Which dog food?

[thoughts_refracted]

We recently adopted a six year old dachshund and are not sure which food to use. We are using Natura Chicken, Lamb, and Rice which is what he was eating in his former home. Any tips on choosing a food for him? We were told that he needs a smaller kibble but other than that, no special requirements.

Thanks.

[CLee]

is there a problem with using the natura brand? why bother changing?

[Renee750il]

Anything NaturaPet makes is a good choice, depending on your dog's individual needs. Their EVO food from the Innova line has very small kibble and no grain.

[thoughts_refracted]

There is no problem with it, only we wanted to offer him the best we can so the question should have been phrased differently to read: is Natura good enough or is there something better? Thanks for your replies. I think probably we will stick with Natura.

[Mordy]

Question here: are we discussing "Nutro" or "Natura"?

I'm not aware of a Natura food that contains both lamb and chicken, but there is one Nutro Max variety that does, and it's a very low quality food.

[JR0579]

Originally Posted by Mordy

Question here: are we discussing "Nutro" or "Natura"?

I'm not aware of a Natura food that contains both lamb and chicken, but there is one Nutro Max variety that does, and it's a very low quality food.

Hi Mordy, I am currently feeding Roy Natura Chicken Meal and Rice.

http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=product-detail&pxsl=%2F%2Fproduct%5B@id%3D%2762%27%5D

[Mordy]

Yup, Natura has products that contain either chicken or lamb, but not both.

[JR0579]

Originally Posted by Mordy

Yup, Natura has products that contain either chicken or lamb, but not both.

Hi Mordy, my apologies. I miss read the original post and your response. I should have known better than to correct or inform The One and Only Mordy

[thoughts_refracted]

Mordy,

You were right, it is nutro. I don't know what I was thinking, posted late at night and got natura stuck in my head (I had probably been reading other posts about it). Sorry for wasting everyone's time.

So you say nutro is bad? Is there a specific reason? For future reference, I mean.

Is it alright to finish what we have or should we phase it out right away?

Thanks for the help.

[Mordy]

JR0579, no need to apologize. I just know from experience thatthe two brand names get confused a lot.

thoughts_refracted, Nutro is basically an overpriced food for the ingredients that are used, and the Nutro Max line is their lowest level of quality.

I'll give you a short run down on the MAX Puppy specifically:

Main ingredients:
Chicken Meal - no problem, this is fine
Corn Gluten Meal - poor quality plant-based protein filler
Wheat Flour - feed-grade refined flour instead of whole grain, robbed of many nutrients
Poultry Fat - generic, which type(s) of poultry, and how much of what?

---You see that of the mentioned "Chicken, Lamb, and Rice" even really only one ingredient is present as a main ingredient!

Lesser ingredients:
Ground Rice - no problem
Rice Bran - a rice fraction, listed separately from rice because all together it would push it up higher on the ingredient list
Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed) - not problematic in small amounts, but here it's used as a filler
Whole Wheat - no problem
Lamb Meal - no problem, but low on the ingredient list for a meat ingredient, only #9!
Natural Flavors - what flavors? Not disclosed...
Potassium Chloride - no problem
Brewers Dried Yeast - no problem
Lecithin - no problem
Choline Chloride - no problem
Dried Buttermilk - no problem
Dried Egg Product - no problem, but low on the ingredient list
Dried Kelp (source of Iodine) - no problem
Magnesium Oxide - oxides are cheap, poorly absorbed feed grade supplements
Vitamin E Supplement
Iron Sulfate - most sulfates are cheap, poorly absorbed feed grade supplements
Biotin - no problem
Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C) - no problem
Iron Oxide - oxides are cheap, poorly absorbed feed grade supplements (iron oxide = rust)
Zinc Oxide - oxides are cheap, poorly absorbed feed grade supplements
Manganous Oxide - oxides are cheap, poorly absorbed feed grade supplements
Niacin - no problem
Calcium Pantothenate - no problem
Vitamin B12 Supplement - no problem
Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2) - no problem
Vitamin A Supplement - no problem
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6) - no problem
Sodium Selenite - no problem
Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1) - no problem
Vitamin D3 Supplement - no problem
Copper Oxide - oxides are cheap, poorly absorbed feed grade supplements
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity) - see http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=menadione
Calcium Iodate - no problem
Folic Acid - no problem