Dog Community

On the dog food rollercoaster...

g33

Posted : 12/12/2006 5:27:52 PM

Hi all -

I have a 5 year old black Lab, Cole, I've owned since July of 2002. Here's a brief history of our experience with foods. I'm looking to find one that will work, AND that he finds palatable!

Natural Balance - fed it right after I adopted him for about 3 months, he did really well on this food.

Kirkland Lamb & Rice (by CostCo) - Fed this for about 3 years. Switched him over to this as it was half the price of the NB, and a breeder friend I knew was feeding this and having great results. I was also doing a partially raw thing for awhile with him as well as giving him a can of mackerel a week for his coat. I also occasionally mixed some Wellness (green bag) with the Kirkland (couldn't do straight Wellness - runny poo). He was doing AWESOME on this! Then, the Kirkland changed their formula after about two years, and Cole's ears went to hell. Took me awhile (as in over a year) to figure out it was his food.

ProPlan Sensitive Skin & Stomach - tried this for about 4 months to help his ears. Gave him awful breath and BAD farts, massive shedding, no ear improvement..

Eagle Pack Adult Maintenance - glorious ears! Better breath, bad farts though, lots of shedding, big poops.

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul - just tried this. He won't eat it. Yes, I tasted it and it is the blandest stuff - no taste at all. Plus, to equal the amount of calories he was getting with the Eagle Pack I have to feed a cup more per day. Haven't had a chance to look at his poops yet but my feeling is that they are going to be large because of the quantity of food he has to ingest. It's a lower quality food than the Eagle Pack.

So here's my dilemma - do I go back to the Natural Balance? Try another food? I'm going to add the fish back into his diet (canned mackerel once a week) to help with the shedding. It's been quite bad and consistent since the summer.

The Eagle Pack was giving him about 430 kcals/cup so he was getting 2 cups per meal. I'd like to keep him at about the 1600-1700 calorie per day range.

I'm open to any suggestions, however I want to be able to buy a food locally - I don't want to have to order something over the 'net. Luckily I have a pet supply food store nearby that carries all the top brands like these.

Twin

Posted : 12/12/2006 7:10:23 PM

If you had great luck with Natural Balance I would go back to feeding that. I would pay a little extra more to know my dog is doing really well and not having problems, then pay less and have problems. [&:]

sallya

Posted : 12/12/2006 7:48:24 PM

Trudy has eaten Nat. Balance Fish and Sweet Potato for years. I give her some kibble and canned two times a day. I would stick with that brand if it worked out fine the first time.

Lynn

Posted : 12/12/2006 8:22:37 PM

Do you have a dog speciality store near you? They will probably carry California Natural (my favorite), as well as other top names of good foods. They *might* be a tad cheaper.

Now, I don't have anything against Natural Balance. As a matter of fact, there is a bag in my car right now. I like to change out varietys and brands and go between a few instead of feeding one food only.

The larger bags will cost less, and I'm already sure that with a lab, you aren't buying the 5 lb. bags! But, for the most part, you will pay more money for a better quality food.

The Cal.Natural is the same calories as the Eagle Pack: 430Kcal/cup for the lamb and rice. I *suspect* that this is more Kcals than the Natural Balance. I can't find the Kcals for N.B. on the bag, or on the website. But, I *think* I might have to feed more of the N.B.. If this is true, then the Cal. Natural might cost less. But, I don't know this for sure.

However, in re-reading your post, you think your dog didn't like Chicken Soup b/c it was maybe bland. If that was the case, then he won't like Cal. Natural. But, my dogs have not been as fond of some other foods as well, and they do like Cal. Natural (and I think it's the blandest food out there).

But, since you know you had good luck with the N.B. before, then I would definately go back to this to begin with and not even try another formula for awhile. I realize it does cost more, but you will most likely save the money in vet bills and aggravation.

jessies_mom

Posted : 12/12/2006 9:11:27 PM

The Cal.Natural is the same calories as the Eagle Pack: 430Kcal/cup for the lamb and rice. I *suspect* that this is more Kcals than the Natural Balance. I can't find the Kcals for N.B. on the bag, or on the website. But, I *think* I might have to feed more of the N.B.. If this is true, then the Cal. Natural might cost less. But, I don't know this for sure.

The

otato and Duck is 465 calories a cup; Ultra Premium is 485 calories; [linkage=3#Post253]http://forums.dogfoodproject.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=253&an=0&

age=3#Post253[/link] >http://forums.dogfoodproject.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=253&an=0&

age=3#Post253]http://forums.dogfoodproject.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=253&an=0&

age=3#Post253[/link] Someone on another thread asked the company about the Sweet Potato and Fish and it's 390 calories.

Luvntzus

Posted : 12/12/2006 9:31:46 PM

I would probably go back to Natural Balance. Or, I might try Timberwolf Organics. It almost always produces small, firm stools and that was my experience with my dog. I think their Southwest Chicken & Herbs is the most palatable. If you can't find it in your area then you can order it from their website with free shipping.

http://www.timberwolforganics.com/Pet_Foods_s/12.htm

Another one you might want to look into is Nature's Variety.
http://www.naturesvariety.com/content.lasso?page=1305

g33

Posted : 12/12/2006 10:00:39 PM

Wow, thanks!

I have been eyeballing Canidae actually. I checked out the NB food that he was eating and it's in the high 300's for calorie content. In comparing the ingrediens with the Canidae it appears Canidae is higher quality. Anyone here have any experience with it? How is their breath, stools? Shedding?

Oh and since we switched from the the Kirkland, I've been paying about $33-$37 per bag. I seriously don't care anymore as long as his ears are good. I was paying about $70 a month for ear meds there for awhile. So frustrating!

Thanks again you guys!

Gina

Twin

Posted : 12/12/2006 11:14:25 PM

My personal experience with Canidae has been a negative one. It is a very good food, but produced terrible results for my pup. He got eye boogers, shedded a TON, and didn't smell as good. His stools were really good, though. I went through one 20lb bag and that's it for me and Canidae.

Other people have had excellent results. I suggest at least giving it a try and see how your dog does on it. Hopefully he does great! [

]

Luvntzus

Posted : 12/12/2006 11:38:19 PM

Canidae is a good food, but I've heard a lot of people say their dogs didn't find it very palatable.

Nancy

Posted : 12/13/2006 12:35:29 PM

Both my dog (GSD and Sheltie) eat Canidae and they love it! They are healty, nice firm stools, shinny coats , i am very happy with this food.
Give it a try, hope it works for you dog![

]

Bobsk8

Posted : 12/13/2006 2:18:18 PM

I have fed my Dog Natural Balance after a brief period of trying other premium foods. She loves it and the vet says that she looks great.

ron2

Posted : 12/13/2006 3:06:30 PM

Let me add that this has been a wonderful thread to read. No one making out of hand judgements, just helping and giving their direct experiences with the food involved.

willowchow

Posted : 12/13/2006 9:19:47 PM

Willow gets Natural Balance kibble and is doing really well. I'd go back to what was working for you.

bragg1120

Posted : 12/14/2006 9:51:42 AM

Trixie & Gracie also eat Natural Balance kibble. After emailing the company, we're getting some samples of other flavors (they immediately loved the food - I'd hate to say what they used to eat) and they're also sending some coupons. Maybe you can email them if you think NB is too expensive... a few coupons can help!

shamrockmommy

Posted : 12/14/2006 10:14:53 AM

Hmm.. I might try California Natural Lamb/Rice or Chicken/Rice. Very simple formulations may help with both ears and the gas issue. Although I think some dogs gulp air when they eat, which is going to result in gas anyway.

Good luck