Comments | xeross609: Dog food... wowzers.

xeross609

Dog food... wowzers.

Feb 05, 2010 17:31

So I've been reading up a lot on dog food, since I figure that this investment is probably the most important decision for the dog I could make. I've come to learn just how BAD some dog food is. Every time I see a commercial I go online and look up the ingredients and a description of what each ingredient really means ( Read more... )

Comments 12

frogger414 February 6 2010, 02:07:04 UTC

It's never too late to switch your cat's food and to start your puppy out right, kuddos you and Lori for wanting to feed your animals the best thing for their needs. It may cost more but the benefits in health, longevity and supporting products you believe in with your consumer dollars is worth it.

nicolemarieh February 6 2010, 02:54:48 UTC

food's not everything, but i do think its an important factor. there is so much evidence that the way we eat every day affects our health (including risk of cancer), that it just makes sense to try to give the best food for our animals too. and it only makes sense that a food full of real ingredients instead of a bunch of mystery by-products, waste products and chemicals is going to be healthier ( ... )

xeross609 February 6 2010, 05:55:16 UTC

Isn't it bad to constantly switch dog food(as it can cause stomach problems)? I know if you switch you should do it gradually, but still, every 2-3 months?

If wellness doesn't work out, there is a good dog store really close that sells lots of other healthy dog food, so it will be easy to go and buy a new brand and try it out.

nicolemarieh February 6 2010, 06:02:35 UTC

it depends on the dog's system. For a puppy, you make a good point, you should probably stick with the same one for the first 6-8 months or so - just my opinion, please do discuss with your vet and do more of your own research to decide what works makes the most sense to you. There are no absolute rules since no one can say for sure what is or isnt best. Puppies systems are more sensitive and I wasn't thinking of that - I just meant in the long run, variety is better ( ... )

xeross609 February 6 2010, 06:11:36 UTC

One of the things the breeder recommended, and is actually what she does, is supplement the diet with raw food, and certain vitamins (fish oil with b12 I think it was?). I was kind of in information overload at the time, so I still don't have a good grasp on what she does, but I hope to have a better idea as the weeks go on.

Thread 6

nicolemarieh February 6 2010, 02:56:43 UTC

also dogs LOVE kibbles and bits (because of all the fat and sugar in it) and advertising for dog food is killer so dont feel bad. i fed my former dog k&b and just never thought about it. then when she died so young i started researching and kept coming across things about their diets.

i know food wasnt the only thing, but i figured it certainly couldnt hurt to buy foods that logically appeared to be much healthier.

lightningflash February 6 2010, 04:18:37 UTC

My best friend works in a vet hospital, and she really, strongly recommends the Hills brand. You can only get through the vet's hospital - if it's from anywhere else it's fake, because they only sell through licensed veterinarians. My parents get Hills for one of their miniature schnauzers who has food allergies (they get the hypoallergenic food, and only for her because it's $60 for a 15 lb. bag, so her littermate gets the other stuff, I think Iams? Anyway, it's an interesting set up). Hills totally works on keeping Maggie's infections from reoccuring!

nicolemarieh February 6 2010, 05:33:03 UTC

i love your bff but i really, strongly, couldnt be more opposed to the Hills brand. all it takes is a 10 second look at their ingredients list to confirm that.

using that food for a valid medical reason like controlling allergies is debatable (i understand the value, but still feel there are better options out there), but as an everyday food for an otherwise healthy pet? nononoooo. i would like to know why she thinks this is such a good food. most people ive met in the industry agree that its not really that great of a food, but it has its place as a prescription option.

being sold only through vets is about as meaningful as having to go through att to have an iphone. just because there are contracts and licensing agreements in place does NOT mean that what they offer is better or best.

xeross609 February 6 2010, 05:51:03 UTC

I'd imagine there are a lot of vets that may think science diet is good just because a lot are trained by hills reps on what makes for good dog food nutrition.

Ironically this was a subject me and the breeder talked about last week, and she's the one who told me about the fact that they get trained by hills reps.

nicolemarieh February 6 2010, 05:55:24 UTC

That is very true, but I would expect any vet worth their salt will do a little research on their own, and it really doesnt take much at all to see that Hill's is nothing special. My vet office for example has never once pushed Hills (though they do sell it) and have always said that I feed a great diet.

Thankfully, pet food manufacturers are required to list their ingredients on the package. You can do a side by side compare to their products and see they are nearly the exact equivalent of a grocery store product, just wrapped up in Rx branding.