[cafepithecus]

Last night I ended up buying Instinct (formerly Raw Instinct) for my dog. The store had a buy one, get a 5lb bag free promotion, but I had planned on trying it out anyway. It came highly recommended from both a friend and two employees at the store. In doing a week's worth of my own obsessive research, it seems to be the best that is available in my area.

My question is, is Instinct "human grade" or is it the leftover crap that is put into other dog foods? I was looking at Solid Gold or some other brand before, and they emphasized on their web site that the ingredients weren't the leftovers not fit for human consumption. Instinct doesn't say that, I'm just assuming it is by the price.

I read that book "Protect Your Pet" and the precursor "Food Pets Die For" so I'm familiar with what can legally be put into dog food. Even something as innocuous-sounding as "potatoes" can be not whole potatoes, but the leftovers, or ones that have turned green -- which of course are toxic to both animals and humans.

Man, I thought once I bought this stuff I would stop obsessing. Apparently not.

[RonE]

Here's a link to some opinions:

http://www.rateitall.com/i-851183-natures-variety.aspx

My only opinion is that you shouldn't assume anything based on price.

[Ginny01OT]

I have been feeding my dog nature's variety raw patties since I got him as a pup--it is a great food, one of the best out there!

[BoxMeIn21]

Out of all the pre-made raw stuff NV is probably the best - it has a little too much veggies in the patty for my taste though, but it all comes down to what you are comfortable with. You could do much cheaper on home made raw - and the bonus is you know exactly what's going into the bowl.

[RonE]

Originally Posted by cafepithecus

Man, I thought once I bought this stuff I would stop obsessing. Apparently not.

Obsessing is good - to a point.

Too many people just buy whatever is on the shelf at Wal-Mart. I did that for years myself, because it was convenient.

I had read, but apparently not absorbed, a book on evaluating dog foods, but it wasn't until I started hanging around here that I really started looking at what I was feeding my dogs.

That was just before the poopoo hit the fan and all the recalls started.

[Ginny01OT]

Originally Posted by BoxMeIn21

Out of all the pre-made raw stuff NV is probably the best - it has a little too much veggies in the patty for my taste though, but it all comes down to what you are comfortable with. You could do much cheaper on home made raw - and the bonus is you know exactly what's going into the bowl.

It is 95% raw meat and 5% the other stuff--which also includes eggs, flaxseed as well as veggies and some fruit--their website lists all the ingredients in the patty!!

[cafepithecus]

Okay... I am not talking about the raw stuff... I am talking about the Instinct dry kibble...