Commercial dog foods you may want to avoid ( And why that might be true)

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by lynzy420

I just bit my tongue off....

Good night all.....(sleepy smiley)....

Originally Posted by pstinard

Me too. Good morning! I may have more to say later when my tongue heals.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by oneofakind864

I was emailed a list of commercial dog foods that avoid the pitfalls of most commercial dog foods. These are posted in a different thread. Also included with the list was a list of foods that were excluded for a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons may be more or less valid to you individually. But I took the two lists to my vet and he had no disagreements with the information contained in either. Again- The list of "suggested foods" is in a separate post. But these are the brands that you may want to avoid if the ingredients are something you would rather prevent your dogs from ingesting. The main concern is the use of non-human grade products, or ingredients that have a higher "allergy" rate than other options, and/or ingredients that simply are not beneficial to your pets dietary needs...and in some cases potentially detrimental to those needs. The choice is up to you this is just additional information that can possibly help you make a better informed decision.


Also, before any of you get defensive and tell me how long you have been feeding your dogs _______ and they have lived long and healthy lives, let me say I have also fed my dogs the foods in this list. And even though most did live long lives- it makes you wonder if the might have had even MORE time with a higher quality dog food. My last dog developed allergies and kidney problems while eating the Royal Canin Yorkie Blend. And yes my current puppy is on the puppy blend of Royal Canin right now- but I think I will gradually move her to an approved brand. I have nothing to lose and possibly a few extra years with my baby to gain. In my humble opinion... it can't hurt to try. And it might even help- which is the reason for this post.

And again... this is simply a list that has been emailed to me and my vet said he saw nothing wrong or inaccurate with the information contained. He also agreed that the suggested foods had valid points for being considered superior to the foods on this list. I will post the suggested foods in a separate post. But will not include all the reasons or ingredients. If you'd like more detailed information you need to check out the website this information came from. Provided at the bottom of the list.



COMMERCIAL DOG FOOD BRANDS YOU MAY WANT TO AVOID:

Alpo -Use of Chicken By-products and Poultry By-product Meal, Corn as 1st Ingredient

Back To Basics Use of Menadione

Beneful Corn as 1st Ingredient, Use of Chicken By-product Meal & Animal Digest

Bil-Jac Use of Chicken By-products & Chicken By-product Meal

Caribou Creek Use of Chicken By-product Meal, Dried Egg Product, Fish Meal, Poultry Fat, Dried Blood Meal & Fish Oil

Cycle Corn as 1st Ingredient, Use of Chicken By-product Meal, Animal Fat, Animal Digest & BHA/BHT

Eukanuba Use of Chicken By-product Meal, Fish Meal, Dried Egg Product & Fish Oil

Gravy Train Use of Corn as 1st Ingredient, Soybean Meal as 2nd Ingredient, Beef & Bone Meal, Animal Fat, Animal Digest, Beef Broth, Artificial Flavor/Color and BHA/BHT

Iams Use of Chicken By-product Meal, Fish Meal, Dried Egg Product & Fish Oil

Kasco Use of Chicken By-product Meal, Poultry Fat, Fish Meal & Dried Egg Product

Kibbles 'n Bits Use of Corn as 1st Ingredient, Soybean Meal as 2nd ingredient, Beef & Bone Meal, Animal Fat, BHA/BHT, Animal Digest and Artificial Flavor/Color

Natural Balance Use of non-specific Fish Broth, Fish Meal & nonspecific Vitamin K Supplement

Nature's Recipe Use of Menadione

Pedigree Use of Corn as 1st Ingredient, Chicken By-product Meal, Meat Meal, Meat & Bone Meal, Animal Fat, BHA/BHT, Natural Poultry Flavor

PetsMart Use of Animal Fat & Dried Egg Product

Pinnacle Allergen-Free Use of Grapeseed Oil

Precise Use of non-specific Fish Oil & Menadione

Premium Edge Use of non-specific Ocean Fish Meal & Egg Product

Pro Plan Use of Poultry By-product Meal, Animal Fat, Fish Meal, Animal Digest & Dried Egg Product

Purina Dog Chow Use of Corn as 1st Ingredient, Poultry By-product Meal, Animal Fat, Animal Digest & Artificial Flavor/Color

Royal Canin Use of Dried Egg Powder & non-specific Fish Oil

Science Diet Use of Chicken By-product Meal, Animal Fat & Dried Egg Product

Solid Gold Use of non-specific Ocean Fish, Beef Meal & recent "Dry Dog Food Formula Changes" which are cost based (see website "News & Announcements"). Some changes made are positive, however.

Sensible Choice Use of Dried Egg Product & non-specific Fish Meal & Fish Oil

Three Dog Bakery Use of Dried Egg Product

Viand Use of Menadione


www.Healthy-K9.com

Okay, my tongue has healed. The justifications for trashing the dog foods on this list are bogus. One example is menadione (vitamin K). In the small amounts it appears in dogfood, it is safe. See: Vitamin K3 (menadione) in Pet Food: Is It Safe? | The SkeptVet

Likewise, grapeseed oil is safe. Grapes are not safe, but the oil is fine. See: Grapeseed Oil | ASPCA

As in humans, gluten is not a problem for dogs unless they are specifically allergic to it: Is Gluten-Free Dog Food Better? | Dog Allergies to Gluten | petMD

Named sources of proteins and oils are desirable from the point of view of the consumer (so you know exactly what you're getting, and to avoid allergies if your pet is allergic to a specific source), but if the company has nutritionists on staff, and excellent quality control, even that doesn't have to be a problem.

I view this list of dog foods as bogus, at least as far as the reasons given go.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Okay, my tongue has healed. The justifications for trashing the dog foods on this list are bogus. One example is menadione (vitamin K). In the small amounts it appears in dogfood, it is safe. See: Vitamin K3 (menadione) in Pet Food: Is It Safe? | The SkeptVet

Likewise, grapeseed oil is safe. Grapes are not safe, but the oil is fine. See: Grapeseed Oil | ASPCA

As in humans, gluten is not a problem for dogs unless they are specifically allergic to it: Is Gluten-Free Dog Food Better? | Dog Allergies to Gluten | petMD

Named sources of proteins and oils are desirable from the point of view of the consumer (so you know exactly what you're getting, and to avoid allergies if your pet is allergic to a specific source), but if the company has nutritionists on staff, and excellent quality control, even that doesn't have to be a problem.

I view this list of dog foods as bogus, at least as far as the reasons given go.

Yes, and I use Hill's Ideal Balance because of your last sentence. Prior to switching to them, I would shudder every time I heard there was a pet food recall. Of course it can happen with any company, but I like the odds better with the choices I make now.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Okay, my tongue has healed. The justifications for trashing the dog foods on this list are bogus. One example is menadione (vitamin K). In the small amounts it appears in dogfood, it is safe. See: Vitamin K3 (menadione) in Pet Food: Is It Safe? | The SkeptVet

Likewise, grapeseed oil is safe. Grapes are not safe, but the oil is fine. See: Grapeseed Oil | ASPCA

As in humans, gluten is not a problem for dogs unless they are specifically allergic to it: Is Gluten-Free Dog Food Better? | Dog Allergies to Gluten | petMD

Named sources of proteins and oils are desirable from the point of view of the consumer (so you know exactly what you're getting, and to avoid allergies if your pet is allergic to a specific source), but if the company has nutritionists on staff, and excellent quality control, even that doesn't have to be a problem.

I view this list of dog foods as bogus, at least as far as the reasons given go.

Just gotta say: Your tongue heals faster than mine! When I bite mine it takes days.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Just gotta say: Your tongue heals faster than mine! When I bite mine it takes days.

I'm in pain, but sometimes you just have to work through it

[Cherie6446]

This is an interesting thread and I am enjoying it. Wish I could put my two cents in but since Zoey eats RC Gastro Low fat for pancreatatis I have no input. Has anyone seen the ingredients on this RC canned product? I about flipped my wig when I read them but Zoey is doing well eating this stuff and I'm sticking to it.
We can make ourselves crazy trying to do the best we can for our fur babes but I think if you find a food both you and your pup likes then I wouldn't worry about some ingredient that is on someone's " no use" list.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by pstinard

I'm in pain, but sometimes you just have to work through it

One word: stamina!

[Yorkiemom1]

"Knowledge will set you free"! ......and heal your tongue!.......and keep you upright and confident as dog foods collapse and fall on your left and on your right because they lack an effective quality control department!

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Cherie6446

This is an interesting thread and I am enjoying it. Wish I could put my two cents in but since Zoey eats RC Gastro Low fat for pancreatatis I have no input. Has anyone seen the ingredients on this RC canned product? I about flipped my wig when I read them but Zoey is doing well eating this stuff and I'm sticking to it.
We can make ourselves crazy trying to do the best we can for our fur babes but I think if you find a food both you and your pup likes then I wouldn't worry about some ingredient that is on someone's " no use" list.

I am thrilled Zoey is doing great on the prescription diet formulated by RC!!! If Zoey is tolerating it, enjoying it and eating it and it is helping her with her pancreatitis, THAT is what you are interested in providing for her! That formula is designed to meet the specific requirements of your pup, as are all of RC formulas.....our beloved pets are NOT human and they do not have the same nutritional requirements as we humans do. RC has entire departments for input from scientists, animal nutritionists, researchers, vets, clinical trial specialists, and quality control managers that all work together, to formulate what our dogs need in their diets. Everything in that ingredient list, while NOT appealing for humans to consider as a meal, meet your pup's nutritional requirements to be healthy and thriving!

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by oneofakind864

As I said.. fed my last little girl Royal Canin for 7 years, until she started throwing it up after eating it. The vet did some tests and she had early stage kidney problems. I'm not saying the kidney problems were from the RC- cuz we really don't know what the cause was. But, in her specific case, the RC was definitely not agreeing with her any longer. So she went to Hill K/D untl that started making her sick and she wouldn't eat it. Then the final years I just made her a Vet nutritionist approved homemade diet for kidneys.

My new puppy is on the Royal Canin puppy mix- and I free feed her that because she is a little nibbler ( just a few kibbles every 15 minutes or so- but not enough at one time to justify only allowing her 15 minutes. But even so-she seems really small and wasn't growing at all. ( She was 1 Lb 3 oz at 7 weeks and was only 1 lb 6 oz when I got her at 11.5 weeks. She stayed that same weight up until 14 weeks. (A week ago) Last friday- I started supplementing with Halo for Puppies and she's gained 2 oz in the last 8 days. She feels like a sturdy little dog now and has a waist without feeling so fragile. So I will keep the mix of both. But I have to admit-I do like the idea of Organic ( for her and me and my husband) And science is great( love that about Royal Canin) but have to admit I DO feel a bit of nervousness to see that term "By product" in a dog food....Even if they say it's the gizzards only rather than the waste other petfood companies use in regards to the term. When it comes to dog food I don't really trust anyone because I know there really aren't many standards and checks and balances out there to keep "corporations" looking for profit and bottom lines " Honest" when it comes to what is best for this little creature I love. When I read a list of ingredients it makes me cringe to hear a statement like "Dogs aren't people- they are dogs with different needs" If that is the case and all these pet food companies are correct in that...why is canine cancer up more than double what it was 40 years ago when most dogs got "Table scraps" rather than scientifically formulated kibbles? In fact why are ALL cancers up in people too for that matter with all the science advances? it's like the more we know...the more we learn we need to know.

Again.. not saying RC is bad...just that I don't think I 100% trust any commercial dog food. That fox guarding the hen house thing I guess. And my common sense tells me some of the ingredients I see used in RC are not "the best" "Gluten" anything makes me squirm. it's just a cheap plan based filler used to boost protein in dog food that would better be filled with actual meat proteins. ALso don't like seeing corn as an ingredient since it is of relatively low nutritional value to a dog. Soy REALLY makes me nervous as it can mess up hormones even in a fixed dog. And cellulose...waste of space in a dog food. No nutritional valise at all to a dog other than perhaps a little " Regularity" with the added fiber.

I may try some of the suggested kibbles that have ingredients I trust more...but like I said. Anything I feed this little girl is going to come with the approval of a nutritionist. It hurts too much to lose one. 12 years was not enough with my last little girl and I want to give Roxie the best chance at seeing 20 that I possibly can. I'm not afraid to spend a little money to get good advice and or on ingredients and a more expensive dog food. The bottom line is I want a happy healthy little fur baby as we all do.

I just thought the list might be of interest to some of the YT members. It was interesting to me at least. and looked like a good place to start. TO be honest the " Dried egg" product that got RC put on the "not recommended" list doesn't bother me so much as some of the ingredients I listed that weren't mentioned. I think eggs are good for little doggies in moderation. There are just so many variables it's hard to figure out what the best route is. I'm just doing the best I can like everyone else.

Thank you so much to all of you who comment. Even if you are playing devils advocate. it makes one stop and think and you DO bring up very valid points.

I appreciate how you feel about what you feed your pup.....we all have preferences in what we consider important in what we feed and even in what we eat. I personally do not critique other dog foods and throw out someones list of what THEY think my dog should be eating, because, as with my own diet, I make my own choices. As far as increases in cancers, I personally think we each have genetic triggers, like allergies, and when we ingest water treated with whatever we personally are sensitive to, or eat from plastic containers that break down and release chemicals that leach into what we then eat, or all the other unknowns we come in contact with everyday, that hit our personal genetic trigger, THAT turns on our individual cancer generator and we develop cancer someplace in our body.

So I concentrated on your statement about your baby living for 20 years. As we all know, all living things have a finite age parameter. Some of us wish we could live forever. We all certainly want our pets to live long healthy lives. The oldest living Yorkie on record is a little Yorkie, Lucy, who is 22 years old, living in Borne, Netherlands. She is in the Guiness Record Book....there is a man and wife in Leeds England, with a Yorkie that they claim is 28 years old. So I went on a hunt for this man and his wife....I am no where the caliber of slueth that some of our members on this forum are....but I did find out the husband has since died, in 2012. I am tryiong to verify what this Yorkie was fed all these years....I received an email from "a friend of the family" , that has told me she thinks that family fed that little dog Royal Canin! Now, I am trying to validate this information....I am trying to get in touch with Kath Aveyard, the wife and owner of little Bonnie, to get it straight from her, that this little dog was fed RC!! Wont this be something if it turns out to be true!!! What a great "positive clinical trial outcome" for RC if that little dog was fed RC!!! (RC is widely and generously used throughout Europe) RC may just be the very thing your little dog needs to keep her around for many, many, many years!

Just thought I would throw this little tidbit into the mix!!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by oneofakind864

As I said.. fed my last little girl Royal Canin for 7 years, until she started throwing it up after eating it. The vet did some tests and she had early stage kidney problems. I'm not saying the kidney problems were from the RC- cuz we really don't know what the cause was. But, in her specific case, the RC was definitely not agreeing with her any longer. So she went to Hill K/D untl that started making her sick and she wouldn't eat it. Then the final years I just made her a Vet nutritionist approved homemade diet for kidneys.

My new puppy is on the Royal Canin puppy mix- and I free feed her that because she is a little nibbler ( just a few kibbles every 15 minutes or so- but not enough at one time to justify only allowing her 15 minutes. But even so-she seems really small and wasn't growing at all. ( She was 1 Lb 3 oz at 7 weeks and was only 1 lb 6 oz when I got her at 11.5 weeks. She stayed that same weight up until 14 weeks. (A week ago) Last friday- I started supplementing with Halo for Puppies and she's gained 2 oz in the last 8 days. She feels like a sturdy little dog now and has a waist without feeling so fragile. So I will keep the mix of both. But I have to admit-I do like the idea of Organic ( for her and me and my husband) And science is great( love that about Royal Canin) but have to admit I DO feel a bit of nervousness to see that term "By product" in a dog food....Even if they say it's the gizzards only rather than the waste other petfood companies use in regards to the term. When it comes to dog food I don't really trust anyone because I know there really aren't many standards and checks and balances out there to keep "corporations" looking for profit and bottom lines " Honest" when it comes to what is best for this little creature I love. When I read a list of ingredients it makes me cringe to hear a statement like "Dogs aren't people- they are dogs with different needs" If that is the case and all these pet food companies are correct in that...why is canine cancer up more than double what it was 40 years ago when most dogs got "Table scraps" rather than scientifically formulated kibbles? In fact why are ALL cancers up in people too for that matter with all the science advances? it's like the more we know...the more we learn we need to know.

Again.. not saying RC is bad...just that I don't think I 100% trust any commercial dog food. That fox guarding the hen house thing I guess. And my common sense tells me some of the ingredients I see used in RC are not "the best" "Gluten" anything makes me squirm. it's just a cheap plan based filler used to boost protein in dog food that would better be filled with actual meat proteins. ALso don't like seeing corn as an ingredient since it is of relatively low nutritional value to a dog. Soy REALLY makes me nervous as it can mess up hormones even in a fixed dog. And cellulose...waste of space in a dog food. No nutritional valise at all to a dog other than perhaps a little " Regularity" with the added fiber.

I may try some of the suggested kibbles that have ingredients I trust more...but like I said. Anything I feed this little girl is going to come with the approval of a nutritionist. It hurts too much to lose one. 12 years was not enough with my last little girl and I want to give Roxie the best chance at seeing 20 that I possibly can. I'm not afraid to spend a little money to get good advice and or on ingredients and a more expensive dog food. The bottom line is I want a happy healthy little fur baby as we all do.

I just thought the list might be of interest to some of the YT members. It was interesting to me at least. and looked like a good place to start. TO be honest the " Dried egg" product that got RC put on the "not recommended" list doesn't bother me so much as some of the ingredients I listed that weren't mentioned. I think eggs are good for little doggies in moderation. There are just so many variables it's hard to figure out what the best route is. I'm just doing the best I can like everyone else.

Thank you so much to all of you who comment. Even if you are playing devils advocate. it makes one stop and think and you DO bring up very valid points.

Unless you went to school for vet nutrition you don't know what a dog needs and it is not the same as what humans need because our body's are different. There are many doctors who say if you are not having bad reactions to gluten going gluten free can be bad for you. Royal canines prescription food saved and made my dogs life massively better much better then any of those limited ingredient holistic company's. In the end I am going to trust my vet and vet nutritionists over just someone's opinion. I just hope everyone knows to do that.

[Doodlebug]

Years ago i had a poodle/pug mix named Misty. She was from an "oops" litter when two neighbors dogs met. She was a scraggly looking little thing with one ear up and one ear down. She had a really thin coat of blond hair. And boy that dog could jump, like a cat. She ate canned dog food called Strongheart from the grocery store all her life. It would always be on sale 10 cans for $1.00. I shudder to think of what might have been in that can. She was never sick a day in her life until she was old and eventually went blind and incontinent. I don't even remember her being stiff with arthritis. She was the best dog, she never barked and learned quickly. Once she even fell from a second story balcony and when I looked over expecting to see her dead body, she was walking around in the grass unphased. I don't know how that dog lived to be 20 on that dog food but she did.

[oneofakind864]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I appreciate how you feel about what you feed your pup.....we all have preferences in what we consider important in what we feed and even in what we eat. I personally do not critique other dog foods and throw out someones list of what THEY think my dog should be eating, because, as with my own diet, I make my own choices. As far as increases in cancers, I personally think we each have genetic triggers, like allergies, and when we ingest water treated with whatever we personally are sensitive to, or eat from plastic containers that break down and release chemicals that leach into what we then eat, or all the other unknowns we come in contact with everyday, that hit our personal genetic trigger, THAT turns on our individual cancer generator and we develop cancer someplace in our body.

So I concentrated on your statement about your baby living for 20 years. As we all know, all living things have a finite age parameter. Some of us wish we could live forever. We all certainly want our pets to live long healthy lives. The oldest living Yorkie on record is a little Yorkie, Lucy, who is 22 years old, living in Borne, Netherlands. She is in the Guiness Record Book....there is a man and wife in Leeds England, with a Yorkie that they claim is 28 years old. So I went on a hunt for this man and his wife....I am no where the caliber of slueth that some of our members on this forum are....but I did find out the husband has since died, in 2012. I am tryiong to verify what this Yorkie was fed all these years....I received an email from "a friend of the family" , that has told me she thinks that family fed that little dog Royal Canin! Now, I am trying to validate this information....I am trying to get in touch with Kath Aveyard, the wife and owner of little Bonnie, to get it straight from her, that this little dog was fed RC!! Wont this be something if it turns out to be true!!! What a great "positive clinical trial outcome" for RC if that little dog was fed RC!!! (RC is widely and generously used throughout Europe) RC may just be the very thing your little dog needs to keep her around for many, many, many years!

Just thought I would throw this little tidbit into the mix!!

I love all these links and input. It's the kind of thing i was hoping to find when I posted. and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know if RC was what they fed the yorkie you are sleuthing out! LOL

Also will look into the hills everyday formula. My other little one did great on the K/d version until it started making her sick and she lost her appetite Then it became a battle to create a diet that met the parameters set out by the vet for what she needed mixed with something that piqued her interest and appetite.


And on on the ingredients thing... I guess I just trust pure non processed ( or processed very little) ingredients that are human grade because I know the things we eat are subjected to minimal checks and balances- and the average person STILL ends up eating so much crap it's astounding!. WIth doggie ingredients...not sure those checks and balances are as enforced or as stringent and THAT is truly scary- given what slips past as OK for humans..I shudder to think what slips past as ok for animals. When I read about treats and dog foods that have been recalled for making little ones sick. My hear always goes out to not only the animals but to the owners who thought they were doing something good for their fur baby. That said... I WOULD LOVE to find that Royal Canin is what kept that little yorkie healthy for almost 3 decades.And it IS what am feeding my current pup and what I fed my last little girl. It has been my "Goto" kibble and it WOULD be SO easy to keep feeding such an easily available kibble with augmented fresh ingredients. After I speak to the animal nutritionist....I'll follow through on what they suggest. Like I said. I want what is best for my dog- and if it is Royal Canin AWESOME.. if it's a more expensive dog food or homecooked( tho not quite as awesome) ...I'll do that too!

12 years may seem like a long time for a doggie- but it wasn't enough for me. And I am continually aware of how precious every day is with these little babies. I had 4290 days with my last girl ( that's not counting the first few weeks of her life when the breeder had her and the couple of vacations we took over the years where She had to stay with "Aunties" or her "Grand mom". I'm shooting for at least 5000 days with my little girl Roxie. Like one poster said nutrition is complicated and all we can do is try to educate ourselves and seek out the best expert advice available and do the best we can.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by oneofakind864

I love all these links and input. It's the kind of thing i was hoping to find when I posted. and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know if RC was what they fed the yorkie you are sleuthing out! LOL

Also will look into the hills everyday formula. My other little one did great on the K/d version until it started making her sick and she lost her appetite Then it became a battle to create a diet that met the parameters set out by the vet for what she needed mixed with something that piqued her interest and appetite.


And on on the ingredients thing... I guess I just trust pure non processed ( or processed very little) ingredients that are human grade because I know the things we eat are subjected to minimal checks and balances- and the average person STILL ends up eating so much crap it's astounding!. WIth doggie ingredients...not sure those checks and balances are as enforced or as stringent and THAT is truly scary- given what slips past as OK for humans..I shudder to think what slips past as ok for animals. When I read about treats and dog foods that have been recalled for making little ones sick. My hear always goes out to not only the animals but to the owners who thought they were doing something good for their fur baby. That said... I WOULD LOVE to find that Royal Canin is what kept that little yorkie healthy for almost 3 decades.And it IS what am feeding my current pup and what I fed my last little girl. It has been my "Goto" kibble and it WOULD be SO easy to keep feeding such an easily available kibble with augmented fresh ingredients. After I speak to the animal nutritionist....I'll follow through on what they suggest. Like I said. I want what is best for my dog- and if it is Royal Canin AWESOME.. if it's a more expensive dog food or homecooked( tho not quite as awesome) ...I'll do that too!

12 years may seem like a long time for a doggie- but it wasn't enough for me. And I am continually aware of how precious every day is with these little babies. I had 4290 days with my last girl ( that's not counting the first few weeks of her life when the breeder had her and the couple of vacations we took over the years where She had to stay with "Aunties" or her "Grand mom". I'm shooting for at least 5000 days with my little girl Roxie. Like one poster said nutrition is complicated and all we can do is try to educate ourselves and seek out the best expert advice available and do the best we can.

We never have enough time with our fur babies.

[107barney]

The RC probably kept her alive and the kidney disease what made her sick. There is no guarantee in life. I personally don't feel I need more time with my almost 15 yo dogs. I would love to have more time but if I don't, they've lived amazing lives as happy pets with all the best I could give them. I'll have sadness but not regret or sorrow. I would enjoy your puppy and don't try to carve out what nature already has. If she's going to get sick, it will happen. If she is going to die early, that's because it was meant to be. Some people are not blessed to have their pets for even 12 years....not 15 certainly. Good luck with your new pup.