"Yum!" What's Your Favorite Dog Food?

•  Pomeranian
•  11 months old
•  Nature's Best [lamb & brown rice dinner - puppy]
•  1/2 Cup in the Morning & 1/2 Cup in the Evening
•  PetSmart doesn't carry Natural Balance (and I'm boycotting PETCO) so I'm trying this stuff! "Kayla" LOVES the taste!
• Ingredients: Lamb, Soybean Meal, Lamb Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Pork Fat, Brewers Rice, Dried Egg Product, Powdered Cellulose, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Whole Grain Oats, Apples, Cranberries, Peas, Carrots, Fish Oil, Soybean Oil, [and added vitamin supplements]
• It doesn't have any type of "corn" products (i.e. starch, oils, etc) which is great! After doing research I heard this can be bad for your dog, and shocking enough it can be found in many common dog foods (i.e. Nutro, ProPlan, Eureka, etc)
• I still have some Natural Balance Organic left over. If I feel she is having a reaction to Soy I will switch back to organic foods. Soy, corn, and meat by-products cause many allergies in dogs! How to know if your dog has a reaction? Common signs can range from: excessive itching, vomit, loss of appetite for current food, etc [consult your Vet for more tips].

Pom owners:
Currently Kayla has a specialized dog Nutritionist. Most people aren't aware that your Vet specializes in medical procedures not diet. If you don't have time to consult a nutritionist feel free to ask me any common questions you have! I am more than willing to help you out!

ottoluv

A nutritionist really recommended nature's best as a first choice? That seems odd to me for some reason.

Nope [refer to the opening thread, she recommended Natural Balance Organic]

They do not sell this at PetSmart and I am boycotting PETCO at the moment. I asked her what specific ingrediants are good so I could find something decent. I told her what I picked out she said that was a fairly good choice since there are no corn products or meat by-products; her only concern were the soy oils.

Here is also a little background history as to why I bothered getting a Nutritionist: Kayla was itching a lot so I contacted my Vet to ask about allergies. After doing some research & calling referalls I picked a nutritionist. She told me gave me the organic speach [which I hear/know about anyway being a human and this new organic craze] she also told me about why Nutro (the current food I was using at the time) is bad. I switched to Natural Balance Organic and Kayla seemed to enjoy it. She also said if Kayla gets bored with the flavor to try other NB products. I did this for awhile but due to a life situation & research I am boycotting PETCO where I purchased this food. They do not have it at my local PetSmart. I told my nutritionist about this and she gave me other light active organic foods but I said "well I know what flavors kayla really likes can you tell me what ingrediants to not get" so in short it lead me to Nature's Best which is actually good. Pork fat wasn't a main concern because we all need a little fat in our diet (it is of course not the best of the best) but it works, not too expensive, and doesn't not have the ingrediants I am concerned about. Kayla does seem to have weird reactions to chicken products so I went with the lamb and brown rice. If the rice becomes an issue I will switch to more oatmeal based products... its all really about trials and testing... so far so good...

Here's Veronica's info:

(Exactly how does one bullet??)

*American Pit Bull Terrier

* 19 months

*Canidae dry, Canidae wet (all life stages), Hill's Prescription Diet z/d wet

*1/3 C dry with wet to mix for breakfast and 2/3C dry with @ 1/3 can wet for dinner

*Canidae because she is supposedly (per her allergy test; I say supposedly because I believe her allergies are primarily environmental) allergic to the carrots & white potato in Merrick...and she didn't like Merick and it gave her "soft serve" poop...and she didn't care for Wellness (plus she is supposedly allergic to the Barley).

Hill's because she loves the stuff. She had it for a few months of an elimination diet...and it was the first food she devoured within minutes. We weaned her off the Hill's dry because of the BHA/BHT. I would like to wean her totally off Hill's but if she gets all Canidae for more than 2 days straight she starts turning up her nose again...and there isn't anything overly objectionable in the Hill's wet.

Veronica's Mom

*Canidae because she is supposedly (per her allergy test; I say supposedly because I believe her allergies are primarily environmental) allergic to the carrots & white potato in Merrick...

   Did you determine that through the elimination diet, or through a blood test? The blood test for food allergies is very unreliable, as per my veterinary dermatologist. I tried Hill's z/d with Jessie for an elimination diet, and she really loved it (it's the chicken liver). I was worried about her skin and coat because I couldn't give her any fatty acid supplements for her dandruff. Her coat was softer and shiner than ever on the Hill's z/d, and her dandruff disappeared, and she has had many holistic foods, including EP Fish and Duck, California Natural Lamb and Rice, and the Nature's Variety kibbles. Apparently, the z/d provides the perfect ratio of fatty acids.
 

jessies_mom

Did you determine that through the elimination diet, or through a blood test?

Blood test. I also heard the blood test was unreliable for food allergies; but I was under the impression that it was a pretty decent test for enviromental allergies - which is what I felt we were primarily dealing with. We also tried to do an elimination diet with the Hill's; but I admit I didn't strictly adhere to it; and I believe we did it in October which was also when the seasons were changing,,,so it is hard to tell what helped.

 Veronica has had allergy symptoms March - May and August - October. She's been fine since November and I do give her some of the foods she is "allergic" to to "test" and can say that in smallish quantities...they don't bother her...

Pomeranian <3

ottoluv

A nutritionist really recommended nature's best as a first choice? That seems odd to me for some reason.

Nope [refer to the opening thread, she recommended Natural Balance Organic]

They do not sell this at PetSmart and I am boycotting PETCO at the moment. I asked her what specific ingrediants are good so I could find something decent. I told her what I picked out she said that was a fairly good choice since there are no corn products or meat by-products; her only concern were the soy oils.

Here is also a little background history as to why I bothered getting a Nutritionist: Kayla was itching a lot so I contacted my Vet to ask about allergies. After doing some research & calling referalls I picked a nutritionist. She told me gave me the organic speach [which I hear/know about anyway being a human and this new organic craze] she also told me about why Nutro (the current food I was using at the time) is bad. I switched to Natural Balance Organic and Kayla seemed to enjoy it. She also said if Kayla gets bored with the flavor to try other NB products. I did this for awhile but due to a life situation & research I am boycotting PETCO where I purchased this food. They do not have it at my local PetSmart. I told my nutritionist about this and she gave me other light active organic foods but I said "well I know what flavors kayla really likes can you tell me what ingrediants to not get" so in short it lead me to Nature's Best which is actually good. Pork fat wasn't a main concern because we all need a little fat in our diet (it is of course not the best of the best) but it works, not too expensive, and doesn't not have the ingrediants I am concerned about. Kayla does seem to have weird reactions to chicken products so I went with the lamb and brown rice. If the rice becomes an issue I will switch to more oatmeal based products... its all really about trials and testing... so far so good...

I am curious how your pet is handling the soybean in Nature's Best.  I know soybean meal has a lot of protein (grain based) but as I understand it, soybean is not very digestible.    Where I live, that 30lbs Science Diet Nature's Best is $49.99.  I don't think that is inexpensive. 

NikoAwesomo

I am curious how your pet is handling the soybean in Nature's Best.  I know soybean meal has a lot of protein (grain based) but as I understand it, soybean is not very digestible.    Where I live, that 30lbs Science Diet Nature's Best is $49.99.  I don't think that is inexpensive. 

Soybean for humans and dogs tends to be hard on tummies. Having a soy allergy is fairly common.

Trial and error for what types of food allergies Kayla had took a long time. I finally narrowed it down to Corn, Wheat, Rice, meat by-products, certain Chicken products, Soy, and Bean oils.

I edited my original post (the very first post to this thread) check it out to see what we are now serving in the home! :o)

It's interesting to read everyone's responses... so here is mine! 

Bailey

• Breed:  Brittany Spaniel x Labrador Retriever
  
• Age: 18 months
  
• Food of Choice: Blue Buffalo (Lamb & Brown Rice formula)
  
• Amount/Serving per Day:  Well, I was feeding the recommended 1 cup twice a day and at dinner adding 1/3 can of wet food (Merrick).  Today I noticed that she has gained some weight so I think I'm going to go down to 3/4 cup twice a day and eliminate the wet food since we are training her using food treats.  I also feed a supplement called Omega Canine Shine.
  
• Reason Why:  Bailey's foster mom had recommended Merrick and I heard some good reviews about Blue Buffalo.  It seems to be working OK poop-wise and she likes it well enough but I do find that she itches a little more than I'd like to see.  I would like to experiment with Canidae and see how she does on that.
  

Pomeranian <3

Dog food, dog food everywhere! Which do you like?

Please List:

• Breed
• Age
• Food of Choice
• Amount/Serving per Day
  
• Reason Why

Thanks for participating! :o) Can't wait to see your comments!

Breed:

Zoe- English Setter (field-type Llewellin bred)

Casey-Yorkshire Terrier

Age: Zoe 5 1/2 years

Casey 15 years

Food of Choice:  Abady Granular Feeds

Amount of Serving per Day:  Free Feed - Both dogs have food available 24/7

Reason Why: IMO the best available food in the marketplace.

 CC.

Bubblegum

6 yrs old

Harliquin Great Dane

Eagle Pack different formulas both Holistic and Natural

2 and 1/2 cups twice a day.  Morning mixed with raw or cooked egg and a scoop of plain yourgut.  Evening meal mixed with cooked beef, turkey, chicken or pork mixed with veggies ( sometimes pumpkin or baby food veggies) and a scoop of yogurt.

I like the ingredients in Eagle Pack. Its done wonders for Bubblegum and Oliver ( sons Great Dane) and I love the company and the people that work there that are so helpful.

• Pyper
• American Cocker Spaniel
• 15 months
• 1/2 cup AM - 1/2 cup PM Canidae ALS mixed proteins.... and Homecooked and nearly all treats are human foods
• Human grade contents/ good value for $$.. SHE LOVES IT..the list of reason is a long one... basically it's a high quality and I feel good feeding it to her

• Stormy
• American Cocker Spaniel
• 10 weeks old on Sunday
• a 50/50 mix of Wellness Just for Puppy and Canidae ALS  1/4 cup of each food 3 times a day.... as well as some homecooked (she will get more as she gets older
• for all the reasons already mentioned

Kuaui

8yr old chihuahua

Food of choice: Anything that hits the floor! Seriously - gets a widespan variety of foods - Nature's Variety Instinct duck/turkey; Primal Pheasant raw, homecooked meals, veggies, fruits, etc never gets the same thing twice in one day, nor does he eat the same thing every day.

Amount: Depends. He has a fast metabolism, could end up eating up to 1/2# of food in one day (hiking adventures/camping, etc) or quite a bit less, actually base it on what he *looks* like, if he looks a little pudgy, he gets less food for a couple of days and vice versa.

Reason: I'm big on the notion that more variety equals healthier dogs and less digestive problems.

Dakota

4yr old Pomeranian

Food: Anything and everything mentioned above! Garbage gut true and true - LOVES to eat!!

Rivers

9 mnth old Golden/Duck Toller Retriever

Food: All mentioned above, he's not picky by any means.

Amount: Depends on the activity for the day, could be more, could be less.

Their favorite meal probably consists of canned Salmon, which they get a few times a week too.