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

[Maximo]

Good article. Reinforces my belief that the best diet is the one that works best for the individual dog.

However, I am biased against corn after hearing Heidi Klum say that her trainer urged her to stop eating it to lose her baby weight.

[LuvTaycieGirl]

I will always feed Taycie as natural as possible unless health conditions required something different. I do love learning about nutrition and do want the best for Taycie, but as I look at it, if she had Renal Failure or Kidney diease that's when I would be following my vet's recommendations.

Do I like Science Diet? No, not really. That is why I don't feed it right now. But, if her health required one of their specific diets, I wouldn't hesitate.

[Deuce]

I tried S/D, Rizzo didn't like it (that was a nice $30 wasted), then we tried R/C (Rizzo liked it but he started getting itchy feet), changed to Wellness which worked for him for a while, then he got bored, so we finally switched to BB. He has been eating it consistently for about 6 months and isn't showing signs of getting bored. If S/D would have worked for him that's what I would have fed him, but it doesn't so I don't.

[motherhen_44100]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I have NO problem using Hill's Prescription Diets!

As for high protein sources, many of them are very unhealthy for our pups. Unless someone is a nutritionist for animals specifically, I will not be following their lead with regards to what to feed my pups.

I have used Hills Science Diet Prescription foods over the course of many years for many of my pups who needed them and none of them had any issues. As a matter of fact, they thrived!

I really have never understood how lay people can bash this company after all of the research that they have done. How anyone thinks they know more than the people Hill's employs boggles my mind.

No disrespect here....just saying...... Hills is not killing dogs!

do you ever have trouble getting your yorkie's to eat the science diet Id for sensitive stomachs
nanse Motherhen_44100

[Woogie Man]

Just a couple of random thoughts...

I went through the phase of looking for the 'best' dog food for mine. I found what I thought was the best (Nature's Logic) and fed that for 2 years. My dogs did really great on it. Well, the distributor in my area quit carrying it. I looked for something I could get locally (choices aren't great here) and have settled on Authority, a house brand of PetSmart.

Do I think it's as good as Nature's Logic? No, but I wouldn't ever consider buying any dog food without meat being the first ingredient. That takes Science Diet and many other brands out of consideration. My dogs all do very well on the Authority but I do regularly buy chicken leg quarters and beef liver and add to their food. They will eat the Authority well anyway, but positively scarf it up with the additional meat. Just ask any dog what they want and it will be meat!!....meat!!....LOL. They may not be true carnivores, but will take meat over anything else every time.

I do think SD is way overpriced, considering the ingredients. That's on the regular food, not talking about any prescription diets. Then again, I find it amusing that some people will proudly buy the premier brands, only to have their dog eat a turd at some time or the other. Dogs...you gotta love 'em!!

[JESSY_RN2B]

Another random thought about those concerned about high protein diets. I don't think in the wild our companions would exactly be looking for berries, fruits and veggies to eat. I just don't understand the 'too much protein' rationale unless your dog has renal issues.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by 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.

and this is one reason I opt to home cook. I don't have to wonder if the food is fresh, overly processed, contaminated, or if the label is telling me the truth. I am truly impressed at the newest marketing strategies and the movement toward "organic" and "natural" ingredients. I am glad I don't have to sort through all of it. I choose to feed fresh foods and that is a philosophy that works for me and my dogs. I do it with professional guidance of a veterinary nutritionist because I have great respect for the professionals with whom I deal for my dogs and their vast knowledge and commitment to their specialty in veterinary medicine. Although I do not usually choose commercial dog foods for my dogs as a regular practice, I respect others opinions and if someone wants to feed science diet to their dog, that is their choice. To me, commercial food is not fresh and thus it makes little difference which marketing you are attracted to.

[motherhen_44100]

We just got back from the vet, My molie lost less than a pound, She is in her heat cycle. Acting like she is agitated and not hungry, just laying around. The air conditioner is on, my hubby gets to hot. So I just wrap her up in her blanket and she lays beside me in the chair.

But she just turns her nose up at the science diet Id. She ate it for two weeks, and when I opened the last can, she wouldn't touch it. She acted weak so I gave a couple of bites of some lean deli meat.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by JESSY_RN2B

Another random thought about those concerned about high protein diets. I don't think in the wild our companions would exactly be looking for berries, fruits and veggies to eat. I just don't understand the 'too much protein' rationale unless your dog has renal issues.

Sadly, many people have no idea if their pups have renal issues. There are many who cheap out on vetting and don't even bother to do lab testing. So, yes, I do mention protein...but that said, I am not now or ever going to advise people what to feed their pups.

As for the wild...our pups are domesticated and I simply don't buy into the wild thinking .. especially those feeding raw diets. I have seen/heard many pups who have become ill from raw foods. Never going to be fed in my home.

Again, I hardly think many on this board have the qualifications to advise what to feed dogs (I know that I certainly do not). I opt for those educated in the field.

[ArmaniMan]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Sadly, many people have no idea if their pups have renal issues. There are many who cheap out on vetting and don't even bother to do lab testing. So, yes, I do mention protein...but that said, I am not now or ever going to advise people what to feed their pups.

As for the wild...our pups are domesticated and I simply don't buy into the wild thinking .. especially those feeding raw diets. I have seen/heard many pups who have become ill from raw foods. Never going to be fed in my home.

Again, I hardly think many on this board have the qualifications to advise what to feed dogs (I know that I certainly do not). I opt for those educated in the field.

Have to agree with everything here.

I don't ever say people should not feed high protein foods- but I do think they should have blood testing done first- too many people get a new yorkie and start feeding these high protein foods without having any baseline as to their pets kidney/ liver function, which is especially dangerous in a breed with such a high instance of liver problems.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by JESSY_RN2B

Another random thought about those concerned about high protein diets. I don't think in the wild our companions would exactly be looking for berries, fruits and veggies to eat. I just don't understand the 'too much protein' rationale unless your dog has renal issues.

Well, I decided to see what Dr. R has to say about dogs and what they eat in the wild.
Very interesting indeed!

https://www.petdiets.com/faqs/display_faq.asp?ID=4

A quote from that site:

Canine predators consume the intestinal tract of large herbivores, which contains plant material. Both coyotes and wolves have been observed eating plants; fruits, berries, persimmons, mushrooms, and melons in the wild. Similarly, our dogs have anatomical and physiological characteristics that permit the digestion and utilization of a widely varied diet from both plant and animal sources.

[together4ever]

My son's dog ate Science Diet his entire life.
He lived to be 15 and was very healthy until 6 months before his death.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by together4ever

My son's dog ate Science Diet his entire life.
He lived to be 15 and was very healthy until 6 months before his death.

That is another thing that people don't really think about. While I would never feed Alpo or Ole Roy, many people do and their pups live to be very old.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by together4ever

My son's dog ate Science Diet his entire life.
He lived to be 15 and was very healthy until 6 months before his death.

I always say this....

The way I see it, it's just like with people... you have those who live off TV dinners and McDonald's, and you have those who shop all organic, and eat healthy every single day.

People who eat terribly, smoke heavily, etc. can live perfectly normal, healthy, long lives.

Just like the person who exercises, eats excellent and "does everything right" can drop dead at age 30 from a heart attack. Or a person who never smoked a day in their life can die from lung cancer. That's life.

Just because a dog does "well" on Eukanuba or Pedigree or Purina doesn't necessarily mean they're eating as good as they could.... but it also doesn't mean they're going to be unhealthy dogs and die young either necessarily. I personally wouldn't want to feed it. That's not to say Jackson doesn't get to enjoy a little Cesar wet food every now and then, or a Milk Bone, I just do it in moderation... just like people.

Bottom line is -- you gotta do for your dogs what you personally decide is right... but in the end you can't place blame and say 'this dog didn't live as long as this one because it ate better food.' There's too many other factors out there. Do research, and feed what you feel works best for your dog. Like I said, SD is not something I personally would ever want to feed nor recommend... but if it's working for your dog, I am not judging for feeding it!

[Britster]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

That is another thing that people don't really think about. While I would never feed Alpo or Ole Roy, many people do and their pups live to be very old.

Living to be old doesn't always mean they are healthy though.... just saying, playing devils advocate here a little bit. Because I don't totally disagree with you, but..

My grandma's Lab is 9 now. Sure she is seemingly healthy to a normal person who is not a dog freak (LOL)... but I see an overweight dog, who could not even go on a quick 15 minute walk with me without nearly passing out.... her hair is dull and dry, and sheds like crazy (alot more so than a Lab I know that is fed Blue Buffalo), her eyes have hardly any hair around them anymore, hard to explain, but they are dark circles sort of. She poops a TON, she constantly has ear infections, and she has a nasty doggy smell even when you bathe her. These are differences to me, that I notice, and I believe she is fed Kibbles n Bits.