Dog Channel / Dog Nutrition / All About Dogs

What's the best dry food for American Pit Bull Terrier's?

Vince and Sassy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:29:56 GMT

My name is Vince and I'm just getting back into dog ownership since 1995 and I know allot has probably changed. I am the proud owner of my new daughter Sassy Lady an 9 week old Pit Bull pup. Back when I was last into dog ownership I always gave my dogs Science Diet.

So now that I have gotten back into the game I am trying to get some info and opinions on what's the best brand dry dog food out now for dogs in general but mainly for American Pit Bull Terriers.

Thanks for any info,

Dog Food Poll for dry food

minpinlvr25 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:29:23 GMT

Hi I have a 2 year old Miniature Pinscher. She is very healthy and happy. I had my dog recently on the INNOVA dog food. Well I have been doing some research and wanted to try her on the Wellness Super5Mix small breed. I am in the process now of switching her over gradually. She loves it! With the INNOVA, she did have a shiny coat but her poo smells bad and is sometimes soft. I only feed her all natural treats like Dogswell and I do offer her fresh fruits and veggies. I was told that Wellness is in the top 5 for the best dog foods. I just want her poo to get hard and not so smelly. With so many recalls out there you have to be really careful with what you feed your dog. I think this is a great food the Wellness but I wanted to see what others thought. I just picked a few other dog foods that I noticed others use. Any thoughts are appreciated. I am also going to introduce her to the Wellness canned food after the gradual change over.

Biscuit recipes?

silverpoodle88 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:57:00 GMT

I am looking into making my own dog biscuits to save money. Does anyone have any recipes that have worked well? Are there any good books on the subject?

What do you feed your dog?

macypimm — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:49:20 GMT

I'm just wondering what everybody feeds their dogs...whether it be raw diet, kibble, soft food, table scraps (you shouldn't feed your dog this one, by the way)...and what brands and your favorite types of dog treats.

Might be making the switch soon

Collie/GSD/Sheltie/Corgi/Russell_luvr — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:51:36 GMT

Can anyone provide good articles on the raw diet? I read a bunch last night, but would like to learn as much as possible.

Switching food frequently

silverpoodle88 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:18:17 GMT

I like to give Midnight a lot of variety. Every time I go through a five pound bag of food (which takes about a month and a half), I will switch to a different brand or formula. Sometimes, I will give her a meal of raw chicken or beef. She never has any trouble with this. Is there any benefit to feeding a dog this way?

picky eater

ziggyzig — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:27:03 GMT

why are some dogs picky eaters?

when my dog was still a puppy, he would immediately eat the food that i would give him. but when he got older (like a year until now, he's 5), he became picky. first, he wouldn't eat dog food. so we gave him cooked chicken, fish or pork. we would boil the meat or fish until it's soft and that's what he eats. then we switched back to dog food after 2 or 3 years and he ate dog food again. but he's doesn't eat his food at once. he would push it around first and sometimes after pushing, he would eat but sometimes he doesn't. he would just wait until he's hungry (i think)

What to feed a Dog with allergies?????

sweetsug — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:07:33 GMT

Hey, I am fairly new to DC. But i have 2 dogs that have allergies. And right now we are trying Natural Balance Duck and Potato Allergy Formula. And i was just curious if anyone on here has a dog with food allergies, that could tell me what worked for them. And what kind of food you feed.

Pre-Made Raw Dog Foods

AirForceAngel — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:07:14 GMT

I decided about a month ago to switch my boys to a raw food diet. I joined a raw community and I have done everything right thus far, but my Pom has had chronic diarrhea since we started the raw. He had a tapeworm, which he passed during his neutering [lucky me] and has since only had very rare accidents in the home and none in his kennel. I kept hoping the diarrhea would subside, but then tonight he left me a gift in our living room and I realized it's time to try something different.

I was thinking about trying a pre-made raw dog food with him along with supplements and/or herbs to support colon/digestive health to see if I could help him get his normal stool back. Does anyone else feed pre-made raw dog foods or have any suggestions on ones I should try?

Thank you in advance.

Does anyone feed raw?

iheartbassets3 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:21:49 GMT

I have been feeding my six dogs raw for about 2 months and have seen many benefits since switching them to the raw diet. Their coats look great, their teeth are whiter, their poops are smaller and turn to dust withing a couple of days, the ones with allergies are better, the ones that were/are overweight have begun to lose, and they have sero doggy odor. Does anyone else here feed raw?

New Food Choice

pennysmama — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:17:52 GMT

We are currently feeding our 5 month old puppy Nutro Natural puppy formula - but we are thinking about switching. Does anyone have any opinions on Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul - puppy formula? I have been doing some research and Chicken Soup gets a 5 star rating from Dog Food Analysis but wanted to see if you guys had any opinions. Thanks!

My picky husky

Iczy — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:58:10 GMT

My Husky, Hawkins, has been eating Pro plan since he was a pup; well, then he ate it alone, then when he got 8 months old we changed him to Pro plan Large breed formula; now I changed him to Pro plan Selects Salmon and Brown rice formula because he has a very sensitive skin. But like i said the problem is he doesn't want to eat it alone! Do you know about some compliments for his food (based on salmon or something that it's not chicken or beef) or what can i do so he can learn to eat it alone! Thanks!

Okay...so anyboyd heard of these studies?

Collie/GSD/Sheltie/Corgi/Russell_luvr — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:37:44 GMT

Someone who raises guide dogs on another website keeps talking about studies conducted by their guide dog school that prove that "the common brands" like Iams are the best. But whenever I ask them for more info and for links or more specific sources, they just say that the studies are not available to the public. Makes me wonder...well, anyway, I e-mailed the Guide Dogs of America about it tonight.
Just wondering if anyone here knows anything about these rumored studies? I doubt that they even exist (or if they do, they may be old studies), as this person is behaving very rudely with me and seems to me like someone who wants to stir up trouble or is too high-minded to consider other possibilities. But still, if these do exist, I want to have a look-see at them. I seriously doubt that I'll find anything legit, but, hey, it's worth the look in my view.

Bowl Food

GSDsRock — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:46:31 GMT

I give my gal dry food with mixable pouches.

Missing Link

PandaBear — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:35:37 GMT

Has anyone used this product? I am planning on using this product on my puppy but I want to hear responses from you guys.

Fatty acid supplementation for health

threedoghouse — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:10:47 GMT

I work @ Barleans Organic Oils where we make human grade Flax for Animals. contact me @ barbb@barleans.com if you have any questions.

Best of Health to our furry children!

Ol'Roy

wolf~dog — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:54:29 GMT

Is Ol'Roy a good dog food?

good food for picky Boxer

Riss — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:48:04 GMT

A friend just called me looking for some advice. Her daughter's Boxer has started turning its nose up at it's food, and she's concerned about it losing weight. They wanted to know if there was a better food or a breed-specific food. I forgot to ask what they're currently feeding it, but I was asked if I'd heard of Eukanuba, so I think they're considering it. I said I'd heard it was supposed to be pretty good, and also Royal Canin. Any other ideas of brands? Or is there a good breed-specific brand?

Canidae Dog Food

tweety28 — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:46:17 GMT

Does anyone use Canidae dog food. I searched high and low researching dog food for my puppies. When we got our 2 babies from breeder they were on Iams Smart puppy food. When I looked into it I was scared out of my mind with all the bad food out there. I changed when they were about 6 months old, they are 7.5 months now. I want the best for my puppies.

I know there are more expensive ones out there, but I want great food at somewhat reasonable prices but if not I will switch. i heard that Canidae has switched their formula and depends upon who you talk to whether its for better or worse. I reviewed the top 12 with a ebook i bought online from Sharda Baker and i do not know if its a hoax or not. But recently they changed the 12 and now Canidae is not ontheir list.

I was also told to try Artemis and that is good for them and helps their eye stain. Artemis is very expensive. i was going o go with that before hubby and I settled for Canidae. Him being price concerned.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Tweety28

skinny husky-any advice?

art-of-shred — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:59:51 GMT

hello all, I have an almost 2 year old siberian husky (shred) I took him to the vet because I thought he looked underweight. she checked him out, and said he was fine that sometimes the breed tends to be on the thin side. she recommended barking at the moon (solid gold) because of it's high fat content and because it's super tasty to most picky eaters.

three months later and he hasn't gained anything, in fact he looks thinner since blowing his coat!! is there anything (healthy) anyone would recommend to beef him up a notch or two?

thanks for reading and any tips you have for us!

What treats do you use and why?

AbbyGirl — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:04:48 GMT

Hello Everyone,

I am Tiffany and I am here (on this forum ) with my sweetheart Abby.

Abby is our 1 year old Rottie, New Finland mix.

Just curious what kind of "specialty treats" people are using with their dogs?

A friend of mine suggested that by putting raw eggs on top of my Abbygirl's food it would keep her coat shiny and make the food taste better for her.

Thanks for any and all feedback!

Tiff and Abby

Dog Cookies.

mingandmom — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:16:05 GMT

I was reading a cook book and they gave a recipie on how to make dog cookies.

1. Peanut Butter Dog Treats

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup whole milk

Preheat oven to 375 f.
In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In a separate bowl, mix your peanut butter and milk, add into dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a dog bone cookie cutter. Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.
Watch your treats so they don't burn !!

Dogs go crazy for this awesome peanut butter treat !!

do YOU know whats in your dog food?

tysmom — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:29:18 GMT

If you know how to read dog food labels and the like, this topic isn't for you.

However, if you DON'T know what is in dog food I would reccomend purchasing a book called "Food Pets Die For". After reading the book, I've never went back to commercial foods ever again. It really opens your eyes.

Please, do your pets a favor and read it.

Evanger's - FDA Suspends Permit

Ginny — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:44:50 GMT

I feed Evanger's canned and was shocked when I saw this announcement from the FDA. It appears the suspension is now lifted, but this is the best documented/reasearched case I have seen to date...that's why I'm posting it. I only wish the other companies were as open and forthcoming as Evanger's. The story begins June 12, 2009...

The FDA announcement: (add copy link and add 'www.' at the beginning of the link)

fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm166265.htm

eFOOD's investigation (June 22, 2009): (add copy link and add 'http:' + '//' at the beginning of the link)

efoodalert.blogspot.com/2009/06/evangers-filling-in-blanks.html

eFOOD's case closed (June 25, 2009): (add copy link and add 'http:' + '//' at the beginning of the link)

efoodalert.blogspot.com/search/label/Evanger

Sorry for the extra instructions, but I just haven't figured out how to make hot links work on this site.

Canidae & Weight Loss

Ginny — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:26:46 GMT

OK, if you look at the old Canidae thread you'll see I was #1 in staying away from it with the new formula and and new manuf (Diamond). After trying several brands my feed store talked me into trying Canidae again - cost benefits, free bag, and they had not heard of any problems from their customers. So I bought 15 - 30+ lbs bags.

Now a little background - I have 5 Labs and/or mixed Labs, and truth be told Labs will eat anything and are usually on diets to lose weight. My dogs range in age from 1 - 12 yrs. 3 of my dogs are large - 90 - 100+ lbs (Lab, Lab/Dane, Lab/Sheperd) and 2 are medium 60-70 lbs (Sheperd/Terrier, Sheperd/Lab).

Usually a 30+ lbs bag will last me 1.5 to 2 weeks along with canned food plus supplements to maintain their optium weight/body condition. The other brands I tried were Innovia, Taste of the Wild, Wellness with no problems or weight loss. When I made the switch back to Canidae (I use to feed exclusively before their changes) my Lab/Sheperd experience the 'runs' for three days - the others experienced no problems.

Then I began to think they were losing weight and I thought they began to look skinny. This I marked off to the change in weather and they were losing their fluffy winter coats. All that under coat made them look fatter?! I continued to think it was my imagination until I had a small medical emergency - my Lab/Dane broke a claw digging for gophers. Well off the Vet we went - a little surgery and full physical discovered my 100+ lbs dog now weighted 85 lbs - more than a 15% weight loss. Fearing the worst we did a full blood panel - thank goodness everything came in A-OK. After a discussion with the Vet - aka no recent lifestyle changes, no taumas - the only thing we came up with was the food change. I brought the rest of my dogs in for a weight check and blood panels. If anyone has undergone a blood panel, they aren't cheap - mine ran $160/ea. All came in A-OK, and all dogs had lost weight.

Has anyone else experienced this?????

As for me, I'm am now feeding twice as much Canidae dry than I usually do to try and put weight back on the dogs. As for the cost benefits of switching back to Canidae they are now flushed down the toilet. Looks like I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and pay the extra $$ for a different food I'd love to try Evangers Pheasant dry, but I have to special order it My dogs loved Taste of the Wild Pacific but the small bags make it to $$$$.

Best Kind of Canned Food??

chimom — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:24:11 GMT

Sorry if I'm repeating a question but I'm confused as to what canned food is the best/healthiest for my Mugsy? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

He's been eating Alpo as that's what his previous owner's fed him.I personally don't feel that it's very healthy for him but I'm not sure which one is best.

is Nutro Natural choice from pet store good?

starry*boy — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:12:28 GMT

Got to pet smart today And I got star this :

Nutro , Natural Choice.

Ingrednts : (1st few) Lamb meal , Ground rice , Rice flour, Rice bran , poultry fat. Just to name a few. Notice no corn!!

So will this be good for star?

Tricks for a picky dog?

Bulldoggin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:13:25 GMT

Ok, I've been having an issue with Kaylee lately of not wanting to eat her dog food. She's currently on Diamond Naturals: Large Breed Puppy, Lamb and Rice.

"Calorie Content: 3,656 kcal/kg (342 kcal/cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy.

Ingredients
Lamb, lamb meal, egg product, cracked pearled barley, millet, ground rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potato protein, oatmeal, potatoes, tomato pomace, flaxseed, natural flavor, salmon oil (source of DHA), ocean fish meal, potassium chloride, choline chloride, dried chicory root, kelp, carrots, peas, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, rosemary extract, parsley flake, yucca schidigera extract, L-Carnitine, Enterococcus faecieum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevesiae fermentation solubles, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein 27.0% Minimum
Crude Fat 15.0% Minimum
Crude Fiber 3.0% Maximum
Moisture 10.0% Maximum
Calcium 1.2% Minimum
Phosphorus 1.2% Maximum
Phosphorus 1.0% Minimum
Zinc 150 mg/kg Minimum
Selenium 0.4 mg/kg Minimum
Vitamin E 150 IU/kg Minimum
L-Carnitine * 30 mg/kg Minimum
Omega-6 Fatty Acids * 2.2% Minimum
Omega-3 Fatty Acids * 0.3% Minimum
DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) * 0.05% Minimum

* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile."

Taken from http://www. dogfoodanalysis. com/

I put her on this food because it's healthier than most brands for the price, $30 for a 40 lbs bag. As much as I would like to, I just can't afford to put her on the more expensive dog foods as with shipping or driving 100 miles would really add up. So I went with the best dog food near me.

Anywho, back to the problem. Kaylee hasn't been eating her dog food like she should. For her weight and age, it said at least 1 1/2 to 2 cups daily but it's been taking her a least 2 days to eat just a cup or so. We take her with us when we go to friends' houses so I think they've been slipping her some scraps. This started in the last 2 weeks. She's also been trying to manipulate me into giving her more treats. I have a method of training that she gets a treat when she comes in from outside so she associates coming in as a good thing. Well I picked up on that trick quick and have stopped with the treating method every time and have been spacing her rewards out much more so it's a surprise.

When she goes to my parents, they feed puppy chow to their chihuahuas, and she will eat it until she pops if we'd let her but I usually pick up the feeder and don't allow her to eat it.

My friend works at Petsmart and suggested that I just leave the food out and she'll eat when she's hungry but she won't eat for days and it gets stale and then she really won't eat it and I end up throwing it out. I know I wouldn't want stale food...

My mom suggests that I buy a more flavorful food, aka less healthy food, and mix in with her healthier food. Bullies are prone to skin allergies so I was trying to stay away from a lot of corn since it has a high association with them.

I just want my girl to eat and be healthy. I paid a small fortune for her and I just want her to have the best life she can.

Any tips or suggestions will be appreciated.

evo dog food

mellajane — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:45:44 GMT

My 19 month old boxer has huge stomach issues.. We were given samples of the evo food .He loves it we feed him hills prescript now recommmended by the vet. His poopys got much better i mix rice and chicken with it. Anyways we want to try the evo permanatly .

homemade dog food

Celestyal — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:11:31 GMT

does anybody know of a book/website that has some good hypoallergic/specialty homemade dog foods? I want to take my dog off of starch all together due to systemic yeast and nothing on the shelves that i've found fits that description.

Thanks

Food alternative to Science Diet c/d

jg2008 — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:12:04 GMT

The dog in question has been eating Hills c/d for some months since he was diagnosed with struvite crystals, but his latest tests show he's just about fine. We're trying to get the owners (our friends) to switch foods. Does anyone have recommendations for an alternative food? No raw sorry, owners have specified they don't want raw at this point.

Thanks!

Dog food recalls ...

Ginbail — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 08:24:59 GMT

We recently switched dog food because of economics, not because of the recalls. We're fortunate that neither the food we were feeding, nor the new food was involved in the recalls (as of yet). However, we noticed that the shelves at the pet food supplier was relatively sparse. Anybody wishing to switch dog foods these days has limited options.

The topic of pet nutrition is very subjective. We're feeding our dogs food that we consider to be a good fit for us and for our dogs' well being. Even the pet nutrition experts generally disagree about some aspect of properly feeding our dogs. I know that there are many opinions on dog feeding regimens (I'm familiar with most of them), and that very few people agree about what is best for their dogs. As an example: Many folks swear by the BARF diet. However, many BARF people disagree on the best ingredients for that regimen.

How is everybody here coping with the recalls? How many folks recently switched pet food, only to find that the new brand was also recalled? How many folks are considering a change of their dog's food regimen altogether? I know that this pet food recall will be fixed soon enough, but until then we all have decisions to make.

Switching Kibble

2BrownDogs — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:06:46 GMT

Question I recived on club dog

starry*boy — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:47:55 GMT

Hey,

My friend on club dog , Pongo, knows that grapes are bad for your dog but is grape flavored Popsicles bad too?? Thanks.

Dog isn't eating

ScarletDreams489 — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:58:52 GMT

Hello, I am relatively new here. I'm very active in the catchannel forums. I currently live with my grandmother and three cats, one of which is mine. Recently we came into possession of a dog. This was actually my mother's dog. My mother gave her up because she was aggressive with her cats and told me she was going to euthanize her for being aggressive. We just had to take her to prevent this from happening. There are no problems with the cats here (in fact, there were not real problems with the cats while she was at my mother's house). The real problem is that she wont eat. Since we have had her (about a week), I have had to put treats in her food, or that savory sauce that you can get at petco. Even then she wont always eat it. I have to really coax her to get her to eat her food. I am feeding her nutro natural choice lamb and rice right now. I know that it is pretty new for her being here, but shouldn't she eat if she is hungry? I thought it might have been because mom let her free feed, but when I left her breakfast down all day she didn't touch it until I put treats in it. So any ideas or suggestions? Thanks

Does certain brands of dry dog food cause flatuation?

breezy2you — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:55:44 GMT

I have given my dog the same dog food in the past and he doesn't get human food. His flatulence is really bad, to the point of me wanting to leave him outside. He spends alot of time in the house with me and other pets.

Who uses or has used Diamond dog food

Ralphie's mom — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:33:36 GMT

Just wondering if anyone uses or has used Diamond dog or cat food? Iv used both diamond dog and cat food and my animals seem to love it and it makes them look really good, and if I change there food it seems like my dog or cat gets less soft and shiney and doesnt look as filled out as they do when they are on diamond. Just wondering if anyone else likes the food or not.

How to Choose Healthy Dog Food

hidog — Sun, 10 May 2009 03:04:18 GMT

Have you ever scanned the ingredients in a commercial dog food and thought, "How can this be healthy?" Some may think most pet foods available in stores today are so highly processed and full of preservatives, they aren't any better for our dogs than potato chips are for humans. However, unlike potato chips, a pet food must prove it can provide all the nutrients needed by the dog, cat, puppy or kitten before it is sold. So before your dog takes another bite, read these tips on how to find the healthiest food for your pooch.
1. Understand that arguably, the best ratios for a healthy dog's diet are about 40% meat, 50% veggies, and only about 10% grain or other carbohydrate. Choose pet food close to this ingredient ratio. However, this type of information is not available from the regulated part of the label (ie, guaranteed analysis or ingredient list).
2. Ensure that meat meal protein sources are high in the ingredient list. The meal is basically the pre-cooked meat, which ensures that it won't reduce down anymore during the cooking process. (It takes 5 pounds of the animal meat to make one pound of the animal meal.) You could look for three of the first five ingredients listed on the label as a form of protein such as chicken meal, lamb meal, venison meal. Although by-products can include chicken beaks, feet, bones, etc., reputable manufacturers will select ingredients processed to remove such indigestible material. However, as per AAFCO, animal by-products MUST contain the animals head, feet, and or intestines. Rarely, you may need to look for foods that exclude corn, cornmeal, and wheat, due to concerns about potential allergens. Although corn is not as digestible as rice and wheat. Grains can be a long-term source of energy and energy storage for dogs, but they can also be used as a cheap filler in order to boost the food's protein percentage. Watch out! Any grain you feed your dog should be used in whole form so that it supplies more fiber, vitamins and minerals. The best grains for dogs (when used in the proper percentages) are rolled oats, barley, quinoa, millet, and brown rice.
3. Often, low quality dog foods will list a meat ingredient first, which will be followed by several by-products and fillers. In this case, although meat is listed first, there are actually MORE fillers, which changes the ratio noted above.
4. A well-planned vegetarian diet can work for dogs, although dogs are carnivores by nature. Dogs need animal protein. Would a dog naturally be vegetarian? No. Most veterinarians and holistic practitioners agree that although a dog can survive on a vegetarian diet, they may not thrive on it.
5. Be aware that while preservatives may be necessary to keep the food edible, preservatives do not have to be artificial chemicals that might be cancer-causing agents. Avoid pet foods that use chemical preservatives BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin. Vitamin E & vitamin C are great preservatives that are much better for your dog.
6. Choose Premium Brand dog foods instead of Economy Brand dog foods. The cheapest ingredients are rarely the healthiest ones.
7. Go holistic. Holistic foods are 100% natural and 100% nutritious. They contain human-grade ingredients. One holistic pet food manufacturer provides an free online video "The Truth About Pet Food" you can watch here. (Actually, the term "human-grade" is a marketing technique. As is "holistic". To be able to market a food as "human-grade" the food has to be run through a series of trials and tests that AAFC officiates. If the food does not pass ALL of these tests and trials it is actually illegal to put the term "human-grade" on the bag.)
8. Some may consider this rule of thumb: If you wouldn't eat it, your dog probably shouldn't eat it either. (Think animal fat and added salt or sugar.) But there are some things you would eat (such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, white flour and onions) that are NOT good for your dog. Don't make the mistake of thinking all human food is appropriate for your canine. Canine and human nutritional needs and likes differ, such that what is appropriate and appealing for your dog may not be something you care to eat. In addition, some ingredients considered undesirable by US consumers (eg, by-products) are enjoyed by humans in other cultures.
* If you really want to know what's in your dog's food, try making your own dog food. It's not as hard as it sounds! There are plenty of recipes and meal plans available online, but beware. Really research what you're doing. Consult with your veterinarian to make sure the diet is well-balanced. A very helpful book is "The Whole Pet Diet" by Andi Brown, and she gives some good recipes. If you'd rather save time and pay more for the same thing, she also produces Halo Spot's Stew, which is her homemade recipe canned.
* Every dog, like every human, has different nutritional requirements. It is very important you check with your veterinarian to determine what foods best meet your pet's needs.
* A good way to see if your dog's diet is suitable is to check how it comes out the other end. No, you don't have to get too close to it, but as you pick it up in your poop scoop or baggie, check it for consistency and general appearance. A healthy dog's output should be firm and without any traces of blood or mucus.
* When changing your dog’s food it is important to switch gradually, as it is easier on the dogs digestive system, and reactions to the new food will generally be less severe. It is recommended that you gradually increase the amount of new food in the following sequence: 1/7, 1/3, 1/1, 3/1, 7/1, and 1; this being the portion of new food to old food (first change: a total of 8 cups of food [that would be one big dog!] with one cup of new food with 7 cups of old food). Each change should be gradual with several days (5 days to a week is best) between changes. All in all it should take a month or more. Even a 4-day transition can help avoid digestive upsets.
* Sometimes you can't afford the very best for your pets, so it comes down to trying to find the best that fits your budget. Use what you've learned about ingredient labels to make the best decision.
* Often, you'll find what seems to be a good dog food in almost every aspect, but it has too much grain. To help balance the ratios, try a grain-free canned dog food to supplement your dry food with. Dogs love canned food mixed with their food.

nutrition

jlapietra — Sun, 03 May 2009 18:18:20 GMT

My dog Wynn is a border collie, golden retriever, who-knows-what-else mix. She has never been too much of a dry dog food eater but loves to be cooked for. She is easily bored and no matter what I give her (dog food she likes or cooked food) she becomes bored and turns her nose up to it after a while.

She recently stopped eating all together when my second dog passed away. Losing her best friend has been hard on her and while she is almost never left alone she seemed to be depressed. I started cooking for her for all her meals sprinkling her dry dog food on whatever I made - Chicken and rice, organic omlets, etc. I would like to be on a better program and am worried that she is not getting the proper nutrition from my meals. What is the best best dog food I can give her? And what experiences have people had with mixing dog food and cooked food? Is there a happy medium for a dog who is picky and likes variety?

Do you give your dog table scraps?????

SheltieLuverOoOoO — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:42:13 GMT

Hey everybody,

Do you give your dog table scraps????

im a real big softie and when my sheltie looks at me with his eyes staring directly at me I cant help but give him table food.

When I have left overs like stake or hamburger or anything like that I usually take it home for him and my other 3 dogs.

Is it good for him to have that??

Do you give your dog table scraps???

Tell me about it