[nagdu] possibly switching dog food, advice would be welcome
barbandzoe at comcast.net
barbandzoe at comcast.net
Thu Mar 20 15:07:30 UTC 2014
Wow Raven, you have done your homework. Good on you.
With animal food, you get what you pay for. If the 30lb bag is $15 you know that it will be full of fillers like corn, wheat and other things. If the bag is $60. there should be a lot more meat and real food that is good for the dog.
I think of pet this why. If is cheap, it is like going out to fast food places, mid rang is a good sit-down restaurant and home cooked meal. High price is like a Whole foods store and organic Style meal.
I read that somewhere down the list a man was saying that he has a dog and every month the dog has an ear infection. Look at the food you are feeding the dog. Many times dogs will react to food in that way. If the food has a lot of corn, and is a lower grade food, you may need to change the food and pay a higher price, but you will not be going to the vet every month.
Gone are the days when you would go the store and just grab a bag that is on sale. Pet food like people food needs to be good for them and not just something to eat. If you put crap in you get crap out.
If you think it costs a lot to feed a dog, think of how much it costs to feed a kid.
Barb
----- Original Message -----
From: "Raven Tolliver" <ravend729 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 2:39:41 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] possibly switching dog food, advice would be welcome
Kathy,
The truth of the matter is that many of the more expensive dog food
brands lack those ingredients that cause health issues in dogs, or are
just downright toxic. A dog's diet should not include msg, salt, soy,
grains, or carbohydrates of any kind. And many sources even say that
out of all the processed dog foods, kibble is the worst. Too, many of
those premium brands are still unhealthy and unnatural.
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/canine-nutrition/dog-food-carbohydrates/
The canine is a carnivore species. Look at their dentition and their
digestive tracts. First, dogs do not have flat molars, and dogs' lower
mandibles do not move from side to side to allow for the proper
crushing and chewing of fruits and veggies. Instead their teeth are
pointed and come together in a scissors bite. This is why it is
encouraged to chop up fruits and veggies before feeding them to a dog.
Also, if you read any diets that promote the feeding of fruits and
veggies, you will see that they encourage steaming, pureeing, or
preparing fruits and veggies in a way that breaks down the outer layer
of cellulose. Why? Because a dog does not possess the digestive
enzymes to break this down in order to obtain nutrients. So feeding
green beans or carrots does provide fiber, but those things are just
fillers and do not provide nutrients unless you prepare it. Guess who
cooked for dogs when they were out in the wild?
Furthermore, digestion for dogs starts in the stomach, not in the
mouth. This is why dogs do not chew their food so finely as we do.
Chomp, chomp, chomp, swallow. And the food is down. The stomach acid
will take care of the rest.
http://rawfed.com/myths/omnivores.html
In addition, the cooking process destroys nutrients. If you want
proof, look at the list of ingredients for your dog food of choice.
Then answer this question: why do they have to add a gamut of vitamins
and minerals to the meats, fruits, and veggies listed? Answer: because
all the nutrients for those foods were destroyed during the cooking
process, so a vitamin premix must be sprayed on. Oh and most of these
premixes or many of their ingredients come from China or India.
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/why-kibble-harming-dogs/
Kibble is also laden with toxic chemicals such as molds, carcinogens,
and flame retardants.
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/kibble-never-a-good-option/
Oh, and want to know what else is in kibble? Various dead and diseased
animals, and farming/manufacturing waste.
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/shocking-truth-about-dog-food/
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/animal-by-products/
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/dog-food-grain-by-products/
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/helpful-dog-food-articles/
Now why do many people feed raw? The better question is why don't
people feed raw? Tell me what's better than having complete control
over the ingredients in your dog's food. What's better than knowing
that your dog is eating a species appropriate diet, day in and day
out, and is reaping the benefits, cleaner teeth, fresher breath,
easier digestion, and absorbing every part of their meals as
nutrients. Raw fed dogs also have smaller, less frequent stools
because their is little waste material passing through their digestive
systems, which means the dog is consuming nutrient-rich foods and
absorbing nutrients. Healthy raw-fed dogs generally poop once a day,
some, such as the Golden Guy, even poop once every 2 days.
As for how I even switched. I used to be on the kibble train. I didn't
even know that other types of dog food existed, other than canned
food. I was lied to by the guide dog school, and told that kibble was
better than canned food because it cleans a dog's teeth. Okay, don't
even get me started.
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/dry-dog-food-cleaner-teeth/
So I fed kibble. First, it was the anal glands. They needed expressing
every 6 weeks. I would always ask what things I could do to minimize
or eliminate the need for this. All three vets I went to informed me
that some dogs have this problem and others don't. Okay, so what was I
supposed to do?
Then, the chronic ear infections. First every other month, then none
during the winter, then a monthly infection from April to October. I
went to three different vets again, looking for the solution to my
problems. All of them kept saying well, it could be seasonal
allergies, or food allergies, or a yeast overgrowth. Okay, so I needed
to switch his food. I embarked on a search for different dog foods on
my own. Why? Because every vet I went to said Iams was a good dog
food. Anyone who claimed that did not have my dog's best interests at
heart.
So I went through some top notch dog food brands after getting off
Iams, which is what the school fed their dogs. I went from Acana, to
Canidae, to Wellness Core, and I even tried a couple different recipes
within each brand. I knew that systemic issues took time to clear up,
so I gave each formula about 3 months. But I still researched
furiously, trying to figure out what on God's green earth was causing
the ear infections and the anal gland issues! It was driving me up the
wall, and I could not imagine what the Golden Guy was going through.
I looked into feeding canned dog food, dehydrated, freeze-dried, and
even cooking my dog's food. It was too much. The calculating,
preparation, and work involved. I threw in the towel on process dog
food, and I have not looked back. And you know what? No ear
infections, and no more scooting or anal gland issues. I feed my dog
as nature intended, and it is easy and stress-free. I don't have to
worry about recalls, contamination, harmful chemicals in the food, or
a change in recipe. I am done playing with fire and burning my dog.
I tell this story because I want to save people from going through
what I went through. These issues are so minor, and so easily fixed.
Sometimes, it takes minor and/or major health problems to persuade
people to feed raw.
If your dog is experiencing chronic ear infections, your dog is trying
to get rid of toxins in his body. One of the primary ways to get rid
of toxins is through the skin, note things like anal gland issues,
allergies displayed through the skin and coat, and ear infections.
That stuff has to come out somehow. Probiotics will not help you if
you continue to put the very same toxins into your dog that your dog
is trying to get rid of. It's like solving a vitamin deficiency by
taking a multi vitamin while consuming a diet of junk food, or
unhealthy food in the least. It doesn't work. Trust me, I tried it my
sophomore year of college. Change the diet altogether. Feed your dog a
diet that promotes good gut flora, then perhaps add in probiotics if
you still feel it is necessary. Probiotics are not necessary in a
healthy dog eating a species appropriate diet.
If you want to learn more about raw vs. kibble and why raw, check out
the links below:
http://rawfed.com/myths/index.html
www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com
www.rawlearning.com
http://www.rawmeatybones.com/petowners.php
On 3/20/14, Tai Blas <taiablas at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi! My dog gets ear infections once a month. I have only had her three
> months and she has had an infection each of those months. Can you recommend
> a probiotic? C
>
> Tai Tomasi
> J.D. Candidate, class of 2014
> Email: tai.tomasi8 at gmail.com
> Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse my brevity and any grammatical errors.
>
>> On Mar 19, 2014, at 10:47 PM, Brandy Pinder <bdpinder at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I am all for taste of the wild. It's grain free, on the less expensive
>> side. For some reason pinta had that smell that has either subsided from
>> switching to wellness grain free or the numerous dry shampoo and wipes I
>> have discovered.
>> Kathy I switched to quote unquote more expensive food because I feel,
>> especially for my dog who has had past ear infections, is healthier over
>> all. Dogs do not eat grain such as corn in the wild and grain can cause
>> many allergies. Also, I have found I pay the same price because on foods
>> like purina and iams I would be feeding at least three cups whereas with
>> wellness she is eating two cups. I noticed when I switched my previous dog
>> to blue buffalo as opposed to euk she didn't seem hungry at all between
>> meals and didn't start asking for her dinner extremely early. The quote
>> unquote more expensive brands and especially grain free have higher
>> protein whereas the quote unquote less expensive have more carbohydrates
>> which I'm sure every one has noticed eggs keep you more full in the
>> morning as opposed to oat meal. Lastly, my main reason at first is that I
>> lived alone and though I could pick up purina from my grocery store
>> sometimes they didn't have it or I went to the one closer to home which
>> only carries small bags. When I went on pet food direct and pet flow five
>> years ago blue buffalo was fifty two a bad. Purina was forty five while at
>> the store it was thirty five so I'm thinking for seven dollars more I can
>> get a much better food, however if a grocery store is convenient then yes
>> those brands would be cheaper. Raven will explain this much better. Smile.
>> I am in no way saying that a person who feeds the less expensive brands
>> are bad. Do I think my dog will live longer eating a grain free food? Not
>> really. Do I think anyone feeding iams is bad? No of course not. This just
>> works for me and I can't deny the fact that my school let me know she had
>> had numerous ear infections and was I ok with that and when I brought her
>> home she had one, in the last seven months nothing. I strongly feel it is
>> the grain free food and the probiotics
>>
>> brandy pinder
>> Alumni Council - second vice Chairman
>> Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc®
>> and America's VetDogs®, The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc®
>> Providing "Second uSight"® since 1946
>>
>> 371 E. Jericho Turnpike smith town ny 11766
>> Cso: 866-282-8047
>> Email: brandydp at verizon.net
>> Cell: 304-685-4499
>>
>>> On Mar 19, 2014, at 10:42 PM, "Kathy Davis" <kdavisnfbf at cfl.rr.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hello all,
>>> This is Kathy Davis and I am new to the NAGDU list. I have received
>>> all 5 of my dogs from The Seeing Eye. I now have a handsome Black male
>>> Lab
>>> by the name of Wade who will be three in mid July.
>>> I have had wonderful luck with Purina Pro Plan after feeding my
>>> previous guides Neutro. Wade does great on this food and I wouldn't even
>>> consider changing. It is a reasonable cost and is carried by Pet
>>> Supermarket, Petmart and no doubt on line as well. I am wondering why so
>>> many of you are choosing to use some of the more expensive brands of food
>>> and why others are opting to feed raw.
>>> You have some interesting discussions and I think I'll enjoy the
>>> list. By the way, I should tell you that I am a board member of FLAGDU
>>> and
>>> have been very active in the NFB of Florida for many years. I reside in
>>> Ormond Beach just north of Daytona Beach.
>>> I'm looking forward to getting to know some of you better with time
>>> and I'm happy to put in my two cents worth when the topic at hand could
>>> possibly benefit from my input.
>>>
>>> Kathy and Wade the wonderful
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vivianna
>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 6:10 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] possibly switching dog food, advice would be welcome
>>>
>>> Hi.
>>> Try this website;
>>> www.chewie.com
>>> they have loads of dog foods to look through with lists of ingredients.
>>> if
>>> you ring them up they will give you advice and, top that off with free
>>> delivery.
>>> i personally am using Taste of the Wild in the mornings and feeding raw
>>> in
>>> the evenings. i am switching to a RMB diet completely.
>>> but, that's not for everyone, i am aware of that.
>>> HTH.
>>>
>>> Vivianna
>>>
>>> On Mar 19, 2014, at 4:54 PM, Laurel and Stockard
>>> <laurel.stockard at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hey all,
>>>> I don't post much, but occasionally, I need advice. I've got my guide, a
>>> female labrador in great health, on natural balance duck and potato along
>>> with my family's pet labrador, also in great health. My guide is 5 and a
>>> half and our pet is a little over 2. I've got to switch Stockard my guide
>>> as
>>> well as our pet dog off the natural balance because it's running 60
>>> dollars
>>> a bag of late and I can't really afford that. I'd like to know what
>>> brands
>>> you use, and what you find affordable, like under $50. Keep in mind, my
>>> dogs
>>> are labradors. Specifically, I want your thoughts on a few brands.
>>> Eukanuba
>>> (especially whether or not I should think about large breed vs. labrador.
>>> Is
>>> one better than the other, does it matter?) also, royal canin, nutro,
>>> Kirkland from Costco, and Iams. Is there another brand that's affordable
>>> that I should consider? Are there any websites where I could order in
>>> bulk,
>>> say 5 or 10 bags at a time, and save money?
>>>> Thanks for your thoughts on this matter.
>>>> Laurel and Stockard
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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--
Raven
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