What are you feeding your dog?

andrewire

I have a jack russell and a westie. They eat very well but I'm considering changing their food to something of a higher quality. I give them Royal Canin for small dogs. I keep reading bad stuff about Royal Canin and how they use controversial fillers in their food range. Anyone?

TooManyDogs

I do a raw food diet, mine love it and are really healthy on it. I changed because I didn't like the amount of processing that can go into dry food.

andreac

I feed my rottweiler CLINIVET and he does really well on it.


http://www.clinivet.com/

kylith

I use the budget Salmon and Potato from Brenda's Pets. It's €37 for a 15kg (i think) bag. Anything else I tried (JWB, Orijen, Eukanuba, Arden Grange) went straight through one of mine, and Eukanuba bunged the other up completely. They're both a good weight, have tons of energy and are as shiny-coated as wire-haired dogs get.

easyeason3

My pooch eats pedigree chum nuts, eggs, cheese, beef, ham, chicken & he loves toast.
It's not unheard of to put on a some chicken or steak just for him.

andreac

easyeason3 wrote: »

My pooch eats pedigree chum nuts, eggs, cheese, beef, ham, chicken & he loves toast.
It's not unheard of to put on a some chicken or steak just for him.

I wouldnt feed your dog cheese as dogs are actually lactose intolerant and shouldnt be fed dairy so its not very good for them at all.

Cherry Blossom

Anything with beetpulp in it will stain your Westies beard as I'm finding out with Hills, was going hyper on Royal Cainin though so it's a better result than that. Try and find something around 20% protein with no beet or red dyes in it and see how they do on that.

easyeason3

andreac wrote: »

I wouldnt feed your dog cheese as dogs are actually lactose intolerant and shouldnt be fed dairy so its not very good for them at all.

Ah yes but when I'm trying to coax him into doing something a corner off some cheese works wonders for him

Cherry Blossom

easyeason3 wrote: »

Ah yes but when I'm trying to coax him into doing something a corner off some cheese works wonders for him

:eek: Wonders never cease!

toadfly

andrewire wrote: »

I keep reading bad stuff about Royal Canin and how they use controversial fillers in their food range.

I thought RC was good? I feed that to my 2 Yorkies, Tilly gets the light version as she ballooned after she was spayed and Ozzie is on the normal adult for small dogs. He seems to be doing good on it.

Was thinking of changing them both to Burns? Any thoughts? Would it be "light" enough for Tilly?

Cherry Blossom

TillyGirl wrote: »

I thought RC was good? I feed that to my 2 Yorkies, Tilly gets the light version as she ballooned after she was spayed and Ozzie is on the normal adult for small dogs. He seems to be doing good on it.

Was thinking of changing them both to Burns? Any thoughts? Would it be "light" enough for Tilly?

Royal Cainin mini has 32% protein (if I remember correctly), the highest you'll find. Not sure about the light stuff it'll have it on the bag. Burns mini-bites is 21% protein

toadfly

Might try Burns so, my mam feeds that to her dogs and my sister has just changed over as well for her two.

They are a bit wired lately come to think of it! Though it was just the terrier coming out!

adser53

I use Burns too and can't recommend it enough. my lot were on red mills leader supreme and I thought it was good enough until I tried burns which is far superior

Noopti

Was feeding Hills - but going to give James Wellbeloved a try.

toadfly

Noopti wrote: »

Was feeding Hills - but going to give James Wellbeloved a try.

Didnt find Hills good, what came out wasnt a good colour and very soft :eek:

Just rang Burns they are sending me samples of mini bites and a measuring cup!

paultf

adser53 wrote: »

I use Burns too and can't recommend it enough. my lot were on red mills leader supreme and I thought it was good enough until I tried burns which is far superior

adser, I have done the opposite!:) I had mine on Burns but my 3 cockers lost alot of weight. The older one, Darby, went from 14kg to 11.5kg. Then he got sick - problem with his anal glands, then jaundice and liver infection.

I got on to Burns. I got an email (indirectly) from John Burns They told me that overfeeding can sometimes cause problems with anal glands and even a liver infection. I was feeding 130g/day (10g/kg) - Burns told me to drop it down to 100g. (The Burns nutritionist I spoke to told me she had a 12kg springer that got 4 hours exercise a day and was only fed 65g/day and no treats!!!)

Anyways I changed my mind about Burns. I got onto the Red Mills pet nutritionist and he told me they changed the ingredients for Leader and improved them. On their website they now list the ingredients rather than just ingredient categories. So at the moment I have my 3 on Leader - hopefully it'll work out OK.

adser53

hopefully it works out for you paul. mine were on red mills for at least a year and they were in great condition on it BUT they were pooing rings around themselves by the end of it. Loki especially. I used to let him out to poop in the garden before our walk but you were guaranteed at least another 2 poops while you were out, each getting, eh...., "softer" (sorry a bit too much info there ) until you literally couldn't pick it up. on burns now and they're still in great nick, one poop a day and they're like bullets I'm half expecting a puff of dust to come out when they're going. oh and they're not as farty anymore either.

Jesus the things I post about on here

boomerang

Right now my guys get Robbies from Land Of Holistic Pets in the morning (same company that makes Luath) and Orijen in the evening.

toadfly

boomerang wrote: »

Right now my guys get Robbies from Land Of Holistic Pets in the morning (same company that makes Luath) and Orijen in the evening.

Is it a good idea to do this? (not saying boomerang it isnt, just asking!)

One of our vets (we use two different ones depending if we are in Galway or Mayo) said it was fine to do, we are giving our two a few dental ones (Hills Vet Essentials) as well as RC every feed. We didnt want to use all Hills as I dont really like it (and because Tilly needs a light food) but they need something for their teeth. Literally 6 or 7 pieces through their RC.

Not sure if we should be doing it though?

boomerang

'Tis of course, Tilly Girl.

I do it because my girls have been on Robbies for a good while now and it's good practice to change the feed once in a while so they're not getting too much of any one ingredient or supplement, or developing a deficiency in another. Of course all the dog foods are nutritionally balanced but every producer tends to add their own extras, such as herbs, different veg, different health supplements like glucosamine, etc.

It's also a good idea if (as in my case) your feed is only available online - in case there is a delay in delivery with the Robbies, I can feed them Orijen at both meals, and vice-versa. If I was only feeding them one brand of food and ran out of it, I'd have to give them a brand they're not used to as a stop-gap and that'd upset their tums. (Feeding a novel food without slowly phasing it in can lead to tummy upset.)

I don't like Hills either - the ingredients are really, really poor quality and I think it's WAY overpriced for what you actually get. There's other ways to keep your dogs teeth clean - mine get a fresh marrowbone each from the butcher about once a week and even though they are 7 and 8 respectively, their teeth are pretty much pearly-white! The raw bones are much more effective than the special dry foods for oral care. (And yes, it's safe to feed raw bones, as long as they're the right size for your dog. I freeze mine to zap any bacteria plus it gives the dogs an extra challenge! Loads of info and advice on feeding raw at www.topdog.ie).

Another idea you could try is Plaque Off - that's a seaweed powder that you sprinkle on their food. Takes a good few weeks for it to take effect but it's natural and has no side-effects. I used to give it to my guys until I started giving them the occasional bone. You can get it in most petshops, costs about €16 for a tub that lasts a few months.

Or you could get some Logic pet toothpaste from your vet and just massage a blob over your dogs' teeth and gums on a regular basis - I used that too and it does work, plus the dogs don't mind the taste. I think a tube of Logic is €15-€20.

Sigma Force

That's interesting Boomerang the switching of the food something I never thought of.

My prob. seems to be with rice which a lot of the posher dog foods have and the pork and potato Burns is the only one that agrees with our middle pooch.
All the dogs love the taste but I was looking at the Robbies food and couldn't find any that didn't contain rice must have another check to see if they do a potato one.

At the end of the day op each dog is different and foods will effect them differently it's just a matter of finding one that suits yours.

I rekon if I could get potato based Robbish my dogs would go nuts for it.

Burns still works out 12 ish quid a week for 3 dogs which isn't bad would be nice to be able to reduce the cost further though but no luck so far.

I must check out that salmon and potato on brendas pets it's cheaper than the Burns.

Kya1976

Mine are on James Wellbeloved, they love it and it agrees with all of my dogs.
I'd love to try a raw diet(BARF), but I just feel I'd need a spare freezer/fridge as my dogs are so big.....

tk123

Burns for our guy - no more sensitive tummy.

sligopark

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/dogs/1423018

seen this stuff whilst surfing dogs for sale - any thoughts?

Cherry Blossom

sligopark wrote: »

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/dogs/1423018

seen this stuff whilst surfing dogs for sale - any thoughts?

Pity he didn't list the ingredients, just wonder if it's legal to just invent your own dog food and sell it. I'd wonder if its regulated/tested in any way . . . . hmmmm

Knine

I'm feeding burns chicken and rice but still get sloppy poo at times, anyone recommend any of the others in the burns range, cleaning up can be a nightmare at times.

toadfly

I dont think I will go for Burns was looking at the ingrediants, its mainly just rice but then it has 21% protein, any other suggestions? Think I will have to get another bag each of RC until I decide what to change to.

ISDW

Guineapigrescue wrote: »

That's interesting Boomerang the switching of the food something I never thought of.

My prob. seems to be with rice which a lot of the posher dog foods have and the pork and potato Burns is the only one that agrees with our middle pooch.
All the dogs love the taste but I was looking at the Robbies food and couldn't find any that didn't contain rice must have another check to see if they do a potato one.

At the end of the day op each dog is different and foods will effect them differently it's just a matter of finding one that suits yours.

I rekon if I could get potato based Robbish my dogs would go nuts for it.

Burns still works out 12 ish quid a week for 3 dogs which isn't bad would be nice to be able to reduce the cost further though but no luck so far.

I must check out that salmon and potato on brendas pets it's cheaper than the Burns.

I don't know if you ever go up north, but Pets at Home do their own brand, Wainwrights and they do a salmon and potato, I got a bag when I was in the UK with the dogs for a week, and they loved it. Huskies can have very strange stomachs, but the straight switch (cos I forgot to bring their normal food!) made no difference, their stools very good and solid.

I'm in the process of switching all of my dogs, my own and the rescues onto Best for my dog, I've had a few bags of it and all the dogs have loved it and its produced very good results in the poo department:D

lorebringer

Knine wrote: »

I'm feeding burns chicken and rice but still get sloppy poo at times, anyone recommend any of the others in the burns range, cleaning up can be a nightmare at times.

I found this was the case with some of mine on Burns - switched to James Wellbeloved and no sloppy poos anymore! I'm not saying they all had dodgy poos all the time they were on Burns, but every so often if would be very unpleasent for a while. Have never had a problem with JWB - brilliant stuff.

sligopark

my family use royal canine and swear by it

imokyrok

I've been wondering about what food to try for a new rescue dog I've taken on. He has a dodgy tummy which makes cleaning up his poop very difficult. I've been trying him on versele-laga and the diet version of the same for my other dog but they just don't seem keen.

A lot of people seem to think the RC is overpriced for what it is and that Red Mills is just as good. I've also read rave reviews about Orijen but crikey it's very expensive!

lorebringer

imokyrok wrote: »

I've been wondering about what food to try for a new rescue dog I've taken on. He has a dodgy tummy which makes cleaning up his poop very difficult. I've been trying him on versele-laga and the diet version of the same for my other dog but they just don't seem keen.

A lot of people seem to think the RC is overpriced for what it is and that Red Mills is just as good. I've also read rave reviews about Orijen but crikey it's very expensive!

James Wellbeloved and Burns are great for dogs with sensitive stomachs, if you buy it in bulk (bit 15kg bags) it works out very reasonable price wise. My guys (the ones that are not on veterinary diets!) are on JWB at the moment and are doing brilliantly. I feed Royal Canin at times, but it is over priced for what you get and I find JWB better anyway.

imokyrok

lorebringer wrote: »

James Wellbeloved and Burns are great for dogs with sensitive stomachs, if you buy it in bulk (bit 15kg bags) it works out very reasonable price wise. My guys (the ones that are not on veterinary diets!) are on JWB at the moment and are doing brilliantly. I feed Royal Canin at times, but it is over priced for what you get and I find JWB better anyway.

I've never heard of the James Wellbeloved. Is it readily available?

toadfly

imokyrok wrote: »

I've never heard of the James Wellbeloved. Is it readily available?

Thats what I was wondering, might try this. Is it only available online? Dont think I have seen it in shops.

imokyrok

I've just found it at zooplus. There's a couple of cereal free versions in the range and I must say the ingredients list looks very good.
http://www.zooplus.ie/shop/dogs/dry_dog_food/james_wellbeloved/wellbeloved_cerealfree/128196

lorebringer

The pet shop in Maynooth stock it (that's where I usually get it) but it is available online (zooplus and medicanimal). I have also gotten it from Petmania. €55 per 15kg bag - can't go wrong!

Here's a product list (on their site) --> http://www.wellbeloved.com/products/dog_food.aspx

Knine

lorebringer wrote: »

I found this was the case with some of mine on Burns - switched to James Wellbeloved and no sloppy poos anymore! I'm not saying they all had dodgy poos all the time they were on Burns, but every so often if would be very unpleasent for a while. Have never had a problem with JWB - brilliant stuff.

Which JWB do you recommend I try? One of my dogs has a dodgy stomach. It seems JWB is the same price as burns anyhow. I get mine from zooplus

Rommie

Best food for me, well for my dogs that is, is definitely Real Nature. With a red setter (one with a sensitive stomach) and a mad collie cross, it suits them both perfectly. Poos are rock solid (Not to mention its absorbed into the gut better thanks to high quality ingredients so there's less poop), there's no preservatives at all in it (so less worries about the chemicals), and though it's expensive (no more expensive than RC or Hills though), you feed a lot less of it so it even lasts longer. And a mix of blackangus beef, barbary duck and atlantic herring? Nearly tempted to try it myself.

As far as i know, it's only really getting popular in the last two years, but I would definitely reccommend it.

mymo

Rommie wrote: »

Best food for me, well for my dogs that is, is definitely Real Nature. With a red setter (one with a sensitive stomach) and a mad collie cross, it suits them both perfectly. Poos are rock solid (Not to mention its absorbed into the gut better thanks to high quality ingredients so there's less poop), there's no preservatives at all in it (so less worries about the chemicals), and though it's expensive (no more expensive than RC or Hills though), you feed a lot less of it so it even lasts longer. And a mix of blackangus beef, barbary duck and atlantic herring? Nearly tempted to try it myself.

As far as i know, it's only really getting popular in the last two years, but I would definitely reccommend it.

Where do you get this?
Any links or website with info?
I can't seem to find it online.

Rommie

I get it in the petshop Maxi Zoo in Tallaght, I think they have about 7 or 8 shops around the country altogether. I was going to start my fellas on Hills but when they told me about the Real Nature I went with it instead. You might be able to find some info on their website about it.

liquoriceall

i also use james wellbeloved for my basset (who has multiple allergies and colitis) and its the only food i have found where hes not up puking during the night and tearing his skin to bits can get it in maxi zoo and petmania in limerick (can also get 10% off if you keep your dunnes receipts with the thing on the back!

t4k30

lrushe

lorebringer wrote: »

I found this was the case with some of mine on Burns - switched to James Wellbeloved and no sloppy poos anymore!

Really?! I found JWB ran the guts out of my dogs :eek: Guess it really does depend on the individual dog as to what suits them.
I'm now feeding them GAIN complete (€18 15kg bag) and supplementing with fresh meat, veg, fish and fish oils and I'm really happy with the results, firm poops, glossy coat etc.

Knine

lrushe wrote: »

Really?! I found JWB ran the guts out of my dogs :eek: Guess it really does depend on the individual dog as to what suits them.
I'm now feeding them GAIN complete (€18 15kg bag) and supplementing with fresh meat, veg, fish and fish oils and I'm really happy with the results, firm poops, glossy coat etc.

Where can you get this? I'm in Dublin. Thanks

lorebringer

Knine wrote: »

Which JWB do you recommend I try? One of my dogs has a dodgy stomach. It seems JWB is the same price as burns anyhow. I get mine from zooplus

Usually get either "Senior/Light" or the "Fish" one, but all of the flavours that I have tried have been fine. I'm feeding multiple dogs JWB, all with different needs, and all are doing very well on it.

I also give some of human food (meat, veg, tuna etc.) with the dry kibble (not everyday!) to vary their diet a bit.

lrushe

Knine wrote: »

Where can you get this? I'm in Dublin. Thanks

Perfect Pets on the Longmile Rd, Crumlin.

andrewire

The problem with most of the dry dog food you all have mentioned is the ingredients. Look at James Wellbeloved, for example:

Ingredients:
Rice, lamb meat meal, ground whole barley, whole linseed, lamb fat, lamb gravy, sugar beet pulp, alfalfa, sodium chloride, natural seaweed, calcium carbonate, chicory extract, lysine, D,L-methionine, yucca extract, thyronine, JWB special ingredients.

Cereals are not good for dogs. Therefore, rice, barley, linseed, corn, etc. are controversial ingredients because they can cause allergies (corn especially). Beet pulp is an extremely dangerous ingredient for dog food as well since it affects their intestine. It's a by-product of the sugar production. What about "JWB special ingredients"? What do they mean by that dubious line?

I feed my dogs Royal Canin and it's the same thing. Unfortunately, we don't get any decent quality food here on most shops. I'm trying to change to Orijen now... but it has a weak distribution system. Most commercial dog food brands are owned by larger companies that use all their by-products and left-overs for the production of dog food. Mars owns Royal Canin, Pedigree, JWB, Whiskas... Nestlé owns Purina, Dog Chow, Bonio.... Procter & Gamble owns Eukanuba... It's rather depressing. Maybe I am overreacting but I want my dogs to be healthy.

TaraR

We feed our 4 pooches Wagg and Pedigree Wet Food. Up North A 17kg Bag of Wagg Is €10 Dublin Is €15. When we go up north we tend to buy in bulk. A bag does us a week. Sometimes we get bones from the butcher.

toadfly

Ok so what do ye reckon I should try? Have tried Hills (not impressed) and RC (found it ok but not happy with protein %). Maybe Orijen? Will it take them a while to adjust as there is no rice etc?

I only have about a week supply of their own food left so maybe I should get another bag of RC each then change more gradually when I do change?

andreac

TillyGirl wrote: »

Ok so what do ye reckon I should try? Have tried Hills (not impressed) and RC (found it ok but not happy with protein %). Maybe Orijen? Will it take them a while to adjust as there is no rice etc?

I only have about a week supply of their own food left so maybe I should get another bag of RC each then change more gradually when I do change?

Really depends on your budget. What would be your monthly budget for dog food?

Owen

Our hound usually gets Burgess, or Barking Heads. Friends of ours opened up a shop in Cork only doing healthy dog foods without wheat/fillers like rice so we've been trialling a load of them out. We got a load of sample bags of food first to try them out, and we found the Burgess stuff seems to be the best. Lasts ages too.