[Meghan&Pedro]

My favorite brands are:

Solid Gold
Innova and Cal Natural
Wellness
Natural Balance

And - although the ingredients don't look as impressive, Royal Canin feeds REALLY well - dogs that eat royal canin LOOK and FEEL really good - they perform really well, and just seem to thrive. It's also a very 'tasty' food so it's great for pickier eater dogs that tend to like the plainer foods (ie nutro, eukanuba etc). I don't know what magic they put in the bags, but their food feeds REALLY well.

I like Orijen and Innova Evo - but I do not reccomend grain free foods for anything other than a healthy adult dog. Innova has come out and said clearly "We do not reccomend our product , Evo, for large breed puppies" as it has caused OCD in some dogs.

The grain free foods are.. well.. it's a more natural way to feed dogs in some ways, but they're still lacking - dogs might not eat corn raw - but they eat VARIOUS animals that eat different fruits, veggies and grains. So if you just feed CHICKEN but don't feed any other foods but the grain freee chicken based food your dog is lacking in what some of the other foods could give them.

I am a certified pet food advisor by the company Nutura - the makers of cal nat and innova - and THEY are the ones who say to only feed grain free foods to healthy happy adults with no other existing problems - to me this is a red flag - stating that maybe we haven't done enough research into the grain-free foods as being a BETTER way to feed - maybe it's not that great?
I like the idea of it, but I'm not sold. Not even close.

Also - a lot of my friends and I have noticed that dogs on the innova evo or orijen are eating a lot of horse poop, rabbit poop, deer poop etc - more than normal for sure (all dogs eat poop, but these dogs are CRAVING it and WOLFING it down!). I think that says something right there.

[h2odog]

I have used Innova, Timberwolf Organics, and Eagle Pack. I am currently feeding Nature's Logic and Orijen which I have had very good success with.

[biffsup]

I have my dogs (2) and cat (1) on Blue Buffalo Lamb & Whole Brown Rice with awesome results. Shiny coats, great muscle tone, clear eyes and great energy levels(these are top agility dogs). No Corn, Wheat or soy. And for a well balanced variety to the diet I give them the Blue Buffalo canned food as a treat. A true Holistic Food. Bentiful and many others are like feeding your dogs Corn, Meat Broth and Shampoo. Please for the love of your furry four legged Family members, read the ingredients people. www.bluebuff.com

[briteday]

7 yo papillon with food allergies - Natural Balance fish and sweet potato, may try some of the other flavors too

1.5 yo chi mix - Kirkland chicken, rice, veggie

[biffsup]

Originally Posted by LabLady101

Hate to burst your bubble here, but there's something you should know. "Human Grade" is a gimmick. Why? Because although the ingredients are purchased from the same plants that sell to humans, once the ingredients hit the dog food plant's property they are considered BY LAW to be "Animal Grade". Not only that, but despite what many people think, the majority of national brand dog food manufacturers (i.e. Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, etc.) purchase their meat from the same "human" plants as these "Human Grade" foods. I hope you see that the term is very gimmicky and misleading.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/dogfoods.html

Funny thing about this "LAW" you talk about. I did check in to it called and received the guidelines from the FDA and AAFCO and neither one have such a LAW. And from the research I did. I found the only listing of this human/animal grade issue was from another pet food company slamming other pet food companies. FYI FDA and AAFCO have restrictions and guidelines not laws.

The FDA has four different grades and restrictions put on meats. Human grade four levels, pet food grade, Other animal grade (meaning zoo and wild animals) and destroy only. Yes they go through the same plants but, there is a quality difference between pet grade and human grade. But once it gets to the pet food manufacturing plant it is technically pet food grade. Not because of the quality but because of the intended use of said meats.

[Subsharon2]

I was looking for a recipe to make dog snacks that was healhty for my dear dog Angel and I came arcoss Bakespace.com that had recipes for dogs that you can make at him. Does anyone else have any recpies for their dogs? Here is the link for one of the recipes that I found and I made it and Angel just loves it. http://www.bakespace.com/index.php?m...ow&lst_id=3068

[Captbob]

Originally Posted by biffsup

Funny thing about this "LAW" you talk about. I did check in to it called and received the guidelines from the FDA and AAFCO and neither one have such a LAW. And from the research I did. I found the only listing of this human/animal grade issue was from another pet food company slamming other pet food companies. FYI FDA and AAFCO have restrictions and guidelines not laws.

The FDA has four different grades and restrictions put on meats. Human grade four levels, pet food grade, Other animal grade (meaning zoo and wild animals) and destroy only. Yes they go through the same plants but, there is a quality difference between pet grade and human grade. But once it gets to the pet food manufacturing plant it is technically pet food grade. Not because of the quality but because of the intended use of said meats.

Hu Oh, You are about to incur the rath of the "Horse Hockey" canon...

[Elijah]

[quote][/Hu Oh, You are about to incur the rath of the "Horse Hockey" canon...QUOTE]

Yep-and it's loaded with grapeshot!!...BEWARE

[LabLady101]

Originally Posted by biffsup

Funny thing about this "LAW" you talk about. I did check in to it called and received the guidelines from the FDA and AAFCO and neither one have such a LAW. And from the research I did. I found the only listing of this human/animal grade issue was from another pet food company slamming other pet food companies. FYI FDA and AAFCO have restrictions and guidelines not laws.

The FDA has four different grades and restrictions put on meats. Human grade four levels, pet food grade, Other animal grade (meaning zoo and wild animals) and destroy only. Yes they go through the same plants but, there is a quality difference between pet grade and human grade. But once it gets to the pet food manufacturing plant it is technically pet food grade. Not because of the quality but because of the intended use of said meats.

I think you missed these links:

Here's one from Breeder's Choice (makers of AvoDerm and Pinnacle):
http://www.breeders-choice.com/about...grade-meat.htm

Here's another from Old Mother Hubbard (Wellness):
http://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/well...q_index.html#7

And here's Timberwolf Organics view on the subject:
http://www.timberwolforganics.com/s.nl/it.I/id.8/.f

Nope, no difference between pet grade and human grade until it's marked for shipping. Farmers/growers/raisers/etc. don't have seperate stock for animals and humans. Therefore, there's no difference in the animals that are butchered and grains that are harvested. There is a difference, however, in manufacturing practices. For example, those companies that do not know the specific meat content of their food because they buy the cheapest from the cheapest supplier list "Meat and Bone Meal". That to me, is a lower quality product than from a company that puts the same specific meat content that they purchased from the same supplier regardless of cost. These are the companies that list Chicken, Lamb, Chicken Meal, Lamb Meal, etc. and to me are a higher quality product than the "Meat and Bone Meal" guys.

Too much emphasis is placed on the quality of the ingredients when, in fact, they are all the same quality and it's the manufacturing practices that are different.

But, each to their own because ultimately feeding what works is more important than a brand name.

[Captbob]

Originally Posted by LabLady101

I think you missed these links:

Here's one from Breeder's Choice (makers of AvoDerm and Pinnacle):
http://www.breeders-choice.com/about...grade-meat.htm

Here's another from Old Mother Hubbard (Wellness):
http://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/well...q_index.html#7

And here's Timberwolf Organics view on the subject:
http://www.timberwolforganics.com/s.nl/it.I/id.8/.f

Nope, no difference between pet grade and human grade until it's marked for shipping. Farmers/growers/raisers/etc. don't have seperate stock for animals and humans. Therefore, there's no difference in the animals that are butchered and grains that are harvested. There is a difference, however, in manufacturing practices. For example, those companies that do not know the specific meat content of their food because they buy the cheapest from the cheapest supplier list "Meat and Bone Meal". That to me, is a lower quality product than from a company that puts the same specific meat content that they purchased from the same supplier regardless of cost. These are the companies that list Chicken, Lamb, Chicken Meal, Lamb Meal, etc. and to me are a higher quality product than the "Meat and Bone Meal" guys.

Too much emphasis is placed on the quality of the ingredients when, in fact, they are all the same quality and it's the manufacturing practices that are different.

But, each to their own because ultimately feeding what works is more important than a brand name.

Two bad links and the same old link to the manufacturers web site, that is a marketing hype..... Same old, same old...... You just don't understand that marketing information on a companies web site ( otherwise known as "advertising" ) is not a proof of anything.....

[LabLady101]

Originally Posted by Captbob

Two bad links and the same old link to the manufacturers web site, that is a marketing hype..... Same old, same old...... You just don't understand that marketing information on a companies web site ( otherwise known as "advertising" ) is not a proof of anything.....

Yes I do understand marketing and hype, but I also understand truth and fact. TO makes a quality product. What reason do they have for supplying information that could reflect negatively upon themselves? Same for Wellness and Breeder's Choice? The answer (since you don't seem to want to supply one, even though I asked in a previous thread, so I'll just go ahead and answer my own question) is that they (as a company) prefer to be honest.

Also, not everything on a company's website is marketing, hype, and advertising. You can actually find out quite a bit about the company, their manufacturing processes, and their character (how honest or dishonest they are) by reading the information they provide there.

Btw, you've yet to disprove the information contained in those links...

[sonnyandbear]

I kind of stumbled upon your site when I was surfing about the pet food recall and noticed someone mentioned Orijen dog food. I happen to have my two dogs on this dog food and have now for about a year. I can't believe the difference in their health. My dogs, Sonny and Bear, (the kids named them, honest) are half Great Pyrenese and half Saint Bernard and their coats are healthier and they are really in great shape. I tried several different types of dog food over the years for extended periods of time but one of my dogs had allergic symptoms and was always sneezing and the other one had frequent diahrea. Both dogs were only on the Orijen dog food for about two weeks when the symptoms disappeared.

Orijen is made by Champion Foods which is in a small town called Morinville near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. When the recall happened I didn't need to worry because I live in Edmonton and also grew up near Morinville so I knew Orijen was locally made from local products. I understand one of the problems with the tainted food is contaminated gluton from China. I think our prairie wheat might be a bit better.

Anyway, I hope this information helps. Here is their website: http://championpetfoods.com/orijen/about/

[poodleholic]

>>>>>I think you missed the part in the TO link that said that farmers/growers/raisers/etc. don't have seperate stock for human and dog consumption. They come from the same place, so the quality of the meat is all the same. It's just a matter of always using the same suppliers and specific meats which defines the quality of the ingredient. For example, a company that uses whatever meat(s) happens to be cheapest at that point in time and therefore doesn't have a set specific meat formula- this is the "Meat and Bone Meal" foods- isn't as high in quality as one that buys Chickens from the same quality supplier regardless of cost.<<<<


The point that YOU are missing is the fact that pet food companies (like Hills, Iams, Purina, and most of the rest of them) are using DEAD, DIEING, & DESEASED animals and carcuses, and various meat by products. Recyling dead animals is a given in the pet food world. Natural Balance, for one example, does not do this, which is why they state that the meat is human quality, and they have no meat by products.

I feed Natural Balance Venison and Brown Rice, along with Innova EVO, and supplement meals with fresh ground meats, steamed vegetables, eggs, sardines, yogurt, cottage cheese, pears, apples, and so on.

[Ginny01OT]

Originally Posted by Wimble Woof

Its strange to see Americans looking for a Canadian food where I am I would love to get my hands on Timber Wolf organics or EVO RM ( for days when we can not feed raw) but no one within 6 hours of me carries either one

So, yup, my food choices would be TO or EVO RM... I was pleased with Solid Gold Wolf King as well, but outraged with the ingredient changes.

You can get either one of those foods thru petfooddirect.com or sitstay.com--I am not sure if they ship to Canada but I don't see why not, check it out!

[broadwaybones]

Originally Posted by LabLady101

I think you missed the part in the TO link that said that farmers/growers/raisers/etc. don't have seperate stock for human and dog consumption. They come from the same place, so the quality of the meat is all the same. It's just a matter of always using the same suppliers and specific meats which defines the quality of the ingredient. For example, a company that uses whatever meat(s) happens to be cheapest at that point in time and therefore doesn't have a set specific meat formula- this is the "Meat and Bone Meal" foods- isn't as high in quality as one that buys Chickens from the same quality supplier regardless of cost.

Correction. There is a difference! human grade meat that is brought into a human grade facility is cut and remnants that are not humanquality are discarded to piles in vats. This vats that are not fit for human comsumption are then taken to on of two places for the production of dog food. 1- rendering plants or 2- extruding plants. In a rendering plant all meats and carcasses of all types of mammals are cooked at a high temperature and made into different products including pet foods. Notice I said all different types of mammals- this includes roadkill, euthanized pets dead,diseased animals carcasses. If you don't believe me ask any rendering plant listed in the US or Canada what is in the mix. Better just ask the vets why dogs are cats are showing a higher tolerance to the euthanizing agents current used???? Or look for the 20/20 or 60 minutes Show about their findings! Human grade meat is placed on packages for one reason. This is because the makers of the food care enough to use only the meats acceptable for human consumption in their foods! I know because I am in the industry and know both sides of the story along with the regulations-or the lack there of! More owners need to know the truth about the industry and who is looking out for their pockets and who is really looking out for your dogs!!!!

[GreyhoundGirl]

I have found chicken soup for the dog lover's soul an amazing food. It was really a good thing changing our dog to it. Her coat is much nicer now.

Check out the ingredients:
http://www.chickensoupforthepetlover...t_dog_formula/