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

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Posted by Michele (Phoenix, Arizona) on 08/04/2007

I wanted to reply to a couple of the comments that Donna made. She mentioned odor as one of the problems dogs can have from commercial foods. Wow! I can sure attest to that with our dog. Prior to home cooking she had terrible doggie odor. A bath a week, which isn't really good for most breeds, wasn't enough. Now that she is eating home cooked, supplemented with a high quality commercial kibble, she doesn't have an odor problem.

Donna also mentioned that she is shocked that people could blindly feed their dogs commercial foods. Well I feel that over the years the public has been brainwashed into believing commercial foods are the healthiest way to feed our pets. A lot of money is spent on advertising in order to get their point across that "people" food is bad for pets. I think the tainted pet food problem was a good wakeup call for a lot of us, myself included.

Like Donna says, we need to do our homework to insure that we our feeding our pets what is best for them. That can vary tremendously from breed to breed. So that is something to consider and research. There are websites that provide valuable information on this subject.


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Posted by Donna (Indianapolis, IN) on 08/04/2007

It shocks me that people blindly went about feeding their dogs garbage from discount stores and grocery stores and were then shocked to find out what was in that food. We had only to pick up the package and look. It was all there to see...corn, wheat, soy...all the things that cause terrible skin, eye, ear and even mouth allergies and chimcals that cause cancer and other problems. Feeding the same food day after day, year after year will hurt your dog. That packaged food in dicount and grocery stores is like feeding your dogs big macs every day..they taste great but will kill them. There's very little nutrition in them and it usually shows up on the skin..hot spots, sores, odor, needing frequent baths. Runny eyes, smeely ears that have problems. Then, cancer or some other disease. It's easy to feed them right, feed them like you eat. Mine get whatever I'm having, minus certain things that are bad for them, like onions, chocolate, grapes, etc., but they gets lot of veggies, meat, raw and cooked, chicken, pasta, eggs, yogurt (they love fruit flavored, all this and a very high quality kibble that uses nothing but human grade bison and lamb and fish. Mine love sardines, although now I worry about where the come from (China?) and salmon and all kinds of fish. Feeding a dog is exactly like feeding yourself. Mix it up and give them a big variety. Cats too...cats are bigger carnivores than dogs and the perfect diet for a cat is mice. Literally. Meat..not fish. Read the ingredients, never buy anything with corn, wheat or soy or "flavorings" or anyting that comes from the grocery store or discount store. Most independent dog food stores and some health food stores carry good dog food. Buy that and then feed your dog all the things that are good for you and mix it all up in their food. They will live long happy lives and their skin problems will go away. I always supplement with flax see oil or fish oil, I do not use extra vitamins becuase the food I buy is so high quality it has all that in it. Just do your homework. And stay away from vaccines after age 1.


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Posted by Lana (Mishmar HaEmek, Israel) on 07/30/2007

My 6-1/2 year old dog started vomiting daily. This went on for months, though she didn't seem to be suffering in any way. Every vet I consulted said there was nothing wrong with her and that I needed to buy her a better grade of food, so I did, but she continued vomiting. Finally I decided to get her a dry food for senior dogs, even though she wasn't strictly a senior yet - and it worked instantly! The higher quality regular brands were just too rich for her to digest. Maybe this will work for others too.


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Posted by Judith-Ann (Woodend, VIC, AUSTRALIA) on 07/12/2007

A great deal of dog food has ingrediants in it that is sourced from off shore. I cannot comment on the Whole Foods supplied commercial dog food, but would recommend serious study of "raw feeding" - it's healthier & cheaper than anything out of a can or a bag. If you are in No. America, one good on-line supplier & advisor (biochemist with years of experienc in canine nutrition) is www.k9rawdiets.com or buy the book "Raw Meaty Bones" by vet author, Tom Lonsdale. Another good resource site is http://b-naturals.com/email.php Here's to healthy animals!


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Posted by Dina (newnan, Georgia) on 06/26/2007

I saw on your page about other dog food may be bad! And dogs passing away out of the blue. I just fell upon your site and felt that I should tell you my story. I had a Weim. Female. She would have been 3 on Aug.10, but she never made it. She was very healthy. She was in the back yard with water and a big dog house with a fan in it. She never touched her water. But when I got home I Thought she was Sleeping when I went out there to check her she had already passed! I have no clue what happend, I called the vet and he said that It may have been Blot. I really dont know she was Fine when I left, I am heart broken I hope this helps. I was feeding her Purina one Large Breed adult. I also have a male Weim. he is 5mo. old and I have done alot of research and as of today he is on a RAW diet, I dont want to take any chances. Good Luck


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Posted by Tim (Virgina) on 06/03/2007

I think a great deal more dog food is bad than is being reported. I've known several people at work who have had young dogs die unexpectedly. The food they had wasn't on the list. Stick with organic, human grade food, or human food.


RSO and Dietary Changes

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Posted by Heimdal (Johannesburg) on 01/27/2023
★★★★★

I have found this site very useful. I have moved from commercial to home made and raw over a few years and have seen the benefits. Hair shiny. Eyes cleared up. I have two dogs, both GSDs, one is two years old now and a picture of health and athleticism. Muscular. Energetic. He had a set back with tick bite fever six months ago. I was out of my depth. So I accepted the antibiotic course. After which I ensured he received probiotics and fermented vegetables and raw milk, and raw butter. His heart seemed strained, I had exercised him when ill, ignorant, and I regret now. Heavy panting for no good reason. Yes. Very hot weather here. I started RSO a month ago and he seems to have recovered. Also more positive and lounges around, less biting at the bit for exercise. I do supplement well including krill oil. Etc supplements I can not afford for myself. The GSD puppy is seven months of age. From the best show breeder in this country. Yet. Her structure is not as solid as his. She has developed growth issues. Heartbreaking. The vet recommended more calcium. My research sad this was not the way to go but that zinc needed to be added to the diet. She does eat chicken necks and feet for calcium, and drinks raw milk. I have only become aware of the growth issues recently so I have not had a chance to see whether the remedies will help her. I am using two homeopathic remedies the vet prescribed, including calcarea. To add to the issue she has become a fussy eater after the vet visits. And she is struggling with weight. The vet prescribed Milbemax. I gave her one dose grudgingly. Poison pill. Allopathic medicine is a slippery slope. She however will not eat food with any supplements mixed in. Frustratingly challenging. My adult GSD eats all his food with any supplements and I can naturally deworm him. Black walnut, wormwood, cloves, neem, dme etc and he is thriving. With her she will eat the chicken necks and duck feet, raw milk, raw butter. And some raw meat, not enthusiastic about ground meat, and unlikely to touch it with any supplements. Unwilling to eat vegetables or fruit or herbs. I am concerned about over all nutrition. I asked two different vets who said kibble. I again grudgingly agreed. But she will eat only a few, very unenthusiastic. I have also started her on RSO recently. I am not sure if her growth issues will rectify themselves. I hope so for her sake. Very sweet and loving.


Satin Balls

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Posted by Kewlfemale (Anaheim, Ca) on 10/16/2009
★★★★★

Before purchasing my Standard Poodle I researched everything possible, including food and nutrition, for one year. I have fed him 'satin balls' since the day I brought him home at 3 months of age; satin balls contains molasses. As I write, my Poodle is 21 weeks and returned earlier from booster shots, etc. The Vet, Nurse and Receptionist all commented on how exceptionally healthy my Poodle is. I didn't need them to tell me that but it sure was nice. You can find 'satin balls' recipe online and it is no more expensive than the store bought dog food Besure there is no sugar added to your molasses. FYI; I also give him wheatgerm. Let me know if you want the recipe.

EC: Here's one link to a recipe: http://www.holisticdog.org/Nutrition/Satinballs/satinballs.html

Apparently these satin balls put weight on a dog very quickly, as well as getting their coats nice and healthy!


Snorting Food

Posted by Asdzaan (Tempe, AZ) on 01/21/2015 2 posts

I adopted my 7+ years old chihuahua (chiweenie?) Brutus after finding him abandoned in an open field. His nails were trimmed and fairly clean overall so he was not in the field for very long. He was not neutered so he may have been used for reproductive purposes.

The problem is his tendency to eat/attack his meals with so much gusto that he makes snorting noises and often chokes on his food. The food goes up his nose and he blows or spits it out once or twice. Afterwards he often makes long and loud snorts in and out as if food is stuck up his nostrils, then he flicks/lick his nose area and his bedding until there is a huge wet spot. He acts panicky and I try to massage his nose outwardly hoping to help dislodge the food. Is there anything I can do to help him? Could I use a baby's bulb syringe?

Replied by Suseeq
(Sydney, Australia)
01/21/2015

Azdzaan, it sounds like your dog eats his food too quickly. May I suggest to you to put a little bit of food into each hole of a patty cake pan which will slow him down good luck.

Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
01/21/2015

Hey Asdzaan!

I agree that your dog may be eating too fast - wolfing his food down and getting some into his sinuses. There are ways to slow him down - food cubes where he has to work one piece of kibble out at a time to eat, the muffin pan idea is excellent as well. You might also consider hand feeding him; make him work for each piece of kibble by doing a sit/stay - down/stay - come - heel, etc. Hand feeding each piece of kibble goes a long way at creating a very obedient dog to boot!


Vegan Diet

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Posted by DogMom (TX) on 12/25/2022

I believe in a Vegan diet for all. I read about the longest living dog who was a Vegan.

A Vegan diet is best. Does anyone have an opinion?

Replied by GertJr
(Madison)
12/26/2022

I disagree. Look at canine teeth and you will know what sort of food they are meant to eat. They tear meat off a carcass and swallow it whole. In nature, you rarely see a dog eating spinach or green beans, although I had a malamute who ate strawberries. Vegan is not normal for dogs, in my opinion. Do your own thing, though, and good luck.

Replied by Jeremy
(Eu/Can)
12/27/2022

Well I must disagree with you. A dog is not designed for veganism, nor is their acids, teeth, jaws, digestive tract, bowels etc.

Our dog lived 13.5 years, just passed last month and lived a long life for a large dog.

We had a really good vet the last 3 years here in Eu, and the owner said that animals should live much longer than they are if people would do 2 things. 1, not get them vaccinated and 2, feed them properly.

Pet vaccinations are unnecessary, other than the first rabies shot. He has tested animals for many years and in doing titer tests found that after their first rabies shots, 99 percent of dogs keep antibodies in the system their entire life. You do not need yearly or bi yearly or any other shots. As for lepto, parvo and all those other shots, they are not needed. In fact the unvaccinated dogs he deals with live longer and have less health problems.

The diet is another he is adamant about. Why do dogs have the digestive system that they do? They have acids that break down things we cant. They can drink ditch water, mud water, eat bad food, eat bone, skin, hair, etc and not get sick, but get nutrition from it. Then, they have these things called canine teeth! You know the long ones! And if you look at the rest of their teeth, they are not at all like yours and mine. They are all serrated. Each and every one of them. You think thats for veggies or tofu?

Now, of course you can feed dogs and other animals vegetables. Our dog loved cooked carrots, raw peppers, cucumbers, potatoes etc. He ate them daily, but...they need a level of animal protein that is required to keep their carnivore body in balance.

Where you got that vegan dogs live longer is not true. There is no literature that shows anything other than a natural diet (for them in nature) is the diet that keeps them living long and healthy.

Belief that all things must be vegan is incorrect.

Not even humans should be vegan. We are omnivores. We need both. We in our history are hunters and gatherers. We have the same digestive system as a bear which is an omnivore as well. We do not have a cow system, nor a dog system.

Preaching one diet over another is dangerous.

Replied by Gina
(Texas)
12/27/2022
★★★★★

I was experimenting one day to make vegan burgers from lentils, germinated lentils, barley and sprouted barley because the combination provides all 9 essential amino acids. While the mix was on the stove both the cat and dog started begging. They never begged for lentils or barley cooking before I came up with that combination. BTW - tasted good but made into patties it stuck to the pan. So fail on one count but success on a different.

Tamara DogMom
(TX)
12/27/2022

I am a VEGAN, and believe wholeheartedly in Vegan Diet for Dogs👍

Tamara

Animal Advocate🌱🐾

"The Longest Living Vegan Dog Bramble was a Border Collie who was recognized as the oldest living dog by the Guinness World Records. Bramble was born on April 10,1981 and lived to be 27 years old." Vegan Dogs May Live Long

Jeremy
(EU/Canada)
12/28/2022
★☆☆☆☆

Of course they were interested. How often do dogs not notice smells like something cooking?

Many times my dog was interested as well, but either turned down when offered, or ate it.

No one says dogs can't eat or enjoy veggies, beans, lentils, or any other food. But they can not sustain on it. Whether containing all 9 aminos or not. Animals, or rather Carnivores are not designed that way, and you do more harm than good.

Also, science has proved that just because something provides all essential amino acids does not mean it is sufficient as there is a difference in animal and plant protein. There are good free articles on NCBI or National Library of Medicine on this topic.

I am not knocking a vegan diet per se, but it can not comprise of the complete diet. There must be some animal protein in there. There are enough studies out there now that show this to be true.

Jeremy
(Eu/Canada)
12/28/2022

Well I read the article you included, and it uses the word 'may' quite a lot. The fact that there have been only a few studies as the article admits on vegan diet for dogs, is telling.

Also, the longest living dog was attributed to many many factors, not diet alone. Genes play a huge part in any lifespan. Exercise, proper diet, love, genetics, lifestyle (city/farm) etc. To pick one of these and say it's the reason is illogical.

I believe that every living thing must be raised according to its place in our ecosystem. Every living thing should be raised as it would in nature or the wild. Not at the whim of fad diets related to humans, or the emotional connection people have with animals, therefore refuse to partake in their consumption.

I see the connection, and I respect your individual choice no to eat this or that food. I believe humans in general are on a downfall as it is. Obesity is over 40 percent in Canada and the US, 60 percent plus are pre or diabetic, and overweight/out of shape. We have failed to take our health and make it our priority. A vegan diet may work for some, but not for others.

But...if you truly love animals as I do, why would you not feed them as they would in nature. You can love, cuddle, talk to, walk, go for car rides, provide toys and mental stimulation, give that animal everything and more to make his/her life happy and long. But do not short change him on his diet.

Jeremy
(Eu/Can)
12/28/2022

So I noticed you listed that you are an animal advocate. If you truly had the best intentions as an animal advocate, you would want the best for that animal. Which means as close to natural life as possible. Which does not mean vegan in a carnivore species.

I am sure that you mean well but are letting personal bias enter your decision making.

Wendy
(Dublin, OH)
12/29/2022

Just another thing to think about: @8 years ago, I had my Golden Retriever on a high-quality dog food. Then realized she was pooping 4-5 times per day! I took a good look at the ingredients: legumes were among the first 3 ingredients (these are peas & beans, which are basically filler). This is why she was pooping so much. I then put her on a legume-free, good-quality protein dog food (she did better on salmon than on chicken), and "everything" was normal after that. Bloodwork, her weight, energy-level was always normal, as well.

Jeremy
(Eu/Can)
12/30/2022

Thank you for your input. I agree with you. Most legumes are used as fillers, and canine digestive systems just 'move them out'. Dogs do much better on high protein like fish and chicken.


Water Kefir

Posted by Om (Hope, Bc Canada) on 08/19/2014

My Cats and dogs get water kefir over their food once a day. I was out of baby probiotics and the health food store did not have it when I remembered the water kefir crystals in my pantry. This works and is really cheap to use. If there is constipation, just a little more of the liquid. It is available readily online.

The other time daily, they get ACV.

Namaste, Om



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