Questions about what you feed your dog(s)

1) what do you feed your dog(s)?
   
     Currently, they are all on Eukanuba.
 
2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one?

     Been feeding Euk on and off for close to seven years. However, in between, I've wasted my time and $ in a futile attempt to find something better. Lets see ... we've tried Canidae, Back To Basics, Blackwood, Nutro (all 3 varieties), Merrick, Healthwise, Iams, Purina ONE/Pro Plan, Best In Show, Natural Way, Chicken Soup, Evolve, "BARF" (for 3 yrs), homecooked ...
 
3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it?
 
     How about we make a short list of what problems they DIDN'T have on some of these diets!!! LOL! Honestly, out of the afformentioned diets, the only ones no one has ever had a problem with are Purina ONE & homecooked.
     On the other kibbles, the dogs had systemic yeast infections, bladder infections, ear infections, stained teeth, excessive (yet temporary) fearfulness, colitis, hot spots, pano ... the list goes on. When I used Evolve puppy food on a litter whelped last Spring, two of the three bitches has a problem with a vulval involution - the finicky pup who only ate her pureed meats and milk was never affected by it. I know it was the food, because it also caused the same problem to a lesser degree in a new puppy bitch I'd acquired.
 
4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding?
 
     None whatsoever, well, save for the price, lol  [&:] I am feeding it to eight dogs - I've had pups of all ages, a senior/epileptic, a mixed breed w/ allergies, a bitch with chronic colitis who never had anything resembling a loose stool while on Euk, extremely active working dogs ... they all do well.

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?
 
     My first dog was a Lhasa/Poodle who ate Mighty Dog plus the occasional unhealthy scraps (chocolate chips, pork ribs). He also had a heart murmur ... he lived to be somewhere around 14 years old. Died peacefully ...
     The next dog was my first Beagle, an oversized Lemon & White. She also ate Mighty Dog exclusively. I also beleive she had thyroid problems, looking back on it. She was in relatively good health save for a noxious doggy odor and horrendous shedding. Technically, she died of osteosarcoma - in actuallity, its my beleif the bone cancer was only a complication of a reaction to a sever overvaccination she'd recieved several months prior. The SOB vet gave her a Rabies, Lyme, 5 in 1, and heartworm meds all in one day.
     I actually think diet is not as improtant as compared to obtaining a genetically healthy animal and using vaccines and other chemicals minimally.

  
Is there any connection to dogs that have Epilepsy and what they eat? Because out of 5 dogs, 3 have had epilepsy, could it be poosible that it came on from them eating unhealthy food?

 
     Absolutely. I've seen it firsthand.
     My oldest Beag who will be seven soon developed auras/petit mals when he was about 18 months old, a full four months after starting a raw diet. He had his first grand mal not long after his second birthday, and I had heard seizures ran in his line on occasion, so chalked it up to genetics only. He continued to have the most severe, 7-14 minute seizures 1-2x monthly for the next 18 months. He was on Phenobarb for a short time, then I went to using Ginkgo Biloba to increase his energy level - and surprise - it controlled seizures & stopped them while they were in progress. Anyway, when I switched the dogs from raw due to pther problems they were having with the diet, Deputy stopped having seizures. That was early in '04. To this day, his seizure triggers are raw foods. Chicken he is so-so with, but anything else will cause a seizure within hours. I know its partially a genetic disorder, but man, it is 110% better when controlled with diet alone.
     P.S.  To all the raw feeders here, don't tell me about such and such dog who has ahad a miraculous recovery from epilepsy on raw. My dog didn't.

1) what do you feed your dog(s)?
Fromm Family Salmon a la Veg, and supplemented with Solid Gold for the fiber. And pumpkin.
The Solid Gold is a leftover bag from a dog who passed away (not mine) and I'll replace it with Eagle Pack. I don't like all the grains in Solid Gold.

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

3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it?
Lamb and rice of most brands gives Sofia diarrhea.

4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding?
The Fromm is human grade and made with wild Alaska salmon. It's very, very good for her skin, high in Omega fatty acids and has only one problem: it doesn't bulk up her poops enough to express her anal glands. Hence the addition of pumpkin and some Eagle Pack.

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?
All my dogs have gone to the bridge at 16 years or older, despite being large dogs. Stevie was somewhere between 17 and 20. He ate a wide variety of foods, since I had him for so long it was before I knew much about dog food. I doubt changing food would have changed how long he lived. He was on whatever I could afford when I was a single mom raising an ADD son. Later changed to Nutro. He died of a chondrosarcoma (cartilage cancer) at very advanced age.

we've had mastiffs for the past 15 years (and mutts too) and have fed diamond products with very good results.  About a year ago we were feeding Kirkland and then the Diamond Naturals Line came out about 3 or 4 months after the BIG recall.but got a little fearful of Diamond in general and started trying different foods like Pro Plan Selects and then Natural Balance Potato and Duck.  They got way over weight on the Pro Plan Selects Turkey (but they inhaled it they loved it so much) so then I switched to NB which they did fine on until the last bag which caused some gas and stool problems and for that $$$$ no dog should have gas etc.  So now we are back on Diamond Nat. Chicken & rice for the mutts and large breed adult for the big one.  Everyone's happy and healthy and at good weights.[]

ORIGINAL: jode88

1. Currenty on California Natural Lamb and Rice

2. Other brands i've fed include:  Natural Balance, Solid Gold Wolf Cub, Chicken Soup Puppy,
                                                 Eagle Pack and Iams.
3. When we first adopted Sam he was fed Iams, he did fine on it but i wanted a better food.
   Natural Balance- I loved it-He loved it.  Changed per vet request for higher protein.
   Solid Gold Wolf Cub - He didnt care for it and had super soft poo on it the entire time.
   Chicken Soup -  Good coat- great price - poop didnt firm up enough and he lost interest.
   Eagle Pack Holistic Lamb - Love it!  Wanted higher protein til he's 1 yr old...then ill go back.
   California Natural Lamb and Rice - Also like this food. Poop firmed up on EP and has
                                                          remained firm on this food.  Maybe a little bland.
4. No problems on our current food
5. No previous dogs

California Natural Lamb and Rice   Protein 21%

Natural Balance Ultra....  Protein  23%

[&:]

then I went to using Ginkgo Biloba to increase his energy level - and surprise - it controlled seizures & stopped them while they were in progress. Anyway, when I switched the dogs from raw due to pther problems they were having with the diet, Deputy stopped having seizures.

I know I said I'd stop with the OT, but wow. I never knew Ginkgo could help. I might add that in to Emma's regimen, after I read a bit.

It's interesting that raw triggors seizures, for your boy.  And Eukanuba WORKS for him! My dog is the exact opposite. Anything with grains sends her flying off the deep end (she's violent during and after seizures). Raw is really working for her. Funny how different body chemistries can be. I bet they're different blood types, too.

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?

Thanks!

1) They get a combo of Solid Gold Wolf King, raw ground beef, green beans, rice, egg whites-and some shells, sometimes boiled beef, potatoes, home made beef and veggie broth.

2)I have fed several other brands.

3) I noticed that my dogs don't have solid stools on any poultry based product. 

4) My dogs have had problems while on this particular food, but do to alot of extenuating circumstances, I don't think it was the food that caused these issues.

5)We have fed "Gravy Train" Purina Dog Chow, Bil-jac, and I think that's about it.
My mom's peke is 17 yrs old and still eats her Bil-Jac and roasted chicken every night.
Shiloh, the Akita, was PTS due to bloat at age 10 or 11.  Health problems besides sebaceous adenitis: None.
Sammy the Peke: PTS around 11 or 12 yrs due to inoperable tumor in nasal sinus. 
Spartacus the GSD: Purina, Gravy Train, and finally Bil-Jac.  Was PTS due to rare brain fungus.

There were others but I do not know what foods were fed.  I was too young.

1) I feed Innova and several of the other top brands, changing them gradually.  I feel that no one manufacturer knows it all.  But, I do not feed my dogs any product that contains ethoxyquin, menadione, etc.
2) Years ago, I fed Nutro, but upgraded when a canine nutritionist suggested Innova, etc.
3) My dogs had no problems on Nutro, except that their coats were not quite as shiny, and their poops were larger. 
4) I tried Wellness once, but my more sensitive dog had diarrhea the whole time she was on it - didn't get used to it, it was simply too rich.
None of them have ever had a problem on Innova.  They get great check ups, no ear crap, good stools, healthy coat, nails, etc.
5)The last dog who went to the Bridge was Dancer, at age 17 1/2.  After a rough start (her first family had a hard time affording good food for her), I credit her longevity to a strong constitution, good genetics, and excellent food the last 14 years of her life.  She never ate Science Diet, and when she was diagnosed with kidney disease at age 14, she refused K/D dry, and puked up K/D wet.  We went with Innova and some other foods with a phosphorus binder added, green tripe, some home cooked foods, plus supplements recommended by a holistic vet.  Not too many dogs live for 3 1/2 years after a diagnosis like that, but she did. 
Your vet may be interested in this site:
[linkhttp://www.thedogfoodproject.com]www.thedogfoodproject.com[/link]

UrbanBeagles - Thanks for your reply, Our dogs that developed Epilepsy were always on store bought foods such as Kibbles n bits and Shadow has been  on a mix of kibbles n bits and nutro. My mom thinks kibbles n bits is fine to feed. that is very interesting that Ginkgo Biloba has helped your dog, your poor dog 7-14 minutes seem like long seizures. Is your dog just on Ginkgo Biloba and not the Pheno anymore?
you can pm me if you want I did not mean to take other this thread with all my Epilespy questions!

1) what do you feed your dog(s)? iams
2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one? various brands, from the high to the low.
3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it? he would barely eat any of them, texture, flavor, who knows the problem but he just plain would not eat enough to be healthy.
4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding? not a one, and he eats enough of it to be well nourished (yay)
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? this is my first dog (for the most part). one of my dads beagles however was fed dads dog food (no pun) and passed in his sleep at age 12, no known health problems.


i am quite aware that there are better foods out there than iams, but for my own dog it is the one. given his eating habits i am just glad he is eating so that is what i feed. i dont think there is any one brand that is "the best food ever",  i think it all depends on the dog.

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

Nature's Variety raw medallions and Tripett tripe. She also gets chicken necks, yogurt, cottage cheese, oxtails and some other fresh foods.

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

I have fed Performatrin Ultra, Solid Gold and Innova kibble, plus Solid Gold, Eagle Pack, Wellness, Innova, Merrick's and some other canned foods.

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

Solid Gold kibble = no interest at all. She hated it.
Innova kibble = loose stools sometimes
Merrick's canned = very loose stools

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

No

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?

Louise is my first dog. The dogs I grew up with are still living and they ate Kirkland brand for a long time. Now they eat Wellness and Innova. Both have a lot of health problems, but these are due to poor breeding, not diet.

1) what do you feed your dog(s)?
Jake: eats natural balance kibble duck and potatoe, with derm supplement and prozyme every other day is being fed raw turkey grind at dinner.Jake coat has improved great on the kibble or that could be to the dermal supplement and joint supp though he just started about a week ago on it.
Sophie: Eats raw bison patties in morning and beef patties at night her diet varies about once a month also getting prozyme every other day and a dermal supplement prescribed by the vet.  Her teeth are great on raw and her coat has thickened up(but that could also be due to winter weather)Her dandruff has completly dissapered is not itching as often either.
2) have you always fed this brand or did you feed another brand prior to this one?No yes Jake was eating kirkland lamb and rice and chicken and rice, then eukanuba.Sophie was on prescription Z/D allergy food.
3) if you fed a different brand, what if any problems did your dog(s) have while eating it?Jake always had a dry coat with lots of dandruff.Sophie was on the z/d due to suspected food allergies it didn't help any she was always itching and whining rubbing her nose nad when I brushed her she had really bad dandruff like huge flakes.
4) have your dog(s) had any problems on the current food you're feeding?no, Sophie has really gotten better with raw.
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?Well I never had any dogs in the past but the last two dogs that my grandpa had one named Rocket a shepherd/akita mix died to auto immune disease or something related to his immune system don't know what he was fed, last dog that WE had was lucky an acd cross was fed kirkland and some pedigree was put down due to ...Epilepsy that was not being helped by any medicine the vet prescribed unfortunatley at that time my gpa wasn't a "believer" in natural vets so she was on pheno and another medicince one day she had lots of seizures  within each other so she was put down.
 
Edit for spelling

1)Natural Balance Ultra Premium dry, Natural Balance, Blue Buffalo and Solid Gold canned.  Also throw in some Nature's Variety raw medallions occasionally.
2)we have gone through multiple brands of dry
3)Purina Puppy Chow and Science Diet Puppy resulted in huge amounts of poop and Zoe had a doggy odor.  Nutro Ultra gave her bloody diarrhea, Wellness gave large, soft poop.  She did very well on Innova dry, switched to NB just for a change
4) nope, she is doing very well on Natural Balance
5)I've never owned any dogs before Zoe

1) Eagle Pack holistic.  I switch between meat sources, so the last bag was lamb and this one is salmon. 

2) When we first got him, he was on Precise.  We then fed him Nutro Natural Choice.  As I researched dog foods, I switched him over to Eagle Pack.  He's over 2 now, so I'd like to try him on Innova Evo, but I'm going to wait until I get my free bag of Eagle Pack.  If we buy 10 bags of the same brand of food at our pet store, we get a free bag.  At over 60 bucks a bag, that's a good deal!

3) No problems at all.  He was healthy and high energy with a beautiful coat.  When I think back, though, I think he smelled a little bit more like a dog on Nutro.  He also had stinky gas more often.

4) Not really.  I'm not wild about the fishy smell of this food...but Chase is!

5) Chase is my first dog.