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h20fwlkillr
Adult Weim
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 489
Location: Holden, Mo.
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 Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | They tack the word natural to the title and people think it's good stuff, but they still contain grains, they still contain by products. I wouldn't feed any other those listed above to my dogs. Not after researching and what happened with my Cairn. I'll only feed grain free, |
This brings me to another point. Why do people cringe at the sound of grain in dog food, but peas,carrots, raspberries,ect are ok? I have heard some say that "dogs are carnivores, they don't eat grains", but I don't think I've ever seen a dog digging taters either. The whole reason that fruits and veggies are used in dog food is the same reason grains are used, to get the protein and calorie counts up cheaper than using meat only. Where it gets even crazier is the "premium" foods usually recommend higher feed rates than the "cheap" dog foods. I tried TOTW for awhile. It was a decent food, but it took TWICE as much feed to keep my dogs in decent shape in the off season as PP. The dogs also didn't look quite as good. During season, I would have had to feed about 12 cups per dog a day to keep them in the game, compared to 4-6 of PP. I believe this has to do with the horrible grains,animal by products and rendered companion animals in the "cheap" dog food, because the have higher calorie counts and are easier to digest than the peas and carrots the "premium" food contains. |
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Trene
Wise Old Weim
Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 2277
Location: Pennsylvania
Fur Kids: Sky (female)
Storm (male) |
| Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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| I have to give mine food w/ grains. Evo gave them the runs... YUCK |
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saalwi
Puppy
Joined: 23 Jun 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Ohio
Fur Kids: Princess Sophie Marie- Adult Weim
Sargeant Schultz- Adult English Bulldog |
| Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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| I think we all want to do the best by the ones we love. The food industries aren't necessarily as forthright as we might need them to be; and it is up to each owner to make informed decisions. I'm personally weary of all the news of our toxic environment, the stress of trying to do the right thing can't be doing me or my dogs any good. With that in mind, I've found some peace of mind with feeding my dogs a combination of Flint River Ranch brand Fish and Chips, The Honest Kitchen brand Embark, Force, and Thrive, and homemade meals (these seem to agree with my individual dogs)... but i agree with those that find what works for their dogs because advertising is meant to prey on our emotions. More money doesn't mean more love. |
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anne
Wise Old Weim
Joined: 10 Aug 2005
Posts: 2638
Location: Los Angeles, California
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| Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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| h20fwlkillr wrote: | | This brings me to another point. Why do people cringe at the sound of grain in dog food, but peas,carrots, raspberries,ect are ok? I have heard some say that "dogs are carnivores, they don't eat grains", but I don't think I've ever seen a dog digging taters either. The whole reason that fruits and veggies are used in dog food is the same reason grains are used, to get the protein and calorie counts up cheaper than using meat only. Where it gets even crazier is the "premium" foods usually recommend higher feed rates than the "cheap" dog foods. I tried TOTW for awhile. It was a decent food, but it took TWICE as much feed to keep my dogs in decent shape in the off season as PP. The dogs also didn't look quite as good. During season, I would have had to feed about 12 cups per dog a day to keep them in the game, compared to 4-6 of PP. I believe this has to do with the horrible grains,animal by products and rendered companion animals in the "cheap" dog food, because the have higher calorie counts and are easier to digest than the peas and carrots the "premium" food contains. |
Well I do feed grains, but I can explain why some feed veggies and not grains. The idea at least with raw feeding is that the pulped up veggies are replicating the stomach contents of downed prey. Whole peas or carrots are pretty nutritionally useless, dogs can't digest them. (And don't get me started on some kibble that have carrot SHAPED pieces, lol  )
I think we need to be aware with grains and any carbs that some digest faster than others. You know, like the difference between soluable and insoluable fiber. When any kind of food just shoots through the gut, you have bigger sloppier poop, and that means that it didn't digest slowly enough for the dog to get all the nutritional value. |
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scrbear11
Adult Weim
Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 472
Fur Kids: "Zehen" 1/2/08 Weimaraner
"Zuna" 5/4/08 Rhodesian Ridgeback |
| Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Trene wrote: | | I have to give mine food w/ grains. Evo gave them the runs... YUCK |
When Zeh was eating grains in his food he had tons of GI problems. Vomiting, diarrhea, soupy poo, soft poo, gas... Since starting on non grain he's had nothing but good poo with very little gas. The only time he's had diarrhea is after eating sticks!
Zuna when she was very young had soft stool on a higher protein non grain food. We switched her to Taste of the Wild pacific formula which is 25% protein, 15% fat. |
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h20fwlkillr
Adult Weim
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 489
Location: Holden, Mo.
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | The idea at least with raw feeding is that the pulped up veggies are replicating the stomach contents of downed prey. |
Are not the downed prey just as likely to have seeds and grains in their stomach contents? Not trying to argue with you Anne, I think you and I are on the same page. I'm just trying to make a point. Grains are likely to have always been in the diet of canines in one way or another. If grains are suddenly so bad, it isn't the grains that are the problem, it is dogs being bred that are predisposed to allergies, a mis-diagnosis of the root cause, or paranoia caused by mis-information. I agree raw is the best way to go, but not practical to most. So, that leaves us with processed dog food. ALL dog food in the US is made to the same standards for nutrition set by the AAFCO. All the brands supply the nutrition a dog needs. Some supply bare minimum and others are super charged. Most dogs will do well on just about any food out there if fed in the right quantities and given proper exercise. |
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versatilek9s
Champion Weim
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 740
Location: VA
Fur Kids: Maya, Sage & Macy--all weims |
| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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What an interesting thread.
I have fed all kinds of things with various results. Wellness gave them the squirts, Eukanuba gave them gas, coats not as shiny on Pro-Plan, everyone did grand on Innova, Nutro Ultra, and a few other things I've tried.
I feed raw simply because I can, and it gives me the luxury of knowing what goes into my dogs' bellies. I'm sure in the future we'll go back to kibble off and on due to money or time constraints. H2Ofwlkillr said | Quote: | | ...it isn't the grains that are the problem, it is dogs being bred that are predisposed to allergies, mis-diagnosis of the root cause, or paranoia caused by mis-information. |
and I totally agree.
We all want the best for our dogs, and part of that is the responsibility of dog breeders to make sure that their dogs don't have digestive issues and food allergies--don't get me started. But the point is what's best for me and my dogs isn't what's best for everyone else and their dogs.
meredith |
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ICARUS
Adult Weim
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 416
Location: Grafton MA
Fur Kids: Icarus & Mindy - weims |
| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:09 am Post subject: Re: less expensive dog food |
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| taraharvey wrote: | | It is called Retriever Brand, its the "store brand". |
Be careful I believe that brand is on recall right now for salmonella poison! Check here to see if it's the same one. http://www.petcare.mars.com/ |
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taraharvey
Puppy
Joined: 27 Jun 2008
Posts: 32
Location: Oak Ridge TN
Fur Kids: Stella : Weim
Harley: Rottie
Evelyn: Scottie |
| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:38 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the heads up on the recall... I just happened to look on this post again this morning. I had to "stop watching" because it was making me crazy. ppl get obsessed about dog food, I guess I will check into something new...until it gets recalled that is. |
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ICARUS
Adult Weim
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 416
Location: Grafton MA
Fur Kids: Icarus & Mindy - weims |
| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 9:18 am Post subject: |
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I know it can be tough finding the right thing. The way I look at it is, buy the best you can afford. My mom always fed our dogs the supermarket brand dog food and at least one of them lived to be 17 so don't kill yourself over it.  good luck finding something! |
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G-Smith
Young Weim
Joined: 14 Sep 2008
Posts: 170
Location: Mississippi
Fur Kids: Layla (Weimaraner) Hippie (Yorkie)
Lucy (weimaraner) |
| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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| We feed Science Diet about 3 cups a day, 3 or 4 dog biscuits and I am one of those horrible people who give my dog 2 bites of whatever I am eating.. After being on this site though I read that someone gives their dog a mixture of pumpkin, peanut butter and sliced apple as a treat. I tried this and my dog LOVES it. I only give her a tablespoon 2 times a day as a goodie. I think I am going to start giving some sodium free green beans with her food because she is getting a little picky. I think she is just getting tired of the same old food all of the time. Any ideas on how to change it up a little?? I don't won't to feed raw nothing against those who do I just don't feel comfortable feeding raw food... |
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sdteacher
Puppy
Joined: 30 Nov 2007
Posts: 7
Location: san diego
Fur Kids: Maximus, weimaraner
Duke, vizsla |
| Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: Costco/Kirkland brand incl. yeast |
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I was considering switching from Canidae to Costco's Kirkland brand Lamb and Rice, (I love Canidae, but it just went up $5/bag)
The ingredients look good except I am concerned about brewer's yeast. One of my weims got bloat last year and I've read that yeast should be avoided.
Any opinions? |
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SilverMist
Puppy
Joined: 20 Sep 2008
Posts: 34
Location: California
Fur Kids: Weimaraner. Misty RDX,SD, CGC |
| Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| scrbear11 wrote: | | CherrystoneWeims wrote: | Umm actually the friends' dogs are personal experiences also. I co-owned a bitch with them who just died of Lymphoma. I co-bred a bitch with them who died of adrenal gland carcinoma. I co-bred a bitch with them who had mammary cancer. Do I go on???
Some dogs will have problems with foods. But now to get onto something else....... Those dogs should NEVER be used for breeding. Most likely their parents passed on IBD, allergies, or some other immune issues which could lead to skin issues. If your dog has issues with corn such as ear problems and skin problems then what is that telling you???? You have a dog that has genetic issues.
BTW I tried to use some of the "designer" foods. Problems I had.......
Nature's Variety- My dogs AND cats developed kidney stones and crystals in their urine.
Wellness- Soupy poop and I am not the only one who has had issues with this brand Several fellow club members had issues with their dogs.
California Natural- Soupy poop |
In my opinion I don't feel like those are "designer" foods... just higher end pet store foods. They tack the word natural to the title and people think it's good stuff, but they still contain grains, they still contain by products. I wouldn't feed any other those listed above to my dogs. Not after researching and what happened with my Cairn. I'll only feed grain free, high end food that you can't find at places like Petsmart (even though they've started carrying CORE now) I'll stick to spending $75 a month in food to cut down on my once very high vet bills. |
You might be confusing Natures Variety with another brand. Natures Variety is a natural, holistic food and is not sold in box stores or pet stores or mass merchants. I know alot about this food since I've been feeding it for almost 2 years after researching it for 3 months. I have switched to their Raw for the last year or so.. The ingredients are impeccable. They also have more meat protein than any other designer or other dog food out their. They do not use corn, soy, wheat or artificial preservatives. I have yet to see a dog have a problem with the food. Actually they usually get their issues solved by eating it. Check out their website and they list all the ingredients and why they are in there. They have a Vet with a Phd in nutrition on staff. They have a whole panel of nutritionists. They put alot into making their food. So yes it is definitely a "designer" food. But I don't use that word. I call it a "Wholeistic" food. 100% Nutrition. I wouldn't feed mine anything else. They also were not caught up in the massive recalls last year or the massive recall just a few days ago. |
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SilverMist
Puppy
Joined: 20 Sep 2008
Posts: 34
Location: California
Fur Kids: Weimaraner. Misty RDX,SD, CGC |
| Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Another thing to consider when making a choice between low and high end foods is the amount you feed. Where you would feed 3-4 cups of a low end food a high end food you would only need 2-3 cups because it so nutrient dense. The other thing to consider is all the savings on vet bills and prescription drugs for GI issues and skin issues. The better the feed the healthier the dog. Just like us they can survive on low end feed but they thrive on good nutrition. At least that has been my observation as a Vet Tech and working around the stores for quite some time. I actually save money every year feeding the Natures Variety Raw. Costs about $80.00 or less a month to feed my 82# weim. I save a good grand a year by not having to get prescriptions and vet bills every other month. Of course that's just my opinion and my experience. No more skin issues, no more GI issues. |
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peppernaei
Wise Old Weim
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
Posts: 1271
Location: southern ontario
Fur Kids: marvin - weimaraner - 1 year
zaphod - shih tzu cross - 15 years |
| Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: Re: Costco/Kirkland brand incl. yeast |
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| sdteacher wrote: | I was considering switching from Canidae to Costco's Kirkland brand Lamb and Rice, (I love Canidae, but it just went up $5/bag)
The ingredients look good except I am concerned about brewer's yeast. One of my weims got bloat last year and I've read that yeast should be avoided. Any opinions? |
I know about ten Weims that are doing well on the Kirkland Chicken and Rice (great condition, energy levels and shiny coats). I tried rotating with the Lamb and Rice but it was too rich for my guy. As always you have to do what works for your dog. |
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