[J S]

I would do some research on struvite crystals to make sure your doc is giving you the right info. From my understanding having a high pH (non-acid) in the urine with an infection is the environment in which struvite crystals form. The battle is two-fold. First you want to increase water to flush the uti out of her system which also means frequent and low stress times outside to empty the bladder entirely each time. We take our Saluki/Husky rescue outside every four hours and have her kibble swimming in water so she has to drink that before eating (she’s never been a big water drinker). Sometimes we drip an ice cube in the water bowl to make it more interesting. I’ve also just started adding some colloidal silver to the water bowl as that helps with all infections and is supposed to help deter tooth plaque (I used CS when I had a UTI and didn’t have to take an antibiotic). We also put cranberry urinary plus powder in her kibble, but it did not stop another infection so I don’t know if we’ll continue using it in the future. We also use a powder called Biotic-pH from Wysong. The main ingredient in it is the same as in the Royal Canine food used to keep the pH lower. Our bodies have their own systems of regulating pH, but what we eat does make a difference. Increasing meats would increase an acidic environment. We’ll be switching to a non-grain kibble next to see how that works. Royal Canine is a lot of chicken fat and our girl does plump up on that somewhat. Best of all would be to get off the dry kibble completely but we haven’t been able to break that habit yet. She does get wet food, chicken leftovers, canned premium dog food, etc. along with her kibble and water stew. If we could keep her from digging in the dirt (which I think is what’s giving her the UTIs) then maybe we’d have a chance to end this cycle, but as part Husky that would be asking a lot! Best of luck as you find out what works best for your pooch.

[Nicole O]

Red,

We adopted her from the shelter and don’t know her actual breed but many have said she looks like a small American Eskimo mix. She is 5 years old. As far as diagnosis. Vet just told me she is prone to the formation of stones due to the struvite and that’s why she needs to be on the prescription diet. Prior to everything, we had her on Hill’s Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed Light Dry Dog Food. The vet said it is her food that cause the stones to form. We had only had her for 3 years and don’t know her prior history, the size and amount of stones removed from her bladder indicated that they may have been forming for a while. She nevershowed any signs of discomfort until her UTI.

I will ask the vet about supplements and will start adding water to her dry food.

[Nicole O]

These posts have been extremely informative and I am hoping someone will have some advice for me.

History: feb2015 my pup was diagnosed with a UTI, was given antibiotics, and after completion of the antibiotics continued to urinate blood. 2nd visit the vet did an X-ray. My poor girl had her entire bladder filled with stones varying in size from a grape seed to the size of a lychee. She had surgery to remove the stones and was placed on hills C/D dry mixed with a little hills c/d wet. Everything went back to normal but FIVE MONTHS LATER she began to have diarrhea with blood in her stool. Again, I rushed her to the vet. He placed her on antibiotics and probiotics + a chicken/rice/cottage cheese/pumpkin diet for 7 days. After the antibiotics and the 7 day food change, we started to incorporate the C/D food in to transition her back. 5 days later she began to diarrhea with blood again. Went back to the vet. Did another X-ray (thank goodness the X-ray looked good). But now he is saying she’s having an adverse reaction to the hills C/D. He has now put her on Royal Canin SO dry. There is no more diarrhea, but she is also only having a bowel movement once a day.
After reading all of your posts, I don’t know what I should do. We haven’t been adding water or wet food to her dry, but will definitely start that. But knowing that this super expensive food is mostly fillers has me a little uneasy.
Any advice or suggestions?

[Sue L]

Happy to hear that your Bella is on the road to no more itches,as I am in battle mode for one of my 2 little pit girls.Only Ava who is a blue nose with white has the skin issues and Nina is just fine as long as she has her sister with her but there’s always that problem child.They are both being weaned off puppy food to Hill’s Science Diet and I’m told it should clear up her skin and itches in as long as a month but maybe earlier.She takes Benadryl,Steroids such as prentisone when I really need to get a handle on it.No more grain for these babies,I’m just praying for healthy babies to thrive and be happy.A&D ointment where she’s really red helps too and they only get bathed with WEN for Pets.Keep the faith,it’s all so worth it !!!!

[Pitlove]

My dog was a picky eater before as well when I was only feeding dry because I thought it was better. Just because you prefer dry it doesnt really mean anything since you are not the one eating it. Once I added wet food into my dogs diet and sprinkled the dry on top he instantly became interested in eating again. I also change his food frequently for variety and to keep his stomach healthy and him free of getting allergies to one type of protein or carb and that has made a huge difference in his interest in eating. Wet food is also often looked at like more of a treat and I disagree with that ideology greatly as I believe it’s an essential part of their diet to make sure they are getting enough moisture in their diet. Drinking water alone is not enough.

[Susan]

Hi, is she eating the Hills I/d Low Fat GI Restore or the I/d Gastrointestinal Health wet tin food, the fat % in the I/d Low Fat GI Restore wet is only 8.5% fat that has been converted to dry matter (Kibble) so its around 1.70% fat wet tin food, if she’s eating the I/d Gastrointestinal health it’s 14.3% fat so its about 3-4% fat wet tin food, confused?? lol Hills vet diets convert their wet & dry vet diets to dry matter (Kibble) so you need to find a wet tin food where the fat is under 4% if she’s eating the I/d Gastro…. if she’s eating the I/d low fat GI Restore you need to look for a wet tin food that’s 2% & under in fat… or do what I’ve been doing I cook a extra lean beef mince or the Turkey Breast 99% fat free mince.. or I soak Patches low fat kibble in water till its soft then I drain water very well & put soft kibble thru blender (mini processor) it comes like wet tin food & its low in fat…

[Gayle T]

I have gone thru several 5 star dry foods ( I prefer dry) and the only one my Lakeland terrier will eat is Purina savor, she loves it but it is not recommended any 5 star foods that dogs love? Help

[Caitlin R]

Hey all. My eight(ish) year old terrier/schnauzer mix recently had jaw surgery and I’ve had to transition her from dry food (she was eating Authority grain-free small breed kibble before that) to canned food, and we’ve had a heck of a time with digestion problems. Before all this she NEVER had digestion troubles (even when she gets into things she shouldn’t be eating). My vet isn’t entirely sure what’s causing them now because she’s had so many shocks to her system all at once. For one, she’s taking pain medicine (3 week course) and antibiotics (6 week course), and she’s also had a sudden change in food (from kibble to canned) which I know can also mess up her system. But, I’m having trouble finding a wet food she can tolerate. We’ve tried Wellness Core, Eagle Pack, and Whole Earth Farms. Right now, she throws up everything we try about six hours after she eats it.

To help, my vet prescribed a round of metronidazole and Hill’s i/d until she’s finished with this new prescription. She’s keeping the i/d down with no problems, and I have enough of the i/d left to transition her to a new food gradually. Do any of you have suggestions for high quality foods that are also highly digestible? The only extra qualification is that it needs to be a ground type food, not a stew or food with chunks.

Thanks for any help!

[Melissa L]

I haven’t tried this dog food yet, but I’m curious about Merrick’s new “Raw Infused” dry dog foods. I was wondering if you could review this new line Merrick has out?

[Anonymous]

Below is an excerpt from: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2011/10/dry-pet-food-and-dental-disease-in-dogs-and-cats/
Click on link for complete article and comments.

“One of the most common actions recommended, by veterinarians and others, to minimize the development of oral disease is feeding dry commercial pet diets. It is often argued that chewing on kibble cleans the teeth and slows the development of periodontal disease. However, there is some reason to doubt this claim. Most dry diets made for dogs and cats do not require chewing, and the kibble is often swallowed whole. And typical kibble is very easily broken apart, so it does not seem likely that it is very effective in cleaning teeth, especially under the gum line, where plaque and calculus cause the most inflammation and disease. And at least one study looking at the effect of diet and chewing materials on oral health did not find that feeding a dry diet only was associated with any less periodontal disease than other feeding methods”.

[Bobby dog]

As of last fall Blue Buffalo was using Simmons for a cannery. They opened their own kibble manufacturing facility last year; they still use co-packers:
http://www.foodmanufacturing.com/news/2014/08/blue-buffalo-factory-opens-90m-plant-joplin
http://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/4467-blue-buffalo-opens-heartland-pet-food-manufacturing-facility

Contact them if you want to know who else manufactures their dry foods and where they source their ingredients:
http://bluebuffalo.com/contact/

Check out their website FAQ’s for their statement of where their food is manufactured:
http://bluebuffalo.com/frequently-asked-questions/

[Chrys H]

For digestive problems I started with Apawthocary tincture, but similar ingredients are found in Veterinary’s Best Stomach Digest now called Gas Busters, tablets well received by both Maltipoos.
Other things in my dog resource bag are Vitalogic Stomache Digest -for humans but same ingredients in dry cap as we’re the Apawthocary product, open cap add 1/2 to dry food made wet (or your food) has plaintain, slippery elm, marshmallow, soothing stomachs aids that we humans take on occasionally as well. Probiotics, Holly Hill Health has a capsule that doesn’t require refrig & is designed to work in intestinal tract, once again human grade, open xap sprinkle on dig food for added boost especially after taking a Heartworm treatment or getting vacc or exposure to extra stress. I found that many times after my dogs as puppies or young dogs after previously mentioned known body stressors or eating muscellanouses (one’s they are too quick & you don’t believe it to be toxic just an irritant help prevent diarrhea or small dog hypoglycemia vomiting from empty stomach too long.

My 8+ yr old female Maltipoo came to us as a pup that even Vet believed to just have kennel cough. Turned out to be Parvo, survived that but due to isolation unit with high level of chlorine in air developed pneumonia as well. Today 8+ yrs old is very healthy but is very sensitive. Human Little Tummies Gripe Water and Little Tummies Colic are part of my first aid kit too.

[Christie]

I recently rescued a 4 month old Catahoula mix puppy. The limited paperwork that I received from the previous foster mom said she had been feeding her “retriever puppy food” from the tractor supply store. During her initial vet check, the doctor said her teeth (mostly baby thankfully) were in terrible condition and said I should feed her quality food. She wanted to sell me on Royal Canin, which is the only line the vet directly sells.

I have a 6 year old APBT mix who eats Ideal Balance Large Breed Dry. I started the puppy on IB’s puppy dry, but she eats both her food and the adult food. And while I know occasional snacking of the adult food isn’t terrible, I would prefer if possible, to buy 1 food for both dogs.

All of the Editor’s Choice list foods seem to be specifically formulated for adults (and there’s the separate list for puppies). I don’t want to cut quality for cost.

Neither dog is overly attached to Ideal Balance and I often have to top their kibble with canned food to get them to eat.

Anyone have any 4-5 recommendations for All Life Stages food or am I just better off sticking to the adult and puppy food?

Thanks!

[John O]

My 2.5 year old lab, border, pit bull mix has consistent bouts of loose stool and some impressive gas. We have been feeding him Taste of the Wild High Prairie (which he likes a lot) but after ruling out any treats or other items he ingests, we are concerned that it may be the TOTW.
Any recommendations or suggestions?

[Pitlove]

Your dog is probably bored of the food. Its the same as you changing your diet often so you don’t get bored, your dog would like the same variety.

Give thought to a rotational diet, where you can either rotate the protein source within one brand or the brand and the protein source every 3-4 months to keep your dogs interest peaked. Thats how I solved the problem of my dog being picky and not eating.

I would suggest staying with the 4 to 5 star quality foods and still doing the wet too. I firmly believe wet food should be a part of every dogs diet. Its much healthier for them than dry when you can’t feed a raw diet. Pure Balance is another Walmart brand that is 3.5 or 4 stars I believe for the GF. I feed the dry and wet. I’ve also used Fromm, Nature’s Variety, Orijen, and Precise Holistic Complete.

[Pitlove]

Hi Jeaneene-

Everyone here has offered good advice and given good suggestions. I wanted to touch on a couple points that people brought up and elaborate on them. Firstly the Beneful…unfortuntely Beneful is well known as a very poor quality food filled with artifical dyes, corn, by-products as the only source of animal protein and propylene glycol which is the second cousin to the main ingredient in anti-freeze. Your transition to Blue Buffalo was met with diaherra because like others said, when dogs each the same food for several years they no longer produce the healthy flora (bacteria) in their gut to be able to handle a dietary change. This is why many dogs switching foods need to be transitioned for much longer than the normal 7 day period. Now, I don’t consider Blue to be that great of an all natural food, but it is a much better food than Beneful and that will also contribute to diaherra. A lot of times dogs bodies will detox poor quality foods when fed a better one.

My dog used to have a “sensitive stomach” as most people call it and once I started to give him a digestive supplement during food transitions and kefir/yogurt as a probiotic his whole life changed. I change his food constantly now with no digestive upset what so ever. Lately hes even had one food for breakfast and something different for dinner.

Second point I’d like to make is that the theory about dry food cleaning a dogs teeth is a myth and was debunked a long time ago. Dogs teeth are carnivorus and are meant to tear and rip flesh, they dont have the grinding motion humans do and therefore often don’t chew their food enough for the dry to benefit the teeth. I feed both wet and dry and brush my dogs teeth regularly and his teeth are in good condition.

Lastly, concerning the UTI. I have only experienced it with a cat and yes he was put on the feline Urinary SO dry, which I now find a strange recommendation as the top reason for crystals is eating all dry food. Adding wet to the diet even if it is the RC canned food would keep his system flushed as someone suggested as well. If you are planning to continue feeding the dry I would highly suggest adding a canned food as well and also when the vet tells you he needs to be on an rX diet for life, that is wrong info and a way to get your money. You can certainly in time transition him back onto a normal HEALTHY diet. I would suggest something other than Beneful and transitioning very very slow.

I wish you a lot of luck dealing the the UTI though, I know how awful it can be to see your baby in pain like that.

[InkedMarie]

Regarding your first post, I want to address the Beneful then getting sick…that happens when a dog has been on a low quality food, like Beneful, for years. It probably happens with better quality food too; any food really when a dog eats it so long and gets changed to a better food, tummy upset happens.

I suggest you ask local dog owners/vets/groomers/trainers for recommendations for someone to come in to let your dogs out when you are at work. Your dog needs alot of moisture; canned, raw or dehydrated are much better than dry. If you must feed dry, add canned & water to it. He needs ample opportunity to urinate.

Good luck!

[Jeaneene S]

I really wanted to put this in the “Struvite Crystals” thread – but for some reason that particular page always shows me as *not* logged in, even when I log in from within that thread.

Anyway, I could use some help. I have a 10 1/2 year old male Siberian Husky who has – his entire life – been on Beneful dry dog food and never had any health problems AT ALL. At one point I tried to change to the Blue Wilderness (thinking it might be better for them), but he and my 10 1/2 year old female Husky had the worst diarrhea I’ve ever seen, so it was back to the Beneful kibble. (I’ve always heard dry kibble is best for dental health, which is why that’s all I’ve ever used)

Now, this past February my big boy had what appeared to be an awful UTI. So the next day, I got a good urine catch (looked super cloudy, but just yellow) and took it and him to the vet. Vet found no crystals but lots of blood (at the microscopic level) in his urine, and did an xray, but didn’t find anything wrong. She put him on antibiotics and it was gone.

On May 1 we moved to a new house, and got a new vet – had all the dogs’ files brought to the new vet (I brought them myself so I knew they wouldn’t get lost). Then, on Memorial Day, I noticed he looked like he was having a hard time urinating again and to my horror it looked as if he was even peeing blood. Immediately called the new vet and explained what it *appeared* to be; she said that even though they were closed, she would call in an rx for Amoxicillin for him. No more than a few days of being off the antibiotics, and we started having problems AGAIN (thankfully not peeing blood this time). So, hubby took him to the Vet this past Monday and with a different kind of xray, she found 1 stone the size of a quarter, 3 stones the size of a nickel, and about 15 smaller ones. Needless to say my big boy went in for surgery yesterday morning (I am picking him up today).

Now the vet is telling me that I have to put him on the Royal Canin SO food (which she has already said he’s been turning his nose up at the vet’s), and the only treats he can have is if I take the Royal Canin SO canned food, cut it up in to squares and bake them into “treats”. We’re talking about a dog who is used to his mommy throwing a steak on the grill to mix in with his food (well, him and the other 3 girl dogs in the house) … getting bell peppers, apples and other fruits/veggies as treats, having watered-down applesauce popsicles, etc. Now she’s saying he can never have any of this ever again AND I have to give him this food that appears to me to be very poor quality and that he doesn’t like?! I’m having a very hard time accepting this.

I asked the vet at the Petsmart (where I am having to get the food) for a second opinion – and oddly enough – he seconded that opinion. How do I tell his regular vet that I don’t approve of this dog food, and that I’d LIKE to try a more vitamin-based/holistic approach as well as make his food for him which I feel would be better quality – not to mention cheaper – and where I can add the necessary added vitamins and minerals and would still prevent any further bladder stone issues.

Should trust both his new vet and the Banfield vet at Petsmart (his previous vet – when I called her last week also said he may have to go on a special diet for the remainder of his life too, so that makes three)? I’m willing to make his food, give him the supplements, test his urine … ANYTHING! Or am I just being unreasonable? And would it be “wrong” to go against the vet and do what I *think* is right?

• This topic was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by Jeaneene S.

[kaitlin h]

Hello,

My Chow Chow is 4 years old, she has always ate Rachel Ray Nutrish. Lately she will go all day with a bowl full from the morning and not touch it once. Then I assume from her not eating her stomach is empty and she will throw up bile. I started adding wet food to her dry food and she normally will eat it. But, there are still 3 out 7 days she will not even touch the food , or she will just eat the wet off the top. Can someone help me with advice on what to do. Or can someone give me a recommendation of what food to switch her to. There are too many options out there and reviews are all similar. I asked my vet, but they promote the food they sell there, or tell me to put her on a bland diet, but I don’t think her stomach is messed up she just doesn’t eat therefore she throws up.

In search of new reliable dog food for Chow Chow.

[Patricia B]

Mine is more a question than a nomination. Well, more than one question actually. Out of the following 3, which is the best choice?

1. Fromm 4 Star beef
2. Wellness TruFood (small breed)
3. Farmina Pet Food’s N&D

My dogs have tried both the Fromm and the N&D, I have no complaints. Haven’t yet tried the new Wellness.

What would you folks recommend for a Standard Poodle with gastroenteritis. Was on Wellness Complete Turkey & Potato dry, then the dreaded Prescription i/d dry, then Wellness Simple Turkey and Potato dry and now Wellness Simple Lamb & Rice wet & dry.
Last 2 questions…in general, which is better Raw (store bought) or Dry?
Any feedback is very welcome. The Poodle is a Seizure Alert Dog of a client of mine and the company they got him through keeps insisting on the Wellness brand (probably getting a kickback). The other questions would be more for my own 2 dogs but for the Poodle too.
Thank you in advance.

[Pitlove]

Thanks C4C! I work myself into anxiety over making sure he’s getting the best (the cat too of course). I feel a lot better about feeding a lower protein dry now that I know I can supplement with the high protein in the canned food. Didnt think about it like that before!

I have so many foods for him right now its really nice. 4Health and Pure Balance canned. Fromm Four Star GF, Pure Balance and some samples of Precise Holisitic Complete for dry and THK dehydrated raw. He had THK this morning and really liked it. He also got a sample of raw food from this store we went to yesterday and had that mixed in with his canned last night with no dry! he LOVED it! and great poops this morning too 😀

[crazy4cats]

Hi Pitlove-

I think using a 3.5 to 4 star kibble with minimal red ingredients, but may have a little less protein is fine when you are adding a 5 star budget canned food to boost up the protein and moisture content of the meal. You can also add egg, sardines or left overs to a 4 star kibble to bump up the protein and add valuable fresh nutrients to the meal at a reasonable price.

The only 5-star dry food that I have found in my “network” is Victor grain free. The only other time I feed a 5 star food is if I can find one on sale or with a coupon. Otherwise, I feed a 4 star. Remember, even 5 star kibble is over processed food that isn’t even that great for them anyway!

Your dog is lucky he has such a conscientious owner!

[aquariangt]

I keep both high quality. Minimal red ingredients is huge, and then protein levels. With Liesl, who has some allergies, she gets 50% dry and 50% wet. Dani is more 75% Dry and 25% Wet, because she can eat much higher protein kibbles. Liesl’s kibbles that she can eat are more in the 27-30% range, so I supplement with a lot more wet food. Dani is really more like 35-45% protein for her kibble

[bigthree]

Yes I do still make my own canned dog food, and I have mixed her dry with it. Here’s the kicker last night when I fed her I notice that she was just eating the homemade food. What I mean is she was spitting the dry food out on the floor. My other two dogs a
St. Bernard and a yellow give me no problem when it comes to feeding time. There is one thing that I noticed with Athena the stinker the dry food is the more she likes it.

[Pitlove]

Are you still doing the homemade canned recipes you and you vet made? I mentioned before I had this problem with my dog. Now the only way he will eat is with the wet canned food on the bottom and I have to lightly sprinkle the dry on top so that the dry doesnt mix in with the wet (which i mentioned before) I tried everything else and this is what works for me personally. Consider that she has an issue with texture. I know I do as a human, hence why I wont eat applesauce.

I firmly believe that changing my dogs diet regularly has helped him greatly in becoming interested in food again. You wouldnt want to eat chicken and rice your whole life, well your dog doesnt either. Its boring and eventually they grow tired of it. It also makes for a sick gut.

[Pitlove]

The only way my dog will eat is if I put the wet down first and then sprinkle the dry on top. I’ve been using both high protein dry and wet (he actually lost 2 pounds randomly wasnt intended).

Ive just been using 5 star quality kibbles and 4-5 star canned and its busting my wallet so Im trying to see if I dont really NEED to do that.

Right now for dry I have Fromm Four Star Nutrionals and Pure Balance Bison and I also have some THK Beef dhydrated raw. I switch between those right now for variety.
I usually have an assortment of canned foods also for variety but right now Im down to just the 4Health and Pure Balance.

He gets a can of wet and now a cup of dry on top since he lost weight when I was feeding half a cup and he was already at his ideal weight. Dont want him to get too skinny.

[Pitlove]

I agree with whoever told you they are detoxing. Its very common (from what i’ve heard) for animals suddenly being fed a much better diet to have diaherra. Not sure how long it should last, someone else would have to weigh in on that. If you (like me and others) have fed the occassional by-product food or “low end” food I can imagine that now on raw they have much more to detox from their body. OR even more so if they were on dry kibble and not human grade canned.

Best suggestion I can give you is call a holistic vet in your area, someone who will understand tranisitioning to raw for felines and ask if what you’re experiencing is typical or atypical and if they feel your kitties should be seen by a vet. I would keep trying the raw. I think their bodies are just in shock from a healthy diet.

[SUE A]

My bichon is not yet a year old – weighs about 7-8 pounds. I’ve been feeding her 1/4c dry twice a day. She goes #2 4 or 5 times a day – seems more comes out that goes in. Does anyone know of a good tiny dog food that she will absorb more and not create so much waste?

[jakes mom]

I do same as Bobby, dog gets cat food leftovers and stuff they won’t eat. Have never bought a bag of cat food specifically for the dog but I’ve used up a bag of dry cat food on Jake. I don’t see that it would be an issue in rotation but I wouldn’t feed cat food exclusively to a dog.

[Pitlove]

I believe the dry NV still contains taurine, not that that helps me at all. I was actually thinking about doing the NV dry cat food in my rotation for my dog because of how high the protein would be. Definitely gonna try it at some point now!

Ill be giving my pup some more primal tonight then as well 😛

[Donna M]

Same problem plus soft stool, with my 5 yr old Welsh Terrier. He does this on a random basis – maybe 2 to 3 times per week. Also has liver issues that are under control with Usodiol. He is/has been on Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet lamb and rice dry (and stared adding a little of canned version of the same about 4 months ago). Decided to try probiotics. I just started giving him probiotics: NWC Naturals. Mixed it in with canned food. He barfed that up. Am wondering if food is NOT the issue. Been to the vet. All suggestions welcomed, on the issue.

[Peter S]

Life’s Abundance New Dry Grain Free dog food.

[Pitlove]

gave my dog one primal nugget of the cat food (cant hurt can it? serious question). he ate it just fine lol. mixed it in with his dry and canned food. the kitty is still eating her canned mixed with primal. i mixed it in really good tonight so she cant just pick it out lol!

[“Blue”]

We feed Blue twice a day with a variety of dehydrated, raw and kibble. His stools are just fine.
Breakfast-
2/3 cup Origen dry
2-3 Tbls homemade milk kefir (topper)
1/2 cup Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance/Honest Kitchen

Dinner-
2/3 cup Origen dry
2-3 Tbls canned dog food (topper) or sardines (not topper)
1/2 lb. package Darwins Raw

These foods are not mixed into one in his bowl just as we place our food separately on a plate. He absolutely doesn’t have a favorite and may start in on any one. He will usually finish one before going to the next food, but not always.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by "Blue".

[“Blue”]

I started to culture milk kefir last December for myself and shortly thereafter began using it as a topper on the dry food when the NWC ran out. We now feed a good quality dry so it’s prolly not needed as a probiotic but it works well as a topper to add moisture and flavor plus the probiotics, and for cheap. Anyone else feeding kefir?

[kenneth r]

Looking for a retail store that sells Brothers complete advanced allergy care dry dog food.

[Ronald]

I switch food plans, but dog is still over weight..

I think maybe I am confused on what and when to feed this dog..

I give her a cup of wet food for breakfast and one cup sometime cup and a half of dry food for dinner..

I have her on Pure Balance..

Just what is the proper portions to feed a black lab mix, she weighs about 60 pounds..
She was nice a trim two years ago when we got her, now she has a extra large belly..

If someone could advise me on when to feed and the portions, wet and dry or all dry..

Maybe I’m with the wrong food also, what woyld you suggest..

Thanks.

Ron..

[Edward B]

PitLove,

Sorry that’s kind of funny though as I’m transitioning my dogs to Merrick dry from Blue Buffalo. Researching dog food can be a nightmare in itself but i realized something in the process. Not every dog is the same, what works well for my dog might not do so well with yours. You kind of have to tone some of the discussion out and know your dogs well and see what they do best on. All the higher end dog foods still have their own issues and you still have to keep an eye out for things that aren’t acceptable to you as a pet owner. I completely agree that you not only have to know the food but the company and their practices as well.

[Carol V]

Dear Mike and DogFoodAdvisor.com staff & friends, thank you for this highly informative and easy-to-use website. It is a relief – and yes, a thrill! – to find current and accurate dog food info that I trust. Our two dogs have both experienced significant problems with dog food. One time was when Wellness tweaked one of the ingredients in their dry dog food and another time was when I gave each of our dogs ONE chicken jerky strip (probably from China). Now that I have found your website I am confident that I can make dog food decisions that are based on sound, unbiased information vs. marketing hype. Thank you for all the time and effort that you put into this outstanding website.

I also appreciate this community in which dog lovers share their experiences, raise questions, and have discussions about dog food and related issues. And kudos on your policies on not accepting ads and on requiring civil discourse. This website is absolutely wonderful and I am so glad I found it!

Best regards,
Carol

[Pitlove]

I agree with Marie. I tend to not like to feed anything under 30% and I like to see whole meats or meat meals as the first three ingredients. It lets me know that carbs are not making up the majority of the food. A healthy dog will process quality animal protein efficiently where as they won’t process plant based proteins as well. And carbs are just unneeded in a dogs diet, however there is no such thing as a carb free kibble as carbs are used as the binder to hold the food in its kibble shape.

Dogs who eat raw eat upwards of 40%+ protein and everyone i’ve ever talked to that feeds raw has had amazing success with it and finds their dog to be far more healthy than the average dog eating kibble. Hence why I stick to very high protein diets. Some I’ve used include Orijen and EVO(before I knew they were bought by Proctor&Gamble).

edit: The % difference when you look at the reviews on this site is a difference in the dry matter basis vs whats on the GA. The dry matter basis is how the carb levels are determined as well. It means that all the moisture content has been factored out just leaving the the meats grains carbs etc left.

/choosing-dog-food/dry-matter-basis/

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

[Terry W]

Kenneth , I have had great results with Grandma Lucys Dry Pre-mixed and Evangers
canned chicken and rice. You have to add a protein to the pre-mixed or the dog will become a vegetarian. You just add water to the dehydrated pre-mix (it is fruits, vegetables and berries) let sit 2-3 minutes and mix in the canned food. Be sure to put the canned into a plastic container upon opening and keep refrigerated. I can’t believe the success we have had.

[Gayle R]

I’m new to Dog Advisor and want to find out a replacement for the I/D can food my vet put my senior dog on due to loose stool. I don’t think the food is very good so I’m trying to find something better. She was always a “chow hound” and never had any problems with anything she ate before. Most of her life she has been on the raw diet but it seems that is causing the problem now. Of course, the vet recommended a dry food loaded in corn which I never give her and won’t now. She just turned 12 and has always been very active (Wire Fox Terrier) but has just recently gone blind on me. She has lost some weight, still eats pretty well but I want to find a better food for her. I’d appreciate any help or thoughts. Thank you.

[DogFoodie]

It might be the fish or even the potato in the Wellness, Jen. Try a different recipe. I couldn’t use Wellness at all because it all has fish oil in it. Check the fiber on the Wellness also. It seems like fiber is pretty high in most of their dry products. I just checked, it’s only 5%, which isn’t terribly high. One of my dog’s worst ingredients for loose stool is flax and the Wellness contains flax also.

I do understand your frustration. I’ve been at this for three years with my pup! One of the most useful tools I found to determine his problems ingredients was a journal. Save the ingredient panels for each and every food you feed him and make notes. Pretty soon, the common (problem) ingredients will start to pop out at you.

Edit: My dog’s original vet gave me I/D when my dog developed loose stool, too. It’s pretty common (the prescribing of I/D for loose stool and yes, I agree, it’s garbage). I now know that my dog was already having food intolerance issues at that point, possibly aggravated by vaccinosis.

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

[Kelly S]

We recently rescued a small mixed-breed dog and I have been looking at Dog Food Advisor when considering food options for her. We are looking at Pet Value brand Performatrin – Ultra Grain Free (dry), which rates a 5 star on this website. The bag claims about 37% protein and the rating here claims 41%. I was in a pet store today and the owner felt that 20-30% is a better protein number for your average household dog. This means that I am back to the drawing board on food options. We have also tried a food that isn’t on this site – Performatrin Limited – Ultra Limited Potato and Turkey formula. It is less ingredients and less protein. I am at a crossroads. At this pet store, the recommended brands were: Pet Kind, Spring Naturals, Nutri-Source, Orijen, Acana and First Mate. I am on here doing further research. Any insight is appreciated. Is there a FB group for this?

[Bobby dog]

Well that just shows you what type of foods you are researching, the better foods!!

Of course you’ll have to make your own determination about feeding Evanger’s. IMO it is too bad they have such issues because they make some affordable foods and also co-pack for some nice brands too.

Here’s the info I was remembering about K3 and seafood in pet food. This is from the 2012 edition of Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition:
“Cat foods rich in fish (> 25% fish on a dry matter basis) are currently required by states that adopt Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines (see Chapter 5) to add vitamin K3 or menadione and not the natural form vitamin K1 or phylloquinone found in foods such as green leafy vegetables. Occasionally, the safety of oral menadione supplementation is raised as a concern, but the basis of these concerns is not supported by the published literature as only parenteral delivery can be harmful (NRC 2006).”

[DogFoodie]

I wouldn’t touch anything canned by Evangers.

Recently though, I did contact Evangers to ask how manufactured their dry diets. Brett Sher responded immediately and confirmed that Mid-America Pet Foods in Texas co-packs their dry diets. On principal, I would generally not use anything Evangers, but with my dog with an abundance of food intolerance issues, I have to consider all options.

[Dotsy M]

Some seemingly healthy dry dog foods list as ingredients multiple vegetables, fruits, & herbs listed as “pomace”. Other equally healthy dry brands just list the veggies & fruits as ingredients, no pomace by the name.
What, if any, is the nutritional value of the “pomace” version of the fruits & veggies vs. the “non-pomace” veggies & fruits.

[Naturella]

pitlove – I see. Yeah, I try to feed foods with high animal protein too, and high overall protein levels. I was just trying to make note that those even are not for everyone either. But, I do agree that if a dog is healthy and capable of digesting those foods, then they should be tried, if financially feasible. And yes, tripe stinks!!!

Also, I have noted that one can feed less of the richer, more nutritious/calorie-dense foods. I do add toppers, but Bruno gets 1/2 cup of dry for the whole day, split between 2 feedings, with various toppers at each meal. He is at the healthy and lean 14.5-15lbs. So, Chris, you may even end up feeding a bit less of the Orijen (if you get it) or even Merrick, especially if you add coconut oil and tripe to Sparky’s diet.

And wow, Chris, Sparky sure is living the good life! 😀

[Pitlove]

I’ve read too that texture and even shape can be a huge factor for cats. maybe there is a way to make the raw mixture more chunky like canned food? im not really sure. it sounds like you have a lot of the difficult parts out of the way. i had such an easy time transitioning my kitten to wet food. she would get dry in the morning and canned at night and she actually PREFERED the canned food! it was awesome. she only weighs 6lbs at 8mos. Very small for her age but not underweight at all. vet told me she was a “teacup”??

darwins site recommended for her age feeding 4%. idk if thats right but it said about 2lbs a week if I remember correctly.

[Pitlove]

chris and naturella- Orijen and even merrick arent always for everyone, however with the protein and all being similar I figured it couldn’t hurt to suggest. My dog from the beginning has always eaten a high protein food. I refuse to feed anything under 30% protein on a dry matter basis. I find there are far less carbs when you get into that realm and animal protein and fat is easier to digest than carbs and plant proteins for any healthy dog.

Also Chris, if there is ever a food u want to try but the price is outlandish, you can always get the smallest size bag and add that to the rotation to give him some variety and then next bag can be the cheaper but still good food. i have a 66lb AmStaff (named Bentley since we are sharing lol) and I keep him at his ideal weight with a 13.2oz can of whatever I have of wet food and 1/2 cup of whatever dry food he’s on with a digestive supplement in the morning and kefir at night and Im able to get 5 lb bags and have them last for a month if not a little longer. The Tripe is also an excellent idea, however as it is for supplemental feeding only you would probably find yourself feeding more dry with the Tripe. I have yet to try Tripe but I have heard the same thing Naturella said about the smell!