Dog Food recommendations

[OregonLuvr]

Mitch, I am feeding the Nutri Source Salmon. They said fish was really easy to digest. She took to it right away. I just recently bought the lamb but havent fed it yet. I know lamb is described as one of the "hot" meats but that is not necessarily a bad thing. So much controversy and this is good, this is bad, yada yada. I think you just need to find a quality dog food that she can tolerate and works for you.

I was happy with Dick Van Pattens food and it gets good reviews but wanted to go grain free due to the allergy issues. I tried the Sweet potato and duck and she wouldnt have a thing to do with it. I wouldnt buy my food from a vet either. Heck most MD's dont know squat about nutrition so I am sure it is the same in the veterinary world. AND they want an arm and a leg for it......mine!!!

Ask at any reputable pet store (family owned is better in my opinion than PetSmart or Petco, they dont know much really) for free samples. I came home with 10 bags of various samples. Core Wellness sample was a good kind too that my dog liked. The manufacturers give them samples for you to try and they are individually packaged. ASK.

karen

[longdog2]

We feed our doxies Dick Van Patton's Natural Balance - lamb and rice which is recommended for allergies. For treats they get the Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Duck. If you give them special dog food, it doesn't make sense to give treats with allergy prone ingredients.

[Barbzeee]

.What I feed ( if any one is interested). Is a mixture. Taste of the wild (wetlands) and Verus.and I do cook chicken and steam veggies and rice...I do not feed brown rice because of the outer shell. Being Zeke has a major issue having had HGE. Since he has a Cardiologist and Gastro Docs...this has been the best combination for my "Group"

I have been cooking for my dogs for well over 40 years now...and have dealt with many issues..in the breeds I've bred ,shown and lived with...and like Colleen has stated, even treats are important as well so I do buy special biscuits also...

Feeding our fur babes is like what we eat..read labels and keep on top of things. Just like water mine drink...it's not just in the breeding...as in breeding there is a lot of research in genetics ..and majority of the breeders I know have constantly been working on ...and it never gets easy....

I don't want to get into the "Pure bred vs the "Ker Dog". Because that's like talking "Apples and Oranges".. It is what it is... My big beef is the chemicals that are put into the food, the animals that are used for the food and even into the crops...goodness I'm on a roll here...

Just do your homework join that list of awareness of dog foods and buy the best that you can afford...

Dog food advisor is a great resource info I've been a member for years...

Ok, that's about it..wish you the best with Abby as I'm sure you will make the right choice.

God bless

Zeee and critters 3

[rvgrammy1953]

Spinner was on Pedigree until the month we stayed at my sister, Ellie's, in WY....Thanks to her 2 fur-babies who shared the big bowl of food, he's on Healthy Choice now...He doesn't tolerate chicken well, so gets the fish or lamb type....and is thriving.... (well, he's now on the Healthy Choice "diet formula...vet says he needs to loose 5 pounds.) He also gets "bites" of people food, but not often....I believe, like people, dogs have issues with diet needs, we just need to find what works.....I do know that walking him keeps us both healthy.....

[Redetotry]

Just a reminder, if you are changing your dogs food, do it SLOWLY or you will have problems!! Start by giving a few pieces, if a small dog maybe 10-12, do this for a couple of days and see how they do. Then double that amount and take away the same amount from the food you were feeding, so you don't over feed. Increase the amount of the new food every two days if they are doing ok. If you are changing because of allergies don't expect to see improvement for 4-6 weeks. Also if you have a large breed be sure to feed twice a day to reduce the chance of bloat which is becoming more and more common and they have no idea of the cause.
My vet cooks for his dogs and if mine have stomach upsets that are mild, he suggests giving white rice (Not whole grain) and boiled chicken or lean ground meat, drain any grease. I think the issue is, what type and how much of human food your dog might eat. Many years ago I gave my dog a rather large helping of left over prime rib one night and we were at the vets at midnight with her passing a lot of blood! You can also use PLAIN cooked pumpkin to regulate dogs. I've learned more about dog food in the last several years than I ever dreamed! My Standard Poodle bloated three times starting at age 6 and lived to be 12 1/2!! Probably the only dog ever with that kind of a record as normally they don't survive the first time. I would loved to have another Standard but the bloating issue is so prevalent in Standards as well as other larger breeds I bought a Miniature this time.
The menu I'm serving this morning is Fromm for Winnie and Toby, Avoderm for Andy, all will get a bit of boiled chicken (natural of course ), Winnie gets a bit of no salt added, canned green beans to help fill her up and keep her weight down, the older two will get some of the warm water from where I warmed up the chicken to make their kibble soft...and all will get a tiny bit of canned food, today it's California Natural Salmon and Sweet Potato. Then they will all go out back and dine on bunny poop graciously left by marauding bunnies that slip under the gate, and Toby will eat any Medlar fruit or rose hips he can get! And to think, I used to be absolutely terrified of dogs....

[mitch5252]

I'm all serious and reading BJ's post and trying to take everything everyone has said in, and then I get to the bunny poop! Thank goodness I had just swallowed my coffee!!

I gotta get something for Abby today...she's not eating the low residue AT ALL. I don't think she's eaten since Saturday afternoon. I really thought dogs ate anything when they got hungry enough. Maybe she's not hungry enough?

[Redetotry]

Bring her over Mitch, mine will show her the good stuff. Seriously if she hasn't eaten since Sat add a little warm water and see if that helps. I hate to suggest anything else but if she were mine, I would probably scramble an egg well in a bit of water and add 1/2 of that, or call the vet.

[mitch5252]

Today's a holiday - vet is probably closed. But she (vet) was insistent - NO PEOPLE FOOD! I can't figure that out cuz lots of people do the chicken and rice thing when their pooches are having tummy issues...

Well, I'm going to look for a low ingredient (probably salmon, based on Karen's statement) dry and canned food. Paducah - here I come!

If this doesn't work, I'll call the vet. You can feel Abby's little spine all the way down now. (okay, so she could have stood to lose a pound of two...)

[sharon]

Chewy's on the Core Wellness, limited ingredients, and both petco and petsmart carry that. I just bought a bag of it in Ft. Worth and then read Karens post about small dogs being more prone to chicken allergies. sigh. Ya'll know how we've struggled with allergies. I call her itchy Mendoza. I really think it's environmental with her, but Tues I'll go over to the pet food place in Sun City and get her some Nutri whatever. Only thing is their diet food is chicken and the vet wants her on lo cal food. another sigh.

[Bethers]

Just a note - it's not chicken that's a problem with our pets - but the chicken by-products, in most cases.

And I just went to find the closest place selling Fromm's - will pick up some. Tips was a very, very picky eater, and loved all the Fromm's varieties when he was getting those. And I've been to their facilities and met the family - which gives me more faith that they really are doing what they say.

I was looking for places who sell it - and found the following page on a website - liked their criteria, so would probably feel safer trying any of the brands on the right side of the page here: http://www.barkavepetsupply.com/products/default.html

I feel even better because I don't see any of the pricy brands I won't buy on the list. I'm a dog food snob. Would rather buy some of the lower priced brands than spend my money on the pricy ones that I don't feel are really any better - just marketed as such. I will pay more when they really are giving me healthier food.

And I do give some people foods - carefully.

[sharon]

Well, the Wellness Core doesn't have chicken by-products, just de-boned turkey, turkey meal and chicken meal. Whatever the heck that is. No rice, corn, wheat or soy. Some veggies and fruit.

[mitch5252]

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I just got back from a quick run to Paducah...all seems to be improving in the Pooch Department.

I got Abby some Nature's Recipe Grain Free Salmon, Sweet Potato, and Pumpkin along with some different kinds/brands of canned food - Nature's Recipe (Lamb, Rice & Barley), Blue Hearty Beef Stew, and Blue Basics (Salmon & Potato) - all easy to digest (supposedly).

I mixed her up a little bowl of the kibble (with a tad of warm water, which I've never done before) and some of the canned. She ate like she hadn't eaten in 2 days...oh, wait - that's right - she hadn't. Ate every morsel. I think the water really helped with the kibble, but I could still hear it "crunch".

It felt so good to see her eat! And I think she was pretty excited, too!! Gosh, I love that little Beast.

[Sandersmr]

.

Gosh, I love that little Beast.

Now aren't you glad you didn't use her for bear bait?

[rvgrammy1953]

Yeah, Abby!!!! Sounds like you got the perfect "recipe" for now....

[mitch5252]

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Gosh, I love that little Beast.

Now aren't you glad you didn't use her for bear bait?

I didn't write the sentence you quoted. Someone broke into my house, and used my computer.
They didn't steal anything - just used the computer.
Must have been a neighbor who loves Abby, unlike me...