Dog Food
- Thread starter Crea936
- Start date
I've got a Jack Russel and a GSD and I've been feeding them the premium food from Walmart. Store brand. Comes in chicken and pea and Salmon and pea, with no grain. Grain always made loose turds, hard to clean up in the yard. I also give them some rotisserie chicken from Sam's in the evening and something leftover from the fridge in the morning.
My brother in law is a retired machinist basically living on Social Security and his wife’s tiny pension, so they’re on a very restricted budget but always have a pack of dogs running around their place. He truly cares for them though and spends an inordinate amount of time caring for and feeding them, but obviously has to be very frugal in his approach.
He will buy kibble sometimes, but asks for donations from grocery stores and pet stores for food they’re gonna dispose of because it’s about to expire. Most places won’t do this for liability purposes, but he gets enough to serve as a base for his pups and he pours his own homemade dog food over the top of the kibble.
The main actual nutrition they get is from food he makes himself… He tries to use 50% meat content or higher in his homemade food, and a lot of it is scraps he gets from local butchers, or cheap meat from grocery stores and places like Dollar stores, etc. that’s about to expire. He tries to use as much beef and lamb as possible but uses all types of meat, including organ meat (liver, lungs, etc.) and chicken, so he has to be very careful with the preparation. The only thing he really emphasized is to keep the fat content of the meat <15% if at all possible.
He also throws in eggs if he can get ‘em cheap.
He basically makes a stew that he mixes with fresh veggies…again almost all of it free/donations from local markets and grocery stores. He mostly uses ‘orange’ veggies and/or peas and says he tries to keep the veggies at ~25% of the mix.
He almost always mixes in some cooked whole grains as well, but will also use small amounts of rice if the budget’s tighter than normal, or if they’ve adopted an extra dog to feed and they need to stretch the food out. He tries to keep the grains to 25% or less of the mix as well.
He also puts fish oil or some kind of liquid vitamins in the mix if he can find it cheap...again, usually stuff that’s about to expire and he can get for free.
So yeah, it’s possible to feed your furry friends well and do it on the cheap, but it’s a pretty labor-intensive process…it’s basically a full time job for my BIL. YMMV.
He will buy kibble sometimes, but asks for donations from grocery stores and pet stores for food they’re gonna dispose of because it’s about to expire. Most places won’t do this for liability purposes, but he gets enough to serve as a base for his pups and he pours his own homemade dog food over the top of the kibble.
The main actual nutrition they get is from food he makes himself… He tries to use 50% meat content or higher in his homemade food, and a lot of it is scraps he gets from local butchers, or cheap meat from grocery stores and places like Dollar stores, etc. that’s about to expire. He tries to use as much beef and lamb as possible but uses all types of meat, including organ meat (liver, lungs, etc.) and chicken, so he has to be very careful with the preparation. The only thing he really emphasized is to keep the fat content of the meat <15% if at all possible.
He also throws in eggs if he can get ‘em cheap.
He basically makes a stew that he mixes with fresh veggies…again almost all of it free/donations from local markets and grocery stores. He mostly uses ‘orange’ veggies and/or peas and says he tries to keep the veggies at ~25% of the mix.
He almost always mixes in some cooked whole grains as well, but will also use small amounts of rice if the budget’s tighter than normal, or if they’ve adopted an extra dog to feed and they need to stretch the food out. He tries to keep the grains to 25% or less of the mix as well.
He also puts fish oil or some kind of liquid vitamins in the mix if he can find it cheap...again, usually stuff that’s about to expire and he can get for free.
So yeah, it’s possible to feed your furry friends well and do it on the cheap, but it’s a pretty labor-intensive process…it’s basically a full time job for my BIL. YMMV.
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Anyone’s dogs had issues with Blue Buffalo? We’ve used it for years and had no allergies or issues but considering a new puppy, and the breeder uses proplan which seems well regarded in this thread.
I don't recall a specific issue that it caused, but one day my pup stopped eating it and refused to give in. New flavors, toppers, additions, wet, dry, wouldn't eat it.
She went two days, maybe a touch longer, before I switched to Fromm.
We switched to Team Dog a couple of months back when we discovered our "Premium Food" had seed oils in the ingredients of the kibble.
Team Dog does several varieties of clean kibble and also does a "Raw" food that they ship in frozen overnighted in an ice chest.
TD recommends 75/25 mix of kibble / dry.
Our Bouvier loves the new food. It took her 1 week to adjust to the diet change.
She had some "unknown allergies" that we were giving her prescribed apoquel to help with. Since the food change she has not needed the apoquel.
Be very leary of seed oils in your dog's food. Scrutinize the ingredients panel closely!
Team Dog is expensive, like Farmer's Dog, but worth it.
Grain Free also has its pit falls and many dogs don't tolerate today's chicken in their food. Do your research.
Where your Dog Food provider does their sourcing is very important!
Team Dog does several varieties of clean kibble and also does a "Raw" food that they ship in frozen overnighted in an ice chest.
TD recommends 75/25 mix of kibble / dry.
Our Bouvier loves the new food. It took her 1 week to adjust to the diet change.
She had some "unknown allergies" that we were giving her prescribed apoquel to help with. Since the food change she has not needed the apoquel.
Be very leary of seed oils in your dog's food. Scrutinize the ingredients panel closely!
Team Dog is expensive, like Farmer's Dog, but worth it.
Grain Free also has its pit falls and many dogs don't tolerate today's chicken in their food. Do your research.
Where your Dog Food provider does their sourcing is very important!
Consult your vet. Many dogs will tend to have their own unique dietary needs. A quality puppy chow is a good start otherwise... and I'd not transition to adult food until they're a year old.
Raw diet is the best choice. Feed 'em bone and all. I buy cases of chicken necks, chicken backs, chicken drumsticks, turkey necks, beef liver, and I buy whole fish, skin, eyeballs, everything. I also give one cup of raw goat's milk and two eggs everyday.
Here are a few reasons why raw is better than kibble:
1. The dogs simply smell better.
2. The raw bone is softer than their teeth, so as they chomp away on the bones, the bones are actually cleaning their teeth. Unlike the horrible gunk that accumulates on the teeth and around the gum line from kibble.
3. The poops don't smell as bad, dry to a white ash in a couple days, are much smaller, and protect the dog from having to have their anal glands expressed. The harder raw poop will naturally express the glands.
4. They eat less, so you really don't have to worry about overfeeding. The dog will regulate itself.
5. Pretty much eliminates any allergies or allergy issues.
6. Breeders have documented fewer vet visits over extended periods of time with multiple litters.
7. Something changes in their eyes, it is like they become more awake/alert, something, not sure how to put it into words.
Here are a few reasons why raw is better than kibble:
1. The dogs simply smell better.
2. The raw bone is softer than their teeth, so as they chomp away on the bones, the bones are actually cleaning their teeth. Unlike the horrible gunk that accumulates on the teeth and around the gum line from kibble.
3. The poops don't smell as bad, dry to a white ash in a couple days, are much smaller, and protect the dog from having to have their anal glands expressed. The harder raw poop will naturally express the glands.
4. They eat less, so you really don't have to worry about overfeeding. The dog will regulate itself.
5. Pretty much eliminates any allergies or allergy issues.
6. Breeders have documented fewer vet visits over extended periods of time with multiple litters.
7. Something changes in their eyes, it is like they become more awake/alert, something, not sure how to put it into words.
Forgot to add, you can start feeding them this diet at 8 weeks, no problem. Start with chicken wings, they are great for puppies.
Purina ProPlan, Blue Buffalo, or CanineX (budget friendlier but still decent high protein & energy)
Our lab did the same thing when he was a pup. Just decided one day he didn’t want it anymore. Switched to Purina and he’s been happy for 5 years.
We have two dogs. One gets Royal Canin, and the other gets Hills Science Diet, both recommended by my vet. They also get baked chicken and vegetables with every meal.
Last two dogs were/are on Kirkland brand foods. They have several that are highly regarded (lamb) and mature. Two vets i know concur its good stuff. GSP made it to 16 years and still hunted half days with nonproblem his final two years. Current yellow lab is 12 and still going strong and vet says he is in the best shape he has seen for a big male his age. Both got or get alot of meat scraps and fresh veggies as well. Lab loves tomatoes and peas lol. We really have to limit the amount the lab gets as he will eat all day if you let him. Portion control is huge for some dogs. GSP had a self feeder and was never overweight. Big breeds can actually overgrow as puppies on too hot a protien diet and this can effect joints down the road. Labs are very prone to this.
