Important Dog Food Question In This Election Year

johnrobertson

[John Robertson]

In this very important time in the run-up to the election ... can I please have your dog food recommendations?

[ZGuy]

Nah. Right now I've got a Golden Retriever (that has actually won some awards thank you very much) and a real dog -- a dachshund! Surprisingly, the dachshund is the better hunter though, and I have had her in earthdog competitions. I can't post pictures of them because our website won't allow links of pics to other sites. I just see lots of other dogs around and Vizsla's are one breed that gets my nod.

[Salamander]

Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice is ALL I feed my Ibizans.
No soy, no corn, no wheat, no "by-products".
I switched to this when my breed/show list subscribers found that most of this year's dog foods had corn mold toxins from last year's crop.
[my former "regular" food suddenly started giving my dogs bloody diarrhea and the vets couldn't find anything wrong. switched the food and it ended]
Haven't used anything else since and I couldn't be happier.

http://www.diamondpetfood.com/formulas.html#

[Jemian]

Cook cheap rice. Mix the cooked rice with sardines or raw eggs or some other meat.

Avoid the expensive store-bought dog foods.

[mikrofon]

Ask Terayzah -- she always wanted to be a dog...

[LouisWu]

A dachshund!

The thing about Dachsies is... they have that tiny little head. All I can think of is that in that tiny little head there is a narrow little skull... and in there is what can only be a tiny, tiny little brain...

and then...

they outsmart me.

[Brian Allen]

My eight-months-old yeller Lab pup is healthy, as fit as a fiddle and seems to be thriving on Purina Alpo dry puppy food with an occasional aternative sack of Pedigree Puppy.

[HairOfTheDog]

Ping!

I have always liked Iam's products, Eukanuba for an active dog.... it's meat based rather than corn (which no digestive system in the world can process)

And important to me, it has no ~unidentified~ "animal" products in it. In pet food label-speak, this means no horse meat or other sweepings of who knows what off the floor at a rendering plant. If it says chicken, it's chicken. If it says beef, it's beef. If it says 'animal' or 'meat' without identifying the kind, it's predominantly horse meat, with a few parts of dead and roadkill pets mixed in. I abhor the use of horse meat, so I go out of my way to avoid it.

Also good around here, you have to read labels to see for yourself, are the premium feed-store brand dog foods. I am buying a chicken and rice food packaged for my local farm supply that is equivalent to Iams. But they'll have differing grades, and you get what you pay for.

[Severa]

Shag here (mom and dad's rather spoiled 6 yr old Dobe) doesn't have a preference (can you tell?) but if he could speak he'd tell you he just LOVES as treats those pigs ears that you can buy at Sam's Club...

[austingirl]

Flint River Ranch - all natural, baked food. They have a website, I think.

[osagebowman]

Well, our Lab had a skin allergy that only cleared up when he was fed Hills Lamb and Rice, only 'treat' was his daily Milk Bone (extra large). Lived 13 years. Good dog.

Our Gypsy (rough coat collie-mix) gets Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance - no corn, soy, wheat, eggs, dairy or sunflower oil.

[sinkspur]

Neutro Natural Choice.

No fillers, and has Glucosamine and Chondroiton for joints.

I've had my dogs on this for two years, and they're noticeably perkier, allergy symptoms have decreased (not disappeared), and they love the taste.

[arbee4bush]

My three little ones eat Royal Canine (Yorkshire Terrier Mini Bites) I like how they make a blend special for each breed. Since yorkies have human like hair-not fur- they need extra oils for their coats. My pom eats it too and she is silky and has stopped itching.

Check and see if they make a special blend specific to your breed.

[Darnright]

I've fed Nutro for years. It must be ok, as my oldest dog died at the age of 18, followed by her 17 year old daughter the next year.

The next oldest dog is 15, and then the "baby", is 13. All Nutro fed.

[AnAmericanMother]

I'm a big fan of Breeder's Choice foods. They make AvoDerm which is great for dogs with skin and coat problems.

My "vest pocket" Lab (40 pounds) had problems as a puppy with dry skin. We switched her to AvoDerm Chicken & Rice (they also make Lamb & Rice for dogs with allergies and a baked style food as well.)

Here's the result - 3 year old Choc Lab competing in agility. She's very fit and very glossy in coat. Full of energy (maybe too MUCH energy).

She also does Hunting Retriever.

[PoorMuttly]

Pork chops are nice.

[Slings and Arrows]

My JRT is on Science Diet Canine C/D Prescription because she has to have a low-sodium diet, but my father feeds his 75 lb. Chocolate Lab and 50 lb. mutt on whatever he can buy in bulk, and they do just fine. I'd check with your vet and/or a club dedicated to your dog's breed.

[secret garden]

Purina Pro Plan. The dog will thrive and you won't spend your time scooping mountains out of the yard.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I feed my Dalmatians Avoderm (dry and canned) and use a great supplement enzymes, glucosamine, chondroytin and beneficial cultures (which I can't remember the name of right now). Seems to be working great, the dogs are 9 and 8 going on 2.

[Khurkris]

This should help you with your questions.

Whats really in Pet Food?

Selecting a Commercial Pet Food

I hope this helps you, and other Freepers, make a good decision on what to feed your pets.