[magnoliasouth]

Yay! Many thanks Mom2Cavs!

spencer777 they offered but I cannot afford it. Here, it will be in the neighborhood of $1,000 and I just can’t do that. It would solve a lot of problems, but since Wellness worked, I’m hoping to find a similar brand that is just less expensive.

[spencer777]

Has your vet done a allergy test?

[Mom2Cavs]

I’m sorry to hear about your problem, magnoliasouth. I would recommend a few foods to try that are somewhat more budget friendly than Core. Tractor Supply (if you have one near you) has a house brand that is a very decent food. It is their 4Health grain free whitefish formula. I’m in Ohio and I can get a 30 lb. bag for 36.00 so it’s a pretty good bargain. I fed it for awhile and would still be feeding it if not for the size of the kibble…one of my Cavaliers thinks it’s too large lol…it is kinda large, but on the other hand, so is Core. Some other pretty good priced foods that might fit the bill are Zignature Trout. A large bag here is around 49.00. Also, Holistic Select (same parent company as Wellness) has a fairly new grain free fished based (I’m using it and Zignature, atm) that is around 50.00 for a large bag. I do know that Holistic Select will have coupons available from their site and FB. I hope that helps some. Prices and availability might be different where you live, but 2 of the 3 can be bought online with some free shipping on various sites. TSC’s 4Health is only available through them, of course. I’m sure others will post and be able to help, as well. 🙂

[magnoliasouth]

Oh and sorry this was so long. I just needed to explain everything.

[magnoliasouth]

Hello all! I have a dog that has all kinds of allergies, tummy and skin problems. It’s made shopping for food a nightmare. I am presently using Wellness Core Ocean formula, but my husband is a government contractor and due to the inefficiency of the present administration, he is taking a severe cut in pay in addition to furloughs.

That said, I’m looking for a much more affordable dog food that has the following requirements:
* No poultry
* No beef
* Grain free or sensitive stomachs
* Omega rich, but not too high.

She can tolerate omegas but there is a line where too much nauseates her and she begins vomiting. She has chronic eczema and I’ve noticed that not enough Omegas makes her skin flaky, but too much (as I mentioned) makes her ill. There has to be a balance in there somewhere.

The other thing is her chronic ear infections. She once had an ear infection so badly that she had to have two surgeries and both of her ear drums ruptured! I never want to go through that again. It took months to get rid of.

I saw a post earlier where someone asked about chicken fat and the answer was since it is so refined, there isn’t much chicken in it. Would a dog with so many allergies like mine do okay with chicken fat?

I’ve talked to several different vets for various opinions, and all they want to do is have me buy their Hills food, which is no help at all.

Many thanks to anyone who can come up with an answer to my puzzle.

[pugmomsandy]

ProPac and Pure Balance and Victor are budget friendly as is Whole Earth Farms. It’s (Whole Earth Farms) $39 for a 30 or 35 lb bag. Nutrisource grain inclusive line is also budget friendly and they might have a buy 10 get one free offer. I’m not sure.

[DogFoodie]

Hi guys!

I feel like Sandy would recommend Nutri Source Small & Medium Breed Puppy at 513 kcals/cup. I haven’t personally used it, but I know she’s mentioned before that the kibble size is very tiny. Since I haven’t used it, I can’t speak for the kibble size personally, but I trust Sandy’s advice. It’s not grain free, but it’s well tolerated and I trust the brand and I know Sandy and Patty do as well. Nutri Source is also a very budget friendly food. They always offer coupons (text “source” to 55678 for a chance to win a free bag and a $2.00 coupon if you’re not a winner) and have a loyalty program (buy 12, get one free on dry and cans).

Nature’s Logic and Amicus are very small and when I last used Canine Caviar, that seemed small as well if memory serves. Orijen Puppy is the only Orijen formula I haven’t used, but all of the Orijens that I have used are some of the largest kibbles I’ve used. Abady granular would be easy for her to eat and is very nutrient dense (over 800 kcal/cup) ~ it’s grainy like brown sugar and the philosophy behind the food takes some getting used to. Abady isn’t rated here and gets a bad rap from lots of folks, but I tried it and had no issues with it whatsoever. My Cavalier is currently eating Castor & Pollux Ultramix right now and she loves it ~ they’re small kibbles and they’re really cute…, if that matters! They’re little hearts. : )

Solid Gold Just a Wee Bit is tiny, but is one of their products that’s made by Diamond, so I wouldn’t recommend it for that reason. I’ve used Wellness Small Breed, which is tiny, but my pup wasn’t thrilled with it, same with Artemis Fresh Mix.

What about giving her kibble a whirl in the blender, coffee grinder or hand held food chopper?

I still need to start the card file I keep saying I’m going to start and take pictures of all my kibbles when I open something different. : )~

[Puppygirlsmom]

Good idea, Patty Vaughn, to blend the chicken livers in the blender and making them into a gravy to freeze. I will try that. She may get more of it that way. She has such a tiny little mouth and tiny tiny teeth, we can see her struggling to eat the TOTW kibble. So we do think that she needs a kibble that is smaller. So my search is on for a grain free Puppy kibble that is tiny. If anyone knows of one for sure, please, let me know. Even though Orijen has been recommended, I do not know the size of the Puppy Kibble. I would hate to have to buy too many bags of food in order to find a small Puppy Kibble. We adore Ellie, but we also live on a pretty strict budget and cannot afford to do that.
So anyone out there…do you know of a grain free puppy kibble that is high in fat that is also a tiny dry kibble for our 2.5 lb. Yorkie, Ellie??????????????????????????????????????????
She needs to gain some weight and get healthy again.
Thanks!

[Hershy]

Thank you, for getting back to me so quickly. I appreciate your wisdom and advice. You’re right. I need to know. I didn’t mean to make the cost of the test seem like the first consideration. I am on a pretty tight budget, but I will find a way to do what I need to do. I am putting the cart before the horse. I pray she doesn’t have cancer. She’s my special girl! I guess I have to prepare myself for the worst. I called them and told them to go ahead with the test. But I do know, if she does have it, I will not make her undergo a bunch of chemical treatment (as far as I know). I will to the alternative route for treatment, if necessary. And thank you for the information on what things to avoid, and to give. She is going to start on a raw diet as soon as I can get it together! I was making my own for part of last year, but got too busy. Poor Charlotte has been on inferior food for most of her life because I didn’t know any better. I have always switched up foods a little, but usually didn’t end up being to a food that was any better for her. They all claim to be the best. I am so grateful for this site. Why don’t dog food companies and especially VETS! learn about dog nutrition?? And then to recommend SCIENCE DIET!? I just wish I had seen this site 5 years ago,and maybe Charlotte wouldn’t be having these issues now.

I’m picking Charlotte up from the vet this evening, so am hoping for the best.
Thanks, again.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi Hersy –

Oh my goodness, this is a lot to take in. First of all, I know that a lot of people may not want to know if their dog has cancer (kind of the “what I don’t know can’t hurt me” mentality) but if your vet suspects that your dog has cancer you should have the test done. I’m not sure what kind of budget you’re on but $60 sounds pretty cheap to me. Last time I had my dog in for “tests” (blood work, urinalysis) it ran me over $300. Before you start debating whether or not the dog undergoes treatment for cancer it would just be best to figure out whether or not the dog even has cancer. The earlier cancer is detected the better the prognosis. In the event that she does have cancer (which I sincerely hope is not the case) there will likely be both conventional and alternative treatments that you can consider – you may not be able to cure the condition but you could certainly extend her remaining time and keep her comfortable. Determining an appropriate treatment should be a bridge that you cross when you come to it. There definitely are diets and supplements that can boost the immune system. The less processed the diet it and the lower in carbohydrates, the better it will stave off cancer. Kibble should be avoided if at all possible – when meats are cooked at high temperature (such is the case with rendered meat meals and extruded kibbles) heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be formed – laboratory experiments have shown HCAs and PAHs to be mutagenic. Tumors feed on glucose (a simple sugar found in most carbohydrates) so carbohydrate levels should be limited. Supplements such as medicinal mushrooms, turmeric and bromelain have been shown to have anti-cancer effects. Colostrum, probiotics and astralaus are great immune boosters. Let us know how everything goes – you and Charlotte will be in my thoughts.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi Jessica –

I’m so glad that I was able to help you 🙂

If you’re using the canned food as only a topper (as in it’s going to be less then 20% of the puppy’s diet) it’s fine to feed a canned food that’s not designed for puppies or that may be a bit too high in calcium. If the canned food was going to be comprising a significant portion of the pup’s diet, then you would want to be sure that the food is either approved for growth or all life stages and that the calcium levels are within the appropriate range. I’ve personally never used Kirkland Cuts and Gravy (I live in the middle of nowhere I’ve never even seen a Costco! lol) but it seems to get good feedback on DFA and it has a 5 star rating. From what I hear it’s very budget friendly so it would definitely be worth a try. Another suggestion I would make if the puppy is being picky is Tripett. Tripett is wonderful for picky eaters (it’s very rare that a do will turn their nose up to tripe) and it’s great for large breed puppies due to tripe’s naturally balanced but low ratio of calcium to phosphorus. It’s not a balanced food, it’s just plain canned green tripe and designed to be a topper only. It’s on the pricey side (I believe around $2.70 per can last time I checked) so a trick I recommend to entice picky eaters and to stretch out the can it to just take a couple spoonfuls (trust me, that’s all it will take) and mash it in up in some warm water to create a “gravy.” Pour this over the kibble and mix it well making sure all the kibble is coated.

[Anonymous]

I agree with lovemypets4life health extension is the only brand ill feed my dog it is the only brand of food ive come across that has no recalls and is affordable on my budget

[Hound Dog Mom]

HI corrielainedd –

Wow, a Saint Berdoodle. I’d never heard of such a dog but I just googled it – pretty neat! Growing large and giant breed puppies need controlled levels of calcium as excess calcium has been linked to developmental orthopedic disease. When puppies are very young they are unable to regulate calcium absorption, they gain this ability around the age of 8 months. So I would say, given the fact that your pup is already 8 months old and through the most rapid phase of growth there’s really no reason to start watching calcium levels now. I would just suggest focusing on getting him on some high quality foods that fall within your budget. Look for a food approved for growth or all life stages – there’s no reason to go with a large breed puppy specific formula. Your adult dog can eat the same food – just be sure to adjust portions accordingly because growth and all life stages foods tend to be more calorie dense. Professional is a decent food for a good price, however it’s manufactured by Diamond who has frequent recalls. Some reasonably priced grain-free foods that you may want to check out: Victor, Earthborn, Hi-Tek Naturals Grain-Free, NutriSource, 4Health (sold at Tractor Supply), Pure Balance Grain-Free (sold at Walmart), Rachel Ray Zero Grain, Authority Grain-Free (sold at Petsmart). Some foods with grains that are budget friendly: Victor, Hi-Tek Naturals, Whole Earth Farms, Pure Balance, Fromm Classics, Healthwise, NutriSource and Natural Life. The only thing I would tell you to be aware of when looking for a cheaper grain-free food is that, unfortunately, many budget friendly grain-free foods are actually worse than grain-inclusive foods at a similar price point. Grain-free doesn’t necessarily mean better and many companies just replace the grains with white potatoes, tapioca or peas which doesn’t make a superior product. Try to maximize protein. I ‘d also recommend picking a few foods and rotating rather than sticking to only one.

[Anonymous]

We just recently “adopted” (adopted from the people who bought him from a breeder, as life changes happened) a Saint Berdoodle puppy, Tobi. He is now about 8 months old, we’ve had him for about 6-7 weeks.
He was on Purina Puppy Chow when we got him 😛
Locally we have Feeders Supply pet store, they carry lots of brands, including lots of holistic.
I picked out Professionals Large Breed Puppy.
I have 2 main concerns for feeding Tobi.. Nutrition, I want to feed him the best quality food I can afford. Cost, we are a one income family, with 2 kids and 2 dogs. I cannot afford to pay $50-60 for 25lbs of dog food.

Tobi did great with transitioning to the Professionals, but is now having loose stool (for about a week now). He still eats fine, and acts normal.

Im thinking of trying something different. And after reading several pages on this thread, Im seeing that perhaps I don’t need to be buying “large breed puppy” specifically?

I also have a Aussie mix senior dog (11yrs old), with no age ailments so far. Currently she is on Nature’s Recipe Senior, because it was at Big Lots for $30/25lbs . She is a picky eater, and seems to like it well.

I would love to find something they can both be on eventually? Or even now? Without breaking the bank.. 40-50lb bags would be great!

Currently Tobi is eating about 5 cups a day of the Professionals LBP… that bag is emptying fast!

This fall we plan to switch them to a 50/50 raw/kibble diet (with more research first) once hubby is able to get an extra couple of deer and turkey.

Any suggestions on brands to try, that are at least corn free, but I would prefer grain free, and are not going to kill my budget! 🙂

[katj813]

I know I may not receive specifics but I find info on the web too general so here’s a few specifics on my dog:
He’s an 11 year old terrier mix @19lbs. He has two heart conditions treated with Enalapril and fish oil. He has occasional arthritis in his back legs which is treated by dog aspirin as needed. He has an activity level between low and medium. Some days he has bursts of energy and likes visits to the dog park but the high energy is limited and he mostly sleeps. I currently have him on taste of the wild because while I do my best to get the best food I can, I have a college student budget.

I want to make sure my dog is getting the nutrients he needs to stay healthy so what sort of things should I look for in his food to meet his requirements and do you think TotW is covering it? I don’t have the time for raw and home made diets so I want to stick to dry food, he gets wet mixed in but it’s only for supplemental feeding so I don’t rely on it for nutrients even though he gets at least some from it. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Sully’sMom]

🙂

Also, when I was looking into those brands, both Earthborn and Dr Tim’s sent me samples, and Earthborns included coupons. Merrick doesn’t send samples, but they sent me a coupon.

[Saint Louie]

Thx for the quick replies, Sully’s Mom and Patty. Louie is one lucky boy to have other moms like you watching out for him!! Ordering today and will add Merrick to our rotation. Have a wonderful day!

[theBCnut]

Sully’s Mom is correct. No food is perfect so rotating helps make sure all your nutritional bases are covered. It also supports a wider variety of probiotics in the gut, which in turn gives a gigantic boost to the immune system.

[Sully’sMom]

Hi Saint Louie, Earthborn, Dr. Tim’s and Victor are exactly the brands I’ve chosen to rotate among, plus Merrick. From all I’ve read and learned here, you don’t need to choose….rotate 🙂 This way, what one may be lacking, the next one will have and vice versa.

[Saint Louie]

Agree, Sully’sMom. So grateful to have found this thread as a “short list” while searching for a new food! My 8-year-old black, flat-coated lab/border collie mix has been in great health with an amazing coat until 6 months ago when I let his flea control lapse for about 6 weeks. As a result, he developed dermatitis on his behind for the first time — itchy, scaly skin with occasional hot spots. The vet restarted his Trifexis, gave him a steroid shot and antibiotics and changed him to Science Diet. Since then, his problems have intensified and we need to act quickly. I suspect we need to steer clear of grains for now and possibly chicken to get this under control, but would really appreciate input from you experienced “moms.” I’ve narrowed my search of foods in my price range to the following, but would sincerely appreciate more opinions — trying to choose among Earthborn GF Coastal Catch, Earthborn GF Great Plains Feast, Dr. Tim’s Kinesis GF Formula or Victor GF Select Ocean Blend. Earthborn has fruits included, which appeals to me. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

[pugmomsandy]

Has her urine been sent for a culture and sensitivity? Her strain of infection could be resistent to certain drugs.

Can you get her a dental cleaning? If not giving her real bones to gnaw on will help with tarter. Bones that are considered recreational bones and are not consumable like a big femur bone or marrow bone.

As far as food goes, I’d feed her a regular food. Not a “senior” food or a “dental health” food. There are few “senior” foods I’d recommend like Merrick or Amicus (but Amicus is for small breeds). Some budget friendly foods would be Nutrisource, Dr Tim’s, Fromm, Victor, ProPac and a Tractor Supply brand called 4Health Grain Free or Coscto brand called Kirkland’s. A kibble will break up into bits before doing much scraping on the teeth.

You might also try a d-mannose supplement. It attracts a certain kind of bacteria away from the bladder wall.

Also a fellow pugvillage.com member called 6BeautifulPugs has used Cystex tablets (OTC) with success for her troubled UTI dog. You can contact her if you wish. She’s a foster mom that specializes in the old and infirmed.

http://www.pugvillage.com/forum/pug-life/124181-good-news-ching-once.html

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi gsdmommy89 –

Good question. If you read the criteria at the beginning of the list you’ll notice that I’ve included all appropriate foods that are rated at least 4 stars. The two Victor formulas you mentioned are rated 4 stars. I personally wouldn’t feed them to my dogs due to the low protein content. I’d also prefer to see someone feed a higher protein food to their pup. However, if I were to have only included 5 star foods on the list (the only foods that would have protein levels high enough for my preferences) there wouldn’t have been enough options and it could also be prohibitive for those on a budget. The 4 star foods listed with lower protein levels are by no means bad foods, I would just prefer more protein.

I prefer the grain-free Earthborn formulas over the grain-inclusive. The puppy Vantage is not appropriate for large breed puppies. I was told the actual calcium level for the Puppy Vantage formula is around 1.56%. I did email the company last year about the grain-free formulas and was told the actual levels are generally close to the minimum – I have re-emailed the company to verify the information I received last year but have not yet received a response.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 4 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi CharlieBrown –

It’s great that you’re looking to switch your pup to a better food 🙂

Victor is budget friendly and has very small kibble. Fromm Classics are reasonably priced – I’ve never used the classics but I know their 4 Star and Gold lines both have small kibbles so I’d assume the classics would as well. NutriSource has a small/medium breed puppy formula that is small and pretty cheap. That’s all I can recall off the top of my head for small kibble and reasonable price. I’m sure Sandy will know some more.

For canned food I’d recommend checking out either Pure Balance (available at Walmart), 4Health (available at Tractor Supply) or Kirkland Cuts & Gravy (available at Costco) – all are $1 or less for a large can and rate 4 stars or higher.

If you want to give him something healthy to chew on that’s also cheap, I’d recommend picking up some raw bones from the butcher. Bully sticks, pig ears and dried tracheas (from quality sources) are healthy chews too but they can be pricey.

[DogFoodie]

I agree with the others and hope you can come up with some additional choices.

I used Canidae Pure Elements once when I though that the manufacturing had been moved to Canidae’s new manufacturing facility, Ethos; only to find out that much of the manufacturing is still through Diamond so you couldn’t be sure that what you were buying was being made by Ethos or Diamond. Diamond is a deal breaker for me. My dogs weren’t thrilled with it anyway and I used it only briefly for the duration of one small bag.

I’d check out Dr. Tim’s and I’d contact Dr. Tim ([email protected]) and ask him which formula he might suggest for your dog. Dr. Tim’s is budget friendly and Dr. Tim is a vet who is very hands on with the production of his food… he’ll get back to you very quickly with a response. I just checked the site quickly and didn’t see anything regarding Sodium. You need a combination of excellent customer service, budget friendly and a quality product. I’d also try Earthborn, NutriSource and Fromm ~ all three of those fit your requirements ~ assuming the Sodium is OK.

[CharlieBrown]

Hi All,
I am a new Yorkshire Terrier owner. He just turned one on June 26th. We received him from my sis in law who for a variety of reasons couldn’t keep him any longer 🙁 With him I received a bag of Purina and a bag of Kibbles and Bits dry food. Also some cans of Mighty Dog canned food. Ive never been a dog owner but after finding this site I see that those foods are not good at all. Can you please recommend a good food for him? I am on a budget but want to feed him good food.

Also she told me she mixes half a can of the wet food with some kibble twice a day. Is this a good feeding schedule with good amounts of food? Should I always mix the wet and dry foods or keep them separate?

And finally, she also sent a small beefhide bone that he seems to love and spends alot of time gnawing on. It actually came in a pack of four and he he has 3 left. Are these any good?

Thank you in advance!! I will love your suggestions on good budget friendly foods and treats. Also any suggestions from veteran Yorkie owners on any topic about them not just food!!

[DogFoodie]

Hi Goldenlover,

Everything I learned about dog food, I learned here from HDM, Patty Vaughan, Shawna, Sandy and a handful of others. Stick around and ask questions! And, welcome!

[Sully’sMom]

I’m glad I starting reading this thread – I’d given up looking for Victor but now thanks to HDM, I know where to find it 🙂

[Hound Dog Mom]

I not sure how much you’re willing to spend on kibble but Victor – one of the brands Betsy mentioned – is available from victorpet(dot)com. They have free shipping. The GF formulas are rated 5 stars and range in price from $49.95 to $54.95 for a 30 lb. bag which is very reasonably priced for a 5 star grain-free food. Dr. Tim’s GF which is rated 5 stars is $53.99 on chewy(dot)com (free shipping as well). Chewy(dot)com also sells Earthborn – a 5 star food – for $47.99 per 28 lbs. These foods are probably a bit more expensive than Nature’s Domain but take into consideration the calorie content. Nature’s Domain only contains 336 kcal. per cup – Victor GF Ultra Pro has 453 kcal. per cup, Dr. Tim’s GF has 413 kcal. per cup and Earthborn Primitive Natural has 445 kcal. per cup. Your dog would need to eat about 25% less food if eating Victor, Dr. Tim’s or Earthborn, versus the ND.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 4 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.

[Goldenlover]

wow-thanks everyone-especially Betsy–i printed out your reply, I really appreciate your response because ya i saw the big a** list of top dog foods but to find an affordable on on the list is gonna take a long time and alot of homework -something i don’t have…so thank you for affordable choices -and not sacrificing the health of my loved one.-
Thank you also Hound Dog Mom and Patty–I have coconut oil, who knew? LOL- I know we all have a life..thanks for taking the time to respond..ALL 3 of you!!!!!!

[DogFoodie]

Hi Goldenlover,

Patty & HDM offered some great suggestions to make your current food more palatable, but it sounds like you’re also interested in finding a quality food that is still affordable and appeals to your dog.

Have you taken a look at this list of 5 Star Dry Foods: /dog-food-reviews/dry/5-star/?

Or this list of Best Foods (which includes 4 and 5 Star Foods): /best-dog-foods/best-dry-dog-foods/

Yes, Nature’s Domain from Kirkland is inexpensive and many of those on these lists aren’t, but there are still some that are affordable ~ probably many are still more than Kirkland’s ND. Also, ND is grain free and Rachael Ray Nutrish is grain inclusive and both of these lists include both grain free and inclusive formulations. One thing I’m not thrilled with the ND about is that it’s made by Diamond, which if you’re not already aware, has a horrible history of recalls and their handling of same. I don’t do any Diamond products and know there are others who feel the same.

If you like the Rachael Ray Nutrish product, you might also try the RR Zero Grain Nutrish, that’s a four star product, but it’s a bit more expensive than the RR Nutrish. Other more affordable foods you might want to check into are 4Health Grain Free (available at TSC), Victor, NutriSource, Earthborn Holistics, Dr. Tim’s, Fromm, Hi-Tek, Nutrisca, Pro Pac and Whole Earth Farms. Nature’s Logic is a bit more expensive, but a really great product.

Lots of foods have “loyalty” programs, like NutriSource for example, buy 12 and get one free. You can go to the NutriSource website and enter a contest to win a free bag of food and if you don’t win (I’m still trying) you’ll at least get a two dollar coupon emailed to you. Rachael Ray always has coupons available for the Zero Grain Nutrish on the website. Also, some online retails outlets will offer a discount for auto-ship orders, but you still have the ability to change shipping frequency and add or change items.

Five stars are great, so are four stars when your dog loves the food and does great on it!

[Hound Dog Mom]

Tinned sardines, eggs, kefir, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, chopped up leftover meat, leftover veggies. Also chicken hearts and gizzards and beef hearts are usually fairly cheap at the grocery store – you could mix them in raw or fry them up in a healthy oil like coconut oil.

[Goldenlover]

Hi, i forgot to mention that yes i use that too, again he only eats small portion at a time..when really hungry…

[theBCnut]

Kirkland Cuts and Gravy is Costco’s canned food that rates really well. It’s about $0.79 a can and just adding 1/4 a can or less will probably really bring on his appetite.

[Goldenlover]

Hey all, got a golden and currently feed Costco’s natures domain grain free salmon and sweet potato-a 3.5 star dog food-cost $ 34.00, he eats it, but only when hungry, i actually feel like he doesnt love it ya know, so i went out and bought rachel rays nutrish beef and brown rice and mixed the two…he devoured it, i was so happy till i found out its a 2.5 star food..Uggh….Sure i would love to go out and buy blue…but lets be real…$55-$60 a bag, YA RIGHT! So i need advice. What can i mix in his current costco food to make it a FIVE STAR kinda food. What is this food missing that i should add, and maybe make it taste better. Or do u know of a 5 star food that is affordable?-THANKS IN ADVANCE for your help…..

[Lemdem]

I’m loving this thread! It’s really informative!

I work at Petco, and I have a lot of pet parents come in when they get a new puppy. Not everyone can afford (or is willing to pay for) these more expensive, quality brands, and I was wondering if you might be able to show me a few formulas in the different price ranges so I can recommend the best food for their budget. I’ve always had small breed dogs, so cost isn’t as much of an issue for me as it is for parents of dogs who will eat 4+ cups a day.

Is Nutro Max Large Breed Puppy a decent food in the $1/lb range? It seems to be the best one i’ve seen in the price range. It’s got a bunch of corn and wheat, but still manages to get a 3.5 on DFA, which is pretty impressive for $30 a bag. Is their LBP formula worth anything?

Any other suggestions? The cheapo brands we carry at my store are Purina( Chef Michaels, Puppy Chow, Beneful, One) & Pedigree, and a small jump up in price, Iams and Nutro Max.

Of those foods, in those two price ranges, which one would be the least harmful for a large breed puppy? The Purina and Pedigree are such garbage, does it even make a difference which one you feed?

Whole Earth Farms is also around the Nutro Max price range, at about $40 a bag. Is the adult formula appropriate for LB puppies?

I’ve read a lot of different things about LBP nutrition. Is it true that if an appropriate LBP formula is not available, then an adult formula is better than a regular puppy food?

I really appreciate all of your time! Your list was really, really helpful.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi londoncalling1996 –

That’s too bad your store didn’t carry any of the foods. 🙁 If you’re not opposed to online ordering there are many sites that sell a wider variety of foods than you could find in a store and they also typically have lower prices – most also offer free shipping with no weight limit when you spend a certain amount of money (usually orders over $49). I’d recommend checking out wag.com, chewy.com, petflow.com and naturalk9supplies.com. Also the new lists should give you many additional options to choose from.

I definitely feel that, if it’s financially feasible, non-dry foods should be fed as a sole diet or at least in addition to kibble. Dry food is actually the worst thing to feed a dog – however to to budget and time constraints it, understandably, comprises the bulk of most dog’s diets. I urge you to check out this article Dr. Marty Goldstein (one of my all time favorite veterinarians) posted on his blog, it ranks the different types of food from best to worst: drmarty.com/what-should-i-feed-my-pet-for-best-health/

If you add wet food you should count account for this in her daily food intake – just monitor her weight and if she’s gaining too much start feeding a little less. One of my all time favorite wet food toppers (especially for large breed puppies) is Tripett. I like Tripett for several reasons: 1) high protein/moderate fat/low carbohydrate (ideal); 2) it has a balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio but very low amounts of each, so it can effectively be used to lower the calcium to phosphorus ratio in any food fed to a large breed puppy without the risk of throwing off the balance and 3) dogs go absolutely nuts for it (people hate it – if you feed it you’ll see why – but they love it). The only thing I want to note with Tripett is that it’s not a complete and balanced food (it’s just canned green tripe) so if you do feed it make sure it doesn’t exceed 20% of the meal or you could throw off the nutritional balance. Some other more balanced canned foods that I like that could account for over 20% of the meal are: ZiwiPeak, Addiction, Nature’s Logic, Nature’s Variety Instinct and Merrick. Dr. Mike has a great compilation of high quality canned foods over on the review site as well. If you’re looking for a quality yet budget friendly canned food (canned food can be quite pricey, especially when feeding a large breed puppy) I’d recommend checking out 4Health (available at Tractor Supply, $0.99 per can), Pure Balance (available at Walmart, $1 per can), Kirkland Cuts in Gravy (available at Costco, $0.79 per can), Whole Earth Farms (available at many online retailers about $1.50 per can) – these foods are all 4 – 5 star quality. Some other toppers you could use are dehdyrated foods (i.e. The Honest Kitchen, Grandma Lucy’s, etc.) – these foods are about the same consistency as a stew type canned food when rehydrated, a balanced frozen or freeze-dried commercial raw food (freeze-dried rehydrates to canned food consistency) or fresh toppers such as sardines, eggs, plain yogurt or left over lean meat or steam veggies from your dinner.

Digestive aids aren’t necessary, but many feel they’re beneficial. Many of the regulars here supplement with probiotics and enzymes. I don’t supplement with either because my dogs eat a raw diet (naturally occurring enzymes) and consume raw green tripe (rich in enzymes and probiotics) and kefir (rich in probiotics) on a regular basis. If feeding cooked food only (like kibble and canned) I do feel that enzymes and probiotics can provide benefit.

[jewel0247]

Hi,
New to the forums and I need some help looking for a dog food that my dog can tolerate. This doggy has been with us since April (she is about 10-12 years old).. the previous owner had been giving her cheaper dog food (alpo, kibble n bits, etc) for most of her life and complained about the dog vomiting half to most of the feed. I took her to the vet for meds to get her stomach “settled.”
Went from bland boiled chicken and rice to Nature’s recipe: easy to digest and no more vomiting, but the stool was kind of loose (not too bad/often). But then she didn’t like the food after a few days; turns out she is very picky and goes on hunger strikes :).
Then switched her to Canidae: chicken and rice for a better flavor and nutrition. No vomiting but still having loose/semi-formed stools 3-4/day. Sometimes the diarrhea is so bad she strains and small bright red blood is noted with the straining (but not normally in the stool). We had to use Pepto-Bismol to get it under control and back to bland chicken and rice. Other symptoms she has are: lots of paw licking, very loud tummy noises, itching a lot (but not from fleas) and some bare patches by her tail where she chewed at.
We will be taking her to the vet soon for fecal testing, etc. We’re budget conscious so only can do so much unfortunately.

Sorry so long! Appreciate any input!

[cearaandtroy]

Hi all, my name is Ceara and I’m new to the forum.
We just adopted a beautiful year old husky/labrador mix from ACS, poor thing was going to be put to sleep so we just had to pick him up and bring him home. He is wonderful with our 18 month old son, and I imagine he’s going to be very active once he heals from his surgery, he was neutered 5 days ago.
I found out he was being fed science diet his whole life at the shelter! Yuck! And when we brought him home, my boyfriend thought beneful was a better option because it had vegetables on the bag, and pretty sure that food is even worse! What I’m getting at is, this little guy is family now and I want him to be as healthy and happy as possible here.

I want him to eat completely raw if possible, but we are on a bit of a budget so I may just do mostly raw and then a good quality canned and dry food to make sure he is eating enough. I have no idea where to start, and my google search came up with mostly useless information. What kind of foods would I feed him, how would I start him on a raw diet? He’s 52 lbs so about how much should he eat? Any information you have for me would help a lot!

[DieselJunki]

I have never fed Science Diet and luckily become dog food savvy before getting sucked into the “My vet knows everything” deal. I do know the ingredients are crap, however.

Dendad, have you looked up all the 4 and 5 star foods here? I personally would stay away from Blue Buffalo and anything Diamond has had their hands in making. Here is a link to the Diamond (people who make blue buffalo among others!) recalls
/dog-food-recall/diamond-dog-food-recall-expands-again/

I know some people here feed Nature’s Variety, Orijen, Fromms, Annamaet, Brothers, just to name a few. I know some people on here are have found a decent brand at their Costco that is pretty budget friendly but I have forgotten the name. If you want to know of more 4 and 5 star foods on this website just click “Home” at the top and on the left there will be a link “Dry Dog Food.” click that and from there you have the option to click how many stars.

Remember though variety is key! Choose a couple different brands and rotate at the end of every bag, or every couple months. Change the protein source, if the source in the food you are feeding is beef, choose chicken next time, so on and so forth. And remember to rotate SLOWLY, especially if you know your dog gets an upset tummy when you switch to fast.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 5 months ago by DieselJunki.

[dendad]

The two dogs I lost were Dachshunds. One smooth hair and one wirehair. Both miniature. The one left is a two year old Chihuahua female. I got her at a shelter. I think she was abused for she is very timid around strangers and afraid of any dogs. She loved the dog I just lost. Her health is great. She may have teeth problems later according to my Vet. She is a sweetheart. Budget is not an issue. I would feed her better than myself if it meant I wouldn’t lose another baby.

[InkedMarie]

Please do research Blue….some dogs have gotten sick on it, so be aware. Tell us about the dog you have: age, any issues such as ear infections, obesity, underweight, skin issues, etc. is there a budget you need to stick to?

[mommaofbluetick]

If you are using Chef Michael’s Dog Food, or thinking about using it for you dog, no matter what breed please read my story:
I have a large breed BlueTick and was trying to ‘budget’, save money, I’ve had dogs all my life, never used Chef Michaels, but found a good deal when on Chef Michaels. Began feeding her the recommended serving. Yes, she did eat it. Then I took her on her to walk hours later. Pure diahreah *sp?*. Didn’t think that the food may be causing the diarheah together until DAY 3 when she almost passed away, STRAIGHT TO VET, because she had had so much diareah outside, then she couldn’t even control her bowels inside (very very unlike her!!!!).
Then it got so hard for her to even walk, THIS FOOD WAS KILLING HER, no she didn’t ‘get into anything’ or eat something she shouldn’t have. I am a telecommuter and keep a watchful eye on her. Had to take her to a 24 hour vet, because she was so bad off I had someone carry her to the car (I thought she was going to pass away). They examined her, the only change in her life was the food (I’ve changed food before, never a problem). The vet said that if I kept feeding her the same food, she wouldn’t get better she would get worse, they xrayed her, thourghly examined her, stool sample, took blood, gave her fluids. She was very close to getting BLOAT, which can kill a dog in one hour.
Vet prescribed her some light food for her tummy for a few days in small amounts, then I was to give her what I did before the Chef Michael’s junk food – INNOVA, IAMS for treats. Little by little she regained strength, luckily I had a very caring vet, who monitored her for a very long time, spent lots of time with her, then the vet tech sat with me and my dog.
Please, if you use this food, STOP, it almost killed my dog! After every test they did IT WAS THE FOOD! As she is very well taken care of, has been for years, yes I tried ‘budget’ dog food, my mistake. I repeat CHEF MICHAEL’S DOG FOOD ALMOST KILLED MY DOG.
Thank you for your time.

[KarenC]

That’s such a sweet story about your Eddie! He knew he would be safe with you (and have a full tummy!). Dogs always know when they are rescued, don’t they? I hope Abby fills what you’re missing from Eddie.

Someone said above to stick around here and you’ll learn a lot…They aren’t kidding! I’ve always been a kibble feeder (due to budgets and lifestyle constraints), and have always gone for the best I could afford at the moment. Believe me that there were some days when me and all the dogs were sharing a bologna sandwich and can of soup. But reading here and the review comments has taught me so much. Things that now make perfect sense, but I never really thought of before. Rotating being one of them. My dogs never ate one single food for years and years because I tried to improve as I could, but now I know that rotation more often is even better! They’ve also gotten cooked or canned toppers as often as I could, but I never would have considered sardines or other canned fish! There hasn’t been a single question I couldn’t get answered by some of the experienced posters here. Stick around and you’ll learn a ton!

[Ronald]

When it comes to our pets, do we ever stick to a budget..

I just got out of having a total hip replacement, the day I came home my other dog I had for 10 years passed away the night before..Replacement was March 1st. Eddie passed away March 3rd..

He had been sick so we took him to the Vets, found out he had very high sugar put him on the needle. But he was also ill in the upper GI, had medications to help, but he still passed away.
We spent just under $4000. trying to keep him alive..
So I don’t think we follow budgets very good..

I just thought maybe NutriSource might be a good selection, since it is a well known brand..
I am going to take Abby to the Vet’s and will see what he recommends..

[DogFoodie]

Hi Ron,

Congrats on the new pup! That’s awesome you’ve adopted a more “mature” pet! Labs are so great, aren’t they.

I will totally second Patty’s recommendation for NutriSource. It does seem that it’s very easily transitioned to and I know that they carry it at PSP, that’s where I buy mine. By the way, NutriSource also has a loyalty program ~ ask them about it at PSP. Also, you can get coupons all the time from NutriSource by texting the word “Source” to 55678 ~ at the store where I shop, there’s also a really sweet NutriSource rep there frequently and she readily hands out coupons ~ even leaves them sticking out between the various stacks of their product at the store when she leaves.

OK, so I don’t work for Nutri Source and there are definitely other foods I like as well. Do you need to try to stick to a particular budget?

[Hound Dog Mom]

If you’re looking for quality/budget friendly supplements I’d highly recommend checking out Swanson’s. I started ordering all my supplements and my dog’s supplements there. They have a wonderful selection and the prices are unbelievable. I’ve been able to cut my costs for my dogs’ meals (I feed homemade raw) by so much – paying top dollar for supplements really adds up.

[KarenC]

I’ve recently turned to Victor Grain Free Joint Health and am LOVING the results. I feed nearly half of their previous food (Diamond Naturals-rotating the version between beef, chicken, lamb) and all of the dogs are holding their weight nicely 3 weeks in. My pudgy 6 year old female has leaned out a bit too. I’ve never been excited for poo scooping but every single pile is perfect! My sweet 100lb senior lab (with “arf”-ritis in his back knees) is a pup again and I’m so happy for him. I’m new to rotating between brands, mostly because some of the better stuff is hard to get here (1 pet boutique allll the way across town…with limited operating hours and premium prices) so I have to depend on a feed store near by, but after a few bags of Victor I’m going to try some Fromm Grain Free to really do “rotating” right. I top with home cooked or canned and switch that up every meal. I’m feeding 9 large dogs so I have to be very budget careful and Victor has turned out to be a winner in that regard as well.

[DogFoodie]

Yes, ITA with Patty about Nature’s Logic! I’ve been using both the canned and kibble and have had great results with both. The protein is right where you want it; you can check here on their site: http://www.natureslogic.com/products/dp.html. I think it’s surprisingly affordable for a product of its quality. Nature’s Logic has earned my respect ~ they’re a very ethical company.

I’ve heard a lot of people say they had good results with Victor. I had a question about the product and was exchanging emails with someone there. They didn’t answer my question and when I emailed back specifically asking them to identify a particular ingredient, I never heard from them again. I was asking about the specific type of yeast extract that they use ~ thinking it could be MSG. I was disappointed, but crossed it off my list. I probably still would’ve been OK with the ingredients if it was MSG (I feed quite a few different foods so one questionable ingredient for a bags worth of food wasn’t a big issue), but it was the fact that the guy totally blew me off after I asked that got me wondering about them as a company.

Another product that’s budget friendly and that my crew loves is Dr. Tim’s Grain Free Kinesis. Dr. Tim Hunt makes himself very available to answer questions to as well.

I’m fine with Wellness. I’ve used it, but my dogs haven’t loved any of the varieties I’ve tried. I wouldn’t use TOTW, since it’s made by Diamond.

I love Orijen, but the new formula isn’t working for one of my dogs (both really). One gets a lot of gas and abundance of stool and the other gets a bit constipated. I think it’s the chickpeas and lentils that have cause some gastro issues. I was happy to get my hands on a couple bags of the “old” formula, but won’t be able to use the new formulas any longer. My two never cared for Acana and after several weeks developed loose stools (from both Grasslands and Ranchlands). So, I don’t use Acana in my rotation either.

Nutrisca is a great budget friendly food, that I actually have in my dog food stash, but after the Orijen chickpea fiasco, I’m afraid to use it.

Of course I think Nutri Source is great and the Super Performance would meet your criteria although it’s not grain free. Earthborn is great too, Primitive Natural would be your best bet there.

And then there’s Shep…, naw, just kidding.

[pugmomsandy]

I think the most popular are the brands found at the grocery store. They’re convenient to grab while human food shopping and the packaging is so bright and colorful with pictures of real food on them and we’re all indoctrinated as kids to get pet food from the grocery store (well the kids who had parents that bought pet food from the grocery store)! I never once bought food from Petco or Petsmart until I learned about how bad dog food can be and that wasn’t until my 30’s and then learned better foods were at the feed store and now I shop mostly online.

Costco’s Kirkland brand is budget friendly.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 5 months ago by pugmomsandy.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Canned food can get pricey too. If you’re on a budget and you’ve got a Tractor Supply near you they sell 4Health canned (rated 4.5 stars) for $0.99 per can. There are three grain-free varieties (chicken, beef and turkey stew) and also three grain-inclusive varieties (chicken and rice, lamb and rice and fish and potato).

• This reply was modified 12 years, 6 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.