[Barbara]

naturella sorry i just reread my post that i had posted in the middle of the night when i was in pain and could not sleep…i did not mean to sound like you or anyone else who collects coupons are wasting their time. i just can’t believe that you had to go through that hassle the clerks gave you! i forget that not everyone has big dogs like i have and orders 2 30# bags every 3 weeks! i just find it easier to order on chewy.com where for the last 2 months i have been ordering 30# bags of castor and pollux grain free ultramix duck for only 49.99 and their grain and poultry free ultramix salmon for 47.99. compared to other on-line sites and dog food stores like petco and petsmart these prices are very good because i need to get the large bags and i don’t have to carry 30# bags to my car all the time! i do rotate their dry kibble and have ordered other brands from chewy that have good ratings on dfa and are grain free…i think i have been ordering from chewy now for at least 3 years… i also occasionally drive a ways to a county feed store to get victor dog food especially their grain free joint health which has beef in it so they do get a variety of kibble along with lightly cooked meats and veggies. my 14 yr old border collie/flat coat mix also gets kirkland’s natures domain canned turkey and peas from costco rated 5 star and only 20 dollars for 24 cans! i do realize that coupons are good when you have the time to search for them and need smaller size bags then i do…so do take care and happy coupon hunting and thanks for sharing them with others! 🙂

• This reply was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by Barbara.

[Barbara]

naturella sweetie how many puppies do you have anyway? i was completely lost reading about this coupon transaction! is it really worth it? i am just about 70 years young and i have found over the last several years why waste your life collecting coupons? i don’t go on the site much lately because i broke my right shoulder mis-stepping over one of my dogs that never in her 12 years has ever jumped up when you step over her 80 lbs until this one time!! ugh! what luck! i am already retired and supposed to be getting our home ready to go on the market here in kansas so we can move to northwestern Washington where our grandchildren live…my husband(who still works for now) says i broke my shoulder so that i could just supervise while he does all the work! i was always good at supervising…:o)

i have 3 dogs 1 is 50 lbs, and 2 that are almost 80 lbs each but it is so much easier and really cheaper to order on-line or go to a county feed store…i personally have been ordering from chewy.com because the have great prices much better on 4 and 5 star kibble then petsmart or petco has even with coupons and with no hassle! relax and do something for you… walk your pets 2-3 times a day instead of shopping but don’t break anything…take care

[Barbara]

Hi Carol M, i have never had a “newfie” only a mix that the father was newfie and chow and her mother was a golden retriever. Maya was a pup the owners insisted i take 23 yrs ago when i rescued the adults from excaping their back yard because of kids leaving the gate open! and they wandered 2 miles without tags! it took 2 days to find the owners and they had thought someone had stolen them because the female was pregnant and a beauty! Maya was my only puppy since i was younger and she grew up to about 80 lbs and loved to eat! she passed at almost 16 yrs with never a food issue or diarrhea. i rotated mostly dry kibble with some canned dog food, some fresh meat and carrots (raw) and (steamed veggies) broccoli, string beans or butternut squash…yum!

sorry about that long dialogue above but i was reminiscing… i do think you need to check out the list of recommended foods for Large Breed Puppies in the forums and especially read the info hound dog mom provides about large breed puppies. i know that the 3 dogs that run my life now love castor and pollux ultramix! (check out the prices on chewy.com very reasonable.) i have been rotating or mixing both the grain free duck 38% protein and 17% fat with glucosomine and the grain free and poutry free salmon 30% protein, 15% fat and high in omega 3’s (i am a little concerned about the mercury level in the salmon which has been questioned on this site…) neither of these have ever caused diarrhea in my border collie/flat coat ret. mix 14 yrs 50 lbs or my husky/shepherd 12 yrs 80 lbs. My 80 lb lab has a very sensitive stomach and for some reason has not had a problem with these 2 kibbles in the 2-3 months she has eaten them, but as you know any changes in food always needs to be done slowly…7-10 days depending on the dog. you can add some pumpkin puree to help with initial introduction and slight problems. i assume your puppy has been checked out by a vet for any issues that would cause diarrhea …but most vets know nothing about good food recommendations!

[Barbara]

hi BCnut… i haven’t been on dogfood advisor for a while but when i am i always learn something new from you and all the knowledgeable people out there. my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your very loved miniature horse. i can relate to your horse’s bird song distraction…no matter how deaf an animal is they can still hear some range of tone with the high pitch of the birds and thankfully he can still enjoy their song! at almost 70 years young i enjoy them also.

sorry for the non-caps of my message but i went and tripped over one of my large dogs a couple of weeks ago and fractured my right humerus at the shoulder and my entire right arm is immobile for a time…and i am typing with 2 fingers of my left hand! i am sure your mini horse has the best of care any us oldies always enjoy the extra attention. i just wanted to say that my prayers are with you and your pony…

[Barbara]

Hi Crazy4cats, Yes we do feed them similar dry and canned foods. Thank you for your advice about feeding. I will try to feed them a little more lightly cooked meat and poultry and a little less canned which should help. My BC mix is very fussy unless I add some “real food” topper anyway. I’m glad your feeding method is working well for your dogs. Thanks!

[Barbara]

Yes they are amazing!! He is my 2nd BC mix but when I have a choice I will adopt another one. Even though I love all dogs I did not get to choose the lab and the husky mix (even though I do love them also). The owners who originally adopted them, one a friend and another a relative had to give them up and begged me to take them. At the time I took the Husky I had a Golden retriever mix she lived to be almost 16, I still miss her terribly after 7 years. One day I will have another Golden but I will always have a BC or BC mix if I have any say…

[Barbara]

Thank you BCnut for such a quick reply. Maybe I should I have been giving PF ahead of feeding as suggested in that article? I was following what it stated on the package…also I mix it with yogurt into their food. I will take them off of PF and see how they do. I was considering doing that but knew you would help me. btw I also have a border collie/flat coat retriever mix he is wonderful and one of the smartest dog I have ever had. Very fussy eater though only eats when he wants to and always expecting something special (meat) with it. He is the only one I have ever given chicken or turkey necks. He has no stomach issues like the others. He will be 14 yrs old in Jan and still runs fast for short spurts and is very playful with some dogs. He has a little shaking in his hind quarters but Swanson’s Mobility Essentials and Green Lipped Mussel seem to help. He expects to go to the off-leash dog park every morning and follows me around staring at me until we go. I know you enjoy your Border collies very much and I am sure they love living on a farm. Thanks for your help.

[Barbara]

I was wondering after reading some of the comments about digestive enzymes if it is okay to continue using THK perfect form for any length of time just to keep stomach issues from reoccurring? I am talking like 6 months at 1/2 dosage for 2 of my 3 dogs (one is a lab and the other a Husky mix both about 75+ lbs) they each seem to have a loose stool maybe a few of time a week still. I had been using it full dosage for about a month when I switched them off of Taste of the wild because of diarrhea even when I was switching them slowly…I think part of it was I first went to Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural which was too rich for them. I like Victor the best of the dry dog foods I have tried but want to keep switching the protein. 4 to 5 star Dry is about 2/3 of the their diet plus canned Kirkland’s ND Turkey and pea stew is 1/3. They get good human food toppers a couple of times a week also. I just want to be sure it is okay to continue to have them be on THK perfect form at 1/2 dosage since they both can have sensitive tummies occasionally… Thanks!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Barbara.

[Barbara]

Hi Victoria, I feel for you and agree with the others and their suggestions. Maybe you could afford the difference in price from the Ol’Roy to something better for the relatives large dogs, especially the chocolate lab with the allergies. All the corn in Ol’Roy and other bad ingredients has to contribute to the skin allergies. You might also want to search the forums for allergies and skin issues. Omega 3 really helps. I use Victor grain free dog food and it has great ingredients and if you can find a feed store or co-op near you it can be very reasonable. The grain inclusive Victor is even a better price. Check their web site for a dealer near you and call them for prices. Good luck with your quest to help these dogs.

[Barbara]

One of my dogs has had leakage problems twice in the last 2 years. She is a Husky Shepherd mix going on 12 yrs and about 75 lbs. After blood and urine tests to make sure there was no other indications my vet decided it was a hormonal issue due to spaying as theBCnut suggested. Both times he had her on diethylstilbestrol 1mg for only a short time (less than a month each time). I know it is a hormone supplement and it worked great both times. I do not know what others on the site think of this hormone treatment but it did work. Also it is important they get enough exercise. Good luck with your dog.

[Barbara]

I did not realize that this information was in DFA before I originally posted. I know now to search for recalls by brand name. You can also just search the word recalls on the DFA homepage.
/dog-food-recall/dogswell-withdraws-dog-cat-jerky-treats
It appears that some of the packages state made in the USA but I understand from reading comments that you need to find out where the ingredients are sourced from by contacting the manufacturer. Sounds like a lot of jerky-type treats have ingredients sourced from China!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by Barbara.

[Barbara]

Thanks Hound Dog Mom for the suggestions. I had not noticed that the Dogswell treats did not have a “made in the USA” until after I posted. I really liked the sound of the limited ingredients so it is too bad they are manufactured in China :(. I did know about jerky-type treats that are manufactured in China having major issues and that dogs have died and others had become seriously ill in the last few years. I wish it was easier to tell where a product is made when you are checking on-line. Last year I returned an unopened bag of Cadet Duck jerky dog treats that I had been giving to my dogs for over a year because I did not want to take any chances. I don’t understand why Costco still carries them. I think I will also look into Alaskan Salmon treats that have been recommended in the forum.
Thank you for your help.

[Barbara]

Thanks Hound Dog Mom for the suggestions. I had not noticed that the Dogswell treats did not have a “made in the USA” until after I posted. I really liked the sound of the limited ingredients so it is too bad they are manufactured in China :(. I did know about jerky-type treats that are manufactured in China having major issues and that dogs have died and others had become seriously ill in the last few years. I wish it was easier to tell where a product is made when you are checking on-line. Last year I returned an unopened bag of Cadet Duck jerky dog treats that I had been giving to my dogs for over a year because I did not want to take any chances. I don’t understand why Costco still carries them. I think I will also look into Alaskan Salmon treats that have been recommended in the forum.
Thank you for your help.

[Barbara]

I was curious what anyone thought of Dogswell Happy Hips Duck Breast, Salmon or Chicken Breast Dog Treats?? They appear to have only the protein ingredient plus Vitamin E Supplement, Glucosamine Hydrochloride & Chondroitin Sulfate. I saw them on Chewy.com. Thanks for any input.

I just noticed I cannot tell the country of origin of these proteins and the packaging does not state made in the USA so I am now skeptical of the source.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by Barbara.

[Barbara]

Thank you aquariangt, Hound Dog Mom and c4c for your responses and guidance!

[Barbara]

I have not seen any changes at all in the Brands for Editor’s Choice for 3 months unless I missed something…? Other outstanding brands have been nominated and there are some issues with a couple of brands that are still on the list but nothing has changed. I was just wondering why?

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Barbara.

[Barbara]

Thank you pugmomsandy for the reply and the informative link… I saw that Snopes stated it was “undetermned”. I don’t plan on using any flea and tick killer that is ingested ever… I have used Frontline plus (seasonally and now only every 45 days) and heartgard plus without any issues for over 20+ years. My golden retriever Maya passed away from stomach cancer at almost 16 yrs of age 7 years ago I still miss her :(… My border collie mix is 13 1/2 and in better shape than most dogs that are less than 1/2 his age. Thanks to this site over the years I have improved my dog food options and went from the middle of the road now to Victor’s grain free and Kirkland Cuts in Gravy (being replaced by ND Turkey and pea stew). They are all doing well especially the older ones…!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Barbara.

[Barbara]

I want to nominate Victor dog food especially grain free! I see that others have asked for it to be nominated as well and don’t understand why it is not on the Editors Choice list?? There are no recalls and Victor Grain Free has 5 stars which is more than some other brands on the list? Also the regular Victor still has 4 stars. I have been using Victor Grain Free Joint Health. My dogs had been on TOTW Wetlands. They are doing great on Victor the 2 that I feed it to are over 75lbs. I am glad that it has the added Glucosamine and Chondroitin! It is hard to find on-line except at Sportdogfood and Amazon but you can check the Victor website to fine a local feed store for even better prices…. I would like to see it on the list! Thanks

[Barbara]

Hi Jenn,
I have 3 dogs and my border collie mix (13.5 yrs) has always been fussy (he is very healthy and energetic and has stayed the same weight since I adopted him at 4 yrs). My lab and husky sheppard mix will eat whatever I give them anytime! I have always added canned food or fresh meat as a topper and my border collie usually will come around within 15 to 20 minutes because he realizes I will pick it up and he will have to wait until later (as InkedMarie suggested). I never have to wait if I top it with meat scraps or fresh cooked veggies….(also cottage cheese and soft cooked eggs a few times a week). All my dogs get 1/3 canned and 2/3 kibble at both meals because I think that canned is a lot better than just kibble and of fairly high opinion after raw or cooked natural meat. I did get Kirkland’s cuts in gravy at Costco because it is a 5 star canned at such a reasonable price now replaced by ND Turkey and pea stew also 5 stars. If you don’t have a Costco membership I think members of this site have also recommended Pure Balance canned also 5 stars, I think you can get it at Walmart about $1 to $1.25 a can… Good luck with your stubborn dog!

[Barbara]

Thank you Becca for the information. I hope you have found a way to solve your dogs flea bite allergy from earlier this year.

[Barbara]

I cannot edit or delete my earlier comment (which is completely frustrating to me!) and now have read many of the posts from people much more knowledgeable about feeding raw to dogs than I am. I now understand why they feed their dogs raw and it really is better…but I guess I would rather spend my extra time with my dogs exploring the outdoors than all the trouble involved in making raw from scratch when I cannot afford the high prices of commercial raw and “freeze dried” options… but I do completely respect the time you take to make the effort of feeding your dogs raw.

PS I realize now that there must be a “time limit” on editing your comment even though there has not been any responses… It seems that you should be able to edit longer like in the non-member area…

• This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by Barbara.

[Barbara]

I wanted to delete or at least edit a post that I had made today before further research on the matter (which I did after) and I could not edit it!! Why is that? Is there a time limit? It was only a couple of hours later and on an old subject matter in the forums…

[Barbara]

Is raw that much better than gently cooked? I have a 13+ yr old Border Collie mix, a 11+ Husky/sheppard mix and 5 yr old lab. They eat 5 star grain free kibble and Kirkland’s cuts in gravy. They also get “gently cooked” poultry and meat as a topper a lot of the time and also unseasoned fresh “cooked” veggies. I guess I don’t feel comfortable feeding them raw and have always fed cooked…I am sure they would love it but the 2 big ones are gulpers as well…sometimes sensitive stomachs when I change kibble. I’ve had only adopted dogs for about 60 years and they all seem to live long lives without health issues, although in the past I lost a couple of them to cancer but they were also 15+ and large dogs… just wondering… PS I could not find a topic regarding raw vs cooked so I asked this question here….Thanks for your help!

[Barbara]

Tina, Thank you for the websites…I must have looked up older sites… I really wish that Castor an Pollux Ultramix Grain free was not part of this issue…

• This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by Barbara.

[Barbara]

I was curious if anyone knows if Castor and Pollux dog food was really a Merrick Pet Care product as stated in the Editor’s Choice of Merrick? I checked Merrick Pet Care products and it did not state it was. It appears that Castor and Pollux is not a product of Merrick…

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