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I feed my dogs Victor Senior/Healthy weight and they both do well on it and like it. Premium food (4.5 stars per Dog Food Advisor) at much less cost. I also supplement my older boy with yoghurt and pumpkin. He's a bulldog mix and I haven't found a food yet that helps with the gas!!!
My dog has been on Royal Canine years ago and it was much cheaper and you got a lot more in the bag than you do now. I went to Petsmart tonight and saw Blue went up. I think it was like $5 less when I was buying it. I looked around and I just couldn't decide if I really wanted to switch, so I got another bag of Royal Canine. He's been on this for almost a year now, and the longest time he's been on any food.
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Originally Posted by veggienut
He's been picky since a pup. If I had to cook for him, there would be no meat in his diet. I am a vegetarian and WILL NOT cook any meat here~! I know I buy dog food that is meat, but it is stored on a porch where he eats.
Are you afraid you will be contaminated? You may be a vegetarian, but your dog is not. No wonder he's a picky eater. Personally, I'd run away. Maybe you shouldn't have a dog. Get a bird instead.
However, if you persist...try home cooked. Remember, he still needs protein! Will he eat beans? you might be able to make your own concoction of foods he likes. Add something that he naturally craves, and you may not have a picky eater any more.
On a 6-star scale, that would put them about midway. Not real good, not bad. Maybe deciding factor would be comparison of ingredients in other brands to price. There may be better ones at very little cost difference.
For example, on Royal Canin Medium Dog Food | Review and Rating (dogfoodadvisor.com) Royal Canin Med. (dry) is only 2.5 stars. Note the "controversial ingredients" in red. I'd like to know why they are controversial, and why they are in the dog food.
I haven't done that comparison but I am looking at the Acana line, and like the 5-star rating on dogfoodadvisor.com for Acana Grasslands. No red questionable ingredients there, and the site says this food is "enthusiastically recommended". It's got a bit more protein than I like, so hopefully I can find a lower protein in their line of grain free, and one that doesn't use white potatoes.
We have learned over the years that poor nutrition does lead to health problems over time. Not always, but why take the chance. I'd rather spend the money on food now than later at the vet. Too much heartache comes with that too.
there controversial because while they may not be "good" ingredients, there not "dangerous" either and are industry standard "fillers"
ie corn and corn based ingredients will always be controversial, MOST dogs have at least some degree of allergy to corn, and corn is a CHEAP filler, theres realy no nutritional value to corn, its simply stratch (sugar)...but its not against any legal or industry standard and is a frequent ingredient in dog food because its cheap!
byproduct is controversial because while technically its still "chicken" theres little to no MEAT involed (beaks feet and feathers) (and often includes bits off the floor, stuff jammed in the machines, and in super cheap foods frequently included floor sweepings and potential for metal shavings and such..
I feed a combo of a good kibble (no corn, soy, wheat) and raw (chicken and goat) For treats I find ones that are of the same quality as kibble or I use baby carrots. They love Jack mackerel and it's great for their coat.
I'm very picky about what my dogs eat...I learned many moons ago and after spending ungodly amounts of money at the vet that these three things are a big allergy triggers in dogs.
I had a lab who had skin issues and stunk to high heaven and was plagued with ear infections... my current vet kept telling me to feed him Science Diet and keep cleaning his ears and bathing him 3x a week and insisted that Milk Bones were perfectly fine for the dog. About 6mths later he hired a newly minted vet who literally changed my life and my dogs lives...she very quietly suggested we dump the SD (that they sold for $$$$$) and to find a kibble that had no corn, wheat, soy or beef.....it took a bit, but we found one I think it Nutro and within 6 weeks or so you could see the difference...within 6 mths he a was like a brand new dog. She also said your lab doesn't need to be bathed but once a year...stop over-bathing him and feed him good quality food and you'll see a difference.
The really sad part of this story?? She told me that if I ever told her associates what she told me, she'd lose her job because they don't want to know about diet and nutrition for dogs...just want to sell as much SD as they can.
I feed a combo of a good kibble (no corn, soy, wheat) and raw (chicken and goat) For treats I find ones that are of the same quality as kibble or I use baby carrots. They love Jack mackerel and it's great for their coat.
I'm very picky about what my dogs eat...I learned many moons ago and after spending ungodly amounts of money at the vet that these three things are a big allergy triggers in dogs.
I had a lab who had skin issues and stunk to high heaven and was plagued with ear infections... my current vet kept telling me to feed him Science Diet and keep cleaning his ears and bathing him 3x a week and insisted that Milk Bones were perfectly fine for the dog. About 6mths later he hired a newly minted vet who literally changed my life and my dogs lives...she very quietly suggested we dump the SD (that they sold for $$$$$) and to find a kibble that had no corn, wheat, soy or beef.....it took a bit, but we found one I think it Nutro and within 6 weeks or so you could see the difference...within 6 mths he a was like a brand new dog. She also said your lab doesn't need to be bathed but once a year...stop over-bathing him and feed him good quality food and you'll see a difference.
The really sad part of this story?? She told me that if I ever told her associates what she told me, she'd lose her job because they don't want to know about diet and nutrition for dogs...just want to sell as much SD as they can.
This is a great post. Thank you for sharing all that. So true. (rep coming your way)
Food is a very hot topic on here. I have done many long hours and online research on cat food/ not so much dog food as I've never had a dog.. and what I have found leads me to say this. Regardless of our opinions or our budgets. Most pet food is garbage or at the very best organic meat based garbage. Even Orijen is still kibble and can cause some issues esspically in cats which do horrible on dry food..
There is no such thing IMO as an ideal commerical pet food for cats or dogs either it will break your bank or your dog/cat/ect. Me personally I don't keep dogs not only because of the bite insurence on mikes house ( I have autism and live in a group home no dogs allowed but i have 2 indoor cats ) because good commerical food for dogs and cats is VERY $$$. I stick with cats because they are smaller and so eat less.
Woodies is the best food IMHO its either raw or homemade cooked., it comes in 1 2 and 5 pound tubs to freeze and thaw. Its far cheaper then Orijen/Acana/wysong and I'm guessing based on price for cats- a 70 lbs dog might easily be fed with it for under $60 a month with perfect teeth no dog order great poop/ect.. The only draw back is its only found in the twin cities in 2 locations. Across from Arbys on snelling Ave in highland and in minneaplois. They don't do online orders of food.
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You may be a vegetarian, but your dog is not. No wonder he's a picky eater. Personally, I'd run away. 
