Best dog food

[llacort]

Hi Everyone,

We rescued a Catahoula/Labx from a local shelter in Long Island New York.
She was 8 weeks old then. She was being fed Iams puppy food. We continued until I got a little educated about dog food. We switched to Nutro's Natural. Now has anyone had this experience. She was just fine on Iams but now seems to have gas and smelly breath. She is shedding alot also all of a sudden. HELP. I see on this site nutritional food. But what is really the best? I hate to keep buying different kinds.

[Cheetah]

There are several brands that are very good.

Innova
Canidae
Solid Gold
Eagle Pack Holistic
Timberwolf Organics
Nature's Variety
Natural Balance

There are several more but I'm at work so am out of time. If you're in Long Island or around there, there are probably many small pet supply stores that sell these foods. >^_^<

[BratBoxers]

Not any one dog food works for all there great dog foods you just need to look at whats in them. I'm not a fan of any food that can be purchased at petsmart or just any pet food center I mostly look for a Holistic dog food store usually they have the best brands with no road kill or euthanized animals add.

I use Innova EVO for my adults and Innova large breed puppy for my pups.

[keeks62]

My dog had similar issues and now we use the allergy formula of natural balance, the venison and rice. they only sell it at Petco (both in NC and IL).

[MaryGrace]

Check out the other topic, "Dog Kibble Brands" and you will see some other people who have your problem, and can help. :)

[llacort]

Nothing comes up "Dog Kibble Brands"

[Cheetah]

http://dogforum.org/showthread.php?t=7

[sandi]

High end dog foods are great. But, I have settled on Purina one weight management. It works for my seven. I have rescued dachsies and one dachsie mix. Also, it cost us over $400.00 here in Mass for our home oil bill. Soo, think about it, the dogs have their yearly heartworm test, pills every month year round. Gluscosimine, chrondritin, fish oil, vet visits for whatever comes along. One of my dogs is blind, she is a dog thru dachsie rescue a min pin mix came here two years ago, had several TIA's and is blind. It cost me and rescue over 1,000 to get her eyes to where she has tears. One of the mini dachsies came to me thru rescue, three years ago, weak hind end, she was from the Manhattan Dog Shelter, she is not walking , as the surgeon predicted , she has a cart for outdoors. Chiro and acpuncture have helped immensely, her hind end and legs have not atrophied. Her bladder is expressed. We have one who had successful back surgery 4 years ago, I also lost a 17 year old husky mix that we had for 10 years. SOOOO, yes, good food, but, with this brood and it is only me and my hubbie now, we have grandchildren, that we are putting bonds away for college, they are toddlers. Also, if I screen an applicant at the shetler where I volunteer, I do meds, and treatmens due to my medical background, I no longer work as a nurse but volunteer, I certainly would not deny them if they fed Purina Dog Chow. In fact, I see more dogs over 15 healthy, still going strong.

SOOO, this is for the one who was going on about feeding good food to our dogs. Not Junk Food. Purina One works for me. I do not want to get up to feces and urine on the floor. Aslo, I did feed Nutro, they puked bile, fed for years, Chicken soup went thru them. SOOOO, let me say this, my two youngest dachsies altered are 4, the others are over 7. I must be doing something right?? I hope so

also, a friend of mine has battled breast cancer, by all accounts she should be dead, she is going on 6 years, lives on disability, and has a subsidzed apartment, unfortunately, she is working towards a degree in phelbotomy hoping it works, out, she has a CERTIFIED PET THERAPY DOG, he has been fed, now get this Mainstay for 6 years. All she could afford on $675.00 a month, so the one who was so haughty, should realize that many cannot afford high end foods. Her dog and cat are healthy. May I say that this does hurt some persons, not I, as I am not insecure, but, many who do what they can and within their budget.

Sandi
Dachshund Rescue
Shelter Volunteer
Trainer/Evaulator
R.N.

[BratBoxers]

High end dog foods are great. But, I have settled on Purina one weight management. It works for my seven. I have rescued dachsies and one dachsie mix. Also, it cost us over $400.00 here in Mass for our home oil bill. Soo, think about it, the dogs have their yearly heartworm test, pills every month year round. Gluscosimine, chrondritin, fish oil, vet visits for whatever comes along. One of my dogs is blind, she is a dog thru dachsie rescue a min pin mix came here two years ago, had several TIA's and is blind. It cost me and rescue over 1,000 to get her eyes to where she has tears. One of the mini dachsies came to me thru rescue, three years ago, weak hind end, she was from the Manhattan Dog Shelter, she is not walking , as the surgeon predicted , she has a cart for outdoors. Chiro and acpuncture have helped immensely, her hind end and legs have not atrophied. Her bladder is expressed. We have one who had successful back surgery 4 years ago, I also lost a 17 year old husky mix that we had for 10 years. SOOOO, yes, good food, but, with this brood and it is only me and my hubbie now, we have grandchildren, that we are putting bonds away for college, they are toddlers. Also, if I screen an applicant at the shetler where I volunteer, I do meds, and treatmens due to my medical background, I no longer work as a nurse but volunteer, I certainly would not deny them if they fed Purina Dog Chow. In fact, I see more dogs over 15 healthy, still going strong.

SOOO, this is for the one who was going on about feeding good food to our dogs. Not Junk Food. Purina One works for me. I do not want to get up to feces and urine on the floor. Aslo, I did feed Nutro, they puked bile, fed for years, Chicken soup went thru them. SOOOO, let me say this, my two youngest dachsies altered are 4, the others are over 7. I must be doing something right?? I hope so

also, a friend of mine has battled breast cancer, by all accounts she should be dead, she is going on 6 years, lives on disability, and has a subsidzed apartment, unfortunately, she is working towards a degree in phelbotomy hoping it works, out, she has a CERTIFIED PET THERAPY DOG, he has been fed, now get this Mainstay for 6 years. All she could afford on $675.00 a month, so the one who was so haughty, should realize that many cannot afford high end foods. Her dog and cat are healthy. May I say that this does hurt some persons, not I, as I am not insecure, but, many who do what they can and within their budget.

Sandi
Dachshund Rescue
Shelter Volunteer
Trainer/Evaulator
R.N.



This is not to put you or anyone down for what they feed you do with what you have and not one dog does well on any one dog food but when you figure in the cost of the cheap dog foods like Purina, pedigree, even Nutro IMO is crap too compared to say like Innova, Canidae, California Natural, wysong, Solid Gold, Eagle Pack in the end because you feed less of these foods in most cases you spend less I know I do and many others. I was feeding pedigree 10 cups a day:eek: compared to 1 3/4 cup for the adults and 2 3/4c per day :D for my puppy. In the long run I know my pups are getting much better ingredients and no BHT,BHA,(known to cause cancer, and other harmful chemicals, road kill, euthanized animals.

[sandi]

I have fed those foods, but, my dogs developed irritable bowel.

They do well on Purina One, I incurred vet bills for runs, a messy kitchen floor, up allnight washing blankies.

Also, if the dog food does not make their own ingredients purchase them from elsewhere, they do not have to list any preservatives.

Also, all fish meal i s preserved on the boats with ethoxoquin. Solid Gold, Wolf whatever is made at the same plant in south carolina that Diamond is made. Canidae is made in a plant that also makes Merrick. Very few make their own or have their own plants. Nutro has their own plant. My dogs vomited Bile on Nutro, they must have changed the formulation, they were always hungry. I also feed under the recommended amounts, have never had a problem, my own dogs have lived close to 20. I fed Pro Plan back when.

It is also genetics. A whole other ball game,

Sandi

[sandi]

I read again about the catahoula. Rather than switching food, perhps she needs to have tests. Thyroid, she could have a skin condition, mal absorption. I think you need a positive or negative diagnosis before switching foods. Since she is from a shelter (I have been involved with dogs for 20 years shelter and rescues) many do not have good immune systems. Not all, but many. Also, remember she could have genetically inherited a disorder from the catahoula or what ever else is in her


Sandi

[sandi]

For the catahoula mix owner. I would have her tested. Thinning fur can be a sign of thyroid, cushing's and or diabetes. Best not to fool around with food, all of these can eventually kill a dog or cat if not treated , first, then go with good dog food

Sandi

[cyclefiend2000]

Solid Gold, Wolf whatever is made at the same plant in south carolina that Diamond is made.

Sandi

fyi: this was posted as a reply from a solid gold rep. on another forum i attend....

"I just received this email from a Solid Gold rep...

Thank you for your inquiry,
Diamond makes our food in their Meta, MO and Lathrop, CA plants, not in the
South Carolina plant where the Aflatoxin issue happened. They manufacture to
our specifications and quality standards and the food is tested thoroughly
before and after processing to ensure quality and safety.
The food is tested before and after manufacture by Diamond and by Solid Gold
independently.
Many dog food companies will employ a third party to manufacture their food
as it is cost prohibitive for small companies such as ours to own and
operate a mill.

Best regards,
Solid Gold "

so what you stated is probably only partially true. do i feed solid gold? nope cant afford it. just posted this as an fyi. :)