topic Re: Dog Food Question in Pet Lovers

Dog Food Question

lovesallanimals — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 21:05:53 GMT

I have a 2 year old Jack Russel girl and I have been feeding her Fromm as it is supposed to be top rated, made in the USA, grain free and natural. That being said, for some reason she can only tolerate the beef fritatta in the cans and the beef frittata dry food. I wanted to switch brands to give her a little variety but even the brands my vet recommended had some bad reviews. What do you all feed your furr babies? I would really like to try something else.

Re: Dog Food Question

LoveMyBaby — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 21:44:41 GMT

Golden retriever mix (10 yrs) and. Morkie (5yrs) - Science Diet -only, dry.

(Active Longevity, small bites). I just continue to buy the Small bites from when the Golden was a pup. My routine is: The communal bowl is always filled, they eat only when hungry and then sated/full. Never an issue, both healthy weight. Never EVER an upset stomach, diarrhea from feeding this way. Healthy coats, temperaments. Before them, I had a Teacup poodle and a Pomeranian. Fed the same thing, same way. Both lived to 14.

I do swear by Science Diet - dry. For my dogs, I get all puppy vaccinations required - needed, and then only Rabies vaccine every three yrs, (required) for licenses. No heartworm medication, and luckily, never need to go to the vet until shots are due. (Knock on wood). My philosophy is if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Dogs will settle their own upset stomachs. My granddaughter unbeknownst to us fed the dogs her ice cream and cake. My Morkie, not being used to it, tossed his cookies, ate some tall grass and was fine the next day. They are not fed table scraps. They do get dog treats. Not many.

My only suggestion would be try Science Diet - dry (used to buy for my cat too). If he/she gets hungry enough they'll eat it. And then stick with it. Don't switch the dog food around. It's pricey, but the money you spend on NOT having to run to the vet makes up for it. It's good stuff. I swear by it. My daughters elder dog has a very sensitive stomach, she buys him SD - sensitive stomach. The change was the cure all for him.

Re: Dog Food Question

drizzellla — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 21:48:10 GMT

All I have to say is Petco, Pet Smart and Chewy really like us.

Our collie, has always been a picky eater. Well, in the past 2 months he has really uped the anty. He would take a few bites, if that and then walk away. We threw out more than half his food everyday, some days we threw out all his food. We tried all different brands from high priced stuff to more common.

Right now we are giving him Spot Farms Dehydrated Pork, Spot Farms Dehydrated Grain Free Chicken, Natural Balance Original Ultra Chicken, Salmon and Duck Formula, Nutrish Grain Free Dry food and Nutrish wet food in a tub. We put fresh chicken on top to at least make him go to his bowl.

He has been eating this mixture for the past week. So we are thrilled. We were resupplied yesterday - so that means this week he will probably stop eating it. I can not tell you how much unopened food we have of food he will not eat. Every once in awhile we load up the car and donate to the SPCA.

Good Luck

Re: Dog Food Question

Abrowneyegirl — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 21:57:48 GMT

We use Evangers grain free

and

Taste of the Wild

I and love and You have great quailty but it is a little too rich for our 1 girl

Re: Dog Food Question

NickNack — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 22:40:35 GMT

I feed Fromm Duck & Sweet Potato. I have also fed Wellness Lamb & Barley and Wellness Chicken. I think both brands are very high quality.

Re: Dog Food Question

Kachina624 — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 23:03:44 GMT

@LoveMyBaby. Sad to tell you but the websites that evaluate Science Diet, rate it very poorly. You can Google "dog food ratings" and check them yourself. Yes, I know vets recommend it, but that because 1. The know little about canine nutrition. 2. They sell it so have a financial interest in your buying it.

Re: Dog Food Question

lovesallanimals — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 23:09:31 GMT

Thanks everyone! It was also reassuring to read that Fromm is indeed an excellent brand.

LoveMyBaby: from what you wrote I gathered you only give your dog dry food, is that correct? I thought it was not good to do that but rather some canned and some dry. I give my dog canned food and then when she wants a "nosh" in the evening, she goes for some of the dry food. I give her only grain free and natural treats (just a couple) in the evening. My DH takes his medication at night with food so when she sees him eating a little something with his meds, she knows she gets her special treats.

Re: Dog Food Question

Kachina624 — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 23:13:30 GMT

@drizzellla. I have 3 dogs and one became a picky eater a couple of months ago, sometimes not eating at all. Ive tried every brand of premium dry kibble; she didn't like any of them. Yesterday I went grocery shopping and picked up a pint of plain yogurt. I mixed a heaping tablespoon into everybody's food last night. The picky one loved it and quickly finished her bowl of food. My Sheltie didn't like it and left half of his food. He's usually the best eater. My mini Aussie was so-so and left a lot in his bowl. By the time we go to bed, all the bowls are licked clean, so I think nobody is starving.

Re: Dog Food Question

drizzellla — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 23:35:11 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@drizzellla. I have 3 dogs and one became a picky eater a couple of months ago, sometimes not eating at all. Ive tried every brand of premium dry kibble; she didn't like any of them. Yesterday I went grocery shopping and picked up a pint of plain yogurt. I mixed a heaping tablespoon into everybody's food last night. The picky one loved it and quickly finished her bowl of food. My Sheltie didn't like it and left half of his food. He's usually the best eater. My mini Aussie was so-so and left a lot in his bowl. By the time we go to bed, all the bowls are licked clean, so I think nobody is starving.

Thanks, will have to try it. We had been using cottage cheese as a starter, when he stopped eating the fresh chicken. But he stopped eating the cottage cheese. I swear as soon as we stock up on a food, that is when he stops eating it.

Re: Dog Food Question

juanitalinda — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 23:41:32 GMT

@drizzellla I am in the same boat. It is depressing to finally find something my pup will eat, only to discover that a few days later she won't touch it.

At one point she had lost over 10% of her body weight. I am no longer concerned about healthy nutrition. I am happy with nutrition. Period.

Re: Dog Food Question

Ainhisg — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 02:47:49 GMT

I agree with @LoveMyBaby. We’ve fed grain free, high end, “Dog Food Advisor” highly recommended foods (Fromm, Nulo, etc,), and our Boston terriers, while looking good with good blood work, always had sensitive stomachs and didn’t seem to really like any that we tried. Our trusted vet, who raises championship bulldogs, recommended Science Diet, and the dogs are thriving on it. Our pickiest (who gives picky a whole new meaning) loves the active longevity small bites. I know what is said about foods with corn and grains, which is why I fed grain free for so long, but I also know that mine like the SD and are doing very well on it. And my vet doesn’t sell this food either. I have to buy it at Petsmart or online like I would any other food. He’s not making money from our purchases; he only has the health and well-being of our dogs in mind. I have found out that grain free is fine for some dogs but not for others.

Re: Dog Food Question

LoveMyBaby — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 01:21:15 GMT

@lovesallanimals

Yes, only dry. 😊 It's there when they're hungry, and I guess I've just been lucky. I don't get the 'picky eater' thing. If they get hungry enough.....it'll taste pretty darn great. I think the key is consistency.

Re: Dog Food Question

on the bay — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 01:23:15 GMT

Its reassuring to me that some have found such success with science diet.

I've read the reviews too and it is rated poorly.

But my 18 year old cat has been on that for a year and after trying many different highly rated brands, this is the only one that does not have her throwing up and she likes it.

Re: Dog Food Question

LoveMyBaby — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 01:28:24 GMT

@Kachina624

I don't buy into that hype. My dogs are well adjusted, happy, thriving, well behaved, and not neurotic, so been very lucky. They're very content with Science Diet.

Pet supplies, toys, treats, medications, gimmicks, it's BIG money, and everyone wants a slice.

Re: Dog Food Question

Another new name Sue — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 01:30:03 GMT

@AinhisgMy vet says corn and grains do a dog no harm. My dog is 8, and he cautions me about higher fat dog foods as it can lead to pancreatitis.

We have so many pet foods to choose from. I just avoid the higher fat ones, often consult dog food advisor, read the labels. Chewy is a great source of label information. Actually I'm feeding Zignature at this time because they have a lower fat whitefish kibble. I've fed that brand for quite a few years and am happy with that. I fed Merrick before that but was disappointed when Purina bought Merrick, but I suppose it's still an ok food.

Re: Dog Food Question

mare54 — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 01:41:56 GMT

My 4 year old lab gets Science Diet large breed light. I have always given my dogs Science Diet.

Re: Dog Food Question

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 02:04:57 GMT

Within a couple of months of bringing him home, we converted our dog to Nature's Domain, which is a private label version of Taste of the Wild made for Costco. We've been feeding it to our dog for 5 yrs. and he never refuses to eat it. It's grain-free and comes in salmon, turkey, or beef varieties and costs about $35 for a 35 lb. bag. Dog food advisor gives it 4 stars.

Whatever you do, if you want to give your dog variety, it's better to offer that flavor variety within the same brand rather than bouncing around to different brands. If you decide to go to a different brand, do so slowly, mixing a little of the new in with the old, gradually increasing the new and decreasing the old while keeping the total amount of food per feeding the same. Your transition should be complete at about a week's time.

Re: Dog Food Question

LoveMyBaby — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 02:18:55 GMT

@on the bay

Great to hear. My daughter's cat was throwing up all the time, she put her on Science Diet, and the vomiting stopped.

Re: Dog Food Question

Kachina624 — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 06:02:43 GMT

@mare54 wrote:
My 4 year old lab gets Science Diet large breed light. I have always given my dogs Science Diet.

@mare54. I fed Science Diet for years but quit it instantly when I saw where it stood on the nutrition charts. I guess its okay if you don't care what sort of nutrition your pets receive. You also aren't getting your money's worth.

Re: Dog Food Question

Citrine1 — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 11:20:49 GMT

I agree with @Kachina624 that adding a bit of plain, non fat greek yogurt to the dogs food is a good idea. My dogs love the taste and it adds nutritional benefits. Adding a teaspoon or so of extra virgin olive oil might work too. My one fussy eater likes this addition to his food.