Dog Food Poll

I was wondering what kind of food everyone feeds their dogs? I feed California Natural but with 3 big dogs, I go through it so fast! It is getting pricey!!! I was wondering if there is any other food that is still high quality but maybe a little less money?? I have been looking but I keep going back to California Natural. Any suggestions would be great, thanks everyone!

[Jaybay]

Food is such a pain in the rear sometimes.  Of course, I'll never go with the cheapest cr*p available at Wally World, but I've seen some dogs that just have "low budget" tastes.  Even the best food in the world won't do a dog any good if he won't eat it.  Oddly, none of my dogs has ever liked Science Diet; Iams and Nutro were so-so; but Purina Beneful?  Katie bar the door!  

My dogs also get a little wet food mixed in with their kibble at the evening feeding time.  They don't seem to mind what brand it is, as long as it's wet, so I've used Pedigree for nearly 20 years.  Pedigree was one of the few brands not affected by the Chinese dog food recall as well, so they must be doing something right.  I also use a vitamin supplement at about half the rate as prescribed on the label, and my dogs have lived out their lives healthy and happy until their far senior years.

If money is a consideration, there are plenty of dog food recipes available on the internet.  It may be cheaper to just make your own if you have the time.

Great topic, fourpaws.  I'm curious as well to hear how other folks deal with feeding and nutrition.

[peekawho]

I feed Solid Gold.  It should be MADE of gold, as expensive as it is, though!
A great food.

I had to switch Jeffy to Natures Own Fish and Sweet Potatoes, though, to see if his itching is being caused by food allergies.  So far, his itching is no better at all, and its been almost a month.  

[Tmdmc]

I feed my dog Angel the brand "Joy" Has anyone ever used this? She seems to like it. That is what she was fed from her former owner, so we didn't want to shock her by switching.

[satxyvette]

Life's Abundance Premium Health Food. Also give them steamed veggies twice a week in their food.  They love carrotts and yams the most but do love other veggies as well.  

I order the food online and it gets delivered to my home.  If you'd like more information on this food I can give you the website info.

[Fourpaws]

What's the cost of the food you get? I get 36 pounds for about $40.00, but I go through about 4 bags a month. Per day I feed 11 cups between all my three dogs!

I have been going through ingredients on different foods online. I like California Natural, it only has 9 ingredients and my dogs look great and seem to love it. I was just hoping I would find a food similar at less cost? I don't even know if it is possible? But with everyone's suggestions, I can look these all up and see if one compares. My dog's do like veggies, even though they get bad dog gas!!!

I will keep doing my research, let's keep the suggestions rolling in! Thanks everyone for your input.

[Sickboy61]

I was feeding my dogs Innova and EVO, both kibbles and canned and then some Natural Balance.  But my big Catahoula seemed to have the runs alot, with both and now our new dog, a little rat terrier mix, seemed to be getting them too. Ourl little Chihuahua didn't seem to have any problems tho.

I just switched them to a Natural Choice Herring & Sweet Potato Formula, they get some dry and canned, its supposed to be for dogs with sensitive stomachs.  I will see how they do on it.  They don't seem to like the canned as much as what they used to get, but they do like the dry.

[utahmomma]

Purena Pro Plan and Eukenuba (dachshund formula) mixed with cooked chicken breast, lean ground beef, white rice, cheese, and raw broccoli.

Yeah, I'm nuts but the two oldest dogs got used to "mommy" cooking for them when my diabetic dachshund needed special food (rest his soul) and try as I might I can't get them back on dry kibble.  They'd rather starve than go back to dry (I've tried)

Oh, and they each get an Omega 3 & 6 fish oil tablet each day.  They don't need it hidden in food - they think it is a treat.

[labhusky]

I use the holistique blend from solid gold.  I also give him a vitamin supplement called the missing link with glucosamine, and 3x a week he gets solid gold berry balance.  He is 14 and spoiled.  He was a stray and I got him when I think he was 1 and had him on the regular solid gold.

He does have trouble with his back leg and drags it now and then.  Probably arthritic and I give him metcam every once in awhile.

[labhusky]

I use the holistique blend from solid gold.  I also give him a vitamin supplement called the missing link with glucosamine, and 3x a week he gets solid gold berry balance.  He is 14 and spoiled.  He was a stray and I got him when I think he was 1 and had him on the regular solid gold.

He does have trouble with his back leg and drags it now and then.  Probably arthritic and I give him metcam every once in awhile.

[Steph4302]

I feed my two miniature poodles Nature's Variety Raw Instinct Chicken Meal flavor. They also get two raw beef medallions daily also made my Nature's Variety. They love it and it's good for them. It is expensive but thankfully they don't eat much since they are small in size.

[CUZMO21]

we here use iams puppy large breed, but i think since they changed the formula my lab has developed and allergy to it, her skin is red and hot to the touch and flaking ,  we went to the vet, and she said hold off on switching food but i know the time is upon me..

i want her to have a steak dinner not a wendys bugar? so what seems to work for you all i have read up above. i have heard a food that makes them not "go" as much that is dont have any fillers really, i know the pet store has said "blue" and "nutro" to me...

just wanted to give my input? and receive some feedback/..

take care all

[nashsmom]

I have always used Science Diet, it is not cheap but it is healthy and my dog never had a problem with it.

[scotty2]

I feed Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul - (my cat gets the Cat Lovers version)  I have 3 scottish terriers and I had 2 breeders recommend it - my gang seems to be doing great on it.

[pennst8r]

I used to feed ProPlan but my vet pointed out that Pedigree is made of exactly the same nutrients and costs much less.

Penn

[knhNEK]

We feed our dogs raw meat and bones. That's it. These are the fourth and fifth dogs we've fed like this, and we have the healthiest dogs I know of, except for other dogs fed raw.

Check out www.rawmeatybones.com for more info. It can be hard for people to do - we tend to treat our animals like humans in fur coats, but in fact, a dog is a dog, a cat a cat, a horse is a horse, etc. So we feed both our dogs and cats what they would eat if they could choose - and I have yet to see a dog get picky about raw meat and bones!

By the way, our dogs smell great, dry OR wet (!), have NO build up on their teeth (and so don't have bad breath) and have no joint problems or other of the common ailments of dogs in the mid-to-later life stages.

[bre21483]

I have a hairless Chinese crested and so I have to be really picky about I give him for his skin.  I feed my dog Eagle Pack Holistic and I put a powder supplement on top called "The Missing Link". It works great to keep his skin on track and it helps keep the bit of hair he has shiny and looking great. Its not too expensive and neither is the powder.

[AbbeyGirl88]

I have a 3 year old Chocolate Lab, and I feed her Pro Plan large breed chicken and rice formula and she loves it, it cost $50.00 40lbs bag and I feed her 3 cups a day and it last me 2 months or more, less stool and the nutrience stays in the dog not out, in my oppinion very high quality dog food and my vet recommends it!

[clintnkari]

i feed my dog eukanuba, shes still a puppy so shes on the small breed puppy growth formula dry food

[omegacat]

I feed my dogs Innova.  I mix canned with dry. Innova is made by Natura Pet Products.  The main thing that I have learned about any pet food is to NOT feed anything that contains "animal byproducts" - a label that can include truly terrible things.

[bearsmomma]

I am feeding my dog, Bear, a raw food diet since the vet thinks he has cancer.  We haven't had a biopsy, but the vet thinks it's cancer.  The x ray showed fluid and new bone growth around the joint of his right front elbow.  It is very swollen and he can't walk on it.  He also has a small external tumor on the back of his paw on the same leg.  I am also supplementing with EVO dog food, which is a grain free food.  I have been doing a lot of research and I have found out that dogs should not be eating any grains (which include corn and rice).  Dogs evolved on raw meat not grains and can not process them.  The main ingredients in most dog food is grains, which is used as a filler because it is too expensive to use meat.  I wouldn't even call the by products they use meat anyway.  It's nothing but lips and buttholes and nothing in between!  Actually, the so called meat that is in our dogs' food is road kill, deseased farm animals, and euthanized animals that have been shipped off to dog food companies.  Check out this website - www.drkarenbecker.com - click on dog and cat nutrition on the left.  I feel like such a bad dog owner for feeding that to my dog for the past 7 years.  I wish I would have known.  I feel all these dogs have all these health issues because of the dog food companies.  If a dog isn't getting the proper diet he was meant to have then his immune system becomes weakened.  If a dog's immune system is weak then he developes all sorts of problems, for example runny eyes, ear infections, itchy skin (chewing on paws) loss of hair (hot spots), and anal itching (dragging bottom).  This is all due to an allergy to the grains.  These are all signs of a weakened immune system and if these signs are not recognized early on and they continue with the same diet their immune system becomes so weak  they develope cancer next.  Which is the case with my beloved Bear.  I am now feeding him a mixture of raw meat, vegetables and fruit and supplementing with the EVO.  For the cancer, I am now taking him to a homeopathic vet, who also seems to think Bear has cancer.  He is treating him with a pure remedy, some chinese herbs, and some other herbs to build his immune system.  I am also giving him ESSIAC tea and blood root which you can get at plantcures.com.  It's the real stuff, the way it's supposed to be.  In addition to all that I am also giving him a Shaklee multi vitamine, cats claw, astragalus, fenugreek, and some echinacia and tumeric.  There is also this other stuff I got called K9 immunity to build up his immune system, but I am almost out of that since I only bought a one month supply as it was very expensive.  I am not sure about the dosages I am giving him.  Its like playing a guessing game.  I hope I am doing the right thing for Bear.  If anyone has had experience fighting k9 cancer, I would appreciate any advice and help I could get.  I would also appreciate any prayers.

[all4dogs]

I adopted a Boston terrier with lots of skin allergies.  I decided to try removing ALL corn and wheat from her diet (including wheat gluten).  I feed her Nature's own, checking the label carefully, as some of that brand has wheat or corn in it.  It took several months, but she is practically over the skin allergy.  It was worth the wait, because the alternative cortisone stuff is bad.