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  • Different Opinions on the Best Dog Food

    First of all, let me explain that I go to many forums. One of which is another pet forum. On this particular forum everyone is hung up on "Natural Dog Food". Those that you have to find special stores for and pay outragious prices for a bag of food that you either have to refrigerate or use up quickly. They have created a list based on ingredients of other brands of food that are listed as good, semi-good, and bad. My personal brand (Purina Beneful) is listed as bad. I'm going to post a copy of the list here. This is not my work. If you want to know who it came from you'll have to ask for the link because I'm not sure if I should put it here. It would take you to a compediter forum.

    Im going to make this a concise and easy reference for your reading pleasure.

    Ingredients which automatically rule out a food.
    If these are anywhere in the ingredients list, put it down and look for something else.

    A non-meat first ingredient is an automatic no go.

    Meat by-products: By-products can vary ... they can consist of the internal parts of animals such as necks, heads, undeveloped eggs, feet, intestines, lungs, spleen and liver. Although by-products are used by many manufacturers, are these ingredients you would knowingly feed your pet?

    Corn: Corn products are difficult for dogs to digest.

    Food Fragments: Lower cost by-products of another food manufacturing process. Examples include wheat bran and brewer's rice (a waste product of the alcohol industry).

    Meat and bone meal: "Meat and bone meal" and "beef and bone meal" are inexpensive sources of animal protein. The protein in a meal containing a large amount of bone may be poorly digestible and fail to provide adequate nutrition.

    Animal Fat: Animal fat is a "generic" fat source that is most often made up of rendered animal fat, restaurant grease, or other oils too rancid or deemed inedible for humans. Look for a named fat source, such as poultry or chicken fat, that is naturally preserved.

    Chemical Preservatives: Chemical preservatives include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, propylene glycol (also used as a less-toxic version of automotive antifreeze), and ethoxyquin. BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are potentially cancer-causing agents. The long term build-up of these chemicals (that may be eaten every day for the life of your pet!) have not been thouroughly studied and may ultimately be harmful.

    Sweeteners: Sweeteners such as corn syrup, sugar, and cane mallases are usually added to lower quality foods to increase their appeal. Dietary sugars can aggrevate health problems, including diabetes.

    Beef Tallow A low quality fat product.

    SugarThis is not an ingredient most people would expect to find in dog food, but many foods do, in fact, contain sugar, especially the semi-moist brands. In fact, some semi-moist foods contain as much as 15% sugar. The sugar adds palatability and moisture, and aids in bacterial contamination prevention. Dogs do not need this amount of sugar, which can stress the pancreas and adrenal glands, causing diabetes. Completely devoid of protein, vitamins and minerals, sugar is, literally, empty calories.

    Food colorings These still commonly used in pet foods today despite the fact that they are not necessary and some have been linked to medical problems

    Stuff to look for

    Rice A combination of brown and white rice. The white rice for digestibility and the brown for its added nutritional value. A diet product that is 100% brown rice can be somewhat hard for some animals to digest. Rice is good, corn is not.

    Meat vs Meal Pet food labels found in grocery and mass marketers like to use Chicken or Lamb to represent real meat. – (Contains 70% moisture). This leads you the consumer to believe that their product is meat based. Chicken or lamb meats are heavier than grains prior to cooking. The moisture contained in the meats (70%) is reduced by 2/3rds after the cooking process, leaving the total formula as a grain base food after processing. Therefore, pound for pound, meal is better than meat as its basically a concentrated form of meat, less water, more protein!

    Wheat Wheat is ok, as long as its not in the top 3 ingredients

    Other Ingredients and what they are for

    Chicken Fat (Omega 6) Essential fatty acids, maintains moisture in skin cells and is easily digested.

    Fish Meal (Omega 3) Essential fatty acids, controls skin inflammation, helps relieve itching & hot spots.

    Flax Seed (Omega 3) Essential fatty acids, helps reduce allergy problems caused from flea bites and gives the coat a shiny luster.

    Sunflower Oil (Omega 6) Essential fatty acids, prevents scruffy, dry coat and maintains moisture in skin cells.

    Lecithin Helps emulsify cholesterol and aids in the digestion and absorption of fats that feed the coat.

    Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) Essential fatty acids, helps to prevent moisture loss from cells that cause flaky, dry skin and coat.


    Sage Strengthens the mind and concentrating abilities; it aids in healing skin sores and skin eruptions and removing dandruff. It has been mostly employed in disordered states of the digestion and for its savory usage.

    Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Nourishes and heals the skin.

    Biotin Aids in the growth and health of hair.

    Cranberry Meal Prevents the spread of bacterial infections in kidneys and the urinary tract. Helps prevent Cystitis.


    Rosemary Is a stimulant of the circulatory system; to treat bad breath; stimulates the hair bulbs to new growth. Employed for its savory usage.


    Apple Meal Rich in soluble fiber, lowers blood cholesterol levels and normalizes blood sugar.


    Amaranth Vitamin packed herb, calms the stomach, reduces tissue swelling, removes worms and parasites from the digestive tract.


    Brewers Yeast (Nutritional Yeast) A rich source of the B vitamins, contains 16 amino acids, 14 minerals and 17 vitamins. Protects, binds and rids from mycotoxins, which cause liver and organ damage..


    Yucca Used for its reduction of both breath and stool odor ! A cleansing agent. Used by the Indians of the southwest for skin disorders, skin eruptions and helps avoid inflammation..


    Eggs An excellent source of protein and contains all the essential Amino Acids..


    Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Streptococcus Faecium fermentation extracts Probiotics. Better digestion and absorption of nutrients, they act to exclude and prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing and creating digestive upsets, helps prevent sickness and stress..

    Yeast Culture All natural live yeast culture, it acts to stimulate microbial and enzyme populations in the animals digestive system. Live yeast cultures plus dried fermentation solubles..

    COPPER AND IRON A deficiency of iron causes nutritional anemia. A small amount of copper will improve utilization of iron..


    Beet Pulp (Sugar) CONTROVERSIAL
    • AAFCO - Beet Pulp is the dried residue from sugar beets which has been cleaned and extracted in the process of manufacturing sugar.
    • Natura uses it because - "it as a good source of fiber and a stool hardener". However, it is not found in their Innova or California Natural products.
    • Solid Gold doesn't use it because they believe it is: "Added to pet food to slow down the transition of rancid animal fats (think toxic waste). This holds the waste in. Kidneys and liver work overtime. Dogs may chew their lower backs. Feet may swell, so the dogs lick their feet. Sugar is a contributing factor to ear infections and cataracts".
    Beet pulp is rather controversial, many think that it is an excellent additive and source of fiber and that all sugar has been completely extracted before being added as a pet food ingredients. If this is the only "problem" ingredient in a kibble, other factors will have to help you decide.

    Brewers Rice
    • AAFCO - Brewer's Rice is the small milled fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from the larger kernels of milled rice.
    • Natura will not use it because they state it is a "lower quality rice product that is missing many of the nutrients found in Ground Rice and Ground Brown Rice." Solid Gold says that is the sweepings from the floor of the mill.

    Rice Bran
    • AAFCO - Rice Bran is the outer coating of the rice kernel, with little or none of the starchy part of the germ.
    • Natura and Solid Gold reject it because it is "an inexpensive source of fiber that is considered a filler ingredient", i.e. devoid of nutrient value.

    Sorghum
    • AAFCO - Sorghum is the ground grain of the sorghum plant.
    • Natura alleges that although sorghum is good source of carbohydrates, it is low in digestibility.

    Side Note
    Condemned parts and animals rejected for human consumption can be rerouted into commercial pet foods. These condemned parts are referred to as the 4 D's: dead, dying, diseased or decayed. We believe this is one of the most despicable practices in the pet food manufacturing industry.
    Some manufacturers have a lower standard regarding the quality of ingredients they use to make pet food. A recent example of this practice is the discovery of Pentobarbital in major pet foods, including supermarket brands. Pentobarbital is a chemical used to euthanize animals. Many holistic veterinarians feel that daily ingestion of pentobarbital can be harmful.
    Many manufacturers cut costs by using the cheapest ingredients available at the time a food is made. Since costs rise and fall, some manufacturers will vary ingredients from batch to batch .. resulting in changed nutrient values for each batch and possible digestive illness.
    Some manufacturers have lower standards regarding the freshness of ingredients they use to make pet food. You can not determine the freshness of ingredients by reading a label; you must trust the pet food manufacturer.


    Now I know you are still asking “is this food good”, so here is the basic lists with the research done for you (tsk tsk!)

    The Good
    When you want the best money can buy….
    ADVANCE
    BALANCE DIET
    The Food ADVANTAGE
    CANINE CAVIAR PET FOODS
    Cripple Creek Kennels
    Natural Balance
    FLINT RIVER RANCH
    HAPPY PAWS
    HOLISTIC BLEND
    SOLID GOLD
    LIFE'S ABUNDANCE
    TENDER LOVING CARE
    NATURE'S FINEST
    MATRIX
    OLD MOTHER HUBBARD
    Sammy Snacks
    TIMBERWOLF ORGANICS
    ULTRA NATURAL PET FOODS
    VeRUS Pet Foods
    VITA-MAX PET FOODS
    AZMIRA PET FOODS
    BREEDERS CHOICE
    CALIFORNIA NATURAL
    INNOVA CANINE
    PINNACLE
    ROYAL CANIN SIZE (natural blend variety)
    NATURALLY CANADIAN
    CANIDAE PET
    KIRKLAND (KIBBLE)
    Far More
    NATURAL BLEND
    The Bad
    Well, they aren’t BAD, they just don’t quite make the A grade cut. No-one should look down on you for feeding this to Fido and Spot, its good, just not the best. Dogs will do well on these.
    BENCH & FIELD
    THE PET PANTRY
    DIAMOND BRAND
    RIDE DOG FOOD
    EAGLE PACK SUPER PREMIUM PET FOOD
    NATURE'S RECIPE
    INOVATIVE VETERNARY DIETS
    ROYAL CANIN SIZE
    NUTRO
    NUTRO MAX
    PRECISE PET FOOD
    PET FIRST
    SIRIUS PET FOODS
    PHD, PERFECT HEALTH DIETS
    WYSONG PROFESSIONAL DIETS
    ANF Specialties
    ANMAR
    ANNAMAET PET FOODS
    APD (ADVANCED PET DIETS)
    ARDEN GRANGE
    NUTRA NUGGETS
    OWEN & MANDEVILLE PET PRODUCTS, INC.
    "PAW" TICULARS
    PET CHEF EXPRESS
    Burns Pet Nutrition
    PROPAC DOG FOODS
    CANUSA PET FOOD
    SPORTSMAN'S CHOICE
    LAMB AND RICE FORMULA
    Pronature
    STURDY
    DOCK'S PET FOOD
    DYNAMITE ONLINE DYNAMITE SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
    K9 Gourmet
    MARTINS FORMULA
    NOBLE DOG FOOD
    NUTRIENCE PET FOOD
    NUTRIENCE
    AUTHORITY PET FOODS CO
    QUALITY CARE PLUS (QC+)
    REGAL PET FOODS
    BLACKWOOD CORPORATION
    Euro Premium
    MAX DOG FOOD
    NATURAL LIFE PET PRODUCTS, INC.
    PETGUARD
    PREMIUM EDGE
    Petsmart Premier
    TECHNI-CAL
    The Ugly
    Don’t feed your dog these under any circumstances!
    PURINA PRESCRIPTION DIETS (ok, so sometimes you have to, but I would beg and threaten my vet for an alternative)
    Alpo
    MERA DOG
    Petco.
    NATIONAL DOG FOODS
    SPORTMIX
    Tuffy's Dog Food
    WALTHAM
    WAYNE
    SHUR-GAIN
    Bil-Jac
    SCIENCE DIET
    EUKANUBA
    LAND O' LAKES
    EXCEL
    MUENSTER MILLING CO.
    EXPERT CONDITIONING
    JOY PET FOODS
    Purina Beneful
    IAMS
    Nutripet
    BUCKEYE PET FOODS
    PROFESSIONAL PET FOODS
    EARL MAY PREMIUM BLEND
    Prominence
    CORNUCOPIA PET FOODS, INC.
    PRO PLAN
    VETERINARY MEDICAL DIETS Select Care and Medi-Cal
    Jappy
    FORZA10
    LINDQUIST FOODS
    FROMM
    MASTERY
    MY-CHAMPS MICROBIAL STYLE DOG FOOD
    GEREEN ENTERPRISES
    KUMPI DOG FOOD
    HAPPY DOG
    High Hopes
    ECONOMY LINE
    ECONOUF
    EXCEL
    1st. CHOICE
    Big Red
    Black Gold Pet Foods, Inc.
    BLUE SEAL PREMIUM FEEDS. LTD.
    BACK TO BASICS
    BLUE RIBBON BRAND DOG FOOD
    CYCLE ADULT
    PUREBRED COMPANY
    PURINA O.N.E. Brand
    OL' ROY BRAND
    WALTHAM
    PEDIGREE
    PURINA BRAND DOG FOODS
    THOMPSON'S PET PASTA PRODUCTS
    GRAVY TRAIN
    KASCO
    KIBBLES 'N BITS
    DR. BALLARD ORIGINAL VETERINARIAN RECIPES
    The Robert Abady Dog Food Company, Ltd
    MAXXIMUM NUTRITION
    But the good costs so much!
    Burger King is cheap too you know…
    You have to realize that the higher quality the food, the less fillers and more actual nutrition. The portion sizes are much smaller, the food lasts longer, and you are spending less time picking up landmines all over the backyard. Everybody wins.
    To add to this, dont play the helpless "oh but I cant find it at Walmart or Petsmart" card. Use google, look up the webpages, more than likely they will have a store locater for their distributers. Good food is worth the 5 seconds youll have to search on google for.
    Sources
    http://www.healthypetnet.com/
    http://www.canidae.com/
    http://www.doberdogs.com
    http://www.feedmypet.com
    The Animal Protection Institute, "What's Really in Pet Food.", January 29, 2002.
    Kerns, Nancy "Choose the Best Dry Food.", The Whole Dog Journal, February 2000, 13-17.
    The Animal Protection Institute, "Selecting a Commercial Pet Food. ", October 25, 2001.
    My personal opinion on all of this is that their sources were created to promote the dog foods that they say are healthier. If you look at the sources most go to dog food companys in the favorable list. What is the opinion of those on this forum?

    Note* I have no intention of changing my food. Kota is doing well on it and I would not change her routine right now. I just want everyones opinons. This seems to be the largest beef I have with this other forum. I consider it bad advice and I don't like that. :x
    Blessed Be

    Salem Witch Child

  • #2
    I have to say that I agree with a lot of their GOOD/BAD choices.
    The fact is that dog food companies are not required to list their ingredients. They can list WHAT THEY WANT in many cases. So many dog foods are PACKED with preservatives - most cause cancer. I don't know. It is worth paying extra I think for a good dog food...but I really do not know what the answer is. I guess you need to go by how your dog looks. Shiny coat? healthy? Then I suppose you can stick with your food..

    Comment


    • #3
      So what's the difference with choosing a dog food with perservitives and our food with persevitives. :? We eat things all the time that is not healthy for us. Or so they say. Why call someone a bad dog owner when we don't take care of ourselves any better?

      And yes, she is fat, healthy, and shiny.
      Blessed Be

      Salem Witch Child

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by SalemWitchChild
        So what's the difference with choosing a dog food with perservitives and our food with persevitives. :? We eat things all the time that is not healthy for us. Or so they say. Why call someone a bad dog owner when we don't take care of ourselves any better?
        I think the biggest difference is that if I choose to eat something that isn't good for me, I'm making that choice. Supposedly a "well-informed" choice. :) In any case, it's me choosing what I'm going to eat/do, and knowing the ramifications.

        However, my animal companions are totally 100% dependent on me to feed them (as well as love and care for them, etc.). They don't have much of a say in the matter. So if I make a less than best choice, they're the ones who are stuck with it and have to live with the consequences, if there are any.

        In the past I've used Flint River Ranch and I've supplemented with Barley Dog. At the time I was happy with the results.

        Currently, however, I'm using mostly Iams Lamb and Rice for the girls and supplementing/treating with Beneful Healthy Weight. The kitties get a mixture of dry that I combine from different bags/brands.

        Everybody is happy and healthy. And, as you say, that's a good thing. <g>

        On the flip side. . . . when my folks were alive and on a very limited income, I would/did support the importance of their 2 cats and small dog in their lives, and feeding the "best she could" from the grocery store. And they all 3 lived long, happy lives. (the little dog is still alive and with my ex-)
        Juanita (& the kids - Missy, Taffy, Smudge & Marmie)

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Juanita-(Spirit-Rainbow)
          Originally posted by SalemWitchChild
          So what's the difference with choosing a dog food with perservitives and our food with persevitives. :? We eat things all the time that is not healthy for us. Or so they say. Why call someone a bad dog owner when we don't take care of ourselves any better?

          On the flip side. . . . when my folks were alive and on a very limited income, I would/did support the importance of their 2 cats and small dog in their lives, and feeding the "best she could" from the grocery store. And they all 3 lived long, happy lives. (the little dog is still alive and with my ex-)
          I understand wanting to give the best for your dog. I just disagree that the best has to be $30 for a bag of food that will last a week and expire. I have always fed food from the store. Purina has been a brand my family has used for a long time. With the exception of Ol Roy, I think most of them are okay to feed. Every dog I've had has ate Purina. All of them led long healthy lives. Non died because of their food choices. So saying that someone is not a good dog owner because they feed from the "bad: list as the post implies is wrong.
          Blessed Be

          Salem Witch Child

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by SalemWitchChild

            I understand wanting to give the best for your dog. I just disagree that the best has to be $30 for a bag of food that will last a week and expire.

            <snip>

            So saying that someone is not a good dog owner because they feed from the "bad: list as the post implies is wrong.

            I agree totally. The $30 a bag just doesn't make it the best. At the time I was happy not having any 'artificial preservatives' in the food, and I really liked the idea of all ingredients being "good enough for human consumption" or however they state it. But sometimes there is just other alternatives that work best for us and our kids.

            I've also read quite a bit about making your own dog/cat food. Or combining natural & fresh/raw ingredients. Doing this you also usually add in other supplements to be sure they're getting a balance and getting optimum vitamins, minerals, etc. I have several reference books (many of which are written by veterinarians) and most all cover this subject in varying degrees of detail and depth.

            I've thought about this, but it just doesn't work for me. Before my divorce, we had 4 dogs and 4 cats, and it was just out of the question. Even now, with 2 dogs and 2 cats, it's still not a choice I can/would make. Heck, I'm not very good at cooking for myself even! :wink: :lol:


            I also totally agree that what we feed our fur-kids does not equate to whether we are "bad" or good owners. And I also agree that when someone makes that equation they are off-the-mark, short-sighted, and making a very broad assumption. Something that is unkind and thoughtless for them to do. IMHO, of course. :)

            Okay, I'll get off that soapbox. . . . :wink:
            Juanita (& the kids - Missy, Taffy, Smudge & Marmie)

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Juanita-(Spirit-Rainbow)
              Originally posted by SalemWitchChild

              I understand wanting to give the best for your dog. I just disagree that the best has to be $30 for a bag of food that will last a week and expire.

              <snip>

              So saying that someone is not a good dog owner because they feed from the "bad: list as the post implies is wrong.

              I agree totally. The $30 a bag just doesn't make it the best. At the time I was happy not having any 'artificial preservatives' in the food, and I really liked the idea of all ingredients being "good enough for human consumption" or however they state it. But sometimes there is just other alternatives that work best for us and our kids.

              I've also read quite a bit about making your own dog/cat food. Or combining natural & fresh/raw ingredients. Doing this you also usually add in other supplements to be sure they're getting a balance and getting optimum vitamins, minerals, etc. I have several reference books (many of which are written by veterinarians) and most all cover this subject in varying degrees of detail and depth.



              I've thought about this, but it just doesn't work for me. Before my divorce, we had 4 dogs and 4 cats, and it was just out of the question. Even now, with 2 dogs and 2 cats, it's still not a choice I can/would make. Heck, I'm not very good at cooking for myself even! :wink: :lol:


              I also totally agree that what we feed our fur-kids does not equate to whether we are "bad" or good owners. And I also agree that when someone makes that equation they are off-the-mark, short-sighted, and making a very broad assumption. Something that is unkind and thoughtless for them to do. IMHO, of course. :)

              Okay, I'll get off that soapbox. . . . :wink:
              lol. That's why I made this post.. So we can get on the soapbox! :P

              I've heard some good and some bad things about feeding raw. First of all. There is bacteria in there that can harm a dog. Think about if you were to eat raw hamburger all the time. You could get several diseases. I'm only speculating here, but doesn't the chances of getting worms increase when you eat raw food?

              Personally I think feeding raw would be very expensive considering the prices of meat and totally unnessessary.
              Blessed Be

              Salem Witch Child

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by SalemWitchChild

                lol. That's why I made this post.. So we can get on the soapbox! :P

                I've heard some good and some bad things about feeding raw. First of all. There is bacteria in there that can harm a dog. Think about if you were to eat raw hamburger all the time. You could get several diseases. I'm only speculating here, but doesn't the chances of getting worms increase when you eat raw food?

                Personally I think feeding raw would be very expensive considering the prices of meat and totally unnessessary.

                Okay, I should have clarified. :oops:

                Mostly the "raw diet" would be raw veggies and the like. I'd have to pull out my books for the "whole list." There's actually active disagreement about whether a dog or cat needs any meat at all. Of course, there's the whole "they're carnivores" arguement to get into with that. :wink:

                And absolutely, raw meat in today's society would not be a good thing. IMO! So I'm in total agreement there with you. I've even seen on some discussions, that if you're going to "cook" the meat, then "barely cook" it, etc. Well, all the reasons you mentioned, wouldn't be addressed with the "barely cook" approach. So you're back to square one there, imho. <shrug>

                And you're right, with the cost of meat and good, organic veggies, you're back into totallying up the $$ signs again. Not to mention being sure to add in appropriate supplements as/if needed to balance it all out. More $$ signs. :)

                And I'll be honest. . . . the 'time sink' in the kitchen putting that all together every day or two or three is a really BIG arguement against it. As I said earlier, I don't even do much cooking for myself! LOL! :lol:
                Juanita (& the kids - Missy, Taffy, Smudge & Marmie)

                Comment


                • #9
                  [quote="Juanita-(Spirit-Rainbow)"]
                  Originally posted by SalemWitchChild

                  As I said earlier, I don't even do much cooking for myself! LOL! :lol:
                  Neiter do I. About 20 mins tops. Except on the weekends. Then it's a 5 minute phone call to the pizza place. 8)

                  the rest of it we agree on.

                  Oh, and I have tried giving my dog veggies. Makes her stomach really upset. Big no no for her if I want to have good carpets. :x
                  Blessed Be

                  Salem Witch Child

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Well, it just seems to me though that any food that has a shelf life of months and months....well, isn't that just downright WEIRD? I mean unless it is canned, it has to be PACKED with preservatives or other agents to make it last and THAT is the main problem I have with a lot of foods. It is weird that we do not refrigerate foods and can leave them out for months and they are ok. Is that really "food" or some chemical by-product of food. I dunno...but it is "food for thought".

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by kerryclair
                      Well, it just seems to me though that any food that has a shelf life of months and months....well, isn't that just downright WEIRD? I mean unless it is canned, it has to be PACKED with preservatives or other agents to make it last and THAT is the main problem I have with a lot of foods. It is weird that we do not refrigerate foods and can leave them out for months and they are ok. Is that really "food" or some chemical by-product of food. I dunno...but it is "food for thought".
                      lol. Yes Kerry it may be weird. You know a twinkie lasts 7 years. I still eat them though... :wink:

                      I'm not saying go buy the cheapest brand you can find. I believe personsonally Ol Roy should go out of business. We fed that and had dogs that couldn't hold themselves until we switched foods.

                      But brands like Purina, Science Diet, Iams, ect..
                      I've never had problems with them. I know each dog handles them differently so the dog should sample them all. But really all those preservatives aren't that bad or else we would be dead ourselves long before we meet our maker. :roll:
                      Blessed Be

                      Salem Witch Child

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I think one of the other things though to consider is not just if your dog is doing well on a certain food - but what his future holds for him. When tons of dogs start turning up with various cancers and other issues, yet on the "good" food they don't, it should give us pause to think about that too.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by kerryclair
                          I think one of the other things though to consider is not just if your dog is doing well on a certain food - but what his future holds for him. When tons of dogs start turning up with various cancers and other issues, yet on the "good" food they don't, it should give us pause to think about that too.
                          Yes that is true. But don't you think that if there were considerable amounts of dogs dying from certain brands of food that the vet would alert us? I've heard of only one or two dogs that were affected by Science Diet. Both of them most likely had other conditions that contributed to it.
                          Blessed Be

                          Salem Witch Child

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Things with dogs are not regulated like with humans.
                            I have had a dog with cancer, I was never asked what I was feeding him.
                            I have had a dog with a thyroid condition, I was never asked what i was feeding him.

                            In other words, how often when your dog is diagnosed with an illness are you asked what you are feeding and is it recorded? And if it was, then what? Is your vet sending all this data somewhere to be collected and analyzed?

                            Nope.

                            So really, until THAT starts happening, we don't really know. We can tell SOME things from these types of boards and SOME thins by large kennels, rescues or shelters and their experiences...but all in all ther is no national data statistic collector that is giving us this information or collecting any such data.

                            Maybe it is time we start!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by kerryclair
                              Things with dogs are not regulated like with humans.
                              I have had a dog with cancer, I was never asked what I was feeding him.
                              I have had a dog with a thyroid condition, I was never asked what i was feeding him.

                              In other words, how often when your dog is diagnosed with an illness are you asked what you are feeding and is it recorded? And if it was, then what? Is your vet sending all this data somewhere to be collected and analyzed?

                              Nope.

                              So really, until THAT starts happening, we don't really know. We can tell SOME things from these types of boards and SOME thins by large kennels, rescues or shelters and their experiences...but all in all ther is no national data statistic collector that is giving us this information or collecting any such data.

                              Maybe it is time we start!
                              I agree that it should be collected. But if enough vets start seeing similarities then I would think they would start talking. And I'm asked what I feed my dog almost every time I go in. :wink:
                              Blessed Be

                              Salem Witch Child

                              Comment

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