Just an FYI, for those of you with dogs with "sensitive" tummy's- insearch of natural pet foods with no fillers or preservites, PetsMart and Wally World now stock Deli Fresh products.

We have a VERY food allergic French Bulldog, and have been home cooking food for her because we could not find a commercial food that she did not react to (or didn't treat like week-old rabbit turds and wouldn't eat) other than home-cooked turkey and veg, plus Flint River Ranch baked kibble. Have had her on the Deli Fresh Turkey and Rice for a week now, with excellent results. And our other picky eater loves the stuff too. :)

http://www.delifreshpet.com/

You can print $3 off coupons from their web site.

It's about damn time !

Ingredients look good but the protein and fat % are typical of canned dog food, so you'll probably need to supplement that somehow.

I don't think I can feed this exclusively for my active pack.

Ingredients look good but the protein and fat % are typical of canned dog food, so you'll probably need to supplement that somehow.

I don't think I can feed this exclusively for my active pack.

We checked on that too, after seeing the label. The food exceeds the AAFCO dog food nutrition standards, and several sources we checked indicate that Pandean foods like this (pasteruized, all natural, nutrient dense, fresh) measure differently than processed/canned food (USDA report was about 35% - 40% more nutrition in PAN foods ounce for ounce than canned dog food). PAN foods are about half fresh meat and though they have a higher protein content, the moisture content of the meat itself makes a difference on how the protien and fat content is reported according to the USDA requriements. The protein content of straight raw beef is only 11%, and fat content under 3%. PAN diets work on the amount of "digestble" curde protei n in the food. Some processed dog food can have a high protein content, if is not digestible, the numbers don't mean much. (Saw reports on foods tested that had as much as 30% protein listed, but test showed less than 60% was digestible - so the actual "usable" protein content of the food was half what the label reported.)

I've settled in to feeding Megan a mix of Nutro small bites lamb and rice, with some California Naturals canned sweet potato and salmon.

Hey Rocket Dog:

Each to his own - we just have such an allergic dog, we have to find what works for her. We now know more about dog foods than any sane person should :rolleyes:

Just an FYI on Nutro, came across several consumer complaints on line, and some "silent" recalls of their food (i.e. pulled from store shelves, but no public reason given). Heard nothing but good things about Calif Naturals, and tried it for a while - just couldn't get our picky eater to eat it consistently.

Sorry, we are a bit parinoid with our dog food :D

mkh--what is your opinion on Go! Natural salmon and/or chicken kibble. appreciate any feed back/opinion you may have---thanks!

mkh--what is your opinion on Go! Natural salmon and/or chicken kibble. appreciate any feed back/opinion you may have---thanks!

Have not seen this brand before. All the ingredients look top shelf - single source protiens, human grade, and - very important - slow cooked in small QC batches not flash steamed in big extruders (or at least that's what they post). If the kibble does not have a "shiney" coating on it that seems to "seal" it, and the color is consistant from outside throught the inside of the kibble, I'd say good stuff. May have to pick up some and try it.

ok--thanks-- i appreciate the imput. my 2 seem to do exceptional with it. they are really healthy dogs-- you have to be careful so careful with food for sure. it is made in Canada--perhaps that is why you haven't heard of it

i have been feeding my dog nutro max puppy but after what i have heard about nutro im going to try something different. what is a good natural puppy food? been thinking about trying the one science diet just released. i dont feed my dog grocery store junk except for the occasional bone.

ok--thanks-- i appreciate the imput. my 2 seem to do exceptional with it. they are really healthy dogs-- you have to be careful so careful with food for sure. it is made in Canada--perhaps that is why you haven't heard of it

Could be, but they seem to distribute world wide so a bit surprised I hadn't come across them but looks like they only sell in the Northern US right now - (but a Canadian company - Menu Pet Foods was the one that owned the manufacturing facilities that produced all the killer recall dog food with the melamine in it from China - not nocking Canucks, I am one, eh.)

But these guys seem to be top drawer - only producing top grade stuff.

i have been feeding my dog nutro max puppy but after what i have heard about nutro im going to try something different. what is a good natural puppy food? been thinking about trying the one science diet just released. i dont feed my dog grocery store junk except for the occasional bone.

Hill's Science Diet is just another mass-brand made by Menu Foods, which makes pet food under 95 different Pet Food Labels. They were the ones that put the melamine laced ingredients they bought cheap from China in the recalled pet foods that was killing all the dogs and cats. Try looking for a Feed Store in your area - they are likely to carry the smaller boutique natural pet foods. I try and stay away from any of the mass-market foods that are all made at one or two plants, and they just slap different labels on the cans, depending on the day of the week.

I feed Megan Nutro because the Rescue Society I got her from recommended that brand. Until today I was under the impression it was a healthy dog food brand. I'm not sworn to that brand but at times it feels like finding the best pet food is like chasing the horizon. There's a very lengthy thread from many months ago all about dog food brands, nutrition, etc.

I guess its back to school for me and what dry food I feed Megan.

anybody ever buy the trader joes dog food? i buy a lot of my food from there and they sell these chicked wrapped pieces of rawhide that my dog loves, ive always wondered if the food was worth a try. so none of the food that petsmart/petco carries is worth buying? ive got a beagle mix, vet thinks she is part collie and she is not a picky eater but i want to buy her the best food possible so she stays healthy

A lot of people take canine nutrition to heart so I won't make any recommendations but let me tell you about the foods that I've had good experiences with

Eagle Pack Holistic - my dogs love the Salmon

Canidae - a tad greasy but the dogs do well on it

Wellness - expensive but proven

By Nature Organic/By Nature Natural - just started them on this a few weeks ago, so far so good

and my favorite Raw - Asian markets has assorted pork and beef cuts for low low prices

I am now feeding Taste of the wild ThefSalmon based one
I was feeding Eagle Holestic Salmon And Sam did very well on it He is allergic to wheat and corn. Skin and coat were full of hot spots. I can not get the Eagle food local so I am trying the Taste of the wild reads good but still need to know more

Ganja and Pepper usually eat Nutro but I recently found an all natural food at the feed store that they love. Its $10 cheaper too.

We originally switched to all natural food in 2006 to help curb Ganja's epileptic seizures. It worked, she's only had a couple of petit seizures since! Also helped with her allergies too.

A lot of people take canine nutrition to heart so I won't make any recommendations but let me tell you about the foods that I've had good experiences with

Eagle Pack Holistic - my dogs love the Salmon

Canidae - a tad greasy but the dogs do well on it

Wellness - expensive but proven

By Nature Organic/By Nature Natural - just started them on this a few weeks ago, so far so good

and my favorite Raw - Asian markets has assorted pork and beef cuts for low low prices

... all good stuff for dogs. These are the types of foods you will find at local "Feed Stores" that won't stock the mass-market super-market brands (that are all made by the same company anyway.) The only thing I shy away from is the Raw diets. Some people swear by them as what dogs "in the wild" eat, but studies in Australia where raw diets were very popular for a while show significantly reduced dog life span on them - which makes sense as biological studies show "wild' dogs (wolves, coyotes, etc.) live less than half as long as domesticated dogs do, average wolf life span is 5 yrs, 6 yrs with coyotes.

Further to some questions posted here, how to know/pick "good" dog food.
1. Average dog's diet should be 40% meat, 50% veg., 10% grain.
2. Check the first 5 ingredients on the label. At least one of the first 2 or 3 of these should be animal protein, such as beef, beef meal, chicken, chicken meal, lamb, lamb meal, turkey or turkey meal, or other fish/fowl . **None of these should be animal by-products.
3. Any grains should be rolled oats, barley, quinoa, millet, or brown rice. Wheat, corn, and soy are not easily digestible by dogs, is hard on their systems, are potential allergens, and should be avoided.
4. Avoid any foods that contain BHA and BHT
5. Read the Guaranteed Analysis and convert the percentages listed to dry consistency percentages, to calculate the the actual protein content. You first figure out the percentage of dry matter in the food. For instance if there is 10% moisture, that leaves 90% dry matter. Then, you convert the other percentages to dry matter percentage. To do this, you divide the percentage by the percentage of dry matter. For instance, if there is 90% dry matter and the protein listed is 26%, you divide 26 by 90. The result of this is 28%. This is the actual percentage amount of protein in the food. An average adult dog should be getting 25% to 30% crude protein, 5% to 15% fats, and the rest % carbs.
6. Make sure the food is listed as meeting or exceeding AAFCO's minimum standards for balanced canine nutrition. This is voluntary in the industry, not mandatory, so a lot of (sub-standard) pet food companies don't bother to comply, as it costs more to "nutritionally balance" and certify their products.

**Meat by products, otherwise knowing as renderings. This is a mix of packing plant "material" that is not fit for human consumption. Diseased animal carcasses that can't be butchered, stuff they shovel off the floor, that can't be sold to humans. In some cases even road kill, and County pound euthanized dog and cat carcasses (a rendering plant in Calif, and one on Ontario, were found to be using both road kill and euthanized pound dogs/cats in the "meat by-product" renderings they were selling to pet food manufacturers. (They both had a contracts to collect and "dispose" of the road kill and shelter kills.)

The great dog food debate!

I have an allergic dog too so i know what it is like trying to find the right food for your allergic dog...we tried all the good foods, wellness, totw, timberwolf, evo, canidae, prescription foods before we finally found Eagle Pack holistic. The better foods all gave her the hershey squirts even with probiotic supplementation. I say feed a dog the best quality natural food that agrees with their system.

I got alot of great information here

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

Eagle Pack is not a food I would have chosen because it is not a 6 star food, but it works best for us.

I feed raw every evening...there is nothing better than watching your dog munch down happily on chicken backs or green tripe (outside because it smells)

Further to some questions posted here, how to know/pick "good" dog food.
1. Average dog's diet should be 40% meat, 50% veg., 10% grain.
2. Check the first 5 ingredients on the label. At least one of the first 2 or 3 of these should be animal protein, such as beef, beef meal, chicken, chicken meal, lamb, lamb meal, turkey or turkey meal, or other fish/fowl . **None of these should be animal by-products.
3. Any grains should be rolled oats, barley, quinoa, millet, or brown rice. Wheat, corn, and soy are not easily digestible by dogs, is hard on their systems, are potential allergens, and should be avoided.
4. Avoid any foods that contain BHA and BHT
5. Read the Guaranteed Analysis and convert the percentages listed to dry consistency percentages, to calculate the the actual protein content. You first figure out the percentage of dry matter in the food. For instance if there is 10% moisture, that leaves 90% dry matter. Then, you convert the other percentages to dry matter percentage. To do this, you divide the percentage by the percentage of dry matter. For instance, if there is 90% dry matter and the protein listed is 26%, you divide 26 by 90. The result of this is 28%. This is the actual percentage amount of protein in the food. An average adult dog should be getting 25% to 30% crude protein, 5% to 15% fats, and the rest % carbs.
6. Make sure the food is listed as meeting or exceeding AAFCO's minimum standards for balanced canine nutrition. This is voluntary in the industry, not mandatory, so a lot of (sub-standard) pet food companies don't bother to comply, as it costs more to "nutritionally balance" and certify their products.

**Meat by products, otherwise knowing as renderings. This is a mix of packing plant "material" that is not fit for human consumption. Diseased animal carcasses that can't be butchered, stuff they shovel off the floor, that can't be sold to humans. In some cases even road kill, and County pound euthanized dog and cat carcasses (a rendering plant in Calif, and one on Ontario, were found to be using both road kill and euthanized pound dogs/cats in the "meat by-product" renderings they were selling to pet food manufacturers. (They both had a contracts to collect and "dispose" of the road kill and shelter kills.)


thank you for writing all that

Dear Moderators:

Should this thread be merged with this one?

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43502&highlight=food

reading asian newspapers online looks like melanmie has surfaced in dog food again..... might be worthwhile to keep our heads up!

We should exchange recipes :) my Jindo loves a combination of tripe, chicken neck and chopped veggies. I need to throw a marrow bone in there just to slow him down.




I feed raw every evening...there is nothing better than watching your dog munch down happily on chicken backs or green tripe (outside because it smells)

there is an excellent yahoo group called K9Kitchen - it has sound advise on feeding dogs.

Chance gets Bravo raw burgers and Flint River Ranch Kibble.

I feed my cats Evangers-all natural,organic, even kosher (!). They have a full line of dog foods as well. evangers.com:D

If you belong to Costco, their Kirkland dog food (Lamb or Chicken) are great and a bargain. $23.99 for 40#. Which is very important when you are feeding 5 large breeds...

Hill's Science Diet is just another mass-brand made by Menu Foods, which makes pet food under 95 different Pet Food Labels. They were the ones that put the melamine laced ingredients they bought cheap from China in the recalled pet foods that was killing all the dogs and cats. Try looking for a Feed Store in your area - they are likely to carry the smaller boutique natural pet foods. I try and stay away from any of the mass-market foods that are all made at one or two plants, and they just slap different labels on the cans, depending on the day of the week.

i took your advice and figured out there is a feed store only a mile from my house. after doing some reaserch and talking to a very knowledgable employee in the store i decided to try the canidae life stages formula. its a bit more expensive then the nutro but given how little my dog eats its worth it. a 15lb bag lasts her at least a month.