By-Products

I think those of us that stated that people were being narrow minded feel the need to do so because we don't like seeing other people being put down and disrespected.  If none of us spoke up then all the new members would be ran off by those kind of hurtful and abrasive comments.  We have every right to speak up and let the people being attacked know that not all of us here share the same elitist mentality, and that we can understand why someone may make certain food choices out of necessity that we might disagree with.

By-Products or no by-products a prescription dog food was the ONLY food my
cocker could eat. We adopted her when she was 14. She had Pancreatic Insufficiency and IBD. I would have loved to have been able to feed her 'a premium food' or home cooked but any change from her prescription food resulted in a very sick dog. With lots of love, a prescription food, a prescription enzyme powder and the care of a wonderful vet she lived to be almost 17. For her a premium food was a prescription food. She was, by the way, a very good girl![]

I normally would not say things like I am going to, but I have been mulling things over.  On several threads here there are posts that indicate (if not down right say it) that if you don't feed your dog such and such, you don't love it.  Also kinda hint that if you can't pay high dollar for your dogs' food, you shouldn't have one.
 
I am 61 years old and have had dogs all my life.  When I was growing up we were poor and I do not know if there were "high dollar" brand of food back then or not, but my Dad fed Purina Dog Chow and our dogs had beautiful coats, they could stay in the field all day long hunting quail, even the older dogs.  Our dogs were very much loved and us 5 kids played with them all the time.  We used them for pack horses or pulling the boys little wagon when we played cowboys.  They followed us everywhere becuase they were loved, got lots of attention.  They were not just hunting dogs, they were family pets.  In the same situation today, should we not have dogs because we couldn't afford the high dollar food?  Would we love our dogs less because we didn't buy them high dollar food.  NO. 
 
I feed my dogs the Purina dog chow (Buck) and the Purina Fit and Trim (the girls) becuase it works for them.  And I suspect by the time i buy cans of mackeral, fresh meat, etc,beans and carrots, I am spending as much each day on them as if I was giving them high dollar food.  BUT I GIVE THEM WHAT WORKS FOR THEM. 
 
When my first Irish Setter (a stray I took in) developed a spinal infection and needed high dollar antibiotcis, I bought them for him and didn't get my arthritis meds fill that month (this was about 28 years ago.)  He ate Purina.
 
When KayCee had her knee surgeries  and had to be tied to sofa leg for weeks I slept on the floor with her the first few nights, then on the sofa as she had always slept in the bed with us and I didn't want her to be alone.  I feed her purina.
 
When Hunter was in ICU with autoimmune hemolytic anemia after his ProHeart6 injection, the bill was mounting with blood tranfusions, drugs, tests, etc.  We had just started the last resort drug which was very, very, very expensive when he died.  I had told my husband I would sell my rings if need be to buy th drugs needed for Hunter.  Thanks God for an understanding vet who said pay as we could.  Hunter was fed Purina.
 
Now you tell me i didn't/don't love those dogs, because I didn't/don't feed high dollar dog food?  You tell my vet or any of  my family that I don't love my dogs because I don't feed them XX X brand food and you will get an ear full from them.  I won't even go on vacation because I can't stand to baord them  more than two nights.  About twice a year I board them so i can go spend 2-3days with my brothers & families in Austin.
 
So those of you who can't afford high dollar dog food, or like me, find Purina, Science Diet, et works for you, never belived you should not have a dog or don't love your dog because you goes with what works best for your dog, or you can't afford XXX brand.

I can't see how or why someone would disagree with someone doing what works for the dog. 

No, they need proof that homecooked won't work just as well, they don't like ingredients, etc.  They come out with comments like "I wouldn't touch it for all the tea in China, anyone who truly loved their dog wouldn't feed them that", etc., etc. 

Of course, I wouldn't be feeding her a Rx diet if something else worked.  And, you know what, I'm completely comfortable with what I'm doing.  I've done my research, I know my ingredients, I've homecooked, I've paid the vet bills, I've tried other foods.  That's not why I'm upset.  I'm upset because some people think that being "passionate" gives them carte blanche to say WHATEVER they want with NO regard to how others will feel.  I certainly could do that many times per day, but I use TACT.  Maybe if someone ASKED instead of just assuming what I or anyone else here does, things would be a lot happier. 

What people here need to understand is that it is NOT just the ingredients that make these Rx foods work.

And, I'm not supposed to be upset or offended. This goes on all the time here.  It's not the first time.  We have threads about being more tactful and then as soon as the chance comes up, here we go again. 

Being passionate doesn't mean you have to act like a  you know what.  THINK before you post something, think of how you would like it if that was being said to you.  I think a lot of people would be pretty up in arms if I started posting how anyone who truly loves their dog wouldn't feed it raw meat or bones??  Or maybe, I should just start spouting off on any old topic where I'm "passionate", and disagree. 

Very well said Willow!!!!
 
Until someone can be in the other persons shoes, they should not judge or criticize what is working for that particular dog....there is no need for rude or pushy comments. This is a place to share ideas, not undermind someones choices!

Or maybe, I should just start spouting off on any old topic where I'm "passionate", and disagree.

I cant see why you cant.Your opinion has just as much validity as anyone elses,it shouldnt matter if the mass doesnt like it or disagree's with it,if you've got something to say,you should say it.

FTR i have NEVER said "anyone who feeds xxxx doesnt truly love their dog ",there are some things wether true or not that shouldnt be said out loud.In some cases this may be true,some people feed crap food to their dogs because "they just aint worth it,afterall it's just a dog,why should i pay more for their food than i do for mine" There are those who dont know any better,those who beleive the slick advertisements,those who couldnt be bothered doing a homemade diet,those that couldnt be bothered researching better foods or driving the 1/2 hour out of the way to pick up the better food.
I've met quite a few people who proclaim they feed SD because their dog doesnt do well on other foods,but when the truth finally came out it was usally one of the above excuses.TBH these are the people i dont have time for,their dogs arent worth the extra effort and they prefer to take the easy way.I'm not directing this at anyone here,but you'de be surprised how many people say things they think everyone else wants to hear to justify their decisions.

Well said!

Speaking of foods that work for you and by-products, I guess I'll chime in…
My dog has been raised on Abady Granular, the number one ingredient is chicken by-product meal, and it is not cheap, just economical.  A 40-pound box costs $62 and it last me about 3 months.  The combined weight of my dogs is about 45 pounds.

Some numbers:

Protein- 27% (87% animal source)
Fat- 19%
Fiber- not more than 1%
Carbs- less than 32%
Cals- 657.2 per cup
 
Problem is, people hear Chicken by-product meal and automatically think "yuk factor” must poor quality.  Who cares?  I don't.  I know when a product lists a "human grade” chicken as a number one ingredient, due to moisture content of the meat (75%), there is no way the protein on a solids basis in a kibble can match a diet as listed above without using chicken by-product meal, in fact, it would be impossible.  Hate to snob snobbish, but I'll feed my dog CBP every day of the week, and most likely would never feed a "cleverly designed grain based feed” kibble if it were given to me for free.

Charlie

PS:  Does 657.2 Cals per cup cause a dog to get fat? You be the judge.

[&:]

Some people think Sharon is rude,i think she is straightforward and to the point,you can always trust what she says doesnt have some underlying motive or asumption.

Um, nope. Just plain rude.

The company told the salesman who told my doctor that Vioxx was perfectly safe.  My doctor gave it to me.  It was not perfectly safe despite what the company  claimed.  It took public awarness, deaths, heart attacks to get the company to admit it was not what they had advertiesed it to be.

The compnay told the salesman who told my sister-in-law's doctor that Phen-Fen (or however you spell it) was perfectly safe.  Her doctor put her on it.  It was not perfectly safe despite what the company claimed.  It took strokes, heart attacks nad public awareness to get the company to admit it was not what they had advertiesed it to be.

The company told the salesman who told my vet that Proheart6 was perfectly safe.  My Hunter was put on it.  It was not perfectly safe.  He and hundreds, if not thousands died after being given Proheart6  (there were over 600 reported deaths, but FDA says only 10 to 15% ar reported.)  It took public awarness and a hard fight by many to get Proheart 6 removed from the market.

Then of course there were cases of dangerous cars a few years back--gas tanks that would explode on impact, etc.  The companies stuck by their claims of safe cars until the government stepped in.  Now they are not quite so quick to deny things like this and issue recalls must faster.

In each of these cases (and God only knows how many more) the companies stuck by their claims of being perfectly safe, etc EVEN WHEN THEY KNEW  it was not true.  So I really do not have much faith in all the advertising, etc as each company--car, drug, dog food,  insurance, etc are out to make money by pushing their product as being best, safer, whatever.

If you think it's ok to feed your animals those foods.... why don't YOU eat them , or better yet feed them to the rest of your family.
Afterall...your pet IS supposed to be part of your FAMILY right ? So what's good for him must be good enough for you.

ORIGINAL: myorganicpets


Nope, I would never feed my dog like my own kids, even though my dog is a family member.  Reason is, I realize my dog is a carnivore and needs to be feed accordingly, and would never consider feeding veggies and fruits to my dogs as part of a regular diet.  I don#%92t want to slowly kill pets.

That was mean (slowy kill your pets).  Sorry.

I just can't fathom how people can actually think it's "ok" to forcefeed their 'beloved pets' garbage that they wouldn't in a BILLION years ever consider feeding to their own kids !

This is my thought exactly! I wouldnt feed my kids by-products of unknown origins,globs of grain fractions with no nutritional value etc etc. Nor if they were to get sick would i feed them  food out of a bag with ingredients that i  think would make them sicker in the "long term".I would feed them the most natural,freshest produce i could find and explore every holistic and to a  lesser extent convential option out there.I would do the same for my dogs,they are part of my family and are treated as such,they deserve the same healthful foods and considerations my kids get.
This is my way however and know not everyone thinks like i do,and sometimes i find it hard to understand that,i will admit []

lmao lazlowe1... Really sad how some people have to get their kicks off feeling superior to someone else.

ORIGINAL: cc431

I know when a product lists a "human grade” chicken as a number one ingredient, due to moisture content of the meat (75%), there is no way the protein on a solids basis in a kibble can match a diet as listed above without using chicken by-product meal, in fact, it would be impossible.

Huh? What about using chicken meal as a first ingredient? No by-products, no water, just chicken.