Yet another search for grain free kibble....help

croll326 · 10-28-2009, 01:08 PM

Ok so after reading the grumblings about Diamond and their dog food, I am not going to buy more TOTW when I run out. I am looking for a grain free kibble that is not more expensive than $2/ pound.

I have checked EVO red meat small bits and it is $65 for 28lbs. I am going to check on Orijen Regional Red but would imagine that it is more expensive. I am pretty sure I can get almost any food as I have a few specialty stores around where I live.

Also, I wont feed a fish based formula that is not 100% guaranteed free of ethoxyquin.

Also, I do not want chicken anywhere on the ingredient list becuase I swear my dog itches more when the food has chicken or anything related to chicken in it.

Thanks for your help. I need top buy something in the next 2 weeks.

bully · 10-28-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by croll326

I have checked EVO red meat small bits and it is $65 for 28lbs. I am going to check on Orijen Regional Red but would imagine that it is more expensive. I am pretty sure I can get almost any food as I have a few specialty stores around where I live.

Orijen is priced close to the same as EVO. I also get the 10th (or maybe 12th) bag for free.

nico8 · 10-28-2009, 01:57 PM

You're drastically narrowing down your choices by refusing to pay over $2.00/lb for a food that's grain/chicken/ethoxyquin free. Here's a few grain free foods that I know don't contain chicken, but I was unable to find ethoxyquin guarantees : Solid Gold Barking at the Moon, Acana Grasslands, Canidae Salmon , Wellness Ocean, and Natural Balance Potato and Duck. They're all probably going to be cheaper than EVO and Orijin , but I'm not sure how many fall below $2.00/lb.

bully · 10-28-2009, 02:25 PM

Actually Orijen works out to be just under $2/lbs when I work in the 12th being free. (before Tax)

Binkalette · 10-28-2009, 02:35 PM

Have you considered Dehydrated dog food??

http://www.sojos.com/complete.html

http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/products/embark.shtml

I just got my sample size of 'force' from the honest kitchen today, and my dogs really seemed to like it. I emailed Sojos a few days ago and they are going to send me free samples of their food to try as well. The foods can also be found much cheaper on other sites, rather than buying from the company site. Sojos says 1lb of dry is equal to 6.5lb prepared.

Anyway just an idea.

nico8 · 10-28-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binkalette

. Sojos says 1lb of dry is equal to 6.5lb prepared.

I'm curious as to how that works. Do you just add water and it "bulks up" ?

dieterherzog · 10-28-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nico8

I'm curious as to how that works. Do you just add water and it "bulks up" ?

You just rehydrate it - sort of like dehydrated fruits and sun-dried tomatoes, that sort of thing.

I think dehydrated foods work out to be more expensive since they are like wet food and you need to feed more of it than kibble.

Acana Grasslands is a good "mid-range" option and one that I can opine on since I've actually used it. It has less meat than Orijen, hence the lower protein and price!

croll326 · 10-28-2009, 03:51 PM

Nice! Thanks for the advice! A local feed store has EVO red meat small bits for $59.99 for a 28.6 pound bag. Pretty close to $2/lb.!

Hopefully my pup likes the food and does well on it. Im getting samples ASAP.

sassykzt · 10-28-2009, 04:15 PM

I know Wellnes Core(Ocean) & Orijen 6 fish are both free of ethoxyquin. When I buy the Orijen 6 fish to my dogs I buy the large bags (29.6 lbs.), get the 10th bag free, and have gotten cupouns from Orijen and found a couple of $10 copouns on Ebay. I agree w/ Nico8- whit all these limitations it will be tough to find a food under $2/ lb. Also, I noticed that I am feeding a lesser qty. of the Orijen-- others have mentioned this also based on the high protein content. Have you considered the BARF diet ( Bones & raw food)? More time involvment on your part but can meet all the requirements and be under $2/ lb.

croll326 · 10-29-2009, 10:11 AM

Purchased the small bag of EVO red meat small bites....hopefully Rocky does well on it.

Any special suggestions with this food? It is the highest protein content food I have fed him so far.

bully · 10-29-2009, 10:20 AM

Another fantastic Grain-free kibble is the Acana "Grain free" line here:

These are the folks who make Orijen - but these are approx 5-8% less protein. I'm going to try one of these next.

http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/products.php

Wlfdg · 10-29-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bully

Orijen is priced close to the same as EVO. I also get the 10th (or maybe 12th) bag for free.

Innova is doing a 13th bag free on EVO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by croll326

Nice! Thanks for the advice! A local feed store has EVO red meat small bits for $59.99 for a 28.6 pound bag. Pretty close to $2/lb.!

Hopefully my pup likes the food and does well on it. Im getting samples ASAP.

I pay $62.99 for the 28.6lb. bag. You are doing o.k. It makes up less than 10% of our dog's diets.

Ayanla · 10-29-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by croll326

Purchased the small bag of EVO red meat small bites....hopefully Rocky does well on it.

Any special suggestions with this food? It is the highest protein content food I have fed him so far.

Make sure you give it some time, a few weeks at least. Make sure he's drinking enough water. Be prepared for some loose stool, and be prepared to adjust the amount he's eating. We had some interesting volume/texture of poop issues with both of my pups in the beginning, especially "I'll eat it as long as it's there" Kira, who we were overfeeding.

croll326 · 10-29-2009, 11:17 AM

Is EVO red mean small bites ok for my 6 month old pup or should I get him something else until he is older?

bully · 10-29-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayanla

Make sure you give it some time, a few weeks at least. Make sure he's drinking enough water. Be prepared for some loose stool, and be prepared to adjust the amount he's eating. We had some interesting volume/texture of poop issues with both of my pups in the beginning, especially "I'll eat it as long as it's there" Kira, who we were overfeeding.

Yes, BINGO!!

Not a lot of folks take the time and care and push it off as "my dog can't handle protein".

croll326 · 10-29-2009, 11:18 AM

Is EVO red meat small bites ok for my 6 month old pup or should I get him something else until he is older?

Wlfdg · 10-29-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by croll326

Is EVO red meat small bites ok for my 6 month old pup or should I get him something else until he is older?

That will be great! Remember, you feed less because there are no fillers. Read the recommended portions.
Good Luck!

Ayanla · 10-29-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by croll326

Is EVO red meat small bites ok for my 6 month old pup or should I get him something else until he is older?

I have been feeding Evo red meat small bites to both of my pups since Odo was 13 weeks and Kira was 9 weeks. It's an all-stages food.

I do think it's not recommended for large breed puppies, but that's a calcium/phosphorous thing, and I'm not well versed on that since I have small breed pups. Someone who knows more about the big dog/too fast growth issues can chime in. I know it's not a protein thing, but a bone thing.

croll326 · 10-29-2009, 11:46 AM

Rocky is 18 pounds now.....the vet thinks he will be about 35 pounds full grown. He is a Boston Terrier Mix with, in my opinion, is a Border Collie.

Wlfdg · 10-29-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by croll326

Rocky is 18 pounds now.....the vet thinks he will be about 35 pounds full grown. He is a Boston Terrier Mix with, in my opinion, is a Border Collie.

You're good to go. Give Rocky time to adjust to the new food and he'll be great!