Best Dog food

[gerryann]

What dog food are you using? I'm looking for a new dog food for my pup, but it's so difficult. The ratings and reviews are so confusing. My vet has no recommendations. I am looking for a dry food. She has no allergies that I am aware of. She was on a Purina product that was difficult to find in the stores. Then I heard good things about Rachel Rae dog food and she has been on it for about 6 months...liked it and did well on it. Now, all of a sudden, the food looks different and she doesn't seem to like it.

Any suggestions? What does your dog like?

[lightworker888]

We have our dogs on a raw diet but use Oregen as a treat. It is dry kibble that has been steamed just enough to cook and is the closest to raw. You can go to Whole Earth pet store on 441 across from Lowe's and Joan or Lee can give you all the latest on what is best and why. The diet is the most important thing you can do for your dog to help it live a healthy life. JMHO

LW 888

[jojo]

My dog practically refuses to eat dry food. My mother calls me "Cruella" because I refuse to give her canned food until after she eats her dry food and then I just give her a small amount as a treat. Lately she's been holding out until 9 pm. Wish I could find a good dry food that she likes.

[leftyf]

We have tried 4 different dry dog foods for our Maltese and he always gets tired of them before he can finish a 5 pound bag. All were expensive, 18-33 dollars for a 5 pound bag. It doesn't matter how much it costs, he won't eat dry dog food until he gets very hungry.

We also feed him Fresh Pet, it's in the refrigerator in the pet food section. He loves it, but it being soft just doesn't clean his teeth. We haven't tried Rachel Rae's yet, but we will.

[gerryann]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the feedback.

[gerryann]

I should add that the reason I like dry food is for the teeth. My last two dogs had the WORST teeth. They were forever having surgery to remove rotten teeth, etc. however.......they did live till 17 years and were healthy otherwise.

[villager]

We use Halo. We have also fed our dog Blue Buffalo. We mix a little canned food in with the dry which our pup seems to like. I only buy the grain free because I don't want a bunch of fillers.

[billethkid]

We are now with our 4th Dalmatian spanning 30 + years and have always fed them dry dog food from a puppy to and through old age.

We use IAMS Naturals wth chicken. The dog acts like it is porterhouse steak!

For treats we use Old Mother Hubbard oven baked dog biscuits. We get the minis as they are only 6 calories each. These are all natural as well. Sometimes hard to find so I get the almost 4 pound bag from Amazon...lasts a long time.

[doran]

We use the caned dog food from Aldi--caned in Illinois and our dogs love it--I was paying $2.25 per can before and this is under $1.00 per can
The dry food that I mix in with the caned food is from Kids and Pets on Lake Sumpter--our dogs love this as well
Sugar and Spice are Multi-poos.

[doran]

We use caned dog food from Aldi--all meat and caned in Illinois "Not China" Our dogs love this food--was buying another food that cost $2.25 per can this food is under $1.00 per can.
Dry food is from Kids and Pets in Lake Sumpter they love this food as well I mix them together with chicken breast.

[rdhdleo]

I love Evangers Grain Free Chicken dinner my dogs love it and do very well on it. It is made and packaged in Illinois. You can get it at the pet store by Koyame and the pet store in Palm Court Plaza.

[Barefoot]

What dog food are you using? I'm looking for a new dog food for my pup, but it's so difficult. The ratings and reviews are so confusing. My vet has no recommendations. I am looking for a dry food. She has no allergies that I am aware of. She was on a Purina product that was difficult to find in the stores. Then I heard good things about Rachel Rae dog food and she has been on it for about 6 months...liked it and did well on it. Now, all of a sudden, the food looks different and she doesn't seem to like it. Any suggestions? What does your dog like?

Try an unbiased comparison site such as Dog Food Reviews and Ratings | Dog Food Advisor (http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com) and compare kibble.
We feed Orijen Dog Food. It's a five-star kibble, made in Canada with fresh products.
It's sold by Paws for a While on CR 101 (opposite Southern Trace). We also like "Taste of the Wild" for a quality kibble.
We attended a meeting of Responsible Dog Owners and were astonished to learn that some of the cheaper dog foods contain meat by-products, even road kill. And they also contain a lot of fillers.

[jnieman]

We are now with our 4th Dalmatian spanning 30 + years and have always fed them dry dog food from a puppy to and through old age.

We use IAMS Naturals wth chicken. The dog acts like it is porterhouse steak!

For treats we use Old Mother Hubbard oven baked dog biscuits. We get the minis as they are only 6 calories each. These are all natural as well. Sometimes hard to find so I get the almost 4 pound bag from Amazon...lasts a long time.

Another vote for Iams. Also Science Diet.

[CFrance]

We were feeding Canidae; then they changed their ingredients to something that made our dog sick. Then we were feeding Dick Van Patten's Natural-something, and suddenly our dog's coat turned to straw. The coat is the last thing to receive nutrition from any food and is a good indicator of the quality of the food the pet is eating. I went to Paws for a While, and the owner told me that Dick Van Patten's was bought by Del Monte, and they changed their ingredients source. She suspects China.

Even though she still had some Dick Van Patten, she put me on to Nature's Logic. Inside of a week Crosby's coat turned to silk. For a golden to actually have the sun reflect off his coat and shine is enough to convince me. It has reliable sourcing--ingredients from Canada, the States, and one European country--and no vitamins that don't occur naturally. If there are any vitamin supplements being added to the dog food that doesn't occur naturally, they are coming from China, because the US doesn't even manufacture vitamins anymore for pets.

We were using Nature's Logic lamb, but they just came out with a sardine blend. That's what we use now.

[GeoGeo]

It is hard to know what food to feed. Seems like there is always a report of dogs getting sick that were eating a certain food. We have fed different foods depending on the dogs we had. Different dogs tolerated only a certain food or had allergies and could only eat a certain one. We have always fed dry kibble. Everything from Iams, Science Diet, Beneful Weight Control (yes, the brand that was in the news...we had no problems), Rachel Ray Zero Grain Salmon & Sweet Potato, currently using Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Turkey & Potato. There were a couple of others, but I can't recall the names...dog did not do well on them because of their sensitivities.

[GeoGeo]

Like CFrance, we also used the Dick Van Patten food and our dog's. That was one that I forgot about. Our dog's fur was terrible on that food. His coat got dull and straw like, too.

Some of these dog food manufacturers are glad to tell you they make the food here in the US. I was shocked when a couple admitted that some of the ingredients come from China. Don't get me started on my opinion of things that come from China.

[gerryann]

Wow, thanks again all. I certainly have some research to do :\

[lanabanana73]

Try an unbiased comparison site such as Dog Food Reviews and Ratings | Dog Food Advisor (http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com) and compare kibble.
We feed Orijen Dog Food. It's a five-star kibble, made in Canada with fresh products.
It's sold by Paws for a While on CR 101 (opposite Southern Trace). We also like "Taste of the Wild" for a quality kibble.
We attended a meeting of Responsible Dog Owners and were astonished to learn that some of the cheaper dog foods contain meat by-products, even road kill. And they also contain a lot of fillers.

I'm in full agreement with this. I check dogfoodadvisor before I feed any food. I currently use Wellness Core Small Breed. My two weigh 9 and 11lbs and they get 1/4C twice a day. I buy if from amazon. Delivered right to the door!

Good luck in your search!

[Mrs. Robinson]

We've been feeding Purina Healthy Weight Management and mix in a little canned food with some water. At night we microwave a scrambled egg in their food as well. When we have leftover meat, fish or vegetables, we mix a little of that in also. Whatever we mix in, is always warm and not cold.

Other than the above-mentioned, it's whatever they can reach and steal off the kitchen counter when we're not around.

[gerryann]

We sure do love our dogs here in TV :)

[Erika]

I should add that the reason I like dry food is for the teeth. My last two dogs had the WORST teeth. They were forever having surgery to remove rotten teeth, etc. however.......they did live till 17 years and were healthy otherwise.

Some breeds are prone to bad teeth such as poodles. We only fed our poodles Royal Canin dry dog food and Greenies for that reason. I also brushed their teeth every night and they still had surgeries!:sigh:

[Trayderjoe]

Here is another vote for Blue Buffalo. I feed my two dogs (15 yr old dalmatian/pointer mix and 2 yr old miniature schnauzer) a mix of BB kibble with a little BB canned food (senior mix for the older dog and adult small dog for the "little man"). I have used Blue Buffalo for years now (my lab/newfie mix was on it as well until we lost him at 14). You might want to look at the different brands and even talk with your vet for input. Good luck!

[Susan G]

Another vote for Blue Buffalo Grain Free. I feed dry with 1 Tbls. of Blue Buffalo wet canned & my Yorkie gobbles it up. Since it is high protein, dogs are drawn to the dry, so please measure & don't over feed to avoid weight gain.

I switched him to BB about 3 months ago and he is no longer itchy & scaly. His coat looks great & my groomer noticed the difference. I was feeding Science Diet for years...

[gerryann]

More great info. Thanks again!

[rdhdleo]

Try an unbiased comparison site such as Dog Food Reviews and Ratings | Dog Food Advisor (http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com) and compare kibble.
We feed Orijen Dog Food. It's a five-star kibble, made in Canada with fresh products.
It's sold by Paws for a While on CR 101 (opposite Southern Trace). We also like "Taste of the Wild" for a quality kibble.
We attended a meeting of Responsible Dog Owners and were astonished to learn that some of the cheaper dog foods contain meat by-products, even road kill. And they also contain a lot of fillers.

Went to this site and was very glad to see the Evangers I feed my furbabies got 5 stars!

[gerryann]

Well, I ended up choosing Natures Logic. We,ll see how it goes and how she likes it. It might help with some paw chewing she has started.

I'm gonna save all of these great suggestions in case this doesn't work out.

[gerryann]

So, I'm using Natures Logic lamb. My pup loves it. I have a problem. She ran out this morning. I ran over to Paws for a Moment on 301 and they closed at 4:PM today and are closed tomorrow. Does anyone know where they sell Natures Logic???? HELP!!

[marianne237]

Both of our rescue dogs stunk and had the worst furs until we started them on Chicken Soup for the Dog dry food. Both loved it and after a short time, the most notable sign was a good breath and cleaner teeth. Before too long, the furs on both (a toy poodle and a terrier) became soft and no shedding on the terrier. We also noticed sleep patterns and the "outside trips" didn't cause problems any longer.
All in all, we feel the "holistic" rather than commercial products improved their health and personalities. We still purchase dog food from the pet store in the strip mall behind CVS off 466.

[KathyN]

Our Golden doodle use to eat a raw diet but as she has aged she can not tolerate so much protein. I found Castor and Pollux Organix dog food to be good quality, organic and Maggie likes the weight management formula.

[Sable99]

I got my first puppy iin over 30 years in March. Yikes, do I have a lot to learn! I couldn't find the food the breeder had her on locally so I gradually switched her to Royal Canin. Not long after that she started itching. I tried several different brands and she seems to be a picky eater!

Luckly, we have a good pet store here in Michigan. The owner's mission in life seems to be analyzing pet food! And best of all, he gives samples!! He reommended Nutri Source Grain Free which is for all ages. Right now, I'm mixing dry food with a little bit of their wet food.

As Barefoot said, be aware of pet food with meat by-products. The pet store guy said everything goes into food with by-products: food past the expiration date, road kill and even spit and cigarettes! They just put it in a barrel and grind it all up!

[CFrance]

Both of our rescue dogs stunk and had the worst furs until we started them on Chicken Soup for the Dog dry food. Both loved it and after a short time, the most notable sign was a good breath and cleaner teeth. Before too long, the furs on both (a toy poodle and a terrier) became soft and no shedding on the terrier. We also noticed sleep patterns and the "outside trips" didn't cause problems any longer.
All in all, we feel the "holistic" rather than commercial products improved their health and personalities. We still purchase dog food from the pet store in the strip mall behind CVS off 466.
I love that our 86-lb dog poops little cigars. It proves that the quality of what goes in determines the quantity of what comes out. There is so little waste in our dog's kibble, Nature's Logic, suggested by your same pet food store. Garbage in = garbage out and vice versa.

[gerryann]

Cfrance.....any idea. Other than paws for a while, where I might find nature's logic. Need some asap.

[Jima64]

Our two Lhasa apsas have been grain free about three years now with good results on their coats. I do add fish oil in the mornings.

[Barefoot]

Cfrance.....any idea. Other than paws for a while, where I might find nature's logic. Need some asap.

It doesn't look like Nature's Logic is widely sold.

From google store locators:

My Natural Pet, Inc.
1208 County Road Dunedin, FL, 34698
Phone:727-736-0717

[gerryann]

It doesn't look like Nature's Logic is widely sold.

From google store locators:

My Natural Pet, Inc.
1208 County Road Dunedin, FL, 34698
Phone:727-736-0717

Thanks Barefoot. Something wrong with the site. I tried earlier. At first says 18 miles away. Then when getting directions, says 2 hours away. Couldn't get through earlier either.

[Barefoot]

Thanks Barefoot. Something wrong with the site. I tried earlier. At first says 18 miles away. Then when getting directions, says 2 hours away. Couldn't get through earlier either.

Gerryann, it may be old information and the store may be out of business.
Isn't there a "natural" pet food store in Spanish Springs that sells specialty dog foods?

[gerryann]

Gerryann, it may be old information and the store may be out of business.
Isn't there a "natural" pet food store in Spanish Springs that sells specialty dog foods?

I called. They don't carry it. Bummer. Guess I'll have to give her rice till I can get the food on Monday. Next time I'll be more careful.

[CFrance]

Cfrance.....any idea. Other than paws for a while, where I might find nature's logic. Need some asap.
Nature's Logic is available in the pet food store behind CVS on 466. (I can never remember the name.) Other than that, it's available online at wag.com, chewy.com, petfooddirect.com, dogfooddirect.com, amazon.com.

I have a big dog, so I order the larger size online, and it ships free. Thus other than the aforementioned pet food store behind CVS, I'm not sure if another local store that sells it. But I'm sure you could get the same good results with Merrick or Origen. Most grain-free pet foods don't have a lot of "waste" ingredients. I happen to like Nature's Logic because it has no manufactured supplements in it, thus nothing that could be manufactured by China and legally not listed in the ingredients list. All vitamins in Nature's Logic comes from the food it is made from. (Sorry, Bare... "comes from the food from which it is made":evil6:)

[angiefox10]

We have a dog that will eat a food for awhile and stop. We thought he was going to starve until we found the answer for him... We make his food. It's not hard and he had eaten it and loved it for a couple of years now.

We no longer have to worry about recalls or him getting sick from tainted food. And he is healthy again.

As to wet over dry....

Canned or Dry Dog Food - What's the Better Choice? (http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/canned-or-dry-dog-food/)

[gerryann]

Nature's Logic is available in the pet food store behind CVS on 466. (I can never remember the name.) Other than that, it's available online at wag.com, chewy.com, petfooddirect.com, dogfooddirect.com, amazon.com.

I have a big dog, so I order the larger size online, and it ships free. Thus other than the aforementioned pet food store behind CVS, I'm not sure if another local store that sells it. But I'm sure you could get the same good results with Merrick or Origen. Most grain-free pet foods don't have a lot of "waste" ingredients. I happen to like Nature's Logic because it has no manufactured supplements in it, thus nothing that could be manufactured by China and legally not listed in the ingredients list. All vitamins in Nature's Logic comes from the food it is made from. (Sorry, Bare... "comes from the food from which it is made":evil6:)

Thanks, yes Gilda loves the lamb. I get it at the store you're referring to...(Paws For A While) I just lost track of time today and thinking that they closed at 5:00, I got there and found that they are now closing at 4:00 and closed tomorrow....so, out of luck till Monday. She'll survive and I just have to get a little better organized so she doesn't run out again.

[Bklynteach]

Hello,
We have two Yorkies and feed them Fromm . They like it but they r very spoiled and I hand feed them! I switch off between two flavors surf and turf and chicken a la veg.

[gerryann]

I'll bet they like the hand feeding. ;)

[Bklynteach]

Yes G they do. This happens to be my first post on TOTV. My husband and I just bought a CYV and am very excited to be a part of TV. We currently live in NJ and will be driving down in August for a month to get things settled. We actually bought this unit because of the fenced yard. The girls love their yard so this villa style was the perfect place.

[CFrance]

Yes G they do. This happens to be my first post on TOTV. My husband and I just bought a CYV and am very excited to be a part of TV. We currently live in NJ and will be driving down in August for a month to get things settled. We actually bought this unit because of the fenced yard. The girls love their yard so this villa style was the perfect place.
Welcome to you and the girls!

[Bklynteach]

Thank u! A quick question if u don't mind. We don't have any cable yet and will only be in TV for a few weeks every few months. Can u Recc a cable company that will allow us to turn on and off several times a year? We also need internet service. I apologize in advance if I'm not suppose to ask questions in this thread.

[CFrance]

Gerryann, what I have on hand is a mixture of Nature's Logic Lamb and Nature's Logic Sardine (very easily digested). You are welcome to come get some to tie you over.

[Barefoot]

We don't have any cable yet and will only be in TV for a few weeks every few months. Can u Recc a cable company that will allow us to turn on and off several times a year? We also need internet service.
Comcast has a plan where you can do that.
If you have questions, the search button (above) may become your new best friend.

[gerryann]

Gerryann, what I have on hand is a mixture of Nature's Logic Lamb and Nature's Logic Sardine (very easily digested). You are welcome to come get some to tie you over.

Thanks so much for the offer. I appreciate it. I think she'll be okey on rice and a little chicken for one day. I could kick myself though for running out.

[wendyquat]

Went to this site and was very glad to see the Evangers I feed my furbabies got 5 stars!

You might want to google evangers. I was about to decide on that as per dogfoodadvisor but read a lot of bad reviews somewhere else. It's very confusing!

[wendyquat]

Finding the right food is doubly frustrating for a diabetic dog. Many things to consider when giving insulin twice a day. Two vets recommend Hills Prescription W/D, which he has been on for 18 months but has quit eating. Although dog food advisor.com does not rate prescription food, it does not speak favorably of all the corn and grains in the W/D. I sought a new vet for a recommendation and it's pretty much, good luck! Ive run into a Blue Buffalo Rep. Twice in two different pet food stores and she says it is the best but dogfoodadvisor does not agree. I think it might be fine for a normal dog but not with diabetes. Still looking! In the meantime I'm cooking chicken!

[Bklynteach]

Thanks Barefoot for the comcast Recc . As far as the dogs teeth I also use oratene which my vet Recc after I had their teeth cleaned and I give them hills TD ( u need a script from the vet) as treats. Good luck with finding a food your pet likes.

[lightworker888]

I just got on a site, Reviews.com which checks out all kinds of things. If yu click on Dog Food, you will get a really thorough review and recommendation for the best brands. Out of hundreds of brands, they have filtered out any that have questionable ingredients, sources and practices and their standards seem very high. They ended up with only 29 out of 115 brands and 134 fformulas out of 2223 and they list their criteria so the reader can judge for herself. It is the best review I have ever seen. I use Origen and Stella and Chewy Raw for our dogs and they thrive on it.

LW888

[CFrance]

One thing to remember about all these dog food reviews is the fact that the heavier the concentration of meat in the food, the better grade they get. Be sure to look at the fat percentage, the protein percentage, and the calories per cup. Some very active dogs can tolerate a higher percentage of protein and fat better than your basic couch potato or dog that is simply walked a couple times a day.

When I was feeding Science Diet to our first golden in the 1990s, he became overweight. My vet advised me that Science Diet Lamb and Rice was very calorie intense, and I was feeding him too much of it. She cut him back to two one-cup servings a day, and he lost 15 lbs in a year, going from 90 lbs to 75. And still healthy, with shiny coat and bright eyes.

Generally, the amount suggested on the back of the bag is too much.

Our current golden, while bigger frame and taller than our first, tends to bulk up a bit. He's on 3/4 cup of Nature's Logic Sardine twice a day at roughly 400 calories a cup, so that we can continue with his healthy treats and add-ins such as Missing Link and pumpkin without causing a weight problem.

[gerryann]

Never knew about the pumpkin. Just looked it up. Think I'll give some a try. Thanks for the info.

[CFrance]

Never knew about the pumpkin. Just looked it up. Think I'll give some a try. Thanks for the info.
Fiber... Suggested by our vet in MI. Anything that makes for easier pickup!

Not being a fan of pumpkin pie, it took me a while to locate the pumpkin cans in the grocery store. The pure pumpkin (no sugar or spices) is located in with the pie fillings on the baking aisle.

[Barefoot]

As far as the dogs teeth I also use oratene which my vet Recc after I had their teeth cleaned and I give them hills TD ( u need a script from the vet) as treats. Good luck with finding a food your pet likes.

Is oratene something you add to a dog's drinking water?
There is an unbiased comparison site @ Dog Food Reviews and Ratings | Dog Food Advisor (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dogfoodadvisor.com) if you want to compare dog foods.
We feed Orijen Dog Food - it's a five-star kibble, made in Canada with fresh products.

[Barefoot]

Our current golden tends to bulk up a bit. He's on 3/4 cup of Nature's Logic Sardine twice a day at roughly 400 calories a cup, so that we can continue with his healthy treats and add-ins such as Missing Link and pumpkin without causing a weight problem.

If our big dog starts to bulk up, we feed her less kibble and add unsalted green beans (we buy them at Walmart).
The beans add fiber so she doesn't notice her portion size has been decreased.
Both our dogs LOVE green beans.

[rn1tv]

Barefoot, our pups are very much alike; they love Orijen kibble and their day treat of green beans....the only difference :mmmm::mmmm:they like frozen green beans!:thumbup:

[Barefoot]

Barefoot, our pups are very much alike; they love Orijen kibble and their day treat of green beans....the only difference they like frozen green beans!:thumbup:

What size are your dogs?
We go the cheap route by buying cans of unsalted green beans from Walmart.
I bet our dogs would love frozen even more, but our 70 lb dog can go thru a lot of beans. :D

[Sable99]

My vet recommended frozen green beans and carrots for my teething puppy!

[rn1tv]

Barefoot, we have 2 shelties. We used to give them peas and carrots and the vet told us to stop but green beans are ok. We pick up the frozen beans when Publix's has it's Birdseye frozen vegetable 50% off sale, Walmart, or Winn Dixie. We give each pup about 1 cup each day and they love them! In the long run, frozen may be cheaper. I think our pups like the cold and the crunch! Give it a try.

[Grandfinch]

Top 10 BEST Dog Foods - Best Dog Food Reviews 2015 (http://betterfoodfordogs.com/top_ten_dog_foods/)

This site. Has good I formation about good and poor quality and why their ratings.

[xcaligirl]

We have two dogs and have been through different dog food but have finally found the right one for them. It's Nature Logic ~ not cheap but! I suggest to go on the Dog Food Advisor to research the 5 star foods. We have tried other 5 star foods for our two ~ some they liked but both of them didn't like it or it didn't agree with them. If you purchase the food locally, it is more expensive. We've been using chewy.com for years as they have the best prices we've found and it's delivered to your doorstep.

[thekeithfan]

I have a 12 year old pug. I have given him Iams dry dog food his whole life. Sometimes he gets "board" with it and won't eat so we sprinkle some canned green beans on top. He usually eats it then. Lately we think his teeth are getting loose and so we put him on canned food. He loves it.

[Sandancer]

Reccommendation for a good vet

[dbussone]

Reccommendation for a good vet

Buffalo Ridge Animal Hospital. And they have 24/7 care available with their emergency service that is open after normal business hours.

[Barefoot]

Barefoot, we have 2 shelties. We used to give them peas and carrots and the vet told us to stop but green beans are ok. We pick up the frozen beans when Publix's has it's Birdseye frozen vegetable 50% off sale, Walmart, or Winn Dixie. We give each pup about 1 cup each day and they love them! In the long run, frozen may be cheaper. I think our pups like the cold and the crunch! Give it a try.
Our human finally gave us frozen beans and we LOVE the crunch.

Biggins :doggie:
Lollipop :doggie:

[K9-Lovers]

Here is a link to an old thread where I have a listing show safe and nutritious and UNSAFE foods for dogs.

The Whole Dog Journal is the best source for recommendations. However, you can use my list. My dogs are gone now, but I used wet food (canned) instead of dry food. (actually, I ended up cooking for my babies). Think about a wild dog -- he eats small prey that is easy to catch. Birds, rabbits, lamb, etc. The prey is wet, not dry. Dogs do not often take down a large animal like a cow. So avoid beef. Also, dogs get their greens (veggies) from eating the intestines of their prey. You never see dogs munching in wheat fields and climbing corn stalks or wading in rice paddies. So do not feed corn, wheat and rice to your dogs. Big food companies like Purina get rid of all the grain not fit for human consumption by putting it in dog food and telling you it is good for your dog. By far, the worst dog food is Beneful, even though they have the best tv commercials. Dogs have died from malnutrition just from being fed Beneful.

Feed wet food (it does not contribute to "bad teeth"). Do not feed beef. Feed zero or low grain. Give your dog fresh food from your table that is good for them such as LEAN chicken (no skin), fish, vegetables.

Do not give them any fat as it can cause pancreatitis. Dogs have a short intestinal tract and cannot deal with fats like humans. Do not give cheese, grease, cream (ice cream). For treats give those baby carrots.

If you are buying good food, don't forget the healthy snacks and cookies. Don't buy the worst biscuits please.

Dangerous to dogs are: onions, garlic, chocolate, raisins, look at google for more info.

I retired from animal control in my city, and ran two dog businesses including food sales before coming to the villages.

Here's my link: http://dev.talkofthevillages.com/archive/index.php/t-30151.html

[JerryLBell]

My dog (a cocker spaniel) is not really food-driven unlike our previous dog (also a cocker spaniel but basically a four-legged eating machine). She has an easily upset stomach and my wife was trying all kinds of dog foods to get her to eat without throwing up. My sister, a vet assistant, told us to stop trying all kinds of dog good and just find a brand where the main ingredient was venison. Her thinking is that dogs came from wolves that eat deer. Whether her thinking is right or not, our dog hardly ever vomits any more.

She does get tired of the dry dog food we get (I forget the brand) but I won't feed her anything else. My wife tries to reward her with treats but those few times that the dog pukes, it's nearly always after having gotten a couple of treats. Now the treat is a small amount of canned dog food that is also based on venison. It ain't cheap, but neither are vet bills.

[kissmelatr]

Does anyone have a dog with allergic dermatitis? Nothing seems to really help. The vet will give her a shot but doesn't last. And that is a steroid so I don't want to give her that anymore. Has had this in past but usually goes away. Not this time. Any help or if you experienced this please let me know.

[CFrance]

Our dog had terrible contact allergies. he would be licking and scratching. It got worse during high pollen seasons. He would also get lots of hot spots and skin eruptions on his chest and underside. He had so little hair in his groin area you could see all the skin. Eruptions there too.

We and our vet tried everything. Antibiotics and steroids would clear things up, but then the condition would come back, several times a year. You can't keep a dog on steroids like that, and the antibiotics alone didn't help.

I gave in and finally spend the $1K to take him over to AVS in Maitland and have him tested for allergies and a vaccine developed. (My vet referred him.) After three months, I couldn't believe the difference. He hasn't had a hot spot in over a year, has stopped licking and scratching, and his hair is so lush again you cannot see the skin anywhere.

I give him one shot a week. He can be on these for life with no harmful side effects. I so wish I had done this when he was two.

Some people pooh-pooh these allergy shots, and they apparently don't work in about 30% of dogs, but our guy was so miserable I had to give it a try.

AVS stands for Affiliated Veterinarian Services, and the derm vet we used is Dr. Wassaman. She is fantastic with dogs. Crosby loooooooooooooves her.

[lightworker888]

It was suggested that we give her some local honey to alleviate the itching and so I give them both local honey a week before we get here and then for awhile when we are here. It seems to have helped. Just a thought.

LW888

[DonH57]

We recently swtched to a weight management formula dog food since seizure medications increase appetite. On a happier note I got a recently better dental checkup!

[GeoGeo]

Check out: Dog Food Reviews and Ratings | Dog Food Advisor (http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/)

Years ago we never gave dog food much of a thought. You didn't spend hours researching on-line or reading the back of bags. You just grabbed something from the store shelf. Things are different now. And with the internet you hear so many scary stories like the story how Beneful was allegedly killing dogs and how Blue Buffalo lied about its ingredients, etc.

I fed Beneful for years and one of my dachshunds lived to be 18. I fed Rachel Ray and my current dachshund had seizures while on it. I believe different dogs are sensitive to different foods. One food may cause your dog's hair to get dull or fall out. Another food causes loose stools. A lot of it is looking at the ingredients and seeing what you think of the ingredients. Then see how your dog does on it. You may have change a number of times to find the one that agrees with your dog or your dog may do fine on any of them.

This is one of the biggest talked about topics on-line when it comes to dogs.

I, personally, don't like foods that have things like by-products listed. By-products are things like lips, feet, etc. I like meat as the first ingredient whether it be lamb, turkey, bison, chicken, or whatever protein you prefer. I don't see any dogs grazing in the corn fields.

And you have to watch out for those special words used in marketing that don't mean much.

Good luck.

[CFrance]

Check out: Dog Food Reviews and Ratings | Dog Food Advisor (http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/)

Years ago we never gave dog food much of a thought. You didn't spend hours researching on-line or reading the back of bags. You just grabbed something from the store shelf. Things are different now. And with the internet you hear so many scary stories like the story how Beneful was allegedly killing dogs and how Blue Buffalo lied about its ingredients, etc.

I fed Beneful for years and one of my dachshunds lived to be 18. I fed Rachel Ray and my current dachshund had seizures while on it. I believe different dogs are sensitive to different foods. One food may cause your dog's hair to get dull or fall out. Another food causes loose stools. A lot of it is looking at the ingredients and seeing what you think of the ingredients. Then see how your dog does on it. You may have change a number of times to find the one that agrees with your dog or your dog may do fine on any of them.

This is one of the biggest talked about topics on-line when it comes to dogs.

I, personally, don't like foods that have things like by-products listed. By-products are things like lips, feet, etc. I like meat as the first ingredient whether it be lamb, turkey, bison, chicken, or whatever protein you prefer. I don't see any dogs grazing in the corn fields.

And you have to watch out for those special words used in marketing that don't mean much.

Good luck.
All good advice.

We went through four kibbles before landing on Nature's Logic on the advice of a local pet food store. The first three kept changing their ingredients and ingredient sources. I was told the coat is the last thing that receives the nutrition from the food. If the nutrition is not good, the coat will be dull. Most vitamin additives are manufactured in China. Nature's Logic has no added vitamins. Everything needed is in the food.

In any event, be careful of the fillers used. Most pass through as waste. If you're not seeing small, firm waste, your dog food contains a lot of useless, non-nutritional junk that isn't being absorbed. When they're "pooping cigars," it's a good sign.

[Kkbart4@gmail.com]

Zignature is an outstanding kibble, limited ingredients and no fillers. Dogs do better on "wet" food so mixing in wet food is a good idea. Raw bones are best for dogs teeth - I have been told that dry food really doesn't keep tartar away.

[alice getz]

I have so much trouble getting my ****zui to eat anything cheap. Like dry dog food. They our killing me all they like is Pup Peroni. Help

[Barefoot]

I have so much trouble getting my ****zui to eat anything cheap. Like dry dog food. They our killing me all they like is Pup Peroni. Help

My older dog, Biggins, is now 15 years old, blind and deaf. But he still enjoys life and playing like a puppy. And he has amazing bladder control.

The Vet said he needed to gain a couple of pounds. He will only eat garbage wet food, like Ceaser. If he were younger, I'd worry about nutrition. But at 15, with three missing teeth, I feed him what he likes.

[FosterMomma]

We have three Golden Retrievers and feed them Acana dry food. We dehydrate our own treats ... Sweet potato is their favourite!

[FosterMomma]

Sometimes itching is allergy and this is ragweed season... Try an antihistamine and see if that helps your pup.