Dog food... - Page 4

"....Ok, found Vet's Choice...not bad, but I don't see how you could compare it to Orijen...it's got a bunch of grain in it.
http://www.vetschoice.com/productinfo.php?productID=1000003..."

Sorry i don't check this site that often any more. How can I compare, by feeding both over period of a year, and by doing the same with RAW there is no difference, well poop is bigger, that's about it. Growth rate same, coat same, smell same, activity rate same, no issues on either. The only difference is price ;) I am well aware that every dog will react differently, you do not need to tell me that ;). But Vetschoice, Martinsk9 formula give me great results for the portion of price. Actually to be honest after feeding Orijen, my dog start developing some skin issues. I am not aware what really prompt the issue, but it only happened on Orijen. All my dogs love Vetschoice, and in the shops around NY area people been switching over like crazy, because the price and the results just speak for it self. I spoke with quite few numbers of private shop owners, and they all agreed that they never expect such an average food do so well. Many of these carry Orijen and reported to me that people that could not afford Orijen any more he recomended Vetschoice and they reported no change in the dog condition. Once again the only change was in their wallet. I am not getting anything for mentioning this company, I do not know the owners, only can tell you that I been treated good by the company. I had an issue once, which I though was coasued by the food (or that it container was not sealed when I got it) They overning fresh bag to me, I continue feeding the old back to the dog that showed no issues, and new bag to the dog that showed some issue, and the dog went back to being normal once again. Once again I know that the dog in question has sensitive stomach especially to any changes. So once again it was not Vetschoice foult but the foult of my dogs digestive system which I am well aware of it's short comings. If the food is avaliable in your area (once again is not everywhere as this is smaller local company) I highly recomend it. All ingrediants are 100% USA and they really stand by their product. Hopes this helps. Plus 40 for 40lb bag is hard to beat, Costco is one of the few that can beat the price ;) but I do not trust big corporations.

BTW who ever said that grain is bad for dogs? When I lived in europe on my grandfather farm, all dogs got pig feed and dead animal stock, all lived healthy till old age, and showed no issues ;). If you have issues with specific food 90% of the time is the dog not the food ;). It's a fact that GSD digestive sytem suck big time. So once again know your dog. Just because it dose not do well on the specific food it has nothing to do with the food (unless is contamitaded) but with your dog. I said this over and over, dogs are oportunistic animals, they can eat junk and do well or atleast survive on it. If you dog can, do not try to breed it!!!! It's digestive system suck and it will only add another dogs to the GSD pool with the same issues.

Snajper, that wasn't my point. I was asking how you could compare the two in terms of ingredients, not results. They are very different. Compare Orijen to Evo, or VetsChoice to like Nutro or something like that- compare type to type, not grain-free to grain-laden. That's all I meant.

I disagree that "it's a fact that GSD digestive systems suck big time." I have never had a GSD w/any digestive issue- ever.

"Snajper, that wasn't my point. I was asking how you could compare the two in terms of ingredients, not results."
But that was not OP question was it?
The proof is in the results not in the ingredients. I don't care about ingredients I care about results. And I would think same is with most people.

"......I disagree that "it's a fact that GSD digestive systems suck big time." I have never had a GSD w/any digestive issue- ever...."
 
And how many GSD's you had? It's a fact that GSD's digestive system dose not belong to the best in the species. If you disagree, can you change your GSD to totaly different food with no undesired results? And I mean change it right away not over period of time? Just don't say that most dogs can't do it because I have quite few that can ;) and only one GSD that can do the same, rest would shit their brains out.

BTW why do you think so many people go between one food or the other? Because sooner or later there are always issues. So sorry but I call it as I see it. GSD digestive system suck big one. Mixes that I owned in the past never had that problem, could live on anything you gave them, and whatever else they could, steal or kill ;).

Any way I am signing off. There is no point of this debate, it's been going on for many years, and you will always have two opinions, and to sides to it ;). If you looking for good results you need to go by trail and error. No single food works the same on all GSD's out there. The digestive system is to complicate and to unique to most living things to stereotype. I suggested Vetschoice only for one reason is the single food that worked for me on all my dogs, and on different breeds, as well saved my father dachshund from a lot of pain and troubles when it grew too fat and vet recommended open spine surgery lol ;). I just finally convinced him to give him the dog for a while to me, and I will put him on vets choice with my feeding regime. Since than dog is in super health, digestive issues disappeared, weight is gone, and the vet can't believe how well the dog look. Plus it's cheap ;0) which is my favorite part, it saves me money and keeps my dogs at a pick condition.

 Hi all,
I started my Chow mix (9yrs. old) on Wellness 2 years ago and she has done very well on it. Great coat, good body weight, and energy level.  Started her on it because it came highly recommended by a GSD breeder and they (Wellness) were not on the scary dog food list. Have also had good luck with Natural Balance. Can get both at Petco.

Vets Choice is an excellent choice my dogs love it but it is not in the same class as Orijen. In my opinion Orijen is hands down the single best kibble on the market.

Snajper, again you miss my point! I am not debating anything- simply saying Vets Choice and Orijen are not kibbles that should be compared! One is very expensive, totally grain-free, and the other is cheap and has grain in it. Never said anything about trial and error- just wondered why you make a claim that it's comparable to Orijen b/c it's quite different. Nothing more, no big deal ;-)

I am pretty happy with TOTW. T gets the salmon formula (less protein for the older dog) The rest are doing very well on the poultry based and bison based formulas (yeah, I mixed them) One nice thing about TOTW I really appreciated on my long and dismal x-country trek was that I could get the stuff at any Tractor Suppy store, and almost any feed store. $42. is a bit stiff for dog food, but the coats and muscle tone on my dogs makes my heart glad enough to skip a meal or two for myself in favor of feeding them better.

SS