Taste of the Wild and Staining

[TrevorDoodle]

I was wondering if anyone else is feeding Taste of the Wild - high prairie dry
and is experiencing staining around the dogs mouth?

I know it has "beet pulp" in it and that is known for staining.  I also mix in some Merrick canned food
and he likes to drink water after eating.  He also likes to lick his chops
when he is done.  So his mouth is almost always wet after eating.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The majority of the light colored doodles have staining around their mouths & beards, regardless of what they eat. It's not from the food. There are many discussions in the main DK forum about the staining and what you can do about it.
The beet pulp in dry dog food cannot stain anything in the form that it is in...it is in a pulverized form that has undergone high heat.
The staining around the beards of light colored dogs is the result of several factors, including their own saliva. Plastic food dishes also contribute to it. But it's really not a food issue.

[Wendy]

I haven't noticed any staining on M & M but they are reds so I may just not notice it?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Right. It doesn't show up on reds and most browns. Black dogs often look "rusty" around the mouth, too.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We have very clear well water. Spud has staining and coloring around the mouth. One of my foster dogs had a white coat and came without a stain. After five weeks she left with the stain. We also use cranberrries in his training treats.

I am wondering how many people write about staining and it is well water?

( I know--not in the food group, but WATER gets close to the nutrition aspect of this question ) :)

[TrevorDoodle]

I have well water too!!! My doodle didnt have any staining until after 1 year old, which is right around the time
I switched him to Taste of the Wild. Take a look at the doodle Toby of ' Linda and "Toby" '
Beautiful light colored doodle with no staining!

I would love for my doodle to lose the dirty mouth.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Check the main forum for discussions on this. There are tips on how to clean/remove the stains.
I cannot speak for the well water, but I can guarantee you that it is not the food.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's one discussion about the causes and what you can do about it:
http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/cream-doods-and-their-dirt...
I would check the Cream?White Doodles group, too, and the Main forum had about 12 other discussions on this topic.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I've been transitioning Lucy (cream colored Labradoodle) to TOTW for the past week and have noticed the staining too. Coincidence?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

What are you transitioning from?

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Hi Karen,

We had this discussion a few days ago, the one I started on How Much Food to Feed. We're transitioning from First Mate's Chicken and Blueberry. I've been doing a lot of research lately on the best food for Lucy, and I'm starting to rethink my decision to go with TOTW. There's so much controversy over high protein vs. low protein foods for large breed dogs, that my head is spinning! And then there's which brand to go with, which facility manufactures it, who uses ethoxyquin (or rather who can't guarantee its not used in their fish meal) and what kind of starch is used. I'm steering toward Solid Gold (although I'm clueless at the moment on which formula to choose), or Innova Puppy (or their Large Breed Puppy). I'm starting to feel like I can't win regardless of what brand I go with. I want what's best for Lucy, but I'd really like to KNOW what's best. The more I learn, the less I know... or so it seems.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I remember now; forgive me, we've had lots of activity here lately!
If you asked a human nutritionist what's "best" to eat, the answer would be "a variety of whole foods", lol. For dogs, that would translate to homecooking. But here, we're talking about kibbles, which many of us use for convenience and other reasons.
When talking about kibbles, there is no one "best" food, and you definitely need to rotate brands and/or formulas over time, regardless. There is also no clear answer to the high vs low protein question, but scientific evidence does lean toward high protein not being harmful...it's rapid weight gain that causes a problem for large breed puppies. The ethoxyquin issue is a confusing one, I agree. While there is no evidence that a trace amount causes problems, most of us would feel better not having it there at all. You also have the grain-free vs healthy grains decision to make in choosing a food.
IMO, the "best" kibble is Orijen, and Champion's other line Acana. I also have complete confidence in the Natura company, which makes EVO and Innova, and Solid Gold has been a reliable company for many years. Solid Gold only has one grain-free formula. We also LOVE Fromm...but they only have one grain-free formula, too. Lately, we have heard good things about Petcurean's Go! Natural line.
The more you know...the more you know, lol. That doesn't mean you know everything, nobody does. But being informed is the first & most important step. This is not a decision carved in stone.
Since I started the Food Group, Jack has gone from Nutro (shudder) to Wellness, to Nature's Variety, to Fromm, to Orijen. (and has tried EVO and Evanger's, too!)
Don't become frustrated...stay open and try things. One or two bags of kibble, even the crap from the grocery store, will not cause any harm. And we're here to help.

[Wendy]

Thanks for posting this. I am printing it out to save and give to friends!