[midnightbirdgirl]

Originally Posted by GSD101

I believe that a raw food diet is good for your dog. A dog can digest raw meat better than people, but they can still get worms (though they are less likely to get them) they can get worms from eating fleas as well. I can't see how feeding raw is less expensive though unless you have a . We feed our dogs Diamond dog food and have had no problems. It's inexpensive and high in protein. The first ingredient is chicken. You should always read the ingredients. Foods such as beneful have high amounts of sugars.

Dogs rarely get worms or any other parasite from raw food.
Myths About Raw: Will my dog aquire parasites from raw meat?
It is less expensive unless you feed your dog cheap feed like Old Roy...it is It not like you are feeding him prime rib every night And since it is pure meat, not pre-made packed raw diet, and has no filler like grain, you do not need to feed near as much. Trust me it is way cheaper! Commercial dog foods for what they are are ridiculously over priced!
This is a great raw feeding link for anyone interested:
Jane Anderson's Raw Learning Site
Basically You need to feed your dog 2% to 3% of the dog's ideal body weight, so an 80 lbs dog (hardly a chihuahua) would be fed 1.6 to 2.4 pounds of raw meat and raw bones
covered in raw meat per day, about 10% of their diet needs to consist of offals (organ meats and the like). So really it is not that much, and it is pretty cheap. Of course you need to adjust accordingly as to their individual activity levels.
We use mostly poultry, but just about any meat is fine, you can get things like chicken backs and necks very inexpensively at most butcher shops, a It We generally freeze before feeding and then thaw in the microwave or fridge however much we need at a time. You just need to be careful not to let it cook in the mic...cooked bones of any kind are dangerous for dogs.
MBG

[irishmom]

What's a good low protein brand of dog food?

[CADRMNDANES]

Originally Posted by GSD101

I believe that a raw food diet is good for your dog. A dog can digest raw meat better than people, but they can still get worms (though they are less likely to get them) they can get worms from eating fleas as well. I can't see how feeding raw is less expensive though unless you have a chihuahua. We feed our dogs Diamond dog food and have had no problems. It's inexpensive and high in protein. The first ingredient is chicken. You should always read the ingredients. Foods such as beneful have high amounts of sugars.

Dogs don't get worms from Raw meat. That is a myth.

Diamond foods were recalled (again).

[CADRMNDANES]

I wouldn't feed any of these brands!!

Dog Food that have been recalled.
Iams (Procter & Gamble)
Eukanuba (Procter & Gamble)
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro Ultra
Nutro
Royal Canin Canada Veterinary Diet Canine Early Cardiac Dry food
Royal Canin Canada Veterinary Diet Canine Sensitivity RC (Rice and Catfish) Dry food
Royal Canin Canada Veterinary Diet Canine Skin Support Dry food
Royal Canin Canada Veterinary Diet Feline Sensitivity RD (Rice and Duck) Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Senior Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Puppy Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Adult Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Senior Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Rice & Catfish Meal Formula Adult Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice Adult Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice Reduced Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Lamb and Rice Reduced Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice Puppy Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Natural Blend Adult Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Natural Blend Senior Dry food
Royal Canin USA Sensible Choice Natural Blend Puppy Dry food
Royal Canin USA Kasco Chunks Dry food
Royal Canin USA Kasco Hi Energy Dry food
Royal Canin USA Kasco Maintenance Dry food
Royal Canin USA Kasco Mealettes Dry food
Royal Canin USA Kasco Mini Chunks Dry food
Royal Canin USA Kasco Puppy Dry food
Royal Canin USA Veterinary Diet Canine Early Cardiac EC 22 Dry food
Royal Canin USA Veterinary Diet Canine Skin Support SS21 Dry food
Royal Canin USA Veterinary Diet Feline Hypoallergenic HP23 Dry food
Diamond Pet Foods Lamb & Rice Formula for Dogs 13oz Can
Diamond Pet Foods Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Puppy Formula 13oz Can
Diamond Pet Foods Nutra Nuggets 40 Lb. Lamb Meal and Rice Formula Dry food
Drs. Foster & Smith Lamb & Brown Rice Formula Adult Dog Food Dry food
Drs. Foster & Smith Chicken & Brown Rice Formula Adult Lite Dog Food Dry food

Diamond sold some of the ground kibble to pig farmers and all of the pigs had to be destoyed here in CA.

[CADRMNDANES]

Here's a kibble rating chart

You will need your kibble's list of ingredients, as found on the bag (or oftentimes their website).
Please note, however, this is for ingredients ONLY.... so before feeding a pup be sure to look at
the protein and fat and calcium and calories in the Guaranteed Analysis.

Start with a grade of 100:

For every listing of "by-product", subtract 15 points

For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract
10 points

If there are no specific meats or meat meals, subtract 25 points

For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source, or grain "middlings", subtract 10 points

If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 15 points

If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. "ground
brown rice", "brewer’s rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points for each
occurrence

If the protein sources are not (specific) meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3
ingredients, subtract 3 points

If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 5 points

If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points (subtract 5 if corn is listed in the
top 5 ingredients)

If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 3 points

If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources),
subtract 2 points

If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 5 points

If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points

If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to beef), subtract 1 point

If it contains salt, subtract 3 points

If it contains corn syrup, molasses, or other added sweetener, subtract 10 points

Extra Credit:

For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count "chicken" and
"chicken meal" as only one protein source, but "chicken" and "turkey" as 2 different sources - do
not count egg, cheese, or other similar ingredients), add 1 point

If the food contains 3 or less different mentions of grains (or other high-carb plant-based foods
like potatoes), add 5 points

If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points (if the number 1 ingredient is organic meat,
add 10 points)

If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 3 points

If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points

If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points

If the food contains fruit or vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points

If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point

If the food contains barley or oats or oatmeal, add 1 point

If it contains sunflower, hemp, flaxseed, or other polyunsaturated vegetable oils, add 3 points
(add 5 if it is the #1 fat)

If the vitamin and mineral sources are chelated, add 5 points

94-100+ = A

86-93 = B

78-85 = C

70-77 = D

<70 = F


Food Grade Results
A's Score
A+ Chicken Soup for the pet lovers soul 113
A+ Eagle Pack Holistic chicken 114
A+ Eagle Pack Holistic LG and Giant Breed Adlt 113
A+ Eagle Pack Natural 104
A+ Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison 136
A+ Solid Gold Bison 123
A+ Solid Gold Wolf King 109
A+ Solid Gold Hund N flocken 105
A+ Solid Gold Mmillennia 111
A+ Innova 117
A+ Natural Balance Duck and Potato 114
A+ Canidae 119
A+ Foundations Chicken and Vegetable 109
A+ Flint River Ranch Fish and Chips 109
A+ Wysong Synorgon 110
A+ Flint River Ranch Lamb, Millet and Rice 117
A+ Back to Basics 107

B's
B Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice 87

C's
C Nutro Lamb and Rice 85

D's
D Iams Lamb and Rice 74

F's
F Pedigree Adult Complete 14
F Ol'Roy 9
F Science Diet Chicken Adult Maintainance 45
F Purina Beniful original 23
All Purina and Pro Plan foods rate as a F
F Pro Plan Giant Breed Adult 41
F Pro Plan Performance 53
F Pro Plan Chicken and Rice
F Purina Dog chow
F Purina Large Breed 40
F Diamond Lamb and Rice 61
F Diamond Performance (formerly professional)
F Diamond Large Breed 55

[midnightbirdgirl]

So complicated...hence we go raw.... holy cow, always worried about the next recall...why? Our pets deserve better, IMO
MBG

[GSD101]

[quote=midnightbirdgirl;889312]Dogs rarely get worms or any other parasite from raw food.QUOTE]

You said rarely you didn't say never. I did say that they are less likely to get them, but it is still possible.

I will look further into the raw diet, I didn't know about the second recall. I do know that the first recall was from dog food that was bought from walmart and had been expired.

It is still very confusing. Do I factor in the bones in the weight or just the meat? Should I just buy a 3 lb chicken and give it to my german shepherd with all the liver and heart? Do I have to buy a bucket of chum? Aren't neck bones and back bones dangerous? I know as long as the bones are not cooked the other bones are fine for the dogs. Maybe, I just keep the cats and get rid of the dogs.

[midnightbirdgirl]

[quote=GSD101;893453]

Originally Posted by midnightbirdgirl

Dogs rarely get worms or any other parasite from raw food.QUOTE]

You said rarely you didn't say never. I did say that they are less likely to get them, but it is still possible.

I will look further into the raw diet, I didn't know about the second recall. I do know that the first recall was from dog food that was bought from walmart and had been expired.

It is still very confusing. Do I factor in the bones in the weight or just the meat? Should I just buy a 3 lb chicken and give it to my german shepherd with all the liver and heart? Do I have to buy a bucket of chum? Aren't neck bones and back bones dangerous? I know as long as the bones are not cooked the other bones are fine for the dogs. Maybe, I just keep the cats and get rid of the dogs.

You are killing me!! I bucket of chum...chum should be used for fishin' only...PU!!
You can give you shep a 3 lb chicken...the whole thing! He would LOVE IT!! You don't weigh meat and bones separately. All the bones are safe as long as they are not cooked, only cooked bones will splinter and cause a problem.
It is really easy...the offals I generally use are beef liver, chicken livers and the packages of hearts and gizzards that are in most markets.
Remember dogs and cats can pick up parasites anywhere, raw is better for your pets than anything else out there, it is what they were meant to eat. It is far more dangerous to let you dog outside to play, he might just get a tick (very common)...

Look at the links I posted. Not a big deal, after about a week of raw, you will think why didn't I do this before. BTW it is not just for dogs!
MBG

[GSD101]

I bet the cats would love some liver too. Well, I bet the dogs would love to roll in the chum. My pom will find the most disgusting things to make him self smell oh so good.

[PitBullMommie1206]

Is Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance a good dog food?? That is what we are feeding our two pups and they LOVE it!! It says its a ultra premium dog food for puppies to adults, complete and balanced for all breeds. It also says that it has no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors, or bleached ingredients. No corn, soy, wheat, eggs, dairy products, or sunflower oil. The ingredients are.. chicken, brown rice, lamb meal, oatmeal, barley, duck meal, potatoes, corrots, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), tomato pomace, natural flavor, canola oil, brewers yeast, fish meal, salmon oil, lecithin, whole ground flaxseed, potassium chloride, choline chloride, inulin, taurine, spinach, parsley flakes, cranberry, lysine, l-carnitine, yucca, kelp, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper solfate, potassium lodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B-1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin a supplement, biotin, d-calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxinehydrochloride (vitamin B-6), vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B-2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid (vitamin B)... And this is the website for it Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance® Ultra Premium Dog Food

I just asked this same question not too long ago and MovingBack2PA recommended that I check this thread out. I dont have time to read everything right now so, I apologize if someone has already asked about this food... I would really just like to know if anyone knows if this is a good food or not. Has anyone heard anything about this food?? Good or bad??

Ohh.. I also wanted to add that I have heard that the Natural Balance with the venison has been recalled in the recent food recalls, but I heard that it was ONLY the one with the venison. Thats not what we feed our pups, but that does make me a little nervous. Both of our dogs LOVE this food, they are very healthy and they look more healthy and happy sinse they have been on this food. With any other food we have tried they would eat it, but it almost seemed like they were only eating it because they had to.. with this food they cant wait for me to put the bowl down so they can start eating! lol! Like I said, I really just want to see if anyone has heard anything about this food, good or bad? I would hate to have to change their food because they are doing well on this and they love it, but again, the fact that the food with the venison in it got recalled makes me kind of nervous.