[DogFoodie]

Hi Eric,

I personally like Now and have used it myself. One thing in particular that I really like about it is that it doesn’t use meat meals, only fresh meats. It sounds like you’re looking at adult formulas, but if you were to be looking for a LBP, I’d just be sure to check the calcium and the C to P ratio. If memory serves, it might be bordering on high.

[DogFoodie]

And, a large breed puppy is considered to be a puppy until it’s reached about 80% of its adult weight. For most large breed puppies, that’s about one year, but is generally longer for giant breed puppies.

Puppies cannot regulate their calcium uptake like adult dogs do, which is why you need to feed a large / giant breed puppy a controlled level of calcium.

In addition to proper calcium, avoid over-nutrition (keep your pup lean) and over-exercising to prevent stressing growing puppy bodies.

[DogFoodie]

Hi Kevin,

I have a Cavalier that has had vaginitis, the result of a recessed vulva as well. She doesn’t have any allergies or food sensitivities at all. I’m lucky with her – she’s my easy dog. Her infection was treated with antibiotics and Mal-A-Ket wipes.

Did your vet first rule out a bladder infection or urinary crystals?

[DogFoodie]

C4C,

I love those Velcro closures on bags! Wellness TruFood has that as well. They’re so much easier to close.

[DogFoodie]

One that isn’t on the Google doc that I shared is Victor. It’s a great product that might be available at feed-type stores. I consider it budget friendly and high quality at about $1.00 per pound. .60 cents per pound is going to be pretty tricky, though.

[DogFoodie]

Budget friendly is a pretty subjective term. Personally, I would consider $65 for 44 pounds affordable. An expensive food, such as Orijen at $110 for 28 pounds would be a bit of a stretch and require a bit of sacrifice on my part. I don’t know if Dr. Mike had an actual dollar per pound price in mind when he defined budget friendly foods on his site.

I do have this older Google document (you’ll need to verify current prices and availability) that breaks down foods by rating and cost per pound, that might help shed some light on different brands for you.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmNw5KB82-n_dGtyOEpVVXhPQ2tfeU1FUGdEdjVnTkE&hl=en#gid=0

[DogFoodie]

Hi Bev, I let Shawna know that you were hoping she might chime in regarding your pup.

I hope you have many more happy years with your pup!

[DogFoodie]

It’s quite possible that he has an intolerance in an ingredient in the Keen. Keep in mind, it’s not just beef, chicken or grain to which dogs can be sensitive. It could be the chicken, grain, flax, cabbage, the soluble fiber, and so on. One of the things that my dog with food sensitivities cannot have at all is flax – it causes loose stool just like your dog has now. Just because your dog reacts to it, doesn’t mean it’s not a good product. Has there been a recent reformulation of the product? Figuring out food sensitivities takes a lot of trial and error. Strict elimination is the only way to do it. One ingredient at a time.

[DogFoodie]

Which NVI LID are you using? Last I knew, only the rabbit had appropriate calcium for a LBP.

[DogFoodie]

I agree with Catherine. If a food uses a co-packer, and refuses to disclose the name of that manufacturer (or is obviously reluctant or misleading; ie: Canidae trying to make you think all kibbled Pure diets are manufactured by them at their Ethos facility, rather than at Diamond), then I’d move on.

Last I knew, some of the Weruva Kobe canned products were manufactured by Evangers.

[DogFoodie]

Champion Foods, manufacturer of both Acana and Orijen, is already on the Editor’s Choice list.

[DogFoodie]

OK, could you look on your bag and see if it says how many kcals per 8 ounce cup the food he’s.

Here’s a chart that’ll help you determine your dog’s body condition score. If he’s been to the vet recently, your vet likely noted it on his paperwork. Has he been very checked and cleared in good health?

What’s his age and his activity level also?

[DogFoodie]

How much are you feeling him, Liya?

How is his body condition?

[DogFoodie]

Hi Scott,

I just wanted to add my thoughts in addition to Dr. Mike’s response.

I pulled up a conversation I had with a friend about this very topic and this is one of her comments regarding FPR that stuck with me most.

“Basically, if the calories from fat are too high then the pup gets full before meeting his protein and nutrient needs. Fed this way long term and he will develop symptoms due to those missing nutrients. Because fat has double the calories of protein (and carbs) Steve Brown and Dr. Becker recommend diets should be about 50% more meat than fat on a dry matter basis – so if the kibble is 40% protein it should be around 20% fat.”

[DogFoodie]

Boreal has been reviewed here, Jane D.: /dog-food-reviews/boreal-grain-free-dog-food/

[DogFoodie]

Good luck, Roger!

I can tell you this, my dog would definitely react to the RC Hydrolyzed Protein Food starting with the very first ingredient, brewer’s rice. My dog reacts to lots of different things, the least of which are animal proteins.

[DogFoodie]

Just saw this… Dr. Tim’s has a new canned cat food available at Chewy.com!

http://www.chewy.com/s?dept=all&query=nimble&nav-submit-button=Submit

Here’s a link to the item on Dr. Tim’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DrTimsPetFood/photos/a.198458483505265.48534.120163871334727/1098217310196040/?type=3&theater

[DogFoodie]

An excerpt from “Fats Chance,” written by Steve Brown in the December of 2012 issue of Whole Dog Journal; and what I think is one of the best articles that discusses fats, rancidity, and supplementing with Omegas:

“I think the best choice is to feed naturally preserved foods that meet freshness guidelines (described in detail below) and that do not contain fish, fish oil, or DHA; then add fresh, high-quality fish or krill oils or sardines yourself.”

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_12/features/Fats-Chance_20658-1.html

Coconut oil is neither an Omega 3 nor an Omega 6 fat, it’s a medium chain trigylceride.

[DogFoodie]

Dang it! Right? Shoot, BD, there are lots of hypotheticals, but I’m just thinking he’s gone. :'(

[DogFoodie]

Hi Roger,

I was in the middle of a response last night when I got totally derailed by The Walking Dead.

Have you seen this list (which appears on page 36 of this thread): https://docs.google.com/a/dogfoodadvisor.com/file/d/0BwApI_dhlbnFTXhUdi1KazFzSUk/edit?pli=1

This list has aged a bit since Hound Dog Mom first created it, but at the time she put it together, all of the foods on the list were four and five stars and have appropriate Calcium for large and giant breed puppies. Double check anything you might choose off of this list in the event the formula has changed.

You should feed your pup a controlled level of Calicum until they reach at least 80% of their full adult size, which is about a year (give or take) depending on the breed. It’s longer for giant breed pups. Obviously, also, avoid over-nutrition and over-exercising.

[DogFoodie]

Hi Bobby Dog,

The one big thing I think Nutrisca has going for it is that it’s made by Tuffy’s / KLN, manufacturer of NutriSource.

[DogFoodie]

Most vets don’t have much training in nutrition. Unless yours is a veterinary nutritionist, I would take their food recommendations with a grain of salt. My vet typically only recommends raw diets.

My recommendation is that you find a food that you like and is high quality and to which your dog doesn’t react. You also need to look at the fiber content and is if the anal glad issue is fiber responsive.

[DogFoodie]

I’ve never had to express my dogs’ anal glands. Neither my vet nor my groomer has ever recommended it either.

One of my dogs has multiple food intolerance issues. It is frequently the case that when he begins reacting to something that he’s eating, his anal glands begin smelling strongly. A change to one of his “safe foods,” typically resolves the problem.

Regardless of the brand, although I’m not a fan of any of those your vet mentioned, if you don’t identify the trigger, the problem will continue.

It could be a food intolerance and it could also be a fiber issue. Have you tried adding additional fiber to see if that helps? Some easy choices for fiber are ground chia seed, plain canned pumpkin, ground psyllium, and even Metamucil.

Interestingly, I find that my Golden does better with a more moderate level of protein (right around 30%) and a bit less fiber (around 4.5%). You might also find that your pup is getting too much fiber and its what’s causing the most stool.

What is the fiber in the food you’re currently feeding?

[DogFoodie]

Take a look for Answer’s goat milk and fish stock. Both are fermented and full of amazing, healthy stuff!

[DogFoodie]

Meant to make this suggestion earlier, but got busy at work during lunch. Have you ever tried raw, green tripe to entice your pup to eat as well? They love it! It smells awful and is full of wonderful, healthy stuff like enzymes.

[DogFoodie]

I would definitely second Bobby Dog’s suggestions for bone broth and Steve Brown’s ABC download. That’s the best few bucks you can spend on your dog!

Here’s a link to the download: https://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DN330EBK

[DogFoodie]

Hi Jack,

This was quite a while ago (July of 2013) and the email that I received from Hi-Tek said that, at that time, they were one of the manufacturers of Shep dry dog food. The email that I forwarded to Dr. Mike was simply a pdf of the bag label as he didn’t readily have access to the ingredients. I don’t have any information at all about their canned foods.

Sorry I don’t have more information about this for you.

[DogFoodie]

Unbelievable, Red. *smh*

Awesome post, Shawna!! 🙂

[DogFoodie]

Hi Mia’s d,

I’m a little confused.

Are you saying you looked at limited ingredient diets that were fish, chicken or lamb based and none worked – or that those are the only ingredients that she can have?

Do you know exactly what she can and cannot have?

[DogFoodie]

David, if we have this many questions, it’s because this information isn’t readily available or isn’t clear on your website. Any potential customer will feel there’s something shady going on and steer clear on your site in what would be an abundance of caution. Are you telling me it’s $39 for me to order as much food as I want, up to one bag of kibble for week for a dog?

[DogFoodie]

David,

Petflow doesn’t require a subscription. You order. You pay for the order. If you order enough, shipping is free; if not, you pay for shipping. Your site requires a membership of $39 per month whether you order anything or not, right?

[DogFoodie]

Darek,

Are you in the U.S.? I realize “affordable” is a pretty subjective term, but have you ever priced Fromm on chewy.com? They also offer additional discounts on some brands when you enroll in auto-delivery.

[DogFoodie]

Lyme is transmitted by ticks, not fleas.

“There is no credible evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted through air, food, water, or from the bites of mosquitoes, flies, fleas, or lice.”

http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/transmission/

[DogFoodie]

To issue a blanket statement saying that “the natural stuff doesn’t work,” is not at all accurate or fair. There are plenty of natural products that are proven effective.

David, are you currently having a problem with your dog’s having fleas?

[DogFoodie]

Hi Erika,

Did you happen to take a look at the links I provided to you yesterday over on the review side?

Here’s the link to the forum thread I suggested you start with: /forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/ This thread has gotten very long, but there are lots of very helpful posts and links within the first few pages. This will answer the reason why you need to feed a controlled level of calcium to avoid skeletal disorders including hip and elbow dysplasia. You should also avoid over-nutrition (over feeding) which causes undue stress to growing joints and over-exercising for the same reason. You can use the calculator on the review side that you originally posted on to plug in your numbers to make certain that the food you’re looking at is appropriate for your giant breed pup. Your giant breed pup should be fed controlled calcium until he reaches at least 80% of his adult size, which is longer for giant than large breed puppies.

I know I already shared this too, but to keep everything in one spot, here’s the Google doc with the list of foods with appropriate calcium levels. But, remember I also mentioned that this list is aging and to double check calcium levels before you decide on foods that you like. https://docs.google.com/a/dogfoodadvisor.com/file/d/0BwApI_dhlbnFTXhUdi1KazFzSUk/edit?pli=1

I just wanted to post this real quick, but have to run again!

[DogFoodie]

I should also add to my previous post that my dog also has known food sensitivities, in addition to his seasonal allergies, just not as many as I previously thought. 🙂

[DogFoodie]

It was funny, I have always thought my Golden was intolerant of fish. To make a long story short, it turns out that it was more a matter of timing. Each time he reacted, he was eating something that includes fish. I had been avoiding fish of any kind for him. I decided to do the Glacier Peaks Holistic alternative sensitivity assessment test and it said most fishes were OK. After a few weeks, I got brave, feed him a fish based food and he was fine. I couldn’t believe it. What I’ve determined is that he has environmental allergies (seasonal) and the supplements I mention have helped. His symptoms typically would present as an ear infection and itchiness. My Sam is young, he just turned three, so it took a couple of seasons for me to put together the timing of the onset of his “allergies.”

[DogFoodie]

I’ve had great success this year treating my dog’s seasonal allergies with Quercetin with Bromelain, Papain, and an Omega 3 supplement.

Dr. Becker discusses those products here: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/07/05/valuable-nutrients-for-pets-who-suffer-from-seasonal-allergies.aspx

[DogFoodie]

Something else to consider talking with your vet about would be the possibility of adding Standard Process Canine Cardiac Support.

https://www.standardprocess.com/Products/Veterinary-Formulas/Canine-Cardiac-Support#.VgDJ0V8o7MI

[DogFoodie]

Great information, Losul!!

Heart is not an organ meat, it’s a muscle meat, so you can confidently offer it to your pup.

[DogFoodie]

I second Jo’s recommendation! Raw heart would be wonderful for your dog. Heart is a muscle meat, so it can be given liberally.

[DogFoodie]

Hi Blaire,

Here’s something to try: http://www.dogfoodwizard.com

It’s not fool proof, but it’s a start. A poster here created the widget and its still fairly new. You select the things you need to avoid and get a list of products. Do double check your results though.

Personally, my dog with food intolerance issues has had better luck with the grain free Canine Caviar formulas than California Naturals.

[DogFoodie]

Allison,

Have you attempted to figure out to what your dog is reacting?

It’s likely either a food or environmental sensitivity. Your dog won’t improve until the stimulus is eliminated.

My dog gets yeasty ears when he reacts to any of his food or environmental sensitivities. I have a good handle on his diet, but environmental sensitivities present a unique challenge. I managed them very well using Quercetin with Bromelain and Papain, plus an Omega 3 supplement.

[DogFoodie]

It’s so frustrating!

Yes, I do like Answers. Sam isn’t a big fan of raw, but he actually seems to like this. It’s also actually more affordable than other raws I’ve used as well. I’m feeding less of it then other raws. I’ve got some fermented fish stock thawing right now. I haven’t used that yet, but have used the goat milk and they both love that. Answers is coming out with fermented raw cow’s milk kefir this month!

[DogFoodie]

Ugh! I just typed a long response that disappeared. Let’s try it again.

I’ll second Aquariangt’s recommendation for The Honest Kitchen.

I’ll also make a suggestion for raw. Answers. Answers is a fermented raw product. Straight Answers is meat, organ, and bone only. It’s made complete and balanced by adding Answers goat milk. Detailed Answers is complete and balanced. In addition to meat, organ, and bone, it includes veggies, eggs, Montmorillonite, decaffeinated green tea, and anchovy, and sardine oils. I estimate your 55 pound adult dog would eat about 10 ounces per day of Detailed Answers. A two pound carton sells for about $14 where I live. You’d need about 9.5 cartons per month for a total of 300 ounces monthly, which would cost you about $135 per month. My dogs eat less Answers than they do other raw foods, although both have around 60 kcals per ounce. Fermented foods are more nourishing.

For the record, my dogs are currently eating Answers, but they eat a wide variety of foods including, kibble, can, fresh whole foods and raw.

Also, I believe allergy tests are fairly unreliable and the gold standard for determining food intolerances is a well constructed elimination diet. That said, I was shocked at my saliva and hair test results from Glacier Peaks. The test was only $85, which for me was affordable. I had always thought my dog was fish intolerant, but the GP test results said otherwise. I’m happy to report that my dog just polished of a bag of Acana Pacifica, a fish based food, with zero issues whatsoever.

[DogFoodie]

Hi Chris,

If you’re just using it as a topper, as opposed to using it as his total diet, I wouldn’t worry about adding supplements. Just keep the toppers to no more than 20% of his daily caloric intake to avoid throwing off the nutritional balance of the kibble.

I would consider some other veggies. Instead of potatoes, I might use spinach, broccoli or kale. Look for other dark green and orange veggies. It might not sound as tasty to us, but I’m sure your dog will still love it.

[DogFoodie]

I totally second C4D’s thoughts.

[DogFoodie]

I would be curious as to what you were feeding also, Jodie. If you’re feeding foods that are complete and balanced, which include added vitamins and minerals, an additional multivitamin might be too much of a good thing.

Does your dog have any particular health concerns?

[DogFoodie]

I’m not feeling too optimistic about the Rural King food, Joe. I see what’s probably their top of the link kibble sells for $15.99 for a 40 pound bag. Anything that cheap is suspect to me. Rural King doesn’t list the ingredients of their website.

[DogFoodie]

Here’s my favorite dry matter converter: http://fnae.org/dmb.html

[Author]

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