Best Dog Food & Cat Food Options for Your Healthy Pet!

Brand Comparisons

4 User Reviews
5 star (1) 
  25%
1 star (3) 
  75%

Posted by Akeela (Bloomfield, Ct) on 09/11/2008

Newman's Own Organics: Does anyone have any feedback on this brand of dog food. My senior lab/shepard regained vitality and finally healed her elbow sores on this diet. I now feed this to my rescued pitbull terrier along with 1/2 boiled egg in the morning and give blueberries, broccoli and chicken as "treats". She's got a glossy coat and tons of energy. But, you never know. It's still dog food from a bag.


Brand Comparisons
Posted by Earth Clinic (USA) on 09/11/2008

Here's are ingredients from 3 brands of dog food that we have used over the past 5 years. We've been happy with all three brands, but like Akeela mentions, it's still food from a bag!

Note: We also add slightly undercooked ground beef, chicken or turkey and a hint of flax seed oil to each meal.

The Blue Buffalo Company http://www.bluebuff.com/
Lamb and Brown Rice for Adult Dogs

Ingredients:

Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Whole Ground Barley, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Rye, Fish Meal, Whole Potatoes, Tomato Pomace (natural source of Lycopene), Sunflower Oil (natural source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Natural Flavor, Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Cranberries, Flaxseed, Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Alfalfa Meal, Kelp Meal, Taurine, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Green Tea Extract, Turmeric, Garlic, Herring Oil (natural source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Fructooligosaccharides, Monooligosaccharides, Dried Chicory Root, Black Malted Barley, Oil of Rosemary, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin C, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Folic Acid, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Calcium Phosphate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Zinc), Iron Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Iron), Copper Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Copper), Manganese Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Manganese), Potassium Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Potassium), Cobalt Proteinate (source of Chelated Cobalt), Potassium Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Salt, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium.


Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein 22.0% min
Crude Fat 12.0% min
Crude Fiber 4.5% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Calcium 1.3% min
Phosphorus 1.0% min
L-Carnitine* 100 mg/kg min
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 0.40% min
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* 1.80% min
Beta Carotene* 5.0 mg/kg min
Glucosamine* 400 mg/kg max

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

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

Blackwood 4000 http://www.blackwoodpetfood.com/
Senior & Overweight - Low Fat

Note: our dogs gained too much weight on the adult formula, so we switched to Senior

INGREDIENTS:

Poultry Meal, Ground Rice, Ground Corn, Dried Potato Product, Oatmeal, Plain Dried Beet Pulp (Sugar Removed), Natural Flavors, Chicken Fat [Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols (Source of Vitamin E) and Citric Acid}, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Whole Eggs, Flax Meal, Lecithin, Salt, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Dried Whey, Dried Garlic, Dried Cheese, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Vegetable Oil, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfate (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate,Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein, not less than 20.00%
Crude fat, not less than 7.00%
Crude fiber, not more than 4.00%
Crude moisture, not more than 11.00%

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

LOTUS (http://lotuspetfoods.com/dogfood_lamb.html)
Lamb Recipe

Note: Sold only in Los Angeles

Lamb, Lamb Meal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice, Deboned White Fish, Ground Oats, Oil Blend (Olive Oil, Salmon Oil, and Evening Primrose Oil), preserved with mixed Tocopherols (a natural source of Vitamin E) and Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sea Salt, Dried Whole Egg, Brewers Dried Yeast, Fresh Whole Garlic, Fresh Whole Sweet Peas, Fresh Whole Sweet Potatoes, Fresh Whole Carrots, Fresh Whole Green Apples, Ground FlaxSeed, Dried Kelp, Dried Chicory Root, Yucca Shidigera Extract, GrapeSeed Extract, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Lactis, and Lactobacillus Casei, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E Supplement), Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Folic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Manganese Proteinate (amino acidchelate), Copper Proteinate (amino acidchelate), and Zinc Proteinate (amino acidchelate), Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Ferrous Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, and Vitamin B12 Supplement

Replied by Cathy
(Deltona, FL)
09/18/2008

After much research, I've purchased Blue Buffalo chicken and brown rice for my dog who has allergies and ear infections. The reviews on this food is outstanding and it's as close as you can get to homemade. I'll let you know how it works!


Diet for Puppy

Posted by Kay (Jax, Fl, Usa) on 07/15/2014

My five month old BC poops at least 3 x after each meal and I feed him 1 cup of dry food in am, 1/2 cup noon and 1 cup dinner. This is puppy size high quality food. I mix 1 tablespoon of canned pumpkin. The stools are normal and not diarrhea. I took him to the vet who wanted to put him on the food she sells. I did this and it constipated him. So, I have him back on the high quality food. Vet said he should poop within 45 minutes after eating and that would be all (3 to 4x per day).

any suggestions?

Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
07/15/2014

Hey Kay!

That's a lotta scooping you are doing!

A couple things come to mind.

If you are feeding a puppy kibble, your pup's metabolism shifted into low gear right around 16 weeks; he no longer needs the extra OOOMPH from the puppy kibble, so you might consider switching to adult chow.

That said, if you are feeding grain free you might be over feeding; if your puppy has puppy fat and you cannot easily feel the ribs, you may be over feeding. Even if he looks age appropriately rangy and not fat, you might consider cutting out the noon meal and seeing if that makes a difference.

And what treats are you giving? Pig's ears for snacks, raw hides for working the jaw, biscuits during training sessions? A chunk of cheese because you are standing in the kitchen with the fridge door open and he just happened to look super cute? They add up... and come out!

And the pumpkin - I know you added this for the constipation from the last food, but why are you continuing it? It certainly cannot be over looked as to why your pup has so many stools.

And how is his temperament over all? Is he a nervous Nelly or a laid back Larry? A high energy nervous type will simply have to 'go' more than a couch potato because the nervous Nelly's nerves just work things loose.


Diet for Puppy
Posted by Kay (Jax, FL) on 06/04/2014

I have had my new now 13 wk old puppy on EN as prescribed by the Vet. The diarrhea is gone, but he goes to the bathroom a lot! I feed him 1 cup 3 x per day mixed with a teaspoon of pumpkin. He poops probably 3 times after each meal. He will go before bedtime, wake up around 1am go again and than again at 6am. When I asked the vet they said I should be feeding only morning and evening which I disagree with as every dog food package and article states puppies need more. Any suggestions? I have tried other grain free foods but they were causing the diarrhea

Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
06/04/2014

Hey Kay!

IMHO you are feeding your puppy way too much!! No wonder the concentrated protein grain free foods are giving your pup the runs - your BC is eating as if he were an adult Great Dane!

I agree that you should feed a puppy three meals a day, but right around 4 months their metabolism changes so they need far fewer calories than they did at 8 weeks because they are over their major growth spurt.

If this were my dog I would cut it back to one half cup portions - try three feedings a day and consider going to two depending on your comfort level. Do this first and check stool consistency. If there are still multiple stools after a feeding cut it back to one third a cup; if there is only one scant stool after feeding the half cup portion, then try increasing it to two thirds cup: fiddle with it until you find the right amount. As an adult your dog may get one cup am and pm -unless he is *actively worked* on a daily basis chasing sheep from sun up to sun down, which in that case you may end up feeding 2 cups am and pm - but for right now cut back on portion size and monitor stools.


Dietary Tips

Posted by Michael (Seattle, Wa.) on 12/30/2013

Hello, my name is Michael. I live in Seattle, and yes, I believe it is raining today. In my years of experience with my dogs and helping other dog lovers learn how and what will reversed nearly every disease, nearly 100%!

Today I never feed my dogs horrible commercial dog foods. They are the major cause of all dog diseases I discovered. These kinds of foods become highly "acidic" in the intestine, and effect the liver and kidneys. Commercial dog foods are totally lacking in organic mineral, trace elements, enzymes and organic antioxidants. Dog foods are "dead" foods. Dead foods cause illness, like it does with humans.

If you want a dog that will live longer and will never get sick, is just do this: 1. stop feeding harmful dog foods to your best friend. 2. instead feed your animals fresh raw, fruits and veggies, including fresh meats only. You can also semi-cook fresh foods, but above all, please don't deny your dogs the abundant benefits of eating healthier, by feeding our dogs fresh organic foods.

Cascading with real organic minerals and vitamins that the body instantly recognizes and instantly assimilates at nearly 95%! No dog foods even come close to doing this.

Michael - dittovanmp(at)comcast(dot)net


Food Allergies

Posted by Cecilia (Happy, NY) on 04/05/2013

Greetings, I own an 11 year old Westie. I don't vaccinate him (except rabies) and don't use any chemicals to rid him of fleas. He has a beautiful dense coat. But, he can not tolerate any food except chicken breast with white rice (barely). He always has a soft stool on this diet, which is very discouraging. I have tried to eliminate the white rice. When this is attempted he gets very gassy and then gets diarrhea. Due to the white rice he does have a bad yeast infection in one of his paws and depending on the season can get very itchy ears. Lastly, my poor dear also get a crustitis on his lips which makes his canines hang over. My number one concern is his diet. I have tried plain yogurt and pure pumpkin. But after a few days it seems to catch up with his sensitive belly and then gets diarrhea. I would like to replace the rice perhaps with something more tolerable to have with the chicken breasts? Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Many thanks!!

Replied by Charliesmom
(Cambridge , Ma)
04/09/2013

Please check out the book "royal treatment" by Dr. Royal.

Replied by Kerri
(Clarkston, Mi)
04/10/2013

Have you tried steamed cauliflower?


Food Recall

1 User Review
1 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Dan (Earth Clinic) on 05/06/2012
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Just wanted to take a moment to make sure pet owners had seen the latest pet food recall. It's a voluntary recall of kibble products from one particular company and a few of its products.

Replied by Prflgrl
(Tampa, Fl, Usa)
05/25/2012

My dog was affected by this recall. I am done feeding her kibble. I am cooking rice and either turkey or chicken along with a few veggies. My vet recommended a good multi vitamin to help supplement her food.

I wanted to let others know that humans have been affected by tainted dog food.

Here is the CDC link with information

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/dog-food-05-12/index.html


General Feedback

Posted by Aida (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) on 08/19/2012

Hi, need some advise. It is okay for a six months old persian kitten ate cakes, cookies and spicy food? I try to give my kitten to eat blackwood kitten kibbles but its dislike instead she ate adult blackwood. She like to eats our foods too. Please advise as I am not sure how?


General Feedback
Posted by Peter (Calgary, Ab.) on 12/12/2011

If a dog licks up alot of her own blood will it make the dog sick?


Homemade Cat Food Recipes

Posted by Shekanahh (Tulsa, Ok) on 09/13/2009

Natural Cat Food: I just read a person's comments that they rescued a stray kitten and cooked up a batch of chicken stew with lots of veggies. While rescuing kitties is commendable, and the chicken veggie stew may be a cut above canned or dried, it is still not the natural diet of a feline.

Please folks, this is the information highway. Find out how to make your beloved pets a healthy, natural RAW diet of ground chicken, rabbit or a combination, complete with finely ground bones. You can do it!


Homemade Dog Food Recipes

3 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  67%
1 star (1) 
  33%

Posted by Ky Mama (Clinton, Ky, Usa) on 07/30/2012
★★★★★

We just got a Great Pyrenees puppy. He isn't fond of dog food, and neither am I. I figure, when you are insulting food, you call it dog food. Dog food is inferior to people food, why give it to my expensive dog? Cheap dog food is 40cents a pound. I can get quality grains that I feed my family for this price, so I am getting started feeding him some real food. I have been making him oatmeal each morning. I add a little sea salt, a t. of blackstrap molasses, 1/2 t. Garlic powder and this morning I added a teaspoon of spirulina. He shares it with the cats and likes it better than dog food. I am also going to give him eggs every day. I will supplement his diet with dog food just because I may not always have enough leftovers for him, but he should be able to get plenty of meat and grains and veggies from what we have leftover. I grew up with a pure bred dachund in my house. She was fed people food all the time. She hated dog food. When she was an elderly dog my mom fixed her scrambled eggs every day! She lived to be 17. Obviously, people food didn't hurt her.


Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Posted by Monadz (Wnc) on 06/22/2010

Ok, I have a rescued Saint Bernard who adopted me 5 yrs ago. She is loving, sweet, etc, (when she gets her own way) Well, that includes her diet: one very fussy pooch. We fix something new, she hoovers it up for about 3 meals..then "Hohum...what you got for me next." Turns around and walks away.....and this can go on for days....right now she is on her 3rd day of fasting; I know it is hot now, but have just thrown the 4th or 5th bowl of food away. She was at a vet hospital lst wkend and getting IVs and antibiotics for FUO and they tell me she scoffed up all her food there. HA! they should have had her there another day or so. I have tried the expensive, the homemade, the raw, conjoling, coaxing, ignoring. Oh, I have vented and am going shopping for Something for her shortly. Any suggestions I may not have covered?

Replied by Deirdre
(Atlanta, Ga)
06/22/2010

Hi Monadz,

Oh Wow, does your post bring back memories! I had a Malamute who had exactly (and I mean EXACTLY) the same issue... I loved him so much, but oh what a rascal he was. Oh the stories, the stories! You can't believe what I tried to get him to eat (well, maybe you can). He would usually eat a few bites of his food, but then no more. At one point I put him on a homemade, mostly raw food diet and that worked (though not all the time, I must admit). He lived to be quite old, but getting him to eat was a constant battle. He basically hated any type of dog food period. Human food, okay.

I now have my two dogs on a mostly home cooked (not raw) diet now, so if you'd like the recipe, I'll post it. Each time I prepare a new batch of food, I change the type of meat I use, so the dogs are loving it. My golden retriever has a hard time losing weight (borderline hypothyroid), so my vet gave me this recipe... basically brown rice, meat protein and vegetables. Takes about 20 minutes to make... If you make large quantities of it for your St. Bernard, you'll want to get a rice cooker and food processor to speed things up.

Replied by Lisa
(Wichita Falls, Texas)
06/23/2010

This is so funny because I have a dog like this. Only he is so not a big dog! He is a chihuahua mix! He is 11 years old and yes I cook for my doggie!!People tell me to leave dog food down for him and when he gets hungry enough that he will eat it. I tried that once a long time ago and he did not eat for almost two days! There is no way that I am going to do that to him. He is 11 now,so I guess we are doing something right! I have 10 cats also!!But, they get cat food ,there is no way that I can afford to get them started on people food. But,they do get treats of salmon or chicken or something like that sometimes!


Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Posted by Racer (Hampton, Tn) on 12/15/2009

Dove soap is very gentle on my dachsund's itchy awful skin. I have checked her for fleas...she doesnt have them..I suspect it is our pedigree food, which they love, and the stools are small, but they seem not to be thriving on it.

I had a dog come to me from a neighbor who was starving and I had to research foods for dogs and came up with the findings that our dog foods we buy at the store are mostly garbage... From that point on I began supplementing our dogs normal food with home cooked meats and vegetables, except for broccoli, and never any grapes at all. But I give them about three times a week, a pound of beef, mixed up with a cup of oatmeal, and a can of green beans, and 4 tbsp mayonaise, and total cereal, 1/4 cup evaporated milk,
a couple of long squirts of Karo syrup the light kind, and then 4 Tablespoons of olive oil, since I seperate this into four servings one for each dog. Then I put two full droppersful of infant vitamins into this mix. I put in a cup of yogurt when I have it...if I don't have all the ingredients I can just do the meat and the oatmeal, the veggies, the oil and the vitamins. If I were trying to gain weight on them I would add macaroni and cheese, but the other dog has gained enough weight back on.

They like these...they are such big dogs, that they eat all this and I do it about three times a week. When it is time to get treats, I buy small bags of authority, as I read earlier, baby carrots.

As far as outward measures to combat dry skin, I do oatmeal water rubdowns, the bathe them with dove soap and dry them without rubbing. I put olive oil on any irritated areas, and it clears up. If not they get dosage of benedryl about 1 mg per pound of body weight.

Brushing and massaging their fur down the the skin is important also. Brushing is an everyday thing for all of them.

I have found that Frontline does not work anymore the formula has been changed or the ownership has changed hands.... I do the brewers yeast tablets, and I call them candy and dip them in gravy.

I am going to buy the powder brewers yeast in a shaker and put it on them all the time also.

I also intend to try diatomacious earth as well.

It is important to realize you can substitute fish oil pills for olive oil, 1 tbsp for a big dog, 1/2 tbsp for a medium size dog and 1/4 tablespoon for a small dog on a daily basis.


Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Posted by Jumar (Adelaide, Australia) on 11/30/2009

I believe a natural diet is so important for animals. Some conditions or diseases are inherited/genetically passed down. Read labels on dog food. There are some healthy organic choices out there. Some of these are found in the meat section of the supermarket[ they have a pet food section?]. Feed your animals fresh meat, vegetables [plain] and some good quality carbohydrates. I feed my dog a mix of these and she's absolutely in good health. Vegetable matter should be a part of their daily diet [think wild dogs]. In the wild, wolves would eat the stomach contents of rabbits etc. Omit all foods containing preservatives, colourings [artificial] and additives. Also to be included should be raw bones [hard] eg. lamb shin bones etc. These should be given occasionally to keep teeth in good condition. I know someone, who's dog has just had 12 teeth removed because they never gave their dog a raw bone!!!! Wild dogs would eat the bones of anything they could catch. No cooked bones of any description should be given however. I believe in most cases, diet is the most important aspect in maintaining an animals health. Be cautious about giving your dog anything it wouldn't normally have access to, there is no evidence to show that acv has no long term complications. Veterinary care is sometimes the only solution.

Footnote: If you are concerned about giving you dog raw bones, give them under supervision.


Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Posted by Joleen (Kingwood, Tx) on 09/29/2009

I started feeding both my dogs a frozen, pre-made raw dog food from a local pet store. I love it and so do my dogs but it is pretty expensive. Is there a way I can make cheaper version of this at home? Thanks!

Replied by Dawn
(Birmingham, Al)
02/02/2010

An organic raw food diet can take approximateley an hour of your time a week. Simply prepare their meals as you would for a family. Sunday evening fix their eggs and place in small bowls and put them in the fridge. Mix their raw veggies, rice and meats together place in separate bowls and throw them in the freezer. The only part of this that I dispise is the dishes:)



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