Every week, I am going to ask a dog-related question. Since this blog is intended for a wide community of dog lovers, we should be able to help one another out. Basically, I am looking for a lot of input from dog owners on various topics. I don’t care if you’re an “expert” or not. I want to hear what you think.
So here’s my question: What kind of dog food is best? Dry? Wet? Natural? Does it matter?
I ask this because I have never gotten into feeding my dogs expensive brands of food. I have always fed Ace dry, regular Iams Chunks. Before Ace, I always fed my dog Purina One, with no issues.
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May 12th, 2008 at 8:19 am
I think the BEST food is raw. It best emulates what a dog’s stomach is meant to digest.
Having said that, I don’t feed raw. I don’t have the space for the meat, I don’t have the time for preparation, etc.
The cheap commercial foods shouldn’t be fed. A lot of people do because they are cheap and dogs will eat them. What many people don’t realize is that by feeding a premium food you rarely spend more on food. The reason is that there are so many fillers in foods like Iams and Purina that by feeding better foods you feed less.
I used to feed Iams before I researched what they put into their food. My dogs would eat about 7 cups and 4 cups a day respectively.
I have since switched to Flint River Ranch and the dogs now eat about 4 and 1 3/4 cups per day. I spend about twice as much for 40lbs but the dogs eat about half as much. Also, there is much less shedding, less poop, etc.
I am not a health junky, natural, organic, granola type person. I figured, though, that if I can spend the same and give way better nutrition that I would be silly not to do it. Add to it that Flint River Ranch doesn’t carry the cancer causing agents that commercial foods do, is delivered to your door, and is made with only human grade ingredients, it only made sense for me to switch.
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May 12th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Hi Lindsay! I, too, never wanted to spend a fortune feeding a dog (when they would rather eat cat poop anyway… ugh!)
BUT, I have to say, since we moved, my new Vet up here talked me into doing a trial test of this great fancy dry dog food and… drum roll please… the difference is amazing.
Pepper’s coat has absolutely bloomed and is super shiny. No dandruff, less shedding. And, here’s the very best part: her anal glands have totally ceased to be an issue. YAY!!! It was never a huge deal but I could tell that they bothered her and since I just couldn’t seem to hack it, I had to take her in to have them expressed. So I’m actually saving money with this better food since we all know you can’t get out of a vet or groomer for under $30.
Anyway, the name of this great food is Royal Canin “Venison and Potato” recipe. Don’t you want to roll your eyes and chortle hearing that? I sure did. But, I’m tellin’ ya, it really has made a big ol’ difference for this little dog and I think you may want to fork it over for a two-month trial. I believe you’ll see that Ace will itch less and get very shiny, his ears may clear up and his stool volume will decrease, yay again.
So, that’s my two pennies. As always Lindsay, great blogging, you are truly an Alpha blogger! Bonnie
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May 12th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Thank you Ty and Bonnie. I am going to try a different food for Ace. Now it’s just a matter of deciding which one. By the way, Ace will eat cat poop too if he gets a chance!
May 12th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Once we got mazzie, we tried some top brand (cant think of the name) and she didn’t like it.. So we went to the basics – Purina dry dog food, and for 2 years still enjoys it.. Now we have tried some wet food only as a trial and not to replace her dry food, but what we found is that she tries to swallow it all like it’s a treat or something. So we did that once and probably wont do it again. Don’t want her choking on it.
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May 12th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
You know, a lot of people don’t agree with me but I always varied my girl’s food. Wet, dry, and every variety. I sort of figured that I wasn’t excited about eating the same thing over and over and so I didn’t expect that from her. I was also not afraid to spend some money on a pricier food that she really enjoyed. I never had a problem with her not eating and she lived to the ripe, old age of 16!
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May 12th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Yup…we just switched our dogs over (twice actually). The first time I switched them to Solid Gold brand dry dog food. It is expensive.
But cheaper than what I am now feeding them which is INSANELY expensive.
http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/index.shtml
However it’s awesome. Just read Rachel’s experience here…
http://rachellucas.com/index.php/2008/04/25/the-first-official-rachl-lukis-product-endorsement/
I have a fat dog and am slowly putting her on this food only. No dry. Or very few pieces.
It’s actually HUMAN grade food and the developers have taste tested it. My dogs L O V E it. I mean LOVE it. Plus it’s made Trooper eat slower.
And I rarely see him itching any longer.
But yes, it is crazy expensive (Rachel has a discount code though).
Solid Gold is apparently the best dry food, though it’s still dry kibble. My fat dog seemed to get fatter on it though.
Good luck and let us know what you come up with!
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May 13th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Thanks everyone for your input. I can’t switch my dog’s food too often because he has such a sensitive stomach, but I will choose a higher-quality brand and stick with it for a trial.
May 13th, 2008 at 2:51 am
Hi,
I’ve always given my golden, now 2 1/2 years old, Royal Canin (dry food). My vet told me it was the best. She said the cheaper brands at the market are of really poor quality. We also feed our golden table scraps (rice, meat, fruit, etc).
From what I’ve read, it seems dry food is better than canned food. My vet also told me not to give canned food to my dog. Up until now, my dog has been very healthy.
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May 13th, 2008 at 7:56 am
We use Dr. Harvey’s Canine Health.
It is more expensive but truly worth it. I don’t really think it is more expensive in the end and it allows me to regulate the protein and fat for my individual dogs.
If your dog stays healthy your vet bills will go down and he and you will be happier. I believe that we have to make the investment in truly good food for our animals.
Dr. Harvey’s makes all natural and organic products and they are the best, and purest we have ever found for our guys. drharveys.com
May 13th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Hi Mayra. That’s two votes for Royal Canin.
Carmen, I agree. I don’t think a more expensive food is more expensive in the end because of the health benefits and other benefits.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
There are several websites that will compare the dog foods. Try checking out the K9 Kitchen.. k9 Amiga posts on my blog and she has amazing food and samples too if you aren’t sure about what to get. I am sure she can help you out. http://www.k9cuisine.com/
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May 13th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Thanks Lora, I’ll do that.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Hi there. Came by to drop my EC. Nice blog you have here
Raw is the best food, but if you can’t feed yours dogs with that then cooked meat is second best. I read that it’s not good to feed dogs with too much canned or dry food because they are mainly carbs and dogs should eat protein.
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May 13th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Thanks Rozella. I am not willing to feed my dog raw food or to cook him meat every day, even though I admit that is the most natural and possibly the healthiest. My dog will eat dry food, but I’d like to feed him the best dry food.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Hi, Just found this post from your earlier one. Biggie has been on raw since he was 3 months old – he loves it and he does great with it. When he has eaten kibble (e.g. long stay at the kennel when it’s impractical to make separate meals for him), he’s eatenEagle Pack Holistic or EVO. Both are made with human grade componenets and are very good.
But I am one of those crazy people who swears by raw. Even though it is a little more work, I have noticed a real difference even between the high quality kibble and raw.
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