Agree with WylieMom on everything :thumbup:

I would never feed Iams, btw. Ever. Their animal cruelty stuff is enough to make me not feed it. I'd feed Purina over Iams, even though I don't like Purina either.

I would never condone feeding a dog a vegan diet. It's completely unnatural for a canine and it cannot be healthy. I do not eat raw food for myself, and probably never would, but it's simply because I don't like it (I don't like the taste of sushi, etc) and have not researched it enough for humans... but I do know some people do the raw diet thing for themselves.

I'm not comfortable with prey model raw simply because I don't have the freezer space, the money, the knowledge, or the time to prepare it. I love pre-made raw because it's all done for me, pretty much, and it's pretty easy and convinenant. I feed pre-made raw a few times a week for breakfast for Jackson, and Orijen or Acana kibble for dinner. So far, he's in fabulous health at a little over 2 years old. His coat is super shiny and soft (and he always gets compliments on it- though he has short hair), his teeth are great, his energy levels are great, he's never had ear infections, or things like that, his bones and hips and everything are in perfect shape. I'm incredibly pleased with his diet and am especially happy w/ it when I see my family members dogs eating Kibbles n Bits and Iams, etc, who have constant rashes, bumps, hot spots, throwing up often, overweight, scabby looking things on their body, bad hips and joints, and disgusting breath.

I'm vegetarian (well I do eat fish rarely, so a pescatarian). My dog is pescatarian because she has to be. She doesn't handle meat or poultry very well at all. Dogs can easily be pescatarian. They can also easily be ovovegetarian (egg is a great protein source for pups and it is okay to use it in place of meat). They can techinically be vegan also and it would be impossible to say that vegan dogs live shorter lives. I don't think that info is even available. I'm pretty sure Purina H/A is vegan. It would be pretty difficult to get this diet correct, but it's still possible. Whether or not an owner wants to force their dog to eat the same way they do is up to them. I'm fine making my dog be a pescatarian or even an ovovegetarian. Anything beyond that and I don't think I'd want to force that on my dog...

BTW, I know rx diets aren't appealing, but when owners get backed into a corner and need to give it a try, it suddenly isn't so bad anymore. Happened to me... I don't like Iams either (and now Innova), but the meat people eat comes from way crueler places. No difference really. :(

Anyway, your dog may not need an rx diet, but if you keep trying things and they aren't working, it is best to give it and get the GI upset taken care of. That becomes a quality of life issue and it is kinder to just give a diet that works for the dog.

Me too :)

I've never heard of Purina H/A, but I know of Purina.I went to a couple pet stores today checking ingredients and asking info from the folks there. It seems like the other brands the Vet reccomended has the same ingredients, but just in reverse somewhat. After all I read & questioned, I felt confused somewhat. I do trust my Vet I have now more than the last one. Everything I questioned the Vet about, they did have a response to regarding the ingredients of this not so healthy choice.

I don't feel I am backed into a corner at all. Just I would like my little guy to eat healthy, but he's had recent eposiodes of nausea and diarreha. It's not the first time, but it isn't often he's had these issues either. The only way he will eat is when he plays ball. He didn't eat this am, nor tonight. After we played a bit of ball, he ate a little bit. Sometimes when he gets his treats (vitamins) is when he eats too.

We feed Bear home cooked.

We try to eat healthy and cook for ourselves every day: chicken, fish, beef and a lot of veggies and fruits, rice, green beens, pasta sometimes. . . .

I take Bear's part out if I am adding any spices ( except for garlic), and he gets whatever we are eating.

Bear eat with us on the dinning table, from his little plate:)

He is 14 months now, 8.2 lb, healthy, happy little boy!

Just had his complete blood work done for the second time, and everything looks great.

I feed Rylie Natural Balance Small Breed Bites Limited Ingredient Diet: Potato & Duck Formula. I feed the LID version, and not the ultra premium, because it is grain free and my cat has allergies (so I want it to be okay if she ever accidentally gets into the puppy food). It chose it after a long debate with myself and research because it is grain free, limited ingredient, and high quality and is also lower protein than brands like Blue Buffalo and Acana. Bonus is that it is smaller sized pieces (around the size of cat food), which I've read is better for our little ones. Rylie is doing fantastic on it!

Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods :1

I know that the protein debate is alive and well, but I decided as an inexperienced owner that I didn't feel comfortable feeding my baby above the recommended percentage in YT for Dummies (see my old threads on food and you can see some of my self debate typed out :P).

Overall, I think you just need to do what works best for your baby. Yes, Iams and Purina and such are "terrible foods" and they are considered so because of their ingredients according to a lot of research. However, if that is what works for your baby I say go for it!

I had a cat when I was little that lived to be old and healthy despite the fact we fed her poor quality food. She was fine on it and did well. I can't do that with my current cat so that's when I actually looked into what was IN their food. I'd never feed those foods as a first resort now, but if they were what worked for my pet I'd be comfortable with it.