Science Diet's "The Truth About Pet Food" LOL

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by BabyGirl Rosie

Ok, so maybe that is why we had SD recommended. It was when Rosie was sick with the vomiting and diarrhea. They had her using the prescription I/D if I remember correctly. Makes more sense why the vet recommended it!!

I have given I/D many, many times to pups that had GI upsets.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I have given I/D many, many times to pups that had GI upsets.

That is why he gave it to us. She was so sick. I feed her the I/D for a long time. Once she was better I stopped because there was so much controversy. It did work for her because she was able to keep it down!

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by BabyGirl Rosie

That is why he gave it to us. She was so sick. I feed her the I/D for a long time. Once she was better I stopped because there was so much controversy. It did work for her because she was able to keep it down!

It does work. I would not use it long term..no reason to do so. It is great following an upset.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

It does work. I would not use it long term..no reason to do so. It is great following an upset.

Yep, it was kinda expensive!!

[Britster]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

No, actually you said, "I will never feed Science Diet". I am not arguing with you...merely suggesting that you keep an open mind on this subject. You have a young, healthy pup. I hope he always stays that way....but we all get old...and so do our pups. Sometimes we...and sometimes they...have age related conditions.

I guess I did contradict myself there, LOL. I 99.5% most likely wouldn't ever feed SD but if for some reason it was ALL he could eat, I would...

[Ellie May]

When somebody asks me what the best food is for a healthy dog, I would say something that is cooked (as in not raw) and AAFCO approved for the lifestage of that dog. That is just my answer though. I also will look at ingredients and avoid certain ones if possible.

Just imo, I think the questions she asks are probably much harder than ones anybody here would even know to ask...


Ellie used to eat regular SD. She did "not" do well on it.
She did "not" do well on an SD rx diet.
She did not do well on an RC rx diet.
She did well on homecooked at first, but then she didn't. So even a great holistic diet didn't do her any good.

I think it's highly variable depending on the dog.

Individual ingedients used to mean everything to me. To an extent I really care what they are now, but I just think there are many other things to consider.

And I do know that the common thing floating around online is that vets get kickbacks on SD so they recommend it. They could make money on an food they sell. Some hate stocking it because it takes time, energy, and space. Also I dunno about peoples' vets here, but E's vet does not feed it (but very occasionally will use an SD rx for patients -- moreso Purina EN for a few days for tummy upsets -- but also gives the option to homecook for a couple days).

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Britster

I guess I did contradict myself there, LOL. I 99.5% most likely wouldn't ever feed SD but if for some reason it was ALL he could eat, I would...

Haha...yes, you did.

And I am always afraid to say that word never...it usually comes back to bite my you know what.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Haha...yes, you did.

And I am always afraid to say that word never...it usually comes back to bite my you know what.

Ugh, me too. I think I said that about SD once and almost certainly Purina and now look!

Maybe I should think of my favorite dog food and say I'll never feed it to Ellie and see if she gets to have it someday. lol. Prolly doesn't work that way though.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Ugh, me too. I think I said that about SD once and almost certainly Purina and now look!

Maybe I should think of my favorite dog food and say I'll never feed it to Ellie and see if she gets to have it someday. lol. Prolly doesn't work that way though.

Hahaha...no, I don't think it works that way.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Haha...yes, you did.

And I am always afraid to say that word never...it usually comes back to bite my you know what.

In the words of the all mighty Justin Bieber: "I will never say never!!!"

[Nancy1999]

Honestly, I don’t understand why Science Diet and some of the other companies have been vilified here so much. I think there is more truth on that page than most web pages I’ve read on nutrition. Corn is not a complete protein, because it doesn’t contain all the essential amino acids that make up a protein, but when mixed with other proteins it does, and I believe it got a bad name became many companies were using it as the primary protein or the first ingredient. So as long as your food doesn’t have corn as the first ingredient, it’s probably okay. I think people went a little overboard in vilifying corn. As this website points out.

Dogs are not true carnivores but opportunistic feeders and can digest and utilize the starch from grains in dog food that has been converted by the cooking process. Digestibility depends on quality and type of grain used: rice (72%) is for example more digestible than wheat (60%) or corn (54%). Dogs can absorb the digestible carbohydrates from rice almost entirely, of the other grains about 20% are not absorbed. Indigestible fiber from grains contribute to intestinal health.

So you see even though they don’t digest 100% of corn, indigestible fiber is very good for you, and you would need to replace that with something. Nutrition is much more complex than some of the anti-dog food sites will have you believe. I just think though, sometimes people read something here, and then they believe it’s a fact, just because no one has argued the point.


I really love this site The Dog Food Project - Myths about Dog Nutrition, and the author has great credentials.

[JESSY_RN2B]

I consider everything like a grain of salt. Feed what is best for your pet. I don't believe 100% on any one company as their main motivator is to put $$ in their pockets, and second pet health.

[ArmaniMan]

k/d is currently keeping my parents 19 year old cat, happy and healthy.

I choose better quality brands for my dogs at this point in their life, but I would not resist using a prescription diet if it became necessary.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

So as long as your food doesn’t have corn as the first ingredient, it’s probably okay. I think people went a little overboard in vilifying corn.


I really love this site The Dog Food Project - Myths about Dog Nutrition, and the author has great credentials.

SD *does* use corn as a first ingredient in the majority of their formulas.

[Ellie May]

Was just browsing and ran across this:
Alternative Diets Still Riding High

Under pros and cons - what Perea has to say (was the nutritionist for Natura). She even thinks that the major benefit to alternative ingredients in pet foods is that owners think they are better.

And I'm not sure if it ws in that article or not, but I read it somewhere - my new hope for a pet food company will be that they have a veterinary nutritionist on staff. Sounds like a great practice to me and I know that they hold a DVM with more training in nutritionist (i.e. PhD). Not something I thought of before. Or if they don't have one, I sure hope they're consulting one.