yes and its scary.

Pet food companies are now realizing the popularity of non-grain foods or having a meat source as the first ingredient. Because of this they are scrambling to find cheap meat sources. This means that much of it is coming from over seas- china mostly and it is not fit for human consumption. There is also no control over it what so ever. They can even label it chicken but after its dried who knows whats really in it.

For this reason I call the pet food companies every few months to check where they are getting the meat used in their products. I ask questions about ingredients too. This is a crazy process for me but its also important since it can effect the life of my dogs. Even if it didn't kill them their organs and such are still effected by poisoned food. Over time it does have an effect. Most commercial dog foods are harmful to your dog.

There are other brands I love but more expensive. Taste of the Wild is a good food and within most budget. If you feed your dog food with cornmeal and fillers, even rice, your dog will need to eat more. So if your dog is eating 4 cups per day they WILL eat and need less of a non grain quality food. If you do the math you'll see its not really that much more. If you consider the long term effects and what you'll save on vet bills then you'll find room in your budget.

Taste of the Wild - 30 pounds- $1.60 per day for a medium size dog @ 2 cups per day.

Orijen (what I'll be switch to soon) 29 pounds- $2.30 per day for a medium size dog @ 2 cups. There is one less pound.

Now add greens- a tub of organic spinach or spring greens at Sam's Club under 4.00 or a large package or organic romaine also under 4.00. large bag of organic carrots 5 lbs 5.00. Shred carrots of give whole if they will eat them.

So when I start breaking it down like that and what it cost daily for me to feed my dogs which are like my kids, 2.30 a day per dog is doable. If I have to give up a bottle of wine, dinner out, whatever I need to do I will because its that important to me. But understand that I also know that it's not affordable even still for some. I am happy to private work with you to figure out the best solution for your budget.

I'm sorry if I sound fanatically but this is a hot issue for me. Perhaps because I take care of so many dogs and work with so many groups. Pet health is a very huge agenda for me. So much so that I am planning on raising my own livestock and growing to feed my dogs. Food cost are rising and this is effecting pet foods. Even more reason to be concerned about what is really in your pet's food.

that new puppy is GORGEOUS! We have a puppy here now that is making everyone crazy. thats what puppies do!

I'm a bit quirky about my dog(s) and their health too and one thing I do is to always clip the production code which is located by the scan bar usually. This way if they do a recall, you will know if your bag is a part of that recall. This way you'll know to watch your dog for changes and/or have them vetted. I just keep it clipped to the front of the fridge and change it out with each new bag. I also keep a watch for the recalls.

My biggest concern with raw diets is that most of the commercial human meat out there is full of hormones and who knows what. If not properly stored you can get all types of bacteria. Organic or grass fed is so very expensive. If you have a small dog then it would be an option.

I don't feel 100% raw is good. Dogs are omnivorous like humans. So if you're making dog food, which I think is great, you just have to make sure they are also getting some fruits and veggies for essential vitamins.

Tender, Firm, Consistent
 

I have three pups and feed them a mixture of dry and wet food that I make myself. When it was just Olive (Aussie mix) I let her free-feed. She always did great and never had any issues with her weight.

Then along came Ellie (Shih Tzu) and Rue (Schnoodle) and Olive became food aggressive (and fat).

When I prepare their food I use organic meat from Trader Joe's, organic veggies (carrots, greens, beets) and free-range chicken or beef broth minus the sodium. I also buy them free-range beef bones from the local farmer's market. So far their teeth look great with all that chewing!

It may seem excessive to some, but to me our pets are members of our family...not just animals.

Nah...human's suck.

*kidding*

I'm a general variety spoiler....therefore, I generally enjoy spoiling whomever I love.

I need to pick your brain about potty training since you live with a pack as well.

My granddaughter.

There is also a brand called The Honest Kitchen. It's dehydrated and has fresh free range meats, veggies, fruits and everything is human grade AND made in a human grade inspected kitchen. 10 pounds turns into 40 pounds at around 70 something which is very affordable if you're making dog food. 40 pounds will feed my boxer and two small dogs

I spoil all of my animals, however I don't cuddle, pet or name animals that may become dinner.

Ok, so the biggest reason I have been using Newman's organic is because I wanted to make sure I had a product where the meat was free of antibiotics and growth hormones. I couldn't find a food outside of this one where this was clearly stated ("fresh" ingredients is meaningless, and free range doesn't mean free of hormones either, in all cases). Also, I do like plant based protein and Newman's met this, as well. However, I found on the Orijen website that their meat is antibiotic/growth hormone free and they have a a product with fish as their base meat (6 Fish Dog). I think I am going to switch.

Sachita, I am curious to know why Orijen is your new choice?

I have to tell you Blade, I really paused when I read this. I had this serious moment...lol Really, the only other thing I spoil is my car. I spoil it by using high end products on the car itself (the cleaning and protection of the interior and exterior), and also high end mechanical parts/fluids. So, yes, I spoil my car.

:| <-------maybe needs to look at what (who) is being left out on the spoiling list

It's more the type of protein. If you take fresh wild salmon for instance the grading is done prior to processing so by the time they process it's less. I also think that keeping fats down is very important. If you simply imagine how you feel eating certain things, its how your dog will feel. If you ate processed foods, lots of carbs and meats you'll feel sluggish and most likely develop health problems but if you ate lean meats and lots of green veggies you'd feel more vibrant and less health issues.

We have quite a few dogs that have organ issues and kidney. I don't think that rice is the answer. I would consider The Honest Kitchen or if its affordable for you buy chicken and turkey, bake it then add things like blue berries, sweet potato, broccoli, kelp, romaine, kale, etc. change it up. Most people that do this make batches and freeze in small bags. It doesn't have to be expensive just time consuming. I'd also add herbs to strengthen organs. Here is an extract that is for humans but I use it for dogs all the time. https://www.herbdoc.com/index.php/Store/K-B-Formula

I know you live in NYC so food is probably expensive there. I know because the farmers I know selling grass fed and organic charge three times what i pay here.

My dog is my only pet. He's a jack russell...I don't have time for another pet!

I'm always going to support organic because it's one of my huge agendas. I think Newman's it a great company that has wonderfully marketed products commercially. I don't really have anything bad to say. I wish they used less chemicals and more berries and veggies.

I am impressed with Orijen meat sources and they use regional farms for produce. I'm all about supporting local farms. But like any successful company once the numbers climb they are often sold to even larger companies that keep the brand but change the formula. I suspect this will start happening with Taste of The Wild.

My long term goal is to grow food for my dogs. I'm pretty close to this goal. I am raising large (Jersey Giants) meat chickens now which i will start hatching. I'm also looking into raising Emu for meat and oil which I feel will be excellent for dogs, especially dogs with health issues. I'm still research this and seeing if it's feasible. I'm just now able to wrap my head around processing my own chicken and turkey. I want that animal to have the best life possible and although I could take it to a processor many people believe its best to do this at the farm. I agree because there is no fear or stress. lol- omg I could go on and on about this. If you are lucky enough to have a local family farm near you consider supporting them by buying from them. Yes, it cost a bit more but at least you really know where your food comes from.

Those of you on a budget. If you have small dogs it's easy. Adopt a healthy diet for yourself with lean meats, fruits and veggies. Then make enough to give to your fur baby. Don't give them onions, grapes, (I don't have the list) stick with lean meats, green veggies, fruits such as berries and banana.

I never spoiled my dog...ever...ok...maybe a little.

...alright...

I admit...she owned me :) Missing my pup she was the bombdiggitydog!!

I have a mayer parrot who is spoiled too--

I make her bird seed mixture -- w/ no sunflower seeds (okay, as a treat yes)
I let her chew on cardboard and tree branches as a toy.
She gets regular shower time with me.
She also, gets to stay on my shoulder for extended amounts of time.

I like her.

oppss I'm so sorry!


something that is great for dogs is Inulin Fiber Chicory Root. It is a natural probotic and helps with digestive problems and immunity. Its very affordable and easy to mix into food. You can buy it as a powder. Another great thing is hulled hemp seeds. You don't have to give it to them daily, maybe 3 times a week. I buy it in bulk because I eat it too. The taste it really good.

Ok, so I just had to run over to my local pet store to pick up the Orijen 6 Fish Food, even though my dog still has quite a bit of the Newman's left (I actually didn't even think about that). Looks as though the 75%/25% transition mix of old/new food will be for a rather long time!

What struck me was the fish smell...wowsa!

Yes, reading about the regional farm use for Orijen (never frozen), along with the nonhormone/antibiotics that I mentioned before is what pushed me over the edge in my decision.

Also, my personal opinion is that for humans fish is best, chicken should be used minimally and always organic, and beef should never be injested (even grass fed). I do the best I can to eat as a seagan (vegan+seafood, but do eat chicken sometimes b/c I miss it), as I believe this is the healthies way for a human to eat. Is this the same for dogs? I don't know, but it seems to me that we look to put into our dog foods the same things we put in human for health (berries for anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, etc effects), so should we look to use the same meat sources for our animals that we believe are best for us?

Study after study is showing how red meat increases cancer rate in humans. It is suggested that we eat very little to no red meat. Dogs have a really high rate of cancer. Should we avoid giving our dogs red meat and seek plant based proteins as forward thinking oncologists are suggest for humans? I don't know. But, that was one of the reasons why I was buying Newman's Organic. A lot of the protein was plant based. HOWEVER, the protein is too low, and the meat source is chicken. They don't have a fish diet, either.

Does anyone have a link that gives information on which animal sources are best for dogs? I would love to read something like this.

P.S. Sachita, I don't know if you were referring to Newman's dog food or not (maybe just their human foods?), but they don't use any chemicals in their dog foods.

Thanks for the discussion, everyone!

You can come spoil Felix...especially this morning. Mommy is busy de-Christmasing the house, Daddy is sleeping, the Boy is out and about and Felix is LONELY (read: he is right up on me JUST in case I need his help - boy, those ornaments SURE look like toys!) lol

I'm.ready.for.a.nap.

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/Cons.../ucm208365.htm

Someone passed this along to me. People have different thinking about bones, so your mileage may vary, but I found it useful.

I don't think Newman's is bad, at all. If you look at the list of ingredients you'll spend a few hours just looking them all up. I am not big on fish as part of a main protein source on a daily basis. I would choose red meat but hard to find safe red meat. Bison is good and lower in fat. I personally use chicken and turkey. Rabbit and deer is suppose to be awesome for dogs.

I would just transition to Orijen maybe the one with chicken which also has salmon meal. Then you can add stuff. If you switch protein sources like let's say you go from a primary lamb food to a salmon you're going to have major diarrhea. It's ok to feed them the same. What you can change up are the healthy oils, greens and some limited fruits. If you have your own hens or access to someone who has free range eggs these are good sometimes.

About bones- I don't give bones. Bones are tricky and can be dangerous.

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/Cons.../ucm208365.htm

In fact I really don't give any hard chewy if I can help it. This puppy I have now has the toys, socks and pressed bones. hard bones are not going to clean your dogs teeth. If you have build up consider a spray with enzyme to help dissolve it. Giving your dogs a proper diet with the right food will help greatly, however some dogs do have bad teeth. Bones are not the answer.
Petzlife makes a great spray and or gel for this and its natural.

I have an older dog who has severe heart disease and should have a diet low in sodium. I'm curious to know if anyone has any recommendations.

Why do you think that red meat is a good choice for dogs if it is not a good/unhealthy choice for humans (assuming you agree with that statement)?

if he is overweight the first thing is to take the weight off and get him walking a few times a day. This is a very low fat diet and low insulin

http://www.chewy.com/dog/honest-kitc...d-dog/dp/34274

I would add Coenzyme Q10 and look at this

https://www.herbdoc.com/index.php?Qu...rch&Itemid=117

No, she's not overweight any longer. Her heart is so big that it's almost the size of her chest cavity and she's a whippet with a deep chest so I just let her run around in the yard as she pleases. I don't want to chance she'll become winded with a walk. I'll take a look at that food. Thanks for the links!

I've seen that. Given that the FDA is a little weird sometimes about things i take it with a grain of salt. I wonder if the author of the article was thinking of cooked bones (which if that is the case, then it makes sense).

I did end up getting a knee (??? about the size of my fist) bone and Fawda just loved it! She even took Lily's (Lily isn't as much about chewing as Fawda is). She even favoured the bone over leftover holiday turkey (!!).

So we'll see how it goes.

I think that anything they can fit in their mouth that can choke them is dangerous. If its a bone or even small toy that can be chewed up small enough to choke they could. Especially puppies. So its a trade off but its still dangerous so I would advise anyone to give these things when you are close by just in case.

Here is a great link and I suggest if you are a dog owner you print it and keep it handy.
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pet...-your-dog7.htm

I am so relieved to know I am not the only one who does exactly this.

Ok, so it came in today and I gave it to my dog. For his weight, it was only a teaspoon, which is good b/c the package delievered cost me $20. He will get 25.2 days out of the bag, so we are looking at $.79 per day for my dog.

Anyway, it was between meals and I thought maybe he would just eat the powder on nothing, so I just tossed it in his bowl to see what would happen. Well he licked it right up!

I am also going to be conscious of giving my dog his own portion of vegetables each day. Typically, I will give him a taste or two of my veggies, but it makes sense to make sure he has his own portion.

I have appreciated the ideas here in this thread.

Thanks all!

question for the pup lovers here we have a wippet mix who is a rescue we have had her over a year she was very shy when we got her but now has come out of her shell. We also have a Sheppard mix who Phoebe loves. Phoebe took off on Desd back in late June and was missing for 10 days thank god we got her back we were a wreck. Now she is scared shitles of a fire in the firepace she will shake and cower run out of the room jump the baby gate to go upstairs. AND we have noticed the past few days she will all of a sudden get really scared of something and shake like hell Desd tried to hold her and comfort her show her that she is safe but it dosent help and I have had her do it with me to I can hold her and it passes but I have no clue what is makeing her so scared I dont want my baby to be scared we are wondering if it is like a post stress thing she was missing over the 4th of July and if we are outside and a loud bang goes off she runs to me and cowers and shakes on my feetso I pick her up and she snuggles into me

any thoughts