[crazy4cats]

Hi Carrie-

Yes, adding canned food and water would be the best for a dog with frequent UTIs. I buy four and five star budget friendly canned food at Walmart, Tractor Supply Stores and Costco to add to my dogs’ meals. Orijen is crazy expensive. I’ve never even thought about buying it! I have way too many mouths to feed to be able to afford that food. While the berries in the food are a good start, they are highly processed and probably not enough of them to be very medicinal for your situation.

Here is a link on poop eating from holistic vet Dr. Becker: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/08/23/coprophagia-poop-eating.aspx

Hopefully this is helpful. Pineapple contains enzymes. That is why it is often recommended, but it does have to be fresh otherwise the enzymes are destroyed during processing. I wish I had understood that with my dogs because I was adding canned and it did not good. I think it just made it yummier!

My pups have slowed down on that issue quite a bit, but one of them will still take a bite now and then. I am the one who usually picks up the poop. I am a poop nazi at our house. LOL! I cannot stand it when they smell like they have eaten it. And worse yet…..(this is very gross) but, if they throw up after eating it, I guarantee you that you will never, ever, ever want to have to clean up that again and it will cure you from not wanting to race out and clean it up before it gets eaten!!! Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Cathy-
I’m sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine how difficult it has been. I do not know anything about liver disease, but thought I’d reply to your post to help get it noticed by someone who does.
I do know that Pedigree is not a great choice of kibble to feed when you do not have time to feed the raw. Have you checked out the 3 to 5 star rated kibble on the review site? I can help you with some more budget friendly if you are interested, that may not even cost much more than the Pedigree.
Are the raw meals you are feeding properly balanced? Are you giving any type of vitamin supplements with them?
I’m hoping somebody can chime in and help you with the liver disease as well. Good luck to you and your furry friends!

[Megan W]

why is it not on the budget friendly list though? If it is a five star dog food I started a new thread for discussion

[Megan W]

The editor gave just this formula from Diamond a five star rating I just saw the budget friendly list and this food was not mentioned. I was feeding it to my dog because it was given a five star. It also had a lot of other bonuses too as it was a Missouri company where I was more than happy to support a local company. This bag of food is also 40 lbs and the price on it with tax is $38.56 which I was over the moon about. Can the editor (this is probably asking a lot) or anybody else (with scientific facts) please explain why this 5 star food was not included on list? I know Diamonds other foods are lower ranking so please remember I am only referencing to DIAMOND NATURALS EXTREME ATHLETE. Thank you ahead of time I have been using this website for years; I thought I hit the jackpot with this food and was saddened and alarmed as to why is wasn’t on the budget friendly list or listed below it. If I missed something (I really hope I didn’t I will feel bad feeding it to our dogs for 3 yrs now) I will switch to the Dr. Tim’s or Whole Earth Farms depending on my spouse response to the $.

[Pitlove]

Linda- Rotties! i love them. we also have a Rottweiler along with our Pitbull a chocolate lab and an English springer spaniel. Sam, our Rottweiler (technically he is my boyfriends parents dog, so I dont get to control what he eats unfortunetly but i still think of him as my dog since I give him the most attention as hes the outside dog) is 2 probably almost 3 years old now. The bf’s parents have had all the dogs on Purina ONE lamb and rice since forever. The family dog has always been Rottweilers and unfortunely all but maybe one passed away at around 8 years old. Cancer, e-coli poisoning, you name it its happened to our Rottweilers. If it were up to me and I got to choose his food I would feed him the way I feed my Pitbull who is also prone to the problems that large breed dogs have as he is 66lbs at a year old. I do what is called a rotational diet with my dog. I certainly have him on Orijen’s Adult Dog and after that bag is through i’ve got EVO lined up next for him to try. I also feed him wet food. Now that your Rottie is far past the point where you have to worry about the calcium levels not being too high or too low to prevent rapid growth thus causing many different skeletal related disorders, you can kinda give him a nice variety of foods. If you are on a budget as someone who is retired and need to stick with kibbles, definitely go for the 5 star rated ones. I know a lot of people on here have issues with Taste of the Wild. I BELIEVE its manufacture by Diamond which has a long recall history and a terrible reputation. You want to make sure that the kibble is as species appropriate as you can get if you, like myself, can’t feed a raw diet, which would be the healthiest way for any dog to eat. Species appropriate for ANY dog of any breed being high in animal protein, at least 30% or more, moderate in fats, and low in carbs. Foods that I like and have and will use in my rotation for my pitbull are Orijen (all of them), Wellness CORE, Nature’s Variety, Merrick (GF only), EVO, Grandma Mae’s GF. I’m still working on my list but that is what I have so far.

As for raw, if it is something you are interested in, PLEASE make sure you do A LOT of research before feeding raw because it is possible to make your dog very unhealthy by not feeding a COMPLETE and BALANCED raw diet.

Also to help with the transitions to the food, you can add probiotics to their diet, like canned pumpkin and kefir. I also use a supplement thats premade in a power form made by a very great company called The Honest Kitchen. They use human grade ingredients and make their food in a human grade factory. Its called Perfect Form. Probiotics help build healthy flora(bacteria) in your dogs gut to make transitioning to a new food pain free for you and your dog. Just like with humans dogs should be able to eat a different food or protein every meal if not every couple months without digestive upset. Dogs whos stomachs are already sick and lacking those bacteria that make their gut strong due to being fed the same food day in and day out are the ones who get loose stool and vomitting when you switch their food. Instantly the owner blames the food and switches them back and never switches the food again under the claim that their dog has whats commonly called a “sensitive stomach”.

The joint supplements are a great idea. Glucosamine is a great supplement for joint and hip problems. Cancer, I feel, and I think others do too can have a lot to do with a poor diet. A lot of poor grade dogs foods do contain ingredients that are carcinogenic even for humans and without variety in their diet they are being fed those toxins for years and eventually is catches up with them. The rotational diet helps prevent that and the build up of allergies as well. If your Rottie is already allergic to a protein source like chicken, you are going to want to be very careful with the food you choose as many have chicken meal or chicken fat hidden in the list of ingredients. Its all about reading ingredients but more importantly HOW to read the ingredients and the GA, which is why this website is so helpful. But like many here including Dr. Mike will tell you, its a jumping off point. Once you find a good food, you want to look further into the company that makes it, the co-packers, the recall history etc and make sure that you’re not being fooled into thinking its a good food based on the ingredients. Also knowing where the company sources from is important, what with all the problems we have been having with China lately. Avoid China. Thailand on the other hand is ok.

I really hope that I’ve helped a little and that others will contribute or correct me if I’m wrong about any of my points. I love Rotties so I’m glad to be able to give you some direction with his health!

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

[Catherine M]

Hi everyone!
I have an 8 year old long-haired mini-doxie named Sweet-Pea. She was recently diagnosed with fatty liver disease when tested at a visit for glaucoma. I am feeding raw meats (various kinds) mixed with rice and sweet potato. She had been off of the raw diet for several months, eating dry pedigree food since I had lost my husband and just taking care of things was overwhelming to me. But I went back to the raw after he diagnosis, and also am giving supplement of milk thistle for her liver. She has voracious hunger and thirst, and pees an ocean, sometimes not making it outside. I know this water drinking and peeing are related to the liver disease.

So what do you recommend to feed her? Red meat is not the best for her, although I feed other meats when I can, and doing the raw diet seems to be too much work for my 4 dogs, including her. I’m looking for something easy to digest, easy on the liver (low ammonia-producing), and easy on the budget and to feed.

Thanks for any suggestions you have!
Cathy

[Pitlove]

Hi jamie f- I’ve got a dog with a sensitive stomach that i am also using Origen Adult Dog for and wet food from a variety of different brands. Hes a picky dog and doesn’t like only dry kibble. One reason I would stay with the wet is because of the moisture content it puts back into your dogs diet that they lack with only dry kibble, which can lead to organ damage from minor dehydration. I completely understand the budget, I don’t have a fancy job and make just a little over minimum wage so I’m always looking for quality wet food thats lower in cost. Ive found that walmart carries a 5 star quality wet food called Pure Balance and Tractor Supply carries a 4 star brand called 4Health. I’ve had great success with both and they are cheap. The vomiting could be almost anything. and given that its not after every single meal with wet food i doubt that is the culprit.

However, if you are dead set on an only kibble diet try doing a rotational diet where you change their protein source and brand often to give them variety and add a probiotic like the Honest Kitchens Perfect Form or some canned pumpkin to help build up the healthy bacteria in their gut to be able to handle the food change. Eating one brand of food their whole life can be very unhealthy and just plain boring for dogs. just like a human dogs would probably tell us if they could that they want some variety in their life!

[idunnowhat2callmyself]

Thanks for the reply, Marie!

I suppose I would be looking for something like that–a ready-made ground product to simply weigh out in the appropriate amounts, so that I wouldn’t have to be wondering whether I’m doing it right. I like how straightforward it is to just dump a cup or half-cup of kibble into the bowls.
Or really, any high-quality diet that comes in sizes suitable for multiple varied dogs…raw just seemed to be posited as “the best possible option,” so I’ve been starting to look into it.

Hare Today is actually the same site my aunt uses.

Hmm. The Miami site’s product list offers this: “Build An Order”  -­‐New  to  RAW  FEEDING,  or  dont  want  the  hassle  of  choosing  items.  Let  us  do  the  work  for  you.  At  no  extra  charge,  you  give  us  your  
budget    and  Dogs  info  (  Weight,  Allergies,  Breed  )  and  we  build  your  order  for  you!  Please  Email  us  for  this  service  and  request  BUILD  AN  ORDER.”
…Which is pretty much exactly what I sought, because I have absolutely NO idea what I’d have to order or how much I’d need per month or so…but then, I don’t think they were the one that mentioned free shipping……and Reel Raw looks similarly interesting.

Thank you for the recommendations.

[Tonia N]

I live in Ontario, Canada.

I have an English Mastiff/Rottweiler puppy, who is now 6 months old. An upsetting situation has happened and I am having to switch his food from Acana Ranchlands to something that is more affordable.

I am very upset to have to do this, because he’s doing so well on this food, but a large bag will last 2 weeks and now funds are not allowing that. I need another food idea that is similar to Acana Ranchlands, Grain-free and will allow for less food intake (if that is possible).

When we brought him home they had him on Puppy Chow which gave him an UTI, and I quickly switched him to the Costco (Kirkland, in red bag) Grain-Free Brand. Which was better and he improved without any medications. Then he was getting sick and throwing up, wimpering in the night. I then found out that a lot of other dogs experienced this as well. Which is why we went to Acana.

I can’t afford this food on my income now. So I would love to have ideas on other budget dog foods that will be comparable to Acana. I am even open to hearing other who actually make their own foods for their LARGE puppies.

Thanks for any information you can give me.

[LabsRawesome]

Hi Lisa, Here’s some budget friendly foods that I like. They are in no particular order. 4health GF, Authority GF, Fromm Gold, Evolve GF, Hi-Tek Naturals, Kirkland Signature, Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain, Whole Earth Farms, Nutrisource, Rachael Ray Zero Grain. And also all the ones that Crazy4cats mentioned.

[crazy4cats]

This could depend on where you live and what is available. But, my favorite budget friendly kibble are: Victor, Eagle Pack and Horizon’s Pulsar. Others have mentioned they like Pure Balance and Earthborn. Hope this helps!

[InkedMarie]

I don’t use puppy food so I’d choose an all life stages food. As far as what food, that depends on your budget, for starters.

[triggersmom]

Hi Drew

I didn’t know all those things about Evangers!

I prepare all my dogs food myself. This way I know exactly what’s in the food and I can control the protein, fat and carbs. I can also control the quality and I know my pups are getting the very best.

I know you’re looking for a budget friendly food for all your dogs. You would be surprised at how budget friendly a home prepared diet can be. You cut out all the middlemen and their profit margins. If you would ever like some help preparing any of your dogs food yourself please let me know. I would be glad to help. After all, I’ve been doing it for 20 years now!

[Bobby dog]

Drew:
To help with your pet food budget, check out the Dog Food Coupons forum for info on sales & coupons, it’s also listed on the forum home page:
/forums/forum/dog-food-coupons/

I shop on-line and in stores to help with my budget. If you are able to shop on-line, or if you already do, be sure to sign up for each sites e-mail newsletters and like their Facebook pages. They often send out e-mails with specials that are good for a day or two such as free shipping with no minimum purchase or sales on certain brands. Sometimes they have specials listed on their Facebook pages too. Some on-line stores offer discounts for automatic shipping orders. I regularly buy from Petco.com, Petsmart.com, Petflow, and Chewy.

Sign up for e-mail newsletters and like the Facebook pages of the pet food companies you feed your dogs. Some e-mail coupons and info for special offers.

For in store purchases ask if they offer any frequent buyer programs or offer e-mail promos and like their Facebook pages if they have one.

[Bobby dog]

Good luck Drew!! I am sure you will find options within your budget on the FB group to look into and find even more resources on the sites I posted. The Dogaware site has info about weight loss diets and other health topics too. 😉

Edit: Here’s info about pancreatitis. I had researched the subject in the past for a friend and it seems I didn’t bookmark the sites I found. This pages has references and resources listed at the bottom of their pages for further research:
http://dogaware.com/articles/wdjpancreatitis.html#causes
http://dogaware.com/articles/wdjlowfatdiets.html#commercial

[Bobby dog]

Drew:
I second DF’s suggestion to avoid Evanger’s food or any food they manufacture for other companies.

Did you check out the links I posted on my May 12, 2015 at 8:48 pm post on page three? There are food suggestions on those sites. Also, look into joining the Facebook group I posted for support from other owners that have dogs with diabetes and are faced with budget constraints.

As far as feeding your other dogs the same diet, I would research that further. Your diabetic dog has his own specific needs that are different from the needs of your other dogs depending on the diet you choose.

[Drew D]

Yikes! DogFoodie, that is kinda scary. Back to the drawing board AGAIN. Also, I know canned is better, but I will have to feed three dogs the same thing, so I really need to find a descent dry. As the canned premiums are way out of my budget.The other two are overweight as well so a low carb will benefit them also. So being that I have to feed three, a premium kibble will be better for my budget. Feeding three dogs Hills W/D is too expensive for me. W/D is 23.00 for a 8.5 pound bag. Is it even possible to find something better that I will get more bang for my buck?

[zcRiley]

Yes, please let us all know Nef’s biopsy results. You’ll get sound advice from the forum folks.

I have two pit mixes that had a slew of issues over a two year period. My recommendations come from not wanting to spend too much time second guessing ingredients when I needed to make a change fast. I needed clean results with a clean food. If your dog doesn’t eat it, it can’t affect her, can it? So I subtracted a lot of iffy ingredients with the following:

For budget: Zignature Zssentials

For raw without the thawing/mixing: ZiwiPeak air dried

It was the best risk I ever took. I said goodbye to Orijen.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Wendy J-
I try to avoid it for my dogs also. I’ve never seen a list, but I have noticed that most canned stew type foods usually don’t have it whereas a lot of the pate styles do. The only problem is you get a little less bang for your buck with stews due to containing more water. I try to stick to budget friendly stews such as Pure Balance, 4Health and Kirkland. The other topper I use if on sale are frozen raw meat nugget, such as NW Naturals, Primal or Nature’s Variety. They do not contain carrageenan. Good luck!

[zcRiley]

Cathy M – She’s young, start rotating food, she’ll luv it! Food has a lot to do with EVERYthing about your dog, however, not so much for the grass. If you’re willing to change the food & shampoo cold turkey (if there isn’t a medical issue), you can have results by the end of the week, really. I speak this way because an ex-vet of mine had me fearing all kinds of sudden changes like it were death. There’s precaution then there’s pill pushers.

First, you could train your dog to pee/poop in a sectioned off area of the backyard (maybe a hidden area or put up a small fence). I’m sure you thought of this though.

Second, drop these allergy prone ingredients found in Wilderness (Potato Starch, Potatoes, Alfalfa Meal, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Barley Grass, Dried Kelp). Look for chicken free, potato free, egg free kibble. Try Zignature Zssentials (3 proteins with simpler ingredients, the most “free” of just about everything in kibble form). Or try ZiwiPeak raw/dehydrated (no need to freeze or mix). The latter has a clean ingredient list and superb to digest (I’m so thankful I took a risk with it!). Or mix both if you’re on a budget. BTW, ZiwiPeak makes a Venison/Fish Formula if you don’t want to mess with extra pills/gels/squirts etc.

Use an all natural dog shampoo/conditioner (meaning you could use it if it weren’t PH balanced for dogs). Drag her to the tub and use Aroma Paws Shampoo, Honeysuckle Jasmine Formula. Just trust me on this one, we had dandruff city over here, LOL.

[Bobby dog]

pitlove:
Wellness, by Nature, and Red Barn are the only real hearty stews for dogs I have come across. But, I don’t normally look for stews, don’t know why. I like 4H and Pure Balance stews, they just aren’t as hearty as the others I mentioned. I don’t recommend the 4H GF for dogs, they are really, really high in fat. My cats don’t like 4H either, only my senior kitty liked the GF whitefish & chic.

If you haven’t tried Pure Balance canned for your dog, give it a try. The stews are a decent budget friendly food, $1/can. I feed the tubs too, they are about 70 cents each. I don’t feed or recommend the PB 95% due to the high fat %. I feed mostly the stews and throw in the tubs here and there. Here are DFA reviews for all three:
/dog-food-reviews/pure-balance-tubs/
/dog-food-reviews/pure-balance-dog-food-canned/
/dog-food-reviews/pure-balance-95-canned/

I have only tried the PB GF chicken pate’ and GF chic & turkey in gravy for cats. They didn’t like the chic and only my senior female liked the chic & turkey. It’s worth a try they are $1/tub. My Wal-Mart only carries one other salmon recipe; I try to stay away from larger fish species. I plan on trying the others whenever I get to another store.

I haven’t tried WEF yet. I am planning on it for both the dog and cat foods.

Another budget friendly canned dog food is Costco’s Nature’s Domain. You have to have a membership (or know someone who does). You have to buy it by the case, I think it’s a little over $20/case. C4C is the expert on all things Costco.
/dog-food-reviews/natures-domain-grain-free-canned/

I have a BJ’s membership and buy Berkley & Jenson chic dinner, 6 cans/$8.99.

[Pitlove]

bdog- i completely understand what you mean. i dont think any of the regulars here or even people like me who havent been on this forum for too long, but visit it everyday would assume that you are telling any of us that how you feed is the only way to feed. i came to this thread to look for some budget but healthy options for canned food for my cat and its been very helpful! the point of this thread has been well maintained

[Bobby dog]

Hey everybody!!!
Just popping in real quick, good to hear from everybody!!!

pitlove:
You’re welcome!

I am sooooo jealous of you, what’s it like not to have a finicky cat? I heard there were such creatures, but I began thinking it was just urban legend!!

The cats I have had throughout the years ate whatever I got at the grocery store or discount grocery outlet and it was mostly dry food. A few developed health problems that I feel a bad diet helped exacerbate. If I ever get another kitten or cat they will be started out right with wet food. Hopefully no dry, but I do understand the convenience factor. I have had allot of family emergencies over the past few years so I don’t know if I could rule out dry completely.

I will stop back later with my grocery store food list and others I have either tried or currently feed. I have to proof read the list to make sure I have it updated.

Jakes mom:
Yes, the outdoors are calling!!! Unfortunately, this year my garden will be scaled way back due to a family member with health issues. I am not sure what time I will have to devote to the garden and I don’t want to plant a bunch of stuff only to have it over grow with weeds. Bobby has been at my side most of the time for yard work. He does get bored easily and slips away to hang out on the porch. I am sure I will catch him peeing in the garden at some point or finding a bunny nest! lol

My hyper-t kitty had the best wellness check-up he’s ever had a few months ago. My Vet was thrilled with his weight and the condition of his coat! He does eat the best out of all of them though, he’s the only one that will eat most anything.

weezerweeks:
I’ll check out my list and see if any brands I feed or have tried come in larger cans. I get that whole budget thing.

C4C:
Didn’t know WEF made cat food. I’ll have to check out the pet store I go to that sells it. I will always try a new food, you never know what they will eat.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Weezerweeks!
I’m so glad all the kitties made it. That is quite an accomplishment. Are they free to come and go or are they enclosed? I’ve seen Wellness in large cans, but it is quite a bit more expensive. And, actually 4Health may also. It is a budget food, but only sold at Tractor Supply.

Hi pitlove-
Thanks for checking out the cat thread! We needed some new input! I also use Friskies in my rotation due to having 4 kitty mouths, two large dogs and some humans thrown in there too. I like BDog, have a senior kitty that has a thyroid issue and has to eat or would have a serious health condition. She loves Friskies, Fancy Feast and Sheba. I also feed Nutro Max, Wellness and Halo canned foods as well at the current time. You never know when they decide they don’t like something, however. I try to use coupons whenever possible.

[jakes mom]

some of us use Friskies as part of a rotation diet, just to help the budget a bit. If you look back to the first few pages of this thread, you’ll find discussions about some budget friendly foods, including a few varieties of Friskies, Authority, and 4health.

[LabsRawesome]

pitlove, yes, Friskies does have some poor quality ingredients. (Tractor Supply’s 4health is extremely budget friendly. My cats love it, and no yucky stuff!) https://www.friskies.com/cat-food/wet-cat-food Ingredients for Classic Pate Chicken and Tuna Dinner- Meat by-products, poultry by-products, water sufficient for processing, chicken, liver, tuna, rice, artificial and natural flavors, added color, guar gum, calcium phosphate, potassium chloride, carrageenan, salt, magnesium sulfate, taurine, choline chloride, thiamine mononitrate, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, potassium iodide. B-6050

[LabsRawesome]

Hi Dave, typically the better brands of dog food also make treats. So if you’re using a 4 or 5 star dog food, take a look at their treats, check labels to make sure there isn’t anything in there that you don’t want. Look for labels that says USA made and sourced. A few budget friendly treats that are available at Walmart are Blue Dog Bakery and Riley’s organic. Merrick also sells a large bag of mixed chews for like $10 or $12.

[Sue H]

I have found a “budget friendly” dog food for my 3 dogs that has worked out very well. I don’t have problems with diarrhea or fussy eating and the label makes me feel pretty sure that it is a good choice. Walmart puts out “Pure Balance” dry dog food in several different recipes. To the very best of my knowledge, there have been no complaints or recalls.
Please let me know if I have been in error in recommending this label to people in my neighborhood and to my friends.

[crazy4cats]

Andrea-
My previous dog had both his ACLs replaced probably 10 or 12 years ago. I think the repair was done differently back then. My human son has had his UCL replaced in his elbow last year. I’m not familiar with a CCL. Was is that or is it just a typo? Neither ever fully recovered back to normal. 😒 I sure hope I can avoid that with my two current large pups who are almost 4 now.
I’m fairly “frugal” too. That is why I tend to feed more budget friendly kibble so I can still add some good healthy stuff to it. I try to think of it as feeding them healthier, not spoiling them as so many accuse me of. Lol!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Lisa Z-
As Sandy mentioned above, this food would be appropriate for both of your dogs. It is a great budget friendly choice. I have used this brand recently and my large dogs did well on it. I also always mix in some canned, fresh or frozen extra protein to their meals such as canned food, eggs, sardines, commercial raw or “healthy” left overs. Have fun with your puppies!!!

[Mike D]

Acana Chicken & Burbank Potato for budget friendly dog foods!! Definetly!

[C4D]

I haven’t read all the posts, and I haven’t been on very often before recently, but I’ve tried to help Akari too, though not on the forum side. I have a Min Pin foster that needs and is going to get a dental since I’ve brought her liver numbers down to normal using the Sam-e and Milk thistle I was advising her on. I was trying to save her some money since it’s less expensive than using Denamarin and it seemed that cost was a serious issue. My vet did say that part of the reason for the high liver enzymes was very possibly due to the teeth (they are not rotted and no gingivitis but have had some serious tartar). I am the one paying for this dental.

I did find her posts strange as they all seemed to contradictory. At any rate, I do agree with the recent posts. When my dog blew his ACL years ago, I worked out a plan with my vet to pay for it monthly since we couldn’t afford it. When my Lab needed rehab, it was out of our budget, but I came up with the money. When she broke a tooth on a chew, I spent the money we saved for a patio (we really needed it since the deck decayed and we tore it out) we used the patio money and again, some monthly payments to pay for the root canal dental bill. We could have pulled the tooth for a bit less, but she loved to play ball so it was my suggestion and decision to save the tooth (my vet is a dental specialist). My point is you are their caretakers. If you take on the responsibility of a dog, you need to take care of it properly.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by C4D.

[jakes mom]

LM, the above posters have it right. This has gone on too long and we’ve just all had enough. I would be saying the same but they’ve beaten me to it. No need to repeat it. As far as educating Akari? She knows the dog needs a dental, she’s in vet tech school. What she needs to be educated on is priorities. Doesn’t have the funds to pay for a dental but just bought a cat condo and raised food bowls for the other dogs? Boasts about the stockpiles of food and litter she’s amassed. How about backing off on that stuff and paying the vet?
I’m a “single mom” to 5 cats and a dog, all seniors. Pet care is the biggest part of my budget.

[crazy4cats]

DF- LOL! I like to feed both my dogs the same thing also. I just feed one of them a little more than the other. They already always think the other one may have something better! You could always thaw it out and give it a sniff to see what you think. I think it still would be fine. Would Sam eat it if you cooked it a bit? I have only used NW Naturals and NVI frozen nuggets as toppers a few days a week and mine really like them. I’ve thought about ordering the introductory offer as it is a good price. But, I would only feed as toppers as it is way too expensive for our budget for anything more than that. I think I would cancel after my first order and then I would feel guilty. But, their bones do look interesting. None of the stores that I go to offer the rib bones so I’ve never tried them. Well, I mean my dogs have never tried them. LOL! Let me know what you decide.

[Z B]

9 yr old female spayed
pit-boxer mix,43 lbs, at ideal weight and in good shape
Diet: Kibble (most recently Dr Tims Kinesis grain free & Natures Variety LID Duck) topped with 5 star canned
Heartguard every 6 weeks
Frontline or other topical flea treatment every 2 months
Flea bath once every 1-3 months

She has never taken steroids, painkillers, or antibiotics except for 2 courses of amoxicillin in the past year for a skin infection. To my knowledge she has not eaten any poisons, poisonous plants, etc. She’s an inside dog and walked on a leash. I don’t have a fenced yard so she’s never outside unattended.

Last week her water intake increased dramatically and she peed large volumes on the floor several nights in a row. Other than that she appears to feel fine, eating well, enjoys her walks, is not showing urgency to pee nor peeing frequently. Urinalysis showed signs of infection so she’s now taking antibiotic Zeniquin.

Yesterday I received the results of her bloodwork and her liver enzymes are OFF THE CHARTS.

The doctor recommends I give her SAM-e and Milk Thistle to support liver health. Is there anything else I can do, diet-wise, supplements, etc. I see Science Diet and Royal Canin have liver support diets but I hope not to feed those foods if I don’t have to. I’m willing to do homemade if I need to (commercial raw is not in my budget) but would prefer to stick with a high quality kibble and canned if possible.

Should I be concerned about the foods I’m currently feeding? Contamination????

[crazy4cats]

Hi Madelon-
My pups had a rough start also. They both had a terrible case of giardia that was extremely difficult to get rid of. Is that what your pup had? They had several treatments to get rid of it and I believe due to that they developed either a leaky gut or colitis.

I don’t think that RC is a terrible food. But I do think it is too expensive for what it is. Also, most that frequent this site believe that there is no perfect food and it is best to feed a variety. You don’t have to give up the RC, you can keep it in your rotation. So far, after my pup’s rough start, Victor grain free joint health, California Natural pork and peas and Merrick grain free duck have worked the best with their sensitive tummies. The Victor is budget friendly while the others need to be on sale for me to purchase!

Where do you typically buy your food? You could alway print off the list of 4 and 5 star food lists from the review side of this website and take it with you to the store or have it by you when you search for a food on the computer.

Once you get set on your kibble, I feel it is best to add a more species appropriate food to it, such as, canned or fresh foods that are less processed. I feed canned, eggs, sardines and lightly cooked meats to my dogs’ meals.

Good luck!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by crazy4cats.

[Bobby dog]

Yes, no one site or pet store could possibly carry every shoppers favorite item. I order from Chewy as well as several other sites. Info is posted here on current sales, coupons, or any other promos for the budget minded shopper that DFA members come across.

[Bobby dog]

Hi shawn:
That’s a nice budget and you have many choices in that range. I don’t like to feed my cats kibble either and mostly feed canned food to help maintain their UT health. Here’s some brands & recipes that I feed:
EVO GF Turkey & Chic
Grandma Mae’s GF Cat & Kitten
Innova Nature’s Table GF Chic & Turkey
Precise Naturals GF Chicken
Simply Nourish Source (Petsmart) GF Chic & Turkey
Wellness Core GF Turkey & Duck

Here are brands & recipes I want to try:
Annamaet GF Chicken & Fish
Fromm GF Game Bird
Nutrisource GF Country Select
Precise Holistic Complete GF Pork Meal
Precise Holistic Complete GF Turkey & Chicken
Pure Vita GF Chicken
Simply Nourish (Petsmart) GF Chicken

[crazy4cats]

Hi Alan-
The original Kirkland pate canned food that comes in both chicken and lamb is still available in the NW region. But, you are right, the Cuts in Gravy is no longer available. I still have a case of it left, however. I believe all of the Nature’s Domain foods both wet and dry are reviewed on the review side of this site. I’m not sure why the KS Nature’s Domain Stew is not on the budget friendly list. Use the following form if you wish to request a review:

/contact-us/suggest-dog-food-review/

[Alan D]

Both Kirkland brands listed in the ‘budget friendly’ section are no longer manufactured and sold at Costco stores. Please update to Kirkland’s (Costco) new brand ‘Natures Domain’ grain free in canned and dry. Also, please review ‘Beaverdam’ High Protein/Puppy Formula. Thanks!

[Bobby dog]

shawn a:
What is your budget, is it the price for the kibble you listed in your post?

[shawn a]

what are some other good grain free kibble beside taste of wild,4health,earthborn that is budget friendly for my senior cat

[aquariangt]

Budget friendly is somewhat relative. From a quick glance at the list DogFoodie linked (which I would absolutely pick something from that list, and read a few of the articles linked in that thread as well to familiarize yourself) Ones that I consider fairly budget friendly:

Dr Tims
Fromm Gold
Earthborn
Victor
Zignature

[crazy4cats]

Hi RosyR-
I agree with Labs. Victor grain free is a great budget friendly 5 star food. I rotate Victor with whatever 4 or 5 star kibble I can find on a good sale or have a coupon for. So far it has been Rotations, Eagle Pack, Nutrisource and Merrick (both with and w/o grain). I also mix in either canned or fresh foods in all their meals. I agree, Orijen is very expensive, but if you take a more basic kibble and add in some fresh and less processed foods, I think you are better off anyway! Good luck and have fun with your pup!

[Kristin S]

If you aren’t worry about budget, go with Orijen or Wellness Core. We choose a cheaper route with Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food and we like it.
https://www.petflow.com/product/fromm/fromm-gold-holistic-large-breed-puppy-dry-dog-food

[Naturella]

Akari, so good to know! Yeah, I will see where we are with Bruno when his current food supply goes down. I am starting to job-hunt for full-time jobs that start in May, so come May, I am praying for a salary… LoL. Then we have to move with the hubs in June – no more roommate – yay! And once we settle in the new place (soooo hoping for a house, but I may be reaching here, lol) and the budget is redone, I will see when, if, and how we can put doggers on raw. OR… get another doggers!!! I hope these 2 degrees get me good cash moneys! 😀

Sorry for hijacking, Eugene, but I do second Akari’s sentiments that dehydrated still has to be frozen/refrigerated, that dogs don’t necessarily need fruits and veggies found in BARF, and that it will probably indeed take a little less space. So try it out, see how it works out! Make sure you grind the bone really fine though – you don’t want splinters or a choking hazard.

[Bobby dog]

Hi puppypiles:
I think your name is cute. Very lucky kitty! I would love it if my cats would only eat wet food, but they do crave their crunchies. So I try to stick with foods with lower carbs for UT health. I mostly have finicky cats, they seem to forget what life on the streets was like. My main rotation is Wellness Core Duck & Turkey, Precise Naturals GF Chic, Grandma Mae’s GF cat & kitten, Fromm Duck Ala’ Veg, and NVI GF Healthy Weight. On my list of kibbles to try I have Annamaet GF and grain inclusive, Nutrisource Country Select, and Pure Vita GF chicken.

Here are others I throw in the rotation:
Beyond Superfood Herring, Beyond Chic & Whole Oatmeal, EVO Turkey & Chic, Innova Nature’s Table GF Chic & Turkey, NVI GF LID Turkey, Simply Nourish Source GF Chic & Turkey, Wellness Core GF Kitten, and Pure Balance chicken.

Budget wise Pure Balance (Wal-Mart) and Beyond are the best for me. They are a little higher in carbs than I like, but feeding on a rotational basis works for us.

[Bobby dog]

Fromm grain inclusive is cheaper in my area than TOTW. So, if you would like suggestions from DFA posters not sure your last reply will help with your original question. How about posting what your budget is, size or breed and age of your dog, where you shop, on-line or in stores or both. This will help someone who might take the time to help you.

[Erin M]

Hi, I’m new to the forums here, though I’m at DFA almost every week.

I currently feed my hound mix rescues Victor and add about 4 oz. wet (pure balance in the morning and kirkland turkey wet in the evening). I’m wondering about the other victor grain free blends to give my dogs some variety. They love the all stages kibble (and so do I as a teacher on a budget who wants to feed my dogs well).

Any recs for other high-q dry foods that are in the $45-50 range for a 30lb bag? I go through about 2 bags per month, (my dogs are high activity!

Thanks,
t_t

[LabsRawesome]

Hi Natalie, welcome to DFA. 😀 My favorite kibble is Victor. It’s a 5 star grain free food, without the usual 5 star price. I buy it locally, it’s just under $45 for 30lbs. The food is available in small bags too. Here’s Victor’s site. Click on their “Find a dealer” for stores in your area. http://www.victordogfood.com/ I recommend a rotational diet. Pick several different foods to try, different foods/manufacturers. Then rotate through different proteins- Chicken, Beef, Salmon, Turkey, Lamb, ect. Explore other options as well. Since you only have 1 small breed dog, you might want to feed canned food. Canned is more species appropriate then kibble. Because canned food is moisture rich and the food is closer to it’s original state, it’s much less processed than kibble, and uses no preservatives. Also, with just 1 small dog you could feed a human grade canned food. 😀 My 3 love Merrick canned once in a while for a treat. It smells and looks so good, I’m tempted to try it myself. lol. 🙂 Unfortunately I cannot feed Merrick exclusively as I have 3 dogs so I have to go with more budget friendly canned foods. If you’re interested Merrick is sold at Petco. I hope your puppy does well on the foods you try. Good luck! 😀