[Jamie08]

Thank you Susan! So far, so good. She did great post-surgery and is now back on “normal” food. I bought some cans of wet Whole Earth Farms food, as I had tried them with her in the past and she did well. I’ve also been giving her a little dry food (Canidae) when I give it to my other dog, as she seems to love it, too… She has gained a pound since surgery (was down to 13lbs after tumor removal) and is full of energy. I hate to think about the tumor coming back in the future but I’m glad she seems to be enjoying her life now!

[Jamie08]

I went food shopping last night and happened to find a 5lb bag of Merrick Classic Beef, Barley & Carrot for 50% off- so under $10. I think it was because the “Sell By” date was coming up in just a few weeks. But- my dogs will go through it in plenty of time for it to still be good. I was excited! I also got some of the Merrick Grain Free (Buffalo), which is not as budget friendly, but IS 10% off right now at PetCo… and I’ll probably mix with the Whole Earth Farms for awhile and see how they do.

[Jamie08]

When I first got my heeler (as an adult), he was thin and would not put weight on- he did turn out to have a pretty big load of worms, so I would start there! I have to worm him fairly regularly because he eats squirrels & rabbits that he catches, so I’m guessing ends up with tapeworms from their fleas (because HE doesn’t have fleas).

I’m on a budget but my dogs are on Merrick’s Whole Earth Farms, which I have found to be a great deal for a brand that’s rated 4 stars on here (was on sale at PetCo when I bought it last, 35lbs for $35). My dog is actually a heeler cross and is a little bigger, probably ~50lbs and eats 4 cups/day and looks great! Everybody here has lots of great suggestions, but I would definitely check about worms if he’s eating that much and still thin.

[Jamie08]

That article seems like it is gearing the “maggots as a protein source” thing more toward use in a feed for chickens, etc.- not so much a pet food ingredient. This is a pretty popular concept right now in the feed industry where more sustainable protein sources are being sought after- since all of the corn is being grabbed for human uses (biofuel, etc.). I know our pet chickens love finding larvae. 😉

How they labeled it if it were in pet food would depend on how they processed it, and if they could sneak it in under the name of some “animal” product (maggots ARE animals…). I think most people would not want to buy kibble with maggot meal for their pets… I know I would rather not!

[Jamie08]

Thanks! I figured it wasn’t the main cause, but probably wasn’t helping…

[Jamie08]

I had been thinking of trying that. He also sheds a lot (even though I always get comments on how soft, etc. his coat is- he leaves too much of it on my bed!) and I know a lot of people have had experiences with enzymes reducing that.

Also, I wonder if the fact that he loves the food so much is indirectly part of the issue because he is eating so fast. Maybe needing to slow down is part of the issue, he’s also swallowing a bunch of air? And turning it into something super stinky…

• This reply was modified 11 years, 7 months ago by Jamie08.

[Jamie08]

The bag he got was a bigger one, not sure exactly, but 35 or 40lbs. I don’t know if it comes in different sizes, sorry. 🙁

[Jamie08]

My dogs have been on Whole Earth Farms (by Merrick) dry food for a couple weeks now and are doing great. It is normally really affordable, but was on sale at Petco and came out to $1/lb. It is not grain-free, but doesn’t have corn. It’s a 4 star food on here, and my dogs love it. I got the 35lb bag for $35-something. Their wet food is great too.

My dad also just got that grain free stuff from Costco.. Nature’s Domain? His dogs haven’t been on it long enough to know how they do, but it is also very affordable. I think it’s rated a little lower but it is grain free.

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