i feel rather strongly about commercial grade petfoods - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Potter · 01-14-2009, 02:10 PM

I think feeding fresh food is the way to go..homecooking is good if you have the time.

Woogie Man · 01-14-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiekids

I agree, and need some help. How much protein should be in the food, and when they say things like chicken meal is that bad? What words should be a red flag to stay away from.

How much protein should be in a food is subject to some debate. Most foods (dry) range from about 21% to 40+%. The food I use (Nature's Logic) has 36% protein. What's more important is the type of protein and how digestible it is. Protein from meat sources is better than other sources, such as soy. Chicken meal is actually chicken with the water removed so if you find chicken meal high on the ingredient list you can be confident of a higher meat content than if it were just chicken because the chicken, after the water is removed, would place that ingredient farther down the list. Some common things to stay away from are un-named meat sources, by-products, wheat, corn, beet pulp and vitamin K. Remember that the ingredients listed first make up the bulk of the content so you want to see named meat sources (meat meal is good) high on the ingredient list.

Yorkiedaze · 01-14-2009, 07:32 PM

There is no way possible any pet can get the nutrition needed in ANY commercial pet food. Remember, after all the "you-know-what's" are boiled down to a brown stinky blob of a mess, what ever was added as far as vitamins go, (if any) were destroyed in the boiling process. That brown horrible smelling stinch of a mess is then dried out and cut into certain shapes and then sprayed with rancid resturant grease to entice the pets to eat it. Sound healthy to you? Me either!
If the rendering plants have nothing to hide, then why won't they let anyone in to see how it's made? I'm telling you folks, it's time to wake up. It's the pet food, over inoculating and flea repellents that are making your babies sick with numerous types of serious medical problems, and cancers in epedimic proportions. (some has to do with inbreeding as well)

chloesMama · 01-14-2009, 09:17 PM

Alot of uneducated consumers buy into the commercials we see on television. We are made to feel we are doing something good for our pets when we buy Beneful. I was one of them. I had NO idea that Beneful , Iams , Science Diet ( and alot of others) were bad until I found this site.. I was feeding Beneful and missing all the bad signs my dog was displaying...itchy , bad stools , gaining weight , runny eyes .... I didn't have a clue it could be the food she was on. The sad part is many people like me honestly don't know and unless they stumble across a site like this , they may never know .

I thank God people were kind enough to give me advice and opinions and help me understand what was bad and good in different foods. Without it I would still be clueless and my dogs would be fat , unhealthy and itchy.

AVERYxo · 01-14-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stedmansmommy

I totally agree with this. Alot of people just flat out DO NOT know any better. For example, a friend of my aunt's who is a HUGE animal lover once said to me that Pedigree was "The Cadillac of dog food" - OH MY

Let's just say that she and I had a very LONG talk

She no longer feeds it - but for years she just never knew any better. Even the people that love their pets like children and have their best interest at heart can be totally clueless - and ALOT of them are.

very well said, brooke!

chestermama · 01-15-2009, 04:29 AM

bha and bht are nasty preservatives, something to stay away from, corn wheat, soy and by products, beet pulp, any glutens as well.

chestermama · 01-15-2009, 04:32 AM

I would rather feed chester toast than the nasty foods out there, chester eats better than I do. People look at the commercials and dont research for themselves.

Judy in Waco · 01-15-2009, 05:30 AM

I'm a little confused by the use of the term "commercial" here. My "mega chain pet supply store" is where we buy Wellness products. So, would you define commercial as anything sold in a store, or as any product that is highly advertised in commercials? I thought Wellness products (although not ideal) were better than most. Is that wrong?

viviansnickers · 01-15-2009, 05:51 AM

I know I am not very seasoned on this site, but as I began to learn about food for my dog, the more interesting it became to me. Dogs originally were not eating grains, and only meat. As soon as I read this, I switched Snickers to BG Merrick as it is grain free. You should see how he loves his new food. It's been a week and he eats so much and I am so happy. He is finally gaining weight. Think about it...all the "fake" and unnatural things even made for us humans always seems to have problems--like Nutra sweet, splenda, diet foods, etc. In the end, you should put in your body things that are as natural as possible and it goes the same with dogs. I can't homecook and cannot be around raw meat (I was vegetarian for 10 yrs-can barely eat chicken on the bone) so I give my pup the next best thing. I am so happy I do. And I am so happy to have learned so much from this website.

-Vivian

Rocsi · 01-15-2009, 06:10 AM

The word really need 2 get out because was one of those people who thought that the dog food u c on tv was good and the Vet said it was to but I can c that my Vet really don't know it all but when you go to your Vet you don't think he or she is telling something wrong so I'm really glad that I came across this website so that I can get the help I need with my little ROCSI.

Ellie May · 01-15-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

I'm a little confused by the use of the term "commercial" here. My "mega chain pet supply store" is where we buy Wellness products. So, would you define commercial as anything sold in a store, or as any product that is highly advertised in commercials? I thought Wellness products (although not ideal) were better than most. Is that wrong?

Commercial dog food is generally considered any food from any store that is complete and balanced according to AAFCO. The commercial pet food industry includes all of these companies and the food and treats they make. This includes Wellness. That'd be my definition anyway.

Judy in Waco · 01-15-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Commercial dog food is generally considered any food from any store that is complete and balanced according to AAFCO. The commercial pet food industry includes all of these companies and the food and treats they make. This includes Wellness. That'd be my definition anyway.

Thanks for that information. I appreciate it.

samsonsmomdana · 01-15-2009, 08:29 AM

I feed Purina One Puppy. I was told by a vet not to get dog food with the first ingredient as ground yellow corn. Purna One has Lamb and brewers rice. Samson seems to be fine (no itching, coat is great, stools are normal) on this food.

bjh · 01-15-2009, 09:13 AM

Anyone who wants to learn about dog food can go to dogfoodanalysis.com and read how they analyze dog food. Dog food manufacturers are really good about making a food look good and make you think it has mainly meat based but they are deceiving. They might list chicken as the first ingredient but they will list 3 or 4 different grains after that, so if you put all the grains together then you are actually feeding your dog a grain based diet.

Yes, many dogs love the cheaper dog foods because of all the fat coating they put on the food to make the dog eat it. From my experience the dogs that are fed the cheaper grain based foods have a lot more stool and it is a lot smellier. That is because these cheaper foods are full of filler and nondigestible grains. The ingredients of today's dog foods are not the same as years ago. Now many of the dog foods and our human food contain genetically modified soy and corn. Scientists do not know what the long term effects on our animals health and our health will be. Could it be that is why cancer is so much on the rise? My biggest hangup is all the soy by-products and artificial sweeteners they are putting in our food.

Dog's in the wild do not eat just meat. If a dog kills, for example a bird or a rabbit they generally eat the whole thing, meat and intestines. The stomach of these wild prey contain grains, grasses, berries and things like that.

Any diet you feed has its risks. I have read good and bad about the homemade natural diets. I have find I get the best results with sticking to the 5 star dog foods and I do add healthy treats to their diet. Mine love steamed squash, broccoli and green beans. Also bananas and cheerios. The main thing is to try and keep their diet balanced and don't add too much of one thing or the other to make it off balanced.

01-14-2009, 02:10 PM	#16
Potter YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,583	I think feeding fresh food is the way to go..homecooking is good if you have the time. __________________ http://www.dogster.com/pet_page.php?j=t&i=410379 "No matter how little money and how few possesions you own, having a dog makes you rich."

01-14-2009, 07:32 PM	#18
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	There is no way possible any pet can get the nutrition needed in ANY commercial pet food. Remember, after all the "you-know-what's" are boiled down to a brown stinky blob of a mess, what ever was added as far as vitamins go, (if any) were destroyed in the boiling process. That brown horrible smelling stinch of a mess is then dried out and cut into certain shapes and then sprayed with rancid resturant grease to entice the pets to eat it. Sound healthy to you? Me either! If the rendering plants have nothing to hide, then why won't they let anyone in to see how it's made? I'm telling you folks, it's time to wake up. It's the pet food, over inoculating and flea repellents that are making your babies sick with numerous types of serious medical problems, and cancers in epedimic proportions. (some has to do with inbreeding as well) __________________ AZRAEL RAZAEL JILLI ANN

01-14-2009, 09:17 PM	#19
chloesMama YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: here :) Posts: 1,182	Alot of uneducated consumers buy into the commercials we see on television. We are made to feel we are doing something good for our pets when we buy Beneful. I was one of them. I had NO idea that Beneful , Iams , Science Diet ( and alot of others) were bad until I found this site.. I was feeding Beneful and missing all the bad signs my dog was displaying...itchy , bad stools , gaining weight , runny eyes .... I didn't have a clue it could be the food she was on. The sad part is many people like me honestly don't know and unless they stumble across a site like this , they may never know . I thank God people were kind enough to give me advice and opinions and help me understand what was bad and good in different foods. Without it I would still be clueless and my dogs would be fat , unhealthy and itchy. __________________ *Chloe & Sydney*

01-15-2009, 05:30 AM	#23
Judy in Waco Gizzy & Kandi spoil me Donating Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Waco, Texas Posts: 8,477	I'm a little confused by the use of the term "commercial" here. My "mega chain pet supply store" is where we buy Wellness products. So, would you define commercial as anything sold in a store, or as any product that is highly advertised in commercials? I thought Wellness products (although not ideal) were better than most. Is that wrong? __________________ The fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes, in our touch, in what we write, in what we say, in the way we walk, the way we receive, the way we need. -Mother Teresa ( RIP Gizmo 3/9/07-8/18/12)

01-15-2009, 04:29 AM	#21
chestermama YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: washington Posts: 3,383 Blog Entries: 1	bha and bht are nasty preservatives, something to stay away from, corn wheat, soy and by products, beet pulp, any glutens as well.

01-15-2009, 04:32 AM	#22
chestermama YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: washington Posts: 3,383 Blog Entries: 1	I would rather feed chester toast than the nasty foods out there, chester eats better than I do. People look at the commercials and dont research for themselves.

01-15-2009, 05:51 AM	#24
viviansnickers Snick&Viv= BFF Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,755	I know I am not very seasoned on this site, but as I began to learn about food for my dog, the more interesting it became to me. Dogs originally were not eating grains, and only meat. As soon as I read this, I switched Snickers to BG Merrick as it is grain free. You should see how he loves his new food. It's been a week and he eats so much and I am so happy. He is finally gaining weight. Think about it...all the "fake" and unnatural things even made for us humans always seems to have problems--like Nutra sweet, splenda, diet foods, etc. In the end, you should put in your body things that are as natural as possible and it goes the same with dogs. I can't homecook and cannot be around raw meat (I was vegetarian for 10 yrs-can barely eat chicken on the bone) so I give my pup the next best thing. I am so happy I do. And I am so happy to have learned so much from this website. -Vivian

01-15-2009, 06:10 AM	#25
Rocsi Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: kansas city mo usa Posts: 16	The word really need 2 get out because was one of those people who thought that the dog food u c on tv was good and the Vet said it was to but I can c that my Vet really don't know it all but when you go to your Vet you don't think he or she is telling something wrong so I'm really glad that I came across this website so that I can get the help I need with my little ROCSI.

01-15-2009, 08:29 AM	#28
samsonsmomdana Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Slidell, Louisiana Posts: 70	I feed Purina One Puppy. I was told by a vet not to get dog food with the first ingredient as ground yellow corn. Purna One has Lamb and brewers rice. Samson seems to be fine (no itching, coat is great, stools are normal) on this food.

01-15-2009, 09:13 AM	#29
bjh Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 7,959	Anyone who wants to learn about dog food can go to dogfoodanalysis.com and read how they analyze dog food. Dog food manufacturers are really good about making a food look good and make you think it has mainly meat based but they are deceiving. They might list chicken as the first ingredient but they will list 3 or 4 different grains after that, so if you put all the grains together then you are actually feeding your dog a grain based diet. Yes, many dogs love the cheaper dog foods because of all the fat coating they put on the food to make the dog eat it. From my experience the dogs that are fed the cheaper grain based foods have a lot more stool and it is a lot smellier. That is because these cheaper foods are full of filler and nondigestible grains. The ingredients of today's dog foods are not the same as years ago. Now many of the dog foods and our human food contain genetically modified soy and corn. Scientists do not know what the long term effects on our animals health and our health will be. Could it be that is why cancer is so much on the rise? My biggest hangup is all the soy by-products and artificial sweeteners they are putting in our food. Dog's in the wild do not eat just meat. If a dog kills, for example a bird or a rabbit they generally eat the whole thing, meat and intestines. The stomach of these wild prey contain grains, grasses, berries and things like that. Any diet you feed has its risks. I have read good and bad about the homemade natural diets. I have find I get the best results with sticking to the 5 star dog foods and I do add healthy treats to their diet. Mine love steamed squash, broccoli and green beans. Also bananas and cheerios. The main thing is to try and keep their diet balanced and don't add too much of one thing or the other to make it off balanced.