Questions about what you feed your dog(s)

1.) I feed Wolfie Bil-Jac dry (sometimes mixed with samples of another dry food for variety), canned food (usually Wellness canned or California Natural canned) and a fish oil/vitamin E capsule daily.

2.) Haha, no.  I have tried most anything you can think of (dry food wise)...such as Wellness, Solid Gold, Chicken Soup, Canidae, Nature's Variety, Innova, Innova EVO, Timberwolf Organics, etc etc.  The food fed before Bil-Jac (most recently) was Timberwolf Organics Lamb & Apples formula.

3.) Most of the foods I have tried prior to Bil-Jac either resulted in loss of weight, loss of appetite (he's picky), or some sort of gastric issues like constipation or diarrhea.  I think the worst problem I had was with Wellness (horrible diarrhea--needed vet attention) and Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural (frequent and messy BM's).

4.) Not yet...so far he is doing the best he has ever done (as far as appetite, weight, coat, and BM's).

5.)  When I was a kid, my parent's English Cocker Spaniel was fed Bil-Jac as a puppy (that's what the breeders fed him).  From what I can remember, my dad switched him to some grocery store something b/c he didn't want to pay for the Bil-Jac.  He ate whatever that was for the majority of his life, and then he started to get "cocker crud" on his skin and really bad ear infections.  My dad switched him to Science Diet Sensitive Skin not knowing any better and thinking it was good.  Skin problems and ear infections kept coming, and eventually with my schooling, research, etc, I had him allergy tested.  Found out he was allergic to all poultry, most grains except for rice and oatmeal, and a few other random environmental things.  He is now on California Natural Lamb & Rice @ age 12 and is doing great.  He has no skin problems (as a matter of fact his coat looks gorgeous) and hasn't had a yeasty-ear infection in years. 

1) Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult, though I do plan on upgrading to Natural Balance soon.

2) I used to feed Iams Large Breed Adult. I thought at the time that it was pretty good. Then I heard that it got bought and the quality went way down. Then I actually read the ingredients (duh) and decided to switch.

3) My dogs have always been just ridiculously healthy in their constitutions, so we've never had any food-related health problems. Conrad has some anal sac issues (expressing them at less than optimal times) but so far no food or food additve that I've ever tried has cleared that up.

4) Nope. I'd like their poops to be firmer and smaller though, hence the pending switch to Natural Balance.

5) None. But I have to say that since he entered the house Marlowe has always eaten Nutro Natural Choice and his coat is amazing. Vets comment every single time he's been seen that his coat is outstanding. Even when I took him to the emergency clinic, I looked at the paperwork afterwards and it said "Extremely healthy coat/shiney".

ORIGINAL: lisa4kids1pup

I decided that I want to do my own little "study" of sorts.  Here are the questions:

1) what do you feed your dog(s)?

 
Currently both dogs are fed Royal Canin Maxi GSD kibble for breakfast and home cooked for dinner.  This includes chicken or beef liver or heart, sardines, mackerel, salmon, with sweet, white otatoes, sometimes rice.  Nightly they get Stoneyfield's Plain yogurt with fish oil.  

2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one?

 
We used to feed Nutro Natural Balance to Peanut, but when we got Draico, we needed to find a different food.  We tried all sorts, Innova, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, to name a few.  Either one or both dogs had an issue with those brands, but both do well on the Royal Canin.
 

3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it?

 
With the Ultra premiums, it seemed to be intolerable, both dogs got diarrhea.  Peanut didn't care for some of them and refused to eat.  Can't remember which one, but one of them caused excessive shedding, like they'd brush against you, and you were covered in fur.  The Nutro caused itching in Draico, we suspected a sensitivity to either wheat (most likely) or corn.
 

4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding?

 
No problems at all.  As a matter of fact, Draico has lost that strong dog odor.  We're thrilled with the results!
 

5) what did you feed dogs you had in the past, and what kinds of health problems did they have/how did they cross the bridge?

 
I can only refer to my childhood dogs.  My parents, dad's CHEAP and didn't want any ets, mom did her best, refused to pay for premium dog food.  First mom couldn't afford it, second she didn't believe in it.  She fed home cooked, the mutt even ate cooked chicken bones with NO problems.  Her Springer Spaniel didn't eat bones, but loved home cooked.  They both lived to a ripe old age, the mutt crossed the bridge in his sleep at age 22, and the spaniel was PTS with his last bout of pneumonia (he was choking) at age 17 or 18.

Thanks!

 
You're welcome.  Please post your findings after the food testing is complete.  I'd love to see the results. 

1) what do you feed your dog(s)?
Caleb is transitioning from Eukanuba L& R Puppy food to Pro Plan L&R Adult.

2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one?
His breeder feeds Euk. 

3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it?
I tried switching him to the Wellness Puppy food, but he ended up with the runs.  I knew he'd be going on adult food at 6 months, so decided to keep him on what the breeder had him on until then.

4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding?
Not really
 

5) what did you feed dogs you had in the past, and what kinds of health problems did they have/how did they cross the bridge?
Heineken (Husky/GSD)- Purina Hi Pro (do they still make that stuff?) & store brand moist for awhile.  The last few years he ate Gaines Cycle 4.  He was 17 when laid down to take a nap and didn't wake up.  No health problems other than losing his hearing and eyesight (eyesight loss was from a stroke when he was 16 1/2).
 
Mick (Lab/English Setter)- Purina Puppy Chow, Kibbles & Chunks, with terrible ear infectionas and hot spots.  Switched to ONE L&R and then Pro Plan L&R (no more hot spots and ear infections).  Also tried Canidae, Nature's Variety and Natural Balance, but he started having hot spots and ear infections again, so went back to feeding Pro Plan (L&R, Beef, Turkey & Salmon).  We had to have him pts at this past July at 15 1/2 years because his body wouldn't support him any longer due to laryngeal paralysis and degenerative mylopathy.
 
 
 

1) what do you feed your dog(s)?
           Blue Buffalo Sr. kibble, BB canned.

2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one?
             Solid Gold
              Canidae
               ro Plan
          
3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it? 
             ro Plan  left his coat much drier and tons more shedding.

4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding?
              Not a one.  Coat is much nicer, less shedding, he has more energy.

5) what did you feed dogs you had in the past, and what kinds of health problems did they have/how did they cross the bridge?   
                Solid Gold
                 Canidae
                 Pro Plan
No chronic health issues on any food.  Our OEM died at 7 yrs., exact cause unknown.  Most likely liver damage, but no autopsy to totally prove that.  Our Saint died of cancer, not sure if you can blame a food or not.  Just like in humans, what triggers cancer cells to grow rampantly??

(1) I feed Natural Balance Ultra Premium.
(2) I fed Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy until they were one. When it was time to switch I decided to go away from the whole line for different reasons, not for problems I directly observed in my dogs though.
(3) No problems with the Eukanuba puppy but the poop quantity was way larger and it was not as compact (sorry, gross).
(4) The only thing is about the poop (here I go again !). Spip's is so firm and compact that she sometimes seemed to strain to go (I started adding pumpkin to her meals and it goes easier). Flem is a poop eater [:-] but I think it more a behavior issue than a feeding issue in her case.
(5) These are my first dogs but I remember my parents feeding Eukanuba to their GSD puppy. That was quite a while ago and I do not know what they fed the other ones. I do not remember any having health problems that could have been related to their food but I was not paying too much attention to the nitty-gritty of having dogs then, just enjoyed them.

1) I feed both canned and dry every day. I buy Canidae, Solid Gold, TO, and California Natural, Evo, and Wellness. I like to rotate the brands. I usually buy Lamb, sometimes Beef or Venison. Chicken is usually my last choice. Murf seems to do better on lamb and venison.

2) In the beginning when we first adopted Murphy we fed him Beneful. He loved it but his breath was awful [:'(] and he had explosive diarrhea sometimes. I started reading labels and learning about healthy food. We took him off all corn, wheat and soy. I switched him over to Azmira which he loved for a long time. Then he got bored with it and wouldn't eat it anymore. So now I rotate brands and he's much happier.

3) He never has a problem on the brand. His coat is always the same. No itching, no rashes. The only difference is that sometimes his stools and more solid than other times. As long as we stay away from corn, wheat and soy he's fine.

4) No.

5) I answered it above. LOL

1) what do you feed your dog(s)?
2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one?
3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it?
4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding?
5) what did you feed dogs you had in the past, and what kinds of health problems did they have/how did they cross the bridge?

 
1.  Buck (golden retriever) will be 12 in 3 weeks.  He gets purina one & home cooked.  KayCee (golden retriever) turned 7 last Aug.  She gets purina one weight management.  Honey (golden  mix) turned 5 last month and she is also on Purina one weight managements.
 
2.  Buck was on Purina Puppy Chow and then Purina Dog Chow until h3 got his first and only kidney infection 6 months ago at age 11 1/2.  He was put on Science Diet k/d for 3 months and then we went to the Purina One Senior. He had no problem with it--bnut he didn't like it. One time several years ago i did try him on a "better food" and he threw up every meal for 4 days and i decided i would stick with the Purina.  KayCee was on the puppy chow, then dog chow.  After p utting on a lot of weight because of bad knees, surgery, recovery, she was put on Science Diet r/d until she lost 15 pounds, then on Fit & Trim. She wasn't crazu about the r/d, but it did the job  When i switched Buck to the Purina one senior, i switched her to the Purina One weight management.  Honey is adopted, don't know what she had before we adopted her, but has been on Purina dog chow, and now the One weight management.
 
3.The "better food" made Buck sick, he didn't care for the Science Diet k/d.  KayCee ate, but didn't care for the Science Diet r./d.  But in both cases, the SD did as it was suppose to do.
 
4.  Have never had a single problem with any of the Purina foods, dogs all get great physicals, blood work, have beautiful coats, lots of energy (even the old man), etc.
 
This is a biggie.  I have owned dogs for 50 years and all have been Purina Dogs.  I will see what i can do.
 
Beauty, English Setter, lost to distemper at age 8 months despite vax
Rascal, English Setter, lost to distemper at age 3 despite vax
Duchess, English Setter, poisoned in our yard at age 5
Pixie, English Setter, died at age 13, never sick til death
Angel, English Setter, died at age 11.  Also never sick
Mack, English Setter, died in sleep at age 15 1/2 (Dad's dog)His hearing was  not
   good after all the years of gun fire over him, his eyes were not great, he had
   arthritis.
Commander I, English Setter, sold  to friend at age about 3, lived many
   more years.(dad's dog)
Commander II, english Setter,died at age about 12 following heartworm treatment
        (this was the first time we had ever heard of heartworms.  Was the old
        arsenic treatment.  Commander went blind and died a few days later.)He had \       arthritis, but not bad
Red, Irish Setter, age unkown as i took him in as a stray, had him 8 years, died of
         infection in spine that the vet couldn't cure.  probably about 12 at death.
Boots, Irish Setter, lost to bone cancer at age 12 1/2
Scooter, Golden Retriever, lost at age 5 to heart attack.  had low thyroid and HD
        No indication of heart problem til he dropped dead. Great duck dog  Full
        brother, earlier litter to Buck who will be 12 in 3 weeks.
Hunter, Golden Retriever, lost at age 4 to autoimmune hemolytic anemia and liver
             damage brought on by Proheart6, the 6 month heart worm preventive
             injection. No h ealth problems at all, never sick.
Lucky II, pointer, PTS at age about 11 due to severe arthritis and after effect of rattlesnake bite to neck (dad's dog)
Lady, pointer, PTS  at age about 12 due to failing kidneys
Lucky I  Stollen at about age 6 (dad's dog)
 
All these dogs were Purina dogs.  We had very, very few trips to the vet due to illnesses. All the pointers and setters, with the exception of Beauty who died at 8 months, were great quail dogs, not only hunted by us, but by kinfolks, sometimes 7 days a week.  They were in great physical condition. 
     

1) what do you feed your dog(s)? Nutro Ultra

2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one? my dog was on prescription food when I got her but I have always fed this

3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it? none, but I didn't think she needed a prescription food anymore

4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding? no, the first couple days she didn't seem to like it and I plan on switching to something designed for high energy dogs in summer when we are more active.  I had a hard time keeping weight on her last summer, I haven't started researching yet
her coat looks great, smells good, and is very healthy

5) what did you feed dogs you had in the past, and what kinds of health problems did they have/how did they cross the bridge? I don't remember what we fed my childhood dog, except that it wasn't a grocery store brand, but that dog had a lot of gas and din't live that long

1) what do you feed your dog(s)?
Innova Evo, Eagle Pack
 
2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one?
Science Diet, Wellness, Nutro
3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it?
Science Diet- Major dandruff, dull coats, and gas
Wellness- After switching to this they were more interested in the cat box (but haven't since switched back to EP)
Nutro- She refused to eat it
 
4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding?
Just a little gas
 
5) what did you feed dogs you had in the past, and what kinds of health problems did they have/how did they cross the bridge?

Purina High Pro- tumors, cataracts, was euthanized when his tumor got too bad (in a spot that couldn't be operated on) when he was 14 1/2 years old.  From what I remember he had a very dull coat that was full of dander.

ORIGINAL: lisa4kids1pup

I decided that I want to do my own little "study" of sorts.  Here are the questions:
1) what do you feed your dog(s)?
2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one?
3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it?
4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding?
5) what did you feed dogs you had in the past, and what kinds of health problems did they have/how did they cross the bridge?

1.  Max eats either EP Holistic Lamb & Rice or Chicken & Rice.  He seems to prefer the chicken.
2.  Before EP, he was on Kirkland (Costco) Chicken & Rice.
3.  No problems at all on the Kirkland
4.  No problems at all on the EP Holistic - poops are smaller and firmer.  That's a good thing.
5.  The dog I had before Max ate Riplees Ranch Premium for years.  It comes from Canada and they suddenly stopped shipping/distributing it when they had the Mad Cow scare.  I put him immediately on Nutro Senior. He did fine on both.  We lost him to liver & kidney failure when he was  15 - 1/2. Up until about 3 days before he had to be put down, he seemed fine.

Joyce

Lisa--you may find this this thread helpful: [linkhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=151532&mpage=1&key=feed%2Cdogs]http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=151532&mpage=1&key=feed%2Cdogs[/link]

1) What do you feed your dog(s)? Innova
2) Have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one? When we got her she was being fed Science Diet (puppy). Our vet gave us another bag of Science Diet (puppy) when she had her first visit. I then educated myself (thanks in large part to his forum) about dog food and nutrition and found myself torn between California Natural (which I do think is better) and Innova – Innova was a little cheaper, easier to get and still had the nutritional value I was looking for so I tried that first. Presley loved it so I never had a need to try California Natural.
3) If you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it? She didn't have any problems.
4) Have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding? Nope - no problems at all
5) What did you feed dogs you had in the past, and what kinds of health problems did they have/how did they cross the bridge? When I was a kid we fed our family dog food from the grocery store (no idea what - it was 20 years ago) and they (2 of them) died of old age - well complications of old age. One lived to be 13 or 14 years old and died of kidney failure brought on by old age and the other we had PTS at 14 years because he had arthritis really bad.
 

1) what do you feed your dog(s)?
2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one?
3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it?
4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding?
5) what did you feed dogs you had in the past, and what kinds of health problems did they have/how did they cross the bridge?

1) Modified raw, for both dogs.

2) I've fed a little of everything, from grocery brands to premium kibble/canned, to homecooked, to the modified raw diet that I'm doing now.

3) Emma has had LOTS of health issues, mainly due to genetics. A year or so ago, she stopped being able to process kibble. She dropped dramatic weight, eating FOUR cups of kibble, plus treats, every day (she weighs 17 pounds, and it was Natural Balance kibble). I started homecooking dinners, for her, and she started looking better and better. I figured, how much harder can it be to make all the food? Then, I switched.

Teenie was severely overweight, had ooky ears, and nasty skin, when I got her. I don't know what she was eating. That cleared up, quickly. The only food she's had a problem with was TO. It made her itch.

4) They're healthier than I've ever seen them, especially since I started fasting them. They both look incredible. Their nails grow ridiculously fast. Emma's coat grows crazy fast. I'm not having to bathe Emma between hair cuts (I used to bathe her every day, or every other). They have a wonderful, sweet, earthy smell to them. They haven't been to the vet in months. They're completely full of energy, and both look like chiseled muscle dogs. I'm eating differently, from looking at them[]

5) Grace was my first dog that was mine. She had chronic renal failure, when I got her, at 10 weeks. She was on SD K/D. She crashed on that, after about a month, and I put her on Wellness Senior canned food. She did well for a little bit, and gave up at 5 months. She was a Golden mix, weighed only 28 pounds when she died, and had next to no kidney function for her whole life. The food didn't matter, in her case. She got me hooked on rescue, and taught me about good dog food and decision making.

I've had lots of various fosters, on good dog food. I've never fed a foster raw or homecooked, for ease of transition. They've all done just fine, on whatever I gave them. There's been Wellness, Eagle Pack, Natural Balance, a bag of Nutro Natural once, etc etc.