Dog food - Page 2

  This topic has been beat to death but here goes: I have been using Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul with great success, the trouble is I realized its made by Diamond...No, no, no...With help here on the board as well as my own research i am now using Orijen which is probably the best dry kibble food available to most of us out there...A touch on the expensive side though but I have decided that when it comes to my GSDs money is not an issue, better I do without than lose one of my prized kids over something foolish like money...Truth is we do not do without, so what if I don't get a 5 star vacation, I have my GSDs to take care of...

  As always the choice is yours to make and I am never the final word on anything, just ask my wife...But I do haver "major" input when it comes to the dogs, especially what they put out...We all can reel off the names of many "premium" dry kibbles we've used or have used but Orijen beats them all, I went from RC24 to Canidae to CSftDLS to what I use now, Orijen...I just happen to be very particular about what I feed my GSDs, but thats me...Raw is not for me although I do throw the kids a chicken back, neck or thigh every now and then along with some knuckle bones from the butcher for them to chew on...I also use Timberwolf Organics as treats which seems to work real well especially when we do tracking...

  I am convinced that Orijen (No I do not work for the company) is a premium quality kibble that is safe to feed adult GSDs...They do make a puppy kibble as well...I have learned a lot here since I joined this group and can't tell you how pleased I am with some of the advise/support some of you have given me...

  Be nice and have a great day, my guess is I'll be back later...

     Rob

Yellowrose of Texas is right on BARF or raw is the best.    But the raw diet is not for everybody.   So what do you do?  Orijen is the way to go.

Well glad to see that roborob really likes the Orijen.  Every body has their favorite kibble but when push comes to shove their is absoulty nothing even in the same class as Orijen.  Without a doubt it's the best dry dog food on the market.  Just ask anyone that is using it.  Check out the site  www.chanpionpetfoods.com

I know that roborob was using Chicken Soup but as soon as he opened up a bag of Orijen that changed real quick. My pup loves it I feed him the large breed puppy formula.  Do your homework check out the site and if you make the switch to Orijen let us know how you like it.  It's really a no-brainer if you want the best for your GSD.

Larry,

 As they say in law enforcement; Thats a "10-4"...

 Thanks for the great advise, I had checked it out but was using the Cihicken Soup based on what someone I know had told me and advised me on... The great thing about Orijen is it even smells good and the kids love it...

  Rob

I'll second that vets know NOTHING about dog nutrition1!  When I took my new pup for the mandatory vet check, within 72 hours of buying her, the vet tried to push a free bag of Science Diet on me.  Being a responsible dog owner, I pulled out my spectacles, and read the ingredients.

First on the list? CORN MEAL!!

And the veterinary profession pushes this crap on you, FOR SICK ANIMALS, most often, that need optimum nutrition, at super-premium prices!!!

When Tasha had a bout of pancreatitis, she was on nothing but intravenous for 5 straight days to rest the pancreas. This already thin dog became a walking skeleton. Yet, the vet wanted to put her on Science Diet weight loss formula?? He said the low fat, low protein would be less of a stress to her pancreas. I had therm take the crap off the bill, and continued on Performatrin Super-premium Senior, which already was fairly low protein and low fat, but had a LOT more nutrition to offer.

Sunsilver

                  All the vets around where I live push this Science Diet crap which has been involved in the latest recall.  I'm convinced there is some kind of pay off scheme between Science Diet and these Vets.

I am also convinced that Vet recommended Purina Pro plan my X-Vet recommended caused cancer in my last 2 GSD's.  That is why I'm so concerened about what I feed my pup.

As Sunsilver say's these vets know little or nothing about canine nutrition or just look the other way as they line their pocket's from selling this Science Diet crap.

Feed what you can afford. If you have to feed kibble feed it, just supplement it with some chicken backs, tripe,meat, veggies. Raw is not for everybody but thier are some places that make it very convient to feed raw.  www.gooddogdiet.com is where I get majority of my raw from, the club I am at we buy in bulk about (500lbs) and split between members, it helps everybody save cost wise.

I also feed abady, I love it and my three dogs love it.  People can not overlook athe cost around $113 for 48lbs but last me 3.5 months, cost more to buy a Premium dog food at $40 a bag for three months $120-135. 

Here is a nice site with some good information also has some places for local co-op raw distributors aroung the US. Best of luck

http://www.dogaware.com/dogfeeding.html#commercial

Regards

Mario

Larry

Of course they get a cut from the companies.

Let me ask you something.  If your vet could recommend a dog food that would make him totally healthy for the remainder of his life, do you think he would be in business administering vaccinations alone?

Sorry, I'm on a conspiracy kick today!

I am a little confused, ( well a lot confused most of the time lol) All of my life havehad it hammered into my head to never feed bones, especially chicken bones, and NEVER feed raw chicken. I have seen alot of threads here that advocate the feeding of bones and raw meat. Which is right?
shandra

  I don't feed raw but from I do know about it, the deal with bones are this: raw bones will not splinter whereas cooked bones will, possibly causing problems...Since raw chicken is readily availavble and the GSDs digestive system is fast and short no need to worry about bacteria from raw chicken...

 There are many here who feed raw and I'm sure they will set both you and I straight on this subject, even though I don't feed raw I do throw the dogs a chicken neck, leg or back from time to time in addition to feeding a premium dry kibble...I also give them knuckle bones from the butcher to chew every now and then on until they get thay last bit of muscle off the bone...I never leave them overnight, a few hours of joy and thats it...

  My GSDs look marvelous and live a terrific life...We are waiting on a puppy expected tyo whelp in late August, when he comes home sometime in Oct he will be fed Orijen large breed puppy food with a chicken wing here and there thrown in just for fun...

  I'm sure you'll get more responses than you think with this question...It is a topic that seems to be of real interest here, and why not...There is no one answer to your question but there is educating you to the ways of...

  Have a great night,

  Rob

I have been feeding raw to all of our dogs for almost 9 years now.  We switched cold turkey when Libby was around a year old.  She will be 10 in about a month now.  Her daughter and son will be 5 in another month and have had nothing but raw their entire lives... and her granddaughter is over 6 months now and has had nothing but raw.  I am a huge fan and believer in the raw diet and have had great sucess with it.

Valerie

www.vomhausweinbrand.com