[Tiyapup]

I am feeding my pup a rotation of high quality kibbles, mixed with a balanced homemade raw diet. She is doing very well.. healthy growth, beautiful thick soft coat, lots of energy, pretty firm and very regular stools, etc. etc. I’ve read several times now that you should NOT mix kibble and raw in the same meal because of digestive issues. Has anyone really had problems with this, and can anyone give me a real scientific explanation why I shouldn’t mix them? I’ve heard they digest at different rates and (literally, I read this) “confuse the pancreas”. So what? Why does it matter how fast a dog digests something? She has firm and regular stools, and that’s enough to convince me that mixing is fine, but I’d still like to hear a scientific argument why mixing kibble and raw might be bad.

In case you care, the rotation is Taste of the Wild puppy, Wellness Core puppy, and Blue Buffalo Wilderness puppy, supplemented with a homemade variety of livers, hearts, gibbets, cheap cuts of venison or lamb, chicken necks, eggs, yogurt, pumpkin, salmon oil, a small amt. of an herbal supplement, and add Grandma Lucy’s grain-free no meat pre-mix. I was doing about 20% raw 80% kibble, but now its close to half and half.

[kortney812]

This is an awesome thread! I am so glad I stumbles upon it!
I work at a PetSmart in Florida so I try to stick with foods from there to take advantage of my 15% discount. The only brands we have that I really consider is the Blue Buffalo Wilderness and Wellness Core. But both are SO expensive! I was actually looking more into all the foods we carry to see if there was something cheaper but I am really not a fan of anything else :/. I never knew about the Wellness $5 off coupons though, that’s awesome! Also, for anyone who buys big bags, PetSmart is doing the $5 off bonus bucks right now so if you print the online coupon and buy a big in store you could get $10 off a bag, plus if you get the petsupermarket coupons or others as well that s a good deal!
Akari, you are extremely helpful I may be able to keep my dogs on the two foods for now thanks to all your coupon info!!!!! I only go through 3 1/2 cups a day with my to dogs but I also have a Uromastyx, snakes, leopard gecko, guinea pig, a cat, and a horse so it all adds up! You guys are awesome!

[Naturella]

Akari,

This is exciting – are you looking at calories in order to determine the number of cups you will feed him (I assume Dweezle is a boy)?

Bruno is almost done with his Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy-Vets Choice Holistic Health Extension Original, he should be done by the end of next week. I will start mixing in his new batch of Dr. Tim’s Kinesis GF-Nutrisca-Vets Choice Holistic Health Extension GF starting tomorrow, and see how he likes it. I’m excited to get him on it! 🙂

I also checked Wellness Core prices at Pet Smart, but they don’t have it on sale now, so I will wait. I have at least 3 months to go before I have to worry about more food for Bruno.

[Strike12]

If you go to the review section on this site there is a list of canned foods from 5 stars right on down. Most of them I have never found here, but you do have a few options. My local Pet Valu carries the Blue Buffalo, Merrick, Nature’s Variety and Wellness. Fromm I think I have seen at our local pet store.

[Naturella]

I second what Patty said to 99.9% (my pup has been on Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy for a couple months and he has done great on it, no diarrhea (VERY firm stools actually)), but being cautious wouldn’t hurt. My personal preference is for grain-free foods, which is what most of the 5-star dog food for either adult dogs or puppies are.

Another advice – take the time, read reviews AND comments, AND the forum – it may be overwhelming at first, but if you develop a structure/way to do it, or even better, a passion for researching what is good for your pet, it will become easier to handle. Lists are great, so do that and keep an eye on how your dog is doing on a particular food, and an ear out for food recalls. You can sign up for the free recall alerts on this website. Also, if you find at least one great food for your pup, you will probably find at least a few more good ones, and rotational diets seem to be highly-recommended for optimal dog health.

[theBCnut]

Print up the 5 star list and take it to your local pet stores and take notes on what is available to you. Then buy a small bag of 3 or 4 different ones and try them. If he doesn’t like them or doesn’t seem to do well on them, crossthem off your list. If he really likes one or seems to do exceptionally well on one, make note of that. When you have used up those pick a few more to try next and do the same. Try to find at least 3 brands of food that he does great on, more is better. I would aotomatically cross Blue Buffalo off of my list because they have had a lot of complaints about diarrhea lately. And any Diamond product is a no go for me too, because of all their recalls. And Evangers and Great Life are permanantly on my too shady to do business with list. If you are interested in a brand but want to know more before you try it, ask about it under it’s own review, or here.

[RescueDaneMom]

Here are some more…

Canine Caviar Open Sky Grain Free Duck and Chick Pea Dry Dog Food
INGREDIENTS: Duck Meal, Chickpea, Duck Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Menhaden Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Sun-Cured Alfalfa, Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Culture, Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Culture, Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Culture, Sun-Cured Kelp, FOS (prebiotic), Calcium Proteinate, Sodium Chloride, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, Parsley, Fenugreek, Peppermint, Taurine, Selenium, Whole Clove Garlic, Vitamin E, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin C, Papaya, Rose Hips, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Niacin, Beta-Carotene, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin D3, Biotin, Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Vitamin B-12, Potassium Proteinate, Folic Acid.

Canine Caviar Wild Ocean Grain Free Holistic Herring and Split Pea Dry Dog Food
INGREDIENTS: Herring Meal, Split Peas, Borage Oil, Menhaden Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Sun-Cured Alfalfa, Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Culture, Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Culture, Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Culture, Sun-Cured Kelp, FOS (prebiotic), Sodium Chloride, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, Parsley, Fenugreek, Peppermint, Taurine, Selenium, Whole Clove Garlic, Vitamin E, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin C, Papaya, Rose Hips, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Niacin, Beta-Carotene, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin D3, Biotin, Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Vitamin B-12, Potassium Proteinate, Folic Acid.

Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Duck Meal Dry Dog Food
INGREDIENTS: Duck Meal, Tapioca, Peas, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Natural Flavor, Montmorillonite Clay, Coconut Oil, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Panthothenate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract.

Great Life Dr E’s Limited Ingredient Grain Free Duck Dry Dog Food
INGREDIENTS: US Duck, Tapioca, Yams, Bok Choy, Zucchini, Blueberries, Freeze Dried New Zealand Mussel, Freeze Dried Kale Sprouts, Freeze Dried Red Clover Sprouts, Inulin, Enzymes (Amylase, Protease, Cellulase, Pectinase, Lipase, Phytase, Xylanese, Hemicellulase, Alpha-galactosidase, Invertase) Probiotics in a micro-encapsulated complex (Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product Dehydrated,Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Bifidobacterium Thermophilum Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Bacillus Subtillus Fermentation Product Dehydrated), Vitamins (Dl-methione, Lecithin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamone Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Folic Acid) Minerals (Calcium Pantothenate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acids Chelate, Manganese Amino Acids Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acids Chelate, Selenium), Wild Salmon Oil

Great Life Dr E’s Limited Ingredient Grain Free Buffalo Dry Dog Food
INGREDIENTS: US Buffalo, Tapioca, Yams, Bok Choy, Zucchini, Blueberries, Freeze Dried Buffalo Liver, Freeze Dried Kale Sprouts, Freeze Dried Red Clover Sprouts, Inulin, Enzymes (Amylase, Protease, Cellulase, Pectinase, Lipase, Phytase, Xylanese, Hemicellulase, Alpha-galactosidase, Invertase) Probiotics in a micro-encapsulated complex (Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product Dehydrated,Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Bifidobacterium Thermophilum Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Bacillus Subtillus Fermentation Product Dehydrated), Vitamins (Dl-methione, Lecithin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamone Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Folic Acid) Minerals (Calcium Pantothenate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acids Chelate, Manganese Amino Acids Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acids Chelate, Selenium), Wild Salmon Oil

Castor and Pollux Ultramix Grain Free Duck Sweet Potatoes and Whole Peas Dry Dog Food
INGREDIENTS: DEBONED DUCK, TURKEY MEAL, LAMB MEAL, SALMON MEAL (SOURCE OF OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS), SWEET POTATO, PEAS,
POTATO, DUCK FAT (PRESERVED WITH MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), POTATO PROTEIN, PEA PROTEIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, BANANAS, CARROTS, APPLES, CRANBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, ORGANIC ALFALFA, SALMON OIL, MINERALS (SALT, ZINC AMINO ACID COMPLEX, ZINC SULFATE, IRON AMINO ACID COMPLEX, MANGANESE AMINO ACID COMPLEX, COPPER AMINO ACID COMPLEX, POTASSIUM IODIDE, COBALT AMINO ACID COMPLEX, SODIUM SELENITE), VITAMINS (CHOLINE CHLORIDE, VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, VITAMIN D3, NIACIN, RIBOFLAVIN SUPPLEMENT, BIOTIN, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, FOLIC ACID, THIAMINE MONONITRATE), DRIED CHICORY ROOT, YUCCA SCHIDIGERA EXTRACT, DRIED LACTOBACILLUS PLANTARUM FERMENTATION PRODUCT, DRIED LACTOBACILLUS CASEI FERMENTATION PRODUCT, DRIED ENTEROCOCCUS FAECIUM FERMENTATION PRODUCT, DRIED LACTOBACILLUS ACIDOPHILUS FERMENTATION PRODUCT, ROSEMARY EXTRACT

Unfortunately, the restrictions you have limits your choices. The foods I have posted I found through a quick search on petflow.com for grain-free foods. I looked at the descriptions and ingredients. Most times if one formula in a line has flax or eggs in it then the rest do too (though not all the time). This is by no means an exhaustive list but just the ones I found quickly that I would feed if I were in your position. Again, I hope this is helpful. Chicken-free, grain-free, yeast-free, flaxseed-free foods DO exist but they are all on the pricey side and may be costly to feed to several big dogs. If you aren’t opposed, it might be cheaper to make a homemade diet that you would have complete control over the ingredients.

[theBCnut]

Look for NutriSource. it is usually easy to transition to. If you can’t find that then another chicken and rice food will do, just don’t get Blue Buffalo, a lot of people are having diarrhea problems with their dogs on BB lately. You can get 4Health grain free chicken at Tractor Supply, but don’t use the regular 4Health, it is a Diamond food.

If you are willing to go with canned, Merrick’s Whole Earth Farms is a good food to start getting him back on regular food.

[Akari_32]

It’s up to you, Aleksandra. It’s just like some people continue to use Diamond. Personal preference, really. That’s a great deal on Nutrisca, though! Wholly cow. I think it’s right up there with Blue Buffalo and Innova in cost here, and no coupons (except for some $3 ones once). And no sales. Never seen it seen on sale in stores.

It saddens me that your 11 pound dogs eats as much as my 8 pound dog >.< Bentley can’t help he’s a hyper active lunatic D: lol

That’s probably it, Sandy. Too many china things to remember! Dogswell brand food is sold in Publix, and it looks good on paper, but I beleive I read somewhere about it being basically like an other Diamond product, with iffy ingredients and I think improper labeling or something? And it sports a little Made in the USA flag, while some of ingredients are not sourced in the states at all. Oh, marketing, you so silly.

Thanks Marie 🙂 Those were at the top of my list, the bottom being I think Natures Recipe and Canidae. I plan on trying everything at least once, and see how it goes. I may go back through and take out any fish ones, as Bentley doesn’t like fish. Or I may just say sucks to be him and he can eat it anyways LOL

[Naturella]

Akari,

I also have a similar food list myself, although a lot shorter (for now).
Of your foods, I would feed the grain-free versions of:
Dr. Tim’s, Acana, Wysong, Wellness, Earthborn Holistic and Canidae.

On my list I also have Back to Basics (not the GF versions), and the GF versions of Victor, Orijen, EVO, Innova Prime, amd Timberwolf. Some of those are quite pricy so I would use them as “mixers” to a bigger bag of more affordable food, for example mix a small bag (4-6 lbs) of Back to Basics in a big bag (12-18 lbs) of Wellness Core Wild Game, etc. I would also use Wysong Epigen as a mixer food, the prices I found were … mixer-food-like, lol.

My “maybe” list consists of GF versions of all Dogswell Live Free, Nutrisca, Taste of the Wild, and Blue Buffalo Wilderness (although Bruno is on it right now and seems to be doing great).

But your list looks great too, I may be snatching ideas from it myself! 🙂

[Char]

Many of the ‘Blue’ brands have been linked to kidney failure. I have several friends in various parts of the country who will not use those brands, b/c of losing pets and/or watching all the recalls. I’ve heard there are class action lawsuits against them, but it’s kept quiet. Meep in mind that even if a dog food is made in the USA, there may be ingredients from China. The problem is those ingredients are processed using the same machinery that processes the dog foods made in China. There are no perfect pet foods, but I’d avoid any of the ‘Blue’ brands.

I like the rotating brands idea!!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 6 months ago by Char.

[pugmomsandy]

Maybe your vet is just old-school. Healthy dogs don’t have a maximum protein amount nor do they require carbohydrates. Also you can feed various foods – kibble, canned, raw, dehydrated, not just one type of food. Feeding just kibble is like a person eating a cereal bar every meal for life. For better health, incorporate fresh, unprocessed foods, and decrease toxic load. Blue Buffalo has complaints of dogs getting sick on it, but that can happen with any dog food. Not all dogs have the same reaction to a food. Rotate foods to minimize the risk of getting sick on one. The Honest Kitchen is human grade and expensive if that’s something you’re looking for. That is one brand I have in my dog’s pantry. They eat canned, kibble, dehydrated, and raw.

/choosing-dog-food/karen-becker-best-worst-dog-food/

http://www.victoriabenda.com/articles/kBecker/nutrition101.shtml

http://www.thewholedog.org/artcarnivores.html

http://www.thewholedog.org/artcookedfood.html

http://petsynergy.com/articles/nutrition-for-cats-and-dogs-overview/

[notesandchords]

I have a 3 month old jack russell terrier and a 1 year old chi mix. I have been feeding them Blue Buffalo Wilderness, but recently the vet told me that he doesn’t recommend that food and too much protein can be bad for them because they can’t process it all. He then mentioned that Science Diet is tested with feeding trials as opposed to being formulated, and that makes it better for the dog. Does anyone have any input on this? I am really paranoid about the food I feed my dog because I don’t want them to get sick from it. I don’t care if the food is expensive, I just want to feed them something that will be beneficial and help them live a long, healthy life. I thought that if a dog food was rated 5 stars on here it was a good choice, but apparently not since I saw other people mention that Blue Buffalo isn’t all that great.

[Naturella]

I also use Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy for my Miniature Rat-Jack-Chi (maybe, not exactly sure what he is, but he looks like a mix of these 3 breeds (Miniature Rat Terrier, short-legged Jack Russell, possibly Deer Chihuahua) somehow), currently mixed with Vet’s Choice Holistic Health Extension Original. I have already purchased his next food batch – Dr. Tim’s Kinesis Grain Free (15 lbs) and Nutrisca Chicken and Chickpea (also Grain Free) – 4 lbs.

Like everyone said, if you rotate the food brands, and also vary the proteins within a brand, your dog should be fine. Every few months is what I will be doing – basically when my batch is up, my dog gets a new mix of 2 different brands.

[Naturella]

Akari_32 (and everyone),

I am in the same boat – I am operating on a SUPER limited college student with no student loans (due to being an international student, I can only legally work only on campus, and only 20 hours/week, and I have them filled with my Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA), which pays $730.00/month) budget, but I want to feed my Rat Terrier-Jack Russell-Chihuahua mix pup only 4-5 star dog food. So far so good – we scout deals on petflow.com, chewy.com, and amazon.com, as well as pet stores, and we have fed him Nutro Natural Choice Small Breed Puppy (1 small bag), Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy (1 small bag), Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy 11 lbs bag mixed with Vet’s Choice Holistic Health Extensions Original 4 lbs bag (got it for free at PetLand). When my boyfriend and I got him, he was about 4 months and 6 lbs, on Purina something (yuck), but we got him on Nutro Natural Choice Small Breed Puppy, which was recommended to us by the PetSmart associate in case of allergies in puppies, and then we put him on Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy. Toward the end of that first bag, we noticed that his coat had gotten shiny. We kept him on it, and then I discovered this amazing website, and learned about dog food rotation, so we have purchased his next food – Dr. Tim’s Kinesis Grain Free 11 lbs, and Nutrisca Chicken and Chickpea 4 lbs, which we will mix and feed to him. Now he is about 7.5, almost 8 months, and he is about 11 lbs. Other foods I have on my list are Acana Regionals Grain Free (so expensive!), Back to Basics (so expensive, to use mixed with more affordable food), Victor, Taste of the Wild, Orijen (so expensive!), Wellness Core, EVO (so expensive!), Innova Prime Grain Free, Earthborn Holistic Grain Free, Wysong Epigen 60 and Wysong Epigen 90 (so expensive, to use mixed with more affordable food), and Timberwolf (so expensive, to use mixed with more affordable food), as well as any of the Grain Free 4- and 5-star foods on this website. I also feed him all-natural chews and treats, such as bully sticks, ears, tracheas, gullet strips, fish skins, Himalayan Dog Chews, and homemade treats of berries, pumpkin, peanut butter, and yoghurt. These, I think, also contribute to his beautiful coat and good health. He also gets an average of 1 dental treat/week.

So, the bottom line is, I want to monitor this thread for more ideas on good places (online or offline) to buy affordable high-quality dog food 🙂 .

Also, since I got him, I have been putting in hours/week researching this website and others, and educating myself on dog food nutrition. I was wondering if anyone knows of any dog/pet nutrition classes in GA, USA. I would love to be certified in this area and maybe own my pet food store (that would sell good pet food) one day.

Also, another question – we have our pup on Trifexis, for 5-10 lbs dogs, and recently (this past week) he started itching and scratching a lot. His skin looks good, but I don’t know if he is developing an allergy to something, or it is because his Trifexis effect is wearing off faster now that he is about/over 11 lbs, and they only gave him the 5-10 lbs pill last time at the vet. I have also used the FURminator tool (borrowed from a friend, they are soo expensive) on him twice, once a week for about 10 min, and I bathe him (Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap – Almond, and oatmeal puppy conditioner) once every 2 weeks.

Thank you, all!

[soprano1]

I am feeding Blue Buffalo Life Protection for Senior. I chose it, because it is on a list on this site al alternatives for dogs with kidney disease.

[RescueDaneMom]

I would agree that food rotation is best. I would find at least two other brands (more is better) of foods you like and start rotating them. From what I heard, vets only take one class is nutrition. The rest of their information on dog food comes from sales reps of the companies that they sell (Hill’s Science, Eukanuba, Purina, etc). My vet plainly admitted to me that he knows nothing about the new natural or holistic dog foods on the market today. He recommends Purina! Ew! The only way they will know is if they do the research themselves.

I wouldn’t feed my dog Hill’s or Eukanuba. I think Blue is a much better food than those two. To minimize the vitamin/mineral deficiencies or abundances found in Blue, I would rotate brands of food used. I don’t think there is any reason for you to panic about using Blue. I’ve used it for one of my dogs with no problems.

[RescueDaneMom]

Regarding Blue Buffalo, what recipe are you feeding? The rating for Blue varies quite a bit between the different lines. Blue Wilderness is 5 stars.

[RescueDaneMom]

Soprano1-

I am by no means an expert. I would suggest checking out the dogaware website at dogaware.com/health/kidney.html. I haven’t figured out how to post links yet so bear with me.

According to my research on dogaware, dogs with early stage kidney disease only need slight diet modifications. The following text is copied from the website:
“Early Renal Insufficiency: In general, creatinine values up to about 2.0 (177 µmol/L) are indicative of mild, or early stage, kidney disease (or early renal insufficiency, as my vet terms it). In cases like these, it may still help to make dietary modifications to reduce phosphorus if blood phosphorus level is above 4.5, but these reductions do not need to be as drastic as when the values are higher, and it is probably not necessary to do other treatments at this stage, such as sub-q fluids (unless your dog is drinking so much that she is having trouble staying hydrated, such as getting up during the night to drink). Adding calcium to each meal if you are feeding a home made diet (to act as a phosphorus binder) would be advisable, and possibly antacids, particularly if your dog is showing any signs of inappetence or gastric problems. I would also give fish oil supplements (body oil, NOT liver oil), at the rate of 1,000 mg (300 mg combined DHA and EPA) per 10 lbs of body weight, along with Vitamin E (50, 100 or 200 IU for small, medium and large dogs), and discontinue any Vitamin A and D supplements (including cod liver oil) added to commercial foods. Additional recommended supplements include a B-complex vitamin and CoQ10, which may be beneficial for dogs with kidney disease.”

There is a table on the website for commercial foods with phosphorous amounts listed. There is only one blue buffalo food on there and it has too much phosphorous. See dogaware.com/health/kidneynonprescription.html

I looked up your previous food (Purina NF) on the same site. It says that food is for Late Stage Kidney Disease. The protein content is 15.9% on a dry matter basis. There are prescription diets that are better suited to Early Stage Kidney Disease. I don’t know why your vet wouldn’t have put your dog on one of those. I think Patty was right and the food was doing more harm than good in your case.

You report that your dog is doing well on Blue right now and you have a recheck in November. If it were me, I would continue to feed Blue and see what her values are at the recheck. If her creatinine and BUN are slightly elevated, I would consider switching to one of the foods on the list of non-prescription foods. My choice would be the Wellness Complete Health Super5Mix Chicken Recipe and/or Wellness Complete Health Super5Mix Whitefish & Sweet Potato.

I hope this is helpful. Again, I would really recommend checking out the dogaware site. There is so much information available. I would read through it before going to your recheck in November so you can be prepared.

[soprano1]

My dog was diagnosed in 2010, and she was showing no symptoms. I learned she had it, because I had a urinalysis done to find out why she was having bladder leakage. She has been on the Purina NF for 2 years, and has gotten progressively worse, but since I made the change to Blue Buffalo, she has improved by leaps and bounds! Her BUN has only been elevated once, and that is when she was on the Purina NF. her creatinine has been up the last 3 times she was tested; but dropped back to slightly higher than normal. She has always had a healthy appetite, and still does. I don’t want to do anything that would be harmful to her! She has a recheck in November, and I believe we are going to see normal ranges! What do you all think of blue Buffalo?

[pugmomsandy]

Many dog food manufacturers make several different brands and different flavors, not just Blue. As far as balance of nutrients are concerned, yes Blue is not perfect. There is no perfect one. So to minimize deficiencies or overages, rotate in another brand or two. This should minimize risk. I think those life source bits aren’t evenly distributed or eaten evenly so I can understand why he says that about blue and they did have a recall in 2010 for too much vitamin D. I’ve bought 2 dog foods already that have had a different kibble in the bag from a different recipe. It happens. Few and far between but it does.

[theBCnut]

I can tell you that BB is the only food my vet has ever warned me away from, but I wouldn’t use Eukanuba or Science Diet either.

[CaptJohn]

Hello. I have been feeding my 3 year old Golden Retriever Blue Buffalo Dry food since he was old enough to have it. Personally, I am impressed by the ingredients. However, my Vet has been on me about the fact that the ingredients could cause him kidney stones as he gets older. Plus the food is not a good balance of nutrients. Too high in some and too low in others. I don’t know much about the chemistry of the nutrients! Lastly, he mentioned that the outside sources that Blue uses run several brands through their extruders and can easily contaminate the food.

He is recommending Eukanuba or Science. I am not trying to start a debate of which food is better, but, I am interested in knowing any opinions on the comments about the Blue Buffalo. I would like to keep him on that but am a bit worried why my vet is so concerned.

I also do not want to bash my vet. He is a very good vet and I do trust him totally. I also know that he is not trying to sell me the food his clinic sells. In fact, he gave me a coupon to a store for the Eukanuba. So, I am very concerned!

Thank you for your input!

[soprano1]

I am interested in knowing if Blue Buffalo is safe for my Siberian Husky who has early stage kidney disease? I was feeding her Purina NF, but I heard some really bad things about Purina. My dog had chronic diarrhea, occasional vomiting, and lost a lot of weight. Her coat was also very bad, with big raw, bald spots, and she also really did not feel good. I believed it was the food doing it to her. Now that I switched her to Blue Buffalo, her coat is looking great, she no longer vomits or has diarrhea, she has gained weight, and she feels better than she has in years! She plays like a puppy, and she is 9 years old! Is the Blue Buffalo safe for her? If not, can you recommend a food that is safe for her? Thank you!

[Akari_32]

Hey guys! I need your all’s help on prices 🙂

Normally, I coupon for dog food, usually paying no more $1 a per pound for brands like Wellness and Blue Buffalo (but usually its more like pocket change for 4-6 pound bags). However, if you’ve never tried couponing before, it takes tons of time– matching up store, manufacturer and competitor coupons to sales, as well has having to actually have the money to spend on the food when I don’t actually need it in order to take advantage of the sales to save money down the road. I work and go to college full time and with season coming, work is getting more and more busy (dang snow birds), and I’m having less time to keep up with coupons and sales. I have about 2 months of dog food stored away, so I figured while I have the time, I’d do some research and look around for some good food that fits into my limited college budget for when I don’t have the ability to use coupons.

What I’d like in the food is to be grain free (preferably, but no corn at the very least), available at Walmart, Publix, PetSmart, Pet Supermarket, and Petco, no more than $2 a pound (less would be much much better, though), and I’d like varying meat sources, as well as being no less than 3 stars (as I know you do get what you pay for). One thing to keep in mind is that I’m vary rarely near Costco and Tractor Supply, but those don’t have to be completely counted out. My grandparents are near Costco usually once a week, so I could give them money to pick me up something there.

I’m not too adverse to feeding Diamond foods, but I don’t want it to be a regular thing. Once every couple months is fine. So if any of these fall into my range, feel free to list them. And anything that gets manufacturer coupons would be super awesome, but its not necessarily overly important.

Also, Pet Supermarket does buy 10 get 1 free on ALL their foods, except Diamond (the actual labeled Diamond food in the white and orange bag). This is a plus, but doesn’t have to be a driving force.

I know prices vary across the country, so don’t worry too much! Just keep it close according to what’s available around you. Thanks bunches!

[Marissa]

I would definitely suggest breaking his daily food ration into multiple meals. This should help with the hunger. I would also suggest switching foods every 3-4 months. He might be getting bored or frustrated getting the same thing all the time. Merrick Grain Free foods are great and they have a wide variety of protein sources, so you can feed the Buffalo for 3-4 months, then turkey, then fish, then pork, and keep his meals interesting. They also have great canned foods available. As far as price goes, it’s not too far off from Blue Buffalo. I think they’re priced pretty similarly. I can buy a 25lb bag of my Merrick for around $52, and that lasts my 2 dogs about 5-6 weeks. I think I’d pay the same amount for a 25-30lb bag of BB, but I prefer it and think it’s worth the price difference to be able to switch the protein sources since one of my dogs is prone to allergies.

[tearl42]

Greetings to all,

I’m looking for some advice. My dog, Moose, is a Red Bone Coon Hound about 2 yrs old and 85 lbs. We are feeding him Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe. We switched him from one of the Purina brands based on what I read here. The issue we were having while he was on the Purina food was that he as hungry all the time. Not just chewing things for the sake that we was a puppy and all that, he was getting in the thr trash and getting up on the counters. So we fed him more, but it didn’t stop. After doing some reading about dog foods and a very basic level of metabolism, I figured that he wasn’t getting enough protein. Sure enough, we switched him over to Blue Buffalo and he went from 95’ish pounds down to 85 and has only gotten in to the trash one time in the last 6 months. He gets very little human food. Sorry for all the back story. So my issue is this, Moose is starting to act like he is starving again. It’s not AS bad but I’ve started noticing him lurking when anyone goes in the kitchen and heaven forbid I leave something out to cool (say chocolate cupcakes, been there done that, went to the vet and cost me $200) and it’s not secured. Should I break up his food in to a cup in the AM and a cup at dinner?

If there is anyone out there with experience with this breed of dog or has had this issue please let me know and thanks for your time!

Tom

[SassyMY]

Love the forum and love the site, this actually helped me pick my dog’s food 1.5 years ago, however, I need Your expertise!
I have a 1.5 year old maltese yorkie mix.
She came to me on diamond (horrifying).
I tried Blue Buffalo (she liked it so much she ate her poop), then I switched to Nutro Natural Choice small breed chicken (what was I thinking?) and Nutro Ultra toy breed.

Then she started biting her nails, licking her paws, and scratching lots. She’s mostly indoors and we have no other pets, so fleas were out of the question. I looked into dog food once again and bough Natural Balance Potatoe and Duck (Am I crazy?!?!) She’s been doing okay on it, not licking her paws and biting her nails. But she’s still scratching. And DEL MONTE bought them.

You guys please help me! I’d like something I can get from PetCo or PetSmart… small breed, lower protein. I’m desperate at this point.

Thank you in advance for advice, yelling at me, anything, but food advice MUCH appreciated!

[Lenalou2]

We live in a small midwestern town that has as it’s major industry, a dog food plant. The company has never had a recall. We were buying their premium grain-free food for a premium price when the local farm store started carrying another big name brand that had the very same ingredients the local food had, and there was a big price difference, $15/bag. That store was actually encouraging people to switch from the local brand. A friend on the inside of the local dog food plant says that the other brand is bagged right there in the local factory, and that makes sense since the ingredients are so similar. That being said, if the other brand, which has a bad name within the recall world (Diamond), is made and bagged at a recall-free plant, wouldn’t that negate the chances of it being of poor quality/recall-prone? It seems to me if this is going on here, then it is probably true of many brands. I know that they bag Blue Buffalo there as well.

[rogerharris]

I think Blue Buffalo is best brand as it contains Omega 6 fatty acids and glucosamine for joint health and its annual revenue is around $400 million which shows this brand has increases their sales on the basis of quality ingredients.

http://www.compundiapharmacy.com/

[somebodysme]

Interesting about the GI inflammation causing her to be allergic. I had not read, or most likely don’t remember reading that before but that makes a lot of sense.

I’d never dreamed it would be such a monumental task to feed a dog? And with her, the more highly regarded food that I buy for her, the worse she does on it. She is a rescue and according to the rescue group, she was fed dog chow at her foster home. Honestly, when he got her she was beautiful and had absolutely no rashes at all. They brought her here with a bag of Pro Plan and it’s been down hill ever since. I’ve tried Blue Buffalo, Simply Nourish grain free, Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch, Avoderm Trout, Avoderm Duck the rotating menu on both those, Nature’s Variety LID Turkey (digestion was an issue with this one) then I bought Natural Balance which she did the best on until the last bag which smelled totally different than the rest of the bags of NB and now she began to scratch like mad! So here we are, on to the next “high quality” dog food. Though NB isn’t that great, it was so limited in ingredients that it was working and her feet were just about healed up. I suppose now that Del Monte took over, they have changed something. I’m going to write then and ask if the ingredients have changed, the label is exactly the same as all the rest. She isn’t allowed to have anything else but her food now. She cannot even gnaw a bone. This is just insane!

I have my suspicions about certain ingredients but I can’t really know until I find something that doesn’t have them.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by somebodysme.

[cockerspanielmom]

I just wanted any recommendations you have.

I have a 15.5 year old cocker spaniel, mostly healthy.
We added a 10 month cocker spaniel puppy after losing our 13 year old earlier in the year.

We also have two additional cockers living with my mother in law while we have our house built. a 13 year old tri girl with bladder stones eating a prescription diet WD or CD and a cancer surviving 13 year old buff boy with an enlarged heart but otherwise healthy.

So we fed everyone WD for the past 7+ years due to the one dog who required it. With the puppy in the house, that’s not ideal so our vet suggested a senior formula for the two boys and a puppy formula for the new baby.

We’ve tried Blue Buffalo, it’s our first choice. The puppy really needs grain free.
They don’t like BB and will barely eat it. We tried some samples of Merrick and they love it but the protein is just too high. We’ve also tried Natural Balance Fish and Potato and Ideal Balance Fish/Potato.

Ideal Balance is only rated a 3 (bleh) but they ate it best. Merrick replied that we should try Castor and Pollux as a lower protein option to Merrick.

I just feel a bit lost because they don’t seem to like any of the foods we are trying yet. We want them to love the food, want to eat it, and it still be healthy. I’ve never had such picky dogs before and the puppy needs that grain free due to possible allergies and it’s just a mess.

[Markoh80]

We have a 50 lb Pointer/Pit mix. We’ve had him for about 2 and half months and he’s twice had some diarrhea issues. Also, he usually poops twice on our walks, the second of which is often loose and soft. We currently feed him Blue Buffalo Lamb and Rice. It seems like he might have a sensitive stomach. Would anyone agree with that, or have any other ideas what it might be?

[Weber hunde]

Good morning, all! I am new to this site, but have already found it so helpful. My request is to Sully’s mom: I too am experiencing excessive itching and biting of my two lab puppies. I have them on Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Chicken recipe. I have since changed the 3 month old’s food to BB Life Puppy with Lamb and Rice, with some success. He is still itchy, though. What food have you found has helped with this?

as an aside, he was on ivermectin for mites, which have since cleared up. Also, no people foods of any kind for either pup!

Thanks for any feedback!

[theBCnut]

A lot of people are reporting diarrhea problems with Blue Buffalo right now.

[gixx0r]

Thanks Patty and Sandy for the comments. How are Blue Buffalo products for Bichons? We’ll definitely consider adding a little moisture to his diet. This is completely new for us so any recommendations are appreciated.

In terms of canned foods, what do you use? Same brands?

[InkedMarie]

I prefer Dr Tims but I admit to not feeding Fromm.

Fromm classic, grain inclusive is 3.5 stars, plant based, modest amount of meat
Fromm Gold, grain inclusive is 4 stars, grain based, moderate amount of meat
Fromm grainfree-4 stars, plant based, moderate amount of meat

Dr Tims Pursuit-grain inclusive, 5 stars, meat based, significant amount of meat
Dr Tims grainfree-5 stars. meat based, significant amount of meat

for me, it’s a no brainer.

[ringohop]

Ok…. which should I choose? Fromm or Dr. Tim’s? I really can’t decide, does any one have an experience with either of those foods?

[somebodysme]

Just a comment from the peanut gallery(whatever that means :)….my dog HATED the Blue Buffalo food too! This is a dog that is crazy about food! She’s loved all the other foods I’ve tried. She also did better on Pro Plan than any other food she’s had except what she is on now that seems to be a lot better for her allergies which is Natural Balance rabbit formula. Note: I only feed this because she has such severe allergies. I think that 4 health should be fine, the grain free is made by a better company and is still pretty cheap so just try the grain free one next. I wouldn’t worry about your current bag as long as your dog isn’t ill from it then it should be fine. Personally I believe that Diamond has so many recalls because they are such a large manufacturer of dog food.

One company that I see a lot of people like is Fromm. Their grain inclusive Gold formula is reasonably priced. I’m not convinced that grain free is right for all dogs after dealing with a dog that is sensitive to so many ingredients, it made me see things differently.

Edit to add: Foods we tried that didn’t work, Nature’s Variety Instinct(crazy expensive!), Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch, Zignature Lamb, Avoderm Duck and Trout formulas, Blue Buffalo Fish and potato. She loved all those except the BB but sadly she was allergic to them. OH and Simply Nourish Grain Free (a Petsmart brand) that she loved. It wasn’t all that cheap for a store brand though but people seem to like this brand too, it worked the best for her digestive system but not for her skin.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by somebodysme.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by somebodysme.

[InkedMarie]

Why Sandy, don’t you approve of using cardboard & duct tape on your dog food making machinery?

Ringohop: sadly, what i just said to Sandy is true. That doesn’t give me much confidence.

[pugmomsandy]

Diamond is one of the biggest kibble makers in the USA and they make soooo many brands of kibble that it is more than likely (make that inevitable) that they will have future recalls as they’ve had a couple in the past already. Just look up “Diamond Recalls”. You’ll also find out how they used broken equipment as well.

http://www.petsitusa.com/blog/?p=5159

[ringohop]

I’m very new at this investigating dog food thing and I do appreciate all opinions and advice. I’ve seen other people make comments about diamond foods but I don’t know what has happened with the company either past or present. Could you please fill me in as to why you do not approve of them?

[GSDGuy]

I need to know a few dog foods good for a german shepherd puppy he’s 9 wks of course for bone and coat and joint you know gsd stuff,right now he’s eating blue buffalo life protection chicken and brown rice (puppy) ,I just want to know a brand to were I can stay on for a while cause he needs the best food right now I’m some what knowing what to look just not exactly

[dawne]

My boy is an adult, male, very small ( 11 lbs.) Bichon Frise. He was diagnosed with stress colitis a few weeks ago. He has been eating Purina EN Gastroenteric kibble that the Vet suggested and is doing well on it. Which kind of scares me. Not thrilled about it being Purina. He was eating Blue Buffalo small bites with a bit of Nutro Natural Choice Wet food added. That mix took me 5 yrs. to figure out. ( he is a very finicky eater) Sometimes boiled chicken. He seems to like the Purina okay. Not sure if he likes it or is just super hungry since I no longer give him treats. Since I continually train my boy, I was wondering if anyone knew of a very small training treat that would be gentle on his stomach. He loved Zukes and Bill Jack treats. I honestly think it was the Bill Jack treats that disturbed his stomach. Sometimes during training you forget how small little dogs digestive systems and stomachs are. I have found Nutro Natural Choice Sensitive Stomach Biscuts. My boy likes them but they are so large hence not conducive to training. Thanks!

[InkedMarie]

I probably should have stated I wouldn’t use the 4 Health grain inclusive, it’s made by Diamond. Their grainfree is not.

[ringohop]

What is it about 4Health that you are not fond of? I’m not fond of the other two mentioned as well.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Definitely go with Fromm – not Blue Buffalo.

[kimberley]

My husband bought Dinovite for our Jack Russell, for her itchiness. After a month of feeding her the dinovite, there was no change, she was still itchy. (She has never lost hair, chewed or licked hair off, just had a bad case of “scratch my butt”). I have since switched to plain old fish oil, I open a capsule, pour it on her food (Blue Buffalo) and so far, no issues (3months+). And as far as ingredients, you should look pretty closely to some of them, some are big animal livestock supplements, one of them is commonly used as a cat litter filler and there is at least one of them that can be toxic if used long term. Yes, I looked up the ingredients, and while most are good things for our pets, some are certainly questionable.

[InkedMarie]

I’m not fond of any of the three foods you’ve fed. I suggest NutriSource to start.

[ringohop]

Thank you for your advice! Since writing the post yesterday I found another food that I believe is going to be a lot better for her. 4Health… any thoughts on this product? I found it on this website with a 4 star rating. I did purchase some and started transitioning, she seems to like it better than the Blue Buffalo. She is still not finishing all her food but is getting closer to finishing so I think she will take to the 4Health. Also it was nice to find a 4 star food at a VERY reasonable price!! It’s only available at Tractor Supply which is not usually one of my regular stops but if she likes it and I know my wallet will like it, it will be worth the extra stop.