I am so sad about this puppy food talk....

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Britster

Yep, exactly!

I tried a bunch of 5 and 6 star dog food and wasted a crap load of money because Jackson wouldn't eat it.

Now he eats Nutro Natural Choice and while it may not be the best... he absolutely loves it and finally eats dry food voluntarily without me mixing wet food in with it.

While the ingredients of Nutro aren't the most horrible ever, did you know that this food has been blamed on sickness and death in many dogs? In my opinion, looking at this website, it is dangerous:

Consumer complaints about Nutro Pet Foods

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

While the ingredients of Nutro aren't the most horrible ever, did you know that this food has been blamed on sickness and death in many dogs? In my opinion, looking at this website, it is dangerous:

Consumer complaints about Nutro Pet Foods

Well, I'm not so sure what to do anymore because he won't eat any other foods! I have a whole bag of Chicken Soup for the Puppy's Soul basically left, I tried feeding him that for a good 2 weeks and he barely touched the stuff and when I mixed it with wet food, he found a way around it to only eat the wet food. Then I was feeding him Performatrin Ultra for a while, about a month, and he just was not liking it. I tried another brand too (forget what it was) and he refused. I tried mixing it with his previous dog food, mixing it with wet food. Nutro was the first dry food he will eat by himself.

And you'll find complaints for basically every kind of dog food, so it's sort of a no win situation. I've read bad things about all the foods I've researched. They all have bad/good reviews.

[bjh]

These cheap dog food are coated fats and other things that make the food taste great but it is still unhealthy. If you had a child that only wanted to eat pizza, ice cream and other junk food would you just give up and only let them eat what they wanted? I don't think so.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by bjh

These cheap dog food are coated fats and other things that make the food taste great but it is still unhealthy. If you had a child that only wanted to eat pizza, ice cream and other junk food would you just give up and only let them eat what they wanted? I don't think so.

No, I wouldn't, but I also wouldn't make my child eat ALL healthy stuff every day.

What about back in the day when they didn't have these high quality dog foods, and dog lived just as long, if not longer than they do now? I had dogs growing up who lived very long and healthy lives eating regular grocery store dog food. My grandma had her lahpso apso for 16 years on Pedigree.

Also, Nutro wasn't THAT cheap. When I bought it, I believe it was $15.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Britster

Well, I'm not so sure what to do anymore because he won't eat any other foods! I have a whole bag of Chicken Soup for the Puppy's Soul basically left, I tried feeding him that for a good 2 weeks and he barely touched the stuff and when I mixed it with wet food, he found a way around it to only eat the wet food. Then I was feeding him Performatrin Ultra for a while, about a month, and he just was not liking it. I tried another brand too (forget what it was) and he refused. I tried mixing it with his previous dog food, mixing it with wet food. Nutro was the first dry food he will eat by himself.

And you'll find complaints for basically every kind of dog food, so it's sort of a no win situation. I've read bad things about all the foods I've researched. They all have bad/good reviews.

I understand that it does get frustrating and you have to find something that he will eat. There will always be complaints about dog food and nobody will ever agree on all of it. However, there are far more serious complaints about Nutro than any other food right now as far as I know. There have been posts on YT about problems with it and even a report of a dog dying (I think Wylie's Mom posted this). It goes far beyond, "My dog was itchy on this food", "I don't like where it is manufactured"... So, in my opinion, I would sooner feed just about every other dog food available first.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I understand that it does get frustrating and you have to find something that he will eat. There will always be complaints about dog food and nobody will ever agree on all of it. However, there are far more serious complaints about Nutro than any other food right now as far as I know. There have been posts on YT about problems with it and even a report of a dog dying (I think Wylie's Mom posted this). It goes far beyond, "My dog was itchy on this food", "I don't like where it is manufactured"... So, in my opinion, I would sooner feed just about every other dog food available first.

OK, thanks for the info. I was about to run to Petsmart soon anyways so maybe I will peek around at some other foods! I just hate spending the money on all these dog foods. I have basically a whole bag of Chicken Soup, lol.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Britster

No, I wouldn't, but I also wouldn't make my child eat ALL healthy stuff every day.

What about back in the day when they didn't have these high quality dog foods, and dog lived just as long, if not longer than they do now? I had dogs growing up who lived very long and healthy lives eating regular grocery store dog food. My grandma had her lahpso apso for 16 years on Pedigree.

I know you are trying to do your best and I also know how frustrating it is when you have a picky eater. I just don't think the dog food or people foods are the same as many years ago. Now days they are growing genetically modified corn and soy and putting it in dog food and people food. Who knows what the long term effects will be. Also, I don't think dogs were over vaccinated years ago like they are now. My sister-in-law had a poodle that lived to be 21 years old and she was not feed expensive food and she got table scraps too but she received no vaccinations after she was 5 years old. Nutro might be an okay choice for short term use but if I were you I would keep looking for a different food. I think it is best to change foods every now and then anyway. Do you add anything to your dogs dry food? I also add a little canned Pedigree Chopped Chicken or sometimes some steam broccoli, squash or green beans. It does not take much to make the food more enticing. If you dog is on the thin side I have also heard that adding a little Dyne to their food will help increase their appetite and add on a little weight.

[Miao]

Have you tried returning the Chicken Soup for a full refund or exchange? I know most places here take it back as long as most of it is still there. I've had to return an open bag of food recently (several weeks after purchase) and got full price back but rather than getting a cash refund, I just got more of the flavour I know she eats.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Britster

OK, thanks for the info. I was about to run to Petsmart soon anyways so maybe I will peek around at some other foods! I just hate spending the money on all these dog foods. I have basically a whole bag of Chicken Soup, lol.

Some stores will take open bags back or you can donate it (the Chicken Soup I mean, the Nutro I would throw away or take it back).

[phfgkl]

Originally Posted by PrincessDiana

To be honest, I'm really, really annoyed by your hostility. I've read all, and I mean ALL , of your posts and from what I understand, you are "trying to find the best food for your dog". Well, what I don't understand is why you attack every single person who tries to help? I didn't comment about what you and your husband eat.. that has nothing to do with it. I wasn't trying to be rude, I was trying to point you in the right direction since you seem to be so lost with all of this dog food business.

Now.. my original point was that TOTW is a great food. Why are you feeding it to your big dogs if it is so expensive? That makes no sense. Also, you stated in a different post that your Dogswell costs $14 for a 4lb bag. According to PetFoodDirect (which I've found to be a pretty good average for food) a 5lb bag of TOTW is $9.99.

I can get TOTW right here in town at TSC for $9.99 for a small bag also. My 2 big dogs are on it, a big bag will last me a month with the 2 of them. I have the 4 inside dogs on 2 foods mixed, Instinct and Dogswell, to me, they're both excellent foods, and this is what they're staying on. As a lot of other people have said, it's hard to find a food that is "Good" that they like. My son and his fiance have their 2 yorkies on Science diet as the one gets an upset stomache very easily, they are doing great on it, in perfect health, shiny coats, love the food, and that's what they're keeping them on. So, as someone else said, if you find something they like and they're staying healthy, just leave them on it. As far as me getting upset? Yeah, I do, as I said, all my life we fed purina and had dogs live long healthy lives, then you come in to these forums and all of a sudden you have 20 year old girls telling you what you should and shouldn't feed your dogs. It does get very aggrivating!

[JPop & Taz 2]

Different strokes for different folks! We all do what we think is best for our babies, whether it's to everyone else's liking or not. Personally, I feed my fur-kids Chicken Soup, because its the best food that's available in my small town. We do what we can with what we have......now, let's all play nice the rest of the day.

[Wylie's Mom]

Phewie!!! Food is a HOT HOT HOT subject lately, yes? Well, it generates a lot of opinions and it's pretty interesting. I think what's funny about nutrition is that it really is not just a science (in how we understand it in these times), but also kind of an art. The "art" part is the individual dog, a person's circumstances, and evolving information.

Anywho - to the OP, UtahBelle - this can all be very overwhelming. Personally, I'd recommend you get her off the Nutro asap - there are just too many deaths from it, and no real answers. That is scary and not a risk worth taking, imho.

Do some homework and learn how to choose a food. And, ask for opinions if needed, like you're doing here. The kibbles I tend to like are Orijen, Innova EVO Small Bites, Nature's Variety Instinct (not rabbit),Wellness CORE, and even Solid Gold's Barking At The Moon.

Here are some links where you can learn about food:

Dog Food Analysis - Reviews of kibble

The Dog Food Project - How does your Dog Food Brand compare?

[LillymomAZ]

I just switched Lilly from Science Diet to Ceasar Milan Dog Whisperer food..She loves it, she picks out the Science Diet or more like spits it out. The kibble are heart shaped and the new food isn't much more. Seems to be all organic, no corn, wheat, flour of anykind that I can see.

[Britster]

Yeah, anyone heard about the Dog Whisperer's food? If your pup likes it ^^, maybe Jackson would. That is only rated 3 stars on that dog food analysis site which surprises me.

[_Chrissy_]

Originally Posted by Britster

OK, thanks for the info. I was about to run to Petsmart soon anyways so maybe I will peek around at some other foods! I just hate spending the money on all these dog foods. I have basically a whole bag of Chicken Soup, lol.

Most stores & the dog food companies have a return policy for unused food Just keep the receipt.