Dog Community

Thinking about dehydrated for Jewel

Posted : 11/21/2009 9:22:23 PM

The holistic vet suggested turkey or beef based food for her, and I'm having a heck of a time finding a kibble that is turkey or beef based, does not contain chicken, and isn't super high protein or super low. I decided to eyeball some dehydrated food, at a friend's suggestion. Great idea!

So, I've found NRG, Ziwipeak, Honest Kitchen, Sojo's, and Addiction. What other brands are available? Anybody done REALLY well with something like this? NRG and Ziwipeak are entirely too expensive. It's not that she eats a lot, it's just... ugh. I cannot pay $10+ /lb for dog food. I have a moral opposition, LOL.

I cannot, at this point, make food for everybody. I do make a portion of their food, but I also have two jobs, and various training classes that they all go to, and other real life things that make it too time consuming. I need a base diet, for each dog, that they do well on and enjoy. Emma and Ena have theirs. Jewel was fine with what Ena eats, but the vet says no more chicken for her. I'm totally open to kibble, too, if you've got an idea, there. We already do a fair portion of canned (Evanger's Beef With Chunks is a popular choice, no chicken, no grains). I'm a huge water pusher Big Smile She's getting some of the NV rabbit medallions, too, because rabbit seems like a really natural choice for an IG (and she LOVES it!).

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 11/21/2009 10:58:11 PM

Shooter, and Schatzi did very well on Honest Kitchen's Embark. It was simple to deal with, easy to travel with, & they loved it. It was also economical to feed them. The only reason that I switched them was because we made the jump to raw, & at the time I thought that it would be easier to change everyone over to that.

Even now, I keep a box on hand for days that I forget to thaw meals.

stardog85

Posted : 11/22/2009 1:10:20 AM

Our vet recommends and feeds SoJos herself. She does suggest doubling the meat from what's listed on the bag and says it can be raw or cooked even though the bag says just raw. (I looove having a vet that has SoJos on the shelves instead of SD lol)

We currently feed SoJos grain free (green bag, fka Europa) mixed with cooked beef to the 3 pack for one meal a day. When I get meat on sale (like 98 cents/lb a few weeks ago!) the dehydrated is about 15 cents/lb cheaper than kibble, so I have a feeling we'll be feeding it for a while.

All the dogs seem to do nicely on it, although occasionally I will see some fairly undigested chunks of veggies in their poop outside. I feel good feeding it because they enjoy it so much, they don't inhale it like kibble because they actually heve to chew a bit, and it is real food not boring kibble lol.

tzu_mom

Posted : 11/22/2009 10:21:10 AM

The Honest Kitchen is a good choice, as is the Sojos pre-mix. Sojos now makes a complete dehydrated diet with turkey that you may want to try---I am getting ready to add it to my rotation, as well.

Will your vet be amenable to Venison or Bison? (My dogs are on turkey and beef, also, but vet also likes venison, bison, and rabbit as dietary choices---no chicken) If so, Grandma Lucy's makes a nice dehydrated product with each of those protein sources....and if you like the convenience of kibble ( and venison is an option), Canine Caviar Venison/Split Pea is a nice choice.

Mechanical Angel

Posted : 11/22/2009 1:07:54 PM

The Honest Chicken, from what I've heard is a very good choice!

jennie_c_d

Posted : 11/22/2009 3:37:23 PM

He just said "cool" meats, and did include rabbit. I've gotta get a book, on Chinese Medicine, because I don't have a clue. I've been giving her some of the NV rabbit medallions (one or two a day) and she LOVES them. Thanks for all the input, guys! I will definitely order her some, very soon.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 11/22/2009 3:39:07 PM

Also, that Sojo's Grain Free is SO CLOSE to being feedable to Emma, it makes me sad! LOL That would be great, if they could just all be on that. AND EMMA CAN HAVE THE GRANDMA LUCY'S!!!

It would be incredibly awesome, if all three dogs could eat the same food. I'd be in crazy dog owner heaven.

tzu_mom

Posted : 11/22/2009 3:57:43 PM

jennie_c_d
He just said "cool" meats

I think that leaves out the venison---I believe it is a warm food---my dogs can eat it with no problems, though. Bison should be okay. As for the Grandma Lucy's, I can't feed it because of the white potato, but have fed it to the collie mix I sit for, and she loves it---smells great, too.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 11/22/2009 6:00:04 PM

Mine all tolerate white potato, and all tolerate bison and pork (Emma is allergic to chicken and lamb, and the vet said not to feed those to jewel). Then, there is the premix, which is great, because I can throw anything in that. I'm very excited! I've got brand new bags of kibble, for everybody, so when we start to get low, I will order Grandma Lucy's for them.