Date: 11/6/2008 11:58:28 AM
Author: NewEnglandLady
My general advice is that if you can buy it at a PetsMart or grocery store, it''s no good!
Canidae, Eagle Pack, Wellness, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, etc. are all good premium dry foods that are not packed with fillers (grains and poultry fat) and are very healthy options.
Finding premium food can be a little more difficult because you have to go to specialty dog food stores, but the benefits are completley worth it.
Date: 11/6/2008 11:58:28 AM
Author: NewEnglandLady
My general advice is that if you can buy it at a PetsMart or grocery store, it''s no good!
Canidae, Eagle Pack, Wellness, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, etc. are all good premium dry foods that are not packed with fillers (grains and poultry fat) and are very healthy options. Also, quite a bit depends on the age and size of your dog, and of course, if he/she has any allergies. I try to keep my dog on a fish-based food because a.) He''s a newfoundland and the breed has historically been fed fish which helps keep their coat shiny and water-resistent and b.) Not only do the extra omega oils in his food help his coat, but they help his joints as well (though we do supplement his food with gluc. and chondroitin).
Finding premium food can be a little more difficult because you have to go to specialty dog food stores, but the benefits are completley worth it.
We do that but she picks out the new food and leaves the Purina so no matter how we mix it she eats mostly new food. She eats really small meals so she will get full on the new food. I guess we can try to start with more of a 90/10 ratio. It was just so horrible last time we tried to switch her!Date: 11/6/2008 7:56:07 PM
Author: *Danielle*
To transition you start off by giving 75% of the old food with 25% new for 3 days, then switch to half and half for a few days then 75% new and 25% old for 3-4 days. and ween off from there. If you notice an upset tummy or diarrhea add more of the old food to the mix and go slower.
Date: 11/6/2008 11:01:19 PM
Author: diamondfan
Eukanuba is fine, many vets sell and recommend it.
The BARF diet is tricky and needs to be handled carefully, there is HIGH risk of salmonella with it and I would not do it as I had a young child and it was not worth the risk. Some vets endorse it, some do not. It really depends. I just did not want raw stuff all over like that.