[ken r]

I am skeptical that this is caused by dietary fat. For one thing, a high fat diet, if its increasing triglyceride levels, should be increasing them more pre-fast than post fast. For another, a dog thats just eating so much fat in his diet that its screwing with his triglyceride levels that much should be obese too.

What did the rest of the lipid panel look like?

First off, i would make sure that this is a dietary issue, not a secondary issue to another condition. Ask for a thyroid panel and a test for diabetes (an under or an overactive thyroid both cause elevated fasting triglycerides, as does diabetes).

If this is a diet issue, its far more likely to be caused by carbs than by fat. Dietary fats do increase triglycerides after a meal for a pretty simple reason — dietary fats _are_ triglycerides… and right after you eat them before your body figures out what to do with them theyre sitting around in the blood stream. This is precisely why triglycerides are tested after a 12 hour fast.

However, If your dog has a very high _fasting_ triglyceride level, and that is caused by his diet, fat is not the most likely culprit. Carbs are. Though a high fat diet causes triglyceride levels to spike, it actually lowers fasting triglceride levels. A high fat diet can cause obesity. And obesity causes high triglyceride levels. But in non obese people (and dogs), a high fat diet causes lower fasting triglycerides.

If obeisity isn’t an issue, you should be looking for a low carb, not a low fat, food. First of all because a low carb diet is proven to lower fasting triglyceride levels, and second of all because a low carb diet is better overall.

In order of preference, you should be looking for

1. a grain free, low carb food,
2. a whole grain only low carb food (note — brown rice is better than white rice, but it is not a whole grain)

Also, 2 things to potentially add to your dogs diet —

1. Marine (not plant) derived Omega 3 fatty acids — these have a profound effect on triglyceride levels. I broke open a full fish oil capsule daily for my boy, but he weighed 150 pounds. I have no idea what the appropriate dose for a 22 pound dog would be..

2. Soluble Fiber — metamucil is probably easiest. I used a tablespoon. But again, that was for a person-sized dog.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 1 month ago by ken r.

[Kona]

Hi I’m new here but have already learned so much from everyone (I’ve discovered and added Kefir and Prozyme to my dog’s diet thanks to you all :)). Any thoughts on the newest addition to the Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient line? They’ve recently added a grain-free Healthy Weight Salmon & Peas formula – 26% protein, 8% fat, 6% fiber. My dog was recently diagnosed with GERD so it’s been hard finding a grain free low fat food (I’m trying to keep moderate protein levels, I’ve read low protein helps GERD but I’m not comfortable with the 20% levels I find in most low fat food). This simple HW seems ideal to me but I’m not as knowledgable as many of you seem to be on nutrition and ingredients. Any thoughts or advice on this new food? Sorry, I posted this under the Wellness Simple review page as well before seeing the forums.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Annie-
What kind of powder did the vet give you? Luckily I’ve never had that problem with my dogs. But I’ve heard several people on here recommend to add pure pumpkin to their food. The extra fiber may bulk up their stool which in turn put more pressure on the glands.

[SUE G]

In case it might help someone else….here is another that is low in both fat and fiber:
http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/product-details.aspx?pet=dog&pid=138&dm=grainfree#guaranteed-analysis

[SUE G]

Thank you both so much for suggestions! I have checked the brands mentioned in both posts and the one that seems to be lowest in fat and fiber is Wellness. It looks to be pretty clean with no by-products, gluten, wheat, or grains. I am going to talk with my vet and switch from the Royal Canin that is filled with trash to this:
http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/product-details.aspx?pet=dog&pid=124&dm=limitedingredientdiets#guaranteed-analysis

I appreciate the help from you both!!

[SUE G]

My Yorkie suffers from pancreatitis. We have learned he does best on a low fat/low fiber diet. The vet is strongly encouraging me to feed him Royal Canin or Hill’s Rx canned food. Does anyone know of a good canned or dry food that is low fat/fiber and not Rx that I can try? The Hill’s and Royal Canin have by-products and additives that I do not like.
Thank you in advance!

[Shawna]

Hi Cathy,

Sorry for the delay… The absolute WORST thing you can feed sprite bar none is any form of kibble. Kibble is hard to digest and because of the lower quality of the protein it creates more BUN when compared to an equal amount of digested protein from another source.

AND, your vet is incorrect if he/she told you to feed low protein in the early stages of the disease unless there is significant protein in the urine. Testing has confirmed that lowering protein too low can actually increase all cause mortality. They have also proven that protein does not damage the kidneys. Because of this you don’t need to feed “low” protein until Sprite has advanced symptoms. Limiting protein even at later stages does not help the kidneys but it does help with symptoms which are caused by the increase of BUN etc in the blood. Limiting protein is not helpful however in the later stages of the disease limiting phosphorus is highly advisable. Phosphorus builds in the blood and CAN damage the kidneys. In the earlier stages of the disease phosphorus is often not detrimental.

For the record, my pup has had kd since birth and has been on HIGH protein raw (45 to 54% on a dry matter basis) since coming to me at nine weeks of age. She will be eight years old the end of June this year and is still doing well. The only time she shows symptoms such as vomiting is if I feed her kibble. The Honest Kitchen is a good food but I’d go with Love or Zeal and add extra good quality fats like coconut oil to increase calories and make her feel more satiated without extra protein/phosphorus. Canned (or better yet raw) tripe is another good option and can be fed with the HK or as a separate meal (pending you get one that is complete and balanced).

As noted, increasing fat keeps the calories up while lowering phosphorus per calorie consumed. This is very important in the later stages.

Other things to consider:

I HIGHLY recommend a product by Standard Process called Canine Renal Support. Audrey has been on it since I learned of her diagnosis. It helps to keep inflammation at bay.

Give Sprite access to all the water she wants but do make sure it is pure — reverse osmosis as an example. Adding toxins in via the water source only increases symptoms. Science has shown benefit to giving waters higher in calcium with low sodium. They didn’t identify actual names but Evian seems to fit the bill.

I HIGHLY recommend giving a HIGH quality probiotic and a specific type of prebiotic (known as nitrogen traps). The combination of these two products helps clear BUN etc from the blood sparing the kidneys from having to do the work. It also allows for even higher amounts of protein. I use Garden of Life’s Primal Defense (human product) and Fiber35 Sprinkle Fiber (human product).

There are other supplements that are known to be beneficial such as food grade activated charcoal, spirulina, burdock root, organic turmeric and more. I mix a combination of these and others with a digestive enzyme and some of the Sprinkle Fiber and add a bit to every meal.

The products you use in your home can be problematic too. When Audrey was diagnosed I looked at the CDC and material safety data sheets for product ingredients I used in my home. Many (if not most) of them were not kidney friendly so I got rid of them and use only ones that are not damaging to kidneys. Example — clorox has a chemical that can damage kidneys in animals. From the material safety data sheet “2-Butoxyethanol has been shown to cause red blood cell hemolysis in laboratory animals and secondary injury to the kidney and liver. However, humans appear to be resistant to this effect” Clorox is pretty toxic anyway so I don’t even have it in the house but if you choose to use it, might be wise not to use it to clean the floors as it can be absorbed through the skin. http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/downloads/msds/cloroxprofessionalproducts/409nqf.pdf

I know I’m forgetting some things… 🙁 Let me know if you have any questions. Also Mary Straus’ website discusses the data I’ve mentioned above plus much much more. Very valuable source of information. She lists kibbles but she fed her own KD dog raw and believes in raw. You don’t have to feed raw but I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest avoiding going back to any kibble. http://www.dogaware.com/health/kidney.html

You and Sprite are in my prayers!!!!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 1 month ago by Shawna.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 1 month ago by Shawna.

[Susan]

My boy has I.B.D & I too have him on the Eukanuba Intestinal, I think in America its called Iams Sensitive stomach, Ive tried other foods thinking that they’re more better but in the end we always go back to the Eukanuba Intestinal, Im finding high fat% kibbles are no good also high protein % & high fiber% is a no no also. Have you looked at the Holistic Select kibbles there’s the Adult health Duck Meal fat is 13% fiber is only 3.90% its also a single protein Duck being the only protein, so if he cant handle say fish or Lamb etc u know that there’s only Duck in this Kibble, sometimes its a meat or potatoes that can cause their diarrhea, Im going to try the Senior Chicken meal & rice as the fat% is the same as his Eukanuba 10% & fiber is only 3.50%..even though my boy is only 5yrs old the only thing difference in the Senior is that the Glucosomane is higher, but the fat% & fiber% are the lowest in the Holistic Select range, so I dont think it will matter that he’s not a senior at the moment, Im pretty sure WellPet make Wellness, Holistic Select & Eagle Pack….there’s the Complete Health Senoir in the Wellness but the fiber% was too high for my dog its 5% .. Look at the Guaranteed Analysis on ur Iams Sensitive stomach bag & look what the Fat%, Protein% & fiber% is & try to find a better kibble that is nilly the same in Fat% Protein% & fiber%, thats what Ive been trying to do..then see if he can cope.. also when you start a new kibble do it sooo slow I take 2 weeks, when I get to the second week thats when things start to happen that are going to happen with Patches Diarrhea…

[theBCnut]

Here’s the problem, some dogs with chronic diarrhea need more fiber in their food, while others need just the opposite, so you may have to experiment on your dog to see what works for him. You could try adding some pure canned pumpkin to his meals and see if the added fiber helps or you could try a supplement like The Honest Kitchen’s Perfect Form. If neither of those help, you could go the other way and try a high protein, moderate fat food. Either way, I would add digestive enzymes and a good probiotic to his diet until you get this worked out.

What breed is he?

[theBCnut]

In the wild, dogs would eat some of the hairs from their prey and this would act as fiber. Some dogs do not need fiber, but some do. If your dog strains to defecate or has anal gland issue, then your dog needs fiber. If you are feeding kibble then you are definitely feeding fiber. Some fibers are even very beneficial because probiotics feed off of them. However, if the kibble is made up of mostly plant matter, your dog is likely getting way more fiber than it could possibly need. I think Acana has a pretty good balance of ingredients, however they are about to change up their formulas and add more peas, beans, and lentils, which are all high fiber foods, so you may see an increase in gas and stool volume.

[Scott G]

Oh, one more thing… my vet suggested adding a spoon of canned pumpkin to get some good quality fiber into his system. Haven’t tried it yet (changing the food seemed to have done the trick), but this could be a good option to boost the fiber and keep your dog “regular.” I assume it’s not hard to find unsweetened, plain canned pumpkin in the supermarket.

I also found this interesting article about the benefits of canned pumpkin for dogs:
http://raisinghealthydogs.com/discover-the-health-benefits-of-canned-pumpkin-for-dogs

• This reply was modified 10 years, 1 month ago by Scott G.

[Susan]

My boy has IBD, since I got him over 1 yr ago, the vets first put him on a hypoallergenic kibble Royal Canin + Metronidzole, this kibble was too hard & didnt digest he’d vomit it up 7 hours later still all formed, the only food so far that has helped him do excellent poos since August 2013 is Eukanuba ‘Intestinal’ Vet Prescrition Diet, its breaks up easliy, as its a low residue kibble, so its good on his tummy & the diarrhea stopped within 1-2 days of being on the Intestinal & he’s off the Metronidzole…there’s an Intestinal Plus also which has more fiber this wasnt good for my dog the Intestinal has only 1.75% crude fiber, where the Intestinal Plus has 4% crude fiber.. Ive also started cooking him boiled chicken breast with pumkin & some sweet potatos for breakfast only, I cook a weeks worth & freeze little meals, he loves it & his poos are a bit softer as you can see the brown poo which is nice & firm from the Intestinal kibble, then you see bright orange softer poop, from the chicken &pumkin, maybe I’ll put less pumkin in, but this is the only thing so far that has worked, Oh, he has a probiotic in the morning 1 heap teaspoon with 10ml water he loves it, I dont know why it doesnt smell like anything, maybe he knows it has helped him.. Ive tried a few different kibbles & he’s ended back on the Metronidzole, I always come back to the Eukanuba Intestinal…

[Jackie L]

I have a 7 year old Bernese Mountain dog (Jax) who has had to have his anal sac glands drained by his vet every 5-6 weeks for years now as the vet said they are not draining naturally. Since he was 3 his vet has had him on Royal Canine Joint and Bone formula as he has bad hips and knees.
Now it seems that the vet is having a difficult time draining his glands and she needs to use a special instrument (costing double the $$$$) in order to drain and has now recommended surgery to remove the glands. I am having a very hard time understanding why now would this be necessary after all these years ??? So I am researching the web and came across this great forum. Our vet never mentioned to us changing his diet to a grain-free high fiber diet nor has she mentioned trying green beans, pumpkin or sweet potato to help naturally harden his stools. He doesn’t scoot and he doesn’t smell – but seems they do not empty on their own and the vet says they will absess if not drained.
So before I see our vet tomorrow – I am wising up and looking into my own solutions for my Jax. Can anyone recommend a good grain-free high fiber dry dog food that I can start him on ?

[Jasmine W]

I have a greyhound mix who seems to have the same things your dog has but not as bad. Leo had very bad hot spots though. A friend told me chicken allergies are super common in dogs. Seemed ridiculous but apparently since many dog foods contain beaks feet and feathers aka “chicken by products” or “fillers” well dogs who’ve eaten these dog foods even once can develop a chicken allergy. When I had Leo on a grain free chicken free formula he had loose stools and a runny nose still but less itching and no swelling around tick or flea bites. He got so much better that I let him have chicken treats. This seemed ok so I bought the grain free blue buffalo wilderness chicken formula and now he’s sliding back again. He even got some hot spots again and hadn’t had any for years. So we’re going back to no eggs no chicken no duck no turkey, no poultry of any kind. Try that and let me know. Also dairy products even yoghurt can cause a runny nose and “runny rear.”

Leo gets a homemade dog food meal separate from his kibble meal. He gets a pound of ground beef freshly cooked and drained of fat plus a quarter can of “tripette” green tripe and “Solid Gold Seameal.” He’ll take a bit of ground up frozen peas with this meal but if I put too many peas in it he won’t eat. I’m concerned he’s getting too much protein. He won’t eat pumpkin. I’ll try the beet fiber. I know the tripette is making his coat soft because that’s what it did for my friends dog and before eating tripette Leo had a rough coat. Tripette is amazing stuff. I don’t really know what good the Solid Gold Seameal is doing but its filled with vitamins and minerals.

[Susan]

I forgot to write the food Im going to try, Ive looked & looked for a low fat & low fiber & found this one ‘Holistic Select Senior Health’ Chicken Meal & Rice the fat is only -10% the fiber-3.50% & the protein-26% see my boy isnt use to a high protein being on the Eukanuba Intestinal it’s only 23% so going to 26% I’ll see if he can handle it slowing plus Ive bought the Holistic Select Duck Meal before & its not a hard kibble it digest easily.. I always boil the jug, I put boiling water in half a glass & drop a kibble in for 40sec then pull out put kibble inbetween 2 spoons & try to crush it, if it crushes easily I know it will be good for my boy to digest if I have to really apply pressure to crush a kibble I take the bag of kibble back to Pet Barn, its too hard for my dog.. Before I knew a little about kibbles my dog was on the R/C Hypoallergenic & Sensitivity control they were hard kibbles thats when my poor dog started having all his stomach problems & vomiting now the vet say Pancreatitis..The only thing Im worried about this Kibble is for dogs over 7 yrs old, my boy is only 5yrs old 6 in November & it has 750mg/kg Glucosamine… I dont know if that matters the Duck Meal & other Flavours Lamb etc the Glucosamine is 340mg/kg..

• This reply was modified 10 years, 1 month ago by Susan.

[Susan]

Im going thru this at the moment with my boy, looking for a good food for Pancreatitis, my vet told me just give him boiled chicken breast for 1 month, just chicken doesnt seem to fill my boy up & Im still giving him his Eukanuba Intestinal kibble for his dinner but then Patch has his pain after the kibble, May I ask what are Paltry Proteins??? as Im trying to learn everything on Dog Pancreatitis.. Ive read low fat, low fiber & low protein then Ive read a low fat & high protein diet…The vet showed me the R/C Low Fat & the Hills Z/D Ultra, does the R/C Low Fat Kibble break up easy or is it a real hard kibble, Ive tried the R/C Low Fat tins when my boy was real ill last yr, but his poos were too sloppy.

[USA]

Hi Michelle

There could be something wrong with that particular bag of food or your dog might not be feeling well.

When you use NPH or N type intermediate acting insulins they last about 12 to 16 hours per dose and they have a peak which is when you are supposed to feed your dog.

There are long acting insulins like levemir and lantus which have no peak (or very little peak) and are taken once a day. They are for the sugar (glucose) that your body (or your dog’s) makes. Then there are fast acting insulins like Novolog and Humalog which last around 5 hours and are taken before (or right after) meals. They are for covering the glucose (carbs) from meals.

The graph in the link shows the different types of insulin and their onsets and durations.

http://community.diabetes.org/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/1281i92D09A0934C03334/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1

In a two insulin regimen you would give your dog a long acting insulin once a day for the sugar (glucose) that your body (or your dog’s) makes. And you would give a rapid acting insulin before meals. You could also give the rapid acting insulin right after a meal. This way you could base the dose on the actual amount of food your dog did or did not eat.

This is the gold standard of insulin regimens (in humans) and this is the one I personally use (I have diabetes) and recommend for people AND dogs. It is a more intense regimen and requires more effort on your part. It also requires you find a vet that will support you in this kind of insulin regimen.

The food you are feeding is 47% carbs and I have a problem with treating a person or dog with diabetes a diet this high in carbs. I think the reason it is used for dogs is that bottom line, carbs are cheaper than meat. So they use a lot of fiber (9.7%) to slow down the absorption of carbs into your dog’s bloodstream!

I would look for a canned food that is below 10% carbs. If your dog does NOT have a problem with high fat diets then low carb canned food is a much more appropriate diet for a dog with diabetes. It would require a lowering of your dogs insulin dose and you need to have a vet support you in a change like this!

I wish you and your husky the beat!!!

[samlover]

After many trial and error attempts, we found a great food for our little sensitive mutt-but one issue: bad breath. Sammy loves his food, and I add a bit of flax seed powder to it for fiber (keeps his anal glands clear). I’ve always added flax to his food, so I can’t blame the flax seed…the only thing I can think of that’s different is medication he’s on (zonisamide and azathiaprine) which the vet said shouldn’t have anything to do with his breath, and the food switch almost a year ago now. Sam has a seizure disorder and he gets blood labs every 2 months, and his blood work is great. His checkups have been great, and the vet says his teeth look good. I brush his teeth, he has nylabones and chews a lot, and he has all natural dog breath tablets. NONE of this helps at all. Has anyone else noticed this with Acana (duck and pear) or with high protein food? His breath smells straight up like a fishing pier-like rotting fish.

[pugmomsandy]

Dr Tim’s is a quality product. You can add some fiber at feeding time so that might give you more food choices. I give ground psyllium but I’ve also noticed that when I top my dogs kibble with a dehydrated food (rehydrated) it also bulks up their stool.

[Evan O]

Hi, I’m looking for a dry dog food, grain-free, rice-free, yeast-free and with 5%+ fiber, I was hoping anyone would have a recommendation for me, I’m currently going through the list of 5 star foods trying to find one that fits this criteria. I believe my chihuahua is allergic to yeast, but I’m not 100% sure. I liked the ingredients of the Dr Harvey Oracle food, but its like $100 a bag, I was also hoping for like a 20-30 price for a ~5lb bag. Thanks for any advice!

[Shasta220]

I know pumpkin is a great addition for a dog lacking fiber, but is there a general rule of thumb for how much to add per pound (or 10-20lb, etc) of dog.

Also, I’m very curious about apple cider vinegar. On a FB page, there are several bull-breed owners who add acv, claiming it’s helpful for joints. I’d like to add some to my dogs’ diets, since it’s very cheap (even for raw/organic), and anything to further help my old girl is great.
Is there anyone on here who gives their dog acv? If so, what are all the health benefits?

[Susan]

Not eaten same food after a couple of days is telling me he’s feeling off, Has he had a Endoscope down his throat to look at his stomach.. Ive had alot of problems with my 5 yr old rescued Staffy, vets thinking its Pancreastis then stomach ulcers then stomach bacteria then Small intestine overgrowth bacteria, He was put on Metronidazole for 2 weeks, this helped I think as he wasnt waking up thru the night while taking this med, my boy has pain on his right side under his rib cage he’ll have this for 2-3 days then he’s fine again, did blood test but they came back normal but the test was done when he was feeling Ok & eating, so next time I have to do blood test when he has his pain, some mornings has to eat his grass some mornings vomites yellow bile, then the vet wanted to open him up I said NO, In February after being up half the nite with Patch in pain uncomfortable couldnt sleep pain right side, I booked him for a Ultra Scan but they couldnt do the Ultra Scan for 4 days, the day before Ultra Scan was due he was all better, playing, so I cancelled the Ultra Scan just in case it come back normal like the blood test he had done last September, I gave him a third of a Zantac 1 hour before food every 12 hours there’s been no more vomiting 3 times a week, he’s being naughty, so he’s feeling good again but last Monday he had his pain under the rib cage again & was uncomfortable when sleeping it lasted 3 days again, now he’s good again, I have him on a low protein kibble 22% Fat-10% fiber-1.70% Eukanuba Intestinal, its easier to digest less work on their stomach, Im in the middle of changing his kibble to another Limited Ingredient kibble with low protein again, Patch also has trouble holding his weight.
I’d say after ur dog has eaten he’s having his pain so then he’s not interested in that food again as its made him unwell…Have you tried wet instead, I would but my boy gets diarrhea, next time he refuses to eat lay him on his left side so u can feel his right side & have him real relaxed then start pushing around & under his right rib cage where it starts to go around & see if he flinches, I googled a dogs anatomy to see whats there & its their Gall Bladder, Pancreas & Stomach is towards their spine more… there was something else Ive forgotten I think it was their sspleen…If only they could talk…

[banditsmom]

Hi I am a newbie here who has learned a real lot about dog nutrition by reading this site. Much more than I thought I would. I’m very happy about it.
I have 5 small dogs and I’ve decided that the youngest one,who is a 2 yo LH Chihuahua is allergic to chicken. She’s been itching and licking and biting at her paws. Chicken is the only thing she has had consistently in her diet, probably 5 days a week. I always put a little meat on top of their canned and it’s usually chicken. She gets a variety now. I used to feed them exclusively Merrick ( a lot of the chicken ones) but for the past 3 months I’ve used different brands and protein. As it turns out these are all 4 or 5 star foods on here.
Thing is, I need to find a good rotatation of foods without any chicken ingredients for the 5 of them. Of course they’re picky…
I’ve been trying different foods and so far I have Trippet original and Wellness turkey stews.
Reading here about the manufacturing is scary. I started looking for companies who manufacture their own and I found Nutrisource. They have 4.5 stars on here. ( would put in a link but I don’t know how). They also are not on the recall list on here.
Anyway, I’m interested in their Nutrisource Lamb and also their Pure Vita and Natural Planet Organics foods. Neither one of those canned foods are rated here so I really need opinions. They all look to me like they have very high fat contents.
For Pure Vita turkey stew the guaranteed analysis is pro 8.5% fat 5.5% fiber 1.5% moisture 82% they also list ash which is max 1.9%. For Nat. Planet turkey it is pro 10% fat 8% fiber 1.5% and moisture 78%. There is the Nutrisource lamb and rice it is pro 9% fat 8% fiber 1.5% and moisture 78%.
Sorry this is so long but I don’t want to make mistakes. Your opinions on this would really be appreciated.
Other foods I’m looking at are Ziwi Peak, Addiction and Natures Logic. Thanks

[Monika30]

Has anyone used this food? K9 Natural Freeze Dried Dog Food. I found their website (http://www.k9natural.com/), read about it and it sounds great but would like an opinions?
This is description including ingredients. I have two Siberian Huskies I would like to feed with this (currently on Ziwipeak which is great but really expensive, especially here in Australia)
K9 Natural Freeze Dried Dog Food Lamb 3.6kg

FLAVOUR: Lamb Supreme
PACK SIZE: Net weight 3.6kg Makes 14.2kg of ready-to-serve raw food when reconstituted with warm water.

INGREDIENTS: Lamb meat, lamb blood, lamb blone, lamb green tripe, lamb liver, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, spinach (chard), cabbage, apples, pears, lamb hearts, lamb kidneys, eggs, green lipped mussel.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
(Freeze Dried values)

Minimum Crude Protein 28.0%
Minimum Crude Fat 35.9%
Maximum Crude Fiber 5.0%
Maximum Moisture 10.0%

[Melissaandcrew]

I have a dobie with a very sensitive stomach, and it came to a point of thinking grain free would never work for her. I finally found Victor grain free ultra pro. For her, LESS fiber was the solution. So, if you try a food with more fiber and it doesn’t work, think about going lower. Every dog is different. Boxers are notorious for allergies and stomach issues, so perhaps a boxer forum can help.

[hpmiro]

What food are you on now? I would try Firstmate. Its a limited ingredient food that has about double the amount of fiber then your typical dog food. Have you tried supplementing with pumpkin or the like?

• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by hpmiro.

[pugmomsandy]

You can add in some pure canned pumpkin puree (1 tablespoon or so) to his meals to add fiber. If you can’t find pumpkin puree, you can also add 1 teaspoon of chia seed. If not that either, try adding around 1/2 teaspoon of ground psyllium to his meals. Also, foods like Grandma Lucy’s and The Honest Kitchen or Sojo’s tend to have more plant matter and alot of people will post that their dog’s stool is larger on this type of food. I’ve used all 3 and the dog’s stools will be a little bulkier. You can just add it as a kibble topper too and make as little or as much as you want since you reconstitute the amount you want with water.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by pugmomsandy.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by pugmomsandy.

[Newfs]

Hello,
I recall to my question.
Very counting on your answers.
Regards
Newfs
” Hi,
mine near 11 monthly Newfoundland is fed Fromm Family Gold and very nicely grows on her (the last bag is Fromm Gold Adult Dog) . Unfortunately the fodder ends, and it is not known when will be the delivery 🙁 . On this period to the fly to change him the fodder. I know that these which to the pre-pond have a content of cereals, but these which are in Poland and do not have cereals, and have a suitable quantity of the limestone {calcium} are in cosmic prices. Please for the prompt which from fodders would be for him best:
– Enova ADULT Breeders BAG GRAIN-FREE SIMPLE!
Complete food without cereal with fresh chicken meat. It can be administered to dogs from 2 months to 7 years old.
food without grains
addition of fresh chicken meat (min. 20%)
contains glucosamine and chondroitin supplement
Ingredients: dried chicken meat (min. 23.3%), fresh chicken meat (min. 20%), potato flour, dried green peas, chicken fat, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, dried egg protein hydrolyzate, dried yeast, fish oil, dried carrots, dried tomato puree, dried seaweed, sodium chloride, glucosamine, chondroitin.
Analytical constituents: crude protein – 31.5%, oils and fats – 19.5%, crude fiber – 3,5%, crude ash – 6,5%, calcium – 1.25%, phosphorus – 0.95% , moisture – 10.0%.
Extras: antioxidants. Dietary supplements in 1 kg of feed: Vitamin A – 15,000 IU Vitamin D3 – 1200 IU Vitamin E – 150 mg Copper (as copper sulphate pentahydrate) – 10 mg.
Analysis
protein: 31.5%
fat: 19.5%
Crude fiber 3.5%
ash 6.5%
humidity 10.0%
omega – 6 2.7%
Chondroitin 250 mg / kg
calcium 1.25%
phosphorus 1.0% – 0.95%
copper 10 mg / kg
selenium 0.2 mg / kg
iodine 2 mg / kg
Vitamin A 15,000 IU / kg
Vitamin D3 1200 IU / kg
Vitamin E 150 IU / kg
Niacin 135 mg / kg
– http://www.enovapetfood.com/photoVideoGallery.aspx?cid=4685&mid=18465
– http://www.farmina.com/?q=en/content/product/chicken-pomegranade
– http://www.farmina.com/?q=en/content/product/nd-ancestral-dog-codfish-orange-31
– http://www.samsfield.com/adult-large
– http://www.samsfield.com/adult-salmon
– http://eshop.fitmin.cz/en/Products/Detail/FITMIN-11210921/Fitmin-dog-Solution-RabbitandRice-13kg
– http://eshop.fitmin.cz/en/Products/Detail/FITMIN-11210921/Fitmin-dog-Solution-SalmonandPotato-13kg
What do you feel about above-fodders ? “

[Shasta220]

Sounds like you’ve already got some ideas for foods to try – I don’t know that many brands personally, so I usually say it’s safe to go with 4-5 star brands.

As for the skin. I wouldn’t expect a bath to help much, as soaps tend to strip the coat even more, unless they’re medicated and designed for dry skin (when my dog is super dry, I use an oil-based organic shampoo. Sometimes it’s almost too much though, and my dog doesn’t feel clean at all).

Some things to look into: possibly tests for food allergies? As almost all skin problems have something to do with food, sadly. It could be chicken, grains, tomatoes, fish, the list goes on. I’d try getting him on coconut oil – organic extra virgin cold pressed, about 1tbsp per 30lbs. That stuff has been known as a miracle worker around these parts! Salmon oil is very good, too. Keep that up, 🙂

Fiber additions – most people add a big spoonful of pumpkin (canned is fine) to their dogs food. If there’s no improvement in his morning routine, then possibly try some probiotic supplements as well.

[Susan]

My boy has I.B.D & Colitis, His vet has told me over & over, keep Patch on the same food do not change it, at first I thought WHAT & i’d give Patch something different & it wouldnt happen straight away maybe 1 week later, the vet explained if their bowel is sensitive, foods will irritate the bowel linning causeing the diarrhea, I noticed my boy cant have cooked rice but if its grounded in a kibble he can eat that kibble, I have to keep the fiber down & I noticed he cant have high protein kibbles, Just start reading which kibble seems to be good & doesnt upset their tummys, see what the protein fat & fiber % was & stick with around that % & just stick with the same flavour & brand for 3-4 months then maybe try a different flavour in the same brand that there doing well on..my vet told me 1 yr I have to keep my boy on the Eukanuba Intestinal then I can very slowly try adding a new food, some dogs just dont do well when their feed gets changed..also put them on a Probiotic this has really helped my boy but make sure u get a good one as there’s a few dodgy ones getting around that do nothing. I use Protexin & it must be kept in the fridge..

[Newfs]

Hi,
mine near 11 monthly Newfoundland is fed Fromm Family Gold and very nicely grows on her (the last bag is Fromm Gold Adult Dog) . Unfortunately the fodder ends, and it is not known when will be the delivery 🙁 . On this period to the fly to change him the fodder. I know that these which to the pre-pond have a content of cereals, but these which are in Poland and do not have cereals, and have a suitable quantity of the limestone {calcium} are in cosmic prices. Please for the prompt which from fodders would be for him best:
– Enova ADULT Breeders BAG GRAIN-FREE SIMPLE!
Complete food without cereal with fresh chicken meat. It can be administered to dogs from 2 months to 7 years old.
food without grains
addition of fresh chicken meat (min. 20%)
contains glucosamine and chondroitin supplement
Ingredients: dried chicken meat (min. 23.3%), fresh chicken meat (min. 20%), potato flour, dried green peas, chicken fat, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, dried egg protein hydrolyzate, dried yeast, fish oil, dried carrots, dried tomato puree, dried seaweed, sodium chloride, glucosamine, chondroitin.
Analytical constituents: crude protein – 31.5%, oils and fats – 19.5%, crude fiber – 3,5%, crude ash – 6,5%, calcium – 1.25%, phosphorus – 0.95% , moisture – 10.0%.
Extras: antioxidants. Dietary supplements in 1 kg of feed: Vitamin A – 15,000 IU Vitamin D3 – 1200 IU Vitamin E – 150 mg Copper (as copper sulphate pentahydrate) – 10 mg.
Analysis
protein: 31.5%
fat: 19.5%
Crude fiber 3.5%
ash 6.5%
humidity 10.0%
omega – 6 2.7%
Chondroitin 250 mg / kg
calcium 1.25%
phosphorus 1.0% – 0.95%
copper 10 mg / kg
selenium 0.2 mg / kg
iodine 2 mg / kg
Vitamin A 15,000 IU / kg
Vitamin D3 1200 IU / kg
Vitamin E 150 IU / kg
Niacin 135 mg / kg
– http://www.enovapetfood.com/photoVideoGallery.aspx?cid=4685&mid=18465
– http://www.farmina.com/?q=en/content/product/chicken-pomegranade
– http://www.farmina.com/?q=en/content/product/nd-ancestral-dog-codfish-orange-31
– http://www.samsfield.com/adult-large
– http://www.samsfield.com/adult-salmon
– http://eshop.fitmin.cz/en/Products/Detail/FITMIN-11210921/Fitmin-dog-Solution-RabbitandRice-13kg
– http://eshop.fitmin.cz/en/Products/Detail/FITMIN-11210921/Fitmin-dog-Solution-SalmonandPotato-13kg
What do you feel about above-fodders ?

[Pepper1]

Is there a high quality dog food with 3.5 or less fiber? Transitioning my pup from puppy to adult she’s 1year this month. Feeding grain free authority for puppy’s to grain free authority small breed. And she’s pooping like 5-6 times a day!

[theBCnut]

Pumpkin and sweet potato are sources of fiber that dogs usually handle well. Fiber helps regulate the speed that food travels through the intestines and helps retain fluid in the stool. That means it slows down the passage of food when the intestines are irritated and would produce diarrhea, so that the large intestine has time to do its job and resorb the fluid needed for the body to digest food. But since the fiber retains some fluid, it doesn’t allow the stool to dry out too much.

[slvet2]

Her GI tract is moving food through at too fast of a rate. To slow things down and firm up her stool look for food with rice or brown rice. The rice contains fiber that will firm up the stool and it also absorbs bacterial toxins that are present, thus reducing the irritability of the intestine, and slowing it down to a more normal clip. It is hard to find food without poultry, but Hills science diet has some. Or consider making your own homemade dog food with fresh ingredients. Try the recipes w vet author http://www.strategicbookpublishing.com/howtocookforyourpet.html

[Zackory]

My English Bulldog 5 year old male was just diagnosed with colitis. He suffered profound
diarrhea for weeks until he wasted away his weight. What I have learned is that each dog responds differently. My dog can’t tolerate probiotics or flagly, which are two frequently recommended treatments. It is very important to be patient when trying new foods or additives. You must wait several weeks to make sure ANY new food or ingested treatment agrees with your dog. Because it works initially does no mean that will continue. NOR does diarrhea at first necessarily indicate intolerance. We found a food in the US that is low fat and protein and grain free with very few ingredients. I mention this because if you opt to use commercial foods instead of home recipes, the lesser ingredients will allow you to more accurately access what the dog tolerates and what it can’t. We also have discovered that our dog does no do well with dry foods. His food must be canned or softer. Do not hesitate to add more fiber if the dog needs it. But during acute flare ups, if the colon is swollen or irritated, some fibers or hard ingredients further that.

[Susan]

Do u mean Tylosin {Tylan} thats tablets isnt it, I asked the vet about Tylan she said that they probably cant get it in as its used more for pigs, so he was put on Metronidazone another stomach & bowel antibiotic..the Metronidazole seems to fix things up but in about 3 months time it all happens again vomiting, bad wind, soft poos about 3 a day, he is also getting stomach acid with it too, I thought Stomach bacteria that gives you bad acid.. Ive google S.I.B.O it doesnt tell me much, what foods to feed him or how to stop him getting the bacteria overgrowth, thats why Im wondering has anyone else been thru this S.I.B.O & what has help stop the bacteria Overgrowth he’s on a very good probiotic for dogs {Protexin} it cost me $65 for 2 months worth, I changed from the Protexin & got a cheaper one on the net in December then about 2 weeks later he started to be unwell again, Patty said a low card diet, he’s on the Eukanuba Intestinal only cause the fiber is low only 1.75% he cant have too much fiber either, the intestinal is corn based, I looked up is corn a carb & it said yes, I dont know what other kibble to feed him as I cant find another low fiber one here in Australia…I tried the Holistic Select Duck as it was a single protein & a hydrolized kibble but the flaxseed gave him bad wind & he was getting up early to poo & I has only given him quarter to his cup of Intestinal, so imagine a full cup of the Holistic Select..hes getting better cause he’s been on the Metronidazole for over 1 week now, everythings back to normal the vet wants to keep him on the Metronidzole but a lower dose, I said no, we’ll wait & see if he gets sick again & i’ll have a blood test to check if his folate is high, I think thats what they look for with S.I.B.O..

[Susan]

Maybe he cant handle too much Fiber, My boy cant, he’s on the Eukanuba Intestinal they make a puppy Intestinal..I know people dont like vet diets but the Eukanuba doesnt have too many ingredients, I’d put him on the Intestinal to get everything working right for about 3 months then slowly, very slowly start adding a new food or a kibble u’d like him to be on, My boy cant have too much fiber or Flaxseed & flaxseed is in a lot of these suppost to be healthy new kibbles…I really think that there’s too much added to these grain free kibbles, when there’s too many ingredients u dont know whats upsetting their tummy & bowel..if you dont want the vet prescription its sold at pet shops as Eukanuba ‘Sensitive Digestion’..Its also money back guaranteed if ur dog doesnt eat or doesnt stop diarrhea..

[enryh]

Where I live the only option of Grain Free is Farmina N&D.

I read somewhere that Grain Free foods have high level of fats and proteins.

As a food for a senior dog should have low level of proteins and high level of fibers, the indicated food of Farmina is not Grain Free… What’s the point?

Is there any Grain Free with low level of proteins and high level of fibers indicated for seniors dogs or dogs with some disease?

I’m writing from Brazil.
Thanks a lot
Henry

P.S. Where do I suggest a food to be reviewed? Here we have the Biofresh food (http://ww2.hercosulalimentos.com.br/biofresh/pt/conceito) and I’d like to know what specialists think about it.

[boobear27]

Thank you for the suggestions:) I don’t think she’s having any joint/Arthritis problems.She doesn’t seem to be in any pain and she runs, jumps, and moves around just like a normal healthy dog. I think maybe it’s the extra weight that causing her couch potato behavior. Maybe she’s eating more calories than she’s burning off. I thought now that she’s getting older maybe the food that I feed her might be too much for her. She also had problems with her anal sacs so we make sure we express them once or twice a month. Our vet suggested that she might need more fiber in her diet and to try sprinkling some metamucil on her food.

[Shawna]

Hi Dorenda,

Took a few tries but I was able to log on.. Thanks Patty for the email heads up :)..

Vets often suggest low protein for renal disease when it really isn’t necessary. There are studies even that show dogs that have protein lowered to drastically too early in the disease have increased mortality. There’s some fantastic information on the topic on nutritionist Mary Straus’ website (see quote below). My dog has had kidney disease since birth and has been on high protein raw her whole life (45 to 54%) — she’ll be eight years old the end of June 2014.

“Based on research done in the last ten years (see s a Low Protein Diet Necessary or Desirable?), that the only time it is necessary to feed a low protein diet is when your dog is uremic, which generally means BUN is over 80 mg/dL (equivalent to 28.6 mmol/L), creatinine is over 4.0 mg/dL (equivalent to 354 µmol/L), and the dog is showing symptoms such as vomiting, nausea,inappetence, ulcers and lethargy, which are caused by the build-up of nitrogen in the blood. Even then, feeding low protein will not extend life, but it will help the dog feel better. Subcutaneous fluids can also help at this time (and before).” http://www.dogaware.com/health/kidneydiet.html

If your pup is uremic then consider K/D canned with added toppers to entice eating. Toppers like lightly cooked egg whites or canned green tripe are good options. Both are low in phosphorus but higher in protein. To counter the extra protein you can give probiotics and a certain type of prebiotic to induce “nitrogen trapping”. Nitrogen trapping utilizes the bacteria in the colon to help clean BUN from the blood. I use Garden of Life Primal Defense probiotic (human product) and Fiber 35 Sprinkle Fiber (also human product). If symptoms are bad enough that there is a need to keep protein really low try adding high quality fats — organic butter or ghee, coconut oil etc.

I would avoid kibble at ALL COST!!! Kibble of any kind including K/D.

Vet Dr. Royal created a raw kidney disease diet for Darwins. It can be found on their website – link below. The food is REALLY high in protein so again not an option if your pup is uremic. Here’s some info. The actual diet is on the site as well. Your vet will have to contact them to confirm your pup is a good candidate for the diet. http://www.darwinspet.com/kidney-health/

Mary Straus, link above, has diet recommendations on her site – she does include kibbles but kibbles are dehydrating and can cause issues. The protein in kibbles is also poorer quality than any other form and due to this creates more BUN then other diets with the same amount and kind of protein. Nutritionist Lew Olson also has some recipes on her website http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/kidney-diet/

Supplements that might be helpful — the one that I will NEVER run out of with my KD girl is Standard Process Canine Renal Support. Turmeric, food grade activated charcoal and burdock root are some to look at. I’d also recommend giving a digestive enzyme no matter what you feed. Mineral waters higher in calcium while being lower in sodium have demonstrated some benefit. They didn’t identify the brand in the research paper but I believe they may have used Evian. I’ve also read that feeding smaller meals multiple times per day is beneficial.

Hope something here is helpful!! Sure hope you can get your pup feeling better!!!

Shawna

[wishiwere2]

Is there an application that we can use on our phones when shopping for dogfood? I have a new ‘rescue’ pup, actually and older gentle giant (8y/o) and the previous owners had him on a costco Kirkland for older boys. Problem is, there is NO costco nearby.

I bought a Purina (for lite or some such) and he has turned to playing and perhaps eating his doo-doos. I did not see this happeneing before the switch. He’s also started getting into the trash, which leaves to me to believe that he is not getting satisfaction from the food. The feces also appears to have straw (fiber) in abundance in it and he’s producing way more in the amount of feces than he was on kirkland.

So, again, my qustion is, is there an application that would assist me when I go to the store to purchase and other items for him?

Thanks if anyone can help~

[Susan]

Hi Rose, Healthy anal glads empty when a dog has a bowel movement. Unfortunately some anal glands dont work as they should because of inherited malformations or cause of a history of poor-quality foods that produce poor quality bowel movements found in alot of rescued dogs. Why did u change from Natural Balance & why is ur dog on a grain free diet some dogs do better on a grain diet while other dogs do better on a grain free diet. With the Wellness Core original the fat is 16% & the protein is 34% fiber 4%..My boy also has colitis & anal gland problem & has to go vets every 2 months to have them expressed. My vet told me with the colitis he needs a lower fat diet maybe the N/B was lower in fat.. I was going to try the Core original as my boy Patch is on a vet diet kibble & I hate the vet diet foods but the fat is only 10% & the fiber is 1.75% Patch also cant have too much fiber, he’s poos are beautiful & we are not waking up thru the nite with a grumbling tummy with the colitis at the moment.. Maybe try a kibble that is lower in fat but u’ll find the fiber will be higher thats the problem I’m having at the moment finding a low fat & fiber kibble, But ur girl mite be able to handle more fiber… I also found another kibble I like Holistic Select Duck the fat is 13% the fiber is 3.9%. made by Well Pet that makes Wellness Core .Im in Australia we dont have the Natural Balance & some of the other American kibbles.. But ur girl might of inherited the anal gland problems next time ask the vet & see what the vet says…

[theBCnut]

She may have a food intolerance to an ingredient in the food or she may need more bulk in her diet so that her glands express naturally. Sometimes small dogs just require more fiber in their diets.

[Susan]

Thats what I’d like to also know, my boy doesnt have Pancreas but if it wasnt for his blood test coming back good, Id swear he had Pancreatitis, instead the vet said he has IBD & Colitis & Canin Atopy… Ive been looking & looking on the net for a low fat, low fiber premium food, the foods I like are in America, L.I.D Natural Balance & Canidae.. Im in Australia & cant get them.. So Ive come up with 2 that I really think are good..The Wellness Core Oringinal but the protien is 34% fiber-4% FAT-16% Wellness also have “Simple’or “complete Health” also Well Pet the company that makes Wellness also makes another kibble ‘Holistic Select’ Duck meal… Ive read & read all their ingredients & I like the ‘Wellness’ Core or the ‘Holistic Select’ Duck formula as the Holistic Select duck is only 13%-fat-3.9% fiber.. I suppose we’ll just have to slowley introduce one of the kibbles & pray that our dogs tummys & bowels also like what we have picked for them..Ive read that the food is very palatable but after my poor boy being on such a stricked diet he’d eat anything….So sad, I wish he could talk for just 20mins & tell me how he’s feeling & what feed makes him feel ill or better.. My Vet likes that his poos are good now but I know the Eukanuba Intestinal that we have him on makes him either feel sick or gives him stomach acid as he sometimes licks & licks his mouth after his kibble in the morning & wants grass & his breath smells like something fermenting. Then some days he doesnt do his licking & his breath smells good..
Good-Luck

[theBCnut]

I totally agree with Betsy! Food intolerances often cause anal gland issues and some dogs need higher fiber food to naturally release their anal glands.

[DogFoodie]

Bless your heart!

I just had to say the irony of posting in the Anal Glad Problems section of the forum, using the name scooter, made me smile this morning!

Truly, I mean no offense. : )

If your little guy were mine, I’d probably switch him to a grain free food with some protein other than chicken. It looks as though the Simply Nourish you’re feeding has a maximum fiber of 5% and the Science Diet may have had around 3%. I was looking at Hill’s® Science Diet® Adult Small Bites Dog Food for a general comparison.

Have you seen any improvement since switching to the Simply Nourish at all?

My Golden was recently having a bit of an anal gland issue and I added some of The Honest Kitchen’s Perfect Form to his food and that seemed to help quite a bit. You can also try some ground organic chia seed or even a bit of Metamucil to see if it helps. It could definitely be a food intolerance issue, and for that reason, I’d definitely switch the food to see if that makes a difference before any further manual expression (which is undesirable) is needed. Oh, and I’d stop the yogurt to see if that might help also.

[RescueDaneMom]

Hi all,

I’ve been looking for cheaper ways to feed raw for awhile now. I just found a co-op that I can buy from. I don’t have extra freezers for cases of product so I was looking at a grind/mix that they have called Performance Dog (link: http://tarrahlabs.com/tt/pd.html). I would like the thoughts/opinions of experienced raw feeders. Does this look like a good product? Is it complete and balanced? I like to feed half Honest Kitchen. Would this be ok to mix with it?

Ingredients: Beef, Tripe, Trachea, Finely Ground Bone, Salt, Egg & Trace Minerals
Meeting AAFCO Specifications for Maintenance & Reproduction

Guaranteed Analysis • No Preservatives
Protein 14%
Fat 10%
Fiber 0.85%
Calcium 0.13%
Phosphorus 0.14%
Ash 1.30%

They also add a vitamin/mineral mix.
Ingredients: calcium carbonate, zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, copper sulfate, niacin, manganese sulfate, ferrous sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, riboflavin, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, d-biotin, vitamin D-3 supplement, cobalt sulfate, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, sodium selenite and mineral oil.

Thanks,
Caroline

[IMillerman]

My little 13 year old Lhas Apso has always had allergies. I had him on raw and he improved to not having and reverse sneezing episodes and good coat. Due to a few things like dental surgery and travel I put him on Steve’s powder mix and lightly cooked chicken and turkey. Did not do as well over time on this. A pet sitter over fed him and gave him way too much goat milk and he had a major episode. Stress is also an issue for this dog and IBS. It’s been hard to get him back to normal since.
Vet put him on a cooked 1/3 chicken, 1/3 rice, 1/3 cottage cheese. He liked it but had bad stools and upset tummy – likely dairy maybe? Now he has him on RC Vet Rabbit and Potato. He seems to just go through this food with lots of poop and bad stools. It’s been over 2 weeks now. We just added 1 TSP pysillium for fiber, a probiotic as well as Standard Process Okra Pepsin 2 x’s daily. Vet wants to scope in a week if no improvement. My dog has never had Rabbit so Vet wanted a novel protein but I’m not so sure his condition is just diet related – maybe his system does not agree with this food.
Any thouights or suggestion greatly appreciated.

[theBCnut]

BTW, anal gland emptying can be a fiber level problem, however the amount of fluid produced can be affected by food allergies. So if your dog has food allergy issues, keep an eye out for anal gland issues too.

[Susan]

I have cleared up the ear problems with my dauchshund mix with grain free food and ALWAYS rinse her ears out when she gets a bath every 3 weeks or so. Moisture in her ear will cause problems. The rinse I use is from Dr Foster’s and Smith, but you can get same from the vet or PetMeds. Haven’t had an ear flare up in two years now!
For her anal glands it is about the fiber in kibble. When she starts having a problem, dragging her butt on the ground etc, I add pumpkin or yougart and it works for her.
She doesn’t eat grains or potatoes. I tried Nutrisca brand and they didn’t like-too much peas. Nutrisource GF lamb was a good food, but started not agreeing after second bag. Currently using Earthborn Meadow and they love it and both my dogs are doing very well. Sample of Earthborn Great Plains for their treat and the love the bison too. I use the tub for a spoon of topper, but remove the whole garbanzo bean, creates gas, whoa,. I might need to add some pumpkin, fiber count is a little low for them.
Hope this helps!