Supplements?

[schirmer_2010]

Originally Posted by AlicetheYorkie

I wouldn't worry about looking into the AAFCO thing, Merrick and other good brands are all (as far as I know) AAFCO aproved. I was just throwing it out there as a little tid bit fact. They have a web site but it's not really helpfull in making a desission about what food to use other than if the brand does meet their standards it has the right amount of vitamins, minerals and calories (as Ellie Mae said) and high quality foods (and some not so good ones)do.

I hate that about puppy food too, but there are some brands that actually don't even have a specific "puppy formula", they just have what's called "all life stages" food and those usually come in a wide variety of "flavors". You can stick with the one puppy food though, (I actually have a bag of that Merrick food here and the label says there's chicken, turkey and duck in it and I'm sure it goes above and beyond the AAFCO standards so there'd be no need to suppliment it)

Ah wonderful!! Thank you so much for your help!! Y'all will be seeing pictures of my furbaby soon!!

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by AlicetheYorkie

I agree but just a side note re: AAFCO that I learned a few years ago (maybe you already know this)- their standards for dog and cat food is actually rather low. They require a food to be balanced enough to "sustain life as a sole source of norishment" (maybe I shouldn't technically quote there lol, but it's something like that). ONLY mentioning this for the sake of anyone researching and just a little FYI I thought I'd share since I found it interesting

Yup, I agree, but as crappy as some of these foods are, they are still full of synthetic vitamins and minerals. Giving vitamin pills is really just giving more of the same thing which is overkill.

There are some products out there which are made to try and accomplish something (skin and coat health, etc.). I just haven't seen any studies to indicate that these things are needed for healthy dogs. Not going to hurt and may help. Most of the products I have seen though I wouldn't spend money on.

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Yup, I agree, but as crappy as some of these foods are, they are still full of synthetic vitamins and minerals. Giving vitamin pills is really just giving more of the same thing which is overkill.

There are some products out there which are made to try and accomplish something (skin and coat health, etc.). I just haven't seen any studies to indicate that these things are needed for healthy dogs. Not going to hurt and may help. Most of the products I have seen though I wouldn't spend money on.

I didn't even think about mentioning the "overkill" aspect of it