[dukesup1978]

At my two local Pet Store that advertise themselves as a "An all-Natural and organic pet food shop", I was told that Merrick is a great brand of food - no corn, top of the line and a healthy diet for dogs. So I have been feeding my 5-year-old min pin this brand food for over two years. Along with their new brand of Before Grain.

Today, at my dog's yearly cheap-up at the Vet, they told me Merrick & BG is no good, and in a comparison of how unhealthy it is - they told me it would be comparable to humans eating McDonalds. Then they told me about all the problems that may accompany feeding my dog this brand over the years such as crystals in the bladder, etc.

This was a shock to me as I have been feeding my dog this for quite some time. Instead, they recommending Science Diet or Royal Canin. I just took a visit to - www.dogfoodanalysis.com - and saw that Merrick is listed under 5, but cannot find the brands they recommended rated anywhere on the site.

Seems like there's SO much confusion out there! I know expensive price does not mean a food is better for the dog, I just want to know - What is the truth? I do not want my dog to have problems down the road because I did or did not feed him a certain brand of food!!

All help is greatly appreciated!!

[bully]

Don't listen to your vet. Did you know they make 30-40% profit selling "Science Diet" from their offices?

Keep your dog on the "good stuff" like you are doing.

[Curbside Prophet]

Originally Posted by bully

Don't listen to your vet. Did you know they make 30-40% profit selling "Science Diet" from their offices?

Do you find this somehow out of line with other retailers and brands? Don't fool yourself.

[dukesup1978]

It does seem like they must make a profit selling the Science Diet the way they really try to push it on clients. It's just surprising to me that they would knock a brand like Merrick, where online it seems I find nothing but positive things. It's frustrating to hear one thing from a store, another from a Vet..

[bully]

Originally Posted by Curbside Prophet

Do you find this somehow out of line with other retailers and brands? Don't fool yourself.

I will guarantee that vets make more profit selling this than your local grocery store does.

But, overlooking economics... I wouldn't feed anything that closely resembles a dog SD.

[Kina_A]

Originally Posted by dukesup1978

Instead, they recommending Science Diet or Royal Canin. I just took a visit to - www.dogfoodanalysis.com - and saw that Merrick is listed under 5, but cannot find the brands they recommended rated anywhere on the site.

The reason you were unable to find them is that you may not have looked under the 1* brands. That's where Science diet rates.

My vet was also trying to push Medical and Science diet on my dogs. They also told me not to buy into the "all natural" or "organic" foods and even told me that California Naturals was garbage!

Yet several months later when I brought my youngest in to get spayed, they wouldn't stop commenting on how good she looked and how soft her fur was.

I almost told them that I was feeding her "garbage"!

Don't listen to your vet, continue feeding what you're feeding!

[Michiyo-Fir]

Royal Canin is 3 stars on that website. My vet recommends Royal Canin as well because they get money from selling it. Royal Canin has a program that supports vets and breeders and such by giving them benefits.

Merrick is great just say that's what you want to feed.

[dukesup1978]

Great, thank you so much for the help. It's really too bad $$ out ways honesty at the vet, really sad. Which leads me to my next question, since it always about making money:

I had my dogs teeth Professional Dental Cleaned at VCA a little under a year ago - November 2008. It was her first and only cleaning to date. I brush my dogs teeth once a week, and give things to chew on daily i.e. Dogswell Chicken strips, etc.

Today they told me her teeth are looking good - little yellow but no need for concern. However, when I asked when they recommend she get another cleaning they said they recommend I do it tomorrow if my schedule allows.

Now, I am not opposed to getting my dogs teeth cleaned again - I just want some opinions - I would just like to be sure that it makes sense to do since it is quite expen$ive! Is this another ploy for money?

[phoebespeople]

In my opinion, having to get your dogs teeth cleaned is just one of the many unfortunate side effects of feeding kibble. If you want the convenience of feeding your dog kibble, you must prepare yourself for the possibility of increased cost of health care for your dogs due to things like dental cleaning, treatment of liver and kidney damage, skin conditions, allergic reactions...
Phoebe has been on RAW since she was 7 weeks old and her teeth are like pearls. She crunches on raw bones for norishment and recreation every day. The act of gnawing on bones for long preiods of time stimulates the production of digestive enzymes in their saliva that kill the bacteria that can cause dental problems.
A dog that is fed RMB's as part of their RAW food diet probably won't need any dental cleanings, ever.

[dukesup1978]

Wow, thank you for that. In that case I am going to transition my dog onto a RAW diet. Seems incredibly worth it in terms of health and the money you save in the long run - Now it's time to head over to the raw food diet forums!

Thank you everyone for being immensely helpful!

[Kina_A]

In my opinion and experience, feeding your dog raw bones, bully sticks etc, can really really help with keeping your dogs clean without having to switch to raw.

My dog's Sadie's teeth were disgusting. She never liked chewing on bones and bully sticks. Her teeth were just covered (passed the gum line) with tartar. The vet would have liked to clean her teeth but because Sadie has a heart condition, the vet doesn't think she'd be able to survive the anesthesia.

When I got our puppy Kina and giving Kina raw bones, etc, we found Sadie one day chomping down on one of Kina's bully sticks. Then we decided to see if she'd take to a bone and my lord she did.

Now, Sadie's teeth are perfect and I'm still feeding her kibble, I just make sure she gets something good to chew on!

Looking in her mouth you'd never believe how disgusting her teeth use to be, even the vet commented on them.

[MafiaPrincess]

I was told that I was a moron and an uneducated fool by the vet I'd been using as I fed Orijen. He threw such a nasty fit at me I told the receptionist as I left that his fit over food and being rude about it is why I wouldn't be coming back. She told me she didn't agree with his food beliefs either..

Told me Cider's teeth were way overdue for a dental.. Next vet I went to agreed. Switched to raw, needed an appt 6 months later and they got cranky with me as I'd taken her for a dental somewhere else.. She's never had a dental.. We switched to raw. They didn't believe me.

[zimandtakandgrrandmimi]

the one best qualified to tell you the best food for your dog is your dog.


Try them on a food. if they eat it...good. if they do well on it and don't have issues...fantastic.

[nico8]

I also feed kibble and Nico's teeth are remarkably clean...she's yet to have her teeth cleaned professionally. I just make sure she always has a good bone to gnaw on. Seems simple but it works for us.

[Labsnothers]

The truth is, very little is the truth. Nearly all of it comes from somebody selling something or somebody that bought their story. Almost all of it skips any facts and plays on your emotions. Much of what looks like a fact isn't.

Before the current form of the net existed, we were raising puppies for a large dog guide school that feeds Pro Plan, no better rated than Science, Iams, etc. Once I started reading how awful it was, I started digging. What I have learned is that many other service dog schools with all their resources to determine the best diet and the incentive to do so, are feeding back of the pack chows including Iams, Science Diet, and Pro Plan. I have not been able to find any research backing up the claims of the premium chows. I have challenged people on open forums to provide me with research backing the premium chows. They don't seem to appreciate the importance of controlled testing.

Most foods are formulated to the same AAFCO requirements no matter what it is made of, and contain enough of all the nutrients.

If you feel good about the Merricks and your dog is doing well on it, I would continue it. Sometimes I think people's anxiety about what they are feeding transfers to the dog leading to digestive upset. You can worry your dog sick. Switching to a food you trust solves the problem.

[Keechak]

Jack and Kechara have eaten kibble their whole lives and niether has needed a tooth cleaning.

[Marsh Muppet]

Originally Posted by Labsnothers

The truth is, very little is the truth. Nearly all of it comes from somebody selling something or somebody that bought their story. Almost all of it skips any facts and plays on your emotions. Much of what looks like a fact isn't.

Now ya went and done it!

[bully]

Originally Posted by Labsnothers

Before the current form of the net existed, we were raising puppies for a large dog guide school that feeds Pro Plan, no better rated than Science, Iams, etc. Once I started reading how awful it was, I started digging. What I have learned is that many other service dog schools with all their resources to determine the best diet and the incentive to do so, are feeding back of the pack chows including Iams, Science Diet, and Pro Plan. I have not been able to find any research backing up the claims of the premium chows. I have challenged people on open forums to provide me with research backing the premium chows. They don't seem to appreciate the importance of controlled testing.

Who is funding the "controlled testing"? What is the budget of these schools for dog food? Are we still trying to believe that corn and soybean oil is best for a dog instead of chicken, beef, or fish? I don't see wolves grazing fields these days.
I'm trying to hint around the fact that it's cheaper to buy cheaper food, these main-stream companies are the ones usually funding these tests, schools, and vets. And the fact that dogs are wolves, (no we haven't changed their digestive system through domestication) so lets try to feed them as such.

Nothing beats feeding a dog RAW, but at least there is now some good dry dog food to give us more choice.

[Labsnothers]

Who is funding the testing? The schools adsorb it as part of their administrative costs. It varies, but mostly the food is being purchased by those caring for the dogs, the volunteers raising puppies and later the dogs' partners. Out of their entire life, the school only buys the food for about the 6 months the dog is at the school for training. How much does it cost to direct different people to feed different foods and keep track of the health testing you would be doing anyhow? Peanuts.

It seems to me you are making some statements based on speculation.

[bully]

Originally Posted by Labsnothers

It seems to me you are making some statements based on speculation.

Or possibly common sense.