What do you feed?

well it seems that the only foods that have been spared the recall as of now are the super premiums that are not sold at the big box stores.  If I hear about one of them being added to list, I think I will just give up on commerical food altogether!

Jenns, he does real well on Nature's Variety. I rotate the Prairie line (Lamb, Venison, Salmon, Beef), leaving out the chicken because I think he may be slightly allergic (scratched a lot when I had him on FarMore Raw Chicken, switched him to Buffalo and he was fine). In the ingredient list, once you get down to chicken liver (or maybe 1 or 2 ingredients above, I can't remember) everything from there down is freeze dried raw that's sprinked in with the kibble. Some people don't like canola oil in place of an animal fat, that's an individual call. Others will point out barley, but so long as your dog isn't allergic to it (very rare), it's a high quality grain that boosts metabolism.

If you're looking to rotate proteins, my recommendations are Eagle Pack Holistic Select, Nature's Variety, and Fromm. Innova's EVO line might be good too, but that's often very hit or miss in my experience.

I have been feeding Eagle Holistic in my rotation for a couple yrs, always with good results. That is the one food I am sticking to for now. I also give them Nature's Variety raw frozen. They also have done really good on Timberwolf W and N, and Dakota Bison, but not really comfortable with the company now. I am thinking going to another grain free food, but the only grain free all my pugs have done well on is Timberwolf's. We are getting Orijen in Ohio in July, will be trying it for sure!!! But for now, Eagle holistic all the way. I also add some Bil Jac frozen. I wrote to Bil Jac, all their grains are US harvested and processed, and they always answer back ASAP!

ORIGINAL: schlep If you're feeding a high quality food (Eagle Pack, Innova, Nature's Variety, Fromm, Solid Gold, etc) you can feel a lot safer than buying anything found in a Petsmart/Petco.

And here I thought all of the food snobs had changed their ways.  Nice to know you're still out there.   Also before you bash the chain stores you might want to visit a few.  You'd notice that they carry many of the so-called high quality foods.  You should also be aware that many of these high quality foods do not make their own product and are just as vulnerable to bad ingredients as anyone else.  I feed a premium food because I can afford to.  Many people can't.  I'm sure the ones with sick pets appreciate your candor in  condeming their choice in food.

ORIGINAL: pugs2
We are getting Orijen in Ohio in July, will be trying it for sure!!!

Where in Ohio?

Where in Ohio?

 
Good question, that I didn't ask. I was going ot write back to find out. I am hoping once at least in Ohio, the local stores I go to can get it in. Crossing fingers it will be the Cleveland area!

Also before you bash the chain stores you might want to visit a few. You'd notice that they carry many of the so-called high quality foods.

 
Yep, the Petsupplies plus near us sells Eagle Holistic, Canidae, Natures Variety, and many more. They even got a case for all the frozen Natures variety! I think it shows the average consumer wants better, healthier choices for their pets. Out Pet Supplies plus is going half holistic. I still buy from my local, smaller store, to support the small store owner, but am happy to see the larger chains carrying some really good options. Petsmart is now also carrying Breeder's Choice!

ORIGINAL: pugs2

Where in Ohio?

Good question, that I didn't ask. I was going ot write back to find out. I am hoping once at least in Ohio, the local stores I go to can get it in. Crossing fingers it will be the Cleveland area!

I live in Brunswick.  I like TWO and will keep using them, but I'd like to try the new fish product from Orijen when it comes out.  I figure I'll rotate that with TWO Wild and Natural which is more poultry based.

This was what was written to me from Orijen:
 
We will be in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois next month and hope to be in Ohio in July.

TWO - Ocean Blue and Wild n Natural....will be rotating with EVO's red meat as well since TWO doesn't have a red meat grain fee

For now Orijen Adult & Puppy

I'm considering going back to raw and doing MAYBE some home-cooking, but I currently feed T.O.'s Ocean Blue and Dakota Bison (mainy Ocean Blue) and I will PROBABLY be picking up a bag of Eagle Pack Holistic Duck and Oatmeal.

She gets Addiction Foods canned, Evanger's canned, sardines, salmon, and some home-cooked foods as kibble toppers.

She also gets a raw egg daily.

will PROBABLY be picking up a bag of Eagle Pack Holistic Duck and Oatmeal.

 
This has been the best food I have ever fed my one Pug with a very sensitive stomach. Never once a loose stool, and his coat is so soft on it. This and Pinnacle Duck, but he decided one day not to eat the Pinnacle any more, was never that crazy about it. He loves the Eagle Pack!

ORIGINAL: littlesaint

ORIGINAL: schlep If you're feeding a high quality food (Eagle Pack, Innova, Nature's Variety, Fromm, Solid Gold, etc) you can feel a lot safer than buying anything found in a Petsmart/Petco.

And here I thought all of the food snobs had changed their ways.  Nice to know you're still out there.   Also before you bash the chain stores you might want to visit a few.  You'd notice that they carry many of the so-called high quality foods.  You should also be aware that many of these high quality foods do not make their own product and are just as vulnerable to bad ingredients as anyone else.  I feed a premium food because I can afford to.  Many people can't.  I'm sure the ones with sick pets appreciate your candor in  condeming their choice in food.

There's no reason to get rude. I have been researching foods for a year and a half now and retailing for just over a year, meeting with many customers, retailers, industry reps, and manufacturing personnel. I've encountered several people the past few weeks who have friends, neighbors, and acquaintances who have been affected by these products (including one whose sister's cats died). Throwing things out there like "food snob" shows that you know very little about this industry, even in the face of a recall that is exposing hidden ingredients in foods, and the complete lack of regulation on pet foods.

No one can be sure about what's going into any food, be it human or pet, without actually seeing it made. That said, you have to trust the companies who make the food, and a lot of people have had that trust broken these past few weeks by companies that some of us have said all along do not live up to the standards set by the super premium/holistic brands; it was a matter of when this was going to happen, not if. If I can be sure a company isn't using meat byproducts and fractured grains, I trust them a lot more since there's less of a chance of contamination, especially when they use human grade.

The only chain store that I know of that carries holistic foods regularly (outside of some Petco's carrying Solid Gold) is Pet Supplies Plus, and you'll notice I didn't name them above. Finally to end my train of thought post, this more than anything proves that we need an active regulating body for pet foods.

Thanks, again everyone!

So far I have not put him on a new food yet. I'm still trying to research a bit. So he's been on homecooked, and loving every bit of it. The other night he had boiled chicken, carrots, potatoes, green beans, and our last bit of sardines. I would love to feed him homecooked but I'm just not sure about all the time and money it might take. Until then I'll be ordering some samples of some these dog foods mentioned. Thanks!