Dog Community

A food observation

Posted : 6/20/2012 11:57:03 AM

I just wanted to sortof vent, or put this out there...

I have had dogs for 16 years now. I've fed every style of food there is to feed, raw, pre-made raw, dehydrated raw, just-add raw, kibble, cans, homecooked... everything but vegetarian.

I've always kept to the best brands of dry/canned foods there is available.

Anyway, Darby, (bichon) has been fighting yeasty skin/ears/toes/lips for all of her 10 1/2 years. I put her on California Natural chicken/pea (grain free and low glycemic) and her yeasty skin is completely GONE. No more itching, not even so much as a yeasty lip- which has been her biggest trouble area. it's caused her much misery over the years, as well as yeasty toes. Scratch, itch, chew, rub. On this food, she's completely perfect. but always wanting to 'improve' my dogs' diets, I added in the honest kitchen as a topper. Returns the yeasty skin, itch rub, scratch. Poor baby. She's on completely plain CN with warm water added and odd bits of meat (raw/cooked) as I'm making our own meals.

What have I learned then, over these years? Aside from TEETH, I have noticed very little, if any, differences in my dogs feeding either raw or cooked or kibble or canned. Very little. Interesting, isn't it?

Just an observation I guess, but I think I may have just given myself permission to stop 'improving' my girls' diets and just go with what is working best for them.

Ok, rant over :)

Tiffani

ETA: raw has also afforded my bichons several broken teeth :( Even the "soft" chicken bones. vent really over now.

Jewlieee

Posted : 6/20/2012 12:36:46 PM

I used to stress over food too but not so much anymore. Now my biggest worry is quality control at the dog food company's manufacturing plant.

The thing we have to remember is that they are dogs! sometimes I think people forget that fact. I love my dogs but at the end of the day I am not going to go broke, go into debt or kill myself trying to find the best food or treat out there.

shamrockmommy

Posted : 6/20/2012 12:47:13 PM

Well said! I agree about the worry over quality control!

And also about the debt- been there, done that, hubby asked me to dial it back, since we were spending well over 300 bucks on the "best" raw/dehydrated/treats/supplements.

And now, off those things, i dont' notice a difference at all.

Freedom

Posted : 6/20/2012 2:57:48 PM

I'm glad you finally hit a solution, and I'm sure Darby is too!

Willy was like that in his past life, an older couple, never had a bichon before, and he lived with yeast infections constantly. Skin ones that were really bad, ears, eyes, etc. This is why the shelter he was surrendered to decided he needed to live go to a bichon rescue, to folks who know what the breed is like. Oh my gosh, this breed is SO prone to food allergies with skin outbreaks!

I immediately put him on grain free, and with meds, everything cleared up. He hasn't had an outbreak since. The vet file which came with him is huge! Poor boy. Now almost 2 years (July 15th will be 2 years) with no issues. No wonder he loves living here! LOL