[Susan W]

Excellent! Beverly, please let me know how you (and your dogs) like it!

[Susan W]

Oh! One more thing… Bob, as wonderfully convenient as Milk Bones are, don’t feed them. They’re basically junk food for dogs, consisting of mostly refined wheat. There is no nutritional value whatsoever.

[Susan W]

Hi,
My dogs do really well on VeRUS. You may have to order it, but PetFlow (cheapest) has an autoship function so you don’t have to worry about re-orders. As for which of the VeRUS foods is best & which your dogs will like, contact VeRUS on their website (VeRUS Pet Foods) and they’ll send you free samples. Great way to try it out w/o having to buy a bag & not be able to feed it. Also, VeRUS has never had a recall – it is real QUALITY food & is well worth the competitive price.

• This reply was modified 7 years ago by Susan W.

[Susan W]

Hi!
I have a Golden who has had on-going issues with yeast. 1) Feed a good quality food and ONLY that food. My girl eats VeRUS’ Advanced Opticoat, which is a cold-water fish based food. (VeRUS will send you samples if you contact them!); 2) Do a search for Nzymes – on the surface, it looks like expesive stuff, but it’s working so it’s worth it; 3) Mix water & vinegar & treat the paws, ‘armpits,’ and genitals frequently with the mixture. I just use a washcloth and rub it in a little; 4) The DerMagic website has a LOT of great information and remedies; 5) I have a dog blog called DogsBeCause – you’ll find some help and some links there.

[Susan W]

Oh, absolutely. On PetFlow (which is where I order mine) the price ranges for a 15 lb bag is from 30 – 43 dollars, depending on the formula. I feed my little mutt – 17 lb dog – a little more than a cup per day & my big dog a little more than 4 cups per day & a 15 lb bag held us for about 3 – 4 weeks.

• This reply was modified 7 years ago by Susan W.

[Susan W]

Acroyali – no problem on the sharing! My dogs have done so well on this food, it’s unbelievable. I have emailed them back with other questions, too, that “related” to my dogs’ eating habits but weren’t specifically food-related. They’ve always been helpful & answered question.
And apart from loving free samples – who doesn’t! – it’s really nice to not have to buy a whole bag of food just to try it out. Even if you get a small bag – 8 lb, etc – if it doesn’t work, or the dog doesn’t like it, then you’ve wasted that money.
Here’s an interesting footnote: Last Fall/Winter I was taking care of my mom’s dog while Mom recuperated from an injury. Her dog was eating something not VeRUS. I had to walk the dog (i.e. I couldn’t just let her out like I do with my dogs) and for SIX STRAIGHT MONTHS I promise you could not walk in my backyard without stepping in poop. We’re talking 1/2 an acre! Mom’s dog went home in Feb. Last night I was in my backyard LOOKING for poop to use as fertilizer in prepping some soil to grow ornamental cotton. I couldn’t find any! I went from not being able to take a step to searching & searching & only coming up with a little! What does that tell you? (Aside from the pooping machine went home – LOL)

[Susan W]

VeRUS has never had a recall & I think they have a new grain-free recipe. They’ll send you free samples, too, so you can try it first. You may have to order it & have it auto-shipped, but PetFlow.com is awesome & makes it easy.
Also, tho, have you considered your dog’s issues might not be allergies? Maybe yeast overgrowth? Lots of itchiness, rust-colored areas around the paw pads & genitals? Funky smell in the heat of the summer? If you answered yes, you’ll probably want to do some research on yeast overgrowth in dogs. Otherwise, give VeRUS a gander.

[Susan W]

Have you considered that your dog may have yeast overgrowth? One of my dogs was so itchy and stinky & after doing some reading, I discovered that she has a yeast overgrowth. The DERMagic website has a LOT of great information on the symptoms of yeast overgrowth.
My recommendation for food is VeRUS. Do a google search for VeRUS Pet Foods. If you fill out the contact form, they’ll email you back, ask some q’s, and send you free samples. I LOVE this because coupons for a few dollars off are useless if your dog doesn’t like the food. My yeasty girl is doing really well on this food (better now that I’ve stopped feeding her MilkBones – duh!).
Finally, if you’re worried about fleas, FOOD GRADE DE powder will help with them. Just dust your dog with the powder occasionally & you won’t have problems with fleas. Might work on the horses, too, if they suffer from small biting insects.

[Susan W]

P.S. I don’t know why this food is just a 4 star. Seems like with all the great nutrition and the no recalls, they’d get a new review & up the rating.
Also, in case you’re wondering, NO, I don’t work for or have any investment in VeRUS. I just LOVE that they send free samples instead of coupons.

[Susan W]

Richard, I have a suggestion you can try before you buy. They’re a 4 star food, but don’t let that stop you. They’ve been in the dog food business for almost 30 years and they’ve NEVER had a recall. They stay on top of nutritional needs AND consumer demands and still deliver a really fantastic product. Do a google search for VeRUS Pet Foods. Fill out the contact form then monitor your email for a response from an ACTUAL person – who will likely be the company’s VP. They will ask you a few questions about your dogs then send you FREE SAMPLES. The beauty of this is that you get to try it out at no cost to you. Then when your dogs love it, you can go to Pet Flow.com, order it, and have it autoshipped. It runs about $35 per 15 lb bag on average, however, the bag always seems like it holds a lot more than 15 lbs. The food isn’t stinky and your dogs will have good poops on it, too – not too frequent, not runny or too hard.

[Susan W]

Hi Linda,
I have a suggestion… do a google search for VeRUS Pet Foods, and fill out the contact form. They’ll email you back & you can e-discuss your concerns about your dog, any issues you’re facing with food & health, and they’ll email you back with good info & a suggestion for which of their food is best for your dog and why. These people are really smart/knowledgeable and love dogs, so you can count on what they say. They’ll send you free samples to try, too, so you don’t have to waste money to find out if your dog will even eat it.
You’ll also be able to find their nutritional breakdown for each formula on their website.
My dogs have been eating VeRUS for over 2 years. My Golden just turned 12 and acts like she did when she was 6. Her weight is great, her activity is great, and the vet has complimented me on how healthy my dogs are after eating this food.

[Susan W]

I understand on the Verus availability. I use auto-ship from PetFlow.

[Susan W]

PS – we just stopped Milk-Bones ‘cold-turkey’. They’re easy but they’re really not worth the heartache caused by the low-quality ingredients. You can also do a google search for homemade dog treats if your dog needs variety.

[Susan W]

For treats, try raw carrots. Dogs seem to really like them & they’re really good for them. Green beans (even the frozen kind) are great, too. If you want to try a food that ISN’T from a vet – REALLY try it – do a google search for Verus pet food. They’ll send you free samples. They have a couple of flavors/formulas & they stay on top of doggy nutritional needs.

[Susan W]

Check out the Dermagic website. they have a lot of great info & their products work really well. I have a Golden who has had the itchy/stinkies every summer FOREVER. I learned a lot from the Dermagic website & my girl isn’t gross anymore.

[Susan W]

May I suggest Verus? They have never had a recall (in almost 30 years), and they have a variety of formulas, including a grain-free. I’ve tried Victor with my dogs and wasn’t at all impressed. With Verus, you can try it before you buy it because they send you free samples. One thing I really like about this food is that it doesn’t smell like dog food – i.e. it doesn’t smell like burned feathers or dried out yucky stuff. It either doesn’t have a discernible scent or, with the fish-based formulas, it smells like fresh fish. I was really disappointed to find that Victor smells just like Pedigree or Purina or any of the other regular dog foods.

[Susan W]

Goldens live to please. They are also really smart & get bored easily. Simple daily training will help both issues.

[Susan W]

Hi Dolores,
I’ve had REALLY good luck with VeRUS dog foods. And they’ll send you free samples so you can try it before you buy it. Verus is a 4-star food here (not sure why it is’t a 5) but they’ve never had a recall & their food always smells fresh all the way to the bottom of the bag. It never smells like dog food (i.e. dead/burned/dried out dead things).

[Susan W]

P.S. When Emma (my Golden) was a puppy, the vet said she had the biggest paws he’d ever seen on a Golden AND that she grew faster than any he’d ever seen. She’s about an 80 lb girl – definitely NOT abnormally large for a Golden. Congratulations on your new rescue baby! Let us know how it all goes!

[Susan W]

Hi Mommyof3pigs – Love the name! Technically there are 6 pigs at my house: 2 that walk upright, 2 with 4 lets & fur, and 2 that fly & look like cockatiels!
I STRONGLY recommend a gulper bowl and recently found a cool one on the Animal Rescue Site that has little rubbery things that stick out & help clean your dog’s teeth while it eats. It looks seriously cool & was only like $10. If I hadn’t just invested in other gobbler/gulper bowls, I’d have ordered a couple!
I catch a lot of goop on here because I’m always crowing about VeRUS dog food. I do this because I did a lot of research, had a lot of tries with other foods that didn’t work out at all, and because this is the food I feed my furry pigs. They have a large breed puppy food, and they have adult formulas that will be an easy transition for your dog as he hits adulthood. They are only a 4-star food here, but I have yet to figure out why. They’ve NEVER had a recall, they use EU certified facilities, they use American-sourced ingredients (except for a few that they identify up-front), and they stay current on doggy nutritional requirements. If you contact them, they’ll send you free samples. If you ask questions, they’ll give answers in a timely manner. They are an American small business company who even has a non-profit to help fund the training of rescue dogs as service dogs for veterans. They’re a really nice company with really nice people. If you like the food, their website has a way to find it in your local pet stores – but even better than that, you can order it from PetFlow and have it auto-shipped. This is what I do and it’s THE BOMB! And the food isn’t greasy or stinky. It won’t cost you anything to ask for a free sample & it’ll be worth it to check them out. The health of my dogs has VASTLY improved while on this food.

[Susan W]

Hi!
A couple of things here:
1) Carbs are okay for your dog if they are complex carbs. Lots of dog foods use simple carbs and these feed issues like Candida. It’s possible that your dog actually has Candida, as opposed to a food allergy (my guess, based on the paw licking & ear issue). To check symptoms, go to Nzymes.com or DERMagic.com
2) If you feed your dogs at regular times each day – as opposed to letting them eat at their leisure, it’ll be easier to control their weight.
3) I fed Victor for a short time & it smells like dog food – i.e. it smells like processed & burned hair, feathers, and beaks. I tried Victor because they hadn’t had a recall & they’re kind of a local company. I MUCH prefer VeRUS. I currently feed their Advanced Opticoat formula because my golden has Candida (she did the paw licking, ear rubbing thing) & I’m trying to finally give Candida the boot. Opticoat is made with a wild-caught, cold-water fish called menhaden which is high the right kinds of Omegas. The added benefit of this food is that IT DOESN’T STINK! It smells like fresh fish – even at the bottom of the bag. I’ve fed other VeRUS formulas and none of them smell like dog food. There is either no discernible scent OR it smells like fresh ingredients. If you are still looking to switch foods or even just to try one out, contact VeRUs & they’ll send you free samples. It’s worth contacting them just to get an idea of what dog food really SHOULD smell like!
4) Kibble size – victor IS small – about the size of a pea. My golden had trouble picking it up. VeRUS is a little less than the diameter of a dime & about 2x as thick. She has no trouble with this kibble.
BTW VeRUS also has a weight management formula. It is Lamb-based.

[Susan W]

Hi – here’s an addendum to my post. I stand corrected!
From my more knowledgeable friend:
What does she clean her food bowl with?

If it was a food allergy- the whole body would be having issues. And its not. Something is getting on the mouth itself.

I wouldn’t focus on ingredients with her, in terms of what is normally allergens. Brown rice definitely doesn’t contribute to candida, or yeast. It’s a complex carb with very low sugars. White rice does. So your statement wasn’t fully accurate.
Focus on a higher quality food. Get her off taste of the wild to start. They’re made by Diamond, known for countless recalls. Evangers- and anything made from the evangers plant should also be avoided right now.

Then focus on omega 3s… higher omega 3s are flaxseed and menhaden

[Susan W]

A lot of times dogs are diagnosed with allergies when really what they have is Candida. Does your dog have rust-colored spots on the feet, under arms, and around the genitals? Does he/she have bad breath? If so, you likely have Candida (yeast) as AT LEAST a contributing factor.
Stay away from chicken & rice. Rice will just feed the yeast & chicken often has enough antibiotics in the meat to kill off good bacteria. A lot of dogs have trouble eating chicken.
Feed complex carbs, raw veggies like carrots, broccoli, and green beans. Stay away from potatoes, sweet potatoes (more starch = more sugar = more yeast).
Pork is a good alternative to chicken. If you’re going to feed a commercial dog food, find one that is fish-based and has fewer fillers (like corn & other starchy things). Try to find a dog food that does NOT use salmon as it is usually farm-raised & not as healthy as wild-caught fish. Foods using menhaden fish is good because it is always wild-caught & it’s a renewable resource.
If you suspect your dog has Candida – or the vet agrees that he/she does – shout back at me here. I can give you some pointers from my own yeast battle experience. And try to discourage antibiotics or long-term allergy shot regimens.

[Susan W]

Also! Try adding a little baby food to his dog food (not to his raw elk).

[Susan W]

If you need a good quality lower protein food, try Verus Opticoat or Adult maintenance. You can contact them for free samples so you can try before you buy.

[Susan W]

This is usually due to a weight issue. Try withholding food for one to two days, and thereafter following a dietary regimen of low-fat, low-protein meals given in small, frequent feedings. Dietary fat and protein should be limited, as fat decreases the strength of the muscle between the stomach and esophagus, while protein stimulates the secretion of gastric acid. Recommended food choices would be VeRUS Opticoat or Adult maintenance.

[Susan W]

I’m not sure if this is appropriate or not, but I have some other ideas for you. I tried to find a way to PM you here, but didn’t see it. If you could email me at dbccopywriting@gmail, I might have a few more thoughts/suggestions for you.

[Susan W]

Sounds like a good plan. You might want to make sure the moist & frozen don’t come too soon after launch – you might be getting in a little over your head. I.e. perfect the first 2 before branching out. As a consumer, I really like samples as opposed to coupons. Also, FYI – I’ve been told by a couple of different food manufacturers that sending free food to shelters, and disaster crises is a waste as they get SO MUCH. Benebone does a thing where they send a free bone (or bones) from those who sign up from a drawing. He’s a nice man who will likely give you some times if you call him.

[Susan W]

PetFlow.com + autoship!!!

[Susan W]

S/R Aussies – no, I’m not a VeRUS rep. I have just been so impressed with their customer service (sending samples instead of coupons), their company (gathered from the info on their website), the way my dogs have blossomed on their food, and the fact that they have a non-profit that helps both Veterans and rescue dogs.
Yes, I promote VeRUS a LOT because I like to share my positive experiences. EVERY time I’ve had a question about my dogs’ (or my mom’s dog, or my friends’ dogs’) diet, I have gotten a response from VeRUS. A HUMAN response. And I have a lot of questions. If I sent Christmas cards, I’d send one to the VeRUS people – LOL.
I started out feeding my dogs the Opticoat formula – which is fish-based. I’m now feeding their Life Advantage.
What can I say? I gush. I get excited.
Just for kicks, if you’ve never asked VeRUS for a sample, ask for one, open it, and take a big whiff. Then do the same with you dog’s food. I would never, ever recommend anyone taking a big whiff of commercial dog food. NASTY! But VeRUS doesn’t stink.
I could go on & on & on, but I won’t.
I will say, I know what VeRUS food has done for my dogs, and I have experience with holistic bug remedies, PAWZ dog booties, Benebones, and DERMAgic dog skin/coat remedies. I’m not in the employ of any of these companies but I have found their products to be so great that I tend to gush about them, too, when the opportunity presents itself.

[Susan W]

Hi Meghan –
Try to keep in mind that foods that have salmon are usually using farm-raised fish, which don’t have the same nutritional value as wild-caught fish. If you contact Verus pet foods – a company that’s never had a recall! – they’ll send you free samples!
I tried Victor last summer in hopes of supporting a semi-local business. Their food smelled like all the other commercial dog foods I’d tried. To put it simply, Verus has spoiled me. their food smells fresh – not like ground up, burned hair & bones or not like old tuna. They have 2 formulas that utilize fish as the #1 ingredient. The fish is something called menhaden. I did research and found that menhaden is a small fish that breeds like fleas (so they’ll never be over-fished). They are a cold-water, wild-caught fish that is high in Omega-3. If you do a google search for verus pet foods, you’ll find a lot more info on their food on their website. Contact them & they’ll contact you back – by a human! – and send you samples! It’s definitely worth a try since it won’t cost you anything but a few minutes of your time.

[Susan W]

I had a seriously bad experience with 4Health – a BIG bad that was completely moldy. It was so disgusting that it stunk up my car for a week when I took it back to the store.
I went from feeding 4Health (couldn’t trust them anymore) to making my own food to feeding VeRUS. I found VeRUS on a BarkPost list of companies who’ve never had a recall. I contacted 6 companies on the list, 4 sent me coupons, 1 didn’t respond, 1 wrote back and asked if my dogs had any health issues that concerned me. THAT one was VeRUS. They answered questions for me and sent some really nice samples. I’ve been feeding VeRUs for more than 2 years now. No more homemade food. My dogs are healthy & energetic. My little picky eater doesn’t give me pained looks (Do I have to eat this?) and doesn’t eat grass after eating her VeRUS dinner.
They make puppy food. Do a search for them, and make contact. Free samples – no cost to you!

[Susan W]

I tried their food because it’s manufactured reasonably close to me. I also called and spoke to them one day to ask questions. When I called back about something, they ducked my calls. I didn’t think I was THAT bad!
Anyway, I wasn’t terribly impressed with their food. It didn’t smell fresh and my little mutt wouldn’t eat it.
If you’re ever interested in trying something else, check out Verus. Their food smells fresh all the way to the bottom of the bag. Even the formulas that are made with fish! VeRus will send you free samples if you contact them. They prefer email correspondence but are very efficient & knowledgeable with replies. They’ve never had a recall, either. My dogs have done really well eating this food.

[Susan W]

Good to know!
I’ve had my mom’s dog here for several months while my mom recuperates from an injury. I discovered that her dog (a schnauzer mix rescue female) was leaking urine. My WHOLE HOUSE smelled like urine. It was horrible! I did some looking & found some pills from VetriScience that help with bladder muscles. Problem cleared up within a week. Urine leakage is common in older, spayed females.

[Susan W]

Hi LJ – I am so sorry for your loss. What a fantastic dog! You were obviously a great doggy parent to have a dog that sensitive.
Melanie, I am sorry for your dog’s diagnosis, as well. To be honest, the only thing I know about Hemangiosarcoma is that it is a cancer. I will look it up here shortly. As for a food to recommend, I suggest you contact the people at VeRUS Pet Foods. I used to make my dogs’ food, too, because I had a problem with a commercial 4-star dog food & felt I couldn’t trust anyone else to make a good food. When feeding 85 lb Golden & 15 lb mutt became too much w/work, I started looking for a commercial food I could trust. VeRUS was on a list from BarkPost of companies who had never had a recall. I contact them – and several companies from that list – and only VeRUS was caring enough to contact me, ask questions, and send free samples. I’ve been feeding VeRUS for over 2 years now & my dogs are doing great. The food – I only feed dry – always smells fresh, even at the bottom of the bag. The cost is reasonable when compared to other holistic dog foods and they have several canned and dry food formulas. They have a contact form so you really don’t do anything but invest a few minutes of time to get to try out a good food.
Good luck with your doggy-baby.

[Susan W]

Hi!
I have a 12 y-o Golden w/no issues, and an 8 y-o mutt who has a very sensitive tummy. I have also been caring for my mom’s 11 y-o schnauzer mix who doesn’t seem to have digestive issues but she does have allergies. About 2 years ago I got a bag of 4Health that was moldy. The vendor exchanged the bag but I didn’t trust the food anymore and started making my own. THEN I got to where I didn’t have time to make my own anymore so I started doing research. I found a list of 15 companies who had never had a recall on BarkPost. It’s a list from 2014 (I think) but by the time I read it, 2 of those on the list had recalls. I contacted 7 of the companies from the list, never heard from one, got email coupons for up to $2 off from 5 companies, and got a nice email from VeRUS Pet Foods asking if I had any concerns about my dogs’ health, etc. so they could send me samples of their recommended dog food. They sent me free samples, they answered questions for me, and they won my undying devotion. My dogs are HEALTHY and they love this food.
I can be more specific about my mom’s dog because it has been more recent. She’s a little old lady dog for a little old lady. When she came to me, Greta pooped 4 to 6 times a day and they were occasionally just little pellet poops. After switching her to VeRUS, she poops twice a day, and they are good, solid, productive poops that have good color & aren’t soft or runny. Watching Greta’s poops for evidence of improvement on her new food has kind of turned me into a poop aficionado – gross, but… She has also become more energetic and bouncy.
I started feeding VeRUS about 2 years ago and they STILL haven’t had a recall. They’re an American company, kind of small, but they’re smart and they care. They even have a non-profit that benefits veterans & rescue dogs.

[Susan W]

Don’t forget that farm-raised salmon/fish doesn’t have the nutritional benefits of wild-caught fish – and most dog foods that use salmon, use farm-raised salmon. VeRUS dog food uses menhaden fish that are a wild-caught, renewable resource. If you contact VeRUS (via their website) you can ask questions and try out the food (they send samples) before buying it. They’ll ask you questions and make recommendations so it’s kind of like custom ordering w/o the expense. They have helped me with my dogs’ nutrition. Juse google Verus pet foods.

[Susan W]

Don’t forget – farm raised salmon does NOT have the same beneficial nutritional values as wild-caught fish.

[Susan W]

My Golden had yeasty issues FOREVER and I have a little mutt who has the most sensitive stomach I’ve ever seen. I had trouble finding a dry food that both could eat, then I tried making their food – which helped some, but I just couldn’t keep doing it, so I had to look for a reasonably priced food. I settled on VeRUS dog food for several reasons: 1) they’d never had a recall; 2) when I sent an inquiry to them, a person emailed me back and asked questions before sending me samples (instead of coupons); 3) They have a very informative website; 4) both my dogs like the food and have improved tremendously while eating this food.
However, food is only half the battle. We still had some yeasty issues, especially bad during the summer. If you go to the blog done by DERMagic, you’ll find some fantastic information on causes and remedies for skin problems.
BTW – The people at VeRUS have been nice enough to continue answering questions for me about diet and nutrition for my dogs – and more recently, my mom’s aging dog. They are super people.

[Susan W]

Hi David!
I have two suggestions for you. First, contact Krystle at VeRUS Pet Foods (there’s a contact form), tell her what’s going on. She will help you out. She has a wealth of knowledge and she’ll send you free samples. I have a 12 year old Golden who has been eating VeRUS for well over a year. She has energy and enthusiasm, so I know she’s getting great nutrition.
Second, if Dewey is trying to get up & around on hardwood, tile, linoleum – anything but carpet, try putting PAWZ on his feet. You can get them at Petco. My mom’s dog groomer used these with her aging dog and it helped with stability.

[Susan W]

I know zippo about Giardia but I’m happy to point you in a good direction. The VP at VeRUS has been great about answering my questions about food and how it relates to my dogs. I first contacted them about their food after seeing an article where they were one of 15 pet foods that had never had a recall. I used their contact form and received free samples. I’ve been feeding VeRUS to my dogs for well over a year and have had no trouble whatsoever. go to veruspetfoods.com, scroll to the bottom, click on contact & fill out the form. They are super helpful, they’ll send you free samples, their food is not junky (it even smells like actual food – not processed animal parts), and they make their food in EU certified kitchens.

[Susan W]

I’ve had great luck with VeRUS Advanced Opticoat. My little rescue mutt is allergic to chicken. She used to be so itchy because of it that she’d take 3 steps, scratch, take 3 more, scratch. I contacted VeRUS looking for a good alternative to dog foods available locally. I found VeRUS on a list of dog foods that had never had a recall. Anyway, I contacted them thru the form on their website & got an email back from the VP who asked questions about my dogs. Then a few days later, I got free samples in the mail. I think I got like 4 packages that had about a cup of food in each. I’ve now been feeding VeRUS for WELL over a year. It’s great and they have multiple options.
Veruspetfoods.com scroll to the bottom & click on contact us.

[Susan W]

My mom feeds her dog Purina One SmartBlend. However, I’ve had the dog for about 6 months (due to an injury w/Mom) & started feeding her what I feed mine – VeRUS. They have several formulas that have ingredients other than fish, and they are about to release 3 of their formulas in a grain-free alternative. If you go to their website (veruspetfoods.com) and fill out the contact form, the VP will email you & ask about any conditions with your dog, then she’ll send you free samples of the food formula that best fits your dog. These are NICE samples, too. VeRUS has never had a recall in almost 30 years of production. Check out their website – there’s a lot of great info there!

[Susan W]

I used to let mine free feed. When I stopped & started feeding them in specific portions, both my dogs lost weight (they were both a little porky, so it was a good thing). Both of my dogs prefer to inhale their food – as opposed to chewing. To combat this (which leads to gas) you can try feeding you dog with a muffin tin/putting small amounts into each little cup.

[Susan W]

Wow – thanks

[Susan W]

Krista,
I fed dry only for YEARS to various dogs of all sizes. There’s nothing at all wrong with it. One thing you might want to try is feeding a food that has probiotics AND Omega-3 built in. VeRus dog food has a cold-water fish formula AND an opticoat formula which are both fish-based foods. They are high in Omega-3s because the fish they use is a wild-caught, Atlantic fish called Menhaden. Wild-caught fish are higher in Omega-3s than farm-raised. VeRus also has a technique for freeze-drying LIVE probiotics so they have a longer shelf life and are more effective for your dog’s digestion.
I had a dog with a very dry, itchy coat – complicated by her love of the pool. I fed her the Opticoat formula for about 9 months & her itchiness.coat problems cleared up. I’m feeding a different VeRus formula now, but will switch back to the Opticoat when the weather warms up.
The seriously great thing about trying VeRUS is that they’ll send you free samples. For a small dog, the free samples are enough for a couple of days so you get a really good try out. Just go to their website – veruspetfoods.com – and fill out the contact form. This food is not any more expensive (and may actually be less expensive) than those you named.

[Susan W]

BTW – you can order it thru PetFlow & have it auto-delivered which is really handy!

[Susan W]

While you’re looking around, look at the VeRUS Pet Food website. There is a lot of information there and if you have specific questions, you can contact them & they’ll actually answer you. Actually, the VP will likely be the one who answers & she’s really smart.
I got started feeding VeRUS because I needed a good dog food that had never had a recall. VeRUS has been making/selling food for almost 30 years & they’ve never had a recall. NO RECALLS! They have several formulas/flavors for both puppy and adult dogs.
I have 2 dogs – one is a healthy, happy, sensitive tummy mutt. I started feeding VeRUS a little over a year ago & neither of my dogs eat grass anymore (unless they eat something gross that isn’t dog food). Little miss sensitive tummy has no trouble with this food. It has also helped her to stop being so itchy.
I could (and have, on other posts) go on & on about all the things I love about this dog food but I won’t. I WILL tell you that VeRUS will send you free samples of their food – whichever they think will work best for your dog – instead of sending coupons. I really appreciated that they went to that effort.

[Susan W]

Check out the VeRUS website. There’s a lot of great information on the sourcing of their foods, etc. I’ve found that VeRUS is a great quality dog food at a competitive price when compared to other premium dog foods. Also, VeRUS has never had a recall – unlike most premium brands – and they’ve been making dog food for almost 30 years. What I REALLY like about VeRUS is that their food doesn’t stink. I haven’t run across ANY other dog food that doesn’t smell like dog food. I used to live in a town where chickens were processed & you could smell the burned feather/body part smell when the wind shifted. That’s what other dog food brands smell like to me – regardless of the name on the bag, there’s always at LEAST at trace of that smell. VeRUS doesn’t have that smell. Their food with a fish base smells like TetraMin fish food to me (fresh fish smell). The non-fish based foods don’t seem to have a scent to them that I can discern. You can also grab a handful of VeRUS and not end up with sticky/greasy crumbs all over your hands. They send free samples, too.

[Susan W]

I haven’t ever fed weight management food to my dogs, I simply adjust their intake (back) & cut back on their treats. One thing I did notice that helped a lot was when I stopped letting mine free-feed & started feeding them only once a day. My mom used to give her doxie baby carrots & green beans to help control her weight. From everything I’ve read, skip the weight management foods – they aren’t worth it.

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