Are you still going to feed Natural Balance?

A couple of months ago when i talked to a lady at Purina she said about how rough the state regs were, even more so than the fed regs.  Basically, what one doesn't cover the other does.  Also the state is a stickler on how clean the plant is kept, and the quality of the supplies they get.  Of course, any more i am not sure we can believe 100% of what any company tells us

I'm reading through my states regulations and find this kind of interesting.

(c) The terms "meat" and "meat by-products" shall be qualified by
designating the animal from which the meat and meat by-products are
derived unless the meat and meat by-products are from cattle, swine,
sheep, and goats. For example, "horsemeat" and "horsemeat by-products."

 
Am I dense, or does this mean when they say meat or meat by-products, it is either cattled, hogs, sheep or goats?  But if it isn't one of those 4, it has to be named--horsemeat, venison,  rabbit road kill coons, possums, etc?

Am I dense, or does this mean when they say meat or meat by-products, it is either cattled, hogs, sheep or goats? But if it isn't one of those 4, it has to be named--horsemeat, venison, rabbit road kill coons, possums, etc?

 
That is how I read it.

Since companies apparently don't adhere to FDA or AAFCO labeling laws, I doubt they adhere to specific state regulations. Not that there is anyone enforcing them anyway...

 
Chelsea:

Seriously! All you papillon people, with your super freaking cute dogs, make me want one, and I am SO not a small dog person (nothing against small dogs..I've just always had and been around huggable, shovable, seemingly unbreakable big dogs). Couldn't you have uglier paps???

 
My words EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since companies apparently don't adhere to FDA or AAFCO labeling laws, I doubt they adhere to specific state regulations. Not that there is anyone enforcing them anyway...

 
One of the many reasons I have always said base feeding decisions on results and not ingredients lists, unfortunately this incident has shown us that we never really know what's in the bag.

One of the many reasons I have always said base feeding decisions on results and not ingredients lists, unfortunately this incident has shown us that we never really know what's in the bag.

 
So true and it is scarey that we can't really trust 100% what our pet food bag reads.  Apparently they can take months to let us know they have made changes,  then cover then back sides with lies if they so chose.  Not good  for their reputation I would say.  I think it boils down to we don't know who to trust fully, what to believe, but i gotta say, all those ingredient lists didn't do much for me--like you I was going by what i see with my dogs, not what some food bag told me to use.  So far i have been lucky and my food is not on the recall list.  They say they don't use that rice protien in any of their foods and I sure hope they are telling the truth.  I think most of you know i distrust most big companies and it seems smaller ones may be as bad or worse.

Couldn't you have uglier paps???

LOL [sm=rotfl.gif]

You know, if there were something comparable, I'd probably switch but I just can't take a chance. When Sassy has allergy issues, it can result in some serious skin infections. I'm not sure the food helps, but when things are going smoothly, as they are right now, there's no way I'm going to tip the scale. Still, it bugs me that I have to worry about this and if she were

 
Im in the same boat......
Max is my IBD dog and If I pulled him off NB Duck and Potato and tried to find something else it would tip the scale on him too. I was feeding him Fromm Duck and Potato and his poop was mushy[:-] so had to go back to NB.... Alley is on it too.... This is making me more than Crazy...
 
I just pulled My Westies off Royal Canin about 3 weeks ago..PRAISE THE LORD I did cause their poop was all mushy... Im feeding them Kumpi and I know were that comes from..[linkhttp://www.kumpi.com/home.html]Kumpi Dog Food[/link]..

So, will I go on feeding NB ? Yes. Will I trust one company and one company only ? Not any more.

 
Im not pushing this food so please don't think I am.... But I do know were it comes from and the owner is one on one with each person who buys from her....You ask her ANYTHING and she is on it to answer any of your questions down to the question of corn being in the food. I have that saved in my AOL file for review if anyone would like me to print it.
 
She just sent out this letter to all her customers... She keeps everyone constantly updated on the food situation. Her name is Evy. I switched to this 3 weeks ago cause I had a gut feeling I need too make a switch with all that has been going on and with my dogs poop being mush on Royal Canin Special 30 and this was the way I chose to go because of many Rescues that are using this food and having great results with dogs with skin problems and other health issues.
 
Here is Evy's letter.... This is just my 2 cents... I only have my Westies on it cause I can't change my Scotties off NB Duck and Potato.
 
There is a place at:[linkhttp://thepetfoodlist.com/]http://thepetfoodlist.com[/link]/ and Therese is soliciting feedback from people about all kinds of brands.  If you would take the time when you have time to register (I know the gal who is running this and she's just trying to keep out kooks) I'd appreciate it if you would post.....the 'discussion forums' link is on the top bar menu.Then you will see the forum that asks for your experience with a particular brand.  She is averaging 15,000 hits a day for the information she has gathered.  This grovelling on my part is very different from 'blogs' in the past.  I am not under attack - it's just a open forum for people to share their positive experiences with their particular pet food.  This presence will grow and I thank you for helping me establish comforting feedback to a frightened pet consumer.  Your collective voices say more than I ever could.  This would help me spread the word about the food in an effective way.  I know it takes time and we're all short on that.  But if you could save this email and maybe try to do it in the next week or so, I would count it a personal favor.Thanks in advance if'n when you can.You are WAY safe with Kumpi and I'm not just guessing or hoping, I know!Evy

Terrierlover,
 
Did you ever try Seacure with your IBD dogs?  It's supposed to help heal the intestines and I just wondered about your experience......and how is Louie doing these days?
 
Lynn

I had thought about rotating Sally to NB at some point, but I don't think that I will be doing so.

Did you ever try Seacure with your IBD dogs? It's supposed to help heal the intestines and I just wondered about your experience......and how is Louie doing these days?

 
Hi Lynn
 
So nice of you to ask about Louie. This board is so big you wonder if anyone remembers the dogs and there problems. I will say he is off the Pred now..its been 3 months. I can 't say  much has changed with him. VERY BIG SIGH
 
PLEASE tell me about Seacure!!! Iv never heard of it. Iv been having great lucky with B's natural enzymes.
 
Im sure everyone reading this is going to fall over a CHOKE[:'(] when they see what I typed but here I go...
 
Iv done the BEST of the Best in foods for my dogs... Iv done everything from Raw for 3 years to the finest of kibbles to homecooking.
 
Iv found that some of the very best foods out their have done nothing but give my dogs SOFT SERVE POOPS.... Natural Balance never did but the others have. Im sick of making myself CRAZY over this food issue and poop issues and spending tons of money at the vets and putting my dogs on Metronidazole when things get really out of whack. With 5 dogs you can get Crazy very fast and have no life very fast.
 
So far NB Duck and Potato is were Im staying with the Scotties. Kumpi for the Westies...
 
Now here is were everyone is going to choke... W/D Canned Science diet... MY DOGS think its STEAK and gives them PERFECT POOP!!! So IM adding this as a treat or to there dry food or as an afternoon or evening treat. I pop open and can and they all go BANANA's over this glue like paste canned food[] Iv had no more tummy upsets.... not more soft serve slider short poops...( you know were your dog gets the skids down its white skirt)[] It really shows on the Westies when they happens and IM tired of carrying around baby wipes...[]
 
Okay is everyone done choking yet...Im happy so I don't really care at this point and my dogs are doing GREAT! They were never great when I was always trying to find the BEST food.
 
Kim

will say he is off the Pred now..its been 3 months. I can 't

 
Excuse all my typo's this am... GEEZE I need to learn to preview what Iv wrote[8|]....
Louie just finished this week with the pred and was on it 3 months and still does all his wierd antics.But the B's enzymes have been a God's Send.. But he has only been on Kumpi food for 3 weeks so will see were we go with this..
 
Royal Canin was causing tummy upset and soft poops... But my dogs LOVED it... so getting them off with my one Westie Zoey has been a couple weeks of a food striking with her but she is coming around with the Kumpi now.
 
Kim

Kim,
 
I'm sorry things aren't better - especially after 3 months of pred.
 
I first heard of Seacure from Whole Dog Journal and if you go to the seacure site, it will link you to the article.
 
Either on a k9 nutrition list or the kidney list, there has been a discussion lately with someone's IBS dog.  Some people have reported tremendous sucess with Seacure and also with L-Glutimine.  Personally, I've had a stomachache for several months now and I started using the l-Glutimine and slippery elm and it has helped my stomach.
 
I just ordered the seacure from sitstay.com, but others have suggested trying harvesthealth.com or evitamins.com for good pricing. I haven't compared.
 
So, I'm adding the Seacure to plain water about 1 hour before their meal.  They LOVE it.  I am going to start adding the L-Glutimine as well.  Someone said that the Seacure was 40% L-Glutimine and that might be the big contributing factor, but I don't know if this percentage is correct or not.  So, I am going to use both for a while, and then maybe just try the L-Glutimine if I need to continue since it is cheaper.  The Seacure has 'peptides', so it is more than just the amino acid, so I can see a need for using it and not just starting out with the L-Glutamine (which also needs to be given on an empty stomach).  I would not recommend only using L-Glutamine for more than a few months.  It is an amino acid, and for long term use of a single amino acid, you also have to add in a mix of amino acids-given at a seperate time on an empty stomach.  So, limit the time frame on that. Otherwise it is like giving one B vitamin and no others --- eventually you have to have the other B's added or you get an imbalance when you supplement.
 
I have corresponded with someone who says that she thinks the Seacure helped give a needed boost to her dog and helped to put back weight on him which he needed.  She feels the L-Glutamine helped the most to heal the intestines and firm up the poops for her IBS dog.
 
I ran across another site: sfpmg.com/inflammation that talks about this.  I can see the point of adding MSM in as well as it is suppose to help with inflammation, but for now, I am just going to stick with the two items and see how that goes.  I don't like to add in alot of new things at one time. I can see adding it in later - but you just get scared to throw alot of new stuff in at one time b/c then if there is a reaction, then you don't know what it is from.  I have a friend whose dad has lots of Fibroymyalgia issues, and apparently MSM has helped him alot.
 
The enzymes you are using are probably helping digest the food.  The Seacure doesn't help digest, but is in an absorbable form to help heal the gut. Just started my guys on it.....and I think I will try it for myself as well!
 
Lynn