[Pitlove]

Hi Emily- Here’s a few brands that I like and would recommend for a LBP

Precise Holistic Complete- Large/Giant Breed Puppy
Fromm Gold- Large Breed Puppy
Wellness CORE- Puppy
Holistic Select- Large Breed Puppy
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals- Chicken A La Veg
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals- Duck and Sweet Potatoe
Wysong- Epigen

[Pitlove]

Alright guys. I was looking into Holistic Select LBP for my boss because we weren’t sure if the calcium and phosphorus levels were too high and we carry it at work. The levels that are listed as the minimum when put into Dr.Mike’s calculator tool put it at 1.4:1 which is already approaching high. So I emailed WellPet for their as fed levels and they wrote me back today:

Dear Christa,

Thank you for taking the time to write about Holistic Select® Large & Giant Breed Puppy Health Recipe dry dog food.

Here are the nutritional values you have requested:

Large & Giant Breed Puppy Health Recipe:

Calcium: As Fed: 2.21% Dry Matter:2.40%

Phosphorus: As Fed: 1.25% Dry matter: 1.36%

Thanks again for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Michael
Consumer Affairs Representative
WellPet

When you put that into the calculator the ratios are too high. So would that be the correct levels I want to put into the calculator or the mins? I’ve been trying to find other foods to recommend LBP customers besides Fromm and Wellness Puppy to have more variety, but now I dont know if this one is safe.

[Bonnie R]

Don’t know that I have much to offer except that I would avoid Canidea due to the fact that it’s under the Diamond Umbrella. Most of the serious recalls & scares have been due to Diamond products; I avoid them at all costs, it may not be fair but I’m not taking any chances with my dogs. I have a Vizsla & a Weimaraner. I spent a lot of time & money making sure they came from good breeders; it would be devastating to loose one over something like poor food; of course that would be for any dog owner! Our dogs are so very special to us.

I’ve heard good things about holistic select, especially if you don’t have a pup with a lot of allergies. Have many friends that use this food; I personally use Fromm with excellent results, but I understand that’s not an option to you.

I was taught & reinforced by several vets to keep my boys on puppy kibble until close to 12 months; they really need the added nutrition, but again that’s personal choice.

Interesting about the green tea extract? Why would dog food companies add that to their food if its a questionable ingredient? That really makes absolutely no sense. I’ll have to research that further.

Good luck! Goldens are some of the best dogs ever!

[Pitlove]

Wow, I did not know that. I know with Hawaii they have really strick rules about animals themselves coming to and from the island. That is really unfortunate about Orijen though! I’d say the best of those brands would be Holistic Select and Earthborn. I don’t know enough about Artemis to tell you my opinion. Wellness is good but again the Green Tea Extract issue.

[Claire T]

They brought in Orijen a few years back but because some part of the cooking process did not meet Australia quarantine requirements, Orijen products when through irradiation which caused death of number of cats that consumed Orijen. Since then we don’t get Orijen anymore. I’ve emailed Fromm however they are not planning on expanding overseas yet )): Australia has strict quarantine rules for dog food (for most things actually) so buying online from overseas and having it shipped here is not an option I think as it would not pass quarantine. The good US brands we have here are Wellness, Canidae, Artemis, Holistic Select , Earthborn Holistic, TOTW.

[Claire T]

Dear Mike and fellow Editor’s choice members,

I have a 9 months old Golden Retriever puppy and I am currently feeding him Canidae Pure Foundations (Grain Free). We are from Australia so our choices are much limited compared to in the USA. I have 3 questions which has caused me problems in choosing the right food for him. Your advice or findings would be greatly appreciated.

1. I have been told by a friend about recent studies shown to switch large breed puppy to adult food at 9 or 10 months of age as they have reached 80% growth.

2. Also about calcium phosphorus level, can I feed my large breed puppy higher calcium levels/calcium phosphorus ratio after he has reached 9/10 months old? Or when can I do so? Or should I only choose kibbles that are within the recommended calcium phosphorus ratio for his whole life? I am interested in feeding him Earthborn Holistic however the calcium level is a bit high.

3. Is green tea extract safe for dogs? According to this website (http://www.thedogpress.com/dogfood/ingredients_liquorman.asp), ASPCA Poison Control Center lists green tea extract on its list of things to avoid for cats and dogs. However, green tea extract is an ingredient in many brands such as Wellness, Artemis, Holistic Select etc.

Thank you.

Regards,
Claire

[CircaRigel]

Agreed. A lot of those Petsworld foods and treats are definitely not premium and have alot of fillers your dog doesn’t need. As for Holistic Select, while mostly premium, it contains green tea extract… Wellness, Eagle Pack, Old Mother Hubbard, and Holistic Select all began putting it in all of their foods recently… but there’s a problem. I found a fair bit of research on PubMed that shows it to cause liver toxicity in dogs. Granted, the doses are higher and its worse if given in a fasting state, which wouldn’t be the case in food products, but I still wouldn’t want to risk my dog by touching the stuff.

Galen, my 6-month-old Shiloh is now on Canidae Grain Free Pure Sea for kibble, and Trippett (Green Beef Tripe, Tripe & Venison, & Duck Salmon & Tripe) for his canned food. I decided to follow the recent research that suggests giant breed pups may do best on an adult diet that has the low calcium and phosphorus, as it doesn’t have a lot of extra empty calories. I chose the Pure Sea formula because it has few key ingredients, the first 3 are meat and meat meals (fresh smoked salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal), and is absolutely LOADED with Omega 3’s (brain food and excellent for the immune system, plus anti-inflammatory… perfect for a service dog in training like Galen, or a service dog). It also has the highest rating from Dog food Advisor, and includes probiotics and even some enzymes, like cellulase, which increases the bioavailability of polysaccharides as an energy source. The tripe in Trippett also contains digestive enzymes, which again is beneficial for digestion and increasing the bioavailability of nutrients.

Everything I feed Galen is for a reason. Even his treats, which are Sojo’s Simply Lamb… Only one ingredient- raw lamb, conveniently freeze dried.

[CircaRigel]

Given that Eagle Pack, Wellness, Holistic Select, and Old Mother Hubbard (all made by WellPet) recently started putting Green Tea Extract in all of their foods, which causes liver toxicity in dogs, I’d stay away from it. I took Galen off of Holistic Select because of that, especially when he began getting sick. He’s had no issues since.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 6 months ago by CircaRigel.

[CircaRigel]

My Shiloh Shepherd is 6-months old. He recently switched to Fromm Gold and Canidae (both large breed puppy foods) for his kibble (and has been on Tripett for his canned food all along, as tripe is beneficial to digestion). I’ve gone over the suggestions of HDMom’s PDF, and most seem pretty valid even now. The main “premium” foods I’d shy away from at the moment are Wellness, Holistic Select, Old Mother Hubbard, and Eagle Pack. They recently began adding Green Tea Extract to all of their foods (they’re all made by WellPet), and I just don’t understand why, as a Pubmed search finds multiple research articles that show it causes liver toxicity in dogs. No way will I have Galen touch those foods.

[Bobby dog]

Naturella:
Are you going to use the same e-mail address now that you graduated?

chris:
For budget friendly canned I feed Wal-Mart’s Pure Balance stews ($1/can) and tubs (about 70 cents/tub), Tractor Supply 4Health stews and chic or lamb pates’ (99 cents/can), BJ’s chicken dinner $8.99/6 pack, and Triumph Turkey or Puppy recipes (a little over a $1/can and always on sale). Costco’s Nature’s Domain Turkey & Pea GF is a little over $20 for a case if you have a membership (or know someone who does).

Other foods in my current rotation are Wellness Core & Stews, Innova, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack, Canidae, Red Barn, Weruva, Tiki Dog, and Nutro. I feel like I am forgetting some. lol

If you are looking for something specific like low fat or anything else just post, I might have specific recipes that I have either fed or that you can check out. I have fed many more different brands they just don’t always stay in my rotation for various reasons. I go no higher than 70% fat to protein ratio and mostly try to stay lower. I have only fed one canned food that Bobby didn’t like, it was a vegetarian recipe. I thought what the heck, it was on sale I’ll give it a try, he wasn’t having any parts of it and had to throw it away!

[CircaRigel]

I’ve just discovered that all Wellness dog foods, and foods of their subsidiaries, now contain Green Tea Extract. This ingredient can cause liver toxicity in dogs, sometimes fatal. If you question this, you may look up the scientific studies about it here (which is where all doctors and veterinarians go to look up journals on research): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=dogs+green+tea+extract

Anyone feeding this to their dogs is feeding them low levels of poison, which over time could cause permanent damage and even death. I strongly suggest black balling Wellness, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack, and their other subsidiary foods that contain green tea extract.

[CircaRigel]

Recently, Wellness has been adding an ingredient to ALL of their foods, including Holistic Select, Eagle pack, and others. This ingredient is Tea Tree Extract. Here are the scientific studies that have found it to cause liver toxicity in dogs: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=dogs+green+tea+extract

A warning MUST go out to prevent more dogs from getting ill or worse. Please help!!

[CircaRigel]

I need to find a new food for Galen. He’s a 6-month-old Shiloh Shepherd puppy, training to be a service dog. Wellness has recently begun putting Green Tea Extract in ALL of their foods. Galen’s begun developing diarrhea from it, and I looked it up, only to discover that green tea can cause liver damage in dogs!!! I need to switch him IMMEDIATELY! HE’s been on the holistic select lamb and oatmeal formula, which I only just discovered is made by Wellness, and now includes the toxic ingredient.

[Bobby dog]

pitlove:
Questions are never off topic! My grocery store sells kefir, you can find it in most health food stores, and most Wal-Marts carry Lifeway kefir products. I do still feed Bobby kefir a few times a month, but only because he loves it so much. I have a bunch of kefir cubes in the freezer.

jamie f:
Carbohydrates are necessary in order for kibble to maintain their form and texture. So regardless of grain inclusive or grain free you are feeding carbs. There’s benefits and drawbacks to any kibble. There’s food safety, GMO ingredients, nutritional values, your dog’s palate, and many other things to consider when deciding which type of kibble to feed. Grain free foods are a marketing goldmine IMO; I find some to be carb heavy and high in fat. I don’t like to limit food selections. I think eliminating foods that you have never fed your dog narrows down your food choices needlessly. I do believe there is a time and place to eliminate foods such as if your dog is displaying food sensitivities. IMO, by feeding a potato, lentil, etc. based grain free kibble day in and day out you are now subjecting your dog to fewer ingredients on a more consistent basis which may lead to food sensitivities of those ingredients. Not my idea of rotating foods.

My dog had many skin and digestive issues when I came to this site. It took a year of tweaking his diet and allot of elbow grease to heal him up. I believed GF was the best initially. As I researched further I found there was no reason to limit my dog’s diet to just grain free. So one day I took the leap and expanded my rotation to include grain inclusive and haven’t looked back since. If there ever comes a time I need to eliminate certain ingredients from his diet I will just tweak my pet food criterion again.

I feed my dog moderate to high protein, low fat, and moderate to low carb kibbles. Since kibble is far from perfect I always add canned, fresh foods, or commercial raw as toppers. I like to add fresh healthy omegas, Now Gamma Advanced vitamin E complex, and organic coconut oil to his food. I have fed about 20 different brands of kibble and many different recipes. I buy small bags and switch brands, protein, and carb sources with each new bag. One of these days I will settle into a more permanent rotation, I am still tweaking his diet.

Here’s an article from the WDJ about carbs and grains in kibble:
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_10/features/Carbohydrate-Intake-For-Dogs_20103-1.html

Here’s a DFA post about carbs:
/canine-nutrition/dog-food-carbohydrates/

Here’s a perspective about grains from a Holistic Vet:
http://vetnutrition.blogspot.com/2009/05/are-grains-all-bad.html
http://vetnutrition.blogspot.com/2010/03/grains-2-not-as-allergenic-as-you.html

Here’s an interesting perspective from the Great Dane Lady:
http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/the_corn_myth.htm

As L M mentioned your dogs licking their paws and gunky ears could also be caused by environmental irritants. A single protein and carb food might be a good place to start to determine if it’s food or environmental. It is important to keep in mind each dog is an individual and what food or regimen works for one dog may or may not work for another. You will not know if that is your magic food until your dog does well on it. Just as you have foods that you don’t like or don’t agree with you, but others will rave about how they love it and can’t eat enough of it. So after this long drawn out post my best advice is to be aware of any chemicals you use in your home or outdoors that your dogs could be exposed to, take note of the time of year your dogs have problems (their issues may be seasonal), and to feed your dog the healthiest food he will eat consistently and does well on!

[Laura M]

I looked up a few on Chewy’s but will cross check the company websites when I get a chance. The ones without carrageenan that I found are: Fromm Gold; Whole Earth Farms; Merrick Back Country; Wellness stews; Holistic Select grain free; Natures Variety Homestyle Prairie. It would be good to have a list posted on Dog Food Advisor at some point for all to use.

[Susie S]

I have a 5 month old Golden Retriever. He is a joy but has some digestive issues. Every since we got him at 8 weeks old he has had bouts of diarrhea. He has been on Holistic Select and now the vet has put him on Science Diet. He has only been on Science Diet for three days but he is sneezing and rolling around like he is itching. I am desperate to find a great food that will settle his digestive system and calm any allergies. He needs a good balanced growth food because of hip problems in Goldens. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Andrea:
People do mix different recipes/brands of food together. I am not a fan of it because if your dog does not like the food or doesn’t do well eating it you really don’t know which food is causing issues. I also do not feed or recommend any Diamond or Diamond manufactured product due to their recall history. Their last recall was within the past few years for cat food which is not noted on DFA; you can find their recall history here:
/?s=diamond

IMO you should reconsider your view of adding canned to her diet. The added moisture is so healthy for your dog. I don’t blame her for not wanting to eat just dry kibble! I feed kibble for most meals with a topper of canned, fresh foods, or commercial raw. Here’s some info on the benefits of adding wet food:
/choosing-dog-food/canned-or-dry-dog-food/

Healthy leftovers would also be a good addition to her diet. Here’s a download that includes a menu of adding fresh foods such as eggs, lean meats, sardines, fresh vegetables & fruits to any quality of kibble according to the size of your dog. You can feed fresh foods as a meal or use them as toppers over a few days:
http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DN330EBK

Consider feeding a rotational diet. My dog does really well eating a variety:
/frequently-asked-questions/diet-rotation-for-dogs/

Some brands my dog does well on are Wellness, Nutrisource, Precise, Fromm, Annamaet, EVO, Nature’s Variety Instinct, and Grandma Mae’s. Some others often recommended on DFA are Eagle Pack, Pro Pac, California Natural, Dr. Tim’s, Hi Tek, Victor’s, Merrick, Whole Earth Farms, and Holistic Select.

[Trout-lily]

thank you for your help on the chewing. I ended up finding the bully sticks at a local farm store and she loves them. I also found creative ways online on how to build a kong treat. So far, so good on the chewing!

Regarding the giardia, it’s not back but she’s getting loose stools. Our vet recommended ‘the science diet: I/D’ for 10 days with a tablespoon of yogurt, which really helped, but now that we’re transitioning back to the Earthborn Holistic: Coastal Catch her stools are getting progressively worse. The vet really zapped her belly with 2 different antibiotics, so is this food to hard on her tummy? Should I switch to the Holistic select or Fromm? I definitely know that little bag of SD I/D wasn’t enough to transition her verrryy sssllloowwlly back to the Coastal Catch, so I’m also wondering if this is our issue.

Thanks in advance for all of your help. I really don’t know what I would do without this forum as I work through issues with my first fur baby!

[Sarah Y]

I have a dog with a unique condition called canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (CECS). The “events” look some what like a seizure, but they aren’t. The dog cramps up and they are aware of what is happening. They recommend a hypoallergenic dog food and owners have found success in putting their dog on a grain free or limited ingredient/hypoallergenic dog food. The other thing that is interesting is that the research shows using low protein may be better than a higher protein. The research is all pretty new so I’m sure they don’t know for sure.

Currently, my boy is eating Wellness Core original. He was a year between episodes and then recently had one ten days after the previous. He has a annual exam next week and I think we will be discussing treatment moving ahead, but like I said there’s no little known about this disease. I think as a first step, I would like to go with a hypoallergenic dog food.

It sure is more expensive…I’m considering Wellness simple turkey or holistic select turkey and lentil and acana lamb and apple singles. Wondering if one might be better than the other. The holistic select is a little more cheaper, but not much. Wondering if others can share their feedback on these foods.

[Chris G]

Hello,

I was just wondering what peoples thoughts were of the vets all natural complete mix? http://www.vetsallnatural.com.au/CMsheet.pdf

We were thinking of using it as a substitute for our dogs dry food and mix in with his raw meat (barf). He seems to have gone off and not eat his holistic select dry food.

Thank yoU!

[Bobby dog]

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

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

[Akari_32]

Since dry food isn’t species appropriate, and can cause some serious health issues anyways, if he doesn’t want to eat it, don’t make him. Dry is especially dangerous for males if they don’t get enough water. If we were talking going from dry to canned, and he didn’t want to eat the canned, I’d say keep bribing him, but there are more cost effective ways to feed a cat than introducing dry food. Brands that typically offer coupons for canned food are Halo, Wellness, Holistic Select, Blue Buffalo, and if you dig, there are many more…. I can tell you right now that you can get 5.5 oz cans of Halo Vigor for free at PetCo with the coupon Halo has on their website. I fed my cat for $20 a month on canned with coupons. Now I’m doing it with raw, and he loves it 🙂

[Akari_32]

It appears that Acana is All Life Stages, meaning it can also be used for puppies. Just make sure to pick one that has all the fight stuff large breed puppies 🙂 Chewy.com has a ton of different formulas.

I have heard of Flint River Ranch, but that’s the extent of it. I don’t know anything about it. Check the review side of the site and see if it’s been reviewed, and go from there.

Yes, WellPet (Wellness and Holistic Select) finally got sick of Diamonds crap and broke away from them after the last major recall in 2012 or 2013, and began manufacturing their own foods with very strict standards. Good for them, too, because they are my favorite brand!

[Nate D]

crazy4cats thanks for the reply to my post. Although I do agree that the Science Diet works for most I can see why because of it’s ingredients which are just fillers. I just don’t believe this is the route to go nor the only solution like my vet said. I think of it more as a temp. solution since Dachshund’s are crystal prone. I haven’t decided if I want to use it for 2 weeks, but corn, wheat, soy, etc. that is in it is imo not healthy at all regardless of it if works or not and I feel I’ll be depriving my dog of other nutrients. I may try the supplements for 2 weeks then retest and go from there. I am however going to be switching to a holistic vet or at least one that doesn’t just push science diet as every solution is just for their profits. I have been to another non holistic vet in the past who didn’t believe in Science Diet at all and said they would never feed it to a pet, but they are a bit of a drive. I am looking into switching to wet food instead of dry, but of course wet food is much more expensive. I think highly of Fromm so I’ll have to look into their wet food selection.
I have been feeding them more frequently lately instead of just twice a day. As far as stress levels nothing different or changes….besides going to the vet. lol
I won’t totally rule out the S.D., but will look at other options before and the S.D. will be last.
We had the urinalysis done along with a blood profile because our male has been on and off of Rovera (Carprofin) for his back so for him it was to mainly to make sure he’s doing ok from having been on NSAID’s. My female didn’t do well on it for her back as she has back issues as well, but do give her aspirin rarely when needed.
Since I was having my male tested I thought I might as well have both tested. I’ve never had a blood profile done on her before anyways, just him so that was another reason to have it done. Over all though the vet said they are both very healthy and am amazed at how well their teeth are, etc…
Just the ph issue and crystals I have to work on which I will.

weezerweeks, also thanks for the reply. I will defiantly look into wet food.

[aimee]

Hi Tom,

My perspective is a bit different so I’ll share it with you. On one hand I think that veterinarians have a duty to inform. If you are feeding your dog a raw diet they have to inform you of risk of pathogens. If they don’t they can be open for a malpractice suit if someone gets ill and it is traced back to the dog’s raw diet.
Your dog has formed stones in the past. I see it as a duty to inform you that the diet you are feeding has not been shown to reduce uric acid stone formation whereas U/D has.
As Dals age the risk of stone formation decreases, you can find common ground by monitoring urine to hit the target parameters to prevent uric acid stone recurrence.

Why do vets recommend Hills? Is it lack of nutrition knowledge? I don’t see that as the reason because I have found that it is those with the most education that also recommend Hills. Stepping away from dogs and vets for a minute, I found that PhD nutritionists selecting commercial diets to feed to valuable zoo animals often choose Hills. At the major zoo near me I saw that Hills was being fed. I asked why and was told it was because of the consistency of formulation and high bioavailability of nutrients.

Veterinary nutritionists also recommend Hills and the general practiioner will look to the specialists in their respective fields when seeking guidance with their cases. Dr. Wynn, a holistic practiioner who is so passionate about proper nutrition that she went on to be board certified in nutrition, recommends Hills.

It really isn’t about lack of knowledge, it is about using a different value system by which foods are evaluated. As for myself, I use Hills products, my choice, based on the things that are important to me when deciding what to use to nourish my dog.

I agree that vets do not get a lot of nutritional training. Just as they don’t get a lot of trading in cardiology or dentistry or radiology etc etc etc.. Yet I’ve yet to hear someone say “I don’t have my vet listen to my dog’s heart because he only had a few lectures on cardiology in vet school”. Certainly how much education any one vet will have will vary with the school form which he/she graduated and also with their own interests. Six of the seven vets where I take my pets did not have any nutritional education from
Hills etc. They had a PhD for general nutrition and then DVM faculty for clinical nutrition. Thry did get a free copy of Small Animal Clinicl Nutriton but no direct contact. The seventh said that they were “lunch and learns” put on by Hills and after the presentation faculty together with the students critiqued the information given to them. These were not a formal part of her nutritional training. Of the seven vets, five different schools were represented and years of graduation varied from 1972 to 2011. Different schools will have different programs, but this idea that students are taught by and brainwashed by company reps I’ve found not to be true.

Do Vets get kickbacks? No but as when selling any product they charge you more then what they paid for it.

[CircaRigel]

I order Holistic Select Large and Giant puppy Lamb and Oatmeal formula from Amazon.com. I also get Tripett canned food, the beef tripe and the tripe & venison. The tripe contains digestive enzymes that are helpful to his digestion. The Holistic select has the low calcium and phosphorus needed to control growth at a healthy pace, and even contains probiotics to help digestion- especially as the digestive tract is still forming. The probiotics help prime his tract for healthy digestion and prevent colonization of harmful bacteria in Galen’s virgin digestive system.

So far, his health has been fantastic! His growth is EXACTLY where it should be, his coat is healthy (and he’s beginning to get his adult coat), and his stools are well formed, with no straining and nothing loose. For Galen, at least, this is a perfect combination of foods, and I purchase all of them on Amazon. By using the subscription service for the Tripett canned food, I even get a discount. Since I have 5 things on subscription, the discount is 15%. Under 5 items, the discount is 5%… and that’s in addition to any sale prices and coupons.

[Hound Dog Mom]

When I’ve been in contact with WellPet I’ve been assured that all products in the Wellness line are GMO free. WellPet is a very large company – they own Wellness, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack and Old Mother Hubbard. IMO – that’s not always a bad thing, larger companies often have better quality control. I’ve personally been impressed with their customer service during my interactions – they’re always prompt, helpful, friendly and usually follow up with me to make sure I got the information I needed.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Belinda-
I’m glad the Holistic Select food is working out so well for your new pup. On top of the breed being perfect for your needs, he’s super cute too!

[CircaRigel]

My 10-week-old Shiloh Shepherd, Galen, is now on Holistic Select Large and Giant Breed Puppy Health Lamb and Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food. He loves the food, and his stool consistency is great! His growth hasn’t been as fast as some of his siblings, but I see that as a good thing, for the vet says he’s a perfect weight for his frame and in great health. This looks to be taking excellent care of his joints. After all, when it comes to growth, it’s not a matter of how quickly one grows, and in large dogs it’s better that it be slow and steady (but he still grew 20% in 10 days- 20 to 24 lbs). The genes will dictate the final size.

It’s important that I look after Galen’s joints properly, for he’s training to be a service dog, to help with my PTSD and spine injuries. I was fortunate enough to find an organization that is quite happy to help train owner raised dogs, for after the Shiloh Shepherd I rescued 20 years ago (I didn’t even know he was a Shiloh at the time), I knew the breed has what is perfect for my needs.

[Susan]

Hi, there’s also Holistic Select Weight management it has 302 Kcal per cup, the Fromm weight management has 341 kcal per cup & the Wellness complete health is 325kcal per cup…….. Wellpet makes Wellness, Holistic Select & Eagle Pack foods… here’s Holistic Select link http://www.holisticselect.com/recipes.aspx?pet=dog#category5

[Susan]

Hi Sarah, have you looked at “Holistic Select” Adult/Puppy grainfree Salmon, Anchovy & Sardine meal recipe…. I think you may have missed it on the Editors Choice list its under medium breeds… here’s the link to have a look… http://www.holisticselect.com/product.aspx?pet=dog&cat=5&pid=71

[Dog_Obsessed]

There are some budget friendly options that are good! Nutro is a good option, and is usually pretty easy to transition to. I know a lot of forum users really like Victor, and from what I understand it is pretty budget-friendly if you can find it in a store (I can’t). Other good budget friendly foods are Earthborn Holistic, Dr. Tims, and Merrick/Whole Earth Farms. If you can’t find these brands locally, Chewy.com has a pretty good selection. I’m sure other users will give their suggestions, too. Good luck!

[Susan]

Hi Nancy, I live Australia I can just buy Malaseb Shampoo from Pet shops or online….the vet also sells it… also has the vet prescribed Prednisone? if so as soon as you stop the Prednisone (steriod) the itch will come back, a good kibble a few friends from park use for their itchy dog is “Holistic Select” Anchovys, Sardine & Salmon meal recipe..

[Susan]

Hi Jiaen, put ur dogs on a good dog probiotic for their stomach & bad breath…also a kibble that digests easy, “Holistic Select” kibbles are easy to digest, I have found, also give a nice meaty bone for their teeth….. My boy had real bad breath & was spewing up his kibble un-digested hours later & would have very sloppy poos, I put him on a kibble that was easy to digest & a dog probiotic & no more bad dogs breath & poos are nice & firm..
here’s a link to have a look at Holistic Select & have a read..
http://www.holisticselect.com/recipes.aspx?pet=dog

[Susan]

There’s even the “Holistic Select’ Grain free Puppy/Adult, Salmon, Anchovy & Sardine meal recipe, that has 5 Stars ….Wellpet makes Wellness, Holistic Select & Eagle Pack……… Holistic Select Salmon, Anchovy & Sardine meal Grainfree Puppy/Adult has the least amount of fat% it only has 13% fat, & its easy to digest….where the Wellness kibbles have 17%-18% in fat..this could be the reasons Teddy is unwell with Stomach Acid, high fat diets can give stomach acid, the body makes more acid to break down the fat & Teddy is not use to the higher fat diet…here’s the “Holistic Select” link to have a look the Holistic Select Grainfree Puppy/Adult…….Holistic Select has a grain kibble Anchovy, Sardine & Chicken meal with rice & oatmeal but the fat% is high at 17% like the Wellness Kibbles, I’d try a kibble with less fat%, after feeding Teddy the Chicken & Rice for over 1 week then see how Teddy does on a kibble with less fat%. also all the Wellpet foods are Guaranteed money back, so if they cause diarrhea vomiting etc you can take back for a refund or exchange for another food….
http://www.holisticselect.com/product.aspx?pet=dog&cat=5&pid=71#guaranteed-analysis

[Susan]

Hi Akari, what diet was she on before you got her & was she having poo problems before you got her?? I’d say her diet is too rich now, probably to good….i’d be lowering her fat% no kibbles with the fat% over 10% thats max 10% also protein, lower her protein around 23% or under…have you tried boiled chicken breast with 1 spoon of boiled pumkin or boiled rice, she eats this only ….no treats nothing else for 2-4 weeks & see how she goes also treats are high in fat, Patch cant eat treats or wet tin food, unless you can find a wet tin food with 1% fat…….. I’m finding alot of rescue dogs suffer with diarrhea, their old diet was probably cheaper foods & lower in protein & fat, then new owners put them on better diets higher in fat & protein & grainfree diets, they are not use to it, a normal healthy dog can eat these diets…. Poor Ginger is probably getting the rumbles then has to go quickly & if she is in a crate she’ll have an accident..I live in a unit with a little court garden Patch was having accidents, I’d go to get dressed in the morning to take him for his walk & go in the loungeroom & he would of poo’d he couldnt hold it, at first I thought he’s being naughty then later I found he has IBD & was put on his Eukanuba Intestinal low residue kibble, low fat 10% no more accidents but Ive tried him on the Wellness Simple no good, Holistic Select no good, (Black Hawk, Meals For Mutts Austraian brands) other brands all no good, we end back up on his Intestinal & boiled chicken breast & pumkin & he does 1 poo 7.30am & another poo 5pm both perfect, give him some rice or potato he has diarreha give him treats he has diarrhea, I had to have him on just his Intestinal for 6months….Now I give him a little bit of mashed banana, watermelon things that dont have any fat or high in fat, If you can contact Gingers old owner & see what she was feed….just try a stricked diet for about 1 month & see how she does….

[Susan]

“Holistic Select” Adult & Puppy health grainfree Salmon & Anchovy, Sardine meal recipe…
here’s their link… http://www.holisticselect.com/product.aspx?pet=dog&cat=5&pid=71

[Bobby dog]

Hi Inkedmarie,
These are the brands & recipes of each (pate’ styles) that I have fed that might be the consistency you are looking for:
Earth’s Pride (BJ’s)
Triumph – all recipes
California Chicken & Rice
Canidae Life Stages Chic & Rice
Eagle Pack – all recipes
EVO Turkey & Chicken
Holistic Select GF – all recipes
Innova – puppy & large breed
Wellness: Core GF & 95%
Nutro Natural Choice canned: LBP, LBA, LBA Weight Management & LBA Sr.
Precise Naturals: Lamb & Rice Sensicare & Chic & Rice Foundation

[pugmomsandy]

Holistic Select regular and grain free anchovy and sardine formulas, Innova Nature’s Table Beef and Salmon recipes, Nature’s Select Cold Water recipe, Pure Vita grain free Bison or Salmon recipes, Victor Yukon River.

[Naturella]

Zach, I found my old menu for Bruno from May this year! LoL! Here it is, in case it helps or for reference of what has been to what is now regarding feeding. Only a little bit has changed really – I don’t mix foods anymore and I only feed twice/day, and I have sopped feeding dinner on Sundays if he gets an RMB. My additives also fluctuate sometimes too, and I may or may not use canned sometimes instead of THK/BDN.

Enjoy:

“Bruno’s add-ins (various canned such as Merrick, Wellness, Nutro Ultra, etc.; THK Love, Embark, Force, Keen; yoghurt/kefir, cottage cheese, coconut oil, raw eggs, pumpkin, flaxseed meal on occasion, canned sardines on occasion, RMBs (pork necks and chicken backs at the moment), and raw spelts (small fish), and natural dehydrated chews – bully sticks, ears, snouts, chicken feet and necks, tracheas, etc.) constitute about 1/4 (25%) of his daily intake. However, THK and canned are also considered balanced foods (right?), so I think I am at below 20% with unbalanced additives. I just use his body condition as a guide, and will start keeping track of his weight (IDK if I will measure him though) – he is very active and runs a lot, and appears to be in tip top shape.

Also, I will give you Bruno’s weekly sample menu. He is an about 13lb, 1 year old, active Rat Terrier mix.
Kibble mix is: Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch:Vets Choice Holistic Health Extension Original:Victor Yukon Salmon in 3:1:1/3 ratio.

Treats: above kibble mix or NutriSource Seafood Select or Castor and Pollux Organix Adult (the last 2 are from samples). Also available are Nutro and Old Mother Hubbard biscuits for special occasions. Also for special occasions (or to keep him busy when I’m busy too) I make him ice-cream with yoghurt, peanut butter, coconut oil and coconut butter, and a sprinkle of cinnamon and turmeric, and I fill anything I can – his Kong, marrow bone, hoof, other toys with holes – and freeze. Rarely I give raw veggies/fruits like carrots, cucumbers, watermelon, apple, pineapple core, mango, raw coconut, etc. (safe stuff).

Monday:
Breakfast: 1/4 cup kibble with teaspoon coconut oil and water to make it soupy
Lunch: 1/4 cup kibble with teaspoon THK chicken and water to make it soupy
Dinner: 1/4 cup kibble with 2 teaspoons canned and water to make it soupy

Tuesday:
Breakfast: 1/4 cup kibble with 2 teaspoons yoghurt/kefir and water to make it soupy
Lunch: 1/4 cup kibble with 2 teaspoons canned and water to make it soupy
Dinner: 1/4 cup kibble with teaspoon THK turkey and water to make it soupy

Wednesday:
Breakfast: 1/4 cup kibble with raw egg (no shell) with a sprinkle of flaxseed meal
Lunch: 1/4 cup kibble with teaspoon THK beef and water to make it soupy
Dinner: 1/4 cup kibble with 2 teaspoons canned and water to make it soupy

Thursday:
Breakfast: 1/4 cup kibble with teaspoon coconut oil and water to make it soupy
Lunch: 1/4 cup kibble with 2 teaspoons canned and water to make it soupy
Dinner: 1/4 cup kibble with teaspoon THK turkey and water to make it soupy

Friday:
Breakfast: 1/4 cup kibble with 2 teaspoons cottage cheese and water to make it soupy
Lunch: 1/4 cup kibble with 2 teaspoons raw organ meat (whatever I have) or raw meat/fish (whatever I have) or 2 teaspoons of canned and water to make it soupy
Dinner: 1/4 cup kibble with teaspoon THK chicken and water to make it soupy

Saturday:
Breakfast: 1/4 cup kibble with teaspoon coconut oil and water to make it soupy
Lunch: 1/4 cup kibble with teaspoon THK turkey and water to make it soupy
Dinner: 1/4 cup kibble with 2 teaspoons canned and water to make it soupy

Sunday:
Breakfast: 1/4 cup kibble with 2 teaspoons pumpkin with a sprinkle of cinnamon and water to make it soupy
Lunch: 1/4 cup kibble with 2 teaspoons canned and water to make it soupy
Dinner: 1/4 cup kibble with teaspoon THK beef and water to make it soupy
RMB to cap it out

On days when Bruno runs a lot (i.e. Dog Park days) I may switch his next meal’s add-in with raw egg or raw meat/organ meats/fish (or canned sardine) for added natural protein “post WOD”. Or give him a dehydrated natural chew like a bully stick, a cow/lamb/pig ear, or tripe stick, or you know – “richer” stuff to make up for the calories burned and supply some lean meat for his muscles. I really just kind of gage his body condition and appetite for stuff as far as additives go. And sometimes, if I’m out of canned, I put his plain dry kibble in a dispensing toy and let him play with it and eat it as is. I also do some training daily and reward with about 20 kibble bits, and, if I want to stress on something – an Old Mother Hubbard or Nutro biscuit. Oh, and I almost always add water (as you can see) for added hydration.”

[Susan]

Hi Korey,
When looking for budget friendly kibble make sure that you stick with the same ingredients that’s in the Blue that he’s eating or as close as you can get, try & stay away from high carb kibbles with potato, most Grain free kibbles have potatos, also look at the Omega 3 & 6 make sure its high, compare what the Omega 3 & 6 is in the blue as well…here’s a few kibbles, Good-Luck Korey

Holistic Select Anchovy, Sardines & Salmon meal
Eagle Pack
Victor Select
Whole Earth Farms or the Whole Earth Farm G/F
Horizon Complete
Dr Tims
Healthwise
Pro Pac
Simply Nourish Source

[Karen J]

Wow this is all so helpful. Just got can of Merrick, BB Wilderness and Holistic select wet to try. Got test bag of Orijens kibble, beef and lamb family. Moist treats, grain free Natural Balance and just gave her some Vit C wrapped in boiled chicken breast. Will have to get cheese I think and proper dose. Also put Cranberry relief…also some Stella and Chewy.

When I make her food to wet she won’t eat it.

So that’s where I’ve started and sounds like of what I put one can each of the Merrick appears to be a favorite of the forum.

Always open to more advice, I’m starting to put together a menu for Trixie.

[Laura B]

Thanks so much for your ideas 🙂 I’ll look into everything that you have suggested. I don’t know if he can have sweet potato…, I just know that the new food has salmon and potato so one of them must be the culprit. also there is some flax seeds in it, but it is farther down in the list of ingredients. but sweet potato is a different thing so this looks like something i could try. what are the foods that use sweet potato Bobby, dog?
he’s had quite a lot of lamb in his life (up until he was five or so), so i don’t know whether to feed him this again (is it really better to go to novel proteins at this stage or should i be figuring out the carb – impossible to answer!)

i think i’ll try one more new food maybe and then I might have to see if I an get proseries shipped from canada. it could either be the potato or the salmon that is bothering him with this, and now i’m leaning towards the holistic select suggested by sue66b in hopes that it is the potato which is the problem.

thanks again very much for your kind responses. If anyone knows of a close American equivalent to pro series, please let me know.

[Susan]

Hi Laura, here’s a link to “Holistic Select” Anchovys, Sardines & Salmon meal, I know you’ve said no Salmon but this kibble has no potatos, have a look at the ingredients they may be as close as you’ll get to the Proseries, A few dogs from the dog park have skin allergies & they are on the Holistic Select Anchovys, Sardines & Salmon meal for their skin & ears…. http://www.holisticselect.com/dry-dog-food-anchovy-sardine-and-salmon-meal

[TheNaturalDog]

Holistic Select Grain Free Adult & Puppy Health Salmon and Anchovy & Sardine Meal

Ingredients:
Salmon, Anchovy & Sardine Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Dried Ground Potatoes, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Menhaden Fish Meal, Tomato Pomace, Flaxseed, Pea Fiber, Pumpkin, Natural Fish Flavor, Cranberries, Apples, Brewers Dried Yeast, Papaya, Salt, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid], Minerals [Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate], Choline Chloride, Blueberries, Pomegranate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Inulin, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Fennel, Ground Peppermint, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Trichoderma reesei Fermentation Product, Dried Rhizopus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract.
This is a naturally preserved product.

[Mom2Cavs]

While Holistic Select is a good food it really isn’t a limited ingredient diet. I use Wellness Simple Small Breed and love it.

[Deborah M]

Excellent, I actually had saved info on that one…tried Holistic Select and it did not work. Thanks!

[Susan]

Hi Laurie, my vet said the same thing Patch has seasonal allergies when I first got him, I kept saying maybe its his food, he gets itchy ears, red inbetween his toes & a rash on his chest when I feed him potatos. Patch cant eat Potatos, sweet potatos & now I think chicken as he starts to get hive like lumps under his skin after eating chicken I kept thinking it was from our walks the hive like lumps but this winter he has had his lumps so I started an elimination diet thats when I found he cant have potatos, sweet potatos, you need a low carb diet, yeast loves carbs….Karen Becker has a video how you have to starve the yeast, also I soak his paws in betadine antiseptic or the Detol antiseptic lotion its cheaper & does the same thing kills the yeast inbetween his toes, they smell like corn or a yeasty bread shop.. You dont say which Hills Angel is on, if its the Z/d….

When you change their food if ur slowly introducing the new food it takes maybe 2-3 weeks to start seeing results, with Patch if I stop a food thats making him itch I see results 1-2 days, they stop scratching, their paws aren’t red & Patch stops scratching his ears & shaking his head..thats when I know when he starts shaking his head & shaking his ears something that he has eatin isnt agreeing with him..
The Holistic Select Anchovy, sardines & salmon meal is suppose to be good & it has no potatos like alot of the grainfree kibbles have..Patch is on the Wellness Simple Lamb & Oatmeal limited ingredients, he’s going OK so far but when I started him on the Wellness Simple Duck & oatmeal after 3 weeks he started shaking his ears & head I looked at the ingredients again & I saw Potato Protein as soon as I stopped the Duck & Oatmeal he stopped shaking his ears then I started the Lamb & Oatmeal & he’s not shaking his ears…
I forgot is Angel on a good dog Probiotic for her stoamch & bowel?

[Susan]

Hi Mandy, have you had a look at the Wellness Simple Healthy Weight Salmon & Peas grain free there’s no chicken or turkey the fat is min-8% the fiber is 6%, Omega 6 is 1.80% Omega 3 is 90% Glucosamine is 3.75mg /kg…I just looked at the Wellness Core Ocean & the Fat min-16% fat thats high & that was min-16% fat so I add around another 1.5%-2% max fat on top of that, thats making it nilly 18% fat…. if u email Wellness they will email back max % on fat & the Carb %…..Holistic Select also made by Wellpet has their Grain Free Salmon, Anchovy & Sardine meal fat-min-13% Fiber-6% Omega 6 is 2.00% Omega 3 is 1.50% has no chicken or turkey….
Have you ever tried raw?? maybe cooked would be better to start with then you slowly cook the meat less then get to raw & slowly introducing from cooked to raw over 3-4 weeks, Karen Becker she says take 3 months introducing raw with dogs with GI problems in her book…I’d be to scared to try raw with Colitis..
Dogs with Colitis normally have IBD awell, I belong to the Yahoo group IBDogs & alot of the IBD dogs have Colitis so u’ll need to be careful when introducing new foods, so you dont have another flare….Good-Luck, its hard..

[Susan]

Hi Jennifer, a grain free would be better then Purina One but I found alot of grain free kibbles have potatos & you need a low carb diet, yeast loves carbs, I few people I know feed the “Holistic Select” Anchovy, Sardines & Salmon meal, for their dogs with bad skin problems & they say its excellent the vet diets never helped their dogs, the Holistic Select also has 2 grain free kibbles Deboned Turkey & Lentils has no potatos & their Salmon Anchovy & Sardine grain free…or you can do an elimination diet to see what foods make him itch, but an elimation diet takes time…Wellness has their Simple limited ingredients range, that way he’s having limited ingredients, less ingredients to make him itch, also sardines in spring water are excellent for itchy skin, I give a couple sardines as a treat…I’m using the Wellness Simple Lamb & Oatmeal as my boy cant have potatos or sweet potatos, he’ll break out in a rash all over his stomach & chest, then his ear starts to itch, then his paws go all red & itchy, its awful.. I wouldnt believe it if I didnt see how a little bit of potato can do all this, I found this out buy doing an elimination diet…maybe try raw thats the best for skin problems, cooking or raw works out cheaper then kibbles, ..