Dog Food

[Crea936]

We're bringing home a pup next week, and I'm interested in recommendations for food - both for a puppy and long-term. He's a Bracco Italiano (large pointer). He'll be our family pet, but he'll also hunt grouse in steep timber. It seems that the dog food scene has exploded since we had our previous dog. What's everyone feeding Fido?

My main concern is longterm health - I want him to be healthy and fit, but I'm not sure that I need him to be an 'athlete'. Is there a dry food that offers quality ingredients and good value? Happy to order online, buy from a box (club) store, or through a local specialty shop.

 

[John?]

We went with Hills Science Diet for our pup. Recommended by our vet (who is also the vet we trust with our large animal herd). Available from
A host of online retailers.

Hills is well tolerated by our 2 year old house dog. We do supplement dry food with whatever cracked eggs occur from poultry barn and green vegetables that aren’t suitable for sale. Supplements are mostly treats for the dog tho…waste not, want not.

 

[748rpilot]

I went through several foods over the years with my princess of a pointer. When she got tired of any particular food or flavor, you knew about it. She would sniff it from a couple different directions, then literally turn her nose up at it. Or she would pick a couple pieces up with her front teeth it, then spit it out on the floor and go lay down.

She liked Blue Buffalo for awhile and it's a good food (IMO).

She ended up on Fromm for several years, a mix of the wet and dry foods. I also fed her...I think it's PurePet ? Or something. I'll look when I'm at the store. It's not kibble, and not exactly wet, more of a pate.

Stella & Chewy's has good wet, freeze dry and kibble options and seems to be a good food.

If I had to do it again I'd go Fromm & or Stella & Chewy's, and mix it up now and again. You may try goat's milk as a supplement and treat, my pup absolutely loved it.

Congrats on the new pupper! Remember to post pics.

 

[GreenGO Juan]

Read the ingredients, you want animal based food as the main ingredients, dogs are carnivorous.

Also give them a little high quality wet purée. I do some in the morning and evenings and then leave dry food down all day. About once a week, crack a raw egg over the wet food.

For snacks, freeze dried chicken from Lincoln naturals.

They make some very high-quality dog food too. It’s expensive.

 

[Expert684]

We went with Hills Science Diet for our pup. Recommended by our vet (who is also the vet we trust with our large animal herd). Available from
A host of online retailers.

Hills is well tolerated by our 2 year old house dog. We do supplement dry food with whatever cracked eggs occur from poultry barn and green vegetables that aren’t suitable for sale. Supplements are mostly treats for the dog tho…waste not, want not.

This^^^^^^. Also I boil boneless chicken breast, then brown it add water to make a chicken stock then rice. No salt, no seasoning. Miss Shelia love it mixed 50/50 with Hills Science chicken flavored dry food.

 

[HPIguy]

We are dealing with this also. Keep in mind, some dogs can have reactions to any chicken product in their food. It raises their body temp, and creates fungal issues in their ears and paws. If you see them constantly digging at their ears, and gnawing on their paws, it's a sign for no chicken. We have recently noticed this with Wilson, our rescue. We are also dealing with eating grass in the morning and throwing up. So the fix seems to be feed him more at supper time for now. It's a challenge, so be warned, you may need to throw shorts on and take the pup out at 3AM, be ready for that. But I wouldn't trade Wilson for any other dog on the planet.

At the end of the day, just make sure whatever you feed them is clean ingredients, and not a ton of filler and bullshit.

 

[Maggot]

I tried several. Vet recommended Purina One. She likes it and its at a reasonable (If you call$2 a pound reasonable) price. Has several mixes which I change every bag.

She's 40% wolf and seems to get lethargic when I give her only kibble so I buy boneless chicken thighs for her as an addition. Works out to about $00.80 per day for the bird and it seems to really help her. Some times I spend a bit more and get cheap hamburger. Might try for a deer this year and give her the scraps, they love venison.

A side story. When Nikita had her first litter it was winter and they stayed inside nursing for the first couple weeks. Then we got a nice day so I took them out and threw a few scraps of venison down for them. As they ate the meat I watched them go from stumbling little fur balls to conscious baby wolf dogs, it brought them to life, so to speak. It was amazing to watch the transformation.

 

[Maggot]

We are dealing with this also. Keep in mind, some dogs can have reactions to any chicken product in their food. It raises their body temp, and creates fungal issues in their ears and paws. If you see them constantly digging at their ears, and gnawing on their paws, it's a sign for no chicken. We have recently noticed this with Wilson, our rescue. We are also dealing with eating grass in the morning and throwing up. So the fix seems to be feed him more at supper time for now. It's a challenge, so be warned, you may need to throw shorts on and take the pup out at 3AM, be ready for that. But I wouldn't trade Wilson for any other dog on the planet.

At the end of the day, just make sure whatever you feed them is clean ingredients, and not a ton of filler and bullshit.

Unless its happening a lot, eating grass and barfing is normal occasionally. Every mutt I've had did it.

 

[GreenGO Juan]

My dog ate mushrooms one time, I tired stopping him and he ran around like it was a game eating more, well he spent the next 4 hrs barfing until clear dry heaves.

Hasn't eaten a mushroom since.

 

[doubloon]

My main concern is longterm health

Vet recommended Purina One

some dogs can have reactions to any chicken product ... feed them clean ingredients

dogs are carnivorous

Dogs are omnivores. Purina One is what most of my hunting buddies feed their dogs and they're doing great. Clean ingredients definitely, dog food recalls are worth looking up. Almost every company has had one but there are a few that haven't.

With the 8 or so dogs of the same breed we've had in our lives over the years they can all react differently to food just like humans.

One of them was throwing up all the time with runny poo, turns out she had a feather allergy, took a while and a test to figure this out. No more chicken based processed food. Lamb is one of the least allergenic meats, used by a lot of breeders.

One of the pair we have now almost died from stones building up in her bladder. We only noticed when she peed one day and there was a pile of little round yellow balls where she peed. She's on a special diet now which is chicken with what seems like a lot of corn which we've always heard is bad to feed dogs.

Whatever the person/breeder you got the pup from is feeding the dogs sire/dam is usually a good place to start.

Whatever you pick to start, pay attention to how the pup reacts and adjust accordingly. Sometimes it can take a week or so for them to adjust to a new food.

 

[Docsherm]

I switched all of my dogs to the Farmer's Dog about 2 years ago. They are all leaner and much healthier. There is also much less waste in the yard, since there are no fillers.

Human-Grade Fresh Dog Food Delivery | The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer’s Dog provides healthier fresh dog food: 100% human-grade food, pre-portioned and delivered to your door. Create your plan today!

www.thefarmersdog.com

 

[Maggot]

I switched all of my dogs to the Farmer's Dog about 2 years ago. They are all leaner and much healthier. There is also much less waste in the yard, since there are no fillers.

Human-Grade Fresh Dog Food Delivery | The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer’s Dog provides healthier fresh dog food: 100% human-grade food, pre-portioned and delivered to your door. Create your plan today!

www.thefarmersdog.com

Dayum, I just did the survey and its $5-10 per day.

 

[Docsherm]

Dayum, I just did the survey and its $5-10 per day.

It is real food. So that is not bad at all.

 

[sloporsche]

My wife is a re-tired DVM and hills is all we had at our hospital but go with what your vets says

 

[Milf Dots]

Filet mignon.

 

[Maggot]

It is real food. So that is not bad at all.

Not questong the quality, just the reality of the the ability of the average dog owner (me) to pay that much. Most days I eat for less than $10

 

[Bryan W M]

I worked in the dry food plant for Hills in KS . I’d bet it’s better tested and cleaner kept plant than the food we eat.

 

[mrdrar]

We went through many with mutts and GSDs before arriving at and staying with Purina ProPlan Sensitive Skin and Stomach.

 

[chevy_man]

We do 4 health grain free. My mutts like beef or chicken. They still have potato as a filler, but no wheat (gluten).
They have a normal "big dog formula", and an "endurance" formula that's 90% protein. I grab the endurance stuff for camping since they love to chase balls and run all day long and they can always find a sucker to throw their toys.

We do give them all sorts of leftover meat scraps (not just fat, I will leave it about 50/50 fat and meat if I'm giving them trimmings), eggs, a chunk of bread here and there, vegetables, etc.

Mine do raw meat just fine. Some dogs can't handle it. I will only do venison or beef raw though, no chicken or pork.

For treats they get chicken or duck/goose jerky. My sister donates old layers that have stopped producing, and we shoot a lot of ducks and geese in the fall.

 

[GreenGO Juan]

Dogs are omnivores.

Correct, but the majority of what they eat needs to be other animals.

What I was getting at, is I see some people give their dogs way too much plant based foods, many times the pupper does not look the healthiest, I can't help but think give em some meat. Have made that comment and get push back from those owners and just have to shut my mouth.

 

[jrhtx]

I don't know how early it would show up but some dogs do not tolerate grains well. It is may show as constant scratching.

Something else to look at when selecting food is has it been linked to DCM. This has been pretty quiet for the last few years and some brands may have changed their formulas.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals

Learn all you need to know about dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs with VCA. Get expert advice from VCA Animal Hospitals to keep your pet healthy and happy.

vcahospitals.com

FDA Investigates Potential Link Between Diet & Heart Disease in Dogs

Latest update on the FDA’s investigation into reports of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain pet foods.

www.fda.gov

 

[Seed tick]

Royal Canin is what my vet recommended. For lab’s version

 

[doubloon]

majority of what they eat needs to be other animals ... Have made that comment and get push back

The reason you get pushback is it's ignorant bullshit. One of our dogs ended up on a vegetarian diet for health and digestion reasons. Protein and minerals are important but the don't HAVE to be animal based. Balanced and quality ingredients are what matter.

If you were talking only about gray wolves I might agree but many domesticated breeds have digestion and metabolic characteristics which can differ quite a bit from their wolf ancestors. Different breeds and different dogs within breeds can have different needs.

 

[doubloon]

Royal Canin is what my vet recommended. For lab’s version

This is the brand we feed to the one prone to bladder stones. But mostly because she seems to like it better than the Hills that has basically the same ingredients.

 

[ironman56]

I'll probably get roasted for this but I feed my 2 labs (1yr old and 3 yr old chicken leg quarters from HEB , it's 5.72 for 10 lbs so .57 cents a lb I cook them in the oven at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hrs then pull the meat off the bones and cut it up with shears and mix it with dry kibble usually pedigree, it's real meat and they love it and they seem to eat the kibble better when it's mixed with the chicken, also give them the cheapest hot dogs from heb .79 cent a package for treats, yeah I spoil the shit out of them.

 

[GreenGO Juan]

The reason you get pushback is it's ignorant bullshit. One of our dogs ended up on a vegetarian diet for health and digestion reasons. Protein and minerals are important but the don't HAVE to be animal based. Balanced and quality ingredients are what matter.

If you were talking only about gray wolves I might agree but many domesticated breeds have digestion and metabolic characteristics which can differ quite a bit from their wolf ancestors. Different breeds and different dogs within breeds can have different needs.

I am speaking on specific cases I have witnessed from Puppy till death. And the situation you ran into with your hound is the exception, not the norm, there are always exceptions.

That one on the right is diebetic, and one of those exceptions.

I wouldn't sit here and suggest every one give their dogs shots of insulin because of one dog that needs it.

 

[748rpilot]

Filet mignon.

I'm dog sitting this weekend. We're having steaks and watching UFC tonight. Filet for him, New York Strip for me.

 

[doubloon]

I am speaking on specific cases I have witnessed from Puppy till death. And the situation you ran into with your hound is the exception, not the norm, there are always exceptions.

That one on the right is diebetic, and one of those exceptions.

View attachment 8730535
I wouldn't sit here and suggest every one give their dogs shots of insulin because of one dog that needs it.

Cute pups.

Had a neighbor with a tan one that used to pull the blanket over herself in the dog bed by biting it and rolling.

Also enjoyed chewing on the old man's discarded cigarette butts, never showed any signs of poisoning (vomit, drool, etc.) strange little dog.

 

[Seed tick]

We also give our pup certain baby foods. Apple, sweet potato, kale spinach apple blend, carrots, green beans etc. also raw blueberries no more than 8-10 per day.

 

[Maggot]

The reason you get pushback is it's ignorant bullshit. One of our dogs ended up on a vegetarian diet for health and digestion reasons. Protein and minerals are important but the don't HAVE to be animal based. Balanced and quality ingredients are what matter.

If you were talking only about gray wolves I might agree but many domesticated breeds have digestion and metabolic characteristics which can differ quite a bit from their wolf ancestors. Different breeds and different dogs within breeds can have different needs.

Thats what I found with my wolfdog. With out actual animal flesh she gets really lethargic. Doesnt take a lot but its necessary. I suppose human flesh would work but it's hard to come by. Legally.

 

[Maggot]

I'll probably get roasted for this but I feed my 2 labs (1yr old and 3 yr old chicken leg quarters from HEB , it's 5.72 for 10 lbs so .57 cents a lb I cook them in the oven at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hrs then pull the meat off the bones and cut it up with shears and mix it with dry kibble usually pedigree, it's real meat and they love it and they seem to eat the kibble better when it's mixed with the chicken, also give them the cheapest hot dogs from heb .79 cent a package for treats, yeah I spoil the shit out of them.

Try Little Smokies but watch your fingers

 

[sandhiller]

Try Little Smokies but watch your fingers

Those are my delivery vehicle of choice to get my 15 yo Border Collie to take his daily Galliprant!

 

[SalomonQST99]

This stuff is nasty, but some of the best for your dog: GreenTripe

 

[Sniperwannabee]

We went through many with mutts and GSDs before arriving at and staying with Purina ProPlan Sensitive Skin and Stomach.

That’s what we use….Pro plan is what a lot of competition dogs use

 

[Seed tick]

Lots of things to consider. Probably no one size fits all! Just due our best to take care of them

 

[TahoeDust]

My boy has been on Purina Pro Plan Chicken and Rice Shreaded Blend for 5 years. He does not complain and is very healthy and regular. It is easy to find and does not break the bank.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Not had dogs, but cats... which can be even more food sensitive.

The recommendations above for the premium foods are really good. I used to just feed Meow Mix... but read a really good (long) article from a vet on the benefits of premium food. And a mix of wet and dry. And roast chicken on top. Not a lot... but some.

The biggest thing I see with dog food ads/etc. is massive over-feeding. The Farmers Dog commercials showing a dog getting an entire quart-bowl full of food... Huge portions. The biggest thing I see with pets is over-feeding and pet obesity. It's real. People look at the TV ads, not at caloric intake, food volume and their pets weight/health.

Cat regimen (Take it for what it's worth) is morning and evening meals. Top quality cat food. But I mix in a bit of Meow Mix (my vet described it as potato chips... cats love it, but its nutiritional value is horrible. BUT... they like it. So adding a 'bit' to the mix can't hurt! On top of that, they get Hills or similar premium Wet food. About a half-golfball-size portion. Then a piece of roast chicken thigh about the size of half a golf ball... chopped fine. And sprinkled on top. Twice a day. And treats at bedtime. More ritual than nutrition. Weight is good. Health is great! No over-eating. About once a month, they split a can of tuna in water. As a treat. That is tiny portions with each meal. Between three cats, a can of tuna lasts about 4 days. A few 'flakes' in each bowl morning and night. Just a treat.

And water. Lots and lots of fresh water. Never let them run out.

One cat is really picky.... he is also a 'scarf and barf.' So I always take his bowl away from him before he finishes. And then give it to him as a snack a couple of hours later. That eliminated 90 percent of the scarf and barf.

Again, not going to speak to the dogs, because there are folks here who are WAY more versed in dog feeding and raising. But I would say that the most important thing besides choosing a food that is good quality is portion control and watching for signs of obesity or weight gain 'after' they reach adult size. Kittens and puppies are different, growing and need a lot of calories. But as they transition to adult age... watch that weight. And remember that the advertisers are looking to show owners giving pets huge piles of food!! To sell more pet food. Read instructions. Get measuring cups. Calculate calories if you need to. And don't let them get over-weight because that will be massive health problems and vet bills.

If I can find the article by the vet I'll post it. She did an awesome job. And pointed out that the 'delta' in expense between cheap food and the best food is not huge. And that a couple of vet bills caused by problems (esp. kidneys in cats) wipe out all the savings you may have 'saved' in the cheap food.

Take it for what it's worth... But good on you for researching the best path for your new puppy!!! I am sure there are folks here who will guide you really well! Some bird dog guys especially who have some beautiful dogs. A couple of which I have hunted with... will be great help!

Cheers and congrats on the new puppy!

Sirhr

Edit: This is the article that totally changed my outlook on cat feeding. https://catinfo.org/ I'll see if she did one on dogs! And as I write this... one of my cats just helped himself to my water glass sitting on the table next to me. Fine. I'll go clean it and refill it. Not going to stop him from drinking his fill because it's the best thing for him. Little bastard.

Edit 2: DId not find another piece by Lisa Pierson DVM on dog nutrition. But a search took me to this site and some really interesting links. Keep in mind, this is a pet food site. But there are several links to articles that look like they might be a big help!!! Again, I really recommend the Pierson article, even if it's not dog-focused. There is so much good material there!!!! https://www.thewildpetstores.com/content/nutrition-in-veterinary-education

 

[GreenGO Juan]

Cute pups.

Had a neighbor with a tan one that used to pull the blanket over herself in the dog bed by biting it and rolling.

Also enjoyed chewing on the old man's discarded cigarette butts, never showed any signs of poisoning (vomit, drool, etc.) strange little dog.

They live to burrow, got him a bed, he flips it up side down and sleeps under it. Not yet 10 months old, just starting to dig mole tunnels in the yard, cant wait till he kills those bastards.

 

[Seed tick]

Excellent information! Thanks

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Dogs are omnivores. Purina One is what most of my hunting buddies feed their dogs and they're doing great. Clean ingredients definitely, dog food recalls are worth looking up. Almost every company has had one but there are a few that haven't.

With the 8 or so dogs of the same breed we've had in our lives over the years they can all react differently to food just like humans.

One of them was throwing up all the time with runny poo, turns out she had a feather allergy, took a while and a test to figure this out. No more chicken based processed food. Lamb is one of the least allergenic meats, used by a lot of breeders.

One of the pair we have now almost died from stones building up in her bladder. We only noticed when she peed one day and there was a pile of little round yellow balls where she peed. She's on a special diet now which is chicken with what seems like a lot of corn which we've always heard is bad to feed dogs.

Whatever the person/breeder you got the pup from is feeding the dogs sire/dam is usually a good place to start.

Whatever you pick to start, pay attention to how the pup reacts and adjust accordingly. Sometimes it can take a week or so for them to adjust to a new food.

Your "dogs are omnivores" comment is an interesting one. And I read an article not long ago (I'll try and find it) saying that the original 'wild dogs' and wolves that were domesticated somewhere between 15-40,000 years or so ago were far less omnivorous. They were meat eaters and pack hunters. Maybe ate some grasses and related materials. And not letting things go to waste, also got 'veggie' matter from the herbivores they ate.. Stomach parts and the like.

But in many thousands of generation of 'domestic' breeding and living among more omnivorous humans, they have evolved into much more 'omnivorous' diets than their wild cousins. In part because they were eating what their humans were eating at times. Not all meat all the time. It was a fascinating article.

There is a lot of research being done these days on 'how' dogs were domesticated. Several studies involving foxes living in suburban areas and having a lot more 'people' contact that are the guinea pigs. One going on in suburban DC that I remember reading about in particular. And the research is finding out some really interesting stuff about how much 'more' the animals domesticated themselves vs. being forced into relationships with humans. Of course, it's all still theoretical and probably unlikely that 'concrete' results will come out of it. Short of building a time machine. But the papers/articles make some great reading! And the scientific method is being used pretty well! (aka it's not studies by vegans saying your dog should eat nothing but carrots because... PETA.)

All interesting! And good reading!

Sirhr

Edit. And it's interesting to look at the 'breeds' of dogs. Carl Sagan had a term for it. It was called 'forced evolution.' Because people bred dogs in particular for specific tasks, shapes, tempraments, etc. Forced evolution means that 'what the dogs wanted' had nothing to do with anything. Like most domesticated critters, they have been created by people. Over thousands of years. To serve people. Wolves, Coyotes, Dingos, Jackals, etc... notwithstanding. There is nothing 'natural' about most dogs. They are the creations of people! Cats, not quite so much. BUT... that's changed too! Lots of 'forced evolution' breeding in the cat world now, too. There was a special edition of National Geographic a few years ago on 'cats' that was also some fascinating reading! Cheers!

 

[Holliday]

……. 'veggie' matter from the herbivores they ate.. Stomach parts and the like.

A lot of folks miss this. I have seen a lot of videos predators that seem to start at the guts of a herbivore, even while the animal is still alive.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

A lot of folks miss this. I have seen a lot of videos predators that seem to start at the guts of a herbivore, even while the animal is still alive.

Possibly, partly because it's the softest, easiest place to start getting at food! But could also be nutrition! Ever notice that the dead deer you find in the woods or see at the side of a highway have the asshole eaten out first? Right into nice soft areas of meat and fat.

Noses and assholes... not just for Hot Dogs!!!

Sirhr

 

[doubloon]

evolved into much more 'omnivorous' diets than their wild cousins

Yeah, even the high protein bagged foods are generally under 40%. Even coyotes will eat fruits and vegetables when prey is scarce or when it just happens to be available.

Like someone mentioned earlier it makes sense to up the protein for active dogs but some smaller breeds and house dogs don't maintain 100% health on a mostly meat diet.

But grains, in general, aren't the best food even for humans. Fkn .gov came up with that lie to help people "cope" with rationing during one of the big wars. The food pyramid is a lie. At best grains belong somewhere between vegetables and meat if not higher up the scale than meat. That Dr. Pilates guy came up with exercises (all the rage with housewives) for bed ridden soldiers and a diet that was low in carbs because they were sedentary like most of America and their pets.

The American Indian got fat when we moved them to the reservations and put them on high carb government rations.

 

[Mr.BR]

Read the ingredients, you want animal based food as the main ingredients, dogs are carnivorous. View attachment 8730508View attachment 8730509

Also give them a little high quality wet purée. I do some in the morning and evenings and then leave dry food down all day. About once a week, crack a raw egg over the wet food.

For snacks, freeze dried chicken from Lincoln naturals.
View attachment 8730510

They make some very high-quality dog food too. It’s expensive.

Orien went to shit with new corporate owners.Not the same quality anymore .

I dodge mega corporations in dog food and stick to medium business ,definetly use grain free food .

Skip the typical vet's sales pitch as they are paid to push products, Hills or Purina ,same as your doctor pushes Pfizer and what not and gets $$$ doing it.

Running my pup on superpremium kibble but also feed him at least 3-4kg of fresh game meat per week , have a freezer full of deer, boar and bear so he gets some raw almost daily

In Europe Fitmin as one of the top products with great value for money as long as you find the right dealer (30% cheaper than anything remotely same quality ). End of the day i spend 10-13.000$ on dog food in my dogs lifetime do a bunch of research before i commit , have a dealer that i have been with for past 20y and he is an world class canicross competitor and competition host ,travels a lot an can get custom orders done ,like this Fresh Jurney that needs to be supplied just in time-

With Fitmin Fresh Jurney , sometimes it feels like we are smuggling some contraband but its just dogfood that is limited to direct sales from the producer , cause of '' up to 80% fresher than regular food '' ,so can't sit around storage for months.

 

[jrhtx]

Not had dogs, but cats... which can be even more food sensitive.

The recommendations above for the premium foods are really good. I used to just feed Meow Mix... but read a really good (long) article from a vet on the benefits of premium food. And a mix of wet and dry. And roast chicken on top. Not a lot... but some.

The biggest thing I see with dog food ads/etc. is massive over-feeding. The Farmers Dog commercials showing a dog getting an entire quart-bowl full of food... Huge portions. The biggest thing I see with pets is over-feeding and pet obesity. It's real. People look at the TV ads, not at caloric intake, food volume and their pets weight/health.

Cat regimen (Take it for what it's worth) is morning and evening meals. Top quality cat food. But I mix in a bit of Meow Mix (my vet described it as potato chips... cats love it, but its nutiritional value is horrible. BUT... they like it. So adding a 'bit' to the mix can't hurt! On top of that, they get Hills or similar premium Wet food. About a half-golfball-size portion. Then a piece of roast chicken thigh about the size of half a golf ball... chopped fine. And sprinkled on top. Twice a day. And treats at bedtime. More ritual than nutrition. Weight is good. Health is great! No over-eating. About once a month, they split a can of tuna in water. As a treat. That is tiny portions with each meal. Between three cats, a can of tuna lasts about 4 days. A few 'flakes' in each bowl morning and night. Just a treat.

And water. Lots and lots of fresh water. Never let them run out.

One cat is really picky.... he is also a 'scarf and barf.' So I always take his bowl away from him before he finishes. And then give it to him as a snack a couple of hours later. That eliminated 90 percent of the scarf and barf.

Again, not going to speak to the dogs, because there are folks here who are WAY more versed in dog feeding and raising. But I would say that the most important thing besides choosing a food that is good quality is portion control and watching for signs of obesity or weight gain 'after' they reach adult size. Kittens and puppies are different, growing and need a lot of calories. But as they transition to adult age... watch that weight. And remember that the advertisers are looking to show owners giving pets huge piles of food!! To sell more pet food. Read instructions. Get measuring cups. Calculate calories if you need to. And don't let them get over-weight because that will be massive health problems and vet bills.

If I can find the article by the vet I'll post it. She did an awesome job. And pointed out that the 'delta' in expense between cheap food and the best food is not huge. And that a couple of vet bills caused by problems (esp. kidneys in cats) wipe out all the savings you may have 'saved' in the cheap food.

Take it for what it's worth... But good on you for researching the best path for your new puppy!!! I am sure there are folks here who will guide you really well! Some bird dog guys especially who have some beautiful dogs. A couple of which I have hunted with... will be great help!

Cheers and congrats on the new puppy!

Sirhr

Edit: This is the article that totally changed my outlook on cat feeding. https://catinfo.org/ I'll see if she did one on dogs! And as I write this... one of my cats just helped himself to my water glass sitting on the table next to me. Fine. I'll go clean it and refill it. Not going to stop him from drinking his fill because it's the best thing for him. Little bastard.

Edit 2: DId not find another piece by Lisa Pierson DVM on dog nutrition. But a search took me to this site and some really interesting links. Keep in mind, this is a pet food site. But there are several links to articles that look like they might be a big help!!! Again, I really recommend the Pierson article, even if it's not dog-focused. There is so much good material there!!!! https://www.thewildpetstores.com/content/nutrition-in-veterinary-education

From one of your links.

https://healthydogworkshop.com/would-you-feed-your-dog-this/

And this one: You have to make a contribution to get the list, $12 min.

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/the-list/

 

[Plumb Bob]

Signature brand is another choice. Quality ingredients and good protein levels, especially for healthy growth. Congratulations on your new pup and family member.

 

[34SF]

Wasn't going to wade in but...the FDA drama about dilated cardiomyopathy from grain free diets is a work of fiction. If you read the actual initial study, it was poorly done by a vet with probable ethical issues. But you have to read the actual study she submitted and look at the sample size and the actual data.

Most of our local vets cited an article in a journal that carried on about the new threat to our dog's health. None of six vets in my local area actually read the research that led to the "scare". Now the FDA isn't even tracking this because it was a fairy tale meant to scare people back to cereal based diets.

We've run the list for our Akitas and, as many have mentioned above, there's no one good diet, but the less non-food we feed out canine parasites, the better they do. OR so they tell me. Ours are currently on ProPlan lamb as both had allergies from chicken based food, even the premium stuff.

 

[748rpilot]

Dog's dinner:

 

[Snipe260]

My 6 month old point does well on pro plan focus for puppies!

 

[Snipe260]

View attachment 8731567My 6 month old point does well on pro plan focus for puppies!