4Health Dog Food -- Only at Tractor Supply Store

[HeatherA]

I tried searching for "4health" and nothing came up.

Has anyone tried 4Health?  It's a newer product started earlier this year, labeled only for TSC stores.  From what I've been able to find it is made by Diamond - the same makers of TOTW.  http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/storeevents/4health   

I found this evaluation of the food http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/4health-dog-food-dry/  Stating that it appeared to be ethoxyquin-free.

I am looking at the puppy formula.  It's $30 for a 35lb bag.  The Puppy formula also has no beet pulp, (apparently there is a debate on it's pros and cons?)    http://www.tractorsupply.com/pet-care/dog-products/dog-food/dry-dog...

I have been buying Nature's Recipe from Petco, before coming here which was $40 for a 35lb bag. I was paying a lot, so I thought I was getting a decent dog food.. after comparing it's ingredients and some of the info available here - I am not impressed. I am looking for something in the same price range (less would be great!) but with better quality ingredients. 

Anyone have any experience with this food?

Thanks!

Heather

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm not impressed, either. I hope it's true that Diamond has stopped using fish meal preserved with ethoxyquin in its foods, but I'm not sure. I don't like the inclusion of beet pulp in this food, and realllly don't like the brewer's rice. This food is a mediocre quality which may compare well to grocery store foods like Beneful, but not to the foods we recommend.
I don't see any feeding guidelines on their website, but with a lot of fillers and only 328 kcal/cup, I'd be willing to bet you have to feed a lot more of this food than you do the premium foods. It has 100 calories less per cup than most of the foods we recommend. 21 % protein is also just too low IMO, unless your dog has medical issues that require a lower protein food.
When you look at price, you really do have to take the feeding amounts into account. A better quality food may cost more but lasts longer, so the actual cost is the same. Sometimes even less.
Have you looked at Blue Buffalo? It's a much better food, and moderately priced.

[HeatherA]

Comparing the TSC food "4Health" (made by Diamond) to the Nature's Recipe I currently have, it's 1/3 less in price and from what I can tell - better every way. The puppy formula does not have the beet pulp, I noticed. It just seemed like a possible step up in quality for less money, which is appealing.

I had looked some at the Blue Buffalo. I guess I don't understand what makes it significantly better then the TSC 4Health. I've been reading the previous messages here, but what makes it worth about $15 dollars more for a 30lb bag?

You say 21% -- are you talking about the Nature's Recipe? I realize I've been overpaying :(

I had asked about the 4Health by Diamond at TSC stores. The Puppy formula has 27% Protein, the Performance Adult formula has 30%. It's $35 for a 35lb bag for the Performance.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/savings-center/sales/pet-care/4health-...

Adult Perfomance formula - feeding recommendations
Animal Weight - Daily Amount
5 or 10 lb. - 1/2 to 3/4 cups
10 to 20 lb. - 3/4 to 1-1/4 cups
20 to 30 lb. - 1-1/4 to 1-2/3 cups
30 to 40 lb. - 1-2/3 to 2 cups
40 to 60 lb. - 2 to 2-1/2 cups
60 to 80 lb. - 2-1/2 to 3 cups
80 to 100 lb. - 3 to 3-2/3 cups

Am I missing something glaringly obvious here? This seems like a great bang for the buck.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I had looked at their standard adult foods- the lamb and rice, and chicken & rice formulas. Those have only 21% protein. The Performance formula is significantly better than those. It's more nutrient dense, higher in protein, and doesn't contain brewer's rice, which is a waste product.

[HeatherA]

Oh I wanted to say, according to Diamond, maker of TOTW, Chicken Soup for the Dog, Kirkland, Diamond Naturals, 4Health, etc...

We are now using naturally preserved fish mean in all of our products. Even prior to the transition to natural mixed tocopherols (vitamin E), there were absolutely no health risks involved with feeding any of these foods. The switch to mixed tocopherols to preserve our fish meal was a response to customer demand. Fortunately, we were able to secure a supply of naturally preserved fish meal and shelf life studies have proven that we are able to maintain the product’s freshness throughout the shelf life of the product.

Homeland security does outline preservation using ethoxyquin, however alternative methods of preservation are available by special request. Our supplier has obtained all the required permits in order to use the natural preservative instead of ethoxyquin.

Janet L. Rettenmaier, DVM, MS
Director of Veterinary Services
Diamond Pet Foods

This is quoted from here http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/taste-of-the-wild-do...

Also restated here:
“…Any foods with a best-before date of June , 2011 or later will have ocean fish meal preserved with only mixed tocopherols (vitamin E). If you would like, you can return the food and exchange it for another bag or receive a refund from your retailer. All bags of this food are satisfaction guaranteed.”

Sincerely,

Melissa Brookshire, DVM”

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/chicken-soup-dog-lov...

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, Blue Buffalo is at Petco and Petsmart too (I believe). According to the online site, a 30lb bag is about $50 (Petco) and $46 (Petsmart). You will have to check your local store.
I feed Fromm and it is $26 for a 15lb bag - but I only feed Peri 1 cup/day and it lasts me about 7 weeks. So it is worth it in my opinion. The 30lb bag is $44 locally. Do you have Fromm near you? It is actually quite comparable to the Blue.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If Fromm is comparable in price to Blue, there's no contest. Fromm wins, hands down. I was looking for a food that is sold at the big box stores.
I'm good on nutrition, but don't know the prices of most foods, so thank you for that info. Maybe we should work on a price/feeding amount comparison chart one of these days!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, Fromm is usually much harder to find, so if you only have petsmart/co, go for Blue!
Otherwise, you might try Fromm if there are some locally owned stores by you, Heather!

[F, Calla & Luca]

It is getting somewhat easier around here. I discovered a closer source of Fromm. A nearby newish SuperDoggy WonderKitty, which may be part of a chain, carries it as well as Orijen,etc. I asked if they could check out Acana, and they were quite willing. I'd like to have several choices. More variety and less likelihood of sudden disappearances. Right now I can't get large bags of Solid Gold and the dogs are getting a mixture of Solid Gold and Acana. I originally switched from Fromm to Solid Gold because the Fromm retailer was a bit of a trip.

[HeatherA]

Okay, I called there is a place not far that carries the Fromm foods. It's 42.99 for the 33lb Puppy, 42.99 is pretty standard for most she said, except a "specialty" one they have that is 52.99.

[HeatherA]

I'm debating between the Fromm's and the 4Health. It's hard to know which is the better value -- the Fromm's ($43) because I could possibly use less food due to higher quality ingredients or the cheaper TSC 4Health brand which is a third less in cost (30-35). Both are better then what we had been feeding... so it doesn't feel like I could go wrong.

I just wish I didn't have so much of this Nature's Recipe left.. I want to change NOW. :)

When you use the Fromm's do you still add additional Fish Oil supplement for coat health?

Thanks everyone for all the feedback -- I know you guys have all done a lot of research into this and it's great to have the help trying to figure this out and avoid foods that are junk, or worse potentially harmful.

[Kim]

I use the Fish Oil, and I am feeding 1/2 Fromm and 1/2 Orijen.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Heather you could check with your local shelter to see if they accept open bags of dog food.