Dog food question

Wolfhillbilly

Just wondering what dog food people are feeding their dogs and do they change it now that the season is over to something with less carbs or protein.
I have fed quite a few different feeds and for a long time I was feeding Purina Beta Complete. It is fairly expensive and due to the credit crunch I have changed to Purina Omega. To be honest I haven't noticed any difference in energy levels, coat or anything else.
Does anyone know how there can be such a difference in price for different feeds? The Beta costs £22 stg a bag and the Omega costs £13. That's quite a difference and from looking at the ingredients there seems to be very little difference. The Omega has a slightly higher protein level.
I have occasionally fed cheaper foods when on offer. I have found some fine while others have just run through the dogs.
Obviously there must be somne difference in the feeds as the same company charges a different price for their products. Has anyone noticed much of a difference.
On another note, my dad feeds the stuff out of Lidl and his dogs are full of energy and always have a great sheen on their coat.

marlin vs

I use Gain 28 during the hunting season and Gain 20 out of season, there's less vat on greyhound food 14,50 for Gain 20.

Invincible

I've been using Speedrite lately,seems very palatable,15kg bag for 10.50 euro,it's 22% protein,a workmate buys it by the pallet from Nutts-about-dogs,Omagh.

pullandbang

marlin vs wrote: »

I use Gain 28 during the hunting season and Gain 20 out of season, there's less vat on greyhound food 14,50 for Gain 20.

So that's why there's a difference in price!

Must try the greyhound next time - I'm sure my mutts won't mind.

I mix a tin of Winalot in with the nuts too - anyone else use tinned food?

Story Man

The protien content is important. I feed 23% during the season and then drop to 18% over the summer months. not a great fan of tinned food as it is mostly water.

I also feed raw tripe and mince during th seqason and.....wait for it....pasta! A few carbs doesn't hurt!

My food is coming in around £12 for 15 kgs.

SM

EPointer=Birdss

pullandbang wrote: »

I mix a tin of Winalot in with the nuts too - anyone else use tinned food?

I always mix some tinned food in to the nuts as I also mix peratta into the food. Pure nuts with high protein does nothing but cause a mess in the dog runs. (No pun intended)
The peratta is cheap & makes cleaning the runs alot easier due to it's binding properties. (Discusting I know)
It is however very dry & bland as mostly starch so hense a 1/4 tin of food per dog per feed to mix it & add taste. My dogs are hopping off the ground & in good condition so is woking pretty well. Some people I've spoken to are really against tinned food but if its mostly water what harm? I wouldn't go away spending big money on tins though. It's the bulk food that's important. I mix Gain & Beta high activity in the season. Just gain rest of the year. Table scraps add a mix also.

mallards

I feed Purina maintainance in the off season and purina Pro plan bulked with maintaince from September to end of Jan. I buy the maintainance in the South at 18 Euro a 15kg bag and the pro plan I buy up north cause if it says 'for working dogs' on the side of the bag you get it VAT free. Have been known also to use DR. John blue or gold when stuck and the dogs loved it and thrived on it. I buy that for 8.99 sterling as its VAT free too. I stopped feeding tinned stuff years ago as the smell in the dog pens was horendous!

Mallards.

Story Man

I know what you mean about the smell!

If the stools are firm but not hard then you know the balance is about right.

SM

mallards

A word to the wise though. I was coming back from the North last month and as I was out hunting all day I had forgot to pick up dog food. On the way back down I stopped at a rural garage and they had bags of locally produced dog food for sale at 8.99 sterling for 20kgs. Being a tight frigger I bought two. Big mistake.
The dogs seemed to like it and the stools were grand except after a few days they developed Colitis ( bloody discharge in the stool). I was freaked and after a word with the vet he pinned it down to the dogs having an intolerance to some ingredient in the cheapo dog food. So I was 20 quid down for the food and 20 for the vet. Plus I had to feed them the great stuff for the week to let their insides recover!

Mallards

Story Man

That was bad luck mallards. Hope they have fully recovered.

Sometimes you get what you pay for and just that! On the other hand, I think some of the food prices is a rip off.

I have one that suits my dogs and I just stick to it.

SM