I really need HELP!!!!!

[Holly Paterniti]

Ok, so I want to start Bear on a more healthier dog food without it being too expensive.......I tried to grade this Nutro Natural Choice, but I am having trouble............can someone PLEASE help???? Here are the ingredients:

Venison meal, whoel brown rice, ground rice, rice gluten, rice bran, poultry fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), rice flour, dried plain beet pulp, oatmeal, natural flavors, sunflower oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), soybean oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), dehydrated potatoes, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, L-Lysine, dried egg product, dried kelp, taurine, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, zinc protienate, ferrous sulfate, ascirbic acid (source of votamin C), biotin, maganese protienate, manganous oxide, niacin, calcium iodate, calcium pantothenate, copper sulfate, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), vitamin A supplement, glucosamine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), copper protienate, sodium selenite, chondroitin sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement

I have also noticed for only getting a 1/4 cup with his 3 3/4 cup of other dog food (Iams: yellow bag) he has had a lot of gas :( what should I do? Should I take it back or wait it out a bit? thanks!!

[jdlv25q841on]

I have found that Eagle Pack makes a really good food...perhaps a bit on the expensive side as it costs about $43/33lb.bag. They make a number of holistic and single source protein varieties (eg.fish, pork and lamb) as well as chicken with fish and pork. It is very well tolerated and has no fillers (wheat, corn or soy). They have a good website. I recently heard about another good food...Blue Buffalo (bluebuff.com) but have not tried it.

[Tamara & Giada]

Have you looked into Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul?

[Karyn Thompson]

I used to feed my senior lab, 1 yr. old doodle and doodle pup Canidae. Then they changed the formula and I noticed changes I wasn't pleased with. After some research and the advice of 2 excellent doodle breeders I switched to Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul (odd name, don't 'cha think?). Even my VERY finicky yr. old doodle eats it right up. Anyone else want to share their "Soup" reviews?

[Tamara & Giada]

We recently switched due to cost, yet I wasn't willing to give up nutrition. Both of my dogs LOVE it :)

[Holly Paterniti]

Do you know I saw this brand and thought to myself.............are they serious? I thought it was only a book and then laughed to myself........LOL!!!!

[Kim Armstrong]

I do not know what the price would be since VetsChoice is put out by myhealthextention.com and they are located in New York (shipping). As a breeder I have tried quite a few different foods. This one is the best for us and I won't use anything else. I promise you will not have anymore problems and will see an improvement in coat and overall temperment. Good luck.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Hi- I don't know if you decided on a food yet, but we have been feeding the Dick Van Patten (Duck/Potato first and now Fish/Sweet Potato). Dexter had allergy problems (chronic ear infections) as a puppy and since we went to this food he has been fine. We buy on Petfooddirect.com (they will have 20-22% off coupon codes you can use) and there is no tax so it is cheaper than buying from Petco or Animals N Things (local/chain stores that carry it). Good luck.

[Maya]

Leslie, how can it be cheaper with the shipping you have to pay? When I checked recently, the bag of food I was interested in was around $45, and the shipping was $33?!? Even with a 50% coupon, it would have been more expensive than my local store. Or is there a way to avoid paying shipping?

Maya

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

Our local health food store carries Taste of The Wild and it doesn't really get much better than that. They sell a 30lb bag for $43.00. It lasts us about 2 1/2 weeks, and I am feeding a Mastiff AND a Labradoodle. Cost wise, it is cheaper to feed than the SUPERMARKET brands, because we are only feeding 7 cups a day, for both dogs. I think I costed out the difference somewhere on the Food Group posts.

Sometimes, if you commit to purchasing the food consistently, your health food store will give you a 10% discount over and above the normal cost. It is worth a try to ask.

[Bodzin and Jackson]

I have had much success on the chicken, rice, and vegetable Kirkland brand sold at Costco. It is the same as the Diamond Naturals food, but at a really great price. They also make a puppy formula that I had Bodzin on until he was about 1 1/2 yr. old.
I had been on Nutro before, but the ingredients and less poop from the Kirkland made me make the switch.
Oh... and the price!

[Holly Paterniti]

I want to thank all of you for your stories and advice..................I really did take all of it into consideration when I decided on Bear's new food. I have decided on Merrick's Wilderness Blend. This is the second day on it and the gas seems to have subsided. Plus what I have noticed is........as soon as I put it in with his mix of old food, he scarfs it down completely!!! He NEVER did that with just his plan Iams. So I am thinking I have made a good choice for him.

Again, thanks everyone!!! But please still feel free to post any of your experiences with the food you give ot your doodle :)

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

Hi Holly ~ I do cringe sharing this information with you because I know what an ordeal this has been for you, but feel you do need to know of it to make a truly informed decision. Merrick owns a meat rendering plant that is located at the same physical address as the pet food plant. They have also had a couple of 'issues' that have not been widely stated. Our local provider dropped the entire line despite it being one of her best sellers on principle. There are a few additional companies who have recently merged and may warrant delaying a commitment to use until the dust settles and it is revealed what their intentions are. If you wish to know specific info about a company I will be glad to share anything I may be aware of, just drop me a line.

Blessings ~