Best Dog Food

SymbaTrooper · 04-15-2007, 10:15 PM

I recently switched my dog (and cat) over to Orijen recently, as a result of my discovery that Menu Foods makes Wellness canned foods. Orijen is one of 2 food lines (the other is Acana, but Orijen is the premium brand) manufactured by Champion Pet Foods, a company owned and operated in Alberta, Canada. The ingredients are sourced by regional farmers (all are listed on the website - see Welcome to SPAM.com - Flash Player Installation

The dry kibble is excellent - both the cat and dog love it!! And what's not to love? It's grain-free, 70% meat, 30% fruits/veg, resulting in a dry food that guarantees 40% protein (compared to Wellness at 22%).

It's available and quite popular in Canada in specialty pet food stores - in the U.S., it's becoming available in some states, though online, you might try Welcome to SPAM.com - Flash Player Installation

Curbside Prophet · 04-15-2007, 10:31 PM

This seems like a safe haven for you

, but it's not!

Dutchie · 04-18-2007, 04:07 PM

I use blue buffalo and don't have any problems with it. It is a richer food so switch over slowly and you can use less. I don't know if it is the absolute best but that differs for each breed and even dog. I also give a small amount of meat leftovers more for a treat though. I reccomend you check out the whole dogs journal's approved foods list. And read up on the brands.

lindseyanne · 04-19-2007, 12:02 PM

ok here is my question what is the best food to feed a chi puppy?and where can i get it i live in grand junction colorado.

daveysmom · 04-19-2007, 01:09 PM

I have recently gotten my little guy from a shelter that recommended the BARF method of feeding my dog. I wouldn't change it for the world. I realized I didnt have to worry about this whole pet food recall because I made his food. It's a little work but it will help his health and immunization system in the long run.

Dutchie · 04-20-2007, 05:05 PM

I have a 10-11 year old bluetick coonhound. My main concern is that he gets proper vitimins and nutrition because of the poor shape he was in when I rescued him. He had kennel cough really bad, was deathly skinny, some of his teeth were missing, e-coli, urinary infection, burns, sores, and half his tail missing not to mention he was scared of us reaching up to get something ( i think someone beat him). Today he is doing 100% better with lots of vet visits and love he is not scared or skinny anymore! We did have to get 9 teeth removed because they were so badly infected. I am feeding him blue buffalo food. I use boiling water to soften the dry and use canned (some human food too). Does anyone have any sugestions on a better food for him or supplements he may need. (for joints ect.) None of my past dogs needed vitimins but they never had been malnurished their whole life. I want him to live the rest of his life as healthy and happy as possible. (I have no restrictions on price) All sugestions are welcome!!! I also do not want to feed raw foods.

OC_Spirit · 04-20-2007, 05:50 PM

I feed a mix of Orijen and Innova Evo mixed with raw meat. Works fantastic and the dogs love it!

AndyVetra · 04-20-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OC_Spirit

I feed a mix of Orijen and Innova Evo mixed with raw meat. Works fantastic and the dogs love it!

The Orijen is very interesting, certainly one of the better foods I've seen. Combine that with a top notch live enzyme and probiotic supplement (hint hint), to enable the dog to maximize the benefits from that food, and that would look to be a great diet.

The combination of the quality proteins plus an ability to digest them is the key. Good as Orijen is, it cannot have live enzyme content or it would self-digest on the shelf. Dogs don't naturally have a great deal of enzymes as they rely on their food source for them (hence eating the innards of their prey in the wild). Therefore combine that food with a top quality live enzyme supplement and it would look to be terrific nutrition.

The Innova doesn't put its ingredients up but seems to be low protein and talks about "five food groups" which leads to the conclusion it is grain based.

Renoman · 04-20-2007, 07:22 PM

With regard to the Orijen, isn't 40% a little high for protein content? I know there are instances where you would want/require a level of protein that high but in general isn't that high?

AndyVetra · 04-20-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renoman

With regard to the Orijen, isn't 40% a little high for protein content? I know there are instances where you would want/require a level of protein that high but in general isn't that high?

When you watch a coyote, it will eat the internal organs of a rabbit and leave the flesh - or the majority of it - for the buzzards and crows. It could be argued, therefore, that dogs are naturally seeking effectively partially digested vegetable matter plus the "meat" of the innards, and critically, the rabbit's own live enzymes.

The school of thought I have been part of suggest less than 40% protein, however it would also depend on feeding frequency. We feed our dogs at least once a day because that is our human nature. Naturally they would be feeding larger meals once every two or three days.

Quality of protein is key. This product, by ingredients, has high assimilatory quality proteins. I would say that not over-feeding this product would be key.

The only issue I would see with this is that the omega threes come from flax. Once flax seed is ground, the oil quickly becomes rancid, therefore dogs are getting very little value from this at best and at worst, rancid oils are linked to fatty tumors.

Dutchie · 04-20-2007, 08:23 PM

Has anyone heard of Flint River Ranch food??? Is so what is your opinion on it???

Renoman · 04-21-2007, 06:21 PM

A friend of mine swears by Flint River Ranch. She's fed it for years and will not consider feeding anything else.

JasonMPA · 04-22-2007, 11:07 AM

I've been cooking natural homemade food for my two since this dog food recall started. I don't trust anything commercial, even the so called "natural" dog foods that are being sold. I think I've noticed changes in their energy, but I'm not sure.

tobybones · 04-24-2007, 01:15 AM

sorry, but Iams is crap. Read the ingredients. Besides, Iams tortures dogs and
cats, why would you help them do that by buying that food? Purina is no
better, main ingredient is corn.

madpiano · 04-24-2007, 05:54 AM

Hello

I live in the UK. So half the stuff you are talking about isn't available here. I have found an online shop which sells Orjien and Timberwolf, but I am not impressed by Timberwolf ? What is so special about it ?

Ingredients:
Chicken Meal, Chicken, Turkey Meal, Whole Ground Oats, Chicken Fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract), Brown Rice, Ground Barley, ( just the first couple of ingredients)

Chicken Meal is the same as Chicken derivatives etc, and as there is more than chicken (which weighs more and therefore is normally listed first), it doesn't sound that high quality ? And it seems to contain a lot of different grains. Isn't that worse than just one sort of grain (at least you can easier determine if your dog might have issues with it). ?

I like the look of Orjien, but the small packet size is off-putting. I prefer to buy 25kg bags.

Here is what we have available in the UK:
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dry_dog_food

I normally buy whichever is on special deal at Pet Smart. Round about £20 for 25kg. We haven't got much money, so I can't afford to spend an awful lot more. £25 for 25kg is probably the max.

I think Nutro may be available at Pet Smart, will have to check tonight as we are just running out again.

Is it really that much better than what we are feeding right now ?
http://www.pero-petfood.co.uk/pero_gold.asp

Cheers
Mad

deegz · 04-25-2007, 02:20 PM

I used to feed my german shepherd Natural Choice but switched to Pedigree a while ago after all the recalls. Now I feed her Life's Abundance which is all natural available at the site below.

kewade · 04-29-2007, 01:39 PM

I feed my dogs Natural Choice dry dog food daily. However, on Sundays they get bacon & eggs mixed in with their dry dog food and I usually add cooked chicken livers to their kibble. I am also known to cook beef ribs and lamb shanks on the grill for them. I also feed them raw beef ribs frequently. Their coats are super shiney, they are happy happy dawgs!! I do wonder if the raw bones are better than the cooked. They actually eat better than I do!!

kewade · 04-29-2007, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tobybones

sorry, but Iams is crap. Read the ingredients. Besides, Iams tortures dogs and
cats, why would you help them do that by buying that food? Purina is no
better, main ingredient is corn.

WOW! Iams tortures animals???????????

rizzo · 05-01-2007, 02:13 AM

I went to a local doggie health food shop after my friend started telling me horror stories about Purina. I got my dogs something by Innova called California Natural. I asked questions and the woman sounded like she really knew what she was talking about. I got a lower cal version (as compared to the one that was 95% meat) because my dogs need to lose/maintain weight. Has anyone had good experience with that? Or have tried it?

It sounded very good--made in the US (got scared after that recall) and has no grains or fillers.

tobybones · 05-02-2007, 12:55 AM

Thank You for posting this. People need to know about Iams. I don't even buy
anything by proctor & Gamble, they own Iams.
My 2 dogs eat Blue Buffalo and what I cook for them, chicken, liver, turkey,
always mixed with brown rice and veggies, added to their dog food. I have a
pit mix and a boxer. Drool is Cool!