[Bobby dog]

You’re welcome. 😉

I mainly feed budget friendly kibble and canned. Along with those foods I also feed home cooked and commercial raw if you would like some other type of food options.

[Jo C]

Hi, right now I have been feeding my gal Chicken Soup for the Soul Dog Food which is Chicken, Turkey as the 2 first ingredients but I don’t want to bee feeding her the same every day all day. I want to buy a separate bag that contains beef but I don’t know which brand that is a good quality but budget friendly I really need just maybe a 12 pound bag right now. Also, since she is a senior what is the protein, carb and fat ratio that would be best for her? CSFTS on their website Moisture 10.0% maximum, Crude Protein 26.0% minimum, Crude Fat 14.0% minimum, Crude Fiber 4.0% maximum and on this website shows 23% protein, 33% fat and 44% carbs (calorie weighted basis).

Thanks in advance.

[Steve M]

4Health dry dog food at Tractor Supply.
Any thoughts, as far as being a good budget dog food.
60 lb Weimaraner, 2 yrs old, good health for a rescue, medium energy level.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Krista-
There are probably millions of dogs that are fed dry only and are doing just fine. However, I prefer to feed a budget friendly kibble so I can afford to add meal mixers or toppers to it. I’m not sure if it will make them live longer, but it makes me feel better. Lol! Costco, Tractor Supply, and Walmart all carry inexpensive five star canned food that I add a 1/4 can to their kibble in the mornings. Eggs, sardines and leftovers are also fairly cheap to add.

I personally don’t think those extremely expensive kibbles are a good value unless it is being fed due to a health condition. They’re still kibble.

Also, I know supplements can be very expensive as well. Are you sure they are needed? I know how feeding our furries can be so overwhelming! I think you are doing great. Just do what you can do. If feeding them dry only works for you and her, then so be it. Make sure she has plenty of water available. Your dog is in good hands. Best wishes to you!

• This reply was modified 8 years, 11 months ago by crazy4cats.

[Krista B]

Hi,

I was like the idea of a rotational diet for dogs and favor feeding different forms such as kib ble, canned, and freeze dried. But due to budget issues I can really only afford plain dry food. I can afford any type of dry food such as Orijen and Acana because my dog is small and doesn’t eat a lot of dry food. But canned and freeze dried is more expensive and she eats more of canned because it’s less calories. So is it ok that she just gets dry kibble with no other additions? Is this healthy? She does get a fish oil, probiotics and a joint supplement.

Thanks,

Krista

[D S]

Had him completely checked out by vet. We switched his food to 4Health Salmon and Potato and breath has improved. His teeth were fine, she even commented on what great condition they were in. (I had cleaned them with my great little $12 Amazon dental kit!) He did have one anal gland that was really full which she emptied and there has been improvement- you were spot on with that Acroyali. She recommended giving him a tums in the morning and at night also. This has helped some with the stomach acid slower digestion I believe. He won’t eat them, so I crunch it up and drop it in his mouth and hold it shut til he swallows it.
He gets a lot of table scraps- probably close to 50% of his diet between what all the kids feed him (or drop) and licking all the plates and pots and pan, along with whatever else he finds to eat on the farm. He’s pretty good about not eating other animal’s poop which is good, but they graze on whatever they want outside. The dog food has always been free choice. They take a few bites whenever they want to out of the open bin.
I like to feed a good food, but it’s just not feasible to feed extremely expensive foods. The Verus looks really good, and I know Taste of the Wild is too, many thanks for the recommendations. But I have to find a happy medium and staying in the $1 a lb range seems to work pretty well for our budget. Since they get decent kibble along with table scraps, fresh off the horse hoof parings (which they LOVE), and meaty bones every week (from a steer we pastured raised and butchered here -or fresh venison bones that hunter friends give us) along with tons of exercise and fresh air chasing 4 wheelers and trail riding with us they pretty much don’t have health problems. I’ll check into a completely grain free food if it returns, but for now I think the anal gland cleaning along with the food change and occasional tums, I’m hoping will keep my dear friend smelling better. Many thanks for the suggestions!

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by D S.

[crazy4cats]

I have fed a lot of Victor kibble to my two large dogs. They both do really well on it. I have not heard anything negative about the company. I have had mixed results when contacting them with questions, however. Very recently, I emailed them with a few questions about their new canned food and they got back to me very quickly. That has not always been the case. I haven’t ever thought they are hiding anything though. But…if you are not comfortable with them, there are a lot of other good brands to feed. Check out the budget friendly Editor’s Choice List for some ideas. Best of luck to you!

[Jason C]

Hoping for a little help…..I’m the proud owner of a 10 month old Bernese Mountain Dog that lives up to his nickname of Meathead. He is currently about 105lbs, but based off vet recommendation and finances he has been fed with Hills Science Diet Large Breed Puppy formula. He hasn’t had any problems with the food, but I’ve heard a lot of people questioning Hills. I feed my other dog (60lb mix) a homemade diet (for wt control and because she’s picky) and think I may start transitioning Rufus to the same. The current recipe has pork, beef, chicken, oats, rice, veggies, and egg shells. Does anyone out there have a good recipe for a larger breed? Preferably something that isn’t going to result in me being homeless. Thanks for the help!

[pitlove]

Hi there Nick-

I’m with anon101 on this one. Hill’s is one of the leaders in research on large and giant breed puppy growth and nutrition. It is also one of the top recommendations for large breed puppy foods by board certified veterinary nutritionists. Your vet is likely making the recommendation because he believes in the food, considering you will most likely not even be buying her food from his office (hence even if he did get kickbacks from Hill’s it would be a moot point).

If your dog is doing well on the food, enjoys eating and it works for your budget, then it sounds like Science Diet is the best option. Also don’t get hung up on protein levels, as protein has been shown through 20 years of research not to effect growth in LBP’s.

[Nick B]

Hello,

Margo’s dad here again with another food question. We asked our vet what kind of food he recommended for Margo (11 month old Golden Retriever) and he said that he only recommends Hill Science Diet. Margo likes the food and we have had no issues and the large breed puppy formula seems to be in line with the calculator at 3.3/1000 for calcium and 1.2:1 for phosphorus and 30.1% protein. When we met with a dog trainer they told us that we should not be feeding Science Diet and the only reason the vet recommended is because they get a significant kick back…

I am at a bit of a loss. We are on a budget with her food and Science diet works within that budget, but I do not want to be feeding her something that is not good in the long-run for her. Is Science diet bad? Is there something else similar in price and readily available in most big pet stores for an almost 1 year old golden pup that weighs about 50 lbs.? I have looked up Pro Plan large breed puppy and is has slightly less protein at 28% and there is Blue buffalo wilderness large breed puppy and it is 35% protein but a little more expensive and Nutro Max large breed puppy and it is lower in protein at 26% and 4/1000 in calcium. Both seem in line with calcium and phosphorus. Help!?

Thanks! Nick

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by Nick B.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Marcela-
I think the slow bowl eater is a great idea! Eating too fast is not good for your puppy. Sometimes puppies eat too fast because they got used to competing with their siblings for food. She may eventually slow it down. But, yes, keep using the special bowl. Especially, if she is enjoying it.

You definitely want to keep her on a puppy food and it sounds like she may be a large breed puppy (?) in which case you will want to make sure it is an appropriate large breed puppy food.

My dogs’ do great on Whole Earth Farms. It is Merrick’s budget brand. Their puppy formula is appropriate for large breeds. Also, NutriSource is a brand that many seem happy with on this site that you could look in to. Good luck! Please give a report on how she is doing.

[Tina F]

I have 3 medium sized chihuahua rescue dogs. #1 (Groucho) is approximate age 5 mixed chihuahua/silky terrier Male 24lbs cant feel ribs or back bone, stomach excessive but looks healthy Feed 1 cup benefit per evening. #2 is full blood chihuahua (suzie) approximate age 4 Small amount of fat on back bone ribs and stomach I feed her 3/4 cup at night. And their daughter (Precious) she has popping hips (the doc said it was her knees) but I disagree, I feel it and the location. She is 18 lbs I feed her 1/2 cup at night, and she has short legs long silky black hair long wavy tail. has anxiety issues like her mother (suzie), I cant feel her backbone or ribs and her stomach definitely is large and round. None of them were like that when I rescued them from the alley.The food has been benifiber and they are always hungry. I am on a very limited budget but want to do the best for my dogs. I there anything that I can cook at home for them that would be 4.5 star or better or buy that is a 4.5 star that is affordable? Please help me ASAP. Actually my Tea Cup poodle (Butter Ball) and Suzies other girl is starting to cover up in the rib part.

[anonymous]

Take her swimming, Aquatic Therapy. One minute of swimming = four minutes of running.
My dog is thriving since I’ve been taking him to the lake at least 3 X a week.
My veterinary clinic offers a heated pool and underwater treadmill, if it was within my budget I would try that.

No free feeding, 2 meals per day (measured amounts) I tend not to use senior dog food and add a little cooked lean meat to kibble……. it depends on the individual dog as to what food would be best, trial and error.

[Nick B]

Hello, we just adopted a 10 month old golden retriever puppy (Margo) and looking for the best food on a budget and fairly easy to find. The foster parents had been feeding Margo Fromm Beef Frittata Veg and it is a little pricy for us just getting started. Are there any good options that are more affordable and easier to find in local stores?

Also, in your list of best foods, none of them mention large breed puppy formulas. Is that just a given or are the options listed fine for any age dog?

Thanks!

[Lazaro B]

Hello,
I need some help in choosing a limited ingredient dog food for my dog. He is allergic to lamb and it looks like he’s allergic to chicken because he’s scratching. The scratching is not severe or moderate. He scratches he and there, no hot spots, no hair loss, no biting his skin. He does lick his paws on and off nothing major. He’s small and neutered and 7 years and 6 months old. I’m looking for something budget friendly 3 or 4 star rating. If it’s a 5 star rating, great but must be budget friendly. I’m willing to do rotational feedings. I’m even willing to purchase 3 small 5 pound bags. Should they all be mixed into the container where I keep them or not? At the present time, I’m feeding him WEF HEALTHY WEIGHT chicken. Yes, I know it was bought by Purina. One food I’m looking at is FROMM whitefish formula. I don’t want him getting overweight. I take him for walks 4 times a day. Hopefully the food contains not to much fat but just enough around 10-13% is fine.

[Jenn H]

It’s true that much is lost in the heat process. There are brands that use less /lower heat in the processing of foods. And most add nutrients after to replace what is lost like probiotics.
Always always always check the date on the food before buying. They are usually dated 1 yr later.

There’s certainly much better & much worse options. Choose a few of the best brands that are within your budget and your dog does well on and rotate every few months. No one food should be fed for the entirety of a dog’s life anyway.

There is no one perfect food/diet that is best for all dogs. Every dog is different. Every family has different means and budgets.
Stay away from the really cheap stuff, do your homework and pay attention to how your dog does on a particular food.

We all just do the best we can.

[Jenn H]

I have found that a lot of the management & treatment of my girl’s idiopathic IBD is trial & error unfortunately.
For her I have found that she does best on:
*foods that have a SIGNIFICANT amount of meat based protein. Not just a moderate amount. No extra fiber.
*minimal kibble and it’s soaked. I add water to all her food anyway. Even wet.
*1 protein at a time (very slowly switch)
*Pepcid
*exercise. Helps gut with motility.

She did well for 7 months then had a set back. Right now she’s back to i/d cans and boiled chicken. The vet suggested Royal Canin Ultamino, but that’s way beyond my budget.
Per the vet’s suggestion she is on Fortiflora probiotics daily.
Luckily none of the vets who have treated her have put her on a steroid.

Her recent relapse may have been a result of too much fiber and/or eating a kibble that had a moderate amount of meat for its main protein source. It could also have because I was trying different proteins and it was too much change.

The problem with IBD is that it’s a broad diagnosis with many causes. There is no one size fits most treatment.

If possible maybe you should find another vet who can better direct your management. Sounds like your vet isn’t very knowledgeable about this particular condition or nutrition in general.

Be careful with supplements especially fat soluble vitamins. You can over do it. Many vitamins have accompanying minerals. Too much of a vitamin and not enough of the mineral can cause a new set of problems.

My vets have mention endoscopy only as a second to last resort. The absolute last diagnostic would be biopsy. They will only do either of those things if the condition becomes severe.

It’s a very frustrating diagnosis, but it can be managed. The difficulty is finding what works for that particular pet. While finding what works can cause a flare up. Thankfully pets are forgiving.

[rebecca d]

I just found that you did review the Lamb and Rice formula from Sam’s and gave it 2 1/2 stars. I’m thinking their grain free formula would rate similarly but I would still love to see it reviewed as I am on quite a budget. Thanks!

[InkedMarie]

Dogs have no need for grains and raw food with grains makes no sense. You need to join a raw food community to find out how to feed your large breed puppy. Don’t count on stretching your dollar. If your budget is thst tight, a smaller puppy may have been smart but you already have the dog so now I time to find other raw feeders with large breeds

[crazy4cats]

Hi Justin-
In addition to Sportmix Wholesome, 4Health, and Fromm that was recommended, Victor also has some great budget friendly options. As well as Kirkland and Nature’s Domain at Costco. Hope this helps!

[HoundLover88]

I’m looking for a dog food that has good ingredients that are healthy for the dog and no bad ingredients. Also one that can be affordable with someone on a somewhat tight budget. I’ve been a bit oblivious to some of the bad ingredients some more well known dog brands have and now I’m looking to switch to a healthier brand. I’m an owner of a beagle and a basset hound.

[Molly F]

I realized I should have posted this as a new topic, not buried at the end of another topic!
So, sorry if it’s a repeat for some:
Hey all!
Brand new to the site and to raw feeding!
I am probably going to be working off Dr. Pitcairn’s recipes, and I had a question about supplements. I’d prefer whole food ingredients, so I’m probably going to use eggshell for calcium. I’m wondering if eggs themselves could provide enough vitamin A? I’m thinking of doing an egg based meal in the morning and meat and grain in the evening, using whole sardines for the omegas.
I’m going to check with some local meat producers to get the healthiest meat available and will probably add bones at some point. I read that turkey leg bones aren’t really safe (feel free to add your experience) but what about raw chicken legs?
My puppy is a 7 1/2 mo old German Shepherd from fairly beefy stock (dad was 110lbs, mom was 80!!!), so of course I’ve gotten myself all scared about proper calcium ratios. If I give her whole sardines, those bones shouldn’t throw off the ratios too much, right?
I know many people recommend a more “primal” style diet, but I’m on a tight budget these days and the grain component will Really help stretch my dollar!

[Z B]

Not really budget friendly but I sometimes feed Holistic Blend Marine grain free, ordered from chewy.com
It’s poultry free, fairly small kibbles.

[Deborah C]

I’m looking for a fish ingredient dog food, dry and canned for my Corgi-Spaniel Mix that does NOT have any Chicken, as Chicken makes her ITCH like crazy. Any recommendations for a “budget friendly” brand to investigate??

[Ritchy]

We’ve got two Cocker Spaniels that we would like to convert to a raw diet to address health issues – primarily skin, joint and teeth.

One is 13 and the other a rescue that we think is probably 8 now. Both are right at 34 lbs.

I don’t think I have the time/knowledge to make my own, so looking at commercial options.

I have a budget that allows me to afford $200/month, and I’ve narrowed it down to two options (I’m open to other suggestions), and wonder if I can get opinions from experienced raw feeders?

1) Go with a 50/50 mix of Nature’s Variety Instinct frozen raw and Nature’s Variety Instinct kibble.

Or

2) 100% Raw using Steve’s Real Food

I like the bite sized frozen option with both, which seems to make feeding easy.

I can find nothing but good reviews on Nature’s Variety Instinct, but just can’t afford the $400/month it would take to feed 100% raw.

Steve’s Real Food seems to get a few bad reviews here and there. Poor customer service notes, and the product seems to possibly be less consistent, and maybe doesn’t have the real bone that Instinct does. Also, it has higher than recommended fat.

Any suggestions – better to go with a 50/50 mix with good quality, or really, is Steve’s Real Food actually very good, and better to fully convert?

I’m not sure if a mix, really digests well and realizes the benefit of raw…

Any feedback/guidance is greatly appreciated!

[Derek g]

I’m sorry if this has been discussed, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere on this site. I’m looking to switch my dogs from Acana Pacifica to a more budget friendly, comparable brand (I know, its going to be extremely tough to find – but the price in Hawaii is killing me on a single income!). Has anyone heard of this brand (WholeHearted)? It looks like it’s a Petco exclusive brand, and is relatively new. When looking at the ingredients on Petco’s website for the WholeHearted All Life Stages Dog Food – Grain Free Salmon & Pea, 25 lbs., I noticed Canola Oil is pretty high up there on the list of ingredients. Is that reason enough to not choose this food? I haven’t seen an actual review of the food anywhere, or an actual analysis of the ingredients.

I’ve included the link to the food (http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/wholehearted-grain-free-lid-salmon-adult-dog-food#), and the ingredients list from their website is below. I’d love to hear opinions of WholeHearted (and, of course, any other alternatives to Acana Pacifica, one might have!). Until then, I’ll keep combing the board for other suggestions, and also so I don’t ask any redundant questions. Thanks friends!

Ingredients
Salmon, Salmon Meal, Lentils, Pea Flour, Chickpeas, Peas, Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Sweet Potatoes, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Salt, Choline Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Reuteri Fermentation Product, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source Of Vitamin B1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid (Preservative), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source Of Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein 26.0% Minimum, Crude Fat 15% Minimum, Crude Fiber 5.0% Maximum, Moisture 10.0% Maximum, Zinc 150 Mg/Kg Minimum, Selenium 0.3 Mg/Kg Minimum, Vitamin E 150 Iu/Kg Minimum, Omega-6 Fatty Acids* 2.5% Minimum, Omega-3 Fatty Acids* 0.4% Minimum, Total Microorganisms* 1,000,000 Cfu/Lb Minimum (Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Animalis, Lactobacillus Reuteri In Descending Amounts), *Not Recognized As An Essential Nutrient By The Aafco Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.3,625 Kcal/Kg (339 Kcal/Cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy

[Jenn H]

If Orijen is not budget friendly try Acana. Same company.
I have been happy with Acana and find that I don’t spend more per meal than I did with less expensive brands. With other foods I had to feed more and had dogs that still seemed hungry. Now they seem satiated being fed less.
It’s a dense food so transition slowly to avoid stomach upset.

[pitlove]

I’ve stopped using the star ratings on here to choose a food. I’ve fed many of the “best” brands and they were not right for my dog. Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach is only rated 2.5 stars, however it has worked wonders for my dog, so I’m not terribly concerned about the star rating it recieves on here.

I don’t think switching her off Pedigree is bad thing or would cause her harm, but you will have to do it very slowly. Personally I am actually more comfortable with Pedigree than Rachael Ray if only for the fact that Pedigree is formulated based on the guidelines of Waltham research: https://www.waltham.com/
Though I really do wish Pedigree would remove the BHA, artificial food coloring, and meat and bone meal.
Rachael Ray is the concept of a human food chef. Someone who has no background at all in canine nutrition. Also I’ve probably seen more complaints against Rachael Ray products within the last year than any other brand. Dogs all getting very sick, having very similar symptoms.

Personally, I think if I were you I’d look at the From Family Classics line, Dr. Tim’s, or NutriSource. All of these are pretty budget friendly and the company behind the brands have good reputations. I follow a married couple on YouTube with a 3 Huskies. One is 3, the other just made 9 and the third is close to 12. They all eat Dr. Tim’s Kinesis which is an All Life Stages food. They are all very healthy and have a ton of energy, which they need because they sled them in the winter.

[Susanne M]

I will go back and look at the list again. I am new to this whole arena–esp w allergies issues. Do you know what the ingredient methedrin oil is? It seems to be related to fish and either this, or fish meal is in most of what I have looked at in the stores. I thought the Dr.Tim’s had fish in it in the form of this oil or fish meal. As far as budget goes, I would like her to be less of a Kardashian! Ha! I’m joking. She is currently on Royal Canin, per my previous vet’s recommendation. The cost is about $92 for 19.8 lbs. and I get it from Chewy. I’m hoping to find a high-quality dog food that’s less expensive. I appreciate your suggestions!

[InkedMarie]

There are many non fish foods: bison, chicken, turkey, duck, venison, rabbit etc.
Some brands that don’t have fish to start: Annamaet, Natures Logic, Dr Tim’s, Farmina and many more.
If you tell us what your budget is, it would be easier. Otherwise, pick a couple brands & look at ingredients.

[anonymously]

Because, many health disorders are genetic. We all know people that eat at McDonalds every day, smoke and drink alcohol, and yet they live till age 90.
Others run every day, are on a healthy diet, stay fit, abstain from bad habits and drop dead before age 50.
No guarantees. Of course it makes sense to go with a quality food within one’s budget…but that doesn’t prevent bad stuff from happening.

PS: Regarding “Tasty dog food for a very fussy dog” just put a spoonful of homemade chicken broth (boiled chicken with nothing added) on the kibble, defatted, debone the chicken and serve later but discard most of it because of the tiny bones. You can freeze servings in individual baggies.

[anonymously]

Sometimes it takes another opinion to find the problem, I took my little dog to the emergency vet for pain issues on a Sunday and they all thought it had to do with her stomach , GI issues.
I declined the extensive testing they wanted to do (she had labs and a physical a few months prior) and took her to my regular vet the following day. He thinks she hurt her back jumping in and out of the car, pain meds and rest for a few days. She’s back to normal.
She has always had a sensitive stomach and does well on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea dry with a topper and water added.

Also, her issues could be stress related.

PS: Those shelter exams for dogs even though they are done by a veterinarian are minimal, they simply don’t have the budget to do an extensive exam and testing.

[crazy4cats]

Costco has two varieties of Kirkland dry food, one with grain and one without. The line without grain is called Nature’s Domain and it runs about $35 for 35 pounds. The Kirkland with grain is around $30 for 40 pounds. Both types are made by Diamond. They also carry a Nature’s Domain Turkey Stew canned food which is usually about $20 for 24 cans manufactured by Performance Pets.

I regularly feed my dogs the canned food. It is a GREAT deal!!! I’ve been hearing that jet.com is selling some of the Kirkland pet products on their site now as well if you do not have a Costco nearby or a membership.

Here is a link: http://www.kirklandsignaturepetsupplies.com/

Taste of the Wild is also manufactured by Diamond and can be found at several feed stores and smaller boutique type pet supply stores.

Hope this helps!

Edit: Another option is Tractor Supply Store sells 4Health. They have a budget friendly turkey and potato recipe that may work for you.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 5 months ago by crazy4cats.

[pitlove]

Hi Rikki and welcome-

I can appreciate your desire for science based medicine. To touch on a the points you hit on, no protein is not a factor in terms of correct growth for large and giant breeds. However, Dr. Rebecca Remillard ACVN states on her website petdiets.com, that growing puppies do not require a food with more than 25% protein.

Absolutely, by no means, should you feed your mastiff an adult maintenance diet. This is a tired old myth still thought to be true because it “worked” 30 years ago. Companies are now producing large breed puppy diets designed specificially for slow growth.

The safe upper limit for your calcium and phos ratio is 1.5:1. However, you also need to pay attention to the calcium to calorie ratio as well to keep the pup lean during growth. Overfeeding is a huge factor in devlopmental orthopedic disorders.

As for the choice of food….the two companies that have done the most research on large and giant breed puppy growth and nutrition are Hill’s and Purina. Selecting a large breed puppy diet from either of those companies would be fine. I do understand that some are opposed to using a food from either of those two companies. Dr. Tim’s Kinesis which you mentioned earlier, is safe for a growing giant breed, is formulated by a vet and a nutritionist and has been feed trialed. All qualities that are excellent to have in a food. Not to mention it comes in a 44lb bag on chewy.com. This would probably be my first choice for a budget friendly, good large breed puppy food, not from Hill’s or Purina.

Here is a good article to read that is posted on DFA here:

/best-dog-foods/best-large-breed-puppy-food/

and this is another from the persepctive of a veterinary nutritionist, that outlines DOD’s and large breed puppy nutrition fairly well:

https://msu.edu/~silvar/hips.htm

[Wabi S]

Hello,

First post, but I’ve been reading here a few days.

I have a 12 week old purebred Saint Bernard puppy. She’s currently on Eagle Pack but I’d like to switch her to something else, I’m thinking either Orijen if I can afford it on a regular basis (I heard their prices went up and their bag size is going down) or Fromm Gold Holistic Large Breed Puppy. $50 or under is ideal, but I can probably budget a little more if the food is worth it. Any suggestions? Also, how long should I be feeding puppy food?

An as aside, if it helps anyone, I contacted Taste of the Wild and they got back to me today. Here’s what they said about their food:

“Below are the calcium and phosphorous levels for all of our dry formulas. The levels below are based on an as fed basis of a typical analysis of the formula.

High Prairie Canine with Roasted Venison & Roasted Bison

Calcium: 2.1%

Phosphorus: 1.4%

Pacific Stream Canine with Smoked Salmon

Calcium: 1.9%

Phosphorus: 1.1%

Wetlands Canine with Roasted Wild Fowl

Calcium: 2.1%

Phosphorus: 1.4%

Sierra Mountain Canine with Roasted Lamb

Calcium: 1.6%

Phosphorus: 1.0%

Southwest Canine with Wild Boar

Calcium: 1.9%

Phosphorus: 1.1%

Pine Forest Canine with Venison & Legumes

Calcium: 1.4%

Phosphorus: 0.9%

Appalachian Valley Small Breed Canine with Venison & Garbanzo Beans

Calcium: 1.8%

Phosphorus: 1.2%

High Prairie Puppy with Roasted Venison & Roasted Bison

Calcium: 1.4%

Phosphorus: 1.0%

Pacific Stream Puppy with Smoked Salmon

Calcium: 1.3%

Phosphorus: 1.0%”

Hope this helps someone.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Wabi S.

[Z B]

There are a few 4 star rated kibbled that are widely available and budget friendly. off top of my head are pure balance grain free and Rachel Ray zero grain (both available at Walmart ) and 4health sold at Tractor Supply. You can look up the reviews on them here.
Have no idea if they are better than what you are feeding or how effective they (or any other food ) would be for your dogs’ issues, just suggesting some affordable 4 star options that I know of.
You can add some eggs, water packed-no salt added sardines, raw chicken hearts or gullets, baked sweet potato, and cooked puréed greens like kale or spinach to whatever you are feeding to increase nutrition. Small amounts of turmeric daily is a really good antiflammatory.

ETA: I just looked up River Run it is rated 1.5 stars 🙁
/dog-food-reviews/river-run-dog-food/
So there easily are many affordable brands that would a much better choice, research options that are rated 3 star, or higher here:
/dog-food-reviews/dry/

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Z B.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Z B.

[Jackie B]

It’s actually called River Run, it’s made locally ( Montgomery, Alabama ) I buy from the feed store and it’s very affordable ( I have 4 dogs ). So I’m looking for something better but that will fit into my budget.

[Salz]

Hello! I am a long time reader of DFA Forums but this is the first time I’ve actually posted anything. I have two dogs; a 4 year old minpin tripawd (Bean) and now a 4 month old Doberman/Rottweiler x puppy (Jax). Bean has done great on all and any premium food (wet, raw, kibble, he’s been on it all) but the more I read the more I want to just bite the bullet and switch fully to raw. Jax on the other hand, has had quite the hard time with kibble. I got Jax about two months ago and immediately put him on Orijen Large Breed Puppy. He’s had on and off diarrhea since I’ve had him. I figured the Orijen may have just been too much for his digestive system so I transitioned him (VERY) slowly to Natures Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Kibble. His stools were firm for about three days until the diarrhea started again. I’ve had him tested for parasites and every malady under the sun with only negative results. Right now I just have him on cooked turkey and rice to settle his tummy until I decide on what to try next. I was hoping for some input from all of you lovely people!

I am concerned about putting a large breed puppy on raw so young, simply because I lack all of the knowledge about his nutritional needs. But so far, here are the options I’ve come up with.

Honest Kitchen Preference Base Mix mixed with a rotation of raw grinds/meats primarily from Primal and EcoPawz Raw (a local raw company in my area)

Stella and Chewy’s Frozen Raw (rotation of proteins)

Darwin’s Zoologics Line (a little out of my budget but they are sounding better and better)

No matter which I choose, I will definitely supplement with raw goat milk, yogurt, etc. I would also like some input on what kinds of meat I can buy at the grocery store. I’ve only ever bought dog raw from PFE. Sorry for the long post and I’m really looking forward to any and all input. You all rule!

Sally, Jax & Bean

[Z B]

Hounds and gatos is an excellent pate that I use regularly for my cat and dogs, it has 5 star rating here…. it’s not cheap but not super pricey either for a 5 star, so I feed it a lot.
They like natures variety pates but those cost more, so I don’t feed it is often.
I also use Walmart’s Pure Balance canned dog stews, very budget friendly, but sometimes my chihuahua won’t eat it unless i mash the chunks, you might try doing that if you haven’t already . PB also has a pate option but I haven’t tried it.
Regardless which form of canned food I feed, if it’s not a freshly opened can my chi likes it better at room temperature or with some room temp water added.

[Christina B]

Hello,

I’ll be moving within the next 12 months and my dog’s canned food will not be accessible to me (it’s not produced by a national brand).

I have a shihtzu who is extremely particular not just about his food in general (only dog I’ve ever owned who turns his nose up to people food) but also, the texture of his food. I’ve made a few purchases and he absolutely will not go near any wet food that is ‘too wet’. No broths, gravies, or soupy foods. This is costing me a small fortune out of my already tight budget in trying to find him a suitable replacement; It’s hard to tell what the food looks like on the inside of these cans based on the labels.

If you all could be so kind as to share with me the brands of canned dog food you’ve used or have come across that is more of a solid, potted meat, kind of texture – I would be so very appreciative of your help!

• This topic was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Christina B.

[Lori H]

I have the same problem with a picky eater, but alas, he is a single dog. The only thing that encourages him to eat are if one of the cats walks near his food (and that is not good for the peace of the household, so I do not want to use that for training purposes) OR a food with a liver ingredient. When I can’t find a food with a liver ingredient, I purchase the Stewart Freeze Dried Liver Treats. They are nothing but 100% freeze dried liver. They crumble very easily and he can’t resist the smell or taste. So I crumble one or two over his food and that gets him started and seems to “prime the pump” so to speak. Once he gets started eating then he tends to finish. I hope that helps you. I am currently feeding The Natures Variety Instinct Ultimate Protein Chicken which is the first food I have ever not had to add these treats to in order to get him to eat it. Alas though, at about $73 for a 20 lb bag I really need to find a more budget friendly alternative. I love that this food has no meal whatsoever – love, love, love the food…..its just not going to be realistic for my big boy and my pocket book…….. (my cats love the cat version too, but again looking for budget friendly alternatives that aren’t too terrible for them)

[Bobby dog]

Hi Amy K:
If you are happy with your dry food I would continue to feed it. I would only suggest trying out a few brands to find other choices she does well on in case of a recall, formula changes, or distribution issues; you never know when you may need a back-up. I would also stick with similar protein, fat, and fiber percentages when trying a new kibble.

I feed a variety of canned foods in various price ranges. My budget friendly choices are Pure Balance stews or gravy tubs (Wal-Mart), Variety stews, Beyond grain free stews, Pro Plan Naturals, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul, Triumph turkey or puppy recipes, BJ’s price club brand, and Tractor Supply stews or Sr. pate’. Costco also has a budget friendly canned, Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain. You have to buy a case which is under $20. If you don’t have a Costco membership Jet.com sells it for a little more, but still a great deal.

Other brands my dog does well on are Wellness Core, Red Barn Stews, Tiki Dog, Weruva, Eagle Pack, Fromm shredded recipes, Halo, Life’s Abundance, Holistic Select, Nature’s Recipe, Nutrisource, and Precise. I order Life’s Abundance directly from their website.

Good luck finding a new food!

[Nancy H]

Mike,

I read the reviews and am not sure about the puppy food choices. Can you help me make a decision?

What would you recommend for a Shar Pei puppy for all over health?

Also your video says not to have the fat larger than the protein only the charts all say the fat is more than the protein.

I am not on a budget but would use the coupons section and could not find any up to date coupons.
Thank you,
Nancy

[adam]

Thanks for all the replies. I definitely did search through the forums and things tend to go in circles (Use the vet dog food/never use the vet dog food, high meat based protein causes stones/meat protein never causes stones, lowering urine PH helps/ Lowering urine PH causes stones, etc). But I understand there are a lot of unknowns and every breed if not every dog is different. I should know more when the full tests get back with what stones I am dealing with, and then certainly after they are removed and tested (still on the fence with surgery at such a young age but will probably go through with it).

Thanks for the recommendation to find a Board-certified Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist, is there a search they provide of their members, say by state or do you have to lookup each one?

From all these posts I did gather that water is key, so thanks I will really start upping her water intake by soaking the kibble. She gets out at least 3-4 times a day and gets 20-30 miles of walks a week. She is not overweight at all, about 107 for a female Pyrenees.

Making my own food for the two large Pyrenees I have is not really feasible at this point, I would love to, but that is 220 pounds of dog to feed a day, just not going to happen on my budget. I do give them as much meat as possible though. I like the diet guide Susan linked to and bookmarked to to use when I can.

Pyrenees are pretty tough dogs and my other one who is the same age has zero issues with the same diet. You just don’t hear of Pyrenees getting stones very often, so I was just putting some feelers out there if anyone new something specific about that breed. When I read the ingredients of the “Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Urinary SO” I was just shocked that this was my official solution… feed my dog Rice, Corn, and chicken by-product meal. there isn’t a single true meat in that food. I will stick with the food for now, but here is an article linked to in the forums that pretty much states food isn’t the culprit, it is the water as you all have told me:
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/ken-tudor/2015/november/water-solution-urinary-crystals-pets-33270

[Kim M]

Here we go. Another former reader ready to ask questions 🙂

We will be getting our soon to be 8 week old Labrador in a few weeks.
Parents are 65-70 lbs
Our female pup (Ellie) is charcoal coat

Breeder feeds Country Vet Naturals. Seems to be a Midwest brand.

I have combed the site and others to limit to a few possibilities. Looking for the best suggestions. These below were moderately priced. I would love to feed Annamaet but I’m not sure that’s budget sustainable right now.

Earthborn Coastal Catch (not sure if kibble size is small enough for puppies)

Wellness Core

Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy

Am I missing another to consider?!

We will be walking and working on retrieving nearly daily. I would expect her exerted energy level to be moderate most days. The most confusing part has been the calcium:phosphate portion of this reading adventure.

I was originally going to go with TOTW hi-prairie but my reading has me discouraged with Diamond among other things.

Help! 🙂

[Linda C]

What would be a good budget friendly food recommendation for a senior Bernese Mountain dog? He’s currently eating Kirkland’s dry for seniors which is okay but we’d like to up the quality while still adhering to a giant breeds nutritional needs.

[zcRiley]

If you never fed it, I’d just avoid it, there’s so many more budget friendly foods to choose from. Purina has killed enough dogs with their food. Even if the ingredients are listed as the same, sources and quality has to change under new financial management. Try Zignature Zssentials.

[Coonhound Mama]

Hi Jen T:

Good for you for taking the big step to homemade! I don’t think you will be disappointed 🙂 I would however recommend varying your recipe as much as your budget will allow with different proteins, meats, vegetables and fruits. I’m not seeing any bone meal in your recipes, either, which is crucial in providing calcium when feeding boneless meats. Off the top of my head I would definitely recommend adding bone meal, vitamin E, fish oil (or whole sardines) and a green superfood supplement such as spirulina or wheatgrass. You may want to add in a canine multivitamin just to cover any bases. A great resource for cooked homemade diets is Dr. Karen Becker’s Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats. It breaks everything down for you into manageable, complete and balanced recipes.

[zcRiley]

Well, it’s a Purina brand dog food that contains animal digest and “botanical” oils. No lecture here, just try budget friendly Zignature Zssentials and add a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil per meal. It changed everything around for my pups. And I mean inside n out everything.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Mick M-
I guess I don’t have any common sense. I add canned food to my dogs’ morning meals. I stick to mostly budget friendly 5 star canned stews such as, 4Health, Pure Balance, Nature’s Domain and Variety’s Homestyle stews.

In the evening, they get egg, tripe, sardines, or commercial raw nuggets in their kibble.

Hope this helps!