Dog Food

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

I lost a beloved std poodle to crap food 1 1/2 years ago. Since, we've rescued 2 labradoodles. 1 from a puppy mill, 1 from shelter. I have been cooking for them & would like to share dinnertime ideas. What do you all feed your dogs? If I try to go back to premade now, they turn up their noses. My 8year old Bijon, who ate crap food for years has no more arthritis or tear stains since "real" food was put into his life. Any ideas or comments, thoughts?

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

What a great list. I've tried the Natural Ballance, Innova, Evo & Timberwolf, which the doods like. The Evangers, not so much. I get most sent from onlynaturalpet.com but still make homemade to add. I've learned so much from researching dog food ingredients that I hope others will look into what they put into their pets as they do what they put into their kids. I try to balance over time rather what the pet food industry advocates, Complete & Balanced. People don't eat the same food everyday, why should dogs?

[Jacque Reynolds]

Agree! 100%

[Adina P]

I feed Canidae All Stages to my doodles and Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul Senior (boy is that a long name for a dog food!) to my senior border collie. Despite being an RD...I barely cook for my human family (clark and I) I don't think I can muster the motivation to cook for my dogs too! But for those that DO cook for your dogs or would like to, I ran across a great website to that end... www.PetDiets.com -- check it out if you have time. You do have to pay for individual direction from a nutrition expert, but beyond that they have TONS of free info, myth busting, and FAQ's about dog and cat health.

[2sforeqbpo84w]

Cayenne gets Orijen with a little of the Merrick canned food mixed in (about a spoonful) Unfortunately, she won't eat just dry dog food any more, she loves having some sauce on it.

[3td08pz5vpw1h]

Hi Lynne, I feed Natural Balance and love it.. My 2 goldendoodles had problems with loose stools and itchy ears when I tried, so many others, but once I started them on Natural Balance no problems at all.. My girls free feed on the dry and I have never had a problem with overeating or them being overweight either. I use the NB roll for treats and also occasionally give them 1/2 of the NB can, I vary the kind, just so they don't get bored.. Hope you find a food that works for you...

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Hey Karen, I have been basically doing the same. I leave dry out and no problems with over eating except the first week we got Jack. He was malnourished and dehydrated. But once he started to fill out, now he will graze here and there on the dry. I feed 1 can between my 3 dogs with some of my own chicken, rice & veggies each day & no problems with loose stools or anything else. They really are thriving nicely. It's nice to be able to talk about this. Since losing my dog I have felt on my own on this. I wish we could educate everyone. I still have friends who feed only dry or store brands.

[Marie Shelto]

Found a few great foods for Bocker...Spot's Stew, Chicken Soup for Dogs, California Naturals...feed Bocker these dry foods...all natural.

[ClarkP]

Cass loves her Chicken Soup - Senior food! She likes it so much she definitely can't free feed at this stage of her life. She could when she was younger. But now she wants to be old and fat! I guess we humans do that too... ;-)

[Tamara & Giada]

Yes, the Spot's Stew is the one Ellen Deegeneres bought. They should do a comercial together:)

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Hi Ann, At the time I was feeding Iams and Eukanuba and I had the lot numbers recalled in my cabinet when the recall was announced. Magic died the end of November and the recall went out in March. I believe (and have read) that they knew for awhile that there was a problem. Since then the research I have done has scared the hell out of me. I read every label and if I don't know what it is I look it up. My husband says I'm obsessed, but do we do differently for ourselves or our kids? We got Magic when our twins were 2. She was the third twin. It was devestating to our whole family when she passed. And the saddest part is that we fed her that crap. Unknowingly, of course. But I will never trust any dogfood company again. And my vet, who I've used for 20 years, recommends Beneful!! I've read that vet schools are funded by and scholorships are given by, guess who, dogfood companies. And don't even get me started on the pet vaccination business. How can a vet be objective? Profits are all dog food companies have cared about for decades. Some ingredients, like roadkill and euthanized animals were put in there. How can anyone justify that? Maybe I am a little obsessed about this, but I am determined to never let this happen again. "When we know better, we have an obligation to do better."

[Kerry]

I too am feeding the Kirkland brand. It received an A on a list of good food for dogs. Now I just read on another forum that Costco dog food was bad. No scientific reason tho.
Any thoughts?
Kerry

[Jacque Reynolds]

At one time Kirkland was on the recalled foods listing...but I don't know the status now.
I will say that just because a food is returned to the shelves after being recalled, does not mean it is now safe!
Walmart recalled chicken tenders (jerky) for about a week and then put them back on the shelves...it was after they resumed sales that I bought them...and I lost a puppy because of it.