Dog Food recommendations

[Excel]

I just saw some information on my Born Free club website regarding dog food. The woman who posted had just sent her dog who had cancer to the Rainbow Bridge. She said the particular cancer was very aggressive & she was devastated that there was little that could be done to save her beloved pet. What caught my attention even moreso was that she was upset with the fact that pets are getting cancer much more now than in the past and perhaps it was related to the dog foods we buy today. She noted that she never buys anything made in China but still wonders about the ingredients in foods made here. So one of the responses, well, 3 or 4 responses mentioned that they feed their dogs RAW dog food...I looked up the website & there appears to be several 'makers' of this kind of food. As I know absolutely nothing about this I was wondering if any of you are familiar or can post what you feed your dog(s)
We lost our poodle to cancer last year &it was awful.....so now I have a rescue that is about a yr. old & I am feeding her Halo Puppy food.....but don't want to feed her something that could be wrong & would rather provide her with a healthy diet. Any suggestions....

[WickedLady]

Some breeds are more prone to cancer than others just as some are more prone to hip problems. I believe it is in the breeding more than anything else. The hardiness has been bred out of our dogs. Mixed breed mutts are much healthier. But yes, I am particular about what I feed my dogs. I prefer lamb and rice which has less things like wheat, corn and chemicals. I also give mine vitamins.

[avalen]

I tried raw a few years ago, my dogs (back when Bandit was alive) wouldn't eat raw, with one exception, they loved raw hamburger. They puked up the raw chicken and Gracie has ALWAYS been allergic to turkey. So I didn't force the raw thing. But I did cook for them and many times I still do. Barbzee makes her
own food too, maybe she'll chime in on this one.

[MrsHomeSweetRoam]

This is a hot topic on dog forums; everyone has an opinion.

I love my dogs very much, they're quite spoiled compared to most pets we come across- but I'm not feeding raw. I have met others that do or others that cook their food once a week and then dole it out over the week. I started out feeding Merrick and Evo dog foods...but I didn't like that my dogs poo never firmed and being that I have to pick it up, I wasn't happy. The bill for those brands didn't help either. So we decided that the BLUE BUFFALO brand dog food was good enough for our boys. They've been happy and healthy on it.

Please, if your finances allow, avoid all the really cheap brands.

[Bethers]

I agree about the over-breeding. And our dogs are living longer, just like we are - which means we'll see more. I really don't know if I am seeing more - have been around animals with cancel many times in my life - seems less now, but might be because it's none of mine. I also am a strong advocate of mixed breeds being healthier than pure breds. Again the over-breeding thing. Tips - my 1/2 husky/1/2 newfoundland had a life expectancy of 8-10 years. Lived 14 1/2. He ate Purina - various forms, ending with the Senior formula. I am a strong believer in dry food. I also do cook some things and mix them in. My dogs get rice quite a bit - usually made with chicken stock.

I don't believe in the raw - but know some who do. I'm also familiar with some who have gone the raw route and it hasn't worked out (know one whose dog went into convulsions and the food was said to be to blame - dog died. Not sure how they can conclusively say that - but they do - went from true believers in raw food to completely against it) So if you go with raw, make sure you're getting good quality raw food for them.

[mitch5252]

Since my Little Beast almost died on me a couple of weeks ago, her diet has changed (in her mind - for the worse...). NO people food AT ALL. She's on that low residue Iams food right now (hates it), but I'm going to find a good dog food with minimal ingredients. I hear that's getting to be common.

I read today that the Iams low residue formula is full of crap that dogs with sensitive stomachs shouldn't have! You just never know who to believe.

But I sure know, the next time my dog farts, she's going to the vet...neither she nor I want to live through that again, and next time, she may not make it through (according to the vet). (you know I like to keep her around so i can have something to beat on every day...)

Any recommendations on low ingredient foods?

[Bethers]

Well, Mitch, you reminded me - for a few years Tips and Moxie ate Fromm's - I really believe in their products. Was even better that I had a customer who brought me some - well, he brought it to Tips - they loved each other lol -

Here's the page for their four-star dog food (dry) info: http://frommfamily.com/products/four-star/dog/dry

And one of the things I really, really like about them?
What's missing?
Our recipes are wheat free, corn free, and by-product free.
Our meat and fish are free of any hormones or medications.
Our products contain no artificial or industrial preservatives.

The difficulty - it's not available every where. So, when I went on the road - I couldn't get it any more.

[OregonLuvr]

In the last several months I too changed my Dog's diet. She was just itching terribly so I changed shampoo's, her bedding, gave her some Benadryl, brush her daily. When I took her to the vet for her annual checkup I had her look at her skin. Well it wasn't red, dry, patchy, etc. Guess she wasn't impressed with my complaint hah. Told me I could give her some Benadryl. I tried it but it really didn't stop her scratching.

We have a new Pet Store here in town and while I was in there we were talking and they totally like a holistic approach, saying it was probably an allergy, (why is everything an allergy??). So they consult with a holistic vet in a town not far from me and his recommendation was Grain free, (dogs do not eat grain in the wild) altho some grains are ok for dogs. I dont think they eat vegetable in the wild either but......its in the food. AND Chicken free. (they say small dogs are more prone to chicken allergy) So I tried it and I will be darned after a month she no longer scratches herself silly.
She has normal dog scratches, not driving herself crazy. SO, I am anxious to see if next summer this continues because I think it might be worse in the summer. She gets NO people food and never has so that wasn't the cause. I used to feed Iams, then moved on to a couple different types (Dick Van Pattens Ultra Choice) and now I am feeding Nutri Source. They also say it is good to change out the food every month or two so I am trying that now too. Nothing I have read has any definitive answers for anything...it is a very controversial topic for sure. I just know I am trying the higher quality Grain free, and Chicken free and for now it is working. It is hard enough to cook for me, let alone the dang dog, so she is suffering with kibble, and a little wet food mixed in...good as it gets at this house.

karen

[mitch5252]

So, Karen, what "meat" is in your food? I want to maybe try The Abbster on fish.

From reading yesterday, big no-nos are corn, chicken by-products, and beef pulp.

I'm going to Paducah tomorrow to see what I can find. Like the little beast will eat anything but bologna and people food. Guess she's gonna starve. (she's actually lost a pound or two since she was sick...)

[Redetotry]

I posted this link on the Pet section in response to colliemom's question about what food to feed dogs with kidney issues. It reviews dog food and tells which are 5 star, 4 star etc. it also tells the amounts of protein etc. I also have the list of the approved foods on the Whole Dog Journal list. They are very strict and require the companies they refer to reveal where all their ingredients are sources, they do not recommend any who uses ingredients from China. I agree that breeding can be a cause but I also believe that dogs and people have cancer and many other health issues due to our food and where/how it is grown.

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog- ... -dog-food/

This is a link to the 2011 list of the Whole Dog Journal approved food. I feed Andy Avoderm which is made by Breeders Choice and sometimes switch them to Fromn. I personally would never feed the brands advocated and sold by Vets, if you read the list of ingredients you'll know why!
http://dogfoodchat.com/forum/dry-canned ... foods.html

Mitch you might try Abby on California Natural Lamb and Rice, it has very limited ingredients. It is made by Natura Pet Products. Here is a link and to the left is a place where you can read the ingredients and compare to other brands.
http://www.naturapet.com/products/1211

[Rufflesgurl]

Mine eat Dick VanPatten's Natural Balance Potato and Duck dry food but do scratch some times.

Linda

[mitch5252]

I would love to find Framm's somewhere local, but no go, according to their website.

BJ - thanks for that info. I think I'm heading to Paducah tomorrow and see what Petsmart has on their menu...I'll print out the list and take it with me.

Dang dog.

[retiredhappy]

I don't disagree with all of you about better foods but my Sassy and Buddy both ate Walmart's Old Roy their entire lives and Sassy lived to be 12 and died from heart issues. Buddy lived to be around 13 or maybe 14 and died from breathing issues. Now that its just Sophie and I maybe I'll try some other foods as she is prone to allergies, mostly grass it seems.

[Gentleladybear]

Something I found interesting, this summer coming back into USA from Canada, one of the items checked was dog food. I picked up my bag of IAMS dogfood and she said that is okay, it has no corn in it.

So the USA is particular about what is brought in. Not sure why they prohibit the corn in dog food but they do.

[BirdbyBird]

Karen...I had noticed Sophie's paws in your picture of the other day. I would agree that getting her on a grain free limited ingredient dog food has a good chance of helping her with allergies. The licking foot thing is often allergy based.