Question for dog owners?

[bus driver]

what brand of dog food do you buy your dog? Dry/Wet/Both
Do you buy the same kind every time?
Do you give your dog table food?

i almost always buy a different brand every time. it is very rare that i will buy the same brand consecutively. only because i dont enjoy eating the same shit every day so why should he. i do buy wet food or the dog sauce to mix and usually give him table food. just wondering dont, cause i am getting ready to buy some dog food for the dog and i am not going to buy the same kind. i havent found a brand that i think he enjoys :huh

[Bender]

I don't buy the grocery store crap. I only buy the super-premium foods. Yeah they cost a little more, but mostly you feed the dog less... since they are real food, with real meat and real veggies and real whatever.

dry mostly. much easier.

I buy Innova, California Natural, Natural Balance, Pinnacle, Wellness Core, and a few other premium brands.

My dog gets bored if I buy the same food all the time, so after he finishes his 15# bag, I usually get a different flavor for the next bag.

he's a really bad begger, so he gets a few bites here and there of table food, but not all the time.

[scottspurs]

I usually buy dry and wet to mix together. I usually buy Purina one chicken and rice flavor, but like you I switch it up because I would not want to eat the same thing all the time. If you don't mind spending money almost every dog I have ever known loves Science Diet. I'm a poor broke college students though so I just stick with the cheaper stuff. I hate washing dishes so I also give my dog my left overs after dinner so I can just put the dish directly in the dishwasher.

I wouldn't worry about him not liking his food that much if it is a younger dog because some types of dogs don't get an appetite until they get older. I have a boxer and he didn't eat very much until he was about 3 years old.

[JoeChalupa]

I feed mine HCF and keep it the same because I've always been told that you don't want to keep changing a dogs food all the time. HCF is good enough for me so it is good enough for my dog.

[JoeChalupa]

or make your own.
* 6 cups water
* 1 pound ground turkey
* 2 cups brown rice
* 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
* 1/2 (16 ounce) package frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower combination

Place the water, ground turkey, rice, and rosemary into a large Dutch oven. Stir until the ground turkey is broken up and evenly distributed throughout the mixture; bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the frozen vegetables, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Refrigerate until using.

I'm sure CosmicCowboy has an awesome recipe that he will share.

[bus driver]

I feed mine HCF and keep it the same because I've always been told that you don't want to keep changing a dogs food all the time. HCF is good enough for me so it is good enough for my dog.

why? is it bad for the dog?

[bus driver]

or make your own.
* 6 cups water
* 1 pound ground turkey
* 2 cups brown rice
* 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
* 1/2 (16 ounce) package frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower combination

Place the water, ground turkey, rice, and rosemary into a large Dutch oven. Stir until the ground turkey is broken up and evenly distributed throughout the mixture; bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the frozen vegetables, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Refrigerate until using.

I'm sure CosmicCowboy has an awesome recipe that he will share.

i dont even eat this good! R U serious?

[JoeChalupa]

i dont even eat this good! R U serious?

I've made a few times and the dog loved it. :tu

[4>0rings]

Just read the ingredients on your dog food. If corn is first, pass. Corn is filler and not digestable. I usually get Blue Buffalo but it's retarded expensive for dog food. I found a good middle with Purina one, it still has corn in it but it's down on the list and real meat are first.

The good thing about premium dog food is they actually eat less because it's more filling. Helps offset the cost.

[bigzak25]

pedigree big ass bag at costco for like 20 bux.

wifey gets them the big ass bag of iams sometimes. i think that one runs closer to 30.


and then we get them the box of bones at costco too...

otherwise? they eat scraps and leftovers.

[JoeChalupa]

why? is it bad for the dog?

Well, I know I changed it once and he got the runs and would give me a nasty look when he was squatting.

[JoeChalupa]

Oh, and I NEVER give my dog scraps and leftovers. And why do guys on the internet use the term "wifey"?

[4>0rings]

why? is it bad for the dog?
I've always heard it was bad for their digestive system and can lead to them being gassy.

[JoeChalupa]

But I have a Chihuahua so one batch last a long time.

[MiamiHeat]

CQzUsTFqtW0

[bus driver]

when did pets become so complicated?
growing up they just ate what we ate :bang


fuck i dont know what to buy the dog.....i guess its time for a road trip

although natural balance looked good and i do have to go to costco so maybe pedigree....

[4>0rings]

If you buy Pedigree, you can buy the cheaper Ole Roy stuff. Just look at the ingredients.

[bus driver]

If you buy Pedigree, you can buy the cheaper Ole Roy stuff. Just look at the ingredients.

k thanks and no corn (or very bottom)

[Bender]

I've always been told that you don't want to keep changing a dogs food all the timeyeah that was the old opinion. Nowadays, most dog folks say that it's good to change and give the dog a varied diet. However, instead of a sudden change, do it over a few days... near the end of the first bag, start mixing in a little new food, then after a few days or so, he will be on all new food, but his system will be used to it, and hopefully he won't get an upset tummy or the runs.


Ole Roy stuffI wouldn't give that stuff to any dog.

Dog Food Analysis (http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/)

[bigzak25]

Oh, and I NEVER give my dog scraps and leftovers. And why do guys on the internet use the term "wifey"?


i can't speak for other guys, but i got wifey from mase back in the day and it stuck.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3m5st_mase-lookin-at-me_music

[JoeChalupa]

i can't speak for other guys, but i got wifey from mase back in the day and it stuck.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3m5st_mase-lookin-at-me_music

Yeah, I see it used all the time.

and yes, a gradual change is okay but not sudden changes in a dogs diet. I'm old school though.

[easjer]

Right now, Jonah gets Beneful. He has some allergies, so we switched him off Purina (it wasn't Purina One, it was something else), and Beneful seems to have helped a lot.

Funnily enough, Beneful is on the bad list for corn and wheat being the top ingredients (which can both cause dog allergies). Huh.

My friend who is seriously into her dogs feeds Innova or Canidae.

[DisAsTerBot]

big bags of beneful from costco. and i mix in the purina wet food they sell at costco also just to keep them interested.

i have one dog who can be quite picky with her food, so for a while I would boil chicken and make big batches of rice. Chicken, rice, and a veg like carrots. THEY LOVE IT..... but it can be a pain in the ass depending on how many dogs and how much you need to make.

no table food. they'll just become beggers.

[bus driver]

Right now, Jonah gets Beneful. He has some allergies, so we switched him off Purina (it wasn't Purina One, it was something else), and Beneful seems to have helped a lot.

Funnily enough, Beneful is on the bad list for corn and wheat being the top ingredients (which can both cause dog allergies). Huh.

My friend who is seriously into her dogs feeds Innova or Canidae.

that one looks good..........

[bus driver]

big bags of beneful from costco. and i mix in the purina wet food they sell at costco also just to keep them interested.

i have one dog who can be quite picky with her food, so for a while I would boil chicken and make big batches of rice. Chicken, rice, and a veg like carrots. THEY LOVE IT..... but it can be a pain in the ass depending on how many dogs and how much you need to make.

no table food. they'll just become beggers.

these homemade foods are they for the whole week or just the day?

[mrsmaalox]

I feed my dogs (a chihuahua and a doberman/shepherd) dry food because it'd supposed to be better for their teeth. But I can't make special trips to pet stores so it has to be something that is readily available at the grocery store, so I buy Pedigree, same stuff every time. I once gave them a variety that supposedly has lots of vegetables and they both got really bad gas, so forget that. Also I don't do Science or Iams cuz that "vitaminey" smell stinks up the whole place. My dogs are really bad beggars and thieves, so they get variety from our plates.

[Man Sauce]

I was told canned dog food was bad for their teeth and canned dog food was 90% water and is just dried dog food with water. I tried Iams and Science Diet. I used to feed him Pedigree but he got picky. Now I feed him Beneful and he loves it. He's pretty healthy and active so I am pretty happy with it.
http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/5171/dsc01985h.th.jpg (http://img532.imageshack.us/i/dsc01985h.jpg/)

[DisAsTerBot]

these homemade foods are they for the whole week or just the day?

a weeks worth. I would just buy some cheap cuts of chicken. Rice. Couple cans of carrots or beats. Make a batch for the week.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg221/cccchris007/thepack.jpg

[easjer]

Canned food in small quantities can be good for their skin and eyes though. Jonah gets it maybe once a month or so.

We also add olive oil to the food once a week to help with dry skin and try to give him vitamin e once a week for the same purpose. He seems to be scratching a lot less than this time last year (though summer is his worst time - we think he's got some kind of allergy to a grass or something they use on the grass in our complex, because he's worst after they've been through).

[The Reckoning]

i feed my Dobie purina one lamb and rice formula.

he prefers small children though. they give him superpowers.




http://i43.tinypic.com/10onr4h.jpg

[Bukefal]

I usually make my own. Liver cooked and pieces of bread and vegetables mixed. He loves it.

[mogrovejo]

My dogs eat Purina Pro Plan large breed, chicken & rice. Not sure under which brand is sold in the US.

Dry food is vastly superior to canned/home made food. Pick a meat-based one, ideally with chicken as the main ingredient. Then it depends on the size+activity level of the dog. They may be a little more expensive, but the ammounts to feed are smaller so it pays off. Plus, they may save you veterinary expenses in the long run.

From times to times I buy a lamb based bag, but dogs aren't gourmets, they don't need a different food every week.

[bus driver]

so i got him diamond pet food. the guy working at the pet store said it was good, natural and cheap. so i got this and made some chicken rice that i will mix with the dry food. that place had all the brands mentioned here so i will give the natural foods a try .
so far he gobbled this stuff up.

Diamond Naturals
Beef Meal & Rice Adult Dog Formula
No Corn, No Wheat
Antioxidant Formulation
Balanced Omega Fatty Acids for Skin and Coat
Crunchy Kibble Helps Clean Teeth and Reduce Plaque
Natural Formula with Vitamins and Minerals
Beef protein provides optimal nutrition for dogs that prefer the taste of beef, or are sensitive to chicken or corn. Guaranteed levels of vitamin E and selenium ensure that your dog is receiving optimum antioxidant nutrition, while Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids keep the skin and coat healthy and shiny.

Protein: 25% Fat: 15%
Calories: 3,614 kcal/kg (338 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Sizes Available: 40 lb. and 6 oz. sample

Ingredients
Beef meal, cracked pearled barley, ground rice, peas, egg product, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), rice bran, beet pulp, flaxseed, natural flavor, fish meal, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

[mogrovejo]

so i got him diamond pet food. the guy working at the pet store said it was good, natural and cheap. so i got this and made some chicken rice that i will mix with the dry food. that place had all the brands mentioned here so i will give the natural foods a try .
so far he gobbled this stuff up.

Diamond Naturals
Beef Meal & Rice Adult Dog Formula
No Corn, No Wheat
Antioxidant Formulation
Balanced Omega Fatty Acids for Skin and Coat
Crunchy Kibble Helps Clean Teeth and Reduce Plaque
Natural Formula with Vitamins and Minerals
Beef protein provides optimal nutrition for dogs that prefer the taste of beef, or are sensitive to chicken or corn. Guaranteed levels of vitamin E and selenium ensure that your dog is receiving optimum antioxidant nutrition, while Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids keep the skin and coat healthy and shiny.

Protein: 25% Fat: 15%
Calories: 3,614 kcal/kg (338 kcal/cup) Calculated ME
Sizes Available: 40 lb. and 6 oz. sample

Ingredients
Beef meal, cracked pearled barley, ground rice, peas, egg product, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), rice bran, beet pulp, flaxseed, natural flavor, fish meal, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

Seems like a good dry food,
1 - Why mixing the chicken rice with it? The food already has chicken&rice (well, beef & rice in this case), you're just creating a nutritional imbalance for no good reason, IMO. If you want it to eat chicken, buy a chicken based dry food.

2 - What's the breed of your dog? How large is it?

[balli]

I buy Blue Buffalo's White Fish and Sweet Potato, exclusively- no rice or chicken/lamb meal for my dog. He eats that shit and gets yeast growing in his paws, chews his pads raw.

I usually sprinkle on some hemp seeds too, keep his coat shiny.

[4>0rings]

What did you pay and how much(lbs) for Diamond?

[RedsLakers24]

I feed my dobie Taste of the Wild, Wellness, or Innova, i switch his food everytime. I also feed him raw.

[thispego]

I buy Blue Buffalo's White Fish and Sweet Potato, exclusively- no rice or chicken/lamb meal for my dog. He eats that shit and gets yeast growing in his paws, chews his pads raw.

I usually sprinkle on some hemp seeds too, keep his coat shiny.

is that why my dog relentlessly gnaws at his feet sometimes?

[thispego]

i feed my Dobie purina one lamb and rice formula.

he prefers small children though. they give him superpowers.




http://i43.tinypic.com/10onr4h.jpg

WHat A PUSSY ASS LITTLE DOG!

[balli]

is that why my dog relentlessly gnaws at his feet sometimes?

Probably. My dog got so bad about it that he could barely walk and I'd have to duct tape layers of socks onto his feets.

[benefactor]

Mine is a foot chewer also...but not that extreme. He actually licks more than he chews. I think it's part of his skin allergies.

[mookie2001]

i feed my Dobie purina one lamb and rice formula.

he prefers small children though. they give him superpowers.




http://i43.tinypic.com/10onr4h.jpg
Ross' dogs a little twat, and you neglected him

[bus driver]

Seems like a good dry food,
1 - Why mixing the chicken rice with it? The food already has chicken&rice (well, beef & rice in this case), you're just creating a nutritional imbalance for no good reason, IMO. If you want it to eat chicken, buy a chicken based dry food.

well its rice with chicken flavoring. i dont have chicken so he got the next best thing. they do have a chicken&rice and i will get this next time. i just mix it with rice now cause i want him to eat his food. if not then the birds come and eat it all up the dog food and ruin his drinking water. i been really struggle on what is good food that he will eat and really no dry food does the trick. until yall recommended home made stuff so i have been making rice and other stuff and chicken flavoring to work with this dry food and so far he is taking too it.


2 - What's the breed of your dog? How large is it?
hes a pit bull and weighs ~65 lbs


What did you pay and how much(lbs) for Diamond?
it was 40lb bag for about $29

[Bender]

this site list all ingredients of almost all brands of dry dog food, also canned dog food:

dog food analysis (http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/)

handy when you are shopping around.

[boutons_deux]

what do you people avg/year on dog expenses?

$5/day on food?

$100s or $1000s for anti-depressants, meds, shots, prescriptions, etc?

[Bender]

around $70 per month on food for my dog. Don't take him to the vet very often. Take him for rabies shots every other year...

[silverbora]

i have 2 greyhounds, i keep them strictly on diamond lamb and rice... $30 for 40lb at tractor supply. (no corn)

[Mixability]

All dry, different kinds layered in his auto feeder. Tried wet food, Baaaaad idea with our dog, had the shits like crazy. Never table food, but he does get lucky when I've had a few at the grill.....

[boutons_deux]

# The New York Times


May 31, 2010

The Truth About Cat and Dog Food

By JANE E. BRODY

A visit to a local supply store for pets has convinced me that many people’s pets eat better than their two-legged companions, or their companion’s children.

Whatever you think your pet needs (dog or cat, that is, I’m not getting into nutrition for birds, rabbits, turtles and the many exotic animals people keep as pets), there is a product ready to meet it: vegetarian, organic, holistic, natural, raw, kosher, all-meat, gluten-free, high-fiber, high-protein, grain-free, low-fat, “lite” and anti-allergy. There are products for young and old pets and those with sensitive skin, sensitive stomachs and sensitive skin and stomachs, as well as foods enriched with supplements like antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine and chondroitin, the value of which has yet to be established for people, let alone pets.

Do the conscientious pet owners who buy these products really scour the supermarket for the human equivalent of “Grain-Free Optimal Holistic Nutrition for Dogs, Thoughtfully Chosen Whole Food Natural Ingredients in Every Bite,” as proclaimed on the package of Earthborn Primitive Natural dog food? Or baby food like Innova Puppy Food made with turkey, duck, barley, brown rice, apple, tomato, carrot, potato, egg, cottage cheese and alfalfa sprouts?

Parents know how to respond when a baby reacts badly to a newly introduced food. But if a puppy eating Innova had a food sensitivity, how could you tell which ingredient was responsible?

I’m not against feeding pets well. They are, after all, much-loved members of the family, providing valuable emotional support. Although both cats and dogs can be as mischievous as toddlers and as rebellious as teenagers, they are always happy to see you and they never talk back.

In fact, too often pets are overindulged, with too much food and too many snacks in proportion to the exercise they get. Veterinary groups have estimated that 20 to 60 percent of American dogs and cats are overweight or obese and at risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

And I wonder whether people who invest in high-end pet foods are getting their money’s worth. Are their pets really healthier and happier? Do they live longer? And are these foods any better than the generic versions sold in supermarkets and big-box stores?

Recognizing the high value most owners place on their companion animals, and distressed by recent recalls of contaminated pet foods, two scientists decided to examine the pet food industry and the evidence for the value of its products and the claims made for them. Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, and Malden C. Nesheim, emeritus professor of nutrition at Cornell University, have packaged their findings in “Feed Your Pet Right: The Authoritative Guide to Feeding Your Dog and Cat,” published in May by Free Press.

In an interview, Dr. Nestle (pronounced NES-sel) said: “People are willing to spend anything on their pets. The $18-billion-a-year pet food industry is considered to be recession-proof. Although during this economic downturn shelters have been overwhelmed with pets people could not afford to keep, those who have kept their pets are not stinting on what they spend to feed them.”

She noted, however, that the so-called premium pet foods cost three to four times more than supermarket brands. Within the premium brands, there is also a wide price range, yet when the ingredients lists are compared, they are strikingly similar since all have to meet certain nutritional standards. The first five ingredients of nearly every kind of dog and cat food are generally the same, representing protein, fats and carbohydrates, Dr. Nestle said, adding that “anything listed below the salt would be present in only very small amounts.” She and Dr. Nesheim compared 10 premium chicken dinners for dogs and found that all contained basically the same ingredients: All start with chicken or chicken broth, followed by grains and vegetables. The nonpremium brands use more grains and poultry, meat and fish byproducts.

Most important, Drs. Nestle and Nesheim say, is to look for products labeled “complete and balanced,” indicating that they meet the nutritional requirements of cats and dogs listed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. This organization, in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration, state officials and the animal feed industry, develops model regulations for pet foods, which are voluntary unless encoded in state laws.

“All pet foods are made from the byproducts of human food production,” Dr. Nestle explained. “No matter what the package says, your dog is not getting whole chicken breasts, but what remains after the breasts have been removed for human food.”

And, indeed, it is primarily human food companies — Nestlé, Purina, Mars and Procter & Gamble — that make the pet foods sold throughout the world. Of course, in much of the world, domestic dogs and cats survive on table and street scraps, not commercially produced pet foods. In seeking evidence for the added value to health and longevity of commercial pet foods, the authors found almost none with any validity.

No agency requires proof of pet food health claims, and no pet food company is willing to invest in decades of research to determine whether its products keep animals healthier and extend their lives, the authors state. Pet food companies say they do research, but it is rarely done in a scientific fashion, with comparable control and experimental groups. There is, however, ample evidence that, despite claims to the contrary, both dogs and cats “are perfectly able to digest grains if they are cooked,” Dr. Nestle said.

None of this should imply that different pet food products make no difference to individual animals. When my friends’ havanese began licking its paws incessantly, the vet suggested they try a corn-free pet food, which stopped the itching. However, they need not spend $31 for a 12.5-pound bag of premium food free of corn; Costco’s Kirkland Super Premium Dog Food, also free of corn, costs about $15 for a 40-pound bag.

Still, Dr. Nestle suggested, “if one or another brand seems to completely change the way a dog behaves or cures an allergy, when you find something that works for you, stay with it.”

While many pay good money for marketing gimmicks, Dr. Nestle also does not object to people paying for attributes they value. If characteristics like natural, organic, holistic, vegetarian or kosher are important to pet owners, it may be worth it to them to pay top dollar for pet foods that claim to provide the desired attribute, even if there is no official or enforced definition of the claim.

Although some owners insist on cooking for their pets, the authors said animals are more likely to get all the nutrients they need, and in the right amounts, from a commercial product.

“Besides, the pet food industry serves an important ecological function by using up food that would otherwise be thrown out,” Dr. Nestle said. “If everyone cooked human food for the 472 million cats and dogs in America, it would be like feeding an additional 42 million people.”

=====

Pretty strange that carnivorou dogs and cats eat corn, soy, grain filler in petfood, since they certainly didn't evolve eating them. Same for cows. They didn't evolve eating seeds, only leaves.

Maybe there's a reason there's so much sickness in people and domestic animals these days. Maybe because it's all good for corporate profits?

A company figured out how to scavenge some kind of pink stuff from slaughterhouses that used to go into pet food. Now that pink stuff, not quite meat, is sold to ground meat, sausage, weiner mfrs. :)

The company now grosses about $450M/year.