Great information - Dog Food Advisor

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I think the good thing about the site is that she teaches us how to choose a "good" food.

And in a way I think I actually understand.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by BonBon

And in a way I think I actually understand.

I've only had one year of nutrition, and lots of years of science, and it's the first site I've found that I can agree with "most" of what she says. Still don't know if she's wrong or I'm wrong on a few points!

[Taryn0405]

The Blue Buffalo was my thread! Hehe! But I'll post on here basically what I said there. I was feeding Gizmo 4 plus star foods on the dogfoodadvisor ratings and all that happened was watery eyes, upset tummy, losing weight, and a dog that just didn't enjoy eating. And it was upsetting. Both for Gizmo and us.

So, after posting a thread and PMing Cathy and talking to Crystal, I put Gizmo on RC and he's loving it. I think dog diets, like humans are individual. I mean a "premium" food is only "premium" if your furbaby isn't crapping every hour and basically getting depressed when it comes to eating it because he know's how his tummy will react.

Am I saying to run out there and buy Ole' Roy dog food? No, but if your dog can't handle the high protein counts then he or she can't. It would be like a lactose intolerant individual having milk shoved down their throat everyday and expecting to build a tolerance.

With that being said, Gizmo is on, according to dog food advisor, a 2 star food. But, who's to argue with the fact that he loves dinner and breakfest time, poops twice a day, has a ton on energy, doesn't have watery eyes, and his stomach is growling like it use to every night..

Just IMO.

[ArmaniMan]

Originally Posted by Princes mom

alrighty then...

Sorry you did not like my opinion- however, your sarcasm was unnecessary- if you believe it is a useful site, backed by quality research and professionals in the field- feel free to explain your reasoning and show us your proof- however an eye roll does nothing to support your side.

[Princes mom]

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

Sorry you did not like my opinion- however, your sarcasm was unnecessary- if you believe it is a useful site, backed by quality research and professionals in the field- feel free to explain your reasoning and show us your proof- however an eye roll does nothing to support your side.

That link was just an "FYI." Take it for what it's worth. No, I do not have to explain anything to anyone, nor do I have to show any proof of anything to anyone. Geeeeeesh, I was simply sharing an article!

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Princes mom

That link was just an "FYI." Take it for what it's worth. No, I do not have to explain anything to anyone, nor do I have to show any proof of anything to anyone. Geeeeeesh, I was simply sharing an article!

I'm glad you did! It started a good discussion, I think. Even though we might have rambled a little off your original topic. Thank you.

[Princes mom]

Originally Posted by BonBon

I'm glad you did! It started a good discussion, I think. Even though we might have rambled a little off your original topic. Thank you.

Thank you so much!!!! I also think the discussions have been great! Every day on yt is a learning experience!!!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by BonBon

I'm glad you did! It started a good discussion, I think. Even though we might have rambled a little off your original topic. Thank you.

I agree, I think we can learn certain things from the site, and in my opinion, it's a better site than Dog Food Analysis.

[Britster]

I've always really liked the Dog Food Advisor site. Much better than Dog Food Analysis. I like how the author answers a lot of questions and comments, and always advises to go to a vet first and that he is not qualified to answer most of these questions that he is asked.

I still can't believe that most dogs won't do well eating meat. MOST. Obviously, if a dog doesn't do well on it... it doesn't do well on it. I would never force a dog to be eating food that was doing terrible things to his stomach. But, I'm pretty sure it's been known for all time since dogs have existed with humans that, well, dogs like meat. What did they eat before the creation of modern-day dog kibble in the 1950's (I believe Purina was the first to begin marketing dog food, and they also used scare tactics to get people to believe this was the ONLY way a dog can be fed)? I'm assuming most people gave their dogs meat... probably both cooked and uncooked. "Table scraps" and the like. However, I believe table scraps would be considered different back then as opposed to now. I think people food has gotten incredibly disgusting as well... our bodies sometimes can't even take the crap that we feed into it, how can we expect a canines to?

I dunno. I just don't believe there's enough research out there to say "this dog died young because he had X kibble, and this dog lived longer because he ate Y kibble". There are too many variables out there. I'll see so many times "Well my parents dog lived to be 17 on Kibbles n Bits"... but honestly, that dog could have just had really good genes or really good luck. It's really hard to say. There are folks who eat all organic, healthy, don't drink/smoke, exercise and still die of lung cancer at the age of 45. Then there are those who drink, smoke, are fat, and lay around, and live to be 100. I think we all can just do the best we can do and what we feel is right and gives our dogs the best quality of life while they are around.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I wonder why it came up with "invalid page"? I'll try again: The Dog Food Project - Myths about Dog Nutrition

Actually, I was considering using the author of this site to help me out and advise me about feeding Jackson.

Better Dog Care, Better Dog Nutrition - Creating Healthy Lifestyles for Canines: Main Page

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I like these kinds of sites for ingredient comparison too. For me, the ratings just get thrown out the window. Very interesting to see all the makers of raw. I didn't know so many companies had these products.

They are telling me I'm going to an unreasonable extreme by feeding soy dog food. ?? If their dog pooped liquid on meat diets, I'm sure they would change their minds.

The foods with higher meat content get higher ratings. I don't want a dog food with so much meat in it because it's extra stress on the kidneys and liver (it has to be metabolized and nitrogen has to be eliminated by the kidneys). These brands also tend to have more phosphorous (because of the meat content). Some will be comfortable with that and some won't. I don't like the idea. The 4 and 5 star foods here, I'd only feed a handful of them and that is if some of ones with lower ratings didn't work. Some of these smaller companies also have questionable quality control and the foods can lack consistency. Most of these companies also don't do feeding trials, so the dogs that it's being tried on belong to pet owners.

Originally Posted by Britster

I still can't believe that most dogs won't do well eating meat. MOST. Obviously, if a dog doesn't do well on it... it doesn't do well on it.

The issue of meat has been bothering me too, Brit. The site that Nancy linked yesterday by the nutritionist had a really good explanation (I think) of meats/proteins/digestiblity that more closely matches how I'd always looked at the issue.

The nutritionist says "Protein is processed in the liver and any waste materials are filtered and excreted by the kidneys. High quality protein does not generate large amounts of waste that needs to be removed from the body, but poor quality protein which is difficult to digest does and thus puts stress on the kidneys. The liver needs water to process protein and as a medium to carry waste products to the kidneys, where they are filtered out and most of the water is reabsorbed." And "Many people cite old, outdated research that claims high protein percentages in the food are harmful to dogs and do all kinds of damage, especially to the liver. Fact is that these studies were conducted by feeding dogs foods that were made from poor quality, hard to digest protein sources, such as soy, corn, byproducts, blood meal and so on. From my explanation above, you now already know that it is a question of protein quality that affects the kidneys."

This helped me to understand that it's all proteins, not just meat that the liver and kidneys have to process. And that for healthy dogs, meats are much more digestible than other sources of protein which actually make things easier for the liver and kidneys.

I think it's like Crystal, Cathy and the others have said - you have to find what food(s) works for your dog because each dog and their needs can be so different. I just wish finding *THE* food didn't have to be so hard.

[107barney]

Honestly, I would not have any of those people advising me on my dogs especially my dogs who have issues. For me to feel comfortable, that person needs to be a veterinarian with clinical experience and expertise in nutrition. I can do it myself otherwise.

ETA: By this I mean someone who is an ACVN diplomat!!

[Ellie May]

Soy or no soy - interesting debate. I see no problem with a food that has meat protein totally instead of adding soy protein. From what I've read, I'm definitely not convinced that soy is going to hurt a pup. What I am concerned about is high protein diets (20-30% don't fall into this category) and what they do to BUN and things like that. I would not watch a BUN go up in a young dog over a high protein diet, but that's me. And the phosphorus from all this meat when most middle aged dogs have kidney damage already, I think it's best to be careful.

I don't know anything about this nutritionist except what I've read on the About page. Could be totally right about soy. Don't know. But I did see that she doesn't hold a DVM. She is not (and could not be) DACVN. She doesn't have a Ph.D in nutrition, etc. She is a bio major with a certification in animal care and feeding. We all get to choose what we are comfortable with. I'd sooner have my general DVM pick my pup's diet. JMHO.

BTW, the article sites by-products as being inferior. I agree that they are gross and some are less than nutritious, but some are very nutrient rich foods, so I couldn't say they're all bad.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Soy or no soy - interesting debate. I see no problem with a food that has meat protein totally instead of adding soy protein. From what I've read, I'm definitely not convinced that soy is going to hurt a pup. What I am concerned about is high protein diets (20-30% don't fall into this category) and what they do to BUN and things like that. I would not watch a BUN go up in a young dog over a high protein diet, but that's me. And the phosphorus from all this meat when most middle aged dogs have kidney damage already, I think it's best to be careful.

I don't know anything about this nutritionist except what I've read on the About page. Could be totally right about soy. Don't know. But I did see that she doesn't hold a DVM. She is not (and could not be) DACVN. She doesn't have a Ph.D in nutrition, etc. She is a bio major with a certification in animal care and feeding. We all get to choose what we are comfortable with. I'd sooner have my general DVM pick my pup's diet. JMHO.

BTW, the article sites by-products as being inferior. I agree that they are gross and some are less than nutritious, but some are very nutrient rich foods, so I couldn't say they're all bad.

Good point. By products include organ meats, don't they?

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Britster

Actually, I was considering using the author of this site to help me out and advise me about feeding Jackson.

Better Dog Care, Better Dog Nutrition - Creating Healthy Lifestyles for Canines: Main Page

I agree with much the author of the site says, and she has good credentials and I think the site can teach the average person a little about nutrition. If it was about some type of allergy, I would be tempted to use her, but with something as serious as pancreatitis where I could LOSE Joey, I would want to go to an absolute expert. That means someone who has the schooling in both canine nutrition and disease. Ellie May gave the name of the Doctor at Cornell University who teaches nutrition and who does consolations for sick dogs, and that’s the sort of person I’d want to use. I just see this disease as something very serious.