in it, so you were kind of right.. There were a lot of different pro plan ones, and I went through the ingredients in all of them(on the website) and the one with salmon really didn't look as bad as the rest of them

Lol, I'm often "kind of right." Well, I'm glad you found one you think is healthy, and I hope they enjoy it!

[Keely_momma]

Well, I dont mind speanding a few extra bucks on dog food every month for my dog to be as healthy as possible

Corn is cheap, It is 1 of the main cause of allergies in dogs regarding pet foods. Corn is a filler.


Because dogs are mainly Carnivorous creatures, and would live healthier with a just meat diet. I choose not to feed my dog mainly corn. Or meat Bi products. I have yet to see a dog or cat in a corn feild hunting a ear of corn When my uncles dog was eating ol' roy dog food, she would have to eat 10 cups of ol'roy to get the nutrients she now gets in 3 cups of wellness. Commercial brand dog foods, such as purina and the dreaded pedigree are the same thing.

To anybody that has had a vet tell them that pedigree or any other crap foods are just as good, I hope you realize that vets no diddly squat when it comes to nutrition. They learn close to nothing about it in school. And I have heard many vets admit to that.

[jem033]

lol, i DOnt have my puppy yet, but just went on purinas web page (not telling ppl what to do as im quite a newbi when it comes to Yorkie, but because its a nestle company, i boycott them anyways lol, wont have to worry about my pup getting this stuff

[browniesmom622]

Originally Posted by phfgkl

Okay, just got back from the pet store a bit ago. I looked through all the bags of food that I was interested in(I had down to look at canidae, innova, solid gold, wellness and one other. anyway, I looked at the innova evo, and decided against that, it had way too much protein in it 40%, which I know is not good for their liver, so did decide on the solid gold weebits or something like that. It has no fillers, no grain, wheat or soy, and looked like a great food. The canidae she said, since they changed their formula, isn't as good anymore. She said they have lost a lot of repeat buyers in there that were buying the canidae. So, hopefully this one will be good for them. The nice thing is that it is small bites, so, the little ones can eat it better. I had done a check on the pro plan with the salmon, and the ingredients didn't look bad at all in that one, but, hubby said get one and stay on it.

Just curious what made you change your mind ??

[tumismom]

Originally Posted by phfgkl

I know you can't get this at the grocery store or at walmart, I'm not sure about pet smart, I'm hoping my pet store in town has it..Like I said, I have 6 dogs, I can't (with the economy like it is) be spending more on my dogs food, than mine and my hubbys, if anything happens to me, these dogs would all have to be looking for new homes, as my husband travels. So, I want to find something they do well on for less money, I'm not single, Like a lot of the girls on here, I have someone besides myself and my dogs

I just have to say that I do have someone beside myself and I am not single. I do have a husband who travel also. But I just have to say even in this tough economic times, I cannot cut back on cost when it comes to my kiddos diet and nutrition. I pay attention to everything that goes in their mouth. I have to say my girls are very healthy and they don't have to go to vet unless it's time for the annual shots. My hubby feels the same and he doesn't want anything less than the best for the girls. he loves his girls with all his heart and I know he will be very unhappy if i cut the cost on the food. we would instead cut back on other stuff that we spend on them such as clothes or toys or other unneccesary items.

[AVERYxo]

Originally Posted by phfgkl

It wasn't, it was a vet. You just need to make sure it says AAFCO on the dog food bag.

nutrtition is NOT focused on as well as it should be, while vets are in school.. also some vets are paid to represent/sell certain foods, etc.
while you always want to take your vets advice into MUCH consdieration.. food is NOT one thing i would buy from just any vet.. if a vet says your dog needs a special food.. i would take the "special things" needed, do my research and get my food elsewhere! this is just my opinion, though!

Originally Posted by amandawash

Are you kidding me? So just because some reporter repeats something they were told makes it the truth? Wow. That's the problem with things these days, people hear something and just do/believe it. No one goes out of their way anymore to research and make their own educated decisions.
You can go ahead and feed corn, poultry by-products and animal digest to your dogs but I think it is a shame to promote that. I will continue wasting my money. My dogs are small enough that I feel the need to be proactive with their health and do everything I can to keep them nurished and healthy.

this was also on our local news.. they interviewed one vet, and i was cringing the WHOLE time!! they also did say... if you see dog food on sale at your grocery store and the price seems to good to be true, it probably is! (that was one of the only things i agreed with! )

[AVERYxo]

Originally Posted by tumismom

IMO, It makes me feel better that my kids are on the best possible diet. therefore, I give them NV raw and also Homecook meal planned by a nutrionist. Yes, it cost more than premium kibbles or even MORE than garbage kibbles they sell in grocery stores and etc. I would give them premium kibbles if I run out of raw or homecook but never the garbage ones they sell at the grocery stores even if they say the are approved by AAFCO. I made a commitment when I got my kiddos that I would give them the best and it is part of my responsibility to make sure they get it.

Originally Posted by tumismom

I just have to say that I do have someone beside myself and I am not single. I do have a husband who travel also. But I just have to say even in this tough economic times, I cannot cut back on cost when it comes to my kiddos diet and nutrition. I pay attention to everything that goes in their mouth. I have to say my girls are very healthy and they don't have to go to vet unless it's time for the annual shots. My hubby feels the same and he doesn't want anything less than the best for the girls. he loves his girls with all his heart and I know he will be very unhappy if i cut the cost on the food. we would instead cut back on other stuff that we spend on them such as clothes or toys or other unneccesary items.

[AVERYxo]

Originally Posted by stedmansmommy

I'm not trying to sound rude but it's probably going to come off that way (I don't mean it to, I swear). But if you can't see the nutritional differences by reading the ingredient list on a bag of Purina or Pedigree versus a bag of EVO, Nature's Variety or Natural Balance (or whatever) well - then I just don't know There really IS a difference. It's right there in the list of ingredients on the back of the bags of food printed as clear as day.

It sounds to me that the issue here, with you, is not so much that you don't want to feed your babies something that is good for them, because I for one believe that you DO - but maybe it's the PRICE. It sounds like perhaps you can quite afford the higher quality brands out there because, yes, SOME of them do have a higher price tag. That being said, maybe you are trying to convince yourself, and us, that the cheaper foods are "just as good" and are "ok" to feed because of this very reason. The thing is, most people here know that there IS a difference in the quality of different brands of dog foods, so they (we) are firm in this knowledge and feel very strongly about it.

No matter what we disagree on though, you do have alot of dogs (I myself have 4, plus our cat) and I do have to say that at least you are FEEDING your babies. So many dogs out there are neglected and don't get ANY food AT ALL. However, to actually "recommend" the lower quality foods I just simply don't agree with. BUT - we all have our opinions

[no3yshhc0la]

I just got done reading this whole post. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE this site. I've learned so much on here, but the thing that really aggravates me if that people think they know everything. The OP posted something that he thought was interesting that he heard on the news. There's absolutely nothing wrong with people feeding their dogs pedigree or purina. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I don't it's right at all to go pointing fingers at people saying "why would you wanna feed your dog something with corn & byproducts in it?" everyone is different and to be perfectly honest, i do know of people that have had their dogs live long healthy lives being on those foods.

I myself chose to buy a more expensive food. I don't have to, but I chose to because it's what the breeder originally had her on, but just seeing how some people on here argue like that is wrong. People are entitled to their own opinions and shouldn't be knocked for what they're feeding their dog or what kind of decisions they make for their dog. It's things like this that make me not want to be on this site anymore.

[carmengamble]

Originally Posted by no3yshhc0la

I just got done reading this whole post. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE this site. I've learned so much on here, but the thing that really aggravates me if that people think they know everything. The OP posted something that he thought was interesting that he heard on the news. There's absolutely nothing wrong with people feeding their dogs pedigree or purina. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I don't it's right at all to go pointing fingers at people saying "why would you wanna feed your dog something with corn & byproducts in it?" everyone is different and to be perfectly honest, i do know of people that have had their dogs live long healthy lives being on those foods.

I myself chose to buy a more expensive food. I don't have to, but I chose to because it's what the breeder originally had her on, but just seeing how some people on here argue like that is wrong. People are entitled to their own opinions and shouldn't be knocked for what they're feeding their dog or what kind of decisions they make for their dog. It's things like this that make me not want to be on this site anymore.

I understand where you are coming from, sometimes I feel as if some people are "know-it-all's" on here as well. A lot of people just feel so passionately on the topic that it may come off as rude. I'm sure they really don't mean it to be rude, they are just looking out for the dog's best interests.

[phfgkl]

Originally Posted by tumismom

I just have to say that I do have someone beside myself and I am not single. I do have a husband who travel also. But I just have to say even in this tough economic times, I cannot cut back on cost when it comes to my kiddos diet and nutrition. I pay attention to everything that goes in their mouth. I have to say my girls are very healthy and they don't have to go to vet unless it's time for the annual shots. My hubby feels the same and he doesn't want anything less than the best for the girls. he loves his girls with all his heart and I know he will be very unhappy if i cut the cost on the food. we would instead cut back on other stuff that we spend on them such as clothes or toys or other unneccesary items.

You have to remember, I have 6 dogs, and 2 of them are big, they eat 4 cups of food apiece a day. If I only had little ones, the cost wouldn't be a problem, or if I only had 2

[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by phfgkl

You have to remember, I have 6 dogs, and 2 of them are big, they eat 4 cups of food apiece a day. If I only had little ones, the cost wouldn't be a problem, or if I only had 2

i am curious to find out among all the foods that YTers recommend, which brand is the lowest price!

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by no3yshhc0la

I just got done reading this whole post. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE this site. I've learned so much on here, but the thing that really aggravates me if that people think they know everything. The OP posted something that he thought was interesting that he heard on the news. There's absolutely nothing wrong with people feeding their dogs pedigree or purina. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I don't it's right at all to go pointing fingers at people saying "why would you wanna feed your dog something with corn & byproducts in it?" everyone is different and to be perfectly honest, i do know of people that have had their dogs live long healthy lives being on those foods.

I myself chose to buy a more expensive food. I don't have to, but I chose to because it's what the breeder originally had her on, but just seeing how some people on here argue like that is wrong. People are entitled to their own opinions and shouldn't be knocked for what they're feeding their dog or what kind of decisions they make for their dog. It's things like this that make me not want to be on this site anymore.

I am so sorry you feel that way I myself am not AT ALL intentionally trying to sound like a "know it all" - cause TRUST ME, I'm in no way shape or form a know it all. Actually, to tell ya the truth, I probably don't even know the half of it! LOL..

BUT, I think the reason this thread was so full of opinions is because the OP said (in the beginning) that the cheap grocery store brand dog foods were just as good as the higher end dog foods - and they're just not. Plain and simple. HOWEVER....You are absolutely 100% CORRECT when you say that we as pet owners can feed WHATEVER we want to our pets...we most certainly can. There is no law telling us what we can and cannot feed our pets - that is a decision that is up to us and us alone. I think it was just frustrating for people to "hear" someone say that Purina or Pedigree or whatever, was "just as good" as the higher quality foods that those of us are feeding our babies, and that we are just waisting our money buying those higher quality foods.

Of course she can feed whatever she wants - no one here can make anyone feed their babies anything they don't want to....that is totally up to the pet owner themselves. Everyone was just stating their opinions here as to what they thought about the different dog foods and obviously we all have very strong opinions on it