[Ellen D]

My labradoodle puppy is SuPeR fussy. I’ve started him on a raw diet this week, and he will FINally eat without a battle, but I went through a bunch of different kibble brands because he still needs kibble for lunch at doggy day care. I know all dogs have different tastes, but the one kind I found that he will eat without acting like I’m offering him marbles to eat is Fromm Beef Frittata Veg. Maybe that will work for your lab! It’s one on the list as being suitable for a large breed puppy as well.

We went through: Nature’s Instinct Large Puppy (realized had too much calcium and he stopped eating it anyway), Wellness Core Puppy (he ate it ok once and refused after that), Avoderm Revolving Menu Turkey (he will eat it grudgingly), Nature’s Variety Instinct Rabbit (wouldn’t touch), and Fromm Pacific Ocean Fish Puppy (wouldn’t touch it).

[crazy4cats]

Hi Andrea-
Hope your dog is recovering well from her surgery. I agree with everything that BDog recommended above. One of the foods she noted was Victor. I’d like to also second the recommendation for Victor. I feed my two large dogs the grain free joint health recipe just about every other bag. I think it is very similar to TOTW that you are currently feeding. The price for it varies greatly depending on where you live. Their website has a store locator button. I believe it is a little higher in calories than TOTW so you may need to feed a little less to avoid weight gain.
I also mix in either canned, fresh or Raw into my dogs’ kibble. If you don’t want to mess with cans, you could always try Fresh Pet Select. It comes in a roll and has to be refrigerated. It just needs to be sliced. It can be found in multiple grocery and pet food stores. I haven’t fed it for a while due to its cost, but my dogs do love it when i buy it. That would probably entice her to eat a little better. Plus it’s very healthy to add less processed food to the meals in my opinion. Let us know what works for you!

[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.

[E L]

Bravo sells different combinations. As C4D said above, the Bravo “Balance” on the label is a “complete and balanced” variety as recommended by the AAFCO. The blends are combination of ingredients for those who prefer to mix their own particulars. That is why that version says “supplemental.” They also have a veggie mix in the chub that some will mix with the meat blend. All their packaging looks similar so be sure to look for the AAFCO on the label if you’re looking for a complete diet.
As for your other question, No, we raw feeders do not always go only raw meat. Think of it this way, if you ate only hamburger everyday and nothing else, you would eventually have a deficiency in something. It is on those products that Bravo has the disclaimer “supplemental.” As with other species, human included, dogs do need vitamins and minerals. This is usually drawn from the fruits and vegetables you will see on the label. Or we add them as C4D had mentioned above. What we usually avoid are “grains.” In the very least, minimize them. I myself rotate the top raw (frozen) brands, supplement with a digestive enzyme, pro-biotic, and fish oils. Sometimes I make my own “stews” and throw them into the food processor (although I do not recommend that to the novice, my ingredients are carefully selected). If I have to supplement with a kibble, it would be Orijen. It all depends on how in depth you want to go.
I realize how nuts this may come off. A few years ago I would have thought the same. Then I read some horrific things about the pet food industry and went on a quest.
Good Luck.

[Ellen D]

I think I have decided what I would like to do in terms of feeding my puppy. Background: he’s about 25 lbs, labradoodle, 14 weeks, should be around 65 lbs full grown. He is a picky and light eater, so I’ve been trying to do 4 meals per day but he just isn’t that interested in food so now it’s 3 meals.

This is what I’d like to do in my perfect world. Can anyone tell me if this would work or help tweak it?

–AM meal – either homemade or pre-made raw. I have a trusted recipe for homemade when I have the time to make some. Pre-made would either be Darwin’s or Allprovide, depending on which he prefers.
–Lunch – this is where it gets trick. He goes to day care 3 days per week, and they will only feed kibble. They will not mix anything with water, open cans, etc. Has to be non-perishable something. And if he doesn’t eat lunch, he will sometimes vomit, not to mention he is already bordering on underweight. So he needs something. The other 2 days my sister in law serves as our dog walker and can feed him anything I ask her.
–PM meal – I would like this to typically be RMBs, such as chicken backs/necks/wings to begin with and progressing from there. He already gets a raw chicken wing a couple times a week and loves it.

In order to figure out portions, would I just take each meal separately and divide it in 1/3? So give 1/3 of what would be a total day’s worth of food of each the pre-made/homemade, kibble, and RMBs? I would add his supplemental items either at breakfast or dinner – organ meats, probiotics, and sardines/fish oil/yogurt, etc.

I have looked into things like a “better” kibble – ziwipeak was the only thing I could find that seemed to fit the bill. However, their maximum calcium level in their “kibble” is like 2% which is way too high for a largeish breed puppy. Do you think I could get away with giving this at lunch and then having dinner on those days be meat without bones? Does it balance out like that, or is the calcium ratio a per meal type of deal?

[crazy4cats]

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

[Rajeev S]

Hi yellow lab,generally higher calorie content food is preferred but tumor cells are much likely to use fat for energy. It is recommended that food should be 25-40 % fat on a dry matter basis. For them carbohydrates food should be less than that 25% of the food.
I suggest high level of protein and fats combined with lower levels of carbohydrates are most beneficial. Going grain free is the best option for the diet. Make sure you read the ingredient label and it will be good while the two ingredients are some type of meat. choose different brand that is very important.
BARF diet is best for the yellow lab. It contains biologically appropriated raw foods and also 75% meat and 25% fruit/veggies.

[Jordan M]

I have a little itty-bitty a pitbull puppy who is less than seven weeks old with the same problems… I actually went on Amazon and ordered a thing called Urban Relief, paws and pups healing silk… It is claim to heal pet paws nose is dry injured, hot and raw spots… it is all organic and within the first two one day of using at her rash went down in severity by at least 50%,within 2, 75% if not more as well as her frequency of scratching her itchy spots. In severe cases, I have also resorted to putting a little bit of baby powder on the areas that are very irritated, to dry them up and use the irritation. It breaks my heart to hear puppies it’s themselves and whine out of pain and there’s nothing he do about it, I totally understand where you’re coming from and hope that both of our baby puppies get the solution that they need. Hope this helps.

[Rajeev S]

The strength of your dog’s immune system,resistance to disease and quality of life all depends on the type and quality of food it eats.
For your knowledge,there is no best food for labradoodles or any individual dog. Whatever diet you choose ,quality meat should be the top of the ingredients list. It is important for the dog to get a variety of food rather giving a single food every day.
I suggest to choose 3-4 variety brands using different nutrients it needs out of one bag. As you suggest the raw food or bones is much protein content food which is very essential for the pets. In addition to kibble,I suggest adding some fresh foods to the diet,including eggs,meat definitely that will benefit more.
Meat/fish should include as the first ingredient. Meat is easily digestible and should and it is the main protein source.

Take care of your puppy….

[Monica D]

I’d like to nominate Evermore. Very small company with headquarters in Brooklyn, NY and Oakland, CA. Refrigerated or frozen pouches of lightly cooked human-grade natural food. They ship nationwide from their website shopping cart. Expensive but very worth it.

After a nasty digestive infection, my pup couldn’t eat anything beyond rice and Gerber without getting diarrhea. I tried the best of everything (raw, freeze-dried, canned, single protein, limited ingredients, you name it) with no success. My local pet store turned me on to Evermore and it was like magic.

[Ellen D]

Hello –

I have a 3 month old labradoodle puppy. He was 20 lbs a week ago, so I’d think he’s between 20 and 25 now. He’ll be about 65 pounds full grown most likely.

I’m currently feeding him Nature’s Variety Instinct Large Puppy kibble, which I’ve now realized is even too high in calcium for him. He gets some Stella & Chewy meal mixer in with breakfast and I always give him either a scrambled egg, cottage cheese, pumpkin, or some plain meat chunks with dinner – lunch is plain kibble, as that’s at the day care most days. He gets a raw chicken wing or thigh as a treat a couple times a week right now.

I’m going to plead ignorance and admit that I thought I was doing a great thing by getting him “fancy” kibble and only realized a week into having him that there’s much, much more to dog food than dry kibble.

So my dilemma:

–I need to provide him with some form of kibble or dry-fed food for various reasons – the day care can’t mix his food, I do travel from time to time on business so he may need to be boarded 3-4 days per month, and I’m afraid if I stop kibble altogether he might refuse it while I’m away and be a very hungry boy when I return. However, this doesn’t have to continue to be a significant portion of his food. I am happy to keep it just to stuff Kongs/food toys so he stays used to it, but I need to have some on hand. I’ve narrowed this down to – Annamaet Salcha, Avoderm Turkey, or Fromm Beef Frittata.

–I am very interested in a raw diet for him, but I can’t decide what to do here. I’d like to have some freeze-dried product on hand (narrowed down to NRG Maxim and THK Love) for convenience. But ultimately, once he’s down to 2 meals per day from 3, I’d like to go as full raw as I can do – whether it be commercial or homemade or a combo. I have found what I am confident is a very good and versatile homemade recipe (from Ottowa Valley Dog Whisperer – are we allowed to post links here?). My one and only issue with this recipe is I need to sit down and do some maths and figure out what to add in terms of calcium – if I need to alter the recommendation in the recipe based on having a largish breed puppy.

–I am also interested in supplementing with raw meaty bones, as my dog really enjoys his chicken wings and chews them very nicely. Is it okay to just use rmbs as a supplement/treat kind of deal? Could/should I give him one daily or just a few times a week or is it better to just replace a whole meal with them? I would vary the meat/bone source often.

I’m trying to do the right and best thing for my puppy, and I’m 100% open to suggestions and criticism about my plans. I welcome any and all advice, as I’m new to this and my head is just spinning. Added to this is that my wife travels 5 days a week, I work full time outside the home, and we have a 4 year old (human) daughter as well as 2 cats and about 200 fish haha! So I’m a single parent 5 days a week. I’m really at the mercy of convenience. However, I can manage an evening cooking session once a week or a couple times a month and can freeze portion sized amounts. It’s just a matter of figuring out that pesky calcium balance. The recipe calls for powdered eggshell or bone meal. OR I can add whole prey meat to the recipe – I assume I would grind this – and omit the eggshell.

If I were to make the homemade diet, I feel like I would probably feed that for 2 meals per day and continue with kibble for 1 meal. And then when pup’s down to 2 meals, perhaps full homemade with kibble in the kong or as hand fed treats so he stays accustomed to it.

Last question – there doesn’t seem to be a lot of question/issue with feeding raw meaty bones or prey model diets to large breed puppies. Does the nature of a raw diet negate the need to watch the calcium levels so closely?

[Marta W]

SO i was looking into maybe getting my dog bravo raw food blend variety,
its “Chicken, chicken bone, chicken heart, chicken gizzard, chicken liver, green beans, squash, broccoli”, for chicken type.

So my question is why do they say its only intermittent or supplemental??
Dont some of you just feed meat, organ meat and bones without adding any supplements?
Do i really have to add other stuff to it?

[JeffreyT]

Here is Dr. Karen Becker’s overview of environmental allergies…she has other good ones listed on the right side of screen. She highly recommends bathing for environmental allergies. We did her betadine foot soak and it helped stop the paw licking/chewing.

If you don’t already…use only natural, unscented laundry detergent, avoid fabric softener, scented products like room deodorizers, candles, body care, etc., use pure and non-toxic household cleaning and body care products for your family and dogs, avoid all chemicals including flea/tick treatment. For dog shampoo I stick with unscented health food store baby shampoo, and use Mercolas flea and tick spray. BioKleen household cleaners are very pure and effective. I stay away from Meyers…very toxic stuff, even though it’s sold in health food stores.
Carpet and Persian type rugs can hold a lot of allergens…consider steam cleaning but do not let them use the cleaning solution..use only the steam. Best thing is no carpet at all if it is environmental allergies.
I’ve found my dog does better with commercial raw freeze dried and frozen raw than kibble or canned. When I’m in a rush, I use Ziwi Peak or Real Meat Food Company…both air dried using grass fed meat. I think home cooking is also a good option if you can swing it.
Also, a good air purifier helps.
Keep at it and you will find the solution.

[pugmomsandy]

Bumping up your post. I’ve only been feeding raw whole sardines that are about 8 inches long and I just feed the whole thing. The pugs eat them whole or I’ll toss them in the grinder whole as well.

[Anonymous]

Allergies? If the current treatment is not effective and the dog is seriously uncomfortable, you may want to consider seeing a specialist/dermatologist, especially if this has been going on for 1 year/4 seasons without any significant periods of relief.

http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

Or consult a homeopath http://theavh.org/

Dr Falconer’s latest blog http://vitalanimal.com/natural-dog-food-work/

/forums/topic/atopic-dermatitisyeast-issues-smartest-food-choice/

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

‘Doc, it itches when I do this!’

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Rachel A]

Hello, I am new here and would really love some help. I have two small breed dog (a cotton de tulear, and a Shih tzu) The shih tzu has had allergies from day 1, more than 4 years now. Unfortunately, I did not realize there was a problem with her food until a few years had passed. We first though it was an allergy to pesticide, or lawn treatment. From there we have tried pretty much everything before being told to switch her food. They were both originally on Wellness small breed, which always worked great for my coton. (The shihtzu came later and had a constant raw stomach). So I switched to the allergy formula (salmon and potato). That did not work, so 6 months later, I switched to the turkey potato version. When that didn’t work I tried switching brands. (Blue Buffalo allergy formula). Now, not only have I not seen a change for the shih tzu, but my coton is licking her paws constantly and she is suffering from ear infections all of a sudden. I have no idea what to try now,(homemade, raw, another brand) but I certainly wish that I had never started on the BB. I am hoping that someone can shed some light on what might be the allergy causing ingredient that is common in these foods. I am open to any and all suggestions. I can cook for them if I need to. Just if someone can point me in the right direction. My girls are very uncomfortable. 🙁

[MaggiesDad]

I’m one of the owners of Allprovide, and just wanted to address some of the queries raised about our products!
Firstly, I should state that I am currently away from the office and so do not have all the necessary information to hand regarding percentages, AAFCO guidelines etc. However, should anyone have any specific questions about these (or anything else) please do call us! We are always happy to talk about raw feeding, why we came in to this business and our experiences.
Regarding the mixing of proteins, we do intend to eventually bring out more single protein source foods, but as a new company we felt it best to start with a good all round range of various proteins to ensure that any dog is receiving all it needs from the start. Too many people are put off raw feeding by the fear of not providing enough of everything or supplementation, so one reason we use mixed proteins is to take away this concern. The other reason of course is that we have to meet the AAFCO guidelines for “complete” foods, and as we do not use ground bone we use poultry bone in our beef product to ensure sufficient calcium/phosphorus – and beef bones are extremely hard to grind in any event and can damage our machinery!
We do only use human grade ingredients, and frequently take home for ourselves the chicken we use in the dog food, as well as the vegetables which are restaurant quality. Our meat is all USA raised, and our chickens are hormone free – it is illegal to use hormones in poultry production. The issue of antibiotics is slightly different however. We care for all animals, and the farms we use will only ever give antibiotics to a sick bird, under vet guidance and in strict accordance with regulations. We would not want any animal to suffer illness unnecessarily, and to deprive medical treatment could be seen as inhuman. Any antibiotic is in any event not usually one given to humans, and is out of their system within days so do not make it in to the food chain.
I know someone posted that is something looks too good to be true, it usually is – but please be assured that we doing everything in our power to produce the best food possible for our dogs. We do not cut corners, use only the best ingredients, and are trying to put the convenience back in to raw feeding to encourage more to give it a go. If you read Maggie’s story on our website, you will see that we care passionately about our dogs (I have four, all shapes and sizes) and we want everyone to see the difference raw can make to their dogs!
Anyone is more that welcome to come by the factory (based in Norcross, GA) as we have always had an open door policy – we really do have nothing to hide. You can also buy direct from us there.
If I’ve missed out any concerns, or anyone has more questions please do call us in the office!

[Dori]

Good idea losul. I’ll give them a call and see when I can arrange this. They’re probably about 30 or 45 minute drive away. Would be interesting even though as you say I’m not going to feed their foods I’ve never been taken a tour of any dog food facilities. Thanks for the idea.

I must have not paid close enough attention to the puppy blend. I just wish dog food companies regardless of whether they’re dry, wet or raw would stop mixing everything up. There are so many dogs with food issues at this point that it’s getting harder and harder for some people to feed their food sensitive dogs.

[Dori]

I just went back onto their site and looked over the foods again. I agree with you that the only one that I could see feeding is the puppy formula. But, as I mentioned, I’m uncomfortable not knowing about antibiotics and hormones. For my husband and myself I try to buy organic as often as I can and always make sure that there are no hormones or antibiotics as best I can. Another issue that I have with their other formulas is that I don’t like that they have more than one protein. If a food says it’s beef, I’d like not to see chicken. Same with their other formulas. I think the puppy is the only one that is one protein source. One of my dogs is highly intolerant of all things fowl.

As far as the AAFCO statement, I really don’t pay much attention to it. That they have slapped that statement on so many foods that are so not AAFCO equivalent is appalling. So how can you believe any of it. There’s no one guarding the hen house. I’m a commercial raw feeder and all the companies that I feed are only ones that use human grade ingredients. Now, of course, I don’t know that to be a fact because I’m not an eye witness in their manufacturing facilities but I’m doing my best to take care of the girls as best I can. I’ve attempted to do my due diligence. If I remember correctly AAFCO figures were done for kibble, possibly canned too. I’ve read somewhere that they are suppose to be coming out this year with their new figures a bit more in line with the EU guidelines. They’re still not talking commercial raw foods into account so it’s not going to affect me or my dogs one way or the other. I would possibly be more concerned about the AAFCO statements on dog foods if I fed highly processed dry foods or if I only fed my dogs one food and never rotated. That could lead to a problem which is why we are always trying to get people to understand that they should research and implement rotational feeding. The FDA is their own little story unto itself in my eyes. The way they recommend or abolish products has no merit in my eyes whatsoever.

[losul]

Basically I think if they are putting an AAFCO label of nutritional completeness on their foods, i doubt they should be doing so. On the other hand, for me, AAFCO guidelines hold much less relevance for well rounded quality whole, foods, and really become much more relevant the more heavily processed foods. kibbles, etc. I don’t like to many excessive and uneccessary added vitamins/minerals to raw diet.

I’ve not seen guaranteed analysis of their products. The analysis they show is a bit confusing, especially the way they have broken certain items down.

I think I can assume that fat means total fat, carbs mean total carbs, it wasn’t at first plain to me from their analysis. But the total calories still don’t quite reconcile?

Going by what i can here’s the best I come up with on the puppy blend. I hope this comes out looking like a spreadsheet, never has for me before on the review side anyway 🙁

Analysis % %Dry Matter Approximate % calories from?:
——————————————————————————————————-protein 14.02 46.6
fat 7.58 25.2 about 51% ?
carbs 6.57 21.8
water 69.92
ash/other 1.91 6.3
——————————————————————————————————-
100 99.9

Going by those figures, the fat doesn’t look out of line, particularly since the product has added coconut oil and salmon oil, already. I might give consideration feeding the puppy blend (to my adult) on a supplemental basis. I’d be interested in how the veggies, particulary the kale, are processed to make more digestible., and if the mung and adzuki beans are cooked in addition to, or simply just sprouted.

Edit: yeah it didn’t come out looking like a spreadsheet, at all. I’ll have to try doing something about that later.

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

[Gloria K]

Lol I feed Mickey cubes of cheese, the cheddar/bacon is his favorite-mine too. But I also give him string beans, simmered for about six minutes then rolled in a dab of bacon grease in the pan. Store them in a little plastic baggie in the refrigerator and he thinks this is manna from heaven. Same goes for raw carrots or a slice of zucchini. These are great treats so you really don’t have to feed your dog “junk food”

[Dori]

losul: Another concern I would have, as a commercial raw feeder only, is that they do use animals that have been treated with hormones and antibiotics. Their wording is very flowery intimating that antibiotics and hormones are approved by the FDA to control illness, etc. blah, blah, blah. None of the wording makes me comfortable. Though my dogs eating commercial raw diets in rotation are accustomed to high protein, high fat diets; they are accustomed to quality high protein and quality high fats with companies that I have researched and trust. I would not feel comfortable feeding any of my crew this food. One more thought I want to add is the old age adage: If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Possibly if fed by someone that rotates foods as often as I do (I rotate with every meal and I feed twice a day), but I still wouldn’t use it.

I also haven’t found any wording as to free range, grass fed or whatever! That is another thing that I take into account.

[losul]

Allprovide looks like (or at least initially) it could be a good, very economical food option 2 feed on occaison. The proteins are mixed in the varieties. Not a big deal for me though, for some might be. The poultry varieties all use beef organs, which is good really, they are more nutritious than chicken organs, probably why they do that. The beef variety uses chicken bones. And all the varieties appear to be high in fat as in the case with so many commercial raw diets. But alot of the numbers don’t numbers seem 2 jive either, and calories per 100grams? The first thing thats fairly easy 2 pick out is the inverted calcium phosphorus ratio in the turkey variety. I think it’s going to fall short in some of the numbers, but trying to reconcile these numbers gives me such a big headache even trying, i give up. Aimee’s is great with processing the numbers, maybe she would see this and lend a hand to it?

Personally, the only variety that I would be interested tin is the puppy blend, but not for a puppy, for my adult. It has 2 major proteins, chicken and beef heart, and the fat levels are lower, or should be.

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

[Kristin C]

Judy-my story sounds exactly like yours. I got a puppy in Dec 2014 who we put on Blue Puppy. Our older dog was on Blue Wilderness at the time. Our puppy did terribly on it, actually did better on Purina Puppy Chow! I consider it a learning experience as I would have just kept feeding my older dog Blue if we had not gotten another dog. They both eat homemade raw now. One gets Farmina kibble and one gets Orijen kibble a couple times per week though. My older dog now has a barely audible heart murmur since taking her off the Blue. Could be the raw, and extra heart I feed her but I am thrilled and hope she will be with us for a very long time. Good luck with your dogs.

[Kristin C]

Google it and there’s plenty of info. My new pup could not keep Blue Puppy down a little over a year ago, barfing and endless diarrhea. I had been feeding my older dog Blue Wilderness at the time and switched them both to raw. Last year my older dog had a heart murmur. This year it is barely audible (I have also been feeding her extra raw heart). Kibble is like feeding processed food at every meal. Research and pick the best one you can afford.

[Michael Saull]

Not sure whether to post this under treats or homemade food.

My puppy has started teething and I can’t use edible chews or bully sticks because he gets diarrhea quite easily so he is just getting kibble and pumpkin for his food.

I am planning to fill and freeze his kong to help with his gums and chewing habit but would like some recipes some of you might have tried that are fairly natural and safe for the tummy.

I have tried peanut butter but he doesn’t seem too interested in it when it is frozen. (less aromatic I guess?)

Some people have suggested ground beef and rice? (Should the ground beef be raw or cooked?)

Open to any and all suggestions.

[InkedMarie]

I have a yeasty dog who finally cleared up on raw.
Wysong makes a low or no carb food; unsure what type of food it is.

[Bobby dog]

I am not sure if there is a magic number I can give you; every dog is different. I feed about half kibble the rest canned, raw, or fresh foods and I have had success aiming for moderate to low carbs. I have had to play around with my dog’s diet due to skin issues. I am happy to say after close to a year of lots of elbow grease and tweaking his diet he has healthy skin and a beautiful coat.

Here’s my list and carb %’s on a DMB using the data from each company’s website:
Fromm’s Shredded Beef 22%
Merrick Golden Years Medley 8%
Nature’s Recipe Pure Essentials LID GF Chic/Broth 11%
Nature’s Recipe Pure Essentials LID GF Lamb/Broth 11%
Nature’s Recipe Pure Essentials tub LID Duck 11%
Nature’s Recipe Pure Essentials tub LID Venison 11%
Nature’s Recipe tub GF Chic & Duck 8%
Nature’s Recipe tub GF Chic & Venison in broth 8%
Nature’s Recipe tub Chicken in broth 6%
Nature’s Recipe tub Chic & Turkey in broth 11%
Nature’s Recipe GF Chic & Turkey stew 22%
Nature’s Recipe GF Chic & Venison Stew 22%
Tiki Dog Kauai Luau 8%
Tiki Dog Lahaina Luau 13%
Tiki Dog Maui Luau 17%
Tiki Dog Tonga Luau 11%
Wellness Core Weight Management 16%
Wellness Stews 17%
Weruva Marbella Paella 7.2%
Weruva Bed & Breakfast 23.6%
Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken 9.7%

There are more foods out there, these are just local to me. Here is a site you can use to find carb %’s on a dry matter basis:
http://www.scheyderweb.com/cats/catfood.html

[Pitlove]

Really interested as to if any of you have found any canned foods out there that are low carb. I have an 11 mo pit with a yeast infection under his nail beds and aside from the foot soaks and anti-fungal meds, I’m trying to prevent/combat this with his diet. I’m going to be switching him from NV Instinct Raw Boost to Orijen Regional Red for his dry, but I have to feed him wet as well. I am having a hard time finding a canned food without tons of carbs, mainly potatoes. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Ronald-
I have two lab mix males, one is 80lbs and the other is 85lbs. My dogs are both just like yours, usually nice firm “output” in the morning, but soft in the afternoon. We usually walk them in the afternoons and I have blamed it on that. They get so crazy, excited on their walks still, and they are almost four years old! So, I thought maybe that gets their stomachs a little crazy. But even on the days without walks, it still seems a little soft. We mix canned food in their kibble in the morning and usually something fresh or frozen in the afternoon, such as eggs, sardines or commercial frozen raw. So, I am also wondering if it is the canned food in the morning that contributes to it. However, I only give them a couple of TBS in their dry, so wouldn’t think it would be the cause? Maybe I’ll try to do canned in the evening instead for a bit and see what happens. Let me know if you get anything figured out!

[Dori]

I would suggest Standard Process Whole Body Supplement. If you diffuse essential oils in your home I would suggest Transition and also Calm-Away. For the oils I would suggest you go to AnimalEO.info and check them out. You can also order Standard Process products through that site. This is Melissa Shelton DVM’s site. I use a H2EO diffuser. You can read about the different essential oils on her site and if you go to her site oilyvet.com you can check out the different Standard Process supplements and see if any of them are worth while for your dog. I think the two I mentioned would be worthwhile for your dog but there may be others.

I’m also a commercial raw rotational feeder to my three dogs. I don’t feed anything processed.

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

[C4D]

Hi Trevorpup,
Having 2 Labs myself it does seem hard to believe there is such a thing as a fussy Lab! LOL!
Labs & C4C have given you some great advice. Victor and Earthborn are both reasonably priced dog foods. Have you tried adding just a bit of wet (canned) food mixed into the food. That might make it more enticing since he loved the raw food. Anything that tastes more like real food will usually attract a fussy dog. I have 2 Labs and fosters on a regular basis so I need everyone to eat all their food and bowls are cleared. I always mix some canned food and warm water into the kibble. It allows the kibble to absorb the flavor of the canned food and it’s always been a success for me.
Congratulations on your pup and thanks for rescuing! From a foster point of view, it allows another one to be saved! 🙂

[mswaynay]

Hey guys, I have been watching/stalking this forum for awhile and it has helped me a lot transitioning my dogs to a full raw diet. One of my dogs completely ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and is in TPLO surgery right now, he should be coming home tomorrow, fingers crossed!

My dogs are fed half commercial raw grinds/nuggets, mainly Northwest Naturals and Columbia River Naturals, switching between meats such as lamb, beef, quail. The other half of their diet RMB that I find good deals on at the grocery store or local farmers (mainly chicken and turkey). We live in a small house so sadly don’t have room for a massive freezer yet! As far as supplements, they are already being given fish oil, green lipped mussel and K9 Level 5000. They also get sardines and local duck eggs several times a week. Thankfully he will not be put on antibiotics so thats one less thing to worry about. I did buy a exercise pen for him to be in for the next several weeks and was thinking for some of his meals I could use a Kong stuffed with grinds, frozen it would provide a pretty stimulating meal.

So any advice on what supplements, types of raw food may help his recovery, tips to keep him entertained, etc would be much appreciated! I’m sitting at home with all my other animals bored our of our minds waiting to hear from the vet!!

[Naturella]

Personally I have only fed Back to Basics Open Range or something like that and Victor that contain some pork meal but not as the main ingredient. Bruno has had a pig ear in 3 sittings and a pork sausage wrapped in some other pork dried puff or something like that in 3+ sittings, and small pig snouts 1/sitting. He doesn’t have it very often, but does ok on it. I have fed him a couple of pork neck pieces (raw) after having kept them frozen up a few weeks like BC nut said. He did fine. So from my experience pork is ok in a cautious manner and I would use it in kibble and raw.

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

[TrevorPup]

I’ve got a 5 month old black lab puppy (Trevor), who we rescued. I started feeding him puppy chow, but he turned his nose up at it, so I finally found DFA, and was like YAY!! for good information!

I know I’m not helping the situation, but he’s tried many, MANY different brands of puppy food, and has been reluctantly eating a few pieces here and there. I’ve tried the set dinner limits, and he’ll still just nibble. About every 2 days, he’ll suddenly wolf down the bowl, and go right back to nibbles. I wanted him on 4Health, because it’s pretty good quality for a good price (I work 1 day a week, bring home $100/week, and am also feeding 9 cats). Mom brought over a bag of Iams ProActive Smart Puppy Large Dog puppy food, and he’ll eat that a little more enthusiastically. It’s rated lower than the 4Health (3 stars instead of 4), so do I keep him on the 4Helath, or give in and go to Iams?

The only one he’s eaten vigorously and did GREAT on was raw, when I did that for about a month. But I couldn’t keep feeding him the meat, so I had to shamefully go back to kibble.

Thoughts and advice? I’ve never known such a picky lab before! D:

[C4D]

It’s funny, but I have several dog friends that are shocked when I’m crockpot cooking a whole pork loin for my dogs. They always think dogs shouldn’t eat pork. I trim any excessive fat and they just LOVE it! I totally agree with BC on the pig ears and small dogs. I have large dogs and they get them in a rotation and haven’t had a problem. I did try pork for my foster that seems to have some allergy issues, but it didn’t seem to work for her. She’s on a limited ingredient Turkey canned/kibble & raw turkey and seems to be doing well.

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

[Karen G]

Has any one heard of SOJOS? Our Goldendoddle is 6 months old. Rough start with severely infested giardiasis and round worm. That is no longer an issue, thankfully.
But puppy’s soupy diarrhea continued. Tried several recommended puppy kibble no no avail.
Then I met a shopper at the pet store and she suggested I try SOJOS or at least go to the pet specialty shop and get the sample they offer. Shopper also commented on how poodles had sensitive digestive system and some people swear by this food. Mentally I wasn’t willing to give up on kibble but did pick up the sample. After another week of distressing diarrhea I was at my wits end. I gave our sweet puppy the sample. By the following day he produced a formed poop. I was estactic. For months our puppy was off and on a kibble thought to be the answer to his problem. Always had to go back to the boiled chicken and long grain rice.
SOJOS is working. However, puppy is now 40 pounds. I’m feeding him four times a day. Starting at 5 am ending at 7 pm. He is very slender and full of happy energy.
This latest dog food success is quite pricy. Raw freeze dried turkey mix. Only a handful of ingredients compared to the kibbles. Have to add water. Puppy is not picky but there is a definite joy when he discovers I’m preparing this food compared to chicken and rice.
I’m hoping to eventually switch to a kibble once I feel confident things are settled.
Our daughter has the brother litter mate and other than the parasite infestation she had no issues with her puppy. The breeder offered to take our puppy back or give us a refund ifhe test positive for a genetic issue. That cost $200. I’m seriously thinking I should do this. Of course we will not give back our boy. I can see how people give up on their animal if they have issues such as ours. Our puppy’s care is 24/7. Only two accidents in our home.
Any suggestions or comments out there?

[Kristin C]

Darwin’s shipping cost is per pound after the free trial. It’s cost prohibitive for me in CT. The trial was great though, on their old formula. Their meat turns brown though which I did not like. I order from Reel Raw and as long as I get 30 lbs the shipping is free plus their meat never turns color it seems.

[Kristin C]

Hi Mark – I make my own raw dog food and the cost depends on the type of meat and if I can get it on sale, plus if I had any supplements. Withought a supplement I will say it can cost from .80-$1 for chicken, up to $1.50 for beef PER SERVING. I have a 25 and 30 lb dog. I use chicken breast, thighs, hearts, liver, gizzards, plus raw egg and fruit, vegs, pumpkin. For beef it’s whatever is on sale plus heart, liver, kidney, lung, thymus, fruit, vegs, pumpkin. I feed a lot of other stuff too but the chicken and beef are the best examples I have. I make it in batches every 7-10 days.

If you are looking for ideas to market your product maybe offering a sample size would help. The cost is a bit prohibitive to feed full time for most but I’m sure as a supplement to what people are currently feeding it might be worth exploring. Good luck!

[Larry T]

Has there been a review on this frozen raw brand?

[jakes mom]

The ABC diet is a good compromise. A quality kibble to be sure he’s getting the nutrients he needs and the “people food” he wants. But these “people foods” are also good for him. I can’t relate to having a picky dog either, my guy (beagle basset mix) is more than happy to eat whatever I put in front of him, he eats kibble, canned, raw, RMBs.

[pugmomsandy]

There is also CarnivoreRaw by Young Again Pet Food. You add meat and oil and it is a ground powder.

[Dori]

The commercial raw foods that I feed are:

Primal Raw Frozen Formulas
Primal Pronto Frozen Formulas
Natural Variety Instinct Frozen Raw Diets
Vital Essentials Frozen Raw Food
OC Raw Frozen Food
Nature’s Logic Frozen Raw Food
Answer’s Detailed Frozen Raw Food

I used to feed Darwin’s but I stopped. They add more fat to the diets now and also lowered the protein level of their diets. And, of course, they raised their prices.

For a dehydrated, once in a while I’ll use The Honest Kitchen Zeal. It’s the only one that I feed.

As treats I only give them small pieces of fruits and veggies. Whatever I happen to have in the refrigerator or counter.

I don’t feed any commercial treats. Too many recalls, too many grains.

Please feel free to ask any other questions.

[Oceans11]

Dori, yes! I would be interested in what brand you are feeding your dogs. I have tried: Raw Instinct-chicken and beef. Primal raw freeze dried chicken, and every natural canned food. Also, Freshpet.

[Dori]

Oceans11. Thanks for the compliment. That’s Hannah my Maltese. She is 15 plus 8 months old.

Your comment about Oliver not liking to get his whiskers wet may be something that, at some point in trying to get him to eat different foods or any food, you may have concluded yourself. Thinking that must be the reason. If a dog is hungry and really likes what he’s being fed, I don’t believe, of course I could be wrong, that getting his whiskers wet are going to stop him from eating.

Just fyi, I have three toy dogs and they are all on commercial raw diets. I rotate with different proteins within the brand and I also rotate brands. If you want any info on the brands I feed please feel free to ask.

[Jane C]

I can only tell you of my experience with The Honest Kitchen food I am presently feeding my 8 year old J.R. She has always had a itch problem. One flea can set her wild with chewing and licking so have to watch this closely. Even then she never seemed as comfortable as our other two dogs. I was feeding all three Nature’s Logic. She is an easy keeper so never could feed even the recommended amount because she would gain weight (don’t want a fat dog). She always seemed hungry and sometimes would eat her poop, which I hated. Several weeks ago she began periodically throwing up what looked like her dinner and breakfast after eating breakfast. Did complete vet check and x-ray showed a possible ulcer. Stopped dry food and bought THK food that I add my own raw meat, rotating lean beef and turkey with a little sardine. Feeding the low end of the recommended amount. She has never thrown up again, satisfied and not hungry, stopped eating her poop and not itchy. I couldn’t be happier with these results so feel confident to recommend this food. Plan on another x-ray soon and hoping she is clear.

[Jane C]

Dog food recommended and sold in vet clinics contains corn and is not a high quality food. If you are wondering why it is sold in most every clinic it is because the clinic is rewarded by the manufacturer (kick backs). I have been dealing with a similar problem with an 8 yr. old J.R. She has a serious flea allergy, so that is the first thing to address. Even one flea sets her scratching and chewing. I will only use a topical flea treatment when absolutely necessary, otherwise flea comb daily. She is a rough coat so about March I clip her down a bit to help the flea problem. We live in the South and fleas can be awful. My best results have been to feed The Honest Kitchen food that I add my own raw meat. This ensures a balanced diet. On your size dog this could be pricy but it will be worth it in the long run. If you are using steroids please stop as they do so much harm. Start on the low end of the recommended amount and adjust. Then if you begin to see the results start adding back some dry food. I recommend Nature’s Logic as no ingredients sourced from China, all NATURAL ingredients and great company. Ck. out their website. I have 2 other dogs that are doing great on it. Hope this helps. soldiermom1

[Akari_32]

My current batch of prey model raw for my cat costed me about 83 cents a day. Pork tender loin, beef shank steak, chicken necks, chicken liver, and beef sweetbreads.

I pack it all up in to one day portions, and freeze it. Then I just remove a new container from the freezer and put it in the fridge every day. No cooking needed :p

[InkedMarie]

I use raw, averages $3.90 a pound including shipping. I go through a pound a day of bone-in and 2-2.5 ounces a day of boneless.

[James B]

Has anyone used and looked into Blue Ridge Beef? I understand it is popular by breeders on the East coast of the US.

Thank you in advance.