I had the same issues with cat food and the quality of the ingredients that were used. I, embarrassingly, would look at people in stores buying the"lower end" food and wonder how they could be comfortable feeding their beloved animals such crap and not want to feed them better.

...Then last year one of our 4 cats starting losing a ton of weight and stopped eating her "high end" kibble and we were desperate to make her eat. The food we found she would eat was one of the foods I would silently judge people for feeding. I was so frustrated, but it turned out her mouth was sore and wet food wasn't working for her, for various reasons. So the food we bought her had soft middles and was one I thought would never come through our doors, but she ate a whole bowl the night we brought it home. After a few months she gained a healthy amount of weight back and her issues sorted out and she is now back to eating her regular food. I honestly think the food I would judge people on saved her life because she had lost so much weight so fast and no one could get her to eat. So maybe it wasn't the best brand in the world but it worked, she is still with us today, will be 9 years old next week and still runs and plays like a kitten!

On the other hand, our youngest cat had only ever eaten the "high end" food" and we lost her suddenly at 4 years old in February of this year. It was so sudden that we were in shock and didn't think to have a necropsy done to find out what happened. We just know that our little girl who was seemingly healthy, never stepped foot outside and was eating the best we could get her passed away within 10 mins of being her normal self. *Not blaming the food, just giving an example of food not always making a difference with animals passing earlier than we expect or want*

Same thing has happened with Sophie. It is still too early to know if this food change is working for sure because she would go weeks between belly issues but a few weeks ago she stopped eating off and on and was throwing up daily. The vet recommended Hills I/D and I immediately got my back up about the ingredients in it and thinking that prescription diets were a load of crap with less than stellar ingredients and vets only recommend the food to make money. We decided to at least give it a try. She has now been eating the dry mixed with wet and has been doing well on it. Her poops are better, she now wakes me up for breakfast in the mornings and she just seems happier. I am still terrified that it is too soon to be excited and she will have issues again, but I am trying to stay positive. I still have trouble ignoring all of the things I have read about how bad these types of ingredients and the opinions I formed over the years but if it works, it works and she will continue to eat it.

Long story short, the issues with Sammie (the kitty) and Sophie over the last year have humbled me more than I could have imagined. I no longer judge or think people are trying to take the cheaper route or are being manipulated by their vet into buying a prescription diet. I have no right to judge anyone for their pets when I don't know the whole story or the potential struggle they have gone through to find something that works for their baby. My husband and I can afford the "high end" cat food but at that moment spending $6 on "low end" food was necessary to help our cat through her mouth pain to gain her weight back and I would have been devastated if I knew someone just thought we were not willing to spend the money on "high end" kibble for our cats and didn't care about them.

My pride is way less important to me than the health of my animals and I just keep telling myself, "if it works and the pets are happy and healthy, there is no need to agonize over the ingredients." I hate that I silently judged so many people or thought we were better because Sophie's diet was natural and "high end". If I could forgive everyone for that, I would. I just have to hope that people keep up to date with recalls and are at least aware of some of the issues that come up with the sourcing of some ingredients, but no judgements from me anymore, I have been put in my place!

*"high end" and "low end" were just used to distinguish between the groups of food for the purpose of this post. I guess I could have used grocery vs specialty pet store, but high and low were just faster to type!

I'm sure everyone here only wants what's best for their babies and there are going to be many opioions and apparently some passionate ones. I do not think oneofakind was downing anyone's food just raising awareness to something she read and she is right on the money. I too have been digging and discussing this with a pet store owner who has enlightened me quite a bit. dogfoodadvisor.com will give enlightenment to why some are better than others etc. At the end of the day it's a personal choice, to each its own, but thanks oneofakind, I totally agree.

Pet store employees and dogfoodadvisor are not enlightening sources of information on pet food.

A pet store employee certainly is not, however a pet store owner that has devoted her life to educating herself and is practically a walking encyclopedia with main ingredients in all dog foods, her knowledge is outstanding, and she has no dog in the hunt so to speak, if I wanted a certain brand she would keep it stocked for me without a problem as she does for other people, it's a win win for her as I do not typically support big box stores, she is nobody's fool, it's not her job, it's her passion....as I stated before everybody loves their babies and is only trying to do the best for them, we may not have the same opinions but we have the same ultimate goal - health and longevity. I for one not only used dogfoodadvisor and this lady but did my own research and I agree with oneofakind, if you don't its all good, she was only making others aware of what she found.

Sorry, have to disagree. She's selling food, and therefore is not an objective person. It has nothing to do with love for our babies. Dog food advisor is a human dentist who has no training or education in dog nutrition.

OK...no disrespect here, but your pet store owner absolutely has a "dog in the hunt". This is how she is making a living! There are a few such pet stores in this area. They carry only certain pet foods...those where they are making a profit....and they each start giving the dog food advisor web site and the same rhetoric about "ingredients" when you go in their stores. It is their main focus. The one closest to me used to have some adorable dog clothing when she first opened....since then the area she used for dog clothing is being over run by more of the "holistic" pet foods. It is clear to me that the profit for that store is these foods.

If people would investigate "dogfoodadvisor's" credentials and qualifications, or at the very LEAST read his OWN disclaimer regarding his advise, rather than falling in lock step behind a pied piper, they would see by his own admission, he uses the very sites of the dog food he is reviewing, and taking his reviews based on what they have had to say about their own product! The remainder of his "advice" is nothing more than what HE thinks is "best" or "necessary" or "not necessary" for your pet.....and he is a dentist, NOT a vet nutritionist!!! He is proffering up his own OPINION, based on what HE thinks.....and yes, he has a financial gain for some of his recommendations and advice. Just because I think you can survive on grasshoppers, crickets and earthworms, and I encourage YOU to eat like I do,there is NO validation in my opinion that such a diet is what is "best" for you! It is NOTHING but MY opinion and what is considered "best" for me may be best for you. Do you OWN research, based on clinical trails, scientific research and formulation, and quality control....recalls ARE a red flag! Dogfoodadvisor does not factor ANY recalls into his advice.....that alone should be a concern for anyone that blindly and faithfully follow his recommendations.

Pet store employees will push what they sell....agendas....follow the money! A breeder that sells Beagles, is not going to recommend poodles!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Amen!

Your right it is exactly how she makes a living, thats why she is well informed and can order from ANY company of her liking. I am a business owner too, I also hand pick the items that I use and sell to customers based on quality. If you do not do this you will find yourself out of business quick in todays economy and with competition of big box stores. She has customers that uses RC and others that she doesn't shelf, but she orders it for them. As far as items she stocks, she has everything from clothing, harnesses, beds, crates, shampoos, car seats, natures miracle, and the list goes on and on. Her show room is probably, just guessing, 10,000 sq feet easily. I trust her, she has been in the business for way too many years and keeps herself informed. AGAIN remember we all have the same goal, just different opinions on how to reach it. I have had animals all my life and have fed a wide spectrum during that time, in the beginning to sheer ignorance and pre-internet when you couldn't look up this that and the other. Now that I am older and have more experience I am more picky about what I use. Basically we are all chasing our tail so to speak with this thread. If your happy with your food and your baby is healthy that is what matters is it not? If someone doesn't like what I use, I dont see it as a personal attack, because I am confident enough in my decisions that I have made the right choice for me and my house. In my humble opinion there are pros and cons to all of them, we all are striving to do the best we can for our little fuzzy faces. :)

We get it. You like the woman and want to support her business. That's wonderful. Your lady clearly makes her living peddling whatever to unsuspecting people. I don't like that. I want others to be informed about their choices and use reliable professional sources for information about pet nutrition.

Well said!

Seriously? A pet store owner wanted to sell for and dog food advisor is a human dentist not a vet nutritionist. These are not good sources to learn about food period. Both are biased. You want real food info go to a vet nutritionist.

:thumbup:

This is absolutely correct. The problem I personally have with these threads is people that blindly march, lock step, behind ill conceived "advice", hold that person or that advice up as gospel, and then criticize and critique other dog food as being "no good", "unapproved", some even referring to people's choices as "crap", etc. based on what someone that has no qualifications holds up as fact, rather than what it actually is, strictly OPINION! Then other people fall into "The Lemming March", with out doing their OWN research from qualified, reputable sources, and then THEY start espousing this same opinion, regardless how ill conceived or misguided or opinionated it may be.

Wow, way to keep it classy ladies...btw if I did not make myself clear I have done research of my own, that is what caused me to strike up a conversation with this woman. I approached her. Anywho, you girls have a lovely day, remember you can win more flies with honey...

No one was nasty to you. And unless you are a vet nutritionist or when through there training your not going to know what is truly best. Look at it this way an apple may be great for us humans and see great to us but it may not be so great to our pups. They have different systems then us and different needs.

If we were slopping any more "honey" on this thread, we would ALL be glued to the floor!!!

OK, how about you tell us where you did this research and share some of it with us.

I don't get your sarcasm....no one did anything but make valid points in this discussion.

LOL you do have a way with words.

This thread brings to mind the mommy bashing video I saw on fb where all the different mommy and daddy groups came to the park with their babies and their posturing about their way (working mommy's, stay-at-home mommy's, stay-at-home daddy's, work out mommy's, cookie baking mommy's) being the best and only way. Then the baby rolled down the hill toward the lake and every single person in that park ran as fast as they could to save that baby. Same thing. We all have the same goal. To love and raise the best and healthiest babies we can. There are many paths to the top of that mountain. Your way is not the ONLY way. I pledge to chase your baby to that lake and hope you would all do the same for my baby. That is what Yorkie Talk means to me. By the way, I did not breast feed. Evil Enfamil. Any takers?

The thread started out in a way to bash dog food companies, some of which a few of us use. I honestly don't see anyone bashing anyone. I see people providing factual information.....AND supporting a couple of the companies that were listed as being those to avoid.

am wondering what to feed my baby girl......she is turning her nose up to the Blue Mountain whatever .....it's what her last owner fed her and she is not eating it at all.....hate to give wet food all the time, but she is so picky.......help!!!!!!

Smelcerk....I LOVE YOU! Thank you for seeing through all the differing opinions offered and getting to the heart of the matter.

Can I also say...there might be more than ONE "Right way" of doing things.

Yes, there are always different ways. The point here is that you didn't start this thread to allow for that. You started out giving a lengthy list of foods to avoid feeding our pups....and many people may be feeding one or more of those on your list. Matter of fact I DO feed one of those foods and for my pups it is "right". So...clearly you are not allowing for the fact that there IS more than one way that is right.

Apparently not clearly at all

I started out by saying I had received the list and some YT readers "MIGHT"want to avoid these foods for the reasons listed. I found the list interesting and figured others might as well. I didn't say it was the "Doggie Nutritional gospel" But I also said some of the reasons to avoid some of the brands "To me" were not that valid or big of a deal. ... things like "powdered eggs" or "dried eggs" which is why Royal Canin was on the list and seems to be the sticking point as many YT posters use the brand. It was just information to allow people to think about what is actually in their pets food and make their own decisions. I am feeding my puppy one of the foods on the list. (Royal Canin) but it DID make me take a second look at that one and some of the other foods. And I will be consulting with an animal nutritionist to discuss my concerns and to see if some of the "Suggested" options "Might" be better foods to give my dog.

I am especially grateful to the person who suggested the Everyday Hill formula and will definitely ask about that one. The thread was to provoke thoughts and opinions. I think some of the posters were not very nice to the cindy lady who said she was grateful for the post..and IMO they came down on her and me in a very condescending manner. But that seems to happen frequently on posts here. I know it does to me. But hey..whatever.

Everyone is free to feed their dogs whatever they like..and again. Some of the reasons some of these brands were included could be more important to other readers on YT than it is to all those who have a problem with the post. So it doesn't have to be a "Science" vs " Holistic/Natural" thing which is the way most of the posters came off sounding ..."Either or" . I think both sides may have some merit and personally will most likely end up somewhere between ,as will many of the readers who are most likely too afraid to stick their 2 cents worth in for fear of getting their heads snapped off for possibly having a differing opinion.

I'm not a quack for feeling that both natural and scientific approaches have validity.

Do I take Antibiotics and medications when I am sick? Yeah... but there isn't isn't anything wrong with Drinking Chamomile Tea before bed, scenting your pillow with lavender to relax, or taking melatonin either. ALso don't think meditation is a bad thing either. Do I believe Crystals can cure a headache? No..but for some...they may have a placebo affect and help their headache. And yeah I like Chicken Soup when I have a sore throat and also drinks lots of OJ but it doesn't take the place of a visit to the doctor or decongestants, cough syrup or other meds. But that is a personal decision I would never be condescending to anyone who believes holistic is the way to go and takes that approach to health. Like I said. Both sides have merit and a healthy balance most likely lies somewhere in the middle. Dog owners who choose to feed their dogs "natural ingredients" versus a" Scientific formula" are not quacks..nor are they wrong. And NEITHER are those who choose to go that scientific route. All any of us can do is make the best decision based on the information we have available to us. New info may cause a change in that decision. It doesn't make the original decision wrong. This thread was simply meant to be POSSIBLY "New information" Based on the over 800 views and less than 60 comments..I'd say there are LOTS of interested parties.

People need to either learn to be nicer to each other on this site.. or they need to learn to communicate more effectively and politely. You are all well within your rights to dismiss the writer of the article as "not a valid source of information" as he doesn't hold a degree as a vet or nutritionist. . But he was a pet owner who lost his pet at a young age to cancer and who wanted to know WHY a 4 year old dog got cancer. He did a lot of digging based on that passion, love and dedication to his dog. The list sprang from that. He may not be a "Animal nutritionist" but he obviously put a lot of thought and research into his lists. He is definitely a go getter and intelligent person to invest that much time and effort into finding a possible answer to a question he felt strongly about. And based on my private messages, I'm not the only one who is interested in his findings. And it will never hurt to take that list to a "Certified expert- vet or nutritionist" and ask SPECIFICALLY about the points he made that otherwise- most would probably never think to ask.

Many people come to this site asking for information..and I have seen the standard answer " Ask your vet" or other certified expert thrown back in almost every case. That usually costs $50 or more depending on the info they are seeking. Some people can't afford to shell out $50 to ask their vet or a animal nutritionist "What food is best for my dog" SO instead of leaving them floundering at the supermarket wondering what to buy. Let's help them out...in a nice way, by giving them all of our individual opinions and allowing them to make their decision based on the points we bring up. We can do that without making them feel stupid for asking, not good enough to own a dog because they don't already know the answer to the question, or too cheap to give their dog proper care because they can't shell out $50 to a vet every time they have a question about kibble.

To those who brought up their personal experiences and opinions in a effort to educate.. thank you for sharing.

Again the list is bogus and the author is a layperson with no training or credentials to assess dog food. Why do I have to be all nicey nice to state that!? You bashed foods, you're opinionated and IMO uninformed. I think I was very nice in stating that. For 10,000 posts I've been helping people on this site and resent your little directives to alter my personality to suit you! Its you that needs to be nicer IMO.

By the way, professional advice does cost money. But you said you didn't mind spending it. I guess you do after all.

The right way of doing it, IMO, doesn't include the following.
- listening to pet store employees
- listening to a dentist with an arbitrary star system
- following lists of foods made by some layperson whose dog had cancer
- listening to other brand new owners who boast the health of a young dog (come back at age 12 and let us know if the dog is still alive)

I'm sorry to tell you but anyone can make a list. my dogs are 15, should I make a list?

I'm continuously astounded at the willingness of owners here to just listen to whatever they read on an Internet list.

One last thing, I communicate very effectively. I'm sorry you don't like my delivery, but that's too bad!

Responsible pet owners have an ongoing relationship with a vet. I have NEVER paid for advice on what to feed my pups unless I decided to do a consult for a sick one for some reason. I am at my vet enough to be able to call for such advice at no charge....OR I mention it when I am there for other reasons. I did not pay for a vet nutritionist to give me general advice on pet foods...AND I did share a website that is run by a vet nutritionist who answers general questions at no charge.

For people who have sick pups to come here asking lay people to give them vetting advice .. YES, most of us do suggest going to a vet. There is no logical reason for any of us to give veterinary advice on this forum, not to mention it is dangerous!! Many of us have been here for years and have seen pups die due to a person not wanting to spend that $50 as you call it. Guess what...a sick pup costs a whole lot more than that and that is something everyone who owns a pup should think about prior to obtaining one. Much like children, our beloved breed is not cheap to properly care for!

As for your analogies about chamomile tea and the like....that is NOT the same as suggesting that foods from reputable companies such as Royal Canin or Hill's are not good for pets. You did start this thread to suggest that certain foods were bad and IMHO you don't have the credentials and/or knowledge to make that call. No one is bashing holistic here...we simply are responding to your claims made and informing people of what is known about different dog foods and companies. I don't get on this forum telling people what to feed their pups and I think it is something people really should avoid. You are speaking out of both sides of your mouth on this one. You say there is no "right" way, yet your original post makes a different claim.

Further, let me say that if I started a thread that said people "MIGHT" want to avoid anything that many people here might use, I would be subjecting myself to differing opinions. This is an online forum and there are different opinions. You have already posted things that were controversial in the past so you know what happens. You also didn't like the responses and went on to post that people should be nice. If you don't want opinions that don't agree with you, why start such a thread in the first place? Not saying you should not....just saying that, if it upsets you, perhaps best to leave it be??

I absolutely love this and wish more people would actually take this to heart, on all sides of any matter at hand. For those who don't "get this" - hopefully you'll re-read it until you do, or remember it someday later in life when it suddenly gels and makes sense.

"Your way is not the only way." -- indeed.

Please allow others their opinion, whether or not it is congruent with yours or how you populate said opinion. :)