The food merry go round-again.

[Nanook]

In the last year I have switched foods so many times I can't count them.

Trying to find a decent food that won't break the bank that I can also feed to my whole pack has proven impossible but I am closer to resolution. If only the dog food companies would be consistent in their procuring of ingredients, this wouldn't be such a problem, but honestly, the formulas and ingredient sources change so often a person literally cannot keep up!

In the last year I have fed Chicken Soup, which at one time was a great diet. Suddenly, half of my dogs stopped eating their whole servings and well, let's just call it loose stool, but it was a whole lot worse than that!

Then I switched to Native brand, they have 4 levels of ingredients to choose from. That went along fine until I came home one day to a very messy standard poodle in a show coat! And again, half of my dogs were picking and not finishing the food and this is just unacceptable.

Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream, ended up disastrous, I think the fish oil was just too much...

In a quandry of what to do next, I went with Purina One, as a lot of show people I know were switching to it as well, because I am far from the only person noticing drastic changes in food from time to time. Purina One seemed to have a good ingredients list and everyone seemed to be doing fine on it, and the added moist meat chunks was something the dogs seemed to love, until around Christmastime...then all hell broke loose around my house. I knew it was too good to be true that I found a readily available cost effective (about 1.00 a LB)

Paris ended up with an ear infection. She also has red staining on her belly, which indicates a possible food allergy. That makes much sense when coupled with the ear infection!

Rosebud has ALWAYS had bad skin in winter. But never as bad as she is suffering this year. At one point I considered putting her down she was so miserable. But wait, Paris is having the two issues, and now all of a sudden I have Reggae losing hair!

A week ago Friday I noticed Reggae, who is 12, spending a lot of time in her dog bed, and not coming around for treats when the rest of the dogs were getting them. Upon inspection, I saw she was losing hair on her feet. Not only that, but they were red and swollen looking. She also had been losing some hair on her belly and I had been watching that and some missing from the top of her back.



I noticed I was feeding more and more of the Purina One to keep the weight on, but since it is winter, and a wicked one at that, I chalked it up to the cold....but then my little Diamond, who is uber sensitive to diet, began to get a streak of hair loss down the middle of his back too...

It was time to get drastic. The writing on the wall that no one food was going to work for my pack was pretty plain to see....but what to switch to?

What is causing all of this to go on in my pack? Is it the CORN in the food?

Well, I did a lot of research last weekend and early last week and came home with TWO new foods. The one size fit's all approach is not going to work anymore...

[Nanook]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

Enter, Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Synergy. This is a NEW food, so watch for 99 cent samples wherever Natural Balance is sold.

I started to feed this food to Diamond & Reggae a week ago Friday. Within 2 days, the redness was gone from Reggae's toes, and by Tuesday she is running around the house like a puppy! I kid you not, she is not trotting, she is galloping through the house! her coat has become shiny already and the hair is already growing back that was missing and no more redness.



Diamond, who is about as laid back of a little dog you ever saw...is galloping around the house as well. His coat is feeling much better and his missing/thinninghair is growing back.



Ingredients list:

Chicken, Brown Rice, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Beet Pulp, Pearled Barley, Lamb Meal, Salmon Meal, Oatmeal, Dried Egg Product, Oat Fiber, Natural Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Carrot, Salmon Oil, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Inulin, Minerals (zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), Psyllium Seed Husks, Vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid), Taurine, Choline Chloride, L-carnitine, Dried Kelp, Dried Cranberries, Dried Parsley, L-Lysine, Yucca Shidigera Extract, Dried Spinach.

Crude Protein 28.0% minimum
Crude Fat 16.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 5.0% maximum
Moisture 10.0% maximum
Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.5% minimum
Omega-6 Fatty Acids 3.0% minimum



website here

The only problem is, I don't think Rosie and Paris's digestive system can take the Synergy, especially Paris with the fish oil. On to food #2...

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/

We had Barney on Taste of the Wild. But, it got $$ and all his skin issues resolved once we moved.So we switched to Purina 1 (some times salmon sometimes chicken & rice)

But according to wwwdoogfoodadvisor.com it is not good. I'm thinking about trying Blue Buffalo. I wonder how $$$ it is?

[Nanook]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

The food I can home with for Rosie and Paris, and ultimately the rest of the crew, as soon as I get everyone switched over...

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine



A grain-free formula for all life stages with sweet potatoes and peas provides highly digestible energy for your active dog. Made with real roasted meats, this formula offers a taste sensation like no other. Supplemented with fruits and vegetables, this hearty formula delivers natural antioxidants to protect your friend's body from the damage of everyday living, supporting a healthy immune system and overall good health. Your dog craves a taste of the wild. Go ahead and give him one.

Protein: 32% Fat: 18%
Calcium: 2.1%, as-fed; Phosphorus: 1.4%, as-fed
Calories: 3,719 kcal/kg (370 kcal/cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy
Available in 5lb, 15lb and 30lb bags.

Ingredients
Bison, lamb meal, chicken meal, egg product, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, canola oil, roasted bison, roasted venison, natural flavor, tomato pomace, ocean fish meal, salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried fermentation products of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.


Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein 32.0% Minimum
Crude Fat 18.0 Minimum
Crude Fiber 3.0% Maximum
Moisture 10.0% Maximum
Zinc 150 mg/kg Minimum
Selenium 0.4 mg/kg Minimum
Vitamin E 150 IU/kg Minimum
Omega-6 Fatty Acids 2.8% Minimum
Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.3% Minimum

Calorie Content: 3,719 kcal/kg (369 kcal/cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy.

AAFCO Statement
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.

Taste of the Wild


So far so good! Taste of the Wild is the most economical of the grain free foods, and a lot of people rave about it. No problems switching over so far, by tomorrow I should be able to remove the mixed portions and just feed it straight. Rosebud might be starting to improve, but I don't see the drastic improvement like I am seeing with the Synergy. However, I am still adding the old food to the new for the larger dogs. The small dogs were able to handle a complete switch all at once but their systems seemed to be the worst off and they needed more drastic action.

I bet I see an improvement in Rose by the end of the week. It will take longer to notice any difference in Paris, as she is not visibly affected. I will notice if the reddish hair grows out and white hair replaces it as she stops licking her belly, and we'll see if the ear infection stays at bay.

Whew, hopefully I have the food puzzle solved for now. Stay tuned...and if you or anyone else are noticing any odd coat changes, or weight loss, discoloring of hair (especially the red color on a white dog), or are having ear infections, the food is more than likely the culprit. In my mind, it is the CORN, and maybe even specifically, the PESTICIDES used on the corn! THAT, is what I am thinking anyway, because in all of my years in dogs, I have never seen so many in my house have so many problems all of a sudden.

There is also a NEW supplement out, that they are waiting for at the grooming shop. It is supposed to be a magic cure all for coat and skin problems so I am anxiously awaiting for information on that when it becomes available. I will report here when I find out.

whew.

[Nanook]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

Blue Buffalo, I hear is very good. I have no idea about the cost, but I do think the Taste of the Wild is probably the cheapest of the grain free.. I am pretty disappointed about the Purina One, especially since it is easy to find everywhere...as well as only around 1.00 a LB.

The Synergy cost changes dramatically price per pound if you buy the large bag as opposed to smaller ones. Taste of the Wild is cheaper that way too, I think I paid around 1.15 a LB for each bag, but still...I will have to find the extra $$ for the more expensive food somewhere. The writing on the wall on Purina One was startling!


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jamaica_dreamin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/


We had Barney on Taste of the Wild. But, it got $$ and all his skin issues resolved once we moved.So we switched to Purina 1 (some times salmon sometimes chicken &amp; rice)

But according to wwwdoogfoodadvisor.com it is not good. I'm thinking about trying Blue Buffalo. I wonder how $$$ it is? </div></div>

[Nanook]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

PS...

I chose the High Prairie Taste of the Wild for one more reason. It does not contain chicken and since I am at trying to figure out Rosie's problem, eliminating chicken as well as corn was a next logical step.

[Nanook]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

Hey JD, I just sent your food advisor link to a friend feeding the Purina One. The sooner the better that product is out of my life! wow, thanks for that link.

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

Barney's skin issues all ended when we moved. It was something in that house

We had been renting an old house from a family&quot; friend&quot;. The place was a wreck. He was singing the blues about he gets tenants that don't pay and wreck the place. He gave us cheap rent He promised to do all kinds of work if we would &quot;work with him&quot;

He was the landlord from hell.

We are sure Barney would be dead if we stayed there.

[Nanook]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

I wonder if it was formaldehyde ot lead or something.

Well, I just spent an hour or so on the phone with Paris's breeder we were online searching the food companies and offerings. If we buy in bulk we can get a discount so tomorrow morning we'll meet at the grooming shop and go over the catalogs and prices and decide what to do.

When I called her I asked her if she could remember why we stopped feeding Eagle? She used to order it for us and a few other people by the pallets, but then when she had to leave to go care for her dad in hospice, that all went by the wayside. The Purina One entered the picture exactly then, because they were on the road for the rest of that winter and the Purina One was something they could always find.

I am thinking tomorrow I will buy a bag of Eagle Pack for my remaining dogs that don't need the Synergy, because I simply can't afford to feed Taste of the Wild to everyone....well, not without hardship!

I will let you know what we decide on. .

This is the eagle Pack, and the small bites were really nice, even for the big dogs.



Pork Meal, Ground Yellow Corn, Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Beet Pulp, Anchovy &amp; Sardine Meal, Oatmeal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Flaxseed, Wheat Germ Meal, Dried Egg Product, Potassium Chloride, Carrots, Peas, DL-Methionine, Vitamins [Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Biotin], Minerals [Zinc Polysaccharide Complex, Iron Polysaccharide Complex, Manganese Polysaccharide Complex, Copper Polysaccharide Complex, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Choline Chloride, Dried Kelp, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Inulin, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein (min.) 25.00%
Crude Fat (min.) 15.00%
Crude Fiber (max.) 4.00%
Moisture (max.) 10.00%
Calcium (min.) 1.20%
Phosphorus (min.) 1.00%
Vitamin A (min.) 22,000 IU/kg
Vitamin E (min.) 165 IU/kg
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)* (min.) 30 mg/kg
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (min.) 3.00%
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (min.) 0.30%
Glucosamine Hydrochloride (min.) 340 mg/kg
Total Lactic Acid Microorganisms* (min.) 70,000,000 CFU/lb

(Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Enterococcus faecium in equal amounts)

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles

Eagle Pack Original Pork Meal &amp; Chicken Meal Formula Small Bites Adult Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.

Eagle Pack

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

[quote=Nanook]I wonder if it was formaldehyde ot lead or something.


Could be. But we were at the vet constantly. Since we moved he only goes for shots or a bath.

[Nanook]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

Excellent! That is wonderful! Well, I am looking forward to our little &quot;food meeting&quot; tomorrow! Hopefully Paris's breeder and I end up liking the same food so we can order the quantity needed for discount. My breeder friend ordered food for years, many pallets at once and got a great deal we could all then buy into. Since then I have been on a food see saw.

Right now I am feeling pretty bad for feeding the Purina One at all. It was off and on, and mostly for the last 2 years I didn't feed it, but I did feed it all winter and am looking at the consequences of that now, and it ain't pretty!

At least the 4 known affected ones are on the mend as we speak!

[Nanook]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

The meeting at the grooming shop resulted in us ordering the Eagle Pack small bites pictured above. I just fed the first of it this morning, mixed with the Purina One, so as not to upset the digestive systems, and that I will continue through the weekend..(I sincerely HATE that i need to make the switch slowly, I am adamant about wanting the Purina one out of my house)!

No more one size fits all dog food for my pack.

The two dogs (I will probably add 2 more oldtimers), so 4 in all, will eat the natural Balance Synergy

Rosebud and Paris will stay on Taste of the Wild Venison and Buffalo formula.

The rest of the crew will eat Eagle Pack small bites

--------------------------------

Now, after less than 2 weeks, I am seeing such a noticeable improvement in my dogs that were having real problems that I almost can't believe it. Such drastic improvement, you would think...would take weeks to a month!. Remember, I was contemplating having to put Rosie DOWN. She was very bad off and looked like hell. Just one week ago, I had Rosie with me when we went to Paris's breeder, and she saw how bad off she was getting. She was starting to resemble a walking hat rack with giant dandruff, scaly skin, and missing hair on her back and even a sore!

Yesterday, she saw Rosie again and couldn't believe the change in only one week, and I was still mixing the Purina One into the food at that point! Rosie is filling out nicely, in fact, she is not even thin anymore. Her hair is coming back in, and she is less itchy!

I ALMOST PUT HER DOWN!

The two MinPins that were having skin issues? Well, Reggae's hair is almost grown back, Diamond's is coming back, both of them have soft healthy feeling velvety coats and are much more active because they now feel GOOD inside!

Diamond needs to go on a diet. I think they only need to eat about HALF of what they were previously consuming.

-------------------------------------------------------

In short, which is something I already knew...but in these hard times was trying to do the best I could and even though I felt I was feeding a good quality food to my dogs...Obviously I was NOT! They suffered the consequences.

The amount of food I will feed is LESS, which also results in less poop! The cost will be a little bit more, but in fact, far less than you would think, because of feeding less, and the VET BILLS will stay at bay.

---------------------

In my book Purina One is just a few feet short of poison. The proof was in the coats of my dogs, which incidentally, I found missing hair on one more girl this morning! I am so very sorry I ever went this route with my fur babies.

[Tulip]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

I personally think that just like us, they don't want the same food every day.

When I first got Madame Butterfly, she was on Science Diet. If memory serves, they had dropped &quot;Hill's” from the front of the brand name. It’s back now so that suggests there has been an ingredient change and they may be back up to their former quality from years ago.

At first, I thought I would ease her into a cooked food diet. So I mixed in things like boiled chicken with her food and we moved on to different things like rice and ground beef. To be honest, I couldn’t maintain cooking the two meals especially when she seemed to tire of them too. She hates eggs 24/7 but is a fan of yogurt and cheese. Hates tomatoes but loves raw asparagus and carrots

Then I read this whole thing how you should only feed dogs raw bones which as luck would have it, she never could stand. Loved bones from day one until now that have had some cooked meat on them and we have never had a splinter incident so I just assume she chews her food well. There was just too much going on.

I did a lot of research and could have at one time probably told you the top 5 ingredients for every dog food that PetSmart or Petco sold. Apparently, it’s a huge deal that meat and not carb or meat meal be once of those top ingredients. Still, that was not enough to make her eat her food every day.

So this is where we are now. We have a rotation of Bil-Jac, Blue Buffalo, Purina Pro Plan, and Wellness Super5 Mix. I also sprinkle this Showstopper powder on her food to try to accommodate for anything that might be missing from one. When she quits eating one right, I switch to one of the other that she likes.

[Tulip]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

So, that I only have one dog to feed and it was an issue. I cannot imagine what you're going through Nanook.

I have a friend who has a female pitbull and a female miniature schnauzer. What would possess her to breed both of them this past fall, I will never know. I think it had to be thinking she'd make money. There were so many puppies, vet bills, different foods, and what not around there, that before it was over she was giving them away for free. All she did was set a high enough price so that only serious buyers would respond, but she wouldn't charge them.

I think she was on the verge of a breakdown lol, Suffice it to say, she got her carpet replaced in January. I wouldn't consider it an actual puppy mill because she was a one timer. However, now both the pit and schnauzer are fixed.

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: The food merry go round-again.

So glad she had them fixed !

The number of dogs that end being killed in shelters every day is crazy. Pits and pit mixes are the largest group. There are pit pups on death row every day all over the US.