Dog Community

Wellness Dry

Posted : 1/26/2007 8:48:02 AM

Hi everyone. I'm reposting this as its own thread so that maybe I'll get some quick(er) responses, since I'm probably stopping by LPS later.

Where have you guys heard/read the stories about (dogs developing health problems because of) Wellness? I'd love to read them, because Dweezil really loves loves her Wellness. She eats the normal Super 5 mix (lamb) though ... not the special formulas.

I keep reading about Natural Balance? How is it in comparison? I did the Naturapet.com comparison, but I'm still horrible at understanding how to weigh the quality. I did notice that Natural Balance had more ingredients, but I guess this doesn't necessarily mean bad. . .

p.s. (edit) -- I also want to point out that Dweezil is doing really well on Wellness. But, I cannot help but wonder if she will itch less if we find something better, or will be a little less reactive (just read Scaredy Dog); perhaps she's allergic and we just don't know...

shamrockmommy

Posted : 1/26/2007 9:15:41 AM

I have had problems with Wellness teh both times I tried it. The food produces a urine ph of 7.2-7.4, which is too alkaline. Generally you want 6.5. Both my bichon girls got UTIs and struvite crystals from the food. They loved it= but this was when it was still those little baked pyramid shapes. I loved it because with a splish of warm water the food smelled wonderful and I thought I was doing my dogs a great favor by feeding it. I tried it again some time later and same issue.

Not to mention the enormous cow plops. They pooped 4 times a day at least. Seemed like it was more poop than the amount of food they were getting.

I asked the company and they were not terribly helpful about the pH issue.
Personally I won't touch it again, don't know if they've made adjustments to the food or not but both reasons are pretty good enough for me to not want to use it again.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 1/26/2007 10:16:22 AM

If you're wanting to switch to Natural Balance, and wonder about allergies, I'd use one of their allergy formulas. I had great success with both of their grain free, simple formulas.

bichinpanda

Posted : 1/26/2007 11:41:56 AM

This I do notice -- she poops a LOT. They're not necessarily large amounts though, but she does have to go like 4 times a day. 3 if we're lucky.

I'll check Natural Balance out -- do you guys recommend any other brands?

Thanks jennie for the tip on the allergy formulas -- I'm not sure if she HAS allergies, but she does itch her face (not a lot, but enough for me to notice) sometimes.

Heathr6913

Posted : 1/26/2007 6:39:49 PM

I have to agree with this. My dog also got struvite crystals on wellness and multiple UTI's.

ORIGINAL: shamrockmommy

I have had problems with Wellness teh both times I tried it. The food produces a urine ph of 7.2-7.4, which is too alkaline. Generally you want 6.5. Both my bichon girls got UTIs and struvite crystals from the food.

beth82

Posted : 1/26/2007 7:59:17 PM

My dog also had UTI's and soft stools while eating Wellness. She had the same problem with Natural Balance Potato & Duck. Plenty of dogs do well on both of those foods, though. If yours is fine with Wellness, there's no need to switch.

willowchow

Posted : 1/26/2007 9:15:38 PM

My dog also got struvite crystals on wellness and multiple UTI's

Willow did too.

chelsea_b

Posted : 1/26/2007 10:13:00 PM

Yep yep, Cherokee had high pH and struvite crystals on Wellness too. Plus her teeth got HORRIBLY filthy. And huge poops. She ate the Super 5 chicken.

bichinpanda

Posted : 1/26/2007 11:08:28 PM

What are struvite crystals??

and, how long did these conditions take to develop? Dweezil's been eating Wellness since ... before summer 06?

I would of course switch if there is a big problem with it, but other than the slight itchies, and the poops, there haven't been any other problems. I guess I'm afraid that if I make a switch it'll make her non problems real big ... ?

Also, when were you guys using Wellness? In its current form?

chelsea_b

Posted : 1/27/2007 12:02:06 AM

Struvite is mineral buildup in the bladder or kidneys. Crystals mean they're, well, little crystals, that come out in urine. Crystals themselves aren't extremely harmful, but they can be a sign of or a precursor to bladder or kidney stones.

Cherokee ate Wellness in the Spring of 05, so maybe they've changed in since then, I don't really know.

glenmar

Posted : 1/27/2007 10:21:14 AM

I've never tried Wellness and my biggest hold back was the dirty teeth issue. But I've read a lot here about the teeth and the crystals so I'd not take the chance.

bichinpanda

Posted : 1/27/2007 12:12:51 PM

I have not noticed that her teeth have been dirty, but I think I will go get some natural balance today and see. Thanks, everyone. Any more suggestions will be appreciated. [

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