What's everyone feeding nowadays...

Due to allergies we are limited in selection, we have used TOTW pacific, Arcana Pacifica & Ranchlands, and our staple is orijen fish. All work but he does best on the orijen. It is a significant improvement over the others and he needs less of it, so we bite the bullet and pay the silly price!

We're dealing with allergies here, too (food and environmental).  Caleb's been eating Natural Balance's LID line for almost 4 years now.  I usually rotate between the ones that are beef and bison free.  The past few bags has been Potato & Duck.

Still on Wellness Core. Reduced fat formula in the summer because of the decreased activity due to the heat; regular formula in winter. I have my eyes on a couple of things (Acana in particular) but have not decided to rotate or switch yet.

I feed my dogs raw. I get pastured parts, organs and eggs from local farmers, whole or cleaned-but-head-on fish from an Asian grocery, and occasionally whole rabbits from Hare Today. Last time I fed a commercial food it was Honest Kitchen, with fresh meat added in.

 Luke's getting Nature's Recipe right now, I'm not sure whether it's the Chicken or the Salmon. I switch between the two flavors, and sometimes I go with Blue Wilderness. I'm thinking of switching him to raw though when we run out of food. He's been okay with those foods, but I'm not thrilled with them. His weight is fine, because I keep on top of maintaining his weight. The vet suggested putting a pound on him for the winter, which will not be happening (he's 14.5lbs, was always 13.5 until he started fly ball, then picked up that pound). His teeth are terrible for almost 3 years old, and he poops out probably just as much as he eats.

This will be a longish list.. Lol. Maze gets homecooked, Sandy gets raw, Dipstick gets kibble, the cats get Whiskas and whatever we're eating, Max gets kibble, canned and parmasan cheese (yes, everynight) with raw thrown in ever other day for his teeth.

Maze is a 5yr Lab mix, Sandy is a 3 yr JRT, Dipstick is a 17yr GSP, Max is a 2yr Poodle (lookin after for the holidays) and the cats are 4, 8 and 12 respectively.

Most of the way through a bag of Diamond Chicken and Rice, supplemented this morning with a spoonful of canned cat food, part of a glazed donut, and the milk left over from my Wheat Checks. She may be getting a little spoiled, so I give her smaller portions of the donuts. It's about time to hit the butcher shop and get some bones again. The last collection is pretty bare, and looks a little strange on the basement sofa.

Taste of the Wild, mostly the High Prairie w/a rotation of Sierra Mountain or Pacific Stream.  G does not like the Wetlands formula, which is what she has now, and hates it.

Crap, reminds me - the distributor buy 10 bags get one free ends today and I still have 2 more bags to buy to get the free one. (Cuz I bought from other sources..)  I don't think it's worth me buying 2 more and getting the third so they all sit here for the next 5-6 months... *sigh*

My Honey, age 10 1/2, has been on TOTW for about 3 years, maybe more.  I have used the High Prairie and the Wetlands and she prefers the High Prairie.

 I alos cook for her, amking a stew of 5 pounds chicken thighs, about 3 pounds of chicken necks, 1 1/2 or so pounds of cut up beef liver or chicken gizzards, chopped sweet potatoes, chopped apples and a pound bag of frozen green beans or spinach, and sometimes some fresh squash.  Add a little water and cook in crock pot for 24 hours.  I do divide it up into 2 1/2 cup containers, evnough for 5 meals.  She gets 3/4 cvup fo dry for breakfast and then for supper 3/4 cup dry and 1/2 cup of the stew for 5 nights, and then for the next 3 she gets salmon or mackeral in place of the stew.  Ib rre iccasuibs I have forgotten to get a container of stew from freezer and had to give her  some tuna or if I was doing something with chicken or ground beef, boil a little on the side for her--but would he stew out the next day.

The question was asked on one of my golden retriever forums and almost everyone who answer, and there wre sevreal, feed TOTW, and even tho ever formula was fed, it seems the High Prairie seemd to be the best liked by the dogs.

Going to re-update.

I feed the grain free varieites of The Honest Kitchen. I top with meats of all kind (Raw) or leftovers, yogurt as well as an egg now and again.  They also get RMBs (generally chicken or turkey).   I spent about 2 months using kibble as a base for the girls but just was unhappy with the results.  Breath and pooper scooping became highly unpleasant! 

 The cat is eating all canned (took off kibble last week) and doing well, although I might try him on something like Rad Cat or Feline Pride.

This is my favorite dog subject, by the way, so I love reading these threads :) Thought I'd update though, I feed everything ;) It seems the dogs look better to me than on all raw or all kibble or all THK.

sandra_slayton

1 1/2 or so pounds of cut up beef liver

 

sandra_slayton

.  I do divide it up into 2 1/2 cup containers, evnough for 5 meals. 

 

  Sandra, It's possible that Honey is getting too much vitamin A because of the amount of beef liver you are using. One ounce of raw beef liver has 4732 IU's of vitamin A, and one ounce cooked beef liver has 8881 IU's. To give you some idea of how much Honey needs, Jessie weighs 60 pounds and needs about  1982 IU's. Too much vitamin A can cause problems over time.

We take vitamins to PREVENT problems. The same applies to your dog.Though your dog may appear perfectly healthy and happy now, if it’s not currently receiving the proper balance and quality of nutrients it requires, long-term problems may await. By giving your dog vitamin supplements now, you may help to prevent problems in the future. One of the most significant contributions vitamin supplements can make is in helping the body deal with Free Radicals. You’ve heard of them, haven’t you? Those renegade oxygen molecules known as Free Radicals rampage through the body, mutating and even killing the body’s cells. Damage from Free Radicals has been associated with more than 50 serious health problems, including: • Cancer • Heart Disease • Arthritis • Cataracts • Premature Aging The proper vitamins help to supply the body with Antioxidants, which work to keep Free Radicals in check. so always remember this,give your dog the food rich in vitamins and protein for the good health of your dog.

We take vitamins to PREVENT problems. The same applies to your dog.Though your dog may appear perfectly healthy and happy now, if it’s not currently receiving the proper balance and quality of nutrients it requires, long-term problems may await. By giving your dog vitamin supplements now, you may help to prevent problems in the future. so always remember this,give your dog the food rich in vitamins and protein for the good health of your dog.