dog food

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Brands

Steven asksā€¦

What is the best food for a cat with leukemia?

I have a cat with leukemia, can someone tell me what the best foods are for it? (Cat food brands, and/or natural/organic foods, etc) Thanks!
And if you could tell me where to get it too that’d be great šŸ™‚

admin answers:

I have researched this in depth since my poor dog died of kidney failure due to poor quality dog food!!
Taste of the wild is a great puppy and dog food as well as cats!!! You can get it online and if you go to the website you can find stores near you .. They wont be at walmarts and the like… They are in feed stores ..Agway…..tractor supply stores etc..

NO fillers..corn…gluten..grains…by products!!human grade meatsfruits and veggies

check it out you wont regret it !
Http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/
6 out of 6 star rating
around $42 for a 30 lb bag …. Its the cheapest 6 star food .. And I love it for my puppy!
Http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/index.php/cat/1

John asksā€¦

what is the best commercial dog food in the market?

Doing my research, I believe Great Life Dog/Cat food is top on the list. They use a freeze dry process, use organic ingrediants, add probiotics and emzymes, freeze dried salmon oil and have grain free formulas. For your basic, good quality dog/cat food Canidae/Felindae is the smart choice. For organic, Newman’s Organic is a worthy one, and for raw food diet, Nature’s Variety is winner. Others to consider are Timberwolf, Merricks and Blue Buffulo. Do you agree? Give your comments Check out the websites.

admin answers:

I don’t consider Nature’s Variety to be the best pre-made “raw food” company. Their medallions have A LOT of bone- you have to supplement extra bone-less meat to prevent dry poop. They also use a lot of vegetables. I would rather go with Bravo! Raw food.

I don’t necessarily believe Canidae is the “best” food out there. It’s good-quality food and cheap, but there are a lot of better brands, like Nature’s Variety Instinct and Innova EVO. It depends on what works for your dog.

George asksā€¦

What’s the best brand of dog food for puppies?

What’s the best brand of dog food for puppies?

admin answers:

There are so many dog foods on the market right now and most people are totally oblivious to healthy and unhealthy dog food. I used to be, but after looking into dog food and researching it I have completely changed my ways when it comes to dog food. All of the food in Wal Mart and most foods from other stores such as Petsmart are unhealthy garbage. Why? Because they either carry:

ā€œArtificial flavors, colors, and preservatives,ā€ all of these can cause cancer and several other health problems. Cancer is the #1 killer of cats and dogs.

ā€œBy-products,ā€ they are the junk in meat that are not approved for humans to eat. Road kill, cancerous, dead, and dying animals are allowed as well.

ā€œFillers,ā€ are corn, wheat, and soy products that virtually donā€™t have any nutrition in them. They pass right through. Which also makes your dog have to eat more food to feel full.

Surely good dog foods such as Science diet, Eukanuba, Iams, Pedigree, and Purina donā€™t have any of those and are great to feed my dogs right? Wrong. These foods have most if not all of these terrible things.

Here are the first ten ingredients of three of the so called best foods, which make up most of what your dogs eat and are the most important. The capitol words are the main things that are wrong in the ingredient lists.

Purina adult complete nutrition- WHOLE GRAIN CORN, POULTY BY-PRODUCT MEAL, ANIMAL FAT preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), CORN GLUTEN MEAL, MEAT AND BONE MEAL, brewers rice, soybean meal, barley, whole grain wheat, animal digestā€¦ (There is nothing good in that list at all)

Eukanuba-Chicken, CHICKEN BY-PRODUCTS MEAL, CORN MEAL, GROUND WHOLE GRAIN SORGUM, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Fish Meal (source of fish oil), Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Brewers Rice, Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed)ā€¦ (Most of what you see are either fillers or by-products)

Science Diet- GROUND WHOLE GRAIN CORN, CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT MEAL, Soybean Meal, ANIMAL FAT (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Soybean Oil, Chicken Liver Flavor, Flaxseed, Iodized Salt, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, ā€¦ (first ingredient is a filler followed by by-products and more fillers)

Here is a list of both cat and dog well known foods and treats to stay away from-Fancy Feast, Alpo, Friskies,Mighty Dog, Dog Chow, Cat Chow, Puppy Chow, Kitten Chow, Beneful, Purina One, Purina ProPlan, DeliCat, HiPro, Kitā€™nā€™Kaboodle, Tender Vittles, Purina Veterinary Diets, MeowMix, Gravy Train, Kibbles ā€™n Bits, Wagwells, 9Lives, Cycle, Skippy, Natureā€™s Recipe, Milk Bone, Pup-Peroni, Snausages, Pounce, Pedigree, Walthamā€™s, Cesar, Sheba, Temptations, Goodlife Recipe, Sensible Choice, Excel, Hills Prescription Diets, Natureā€™s Best, Diamond, Olā€™Roy, Iams, Nutro, Royal Canin.

Here are some foods that I recommend- Timberwolf organics, Innova, California Natural, Evo, Blue Buffalo, Taste of the wild, Wellness, Merrick Before grains, Chicken soup for the dog lovers soul, Health Wise, Karma, Orijen. Plus there are many more great foods not listed. You have to look at the ingredients list of any food that you feed your dog. If it have any of the things listed as bad then immediately put it down.

To show what a good healthy dog food looks like, here is the ingredient list of Taste of the Wild High Prairie- Bison, venison, lamb meal, chicken meal, egg product, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, canola oil, roasted bison, roasted venison, natural flavor, tomato pomace, ocean fish meal, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevesiae fermentation solubles, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Coupons

David asksā€¦

Healthy Dog food and Treats?

I have a Female, 6 month old, 60lb Mountain Mutt. (German Shepherd, Akita, Bull mastiff, Pit bull, Coyote)

She goes through a 5 pound bag of dog food in about 4 days. I’ve been feeding her Purina One Lamb and Rice Formula.

I would like to find out what kinds of foods have the most packed Protein, Vitamins, Minerals, ect…

I would also like to know of some human foods that are good to mix in with her dry and wet dog food. (egg, cottage cheese, fish oil, ect.)

I would also appreciate a list of healthy, natural dog treats, bones from butchery’s, ect.. that are good for puppy’s.

I would appreciate food that are natural and organic, i only want the best for my baby girl who is growing very very fast, i want her to be as happy healthy and strong as humanly (dog-ily) possible.

Please be as detailed as possible, i would also appreciate a list of foods to stay away from.

admin answers:

A really good brand is Wellness large breed puppy food and then at one yr old, switch to Wellness large breed adult

its natural with no corn, by product or fillers
( since it doenst contain fillers, dogs tend to need to less kibble to feel full and the food last longer)

5 star rated brand

my dogs love it n never looked better

wellnesspetfood.com for more info and store locater

and if u join the mailing club, they send out coupons every month

stay away from chocolate,onions,grapes/raisons,

mixing veggies and ground beef is fine, but when u have a high quality brand like wellness, adding other food isnt needed unless its to change the taste of the food cuz dogs tend to get bored eating the same thing

wellness carries great canned food that my dogs go crazy for, and also carry healthy treats

adding canned pumkin,chicken broth, fish oil, cheese and eggs are great to spruce up thier dinner every once in a while, but again not necessary

good luck!

Mary asksā€¦

What to avoid when vegetarian… Help!?

I’m hoping to be vegetarian! However I have never been told about it in specifics and am not very educated under this topic…

Obviously avoid meat, rennet in cheese? & gelatin?

are there other things that are not so obvious to avoid? And I’ve heard there are there some alcohols that I can’t drink if I’m vegetarian? Just some info on this would be great please and hopefully I can educate myself a little more and become successful in doing so!?

admin answers:

If you want to be a vegetarian, first decide which type of vegetarian diet you want to choose.

Since you are making a transition into a vegetarian diet, I suggest a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet. I have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for over 4 years, and it’s very easy to follow.

What to avoid:
Meat, fish, seafood, poultry, frosted poptarts(contain pork gelatin-unfrosted poptarts are okay),
Kraft & Velveeta Cheese(contains rennet), McDonald’s fries(contains beef flavoring), and Tropicana omega 3 orange juice(contains fish gelatin) and fruit cocktails that have cherries in it(most have carmeine aka beetles).

What you can eat:
Fruits, vegetables, nuts, rice, eggs, dairy, and honey.
Look for these products at the frozen section and produce section of your supermarket.
Products to look for in the supermarket:
Boca, Morningstar Farms, Light life, Tofurky, Veggie Patch, Worthington, Quorn, Amy’s Kitchen, and Annie’s Homegrown. Michelina’s has a list of vegetarian t.v. Dinners on their website and their entrees are only a dollar and you can get coupons off their website, too.
Horizon cheese and organic valley cheeses are suitable for vegetarians.

The companies listed above sell veggie burgers, veggie dogs, vegetarian dinner roasts, vegetarian Indian food, and other products.

If there is a Seventh Day Adventist bookstore in your area, they carry worthington mock meats.
You could also order the worthington dinner roast on-line for thanksgiving, if they don’t carry it in your area. The Quorn veggie turkey is also good with campbell’s mushroom gravy(avoid the heinz gravy as it contains beef stock). Pepperidge Farm cornbread stuffing is vegetarian, too.

Fast-food options: Burger King Veggie burger without mayo and with fries and a drink
Papa John’s pizza is made with microbial enzymes.
Taco bell bean burritos and crunch wrap supremes without sour cream and with potatoes instead of beef is also good.
If you ever come to New York City, or if you live in New Jersey or Florida, Golden Krust is a restaurant serves soya patties that look like Jamaican beef patties. They also carry vegetable turnovers that look like beef patties, too. They taste good with coco bread.
Chinese takeout: battered and deep fried sesame bean curd with either white rice or vegetable fried rice and broccoli.

Other meal options: Eggplant parmesan, spaghetti with Quorn soy free veggie balls, plantain turnovers with rice and beans, brown stew soya chunks with rice and beans, etc

Carol asksā€¦

What do you feed your dogs?

I was at PetSmart today and realized the only semi good dog food there way Blue Buffolo. I was completely shocked and appauled. I feed EVO and would never harm my dog by feeding Iams, Purina, Kibble N Bits, Ol Roy, Science Diet, Max, Ekanuba, or etc. Why do people feed them these kinds is it ignorance or price? My EVO isn’t much more exspensive the Science Deit but, is 100% better.

These are the top rated dogs foods on the market:
ā€¢Acana Dog Food
ā€¢Addiction Dog Food
ā€¢Artemis Dog Food
ā€¢Back to Basics Dog Food
ā€¢BLUE Dog Food
ā€¢BLUE Organics
ā€¢BLUE Wilderness
ā€¢California Natural Dog Food
ā€¢Canine Caviar Dog Food
ā€¢Dog Whisperer – Cesar Milan Dog Food
ā€¢Eagle Pack Dog Food
ā€¢EVO Dog Food
ā€¢Fromm Dog Food
ā€¢GO Natural Dog Food
ā€¢Horizon Legacy Dog Food
ā€¢Innova Dog Food
ā€¢Nature’s Variety Instinct Dog Food
ā€¢Karma Dog Food
ā€¢Merrick Dog Food
ā€¢Dick Van Patten – Natural Balance Dog Food
ā€¢NOW
ā€¢ORGANIX (Castor and Pollux)
ā€¢Orijen
ā€¢Party Animal (Canned Only)
ā€¢Nature’s Variety Prairie
ā€¢Solid Gold Dog Food
ā€¢Taste of the Wild Dog Food
ā€¢Timberwolf Dog Food
ā€¢Wellness Dog Food
ā€¢Weruva Dog Food (Canned Dog Food Only)
ā€¢Wysong Dog Food

So any way, what do you all feed your dogs/puppies?
Very worst on the market are:
ā€¢Abady Dog Food
ā€¢Alpo Dog Food
ā€¢Beneful Dog Food
ā€¢Bil Jac Dog Food
ā€¢Diamond Dog Food (Plain, Regular Formula)
ā€¢Good Life Recipe
ā€¢Iams Dog Food
ā€¢Kasco Dog Food
ā€¢Kibbles ‘n Bits Dog Food
ā€¢Ol’ Roy Dog Food
ā€¢Pedigree Dog Food
ā€¢Purina Pro Plan Dog Food
ā€¢Purina One Dog Food
ā€¢Science Diet Dog Food

Just in case you guys where wondering.
BTW, Ceasers in on the worst list too it’s just wasn’t on that perticular one.
You obviously know nothing about high quality dog foods. When a high protein dog food is introduced it can cause diarrhea at first due to the high proteins.

admin answers:

IF you are going to feed your dog Science Diet ….save your money and just feed him a cardboard box. IT is basically the same thing.

I have researched this in depth since my poor dog died of kidney failure due to poor quality dog food!!(this is the only reason I answer these questions ā€¦ to try and save a dogs life or at least to not let him/her suffer because of bad food)
Fromm Dog Food is Great for dogs and cats ā€¦http://www.frommfamily.com/ $42- $45 per 30 lb bag
NO fillersā€¦.some good quality grainsā€¦.NO cornā€¦.gluten or by-products or wheat
ALL human grade foodā€¦.fruitsā€¦veggies and probiotics!!WHOLE fruits and veggies!!!! Just like the kind we get at our grocery stores!
Check it out you wont regret it !FROMM 4 STAR product line is the best!!!!!!!

Http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/TOTW has a high protein content (not recommeded for non athletic dogs)
Taste of the Wild contains Ethoxyquin which is a toxic fish preservative. (TOTW says that the cooking process kills all of it but it scared me away from their product)
around $42 for a 30 lb bag …. Its the cheapest 6 star food ..

Http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ lots of great dog food choices on this site !!

Orijen and Welness are great but it is $60 – $80 for a 30 lb bagā€¦high protein as well ..not good for non athletic dogs(IMO)Orijen is WAY to high in protein for a non working/non-agility dog ..(IMO)
Fromm Is what my puppy gets it has a lower protein % and great ingredients! 5 outta 6 stars due to lower protein (but most dogs should not have high protein levels ā€¦. It makes their kidneys work overtime for no reason)
You can get it online and if you go to the website you can find stores near you .. They wont be at walmarts and the like… They are in feed stores .. Agway..tractor supply stores etc

IF your dog is not going to be a hard working/agility dog all this high protein can do more harm than good in the long run,,, you wont notice it now but it can take its toll on a dogs kidneys as it ages.(IMO)

http://4healthdogfood.tripod.com/
there is also a brand called 4health at the tractor supply store.. It is only $30 for a 30 lb bag.. And it seems to be of good quality. (not as good as the foods mentioned above but it good for the price if you are on a tight budget.)

also of you go to http://www.tractorsupply.com you can get a printable $5 off coupon!!
They have tons of low and high end foods there(including TOTW and 4 Health)

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Dogs Life Span

Donna asksā€¦

If you change into a BETTER dog food brand will it get a longer life span?

I fed my dog Purina food and I’m changing to Blue Buffalo.I heard corn and other ingredients make dogs life span shorter,but if i change brand will it make her life span longer?

admin answers:

Many things figure into the lifespan. Good nutrition is certainly one of them. The odds are much better if you feed a quality food.

Charles asksā€¦

what is a dogs average life span?

I have a chihuahua and Maltese mix and I would really like to know what is a dogs average life span?

admin answers:

My family has always had a lot of dogs (chihuahuas mainly) and if they’re kept out side they usually live about 9-12 years but, if they’re in a house I’ve heard some can live to be 15 or 16 or so.

Richard asksā€¦

How long will home made food increase my labradors life expectancy?

So my labrador is 5 and from ages 0-1 90% of his food was dry dog food. Over time it became less and less and we gave him more and more home made food. from ages 3-5 only around 50% of his food was dry food and the rest was home made food. At that point I already knew about the dangers of dry food. He is about 5 and a half now and I have completely switched him to a home made diet. We still have dry food but it is almost never used. And YES, it is a healthy diet of a mixture of fresh meat, vegetables, and other stuff. Its not just table left overs. It is as clean and healthy as all those internet articles reccomend. I am just wondering how long will it extend his life? There was this one video that said that dogs are actually supposed to live until they are 27 but because of dry food they live a lot less. I highly doubt that is true (wish it was). Labradors generally live to be 14-15. And my one is extremely well bred and he has no health issues (took him for a vet check up 2 days ago). So how many years will a natural home made diet increase your dogs life span?

admin answers:

IMO feeding him home made food will not make one iota difference to how long a dog lives.
My pals lab has just died at 14 years old and was fed on commercial dried dog food all his life.
Labs do NOT and never have lived for 27 years and neither do any other dogs except in very very exceptional circumstances and then they are normally small dogs. 14 is a very good age for Labrador.
Once a dog reaches 10 or 11 many get age related complaints (arthritis,cancer) just like humans do which contributes to how long they live. Keeping your Labrador lean and fit will prolong his life much more then a home made diet. Jmo.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Amazon

George asksā€¦

how much does it cost for an adopted parrot?

it’s probably going 2 be a macaw šŸ˜› plus i need suggestion on a tropical colorful bird… hehe šŸ˜€

admin answers:

That depends. Most shelter charge something called a re-homing fee, which covers the costs they incurred while the bird was in their care. Our amazon cost $350 in adoption fees. Then you have the fact many avian shelter require classes on parrot care and require people to gain hands on experience with large parrots before taking one home. This ensures they are prepared for the loud screaming, mess and bites a parrot will inevitably be doing. It also gives them a Idea of how much they are getting into, and the option to decided a large parrot is not right for them. The money from the classes goes to caring for the birds in the shelter. These classes sometimes cost, and if I remember back to when we adopted our bird (5 years ago) classes were around $200. You may not have to take them (we didn’t) if you already have years of experience with large parrots.

Past the actual adoption/class fess, you will need to buy a breed-appropriate cage. For large parrots, these cages START at $300 and only go up from there. Putting a large bird in a small cage is not fair to the bird, and it is a absolute must you have a large enough cage. Then you look at food expenses. Our amazon goes through a $20 bag of high-quality seed about once a month. You don’t want to skimp and get cheap food, because the nutritional quality won’t be the same, and many birds refuse to eat pellets. Past seed, parrots of any size need fresh fruit and vegetables every day. This is not an option. They need a wide array of fresh produce that can easily tack $10-$15 onto your food bill every week (you should go with organic, as not to expose your birds to pesticides). Treats for training and reinforcing positive behaviors (which is lifelong) are $15 or so for a small bag. Then we get into toys. Some toys can be cheap (like baby toys from garage sales), but parrot toys from the petstore (and they will need those too for mental happiness), cost between $20-$50 PER TOY. Toys should be rotated in and out of the cage several times a week to keep your bird occupied. They destroy toys quite fast, so frequent replacement is necessary. Past toys and food, parrots need to see specialized avian vets. A routine checkup (which they have to have once a year) will cost you $200+ just to walk through the door. Any injuries/illnesses, and it only goes up from there. When my moms bird broke her foot 10 or so years ago, getting it fixed cost well over $1500. Taking them to a regular vet isn’t an option, regular vets cannot provide proper care, and many won’t even see large parrots.

While you may be able to scrape enough together to take one home, large parrots are a lifelong commitment, and are extremely costly pets after they get home. Only those 100% dedicated to providing care for these animals for the next 60+ years deserve to have one. Our amazon is a major cost factor. We knew this going in. We know he is all we can afford to provide proper care for, so as much as we’d love a whole flock of them, we realize the cost limitations. You need to sit down and look at every factor before taking a parrot home. This includes not just cost, but the time and dedication needed. Parrots are highly intelligent animals, right on par with great apes and dolphins. They can be taught to speak in context, and identify shapes/colors so many consider them the most intelligent animals. This intelligence proves problematic for many people used to caring for dogs and cats. Large parrots are not beginner birds. Many shelters have plenty of smaller parrots along with the big guys who are just as much in need of a loving home, only without the greater cost factor. Consider carefully before bringing one of these beautiful animals home. Volunteer at an avian shelter to see if these amazing animals are something you would consider keeping in your own home, or are better left to those who can provide proper care.

Lizzie asksā€¦

What do i give my diabetic dog?

my dog is diabetic and idk what to feed him hlppppppp

admin answers:

The number one solution for your diabetic dog is to feed him or her a diet of homemade foods so you can track of exactly how much carbohydrates and sugar they are getting. A homemade diet of natural foods isn’t as expensive or as much work as you might think. I mean, you are probably already preparing meals for yourself/your family at least some of the time. Check out the many Websites with advice and easy recipes for natural dog food.

If you cannot avoid commercially manufactured dog food altogether, it is better to give your pooch good quality canned food that is low in carbohydrates and low in sodium. Canned dog food made especially for diabetic dogs is a safer way to go, but make sure it is high in protein. Even better if the food is organic. Since diabetes affects liver functions–and thus the immune system–the liver is less able to handle additives often found in commercial dog food. Check the ingredients on the label.

Most dry dog foods are largely made up of simple carbohydrates (sugars and/or starches). You are looking to drastically decrease your diabetic dog intake of carbs, especially simple carbs. There are some dry diabetic dog foods that are generally safe, but still check the ingredients to make sure it is high in protein and vegetables. Even so, dry dog food, diabetic or not, should never be the sole form of food–there is just not enough nutrition in it.

Nutritious Diabetic Dog Cookies All Natural Dog Treats
Amazon Price: $12.95
List Price: $14.95

Homemade Dog Food
The Healthy Dog Cookbook: 50 Nutritious & Delicious Recipes Your Dog Will Love
Amazon Price: $12.53
List Price: $19.95

Make sure sugar or its other forms (sucrose, fructose, syrup, etc.) is not on the list of ingredients. No baked goods in the diet either, including most dog biscuits.

Keep in mind, also, that the amount of food that your dog eats must be carefully monitored. It is better for diabetic dogs that they eat 2 or 3 smaller meals a day than one large meal to keep blood sugar levels even. Hey, Tod M. You’re right about the small meals don’t know if you were being serious or not!

Before making any changes to your dog’s diet, it is important to consult a vet about the diabetic dog food diet your pet needs, and give those foods that your dog tolerates well.

Hope this helps.

Sandra asksā€¦

recipes for homemade dog treats/food?

does anyone know of any websites that have recipes for healthy and homemade treats or food for dogs?
thanks!

admin answers:

Http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/category/recipes/
http://www.halopets.com/resources/homemade-pet-food-recipes.html
http://www.recipegoldmine.com/pets/pets.html
http://www.twodogpress.com/dogfood.html
http://simmertilldone.com/2009/10/07/retriever-retriever-pumpkin-eater/
http://dogtime.com/dog-food-recipes.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/blueberry-dog-biscuits?autonomy_kw=dog%20biscuits
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/izzys-apple-cheddar-dog-biscuits
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/homemade-dog-biscuits?autonomy_kw=dog%20biscuits

I also own The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook by Bubba Rose (love it!!!) and The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs (not as much variety but still awesome!)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=dog+recipe&x=0&y=0

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Petsmart

George asksā€¦

What to feed my dog so she has good nutrition ?

What is the best thing to feed my dog so she has good proper nutrition ?

She is a 12 kilo jack russell and she’s 3 years old.

admin answers:

Not all pet food is made equally. A lot of it is full of corn, by-products, dyes, unhealthy preservatives, filler grains and all sorts of nasty stuff. A lot of pet food companies are perfectly happy to the dump cheap leftovers and things that aren’t safe for human consumption (from human food processing plants) into their foods. Will it kill your dog? No, it has to be nutritionally complete and safe to even be marketed. Is it healthy? Not by a long shot.

Corn is a low quality ingredient you never want to see in your pet food. Corn and low quality grains are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to food allergies in our pets.

Thankfully, there are some excellent dog foods being made these days that include organic, human grade ingredients rather than trash not fit for human consumption.

Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.

Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae All Life Stages, Fromm Four Star, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety Prairie, Nature’s Logic, Artemis Fresh Mix, Timberwolf Organics.

Although the high quality foods are more expensive, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Less filler material means more concentrated nutrients… This means you typically need to feed far less of the high quality food than you would of the low quality one. Which also means less poop!

Before following your vet’s food recommendation, keep in mind that vets get /very/ little nutritional training during their schooling. Besides that, what training they /do/ get is usually sponsored or taught by the crappy pet food companies! They also often get paid to sell some of their products at their clinics (Science Diet, Royal Canin etc.)

A great option is to go with an entirely grainless diet. Many of the high quality foods now put out grainless formulas. Some good grainless diets include: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Horizon Legacy, Merrick Before Grain, Canidae Grain Free All Life Stages, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now! And Sold Gold Barking At The Moon, Taste of the Wild.

Some pretty decent foods can even be found in common pet stores. Petsmart carries Blue Buffalo products (such as the excellent grain free diet Blue Wilderness). Petco carries Wellness, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Castor & Pollux Organix, Pinnacle, and Halo. If you can’t find a food, most of the high quality food brands have websites with store locators on them.

Another option, if you can’t find anywhere around you that sells good foods, is to order your pet food online. Here’s an excellent place to do so: http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/

Remember that foods should be switched gradually (mixing new slowly in with the old over about a two week period), especially when switching to a higher quality one, so as not to upset tummies.

Another option for feeding dogs is to feed raw. This is something that should be thoroughly researched before being attempted:
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://www.rawfed.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.wysong.net/controversies/rawmeat.shtml

More on dog food:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main (Learn how to determine the quality of your dog’s food.)
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ (Dog food reviews. Four stars is a decent food, five stars is a great food, and six stars is an excellent food.)

Helen asksā€¦

I need help choosing a better dog food?

Please help me choose a better quality dog food for my doggies. I have been feeding them beneful for the longest time now and I want to take them off of it asap as it is not giving them the proper nutrients they need and it has caused my female pitbull terrier to have an allergic reaction. and they have more gas and it is not healthy for neither of my dogs. so please give me some brands of food that you recommend I try. I was browsing the net and happen to find a few brands. which out of these brands do you recommend? Orijen, Canidae, Innova or Nature’s Variety?

Which one would be better for my dogs and which one are you sure that they would like?

admin answers:

Dog food is a controversial subject that causes a lot of conflict of opinions. There is no right or wrong, and really the “best” food is what works for your dog. One dog may thrive on a certain food while another dogs terrible on it. Does this make the food good or bad? Of course, the food is great for the dog who thrives on it and bad for the dog who does terrible on it.

My personal opinion is that dogs are carnivores and a low quality dry dog food that contains a minimal amount of meat and is full of grains, fillers and additives is NOT a suitable diet for a canine. A suitable diet in the ideal world would be whole raw foods, but for the average dog and owner a high quality dry food will have to do.

While this is not always strictly true, generally you get what you pay for with dog foods.

Anything by these brands; Eagle Pack, Canidae, Timberwolf Organics, California Natural, Innova, Solid Gold and Chicken Soup For the Pet Lovers Soul are high quality foods. Even some of the brands you can get in places such as PetSmart (Natural Balance, Nutro, etc.) are ok.

If you are in the UK, James Wellbeloved is probably the best easily available dog food on the market.

Avoid junk like Pedigree, Science Diet, etc. These foods contain little meat (and any meat that they do contain is poor quality) and rediculous amount of grains and fillers. Feeding high grain/high carb food is terrible for the health of your dog therefore they should be avoided at all costs

William asksā€¦

I’m looking for a high quality dog food for puppies. More in the meat factor, less on fillers. ?

This is my first dog/puppy in over 25 years and things have changed a lot. I’m looking for a high quality dog food that has a high protein content while being low on filler and additives. Please help!
She is a beagle mix. Currently 14 weeks old and 8 pounds. I want to gradually change her to the “better” food so that she doesn’t experience too many stomach problems.

admin answers:

Not all pet food is made equally. A lot of it is full of corn, by-products, dyes, unhealthy preservatives, filler grains and all sorts of nasty stuff. A lot of pet food companies are perfectly happy to the dump cheap leftovers and things that aren’t safe for human consumption (from human food processing plants) into their foods. Will it kill your dog? No, it has to be nutritionally complete and safe to even be marketed. Is it healthy? Not by a long shot.

Corn is a low quality ingredient you never want to see in your pet food. Corn and low quality grains are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to food allergies in our pets.

Thankfully, there are some excellent dog foods being made these days that include organic, human grade ingredients rather than trash not fit for human consumption.

Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.

Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae All Life Stages, Fromm Four Star, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety Prairie, Nature’s Logic, Artemis Fresh Mix, Timberwolf Organics.

Although the high quality foods are more expensive, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Less filler material means more concentrated nutrients… This means you typically need to feed far less of the high quality food than you would of the low quality one. Which also means less poop!

Before following your vet’s food recommendation, keep in mind that vets get /very/ little nutritional training during their schooling. Besides that, what training they /do/ get is usually sponsored or taught by the crappy pet food companies! They also often get paid to sell some of their products at their clinics (Science Diet, Royal Canin etc.)

A great option is to go with an entirely grainless diet. Many of the high quality foods now put out grainless formulas. Some good grainless diets include: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Horizon Legacy, Merrick Before Grain, Canidae Grain Free All Life Stages, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now! And Sold Gold Barking At The Moon, Taste of the Wild.

Some pretty decent foods can even be found in common pet stores. Petsmart carries Blue Buffalo products (such as the excellent grain free diet Blue Wilderness). Petco carries Wellness, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Castor & Pollux Organix, Pinnacle, and Halo. If you can’t find a food, most of the high quality food brands have websites with store locators on them.

Another option, if you can’t find anywhere around you that sells good foods, is to order your pet food online. Here’s an excellent place to do so: http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/

Remember that foods should be switched gradually (mixing new slowly in with the old over about a two week period), especially when switching to a higher quality one, so as not to upset tummies.

Another option for feeding dogs is to feed raw. This is something that should be thoroughly researched before being attempted:
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://www.rawfed.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.wysong.net/controversies/rawmeat.shtml

More on dog food:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main (Learn how to determine the quality of your dog’s food.)
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ (Dog food reviews. Four stars is a decent food, five stars is a great food, and six stars is an excellent food.)

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Delivery

Sandra asksā€¦

Does anyone know how to make or mix my own garden soil?

Since very few veggies want to grow in my Florida “sand” yard, I want to make raised beds (about 24″ tall as bending over is highly overrated once you zoom past 50 šŸ™‚ and will need a LOT of dirt – its way too expensive to haul home bags and getting it delivered would involve a $60.00 delivery fee and hiring someone to help me schlepp it all around the house to the back area. I read years ago how to mix garden soil using dog food and large bags of stuff (I think alfalfa pellets and cat littler were in there but not sure) but didn’t keep the article. If you know how I can build up a LOT of good dirt without spending a fortune I’d be grateful.

admin answers:

Surely if you make what you need from ingredients such as those that you have suggested you’ll still end up bringing home the same weight of material but in a more expensive form? (I’m sure dog food and cat litter cost more than a bag of soil if you measure it by weight!)

Anyway, soil is basically a mix of sand, clay and silt, plus the humus that gardeners love to dig into their soil of course.
As your soil is mostly sand from what you say, you would need to add clay soil to it to up the clay and silt percentage. Check the link to the soil texture triangle to see what I mean. You can check what your soil is made of at the moment using the other link but I think you already know that!
Then you’d need to dig in the organic matter, such as used mushroom compost or farmyard manure to up the humus content of the soil.

I think all in all it’s going to be a lot easier, and probably cheaper, to get a big pile of soil tipped out the front and barrow it round the back to fill your new raised beds. Sorry I couldn’t be more help šŸ™

PS Dog food scattered all over the garden just sounds like a recipe to grow rats to me!

Nancy asksā€¦

Homemade food for babies/toddlers?

I make a lot of food for my 12 month old that is easy to freeze and re-heat…baby “hot pockets”, mini meatballs, different pastas, little pot pies, etc. I use mainly organic ingredients and all of the foods are baby friendly, tasty, and healthy. I have been thinking about setting up at the local farmer’s market, but am not sure if it is worth my time and effort…you have to undergo kitchen inspections by the health dept. and become a certified food handler, etc. i figure there are lots of moms who don’t have the time or energy to make the meals for their kids that they like and this would be a great alternative to mac n cheese or the gerber graduate meals. So what do you think? Would it sell???

admin answers:

YES!!! I would buy it for sure, save me the time of doing it.

EDITED:

After reading some of the other responses, I feel that the suggestion of delivery is a great one.

On another note, I have no concerns whatsoever about the cost of feeding my kids. AT ALL, as far as we are concerned, our children should eat as naturally, healthily (is that a word?) and organically, as possible. We already pay extra for wild meat, and organic foods. To be honest, they do get ‘treats’, like hot dogs, etc, but thats rare.

I think your idea is a great one. Try it out on friends. Have them buy the ingredients (to save your $$$) and prepare them some baby food. See if it works, then consider public. I think the market may be not the ideal choice. When I think market, I think hippies. I don’t know why….
Perhaps, run out of your home, you could choose a day (Saturday.???) that people could come pick up their food for the week, or for an additional fee, you could deliver on another day.

Don’t give up on this idea, it obviously flies, or Heinz and Gerber wouldn’t exist.

Sharon asksā€¦

Does this sound legit? I posted an ad on Craigslist looking for a toy breed and she responded. Is it legit ?

Hi
Bella and Kenny are still available. They are hand raised and
home trained with all papers, has been fully checked, KC Registered

and have a good relationship with other pets and well trained too, they
are close ringed…closed bonded and vet checked with up to date vet records.

I am looking for a good home and will meet up any
requirements if need to be for delivery…they are micro chipped, will come
with a pedigree and they are 12 weeks old, they are already KC Tested..

they will be going out with a free cage and other
accessories like toys, blankets, food menu and organic food etc.

I am giving them out because I am here for an assignment and my
job requires a lot of time so I immediately realized that they are
going to be lonely. that is why I have decided to give them out to a loving
and Caring home where they will be loved and will be given all the
time they need.

Temperament of BELLA and KENNY.

They are good companion puppies..Courageous,
extremely lively, proud and enterprising, they give
and demands affection. Bold and saucy. they are
strong-willed, intensely loyal and become very
attached to their owners.
When strangers are present, they follow their owner’s
every move, keeping as close as possible.. .

they are intelligent, learn quickly, and
respond well to proper, gentle (positive reinforcement)
training. They are
well-socialized with strangers and other puppies so if you are really
interested and wants to take care of them, get back lets see how they
get home,
I just have a few questions for you;
where are you located…………..?
Will you be taking both of them? if not, then the male or the
female…………?
Do you have a large yard where they can play…………………?
Do you have a vet that you will take them to if
needed……………………….?

if there is any other thing you will need to know about Bella and Kenny please
do feel free to send me an e-mail OK. Thanks and awaiting
your response asap.
Greeting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

admin answers:

Anyone who would respond to a craigslist ad and wants you to pay to have the dog shipped to you, that is a scam … And it is not just cameroon people, many people right on this continent are doing that scam too … They may not have asked for the shipping money yet, that will be in the next email and if you are not using an anonymous web-based email, they can even use your email from your internet provider to steal your identity … Do not reply, this is 100% a scam … And look for a small breed rescue where you live … There is one where i live that has only toy breeds for three hundred dollars … Some are puppies, some are adults already trained, all are vetted …

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Reviews

Lisa asksā€¦

What type of do food is the best to feed my dog?

I don’t no what type of dog food to feed my new dog. Please help.

admin answers:

Not all pet food is made equally. A lot of it is full of corn, by-products, dyes, unhealthy preservatives, filler grains and all sorts of nasty stuff. A lot of pet food companies are perfectly happy to the dump cheap leftovers and things that aren’t safe for human consumption (from human food processing plants) into their foods. Will it kill your dog? No, it has to be nutritionally complete and safe to even be marketed. Is it healthy? Not by a long shot.

Corn is a low quality ingredient you never want to see in your pet food. Corn and low quality grains are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to food allergies in our pets.

Thankfully, there are some excellent dog foods being made these days that include organic, human grade ingredients rather than trash not fit for human consumption.

Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.

Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae All Life Stages, Fromm Four Star, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety Prairie, Nature’s Logic, Artemis Fresh Mix, Timberwolf Organics.

Although the high quality foods are more expensive, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Less filler material means more concentrated nutrients… This means you typically need to feed far less of the high quality food than you would of the low quality one. Which also means less poop!

Before following your vet’s food recommendation, keep in mind that vets get /very/ little nutritional training during their schooling. Besides that, what training they /do/ get is usually sponsored or taught by the crappy pet food companies! They also often get paid to sell some of their products at their clinics (Science Diet, Royal Canin etc.)

A great option is to go with an entirely grainless diet. Many of the high quality foods now put out grainless formulas. Some good grainless diets include: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Horizon Legacy, Merrick Before Grain, Canidae Grain Free All Life Stages, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now! And Sold Gold Barking At The Moon, Taste of the Wild.

Some pretty decent foods can even be found in common pet stores. Petsmart carries Blue Buffalo products (such as the excellent grain free diet Blue Wilderness). Petco carries Wellness, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Castor & Pollux Organix, Pinnacle, and Halo. If you can’t find a food, most of the high quality food brands have websites with store locators on them.

Another option, if you can’t find anywhere around you that sells good foods, is to order your pet food online. Here’s an excellent place to do so: http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/

Remember that foods should be switched gradually (mixing new slowly in with the old over about a two week period), especially when switching to a higher quality one, so as not to upset tummies.

Another option for feeding dogs is to feed raw. This is something that should be thoroughly researched before being attempted:
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://www.rawfed.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.wysong.net/controversies/rawmeat.shtml

More on dog food:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main (Learn how to determine the quality of your dog’s food.)
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ (Dog food reviews. Four stars is a decent food, five stars is a great food, and six stars is an excellent food.)

Steven asksā€¦

I am feeding Science Diet but want something better- What should I look for in dog food?

After some research, I’ve found that Science Diet isn’t a good dog food. Since my vet recommended it, I’d thought it would be fine!
So, I want to switch my Papillon and Yorkieā€™s food to something healthier and with better ingredients.

Any suggestions? When I look at the ingredients and nutrition, what should I look for or avoid?

admin answers:

Read the ingredients before you buy.

Here is my “short list” of rules when I am looking at dog food ingredients:
1) When I chose a dog food, I chose one high meat content. I want to see preferably at least 2-3 out of the top 5 ingredients be meat or meat meal (first ingredient must be!). Meal is simply the meat with the moisture removed.
2) I want to see higher quality grains, such as barley, brown rice, and oatmeal, instead of seeing wheat and corn. Or an alternative starch/carbohydrate such as potatoes or sweet potatoes.
3) I don’t want to see any byproducts.
4) I don’t want to see a lot of fillers.
5) I don’t want to see preservatives that are believed to be carcinogens (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin).
6) I don’t want to see artificial colorings such as the Red, Blue, and Yellow dyes.
7) I don’t want to see added sugars (sugar, corn syrup).
8) I don’t want to see mystery meats (meats identified only as “meat” or “poultry”.)

Here is an article about byproducts:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=ingrd

And an article on what ingredients to avoid:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients

There is no food that is the *best*, different individual dog may thrive on different foods. What is best for one may not be the best for the next. And just because a food is good quality, it doesn’t mean it will jive the best for your dog.

What you want to find is the HIGH-QUALITY food that *your dog* does best on.

Here are some examples of GOOD dog foods:
* Artemis Fresh Mix
* Blue Buffalo
* California Natural
* Canidae
* Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
* Eagle Pack Holistic Selects
* EVO
* Fromm Four Star
* Innova
* Merrick
* Nature’s Variety
* Orijen
* Solid Gold
* Taste of the Wild
* Timberwolf Organics
* Wellness
* ZiwiPeak

Or check this website; the 4, 5, or 6 star rated foods are all good foods. Http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

Higher quality food may seem more expensive at first, but it evens out. The higher quality the food, the less fillers eaten (and therefore the less poop comes out the other end). Your dog eats more of a low-quality food to try to get the nutrition it needs, and most of the food just passes right on through. Also, higher-quality food will make your animals healthier, so you save money on vet bills in the long run.

What *NOT* to buy:

Stay away from grocery stores brands. They are low-quality foods chalk full of fillers, preservatives, dyes, etc.. (Grocery store foods are those like Beneful, Old Roy, Alpo, Pedigree, Purina, etc.)

Beware “premium” foods. “Premium” does not always mean good nutritionally, and is not a nutritionally high quality food. Most of these foods have the same types of ingredients as grocery store foods, just a bit better quality of those not-so-good ingredients. (Premium foods are those like Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Bil-Jac, Royal Canin, etc..)

Another thing to be wary of: A lot of vets will recommend what they sell in their office. They get profit from the brands they keep on their shelves, that’s why they push it. Truth is, vet schools don’t focus a lot on nutrition. It’s not saying that a vet is a bad vet because he recommends those foods, a lot of vets just are told “this is good food”, so they pass the message along without proper nutrition knowledge. Also, some dog food brands (like Hills) support vet schools, so vets have heard of it from the time they start college, which makes them think it’s good as well.

Hills company, the makers of Science Diet, are heavily involved in vet schools. “Hill’s scientists author more than 50 research papers and textbook chapters each year and teach at leading schools of veterinary medicine” (Source of quoted section: http://www.hillsvet.com/zSkin_2/company_info/company_info_general.jsp?JSESSIONID=HMz2B3Jn3hv0rnSoxCobfbBhOec35ODG7yh5t3P0vcvhOtzRlQ9M!598359213!167846923!7005!8005&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026072&bmUID=1196192566575 )

“Big box” petstores like Petco and Petsmart rarely have quality foods. (There are some higher quality foods at those locations, but most of the foods aren’t.)
* Blue Buffalo
* Castor & Pollux
* Eagle Pack Holistic Selects
* Natural Balance
* Solid Gold
* Wellness

Also, grocery stores and Walmart aren’t good places to buy food either.

Your best bets for getting quality dog food are:
– small, locally owned petstores
– holistic pet food stores
– dog boutiques
– farm supply stores

When switching foods, do it gradually. I do this over about a two week timespan:
1/4 food A, 3/4 food B
1/2 food A, 1/2 food B
3/4 food A, 1/4 food B
all food A
.

Maria asksā€¦

what is the best brand of dog food for a a very small puppy?

right now im feeding him science diet but its more expensive then other foods and it comes with less? I hear that science diet is a scam that they dont give you what you pay for.

what is a good brand of dog food that my dog would like and i would be good for him?
im just interested in dry food.

admin answers:

Science Diet is a poor quality diet despite being expensive! You got a lot of horrible dog food suggestions here, but a couple of really good ones too.

Not all pet food is made equally. A lot of it is full of corn, by-products, dyes, unhealthy preservatives, filler grains and all sorts of nasty stuff. A lot of pet food companies are perfectly happy to dump cheap leftovers in. Will it kill your dog? No, it has to be nutritionally complete and safe to even be marketed. Is it healthy? Not by a long shot.

Corn is a low quality ingredient you never want to see in your pet food. Corn and low quality grains are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to food allergies in our pets.

Thankfully, there are some excellent dog foods being made these days that include organic, human grade ingredients rather than trash not fit for human consumption.

Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.

Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae, Fromm, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety, Nature’s Logic.

Although the high quality foods are more expensive, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Less filler material means more concentrated nutrients… This means you typically need to feed far less of the high quality food than you would of the low quality one. Which also means less poop!

A great option is to go with an entirely grainless diet. Many of the high quality foods now put out grainless formulas. Some good grainless diet’s include: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now! And Sold Gold Barking At The Moon.

Some of the high end foods can be found in common pet stores. Petsmart carries Blue Buffalo products (such as the excellent grain free diet Blue Wilderness). Petco carries Wellness and Solid Gold. If you can’t find a food, most of the high quality food brands have websites with store locators on them.

Remember that foods should be switched gradually, especially when switching to a higher quality one, so as not to upset tummies.

Another option for feeding dogs is to feed raw. This is something that should be thoroughly researched before being attempted:
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://www.rawfed.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.wysong.net/controversies/rawmeat.shtml

More on dog food:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main (Learn how to determine the quality of your dog’s food.)
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ (Dog food reviews. Anything with five or six stars is a great food.)

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Brands

Charles asksā€¦

What dog food should I buy my puppy?

I can’t get out to a pet store now and I’m planning on ordering my dog food from now on so I’m going to go to Walgreens for now to get some. Which dog food in the best out of the ones they have available for now? BTW I know they all suck but I now it will take a few days to get the food if I order it online.

Cesar
Kibbles ‘n Bits
Pedigree
Pet Shoppe
Purina

admin answers:

WHAT IN GODS NAME IS GOING ON HERE? Lol All these people are feeding their dogs this stuff??? Number 1 you should NEVER just go to a store and grab some brand. You should always research this. If you do you will learn how to read a dog food label. You will learn what is good for them and what isnt. Trust me 3 months ago I was asking this question myself (well not with these brands), but what dog food is best? After careful research we chose:

BLUE BUFFALO

Yes, it cost a COUPLE (seriously a couple) of dollars more than the crap on the grocery store shelf BUT it has no fillers, its organic, so good for them, and a meat product, not to mention my dogs LOVE IT!!!

Betty asksā€¦

What it the best/healthiest brand of dog food for yorkie pups and pug pups?

For Christmas I am getting a Yorkie and my husband is getting a pug. We really want to do whats best for them and keep them healthy. Does any one have any recommendations on the best/heathiest food or food brand we should buy for them?

admin answers:

This talks about dog food. If you don’t want to read it all just scroll down and it gives a list of good foods and a list of bad foods. The lists are in green so they are easy to find.
Http://www.dogster.com/forums/Food_and_Nutrition/thread/518898

I recommend raw. Its the best thing you can feed a dog. It can be cheaper than kibble but its more time consuming but there are so many benefits so its worth it. My dog has white teeth, lots of energy (he acts like a puppy even though he is 10 years old) his fur is soft and shiny, he doesn’t have that dog smell and his poops are very small and are not very odorous. Do lots of research if you want to feed raw. That website that I gave a link to has tons of into on raw.

You don’t have to get organic meat. You can just get any meat. Dogs don’t need veggies and herbs. I feed my dog veggies sometimes for treats and when he poops them out they are the same as when they went in. Dogs cannot digest veggies.
Its actually safer to feed raw. There have been a lot of recalls from contaminated kibble and thousands of dogs have died because of contaminated kibble. While nothing you give your dog to eat is 100% safe, raw is the safest. Here are some myths.
Http://www.rawfed.com/myths/
People say its dangerous to prevent other people from switching to raw or people say raw is dangerous because they didn’t bother to do research and just listen to what other people tell them.

Daniel asksā€¦

What is the best brands for all natural or organic dog food?

No brands that abuse animals to test their food please! I thought Iams was good food because thats what my vet recommended : (
I was using Iams Naturals, but then i saw that they abuse the animals they test their food on.

admin answers:

Nutro makes excellent food. They have 3 lines: Max, Natural Choice, and Ultra. With all three lines you will get an all natural, human grade food with added vitamins and minerals; no ground yellow corn, which is a filler and a big allergen among pups; no by-products, which can include heads, feet and intestines; and no artificial flavors or colors. Nutro also has the highest levels of essential fatty acids (Omega 6) to help promote healthy skin and coat and also reduce shedding. And all of their foods are 100% guaranteed! Max is your basic premium food, and from what Iā€™ve seen, the lowest priced premium food on the market. Natural Choice has taurine added and is more geared towards dogs with specific needs (i.e. Sensitive skin, sensitive stomach, allergies, etc.). And Ultra is a holistic food with more fruits and vegetables, also known as super foods, which help with your pups immune system, joints, heart, vision, brain, etc.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Grain Free

Nancy asksā€¦

What is the best dog food to feed a champion pit-bull terrier?

A dog that takes all the medals in show-off?

admin answers:

A high quality one.

Not all pet food is made equally. A lot of it is full of corn, by-products, dyes, unhealthy preservatives, filler grains and all sorts of nasty stuff. A lot of pet food companies are perfectly happy to the dump cheap leftovers and things that aren’t safe for human consumption (from human food processing plants) into their foods. Will it kill your dog? No, it has to be nutritionally complete and safe to even be marketed. Is it healthy? Not by a long shot.

Corn is a low quality ingredient you never want to see in your pet food. Corn and low quality grains are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to food allergies in our pets.

Thankfully, there are some excellent dog foods being made these days that include organic, human grade ingredients rather than trash not fit for human consumption.

Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.

Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae All Life Stages, Fromm Four Star, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety Prairie, Nature’s Logic, Artemis Fresh Mix, Timberwolf Organics.

Although the high quality foods are more expensive, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Less filler material and higher quality ingredients means more concentrated nutrients… This means you typically need to feed far less of the high quality food than you would of the low quality one. Which also means less poop!

Seriously on a budget? Two of the most affordable of the higher quality foods would be Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul and Canidae All Life Stages.

Before following your vet’s food recommendation, keep in mind that vets get /very/ little nutritional training during their schooling. Besides that, what training they /do/ get is usually sponsored or taught by… You guessed it, the crappy pet food companies! They also often get kickbacks from the companies for pushing these products at their clinics (Science Diet, Royal Canin etc.)

A great option is to go with an entirely grain-free diet. Many of the high quality foods now put out grain-free formulas. Some good grain-free diets include: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Horizon Legacy, Canidae Grain Free All Life Stages, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now!, GO Natural Grain Free, Sold Gold Barking At The Moon, Ziwipeak, and Taste of the Wild.

Some pretty decent foods can even be found in common pet stores. Petsmart carries Blue Buffalo products (such as the excellent grain-free diet, Blue Wilderness). Petco carries Wellness, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack Holistic Select, Blue Buffalo, Castor & Pollux Organix, Pinnacle, and Halo.

If you can’t find a food, most of the high quality dog food brands have websites with store locators on them that will help you find the store closest to you which supplies their products. Simply type the dog food brand’s name into Google, go to their website, and type your zip code into their store locator.

Another option, if you can’t find anywhere around you that sells good foods, is to order your pet food online. Here’s an excellent place to do so: http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/

Remember that foods should be switched gradually (mixing the new slowly in with the old over the period of about week or so), especially when switching to a higher quality one, so as not to upset tummies. For example:
Days 1 & 2: 75% old food, 25% new food
Days 3 & 4: 50% old food, 50% new food
Days 5 & 6: 25% old food, 75% new food
Day 7: 0% old food, 100% new food

Another option for feeding dogs is to feed raw. This is something that should be thoroughly researched before being attempted:
http://www.rawfed.com/ (RawFed)
http://www.rawlearning.com/ (Jane Anderson’s Raw Learning Site)
http://rawfeddogs.net/ (Raw Fed Dogs)
http://www.rawmeatybones.com/ (Raw Meaty Bones)
http://rawfed.com/myths/preymodel.html (Raw Prey Model Diet Vs. BARF Diet)
http://community.livejournal.com/rawdogs/profile/ (Raw Dogs Livejournal Community, excellent raw feeding information on the profile page and overall helpful community for raw feeding questions)
http://www.rawfed.com/myths/index.html (Myths About Raw Feeding)

Also remember that freefeeding (leaving food down) is the fast lane to canine obesity. Make sure to have scheduled feeding times loosely based on the feeding guidelines on your dog’s food. Adult dogs are typically fed two meals a day.

More on dog food:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main (Learn how to determine the quality of your dog’s food.)
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ (Dog food reviews. Four stars is a decent food, five stars is a great food, and six stars is an excellent food.)

Darksong~

Paul asksā€¦

What is the best dry dog food?

I have a one year old 8 lb Papillon! He’s my whole world, i want a dry dog food that is has the best nutrition! So he can be healthy and happy forever! I want the best dog food that is out there! I have heard many different! Science Diet, Iams, Purina Pro Plan, etc.. I would appreciate a vet or vet tech’s expert opinion! But any opinions would be great! Thanks in advance!

admin answers:

All the brands you mentioned are full of by products and other junk. My dogs deserve only the best which does not include supermarket brands.
Take a look at how to grade your dogs food, as you can see Iams doesn’t even compare to the better brands.
How to grade your dog’s food:
Start with a grade of 100:

1) For every listing of “by-product”, subtract 10 points
2) For every non-specific animal source (“meat” or “poultry”, meat, meal or
fat) reference, subtract 10 points
3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
4) For every grain “mill run” or non-specific grain source,subtract 5 points
5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five
ingredients (i.e. “ground brown rice”, “brewerā€™s rice”, “rice flour” are
all the same grain), subtract 5 points
6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats
in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil,subtract 2 points
11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic
to other protein sources), subtract 2 points
12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isnā€™t allergic to
wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isnā€™t allergic to beef), subtract 1 point
15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point

Extra Credit:

1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or
nutritionist, add 5 points
3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points
8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points
10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
12) 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 “” as 2 different sources), add 1 point
13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are
pesticide-free, add 1 point

94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
69 = F

Here are some foods that have already been scored.
Dog Food scores:

Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten’s Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 B
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Benful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

Sharon asksā€¦

what is a good type of dog food for pitbulls?

we have a dog who is half pitbull and half beagle.
and we give her PetPride. but afterwards, she eats grass. so i looked this problem up and it said “dont give them corn”. and that food had corn. so we need a good dog food for her that does not have corn or anything to get her sick.

suggestions?
thanks in advance!

admin answers:

~Quality foods:
Innova-meat and quality grains, California Natural-simple ingredient food for sensitivities, EVO-grain free, Karma-95% organic; all made by Natura- http://www.naturapet.com/

Wellness-meat and quality grains with several formulas, Wellness Core-grain free; made by Old Mother Hubbard- http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/

Orijen-all grain free with several formulas; made by Champion foods-http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/products/

Canidae- are meat and grain- http://www.canidae.com/

Merrick-meat and grain, Merrick Before Grain-grain free- http://www.merrickpetcare.com/store/

Artemis-meat and grain with a variety of formulas- http://www.artemiscompany.com/products.asp?cat=fresh_mix

Taste of the Wild-grain free- http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/products/

Nature’s Variety- Raw frozen diet- offering chicken, beef, lamb, venison, rabbit, and organic chicken, Instinct-grain free, Prairie-meat and quality grains- http://www.naturesvariety.com/

Solid Gold-Barking at the Moon-grain free, several other formulas with meat and grains- http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products/showcat.php?cat=0

Now!-grain free, Go!-quality meat and grains and grain free formulas; all made by Petcurean- http://www.petcurean.com/index.php

Eagle Pack Pack Holistic-meat and quality grains, Eagle Pack-meat and low quality grains including corn- http://www.eaglepack.com/Pages/EP_Products.html

Timberwolf-grain free and meat and grain formulas- http://timberwolforganics.com/pet-foods

AvoDerm-meat and quality grains, Pinnacle Holistic-meat and quality grains, allergen free; all made by Breeders Choice- http://www.breeders-choice.com/dog_products/

Formm-grain free formula- http://www.frommfamily.com/

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Recipes

Robert asksā€¦

What is the best/ healthiest dog food out there?

I have an eight pound chihuahua and he is my baby! He is one and a half years old and is short -haired. I’m looking for a different brand of food for him. I currently give him Beneful, but I’ve read that it contains corn/ fillers. What’s a healthier alternative? Thanx a bunch and Happy Holidays!

admin answers:

Changing it’s dog food is a good idea, but do it gradually so you don’t make your dog sick. Start with 3/4 old food and 1/4 new and see how your dog tolerates the new. If no problem after a few days, increase the new amount to 1/3 new and 2/3 old and after a few more days, 1/2 and 1/2, then reverse the order until the dog is on the new food.
If your dog is under a year old, you could consider some of the following brands and see what’s available in a bite size for your tiny dog:
Innova Evo, Canidae, Royal Canin “Baby Dog” or one made specifically for chihuahua, Newman’s Own Organics, Wellness-
These are a few brands that are better quality. For highest quality you could consider looking into Dr. Pitcairn’s recipe’s for dogs (home cooked). Then you know exactly what goes into the food and what the quality of the product is.
Happy Holidays to you and yours as well!

Mandy asksā€¦

What are some good finger food receipe for toddler?

My daughter is 18 months and she loves to feed herself. She like baked potatoes (but cut info like a fry), Chicken nuggest, Pasta, Organic (hot dogs), pizza. But i want more FINGER FOOD idea’s and homemade receipes. Thanks

admin answers:

You really don’t need any special recipes. She can eat whatever you guys are eating for meals. I do grill chicken once a week with red peppers and cut into strips and freeze so if we are eating something she doesn’t like, she can have that. I also make homemade mac and cheese w/ chicken and veggies that I freeze into individual portions. My daughter doesn’t like ground beef, so if we have hamburgers, taco’s etc, I can pull on of those from the freezer for her.

My daughter is 22 months, and has pretty much been eating what we eat since she was about 13 months old.

Nancy asksā€¦

Where can I find homemade dog food?

looking for recipes for homemade dog treats and foods?
i don’t feed my dog table scraps i am looking for recipes….for dog bones and sytuff like that, less chemicals

admin answers:

Never feed your dog too many dinner scraps or the same family menu, because ‘human’ food can contain ‘unfriendly’ components that are no good for pets… Homemade dog food is excellent when chosen and prepared correctly.

The recipes are usually so good, that you’ll want to try them yourself… Go ahead, it’s normal food… The types of ingredients are the main consideration, usually organic and additive free.

I have supplied a source link below to a few easy-to-prepare dog food recipes and treats… Your pooch will absolutely love them!

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Petsmart

Linda asksā€¦

What is the best type of dog food, not just taste, but quality too?

My dog has had puppy chow, purina one for puppies, beneful for puppies, and now i feed him kibbles and bits for adults, is there a specific brand out there that tastes good, but it also good for my dog?

admin answers:

Puppy Chow, Purina ONE, Beneful, and Kibbles n’ Bits are all very low quality foods!

Not all pet food is made equally. A lot of it is full of corn, by-products, dyes, unhealthy preservatives, filler grains and all sorts of nasty stuff. A lot of pet food companies are perfectly happy to dump cheap leftovers in. Will it kill your dog? No, it has to be nutritionally complete and safe to even be marketed. Is it healthy? Not by a long shot.

Corn is a low quality ingredient you never want to see in your pet food. Corn and low quality grains are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to food allergies in our pets.

Thankfully, there are some excellent dog foods being made these days that include organic, human grade ingredients rather than trash not fit for human consumption.

Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.

Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae All Life Stages, Fromm Four Star, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety Prairie, Nature’s Logic, Artemis Fresh Mix.

Although the high quality foods are more expensive, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Less filler material means more concentrated nutrients… This means you typically need to feed far less of the high quality food than you would of the low quality one. Which also means less poop!

A great option is to go with an entirely grainless diet. Many of the high quality foods now put out grainless formulas. Some good grainless diet’s include: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now! And Sold Gold Barking At The Moon, Taste of the Wild.

Some of the high end foods can be found in common pet stores. Petsmart carries Blue Buffalo products (such as the excellent grain free diet Blue Wilderness). Petco carries Wellness and Solid Gold. If you can’t find a food, most of the high quality food brands have websites with store locators on them.

Remember that foods should be switched gradually, especially when switching to a higher quality one, so as not to upset tummies.

Another option for feeding dogs is to feed raw. This is something that should be thoroughly researched before being attempted:
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://www.rawfed.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.wysong.net/controversies/rawmeat.shtml

More on dog food:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main (Learn how to determine the quality of your dog’s food.)
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ (Dog food reviews. Anything with five or six stars is a great food.)

Steven asksā€¦

What is the best adult dog food? puppy food?

What is the best dog food for my 2 dogs? One is 2 yr old a 60 lbs German Shepard! One is a 2 yr old 14 lb Dachshund! I want a good dog food that will help keep them healthy! I want one that doesn’t have all the fillers and crap in it! I also have a 3rd 8 lb (full grown) 8 mth old Papillon! What would be best for him? Thanks In Advance!

admin answers:

Some awesome foods with no fillers:

Blue Buffalo (Available at Petsmart), Innova, Chicken Soup, Newman’s Own Organics, and Timberwolf Organics. Nutro ULTRA (Available at Petsmart and Petco) is good but the other Nutro formulas do have some questionable ingredients (such as soy or wheat).

For your German Shepherd, you want to make sure you’re feeding a large breed adult formula, or that the basic adult formula you feed has glucosamine and chondroitin in it—both are good for maintaining joint health (though there’s yet to be a scientific journal published about its benefits for pets)–of course those ingredients are also good for ANY animals…your large breed formulas will simply have a higher concentration of them.

Foods to AVOID: Eukanuba, Science Diet, Iams, Nutro Max, Purina, Authority, Maxximum, Ol’ Roy, Kibbles and Bits, ect. (basically anything you can find at Walmart or a grocery store will be BAD).

And yes, some people will tell you that they feed their dogs crap like Science Diet and they do fine, however, it does not necessarily mean their dog is getting the -best- nutrition and could not be doing -better-. Nutrition is one of the easiest things to control for our pets and it’s a HUGE preventative for so many illnesses.

I recommend checking labels…avoid corn, by-products, brewer’s rice, soy/wheat (allergens for most animals), DHT, and other ‘bad’ ingredients. Look for a meat source first (chicken, lamb, beef, ect) and a meat MEAL second (chicken meal, lamb meal, ect.), and whole ground brown rice as a fiber source.

Mary asksā€¦

What can I do about my dogs breath?

I have a 3 year old miniature schnauzer with very bad breath. The groomer told me to change his diet to a healthier dog food. So I went from Purina Bentifull to Iams. After a few months still no difference. He just had a check up and the vet said there were no problems except for a little plaque.

Any advice?

admin answers:

Iams may be slightly better than Beneful, but honestly, both are terrible quality dog foods! I’d switch to a high quality dog food. If the vet has checked his teeth and doesn’t feel he needs a professional dental cleaning, I’d just start brushing his teeth. Purchase doggie toothpaste and a doggie tooth brush at the pet store and start brushin’!

Not all pet food is made equally. A lot of it is full of corn, by-products, dyes, unhealthy preservatives, filler grains and all sorts of nasty stuff. A lot of pet food companies are perfectly happy to the dump cheap leftovers and things that aren’t safe for human consumption (from human food processing plants) into their foods. Will it kill your dog? No, it has to be nutritionally complete and safe to even be marketed. Is it healthy? Not by a long shot.

Corn is a low quality ingredient you never want to see in your pet food. Corn and low quality grains are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to food allergies in our pets.

Thankfully, there are some excellent dog foods being made these days that include organic, human grade ingredients rather than trash not fit for human consumption.

Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.

Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae All Life Stages, Fromm Four Star, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety Prairie, Nature’s Logic, Artemis Fresh Mix, Timberwolf Organics.

Although the high quality foods are more expensive, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Less filler material means more concentrated nutrients… This means you typically need to feed far less of the high quality food than you would of the low quality one. Which also means less poop!

Before following your vet’s food recommendation, keep in mind that vets get /very/ little nutritional training during their schooling. Besides that, what training they /do/ get is usually sponsored or taught by the crappy pet food companies! They also often get paid to sell some of their products at their clinics (Science Diet, Royal Canin etc.)

A great option is to go with an entirely grainless diet. Many of the high quality foods now put out grainless formulas. Some good grainless diets include: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Horizon Legacy, Merrick Before Grain, Canidae Grain Free All Life Stages, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now! And Sold Gold Barking At The Moon, Taste of the Wild.

Some pretty decent foods can even be found in common pet stores. Petsmart carries Blue Buffalo products (such as the excellent grain free diet Blue Wilderness). Petco carries Wellness, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Castor & Pollux Organix, Pinnacle, and Halo. If you can’t find a food, most of the high quality food brands have websites with store locators on them.

Another option, if you can’t find anywhere around you that sells good foods, is to order your pet food online. Here’s an excellent place to do so: http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/

Remember that foods should be switched gradually (mixing new slowly in with the old over about a two week period), especially when switching to a higher quality one, so as not to upset tummies.

Another option for feeding dogs is to feed raw. This is something that should be thoroughly researched before being attempted:
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://www.rawfed.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.wysong.net/controversies/rawmeat.shtml

Also remember that freefeeding (leaving food down) is the fast lane to canine obesity. Make sure to have scheduled feeding times based on the feeding instructions on your dog’s food.

More on dog food:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main (Learn how to determine the quality of your dog’s food.)
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ (Dog food reviews. Four stars is a decent food, five stars is a great food, and six stars is an excellent food.)

Darksong~

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Brands

Thomas asksā€¦

What brand of dog food will best suit the nutritional needs of my 8-month old miniature schnauzer?

I would like to prevent as much as possible certain diseases linked to its breed by having him eat a diet that’s most suitable for his breed. And what age can I switch him to adult dog food? I’m from the Philippines and I’d very much appreciate replies from the Filipino dog enthusiasts or breeders (to make sure that you recommend a brand that’s actually available here in the Phils.)…. thanks very much!
I know I can’t change his genetics….but I definitely know that what he ingests will definitely have an effect on his metabolism, therefore affecting whether he will develop certain illness linked with the breed sooner or later…I’m just curious if there’s a type of dog food out there that is balanced enough that wouldn make him LESS susceptible to diseases linked to the breed….just curious =) thanks for the replies!
I know I can’t change his genetics….but I definitely know that what he ingests will definitely have an effect on his metabolism, therefore affecting whether he will develop certain illness linked with the breed sooner or later…I’m just curious if there’s a type of dog food out there that is balanced enough that would make him LESS susceptible to diseases linked to the breed….just curious =) thanks for the replies!

admin answers:

I don’t know if you get Canidae there, and it is my favorite..But I believe Purina Pro Plan is available there,and it is a very good food. You can switch to adult food when the pup is grown, or at about a year. (yes, pro plan is widely distributed there)
I also think Timberwolf Organics is distributed there.. It is an excellent food for allergies.. (no, I looked it up, and it will only deliver an order of 510 pounds or more! )

Sandra asksā€¦

What is the healthiest kind of dry dog food for small dogs?

I have heard that you should feed your dog dry food, because it keeps their teeth strong (not sure if this is true). My dog really loves the wet, meat with gravy kind of food, but he will also eat dry dog food. I usually put a little bit of beef stock over it to flavor it up a little though. Any suggestions on a certain food? My dog is a 9 month old Maltese.

admin answers:

There are some great brands out there like Nutro Natural Choice, Natural Balance, Castor and Pollux… Ect…

Many will suit your dog just fine, but let’s look at how to buy dog food.

1.) Check the ingredients which are listed by weight. You want ingredients like chicken, duck, and salmon listed as the first few ingredients. Ingredients you don’t want too much of are kinda obvious like meat byproduct, rice, chicken meal.

2.) Check the guaranteed analysis. Puppies need around 25% protein and 16% fat, adults need around 21% protein and 14% fat, senior dogs need even less. Best thing to do is compare the puppy, adult and senior foods all from the same brand and then grab a lesser brand to compare as well.

3.) You might also want to look at the company’s practices. Does this brand make a premium *and* grocery brand as well? Do they have corporate responsibility? Were they affected by the mass recall of a few years back? Do they own their own factory?

I like Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance. They have an organic food and great options for dogs with food allergies. They do not have a solely “puppy” option though, their food is designed for dogs of all ages. Small dogs tend to mature faster than older dogs, so Natural Balance is still a great option for you.

And you’re right, dry food is great for helping to keep your dog’s teeth clean from tartar. But it’s not the only thing they need for dental health. Regular vet checks are required and teeth brushing can help. Another option to ensure dental health are greenies and dental chews appropriate for your dog’s size. Just remember to never feed anything new to your dog without supervision.

I think it’s great you want to feed him primarily dry! It’s best since wet canned food only has about 8% protein, 4% fat and around 85% moisture, so it’s essentially feeding your dog more expensive water.

When you do switch over, follow the feeding guidelines on the back of that particular bag or do what your vet recommends.

Good luck!

Mary asksā€¦

What dog food has good ingredients at a decent price? only reply if you’ve researched the ingredients please?

what dog food has good ingredients at a decent price? only reply if you’ve researched the ingredients please
by the way its for my 2 year old black lab mix, and we live in arizona

admin answers:

Our pets need quality food. Read the ingredients list and learn what the stuff on there is and what it does (or does not do) to/for our pets. A quick pet food 101. If the pet food contains corn/corn products or by products it is a poor quality food. Corn is a filler that can trigger skin problems. (allergies, skin problems, itching and excessive shedding) By products is anything from an animal not fit for human consumption, including cancerous tissue. Do not pay attention to advertising, they all say there food is great. “Vet approved” means they have a vet on staff to approve their product. In other words, someone paid to approve it. Same with foods most vets recommend. Salesmen “gift” vets then the vet recommends the food. Most vets are not nutritionists! Quality foods have meat as the first ingredient Wellness, Solid Gold, Innova and Merrick are a few of the best brands available. If you want to learn more check out: http://www.sagekeep.com/petfood.htm www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359& more=1 http://animalark.eapps.com/animal/PetFoods.nsf/$$PetFoodsByRating?OpenForm

Blue organics is also very good but really pricey.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Grain Free

Richard asksā€¦

why would anyone feed a HIGH quality dog food vs Puppy Chow or Pedigree brand from a Walmart?

Why buy organic or Grain free or Raw meat or Frozen raw diet when you can buy a puppy chow from a wal mart for your dog ?

admin answers:

It’s the same as if you ate McDonalds everyday for every meal.

David asksā€¦

Why do people think switching off dog food is the only answer to the recall?

Do they not know that there are tons of great quality kibble out there that are made with human grade ingredients and are grain free? I only ask this because it seems the general public isn’t aware that brands like Innova EVO, Wellness, Canidae, and Timberwolf Organics are out there. I feed my dog Wellness mixed with Timberwolf Organics dry food, and she looks great and I NEVER worry about her food being recalled. It seems everyone wants to switch to homemade dogfoods rather than investigating what foods are good quality, with the assumption that there couldn’t possibly be anything better than what they were feeding, whether Alpo, Science Diet, Nutro, or Eukanuba. I am definately NOT against making your own food for your dog, but for some people this isn’t going to be a longterm solution. If you have the time I think it’s great to make it yourself, but many dogs with allergies can’t do this (like mine)
I understand these brands aren’t readily available, but many stores will order them if the distributor carries them and most you can buy online. Timberwolf Organics will even ship to you for free, regardless of where you are located.

admin answers:

I feed a very good premium dog food, “Solid Gold”. I live in a rural area, so I have to order it on line, a little extra for shipping charges, but my dogs are worth it. I wish more people would feed the premium dog foods.

Betty asksā€¦

What dog food is the healthiest for my pit bull?

I’m sick of people writing answers like “why do you want to make your pit bull big or muscular” don’t answer with stupid stuff like that. I want to know what dog food is best for my pit, I heard that high protein foods such as timber wolf is good, but I also hear other people say that high protein foods are bad for pit bull’s because they genetically have bad livers. Someone please respond with an intellectual answer.

Thank You

-Joe

admin answers:

Raw feeding (raw meat, raw bones, raw organ meat, and trace amounts of raw veggies) is about the healthiest diet you can get for any dog.

The healthiest kibbles are the grain-free ones like Innova EVO, Wellness Core, Orijens, and Taste of the Wild. Next to that are the quality organic foods like Wellness, Artemis, Canidae, Innova, Merrick, etc.

The WORST foods are the crap you can buy in grocery stores and Walmart- stuff like Purina, Beneful, Iams, Pedigree, etc. Nothing but empty calories and grease. It’s like feeding your dog Big Macs every day.

It’s a myth that high protein diets are hard on the kidneys/liver- this is a problem with HUMAN high protein diets, because humans are omnivores. Dogs are carnivores who depend on animal protein for the majority of their nutrition- their bodies are much better at digesting and utilizing protein than humans are. You will not hurt him by giving him a high protein diet, whether it’s raw or kibble.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Reviews

Daniel asksā€¦

Is Pedigree and Iams dog food safe to feed to my dog?

My friends told me that their puppies have thrown up when they ate Pedigree and Iams dog food. I also heard about a story that many dogs got killed from some dog food companies. Was this true? Right now, I feed my dog Iams dry food and Pedigree canned food. Please tell me if they are reliable brands.

admin answers:

They have had recalls because of dogs getting sick. They are also very low quality dog foods to begin with.

Not all pet food is made equally. A lot of it is full of corn, by-products, dyes, unhealthy preservatives, filler grains and all sorts of nasty stuff. A lot of pet food companies are perfectly happy to the dump cheap leftovers and things that aren’t safe for human consumption (from human food processing plants) into their foods. Will it kill your dog? No, it has to be nutritionally complete and safe to even be marketed. Is it healthy? Not by a long shot.

Corn is a low quality ingredient you never want to see in your pet food. Corn and low quality grains are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to food allergies in our pets.

Thankfully, there are some excellent dog foods being made these days that include organic, human grade ingredients rather than trash not fit for human consumption.

Examples of low quality foods to avoid: Anything you can find in a grocery store will be low end, Purina, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Pedigree, Kibbles n’ Bits, Beneful, Ol’Roy.

Examples of high quality foods to look for: Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold, Canidae All Life Stages, Fromm Four Star, Merrick, GO Natural, Nature’s Variety Prairie, Nature’s Logic, Artemis Fresh Mix, Timberwolf Organics.

Although the high quality foods are more expensive, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Less filler material means more concentrated nutrients… This means you typically need to feed far less of the high quality food than you would of the low quality one. Which also means less poop!

Before following your vet’s food recommendation, keep in mind that vets get /very/ little nutritional training during their schooling. Besides that, what training they /do/ get is usually sponsored or taught by the crappy pet food companies! They also often get paid to sell some of their products at their clinics (Science Diet, Royal Canin etc.)

A great option is to go with an entirely grainless diet. Many of the high quality foods now put out grainless formulas. Some good grainless diets include: Innova EVO, Wellness CORE, Blue Wilderness, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Orijen, Horizon Legacy, Merrick Before Grain, Canidae Grain Free All Life Stages, Fromm Surf & Turf, Now! And Sold Gold Barking At The Moon, Taste of the Wild.

Some pretty decent foods can even be found in common pet stores. Petsmart carries Blue Buffalo products (such as the excellent grain free diet Blue Wilderness). Petco carries Wellness, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Castor & Pollux Organix, Pinnacle, and Halo. If you can’t find a food, most of the high quality food brands have websites with store locators on them.

Another option, if you can’t find anywhere around you that sells good foods, is to order your pet food online. Here’s an excellent place to do so: http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/

Remember that foods should be switched gradually (mixing new slowly in with the old over about a two week period), especially when switching to a higher quality one, so as not to upset tummies.

Another option for feeding dogs is to feed raw. This is something that should be thoroughly researched before being attempted:
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://www.rawfed.com/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.wysong.net/controversies/rawmeat.shtml

More on dog food:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main (Learn how to determine the quality of your dog’s food.)
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ (Dog food reviews. Four stars is a decent food, five stars is a great food, and six stars is an excellent food.)

Ruth asksā€¦

What are some grain free dry dog foods?

Or what are some good dog foods with high quality grain? Also is purina bad for my dog? Because thats all ive been feeding her along with canned tuna 1-2 times a week.

admin answers:

I don’t have 100% confidence that grains are bad for a dog. In fact, I’ve home cooked for years and fed rice to my dog along with protein .

The problem I have with pet food that contains grain is not that its in there – its that many so called premium AND grocery store pet food do not actually contain the actual grain or kernel – so you are not buying grain – you are buying husks, or the parts of the grain they throw away with little to no nutritional value.

Its fake grain. Worse, since around the early 1990’s, its Fake Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) grain – which means the grain is not a grain, but a fish, that looks like a grain (if you think I’m kidding, research Monsanto). Same for soybeans – the World according to Monsanto is a great documentary to watch on You Tube. Google Monsanto GMO and you will learn they have a huge vested interest in soybeans that are modified from fish, as well as corn, wheat and others.

These grains are literally resistant to herbicides – and Monsanto made them that way because Monsanto ALSO markets a very deadly herbicide (similar in organic structure to Agent Orange) called Round Up and its cheaper for a farmer to plant a grain resistant crop because they can load the field down with ROund Up which will kill the other plants (actually it kills anything ) EXCEPT the GMO crop.

POINT: Why on earth would anyone in their right mind want to feed a dog something even poison cannot kill?

So to circle back to your question – is grains good for dogs – YES, if they are real grains but NO they are not going to be found in any commercial dog food LEAST OF ALL PURINA.

On Purina specifically, bluntly speaking, outside of the grain issue, the problem I have with them is there definition of what constitutes actual “dog food”. When a company can market products ranging from absolute garbage (Ol Roy which I affectionately call Ol shoe) to Purina Dog Chow (mostly garbage but maybe a few less shoes) to Kibbles and Bits (full of dyes and dubious other ingredients none of which are good for a dog mixed in with corn which again, is not even whole corn) to Pro Plan (which is the best they can do and its mediocre…or even Purina One which is Pro Plan with more chemicals and less dead diseased chicken)… I wonder what their mission statement reads.

Is it: Provide the public with the best quality commercial dog food money can buy with MINIMUM STANDARDS of NUTRITION AND COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY ON WHAT EACH FOOD CONTAINS OR

Throw shyte against the wall and hope it sticks.

I tend to feel its the latter.

How does the vet here explain that? Is Ol Roy food? By who’s standard? Will they open their plant and provide the public with a thorough inspection on EXACTLY what is in that food because beyond that, I don’t believe them. Its absolutely toxic to dogs.

Here’s a review of Ol Roy …note the definition of “wheat middlings” which (I quote)

QUOTE: In reality, middlings are nothing more than milling dust and floor sweepings. UNQUOTE

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/ol-roy-dog-food-dry/

How can anyone take Purina seriously when it is clear they market to the masses -with formulations for every price point – with NO regard for nutrition. They may have the last laugh, because the more I read, the more I”m convinced Ol Roy is probably not more than 2 degrees worse than Pro Plan – the main difference in price attributed to the cost of the bag – the rest is margin.

Which brings me to standards and transparency – Purina have their own standards, which we are asked to believe, but they are not substantiated by any 3rd party.

There motto: Trust me.

While AAFCO is hardly the Good housekeeping seal of approval, Purina refuses to even make public their actual formulation so while I can read an AAFCO book and know pretty much the crap that is in dog food, I cannot even do that with Purina. Its all a big secret, and we the consumer as asked to believe them.

So bottom line: I don’t feed Purina. I don’t trust them. I don’t care how many vets they pay. Paid employees who stand to loose their jobs if they speak out against their employer are not reliable sources. Its true of pet food, like it is with cars, dishwashers, and any other consumable item.

Long post to say: feed your dog the best quality food you can buy – and if you cannot afford human grade food 100% – then yes, supplement. Canned tuna is fine in moderation – but there is mercury in canned tuna, so I would prefer to supplement raw hamburger, and vary the protein. And also balance it with some raw cow hock bones (soup bones) which your dog will love.

If you can afford FROMM – buy it. I feed my own dogs the grain free Fromm and its pretty good, but the BEST food is food that you buy yourself, and make for your dog.

Here’s a link to a book for more info.

Michael asksā€¦

what commercial dog food is best for papillons?

if there is any commercial dog food out there that you recommend for papillons,that has NO corn and soybean in it,plz let me know,I need help >.<

admin answers:

I feed my papillon Merrick dry foods. She does wonderful on this food, and has a gorgeous, shiny coat. All the ingredients are from the USA, and it is manufactured here as well. Excellent ingredients, excellent results.

Merrick was recommended to me by a papillon breeder / conformation exhibitor. I tried it, and I tried some other high-quality foods, but I came back to Merrick. It’s what my dog does best on.

Http://www.merrickpetcare.com/

=== === ===

There are other high-quality foods out there as well.

Read the ingredients on the food you buy. Go with a high quality dog food.

Here is my “short list” of rules when I am looking at dog ingredients:
1) When I chose a dog food, I chose one high meat content. I want to see preferably at least 2-3 out of the top 5 ingredients be meat or meat meal (first ingredient must be!). Meal is simply the meat with the moisture removed.
2) I want to see higher quality grains, such as barley, brown rice, and oatmeal, instead of seeing wheat and corn. Or an alternative starch/carbohydrate such as potatoes or sweet potatoes.
3) I don’t want to see any byproducts.
4) I don’t want to see a lot of fillers.
5) I don’t want to see preservatives that are believed to be carcinogens (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin).
6) I don’t want to see artificial colorings such as the Red, Blue, and Yellow dyes.
7) I don’t want to see added sugars (sugar, corn syrup).
8) I don’t want to see mystery meats (meats identified only as “meat” or “poultry”.)

Here is an article about byproducts:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=ingrd

And an article on what ingredients to avoid:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients

There is no food that is the *best*, different individual dog may thrive on different foods. What is best for one may not be the best for the next. And just because a food is good quality, it doesn’t mean it will jive the best for your dog.

What you want to find is the high-quality food that *your dog* does best on.

Here are some examples of high quality foods:
* Artemis – http://www.artemiscompany.com/
* California Natural – http://www.naturapet.com/brands/california-natural.asp
* Canidae – http://www.canidae.com/
* Chicken Soup – http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/
* EVO – http://www.naturapet.com/brands/evo.asp
* Fromm – http://www.frommfamily.com/
* Innova – http://www.naturapet.com/brands/innova.asp
* Merrick – http://www.merrickpetcare.com/
* Nature’s Variety – http://www.naturesvariety.com/
* Orijen – http://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/products/
* Solid Gold – http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/
* Taste of the Wild – http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/
* Timberwolf Organics – http://timberwolforganics.com/
* Wellness – http://www.omhpet.com/wellness/

Or check this website for good foods: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
(I recommend only feeding foods rated 4, 5, or 6 stars. Anything 3 stars or less, I would stay away from.)

Stay away from grocery stores brands. They are low-quality foods chalk full of fillers, preservatives, dyes, etc.. (Grocery store foods are those like Beneful, Old Roy, Alpo, Pedigree, etc.)

Beware “premium” foods. “Premium” does not always mean good nutritionally, and is not a nutritionally high quality food. Most of these foods have the same types of ingredients as grocery store foods, just a bit better quality of those not-so-good ingredients. (Premium foods are those like Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, etc..)

Another thing to be wary of: A lot of vets will recommend what they sell in their office. They get profit from the brands they keep on their shelves, that’s why they push it. Truth is, vet schools don’t focus a lot on nutrition. It’s not saying that a vet is a bad vet because he recommends those foods, a lot of vets just are told “this is good food”, so they pass the message along without proper nutrition knowledge. Also, some dog food brands (like Hills) support vet schools, so vets have heard of it from the time they start college, which makes them think it’s good as well.

Hills company, the makers of Science Diet, are heavily involved in vet schools. “Hill’s scientists author more than 50 research papers and textbook chapters each year and teach at leading schools of veterinary medicine” (Source of quoted section: http://www.hillsvet.com/zSkin_2/company_info/company_info_general.jsp?JSESSIONID=HMz2B3Jn3hv0rnSoxCobfbBhOec35ODG7yh5t3P0vcvhOtzRlQ9M!598359213!167846923!7005!8005&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026072&bmUID=1196192566575 )

Higher quality food may seem more expensive at first, but it evens out. The higher quality the food, the less fillers eaten (and therefore the less poop comes out the other end). Your dog eats more to try to get the nutrition it needs, and most of the food just passes right on through. Also, it will make your animals healthier, so you save money on vet bills in the long run.

“Big box” petstores like Petco and Petsmart rarely have quality foods. (I do believe that PetCo sells “Solid Gold” and “Natural Balance” brands and Petsmart sells “Blue Buffallo”, which are all quality foods, but most of the foods aren’t.)

Also, grocery stores and Walmart aren’t good places to buy food either.

Your best bets for getting quality dog food are:
– small, locally owned petstores
– dog boutiques
– farm supply stores

When switching foods, do it gradually. I do this over about a two week timespan:
25% food A, 75% food B
50% food A, 50% food B
75% food A, 25% food B
100% food A
.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Sensitive Stomachs

Sandy asksā€¦

What is a good dog food to feed a 2 year old Boston Terrier with dry skin and a sensitive stomach?

admin answers:

Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dog Food

Actor Dick Van Patten’s line of Natural Balance dog food is expensive, but reviews say its ingredients are the best you can buy for your dog (aside from making your own homemade dog food). Notable for its organic ingredients, quality meats and lack of by-products, the top ingredients in Natural Balance dry dog food include chicken, brown rice, duck, lamb meal, oatmeal, pearled barley, potatoes and chicken fat, supplemented with healthy extras like whole ground flaxseed, dried kelp and vitamins, the flaxseed should help with dry skin.

Richard asksā€¦

what is the best dogie food in stores?

would like to change, she’s using Pedigree at the moment and i like it a lot for her ( but ) not sure if that’s the best option.

admin answers:

Grocery store dog food or pet store dog food?

Most grocery store dog foods are about the same.
Pedigree is ok along those lines.

However it and the other grocery store foods are not premium foods and are filled with nasty things, and fillers.

Here is an article, be warned, after reading it you may never buy grocery store dog food again.

Http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aua8_e86SfcQtZoX4bDx2yzL7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20090520142033AATh6mU

Some of the top premium dog foods are
Merrick
Solid Gold
Blue Buffalo

Here is a great website that tells you how to rate your dog food, AND has some ratings of a lot of foods so that you can compare.

Http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=642

And here are the ones that are scored

94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
<70 = F

Here are some foods that have already been scored. If you don't see your dog's food here, ask and someone will score it for you.
Dog Food scores:

Alpo Prime Cuts / Score 81 C

Artemis Large/Medium Breed Puppy / Score 114 A+

Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+

Authority Harvest Baked Less Active / Score 93 B

Beowulf Back to Basics / Score 101 A+

Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F

Blackwood 3000 Lamb and Rice / Score 83 C

Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice / Score 106 A+

Burns Chicken and Brown Rice / Score 107 A+

Canidae / Score 112 A+

Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+

Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F

Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B

Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A

Diamond Performance / Score 85 C

Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+

Dick Van Pattenļæ½s Natural Balance Venison and Brown Rice / Score 106 A+

Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+

EaglePack Holistic / Score 102 A+

Eukanuba Adult / Score 81 C

Eukanuba Puppy / Score 79 C

Flint River Senior / Score 101 A+

Foundations / Score 106 A+

Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 B

Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D

Innova Dog / Score 114 A+

Innova Evo / Score 114 A+

Innova Large Breed Puppy / Score 122 A+

Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+

Memberļæ½s Mark Chicken and Rice / Score 84 C

Merrick Wilderness Blend / Score 127 A+

Natureļæ½s Recipe / Score 100 A

Natureļæ½s Recipe Healthy Skin Venison and Rice / Score 116 A+

Natureļæ½s Variety Raw Instinct / Score 122 A+

Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal and Rice / Score 81 C

Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy / Score 101 A+

Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B

Nutro Max Adult / Score 93 B

Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice / Score 98 A

Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B

Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free / Score 86 B

Nutro Natural Choice Senior / Score 95 A

Nutro Ultra Adult / Score 104 A+

Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F

Premium Edge Chicken, Rice and Vegetables Adult Dry / Score 109 A+

Pro Nature Puppy / Score 80 C

Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach / Score 94 A

Purina Benful / Score 17 F

Purina Dog / Score 62 F

Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F

Purina One Large Breed Puppy / Score 62 F

Royal Canin Boxer / Score 103 A+

Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+

Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+

Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F

Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F

Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A

Solid Gold / Score 99 A

Summit / Score 99 A

Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural Dry / Score 120 A+

Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+

Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

Laura asksā€¦

Has your dog experienced stomach upset on Blue Buffalo food?

My vet said that some of her clients have a difficult time digesting organic foods and I noticed that since I began transitioning my puppy from her old food to Blue, her stools are often loose. Have you experienced this, and if so what other food would you suggest that isn’t necessarily organic?

admin answers:

ORGANIC just means it was grown with NO chemicals that is the only difference. From other food. ..any dog can tolerate organic.There is nothing in organic that is not in the non organic ‘regular’ food. Actually non-organic can have chemicals and treatments in or on it. It is the individual ingredients that a dog might be sensitive to. THE vet that said that about organic food is out of his mind…. Try a food with no grains, Like HONEST KITCHEN or ORIJEN 6-fish both are great. Most dogs cannot tolerate much grain and maybe the new food has too much grain and less real meat.(not by products or ‘chicken meal’ which is crap) …Grains just rot inside the dogs stomach they are very hard for a dog to digest and most cant., and they cause gas and loose stools etc. Corn is especially hard on dogs .

BUT it is NORMAL for a dog to get loose stool when you transition them too quickly to a new food. Some have loose stool til on the new food for a week or more before it firms up again.( you can add 1/4 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix!) to her food that can help firm it up while you are changing the food. It should take about a week (at least) to wean her off the old food and get the new food started completely. Try putting 3/4 of the old food and 1/4 new mixed for the first 2 days then 1/2 and 1/2 for a few days then 3/4 new and 1/4 old for a few days then all new. Some dogs can tolerate the change better if you do it gradually

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Coupons

Susan asksā€¦

question about dog food?

My dog is a german shepherd/rottweiler mix she is about 70 lbs. And she is 1 1/2 years old. I was wondering what would be the best brand of dog food for her? Because I really want her to live a long and happy life.
also she has a sensative stomach and she sometimes pukes when she eats. Is their a certain kind of dog food that would be good for that? thanks

admin answers:

I’m very happy that you are concerned about what food to feed her, some owners just go out and buy any random food they have a coupon for.

When you’re looking for a good dog food, look at the ingredients. There should be sources of meat (chicken, lamb, bison, fish, etc.) listed as the first few ingredients. If the first ingredient isn’t a source of meat, don’t buy it. There should be no corn, artificial colors, or artificial flavorings like sugar or corn syrup. Here’s a list of ingredients to avoid in dog food: http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients

Here’s a list of some high quality dog foods:

Wellness
Solid Gold
Innova
Orijen
Canidae
Merrick
California Natural
EVO
Nature’s Variety
Fromm
Artemis
Timberwolf Organics
Taste Of The Wild
Chicken Soup For The Pet Lover’s Soul
Blue Buffalo
Any food that is rated anywhere from 3-6 stars at this website- http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

====================================

Stay away from these foods:

Foods you find in the grocery store
Purina
Iams
Ol’ Roy
Hill’s Science Diet
Pedigree
Beneful
Kibbles ‘N’ Bits
Royal Canin
Any food that is rated 2 stars and below at the link posted above.

Best of luck!!! ā™„

Add: Apricot Toy Poodle- Vets are paid to advertise what they are selling in office, which are usually crappy foods.

Richard asksā€¦

organic food for my puppy?

well, my puppy is a little over a month old.
and i feed her pedigree. but i researched on it and found out that pedigree isn’t so good after all..
i hear that organic food is great for them.

what kind of organic food would be good?

& by the way, why is pedigree sooo bad ?

admin answers:

We give our shih tzu Blue Buffalo. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula (dry food) does not use animal by-products and their gluten-free recipes do not contain any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Their food also does not have corn, wheat or soy, which have been known to trigger allergies.

You can go to the website: http://www.bluebuff.com and read more about the products they have. You can also request a free sample (and a $3 coupon) so you can see if your dog is going to like it before you buy a larger bag.

Their treats and canned food were on the recall list so I don’t recommend those.

You can also check this website for higher quality foods:

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

Sharon asksā€¦

What kind of natural / holistic / organic dog foods would you recommend?

My dog currently eats beneful, its the only brand he has eaten and I want to change his food to something more healthy. He does throw up every once in a while due to him not being able to digest some of the ingredients properly. I read that beneful, pedigree, the more “well known” dog foods contain ingredients that isn’t necessarily healthy and that they are just to used as fillers. I was thinking about switching his food to Karma organic or any of these on this website – http://www.naturapet.com/. Any thoughts or other recommendations?

admin answers:

Wellness super5mix

its natural with no corn, by product or fillers

high quality 5 star rated brand

i have my dogs on wellness n they never looked better

and if u join the mailing club at wellnesspetfood.com they send out coupons every month

good luck!

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food

Betty asksā€¦

What is the best dog food for a rottweiler puppy?

I have a 4 month old German rottweiler puppy who has a very dull coat and is not very energetic. I want to switch to an organic/natural dog food but I also want it to be for large breeds (to keep up with her growth). Help! I do not know what to get! I have been feeding Science Diet Large Breed Lamb and Rice, but she doesn’t like it and it hasn’t helped with the coat. Am at my wits end.

admin answers:

I use Eagle Pack Holistic for Large and Giant breeds for my mastiffs. It gives them a shiny coat, they all have good muscle tone, and the puppy food is specially formulated ofr large breed pups so it doesn’t have too much protein.

Steven asksā€¦

What kind of food should I feed my 2 year old Frenchie?

I have always fed him castor & pollux organix dog food but recently he has had skin issues (almost like hives) and he is licking his paws. This is an organic dog food but i am guessing he is allergic to something. Can anyone recomend a good dog food for this breed and condition?

admin answers:

Castor and pollux is a middle grade food, not bad, just there are better foods out there. I would go for wellness core, evo, orijen, taste of the wild, solid gold barking at the moon, or other grain free food, or a homemade diet of boiled chicken for a few weeks, I prefer to keep rice optional and it has to be brown rice if you are going to feed rice.

If the allergies persist after the 4 weeks of boiled chicken, the allergies are not all caused by food, although most are so I highly doubt your pup will need to see the vet if his food is switched to grain free or higher quality. At that point I would seek a holistic vet that isnt going to put your dog on meds that cover up the symptoms.

Www.dogfoodproject.com can help you with all the other stuff you want to avoid in dog food, but to get the good food, a feed store or pet boutique will be your first stop. I would ask what grain free foods they have and then pick from those. With some dogs, grain free is too rich and their poo is loose. If your dogs poo is loose after a week, try lowering the amount you are feeding by 1/4 cup per day and mixing in plain mashed pumpkin. The amount on the bag/website is typically too much anyway, but always start with that, then increase/decrease as needed.
I have also heard people have an issue with their dogs weight once they get it down to the right amount for solid poo. If this happens, I recommend adding boiled or raw chicken to his food(feed raw separately from kibble, preferably a 4 to 5 hours before the kibble is fed). If that does not help him add on weight, I suggest seeing a canine nutritionist or asking this forum: www.bigdogsporch.com Many have dealt with that issue on the forum so they will definitely give you some advice.

Chris asksā€¦

Any thoughts on BLUE Organic Dog Food?

I recently switched my dog (two year old German Shepherd) from Purina to BLUE Organic Dog food, and I was wondering if it is as good as it claims to be. Any thoughts from people who have or do feed their dog BLUE??
I feed him the Blue Adult Life Protection Formula – Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe.

admin answers:

If you mean the blue stuff in the shiny foil bag with the wolf on the front , yes its very good……But oh my god its expensive.

Try some taste of the wild, its just as good if not better and costs a lot less.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Sensitive Stomachs

Ken asksā€¦

Precautions when switching my dog to a raw food diet?

I’m thinking of trying a raw food diet for my dog for the first time. I understand that dogs are much more resistant than humans when it comes to parasites and bacteria which may be in the raw meat. What are some precautions that I can take? I heard soaking the meet in apple cider vinegar for a bit will take care of any parasites, etc. Thanks.

admin answers:

You don’t have to soak it in anything. I just wash the dog and cats meat like I do mine. Run it under cold water for a few seconds. After they are done eating you can wipe up their area with 50%white vinegar and 50% water. My dog with a sensitive stomach has never had a problem with bacteria. We tested apple cider vinegar for riding of ecoli bacteria in my biology lab and it did very poorly and if you were to use apple cider vinegar you want it to be raw and organic.

EDIT: Vets hardly know anything about dogs diets and raw chicken, pork, beef, fish, bison, lamp, goat etc can be fed with no problem. The bones clean the teeth without brushing. Their is no risk with raw unless you don’t feed it correctly.

Betty asksā€¦

Why has my 6 month old boxer puppy stopped eating hard food?

She will still eat moist dog treats, chicken, and cheese, but not her regular food. Also, she has diarrhea, but that might be from not eating the right foods. Any ideas?

admin answers:

Having 2 boxers and raising two litters, I can tell you that an occasional treat is fine but they have very sensitive stomachs and then gas; I would stick to one type of food and leave all treats alone for awhile; I feed mine Newman’s Own Organic dog food; diarrhea is probably from the treats and not regular foods; all dogs will get an upset tummy from time to time but with boxers you have to watch what you give them; food changes need to be done slowly and your dog is the best indicator of something not right; water is up to the dog as to how much and is not detrimental in any way ; water doesn’t cause diarrhea ; diarrhea is a loss of fluids so they need the water to compensate; boxers are a great dog with a fussy tummy and prone to gas and upset so watch what you feed. Good luck and enjoy puppy, socialize and train; they love to learn tricks and learn quickly; they love to run and explore and of course be a part of the family daily.

If you feed table scraps , they are smart to know that dog food isn’t as good and will not eat the dog food to get the good stuff; they are smart smart smart. – can’t blame them for trying

Richard asksā€¦

What do you feed your Jack Russell Terrier?

I have an amazing jack russell, he is almost 10 years old and we rescued him when he was 2. We buy his dry food from whole foods (it has a lot of vegetables and organic grains) which he absolutely loves. Now, wet food is another story. I have tried a few brands but his stomach is very sensitive and the past couple nights he has been throwing it all right back up!

He just had a check up so I know there is nothing wrong with him, I just want to know what other owners feed their Jacks and find out if there is maybe a gentle senior brand of wet food we can give him. thanks!
wow these answers are very helpful, so jacks really don’t need wet food? maybe i will make him chicken and rice (very bland) but he loves chicken, and that would be easy on the stomach. thanks

admin answers:

I feed my Jacks Eagle Pak Holistic dry kibble. They also get a dollop of canned Pumpkin, not the kind used to make pies, and to the on on a diet I use green beans as a filler. I add just enough hot water to stir in the green beans and pumpkin. I feed twice a day. My Jacks also get vegetables such as carrots and broccoli. I play Flyball with my Jacks and they are in excellent physical condition.

My opinion would be feed the dry kibble until they can no longer eat the dry. It is good for their teeth as well as helps them eat slower if they are a dog that devours their food.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food

Maria asksā€¦

What is the healthiest and most cost effective dog food on the market today?

I have a Labrador Retriever. He is going on 10 years old now and I want to make sure I am feeding him the best I can. He means a lot to me, and I want to make sure he remains healthy and keep him with me for at least another 10 years if that is remotely possible. Currently he seems healthy and isn’t over weight. Is organic dog food worth the extra cost? What about human grade dog food?

admin answers:

Cost should not be a factor when it comes to your pets nutrition.

Natural, raw, or holistic dog foods are best.

Here are a few suggestions I think you should try:

Timberwolf Organics

Merrick

Solid Gold

Taste of the Wild

Artemis

Innova Evo

Wellness

*** Do not feed your dog Science Diet… It is no better than bottom of the shelf generic brand dog food. Do some research on canine nutrition, and learn how to read the labels. Read the ingredients… Should not contain corn (non-nutritional “filler”) or by-products (low quality proteins… Beaks, feathers, etc).

Carol asksā€¦

What kind of Innova dog food should I use for a dog with a tumor?

He is on nd Prescription now, but he has started to bite his paws. I think it’s from this food. I want to switch to an organic dog food. What type do you suggest?

admin answers:

I would ask your veterinarian before you switch to anything because the N/D is a diet formulated for dogs with cancer and since it is a prescription you really need to ask first. I think that Science Diet is the only company that currently manufactures a diet designed for dogs with cancer, but I am not positive.

I have heard of a study where the dog with cancer was put on high level of fish oils and it helped some, but there have been no definitive tests saying that it helped.

Joseph asksā€¦

How much dog food should a Border Collie eat?

My Border Collie is 11 months old and a bit small for her size due to being mistreated by the person she was rescued from. She does not eat very much at all. I give her one cup of high quality dry food (Purina Pro Plan Selects for puppy) with a small scoop of wet food (Newman’s Own Organic dog food) every night and she usually only eats a small portion of it. She weighs 30lbs. How much SHOULD she be eating?

admin answers:

First of all, don’t ever go by the guidelines on a dog food bag. Those are meant to sell dog food. Most of them are way over what a dog should eat to be a healthy weight. I have had BCs for 21 years. I stop feeding straight puppy food at about 16 weeks of age to keep the puppy’s growth rate slow and steady. You may want to consider giving her half adult/half puppy for the dry. I feed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. She may not be able to eat all of what you are giving her at one time. It’s better for them to eat more than just once a day. Two of my adult males and my adult female (18″ tall, 30 lbs.) eat 2/3 cup with a T. Of canned 2x a day. My other adult male eats 1 cup in the AM and 1/2 cup in the PM with canned. They are all very active and maintain a healthy weight very easily. I feed Prairie Nature’s Variety dry kibble, Merrick and Eagle canned. I hope this helps!

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Your Questions About Organic Dog Food Delivery

David asksā€¦

What is the best premium/organic dog food out there? I’ve been told Wellness, Innova, Solid Gold or Canidae!!

I recently brought home our new puppy who came with a supply of Pro Pac. I am switching the food because of the corn and other unsatisfactory ingredients. I would like to get the most nutritious food along with one that will leave his stools firm and less of them. Wellness has A LOT of veggies…is this really normal for a dogs diet? I was liking the Solid Gold ingredients but then came across Innova’s ingredients and also Wellness and Canidae’s. One brand will seem perfect and then when I read another’s ingredient’s and then that one seems better. I am looking for other’s who have experience with one of these 4 brands (or another I haven’t come across. How is it working and how are they stools? šŸ™‚

admin answers:

Consider Canidae dry dog food, all life stages…….this is an ALL NATURAL, HUMAN GRADE INGREDIENTS, NO FILLERS OR BY-PRODUCTS, no corn or wheat, no beet pulp or SALT, no foreign ingredients, all USA ingredients, and it has vitamins & enzymes that are good for dogs !! This food is made in the USA, in their OWN plant, and has a money-back guaranteee, if you are unhappy, for ANY reason !!….MANY BREEDERS RECOMMEND CANIDAE, and MANY Yahoo answer people have used Canidae for YEARS, with much SUCCESS AND SATISFACTION !!…..i RESEARCHED THE HECK out of dry dog foods, after all the recalls started, and I CONCLUDED THAT CANIDAE, DRY DOG FOOD, ALL LIFE STAGES, IS ONE OF THE BEST DRY DOG FOODS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE, AND IT IS REASONABLY PRICED, AND VERY AFFORDABLE !!!….check their Web site, Canidae.com for more information, and a list of dealers near you, by Zip code !! Canidae is rated 5 stars out of a possible 6 stars on one survey, and rated 112 points, or an A+, out of a possible 100 points, on another dry dog food survey !!…i switched my 2 dogs, and my daughter in law switched her 3 dogs to Canidae, and we are both happy, as are the 5 dogs !!….my JRTerrier loves CANIDAE, and eats HALF as much, as his previous dog food, and leaves me HALF AS MUCH RESIDUE, on the grass !!!…i pay $ 34 for a 40lb bag, here in TX, & get free delivery also, from Metropetservices.com !!…if i can be of further help to you, email me !!

Helen asksā€¦

what is the best Organic/Natural dry dog food for small breed dogs??

admin answers:

Consider Canidae Dry Dog food, all life stages…..this is an ALL NATURAL, ALL HUMAN GRADE INGREDIENTS, NO BY-PRODUCTS, NO FILLERS OR CORN OR WHEAT, NO CHEMICALS, NO BEET PULP OR SALT, ALL USA INGREDIENTS, and it has lots of vitamins and enzymes that are good for dogs !!!…….they make this food in THEIR OWN PLANT IN THE USA, and have a money back guarantee, if you are unhappy, for ANY reason !!……MANY BREEDERS RECOMMEND CANIDAE, and many Yahoo answer people HAVE USED CANIDAE WITH MUCH SUCCESS AND SATISFACTION, FOR MANY YEARS !!!!…..go to Canidae.com, for more information and dog owner’s testimonials, and a list of dealers, by Zip code….after MAJOR RESEARCH after all the recalls started, I CONCLUDE THAT CANIDAE DRY DOG FOOD, ALL LIFE STAGES, IS THE BEST DRY DOG FOOD AVAILABLE, ANYWHERE, AND IS AFFORDABLE FOR ALL DOG OWNERS !!!!…..my JRTerrier loves Canidae, and eats HALF as much as his previous dog food, and leaves me HALF as much.residue !!……try Canidae dry food, all life stages, and i believe you and your dog will be happy with it !!…….if you have any other questions about Canidae or my research, email me !!….PS..here in TX, i pay $ 34 for a 40 lb bag, including free delivery, from Metropetservices.com

Steven asksā€¦

Has anyone used Nutri Source dog food and did you like it?

admin answers:

I have never used NutriSource. It looks like a decent food but I can’t find an ingredient list anywhere.

There are several things you need to be aware of when purchasing dog food:

1. There are different levels of quality when it comes to dog food. For example, Ol’ Roy is about on par with McDonalds, Eukanuba with Chilis, and Flint River or Life’s Abundance with just growing food yourself and cooking it.

2. There is “Low grade,” (Ol’ Roy or any other brand found in Wal Mart), “Premium,” (Eukanuba or any other brand only found in pet stores), “Super Premium,” “Holistic,” and “Organic,” which are usually found in speciality stores or by direct delivery.

3. Many times when a dog food company has many different “formulas” it is only to take up shelf space. Walk into any petstore and Science Diet takes up more space than any other brand because they have more formulas. While not every dog has the same nutritional needs, dogs don’t really need specific formulas for different things. The most important is that it is made with good quality ingredients (which, in my opinion, Science Diet is not.)

4. The ingredient list is more important than the “Guaranteed Analysis.” A food that lists 44% Protien and Corn Meal as it’s main ingredient will not be digestible to dogs. They will actually end up defacating most of the protien because corn is undigestible to dogs. It won’t hurt to feed them corn (unless they are skin allergic, which is common), but it won’t help either and shouldn’t be used as the main source of protien.

5. Ignore the foods whose claim to fame is that they “never use hooves, hair, or intestines.” While many people think this is a plus, it’s not. While most excellent dog foods (holistic or organic) DON’T use these parts, it’s NOT their main selling point, either. In the wild, dogs eat everything. Hair, hooves, intestines, etc. (Ever given a dog a $2 cow hoof from a Petstore? They go NUTS!) The question is not with the inclusion of those ingredients, but their quality. Most of the time, animals sit out and rot for days before they are skinned, and the only the diseased animals not good for human consumption are used in dog food. Some foods still use these ingredients but they are “human grade,” that is, they are not rotten, not cleaned with bleach, etc. So just be careful of buying a food JUST because they don’t use these ingredients, but also be wary of foods that do. (Also be aware that foods who use those ingredients can count them towards weight, so “Beef meal” listed first might be mostly hooves and hair, which is bad.)

6. “Chicken” listed as the first ingredient is actually bad. This is because pure chicken is like 70% water and gets to be first on the ingredient list because it’s so heavy. You want something like “Chicken meal,” which is pure chicken with the water removed. If that’s first, you know that chicken is really the main ingredient.

7. Wheat, corn, and soy are all generally bad for dogs and can cause allergies. It won’t kill them, but should not be a part of their daily food regimine.

8. Most dog foods (even Premium ones like Eukanuba) are preserved with a chemical called BHT, which increases shelf life to like 2 years and is also a known carcinogen (it causes cancer in dogs). Look for a dog food that is preserved with Vitamin E (“Tocopherol”). The shelf life will be much shorter (less than 6 months), but you won’t be essentially feeding your dog cancer, either.

I use Life’s Abundance and my dogs love it. I know someone who uses the Sam’s brand and his dog loves it. Don’t go on taste to determine quality. (What kid would refuse icecream for broccoli?) Cheap dog food is essentially a treat; it’s mainly just preservatives, fat, corn, wheat, and flavoring. If you had a choice, would you feed your kids fruit juice fortified with preservatives and high fructose corn syrup, or pure juice straight from the tree? It’s a no brainer. Leave the treats for training and fun and feed your dog a quality food.

(PS Don’t listen to the uneducated who say, “WHY WOULD YOU RESEARCH THIS?! LET THE EXPERTS TELL YOU WHAT TO FEED YOUR DOGS!!” Any good pet owner will research things for themselves, and just because someone has been a breeder for 20 years doesn’t make them intelligent. Actually, the fact that they’ve been a breeder for 20 years and have never looked into this makes them rather unintelligent in my book. Good luck!)

Powered by Yahoo! Answers