Store brand dog foods.

[Squishy22]

Pedigree ingredients are exactly the same. (the adult formulas). Even the foods shapes are the same. But, there is one food that is even worse.(Ifthat is possible). Look at the ingredients of a bag of Doggie Bag at Tractor Supply if you have one near. I would have to look again at all the ingredients, but the first on the list is wheat middlings. ????? I don't even remember seeing a meat listed at all anywhere.

And its sad that these companies are making money off of selling this crap. Holy cow.

 

[Squishy22]

I've fed Purina One for a long time. My animals have always done well on it. But after reading the food section here on chaz, I am looking into upgrading to something better. I just dont know where to find the good stuff. Vets office sells science diet and I heard that wasnt any good.

Aside from Purina One, I feed raw as a treat. As much as a 3 pound chihuahua eats, I could easily switch to all raw. It wouldnt break the bank and I can find it right at the grocery store. lol.

 

[Boemy]

My kittens started out on Science Diet, then I switched them to a high end food, Nutro Max. Oh my GOD, their poop became toxically stinky overnight. I mean awful. I had switched them over gradually, had them on it for over a month . . . No change. Then I tried Natural Balance. Still stinky poop. This went on until they were old enough to eat adult cat food, at which point I switched to Kirklands. Poof, their poop firmed up (it had also been very loose on the previous two foods) and lost its overbearing stinkiness. But their poop had also been non-stinky with Science Diet.

I firmly believe that you need to search for the best food for your particular pet. And if it's a lower end or "crap" brand, so be it. My dog lived to fourteen eating Pedigree and was incredibly healthy.

 

[dobesgalore]

My kittens started out on Science Diet, then I switched them to a high end food, Nutro Max. Oh my GOD, their poop became toxically stinky overnight. I mean awful. I had switched them over gradually, had them on it for over a month . . . No change. Then I tried Natural Balance. Still stinky poop. This went on until they were old enough to eat adult cat food, at which point I switched to Kirklands. Poof, their poop firmed up (it had also been very loose on the previous two foods) and lost its overbearing stinkiness. But their poop had also been non-stinky with Science Diet.

I firmly believe that you need to search for the best food for your particular pet. And if it's a lower end or "crap" brand, so be it. My dog lived to fourteen eating Pedigree and was incredibly healthy.

Yep, I think it depends on the dog. My parents feed Beneful, and both of theirs look great, have soft coats and feel good. I don't say anything, because why? What can I say when the dogs are doing fine? I believe it all depends on the dogs. Some can handle the more premium, and others can't. Some people can eat certain foods with no problem when others can't. All according to the individual. JMO.

 

[elegy]

meat by-products are the "clean" parts of slaughtered animals, not including meat. I know right? They include lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, stomach and intestines freed of their contents.

and those are all things i would have be thrilled to get ahold of when i was feeding raw. by products aren't bad things in and of themselves- feeding whole prey would be the ideal, right? it's how they're used. same with grain- in and of itself, not a bad thing. but as the primary source of protein? no good.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

My kittens started out on Science Diet, then I switched them to a high end food, Nutro Max. Oh my GOD, their poop became toxically stinky overnight. I mean awful.

I wouldn't consider nutro max high end honestly. They call themselves premium.. but they are lying to themselves then.

Natural adult nutro max

Chicken Meal, Wheat Flour, Ground Whole Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Rice Bran, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Ground Rice, Chicken, Natural Flavors, Sodium Bicarbonate, Calcium Carbonate, Monosodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Carbonate, Yeast Culture, L-Lysine, Salt, Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Oxide, Dried Kelp, Lecithin, Garlic Flavor, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Riboflavin (source of Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity).

Better than the crappy food, but it's mid grade at best. Glad they start with chicken meal, but there is just as much wheat corn and rice in there along with some skeazy unnamed poultry fat and vitamin k.

 

[Gguevara]

and those are all things i would have be thrilled to get ahold of when i was feeding raw. by products aren't bad things in and of themselves- feeding whole prey would be the ideal, right? it's how they're used. same with grain- in and of itself, not a bad thing. but as the primary source of protein? no good.

That's what I was trying to get across, hence the emphasize on the no meat part =p

 

[pawzaddict]

My kittens started out on Science Diet, then I switched them to a high end food, Nutro Max. Oh my GOD, their poop became toxically stinky overnight. I mean awful. I had switched them over gradually, had them on it for over a month . . . No change. Then I tried Natural Balance. Still stinky poop. This went on until they were old enough to eat adult cat food, at which point I switched to Kirklands. Poof, their poop firmed up (it had also been very loose on the previous two foods) and lost its overbearing stinkiness. But their poop had also been non-stinky with Science Diet.

I firmly believe that you need to search for the best food for your particular pet. And if it's a lower end or "crap" brand, so be it. My dog lived to fourteen eating Pedigree and was incredibly healthy.

one of my cats had the most god awful poo on nutro max...kirklands = better poo lol.

 

[4dogs3cats]

My dogs are currently eating kirkland. I took them off raw when I just didnt have time or money to be grocery shopping all the time for them. The ONLY difference I have seen is that yeah they're shedding more, and bailey is picking up a little bit of weight, but she always does in the summer anyway.

I had this conversation with my mom last night, actually. She switched FROM Wellness to Beneful. I thought it was a money issue so I didn't bring it up but now she's mixing benful dry with beneful wet.

I asked her if that was more expensive than wellness and she said yes, but Mocha LIKES this one more.

When i explained she was doing a disservice to her by feeding her all that corn, she said, Napa (our husky gsd malamute) lived a long life and died of old age on purina. Indy (lab X) lived to 14 and was never even overweight.

and it got me thinking. I dont eat ONLY things that are healthy for me every day. I'm sure that I should be eating fruit instead of double stuffed oreos. But I am getting a LOT OF healthy food, just mixing some junk food in there too.

Which is why I would never feed something like ol roy that has literally NO nutritional value. Might as well go puppy mill style and feed sawdust.

But I dont mind feeding kirkland, because my dogs like it, they ARE getting nutrition, I supplement with fish oil and RMB's as treats. And they're happy. Plus at $26.00 a 40 pound bag, you really can't beat the price.

And I dont think that makes me a bad owner.

 

[showluver]

Yep, if you are looking at store brand only, Purina ONE is the best. Also Wal mart did, not sure of they still do, caryy Maxximum...it was also a decent food as well.

Always something better, but not everyone can afford the high priced holistics, etc.

We raise show dogs and feed Purina ONE. Have for years, dogs do wonderful and coats are great, so no reason to switch.

Minus our Dobe, she has allergies and she gets Nature's Recipe, The only one we have found that does not cause her to suffer from ear infections.

 

[Shadow945]

how about Chicken soup for the dog lover's soul? It's all natural and made with fresh ingredients. And they have dry and wet formulas. anyone tried it out?

 

[Fran101]

I second Purina ONE and the IAMS Natural.

I actually know quite a few dogs where the high-end foods didnt sit well with them and do extremely well on the *crap foods*.

Kenya does HORRIBLY bad on all "high end dog foods" the only 2 things she can eat are RAW which she does amazingly on, and Proplan which she does great on also

im not going to force highend food onto her because it makes her really sick so i just stick with what she likes and makes her feel good

 

[dobesgalore]

how about Chicken soup for the dog lover's soul? It's all natural and made with fresh ingredients. And they have dry and wet formulas. anyone tried it out?

I feed chicken soup for puppies to Aussie and he likes it and does well with it. I don't know about the wet formulas.

 

[Shadow945]

yeah they're pretty affordable compared to other store brands . the wet formulas are here: Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul : Products : Dogs : Canned Food