Dog Food Question - Page 2

SplishSplashCrash · #11 12-05-2007, 02:35 PM

Natures Variety is a nice kibble. They also have easy to feed raw if you want to ease into that.

http://naturesvariety.com/content.lasso?page=1136

You just don't want to see corn, corn meal, fillers such as wheat and grains (remember we are feeding dogs not horses

), by products, brewers rice and anything you can't pronounce or figure out what it is

in the first ten or so ingredients. You will find a lot of commercial dog food has corn as it's first ingredient.

ssejrnv · #12 12-05-2007, 05:53 PM

Well,
I have 5 dogs that are mostly different breeds and different ages and I just can't stand feeding everybody a different food. Currently I am feeding EVO for all my dogs. I switch back and forth between poultry and the red meat for added variety. All of my dogs do great on this food and although it is expensive I pick up a lot less waste in my yard and everybody maintains their weight even though they are on a high activity schedule. Even in winter mine do 3-5 miles a day on the treadmill along with flyball, herding and agility worked into the week. I too agree though I haven't seen your dogs, what you are describing is a well conditioned dog not a dog that is too thin. In the end as long as what your feeding is a premium food and works for you then your doing right by your buddy.
JJ and crew

Stanley · #13 12-05-2007, 09:09 PM

And don't forget healthy treats such as fruits and veggies. You would be amazed how many dogs go bonkers over fruit and veggies. Stanley will do cart wheels and backflips for a piece of lettuce.

Miriam · #14 12-05-2007, 10:12 PM

I totally agree with the no corn or by-products. By- products include intestines which no one can digest so it all ends up in your yard! I feed Nutro Ultra. It is salmon,lamb and chicken.Meal only, no by-products or corn. Brown rice is in there. It has probiotics and a bunch of natural immune system builders, kelp , cranberry. lycopine... The coats on my dogs are amazing and we have no ear or skin problems. As far as the free feeding goes, I do free feed as I have a Rottie which is a mastiff breed. It is better for them than gulping down their food all at once. I have been blessed with dogs who aren't so crazy about food that they can't regulate themselves. We live on 14 acres and they taste God knows what, so I love that the probiotics are in there to keep their guts healthy. I agree with the comment that whatever you are using, if it works for you, stay with it. The scare with the bad food was awful! I did a bunch of research about making my own food and found that is way too expensive because dogs need a bunch of nutrients like Taurine, and other amino acids that are necessary for their brains to function correctly. It would cost a fortune to add all of that in. The vet said that they can live on raw but was concerend about the dog becoming more ferrel on that kind of diet. Is that true? Would like to know more about that from those of you that feed raw.

Lori&Dexie · #15 12-06-2007, 05:18 AM

I have to laugh at the "raw makes dogs ferel" statement as a doctor I work with told me my dogs would become carnavores if I fed them raw meat. Dogs are carnavores! Anyway, feeding raw does not make them ferel as they do not associate what you are giving them with live animals. Feeding raw is not for everyone and you have to decide what works best for your dog. I just like it because my dogs do great on it and I do not have to worry about them eating stuff they do not need.

Little Gunner · #16 12-06-2007, 05:52 AM

Check out the link. It has a plethora of information about dog food. I personally don't recommend IAMS (not that there is anything wrong with it.) If you purchase IAMS at Costco, "i" believe you are better off buying the Kirkland Signature instead. I feed Gunner Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance. You will find it on the link. I also add my own secret ingredients with every meal ;-).
Just my 2 cents worth...

http://dogaware.com/ "Dog Feeding Info."

Sardo · #17 12-06-2007, 07:02 AM

Another false statement is that intestines it is not digestable. Intestines are area very important part of a raw diet. I feed partial raw and kibble and part of their raw diet is tripe, heart, liver, Kidneys and all that good stuff.

SplishSplashCrash · #18 12-06-2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miriam

The vet said that they can live on raw but was concerend about the dog becoming more ferrel on that kind of diet. Is that true? Would like to know more about that from those of you that feed raw.

Oh goodness no! If the dog is catching and killing the animal it might make them more agressive but there is no way on earth that eating meat could make a dog less socialized or wel-behaved (which is what ferrel is).

My favorite one myth is now that the dog has tasted blood they will kill. HAHAHAHAHAHA.

www.rawmeatybones.com
Read Tom Lonsdales book for free, that is a good place to start your research

Miriam · #19 12-06-2007, 08:55 AM

Thanks...I will pass that on to the vet. I live in Texas and also rurally. The hardest part of my business is educating folks who think a dog is to be tied outside and left alone!
Is the raw diet expensive? What about issues with their guts, like e-coli?

Miriam · #20 12-06-2007, 09:09 AM

Went to the website you gave me...looks very interesting! I read afew articles and my questions have been answered. I think the diet is not for my pack as we have chickens, ducks and guinea hens. No bugs on our place! So, to keep the issues seperate, I will feed what I already feed. I do give them all bones on a very regular basis and the food I feed is hard. Plus, they get hooves to chew on, as well. If I had only my pack and no clients here, I would consider this diet. I think it has merit. One other question...I thought dogs were omnivores...?