Any experience with Wellness Dog Food?

[1GirlTwinBoys]

I'm currently using Taste of The Wild but may switch.  Just wanted some opinions. :)

[scrapbookbuzz]

No, but your thread title intrigued me. As of late, I've noticed my dog not eating her dog food until she's actually really hungry,

and there's nothing else available for her. However, I don't think she likes it. I have a book called The Natural Dog that has some

great recipes for homemade dog food. I plan on doing that for her just so I KNOW what she's actually eating.

[Pawz4me]

I'm not a huge fan. I've tried it many times on and off over the years and have never had a single pet (dog or cat) do well on it. Some wouldn't eat it at all, some seemed to like it but it caused digestive upsets (and these weren't pets who normally had sensitive tummies). A few years ago Wellness sold out to a private equity firm and I *think* it has changed hands a time or two since then. I can't keep up with who owns what pet food anymore because they change hands so often. Anyway--it's not easy to track down who actually manufacturers their food and that's a hill to die on for me. Last I heard at least one of their products is manufactured by Diamond and that is a hill I don't even want to get close to.

 

Also, be aware that they may be undergoing a revamping of some of their products. I haven't paid a lot of attention since I don't use it, but that's what I'm hearing on one of my other boards. So if I were going to use it I'd want to make sure I started off on the newest version (versus getting an older recipe, thinking the pet did/didn't do well on it and then having to go through the same thing with the newer formula).

 

Probably more than you wanted to know . . .  :lol:

[jg_puppy]

I'm not a huge fan. I've tried it many times on and off over the years and have never had a single pet (dog or cat) do well on it. Some wouldn't eat it at all, some seemed to like it but it caused digestive upsets (and these weren't pets who normally had sensitive tummies). A few years ago Wellness sold out to a private equity firm and I *think* it has changed hands a time or two since then. I can't keep up with who owns what pet food anymore because they change hands so often. Anyway--it's not easy to track down who actually manufacturers their food and that's a hill to die on for me. Last I heard at least one of their products is manufactured by Diamond and that is a hill I don't even want to get close to.

 

Also, be aware that they may be undergoing a revamping of some of their products. I haven't paid a lot of attention since I don't use it, but that's what I'm hearing on one of my other boards. So if I were going to use it I'd want to make sure I started off on the newest version (versus getting an older recipe, thinking the pet did/didn't do well on it and then having to go through the same thing with the newer formula).

 

Probably more than you wanted to know . . .   :lol:

 

Pawz4me- What are the brands that you do like? I am looking for a new food for my dogs. I have tried Taste of the Wild with my dogs and one doesn't do well on it. I think she needs something with more fiber.  

[Pawz4me]

Pawz4me- What are the brands that you do like? I am looking for a new food for my dogs. I have tried Taste of the Wild with my dogs and one doesn't do well on it. I think she needs something with more fiber.  

 

I'm not a pet food snob. I believe in feeding a dog (or cat) whatever that individual pet does well on and I don't necessarily think the big "grocery store" manufacturers are all bad. I don't really like to say what I think are top foods because any of them can have a huge recall at any time. But I feel totally comfortable with these "premium" foods (in no particular order) --

 

Orijen/Acana

Fromm

The Honest Kitchen

Freshpet/Vital

[Spy Car]

No, but your thread title intrigued me. As of late, I've noticed my dog not eating her dog food until she's actually really hungry,

and there's nothing else available for her. However, I don't think she likes it. I have a book called The Natural Dog that has some

great recipes for homemade dog food. I plan on doing that for her just so I KNOW what she's actually eating.

 

I'm sorry, but the advice and "recipes" by Deva Khalsa in the Natural Dog book are atrociously bad and at odds with sound canine nutrition.

 

Her "proportions" for a canine diet are built on supplying one-fifth protein, two-fifths vegetables,  and two-fifths grains. Very misguided.

 

Instead, dogs should ideally eat meat, fat, bone, organs, fish, eggs, and other animal products. Fat (not carbohydrates) is the ideal energy source for dogs, and there is no essential need for any carbohydrate in a dog's diet.

 

Dog food companies put carbs into dog food because they are inexpensive and raise profitability (while taking a toll on canine health). To cook "recipes" that have as much (or more) percentage of calories from carbohydrates as commercial food and little healthful fat isn't sound nutrition for dogs. 

 

Bill

[Spy Car]

Bill, are you pro raw? I'm trying this now (prey model) to see if it clears up my dogs digestive issues. 5 weeks in, so far so good.

 

Yes.

 

I'm 3 years into feeding a Prey Model Raw diet to my Vizsla who I started at 8 weeks (since day one of having him). I absolutely love the results.

 

Hope it goes well for you!

 

Bill

[scrapbookbuzz]

Bill, I appreciate different opinions. What I don't appreciate is a condescending tone in a dissenting opinion. You could have said something like,"I don't agree with that authors guidance on natural dog food. You may find a raw food diet is a better option for your dog."

[MercyA]

My very picky dog-who-was-allergic-to-everything did very well on Wellness canned Venison and Sweet Potato, but this was a couple years ago. He didn't care for the dry varieties. I appreciated the short, natural ingredient list. There are so many more choices now, though. The ingredients in Petsmart's Simply Nourish house brand are good and it's a bit less expensive than similar premium foods.

[Spy Car]

Bill, I appreciate different opinions. What I don't appreciate is a condescending tone in a dissenting opinion. You could have said something like,"I don't agree with that authors guidance on natural dog food. You may find a raw food diet is a better option for your dog."

 

Deva Khalsa's approach doesn't qualify as "natural dog food."

 

That's the point. Dogs are not people. Her diet is not species appropriate.

 

Her book outlines ideas that are so completely unnatural for dogs that I think it's best to be plain spoken in dissent. Her ideas simply don't comport with what's understood about canine nutrition.

 

Khalsa is a promoter of pseudoscience like homeopathy (which is pure quackery) and her ideas about dog nutrition are—frankly—dangerous and uninformed.

 

Bill 

[Liz CA]

Yes.

 

I'm 3 years into feeding a Prey Model Raw diet to my Vizsla who I started at 8 weeks (since day one of having him). I absolutely love the results.

 

Hope it goes well for you!

 

Bill

 

We've been feeding raw for almost a decade now. All our dogs have all done well on this. When my big Mastiff got x-rayed, the vet commented that she had no visible signs of arthritis and she would have expected this in a dog her age and size.

 

I have, however, use Orijen dog snacks/cookies/ biscuits/treats whatever they are called and it appears my dog has no adverse reaction on those.

 

Bill, is there a difference between PMR and BARF?

Edited May 23, 2017 by Liz CA

[Pawz4me]

Bill, I appreciate different opinions. What I don't appreciate is a condescending tone in a dissenting opinion. You could have said something like,"I don't agree with that authors guidance on natural dog food. You may find a raw food diet is a better option for your dog."

 

Dog food wars can be vicious, especially when the newly converted are involved. And at only three years in (and I assume only having fed that way to one dog) Bill is very much among those. And I don't mean that to be snarky at all, just . . . .  I'm old and have been in this game for a long, long time. ;) Mommy wars are extremely tame compared to dog food wars.

 

Take it all with a grain of salt (and that very much includes anything I say!), experiment with the dog you have in front of you and figure out what works for that individual. It won't necessarily be the same thing that works for any other dog. I've seen dogs thrive on cheap "grocery store" food and I've seen dogs decline alarmingly on well done raw. Do what works for the dog.

[Splash]

My dogs didn't like Wellness dog foods.  Just wouldn't eat them.  We've been feeding Earthborn with success.  They've been healthy.  I've done raw diet as well.  Our last dog Splash was raw fed until he was 3.  We switched because of having toddler in house dog that liked to sneak his food into family room to eat.

[kewb]

My dog didn't particulary love wellness.  I have bought it on occasion when the store was out of my regular food.  He ate it but it seemed to upset his stomach for a few days.  I feed my dog a mix of kibble and raw.  I pick up the raw from my local poultry farm. Currently using Whole Earth Farms for the kibble.  I have used Holistic Select, Taste of the Wild, and Candide.  Depends on what is on sale and my budget that month.

[ktgrok]

Also, dogs are not wolves and HAVE developed mutations that allow for a high starch diet compared to wolves. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v495/n7441/full/nature11837.html

 

 

[Spy Car]

We've been feeding raw for almost a decade now. All our dogs have all done well on this. When my big Mastiff got x-rayed, the vet commented that she had no visible signs of arthritis and she would have expected this in a dog her age and size.

 

I have, however, use Orijen dog snacks/cookies/ biscuits/treats whatever they are called and it appears my dog has no adverse reaction on those.

 

Bill, is there a difference between PMR and BARF?

There are some differences between the two models.

 

One is the percentage of edible bone in rations. With BARF people often feed 25-30% (or more) edible bone, where the PMR ratio is 10% bone. Perhaps the most generally accepted nutritional requirement for dogs is maintaining a balance between the minerals calcium and phosphorus in a ratio of 1.2:1.

 

The PMR ratios (80% meat, 10% organs, 10% edible bone) hit the1.2:1 calcium/phosphorus target perfectly. Bone heavy BARF style feedings can imbalance these ratios significantly towards an overload of calcium. Long-term such imbalances can have serious repercussions.

 

A second difference is that many (not all) BARF feeders pregrind meals (including bone). Such preparation requires very expensive meat grinders (none of which are warranted for the purpose), and make life more difficult for the human. But the cost in time and money isn't the biggest downside to grinding meat and bone.

 

Such BARF feedings remove gnashing, ripping, tearing, and crunching as an activity for the dog. When a dog chews through edible bone and meat it not only works the dogs jaw and neck muscles, and relaxes the beast, but chewing soft-edible bone (like bone-in raw chicken pieces) helps keep teeth free of tartar. Big advantages are lost in grinding bones and meat using a machine, to say nothing of the time and expense.

 

Lastly, BARF feeders tend to cook up and mash significant quantities of vegetables and fruits and other supplements to add to the diet, when all the nutritional requirements of canines are better met by animal products. And the downside is all these vegetable additions add carbohydrates to the diet. The leading scientific authority on canine nutrition, the National Research Council, has determined canines/dogs have no essential need for carbohydrates. Feeding sugars/starches has multiple negative effects.

 

One negative effect of carbs is a cut in stamina along with the associated disruption of the natural fat-burning mechanism. When dogs are fed fat as their primary fuel source (with protein secondary) they have an almost limitless supply of energy as their bodies readily convert fat into glycogen on demand. When fed carbohydrates (as in the standard kibble diet) dogs get an initial surge of blood glycogen followed by a crash upon exertion.

 

Feeding dogs carbs literary de-tunes dog and cuts their vitality. In a study sponsored by Iams, they took "couch-potato" type dogs who were fed the typical high-carb diet and evaluated their aerobic capacity on treadmills and determining their VO2 Max scores. As it was to be expected these dogs had very poor scores.

 

They then took the same dogs and switched them to a high-protein/high-fat diet. After a time (with no other changes in lifestyle) they retested the dogs. This time the VO2 Max scores soared to very nearly the levels of elite canine athletes. This on a dietary change alone.

 

Feeding sugars/starches/carbs tends to disrupt the canines natural (and highly efficient)fat-burning mechanism by changing the metabolic default to burning carbs first. This has downsides for vitality.

 

Sugars also do a number on teeth. Omnivores all have a digestive enzyme called Amylase (necessary for the digestion of starches) present in saliva. Dogs lack salivary Amylase. The sugars/starches in their mouths are not acted upon by digestive enzymes, and instead begin to ferment and contribute to plague and tartar.

 

For these reasons, the BARF model (which was the pioneering model for most raw feeders) has mostly fallen out of favor among raw feederers as experience and nutritional understanding has move most people in the direction of a PMR model.

 

Bill

Edited May 23, 2017 by Spy Car

[Spy Car]

Also, dogs are not wolves and HAVE developed mutations that allow for a high starch diet compared to wolves. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v495/n7441/full/nature11837.html

This is a mischaracterization of the study.

 

The (single) study did find that some—and not all—dogs (in a very uneven distribution of the trait) have more genes to allow for the production of Amylase (the digestive enzyme necessary to metabolize carbohydrates) that wolves do in their pancreas.

 

Dogs, unlike all omnivores, do not express salivary Amylase. This means 100% of the load for producing this enzyme is put on dog's pancreases. Dogs feed high-carb/high-sugar/high-starch diets already have pancreases that are working overtime to deal with the unnatural amounts of simple sugars in their diets and need to tax the organ by pumping out insulin and other blood-sugar regulating chemicals. In addition to the blood-sugar regulating function of the pancrea being taxed, the function of producing unnatural amounts of Amylase further taxes the pancreas.

 

It is no wonder that pancreatic problems in dogs are at near epidemic levels. The high-carb diet is not a natural one, or one that shaped the common evolution of the common wolf/dog species. That some (not all) dogs have aquired an advantage, relative to wolves, to have more genes that may help produce pancreatic Amylase is not evidence that such a high-carb diet is optimal for dogs.

 

There is a big difference between thriving and surviving. Dogs can survive on a high-carb diet, but their health pays a price.

 

Bill

[Spy Car]

Dog food wars can be vicious, especially when the newly converted are involved. And at only three years in (and I assume only having fed that way to one dog) Bill is very much among those. And I don't mean that to be snarky at all, just . . . . I'm old and have been in this game for a long, long time. ;) Mommy wars are extremely tame compared to dog food wars.

 

Take it all with a grain of salt (and that very much includes anything I say!), experiment with the dog you have in front of you and figure out what works for that individual. It won't necessarily be the same thing that works for any other dog. I've seen dogs thrive on cheap "grocery store" food and I've seen dogs decline alarmingly on well done raw. Do what works for the dog.

It is a snarky response. I've trained canine athletes at a very high level for over 45 years and have a very level head when it comes to food-fads, etc. I can see the difference in lean muscle-mass, high--stamina, clean teeth, ultra-small stools, fresh breath, clear eyes, glistening coat, and white teeth between dogs fed a balance PMR type diet and ones fed kibble.

 

I've met dogs at events and known without being told they were raw fed, and have had raw feeders (who were previously strangers) come up to me to ask if I raw feed. The differences in condition are quite stark. Not subtle.

 

I've also taken the trouble to read every published study on dog nutrition I've been able to find, plus books by the NRC and Merck, and they reinforce the idea that dogs do better eating high-protein/high-fat diets based on animal sources as there species was shaped to thrive on by evolution.

 

To tell people dogs can do as well on Dog Chow or Old Roy as they would on a balanced PRM diet really undercuts your seriousness as an authority on dogs. This just isn't a credible assertion.

 

Most people are not inclined to feed raw. But if those people used a high-protein/high-fat ration instead of very high carbohydrate kibble (transitioning slowly and reducing the amounts fed in the process) they would see improvements in stamina and condition. Carbohydrates in the amounts on standard kibbles are very hard on dogs.

 

Bill

[ktgrok]

Also, not everyone wants a canine athlete with excellent stamina. Nor can they afford to feed as if they did. I'll agree raw is ideal. And then say that most people can't do the ideal. I don't feed myself or my kids the ideal diet, so I don't feel too badly about not doing so for my dogs. 

 

(and in non scientific anecdote, the dog I knew that lived the longest was 21 and ate old roy, lol)

[MercyA]

Bill, Katie, Pawz4me, and anyone else who wants to answer: what is the best type of commercially produced food for a dog with consistently loose stools? I have home-cooked dog food before, and I would rather not do that again or feed raw. 

 

My dog has tested positive for and been treated for giardia twice. I am discouraged that she keeps picking it up, as she is never outside without a leash, except occasionally in a fenced yard or dog park. However, even when her fecal tests are normal, she has soft stools.

 

We do give this supplement (containing pumpkin, a probiotic, pectin, etc.) and is helps quite a bit but hasn't eliminated the problem. It *has* drastically reduced scooting, though, so if anyone else has a problem with that, I do recommend it!

[ktgrok]

What breed? I'd add digestive enzymes as a start.

Bill, Katie, Pawz4me, and anyone else who wants to answer: what is the best type of commercially produced food for a dog with consistently loose stools? I have home-cooked dog food before, and I would rather not do that again or feed raw. 

 

My dog has tested positive for and been treated for giardia twice. I am discouraged that she keeps picking it up, as she is never outside without a leash, except occasionally in a fenced yard or dog park. However, even when her fecal tests are normal, she has soft stools.

 

We do give this supplement (containing pumpkin, a probiotic, pectin, etc.) and is helps quite a bit but hasn't eliminated the problem. It *has* drastically reduced scooting, though, so if anyone else has a problem with that, I do recommend it!

 

[Spy Car]

Also, not everyone wants a canine athlete with excellent stamina. Nor can they afford to feed as if they did. I'll agree raw is ideal. And then say that most people can't do the ideal. I don't feed myself or my kids the ideal diet, so I don't feel too badly about not doing so for my dogs. 

 

(and in non scientific anecdote, the dog I knew that lived the longest was 21 and ate old roy, lol)

 

I know.

 

I sadly believe many people prefer (unwittingly or not) to have dogs that are so lethargic that they don't create any trouble for their owners. So having a dog that sleeps all day and/or one that has a low aerobic capacity and low vitality is a plus in their minds.

 

So we have the same obesity/inactivity problems in dogs that we see in the junk-food eating human population. Food choices have health consequences. We all understand this is true.

 

Bill

[MercyA]

. 

 

Edited May 24, 2017 by MercyA

[Spy Car]

Bill, Katie, Pawz4me, and anyone else who wants to answer: what is the best type of commercially produced food for a dog with consistently loose stools? I have home-cooked dog food before, and I would rather not do that again or feed raw. 

 

My dog has tested positive for and been treated for giardia twice. I am discouraged that she keeps picking it up, as she is never outside without a leash, except occasionally in a fenced yard or dog park. However, even when her fecal tests are normal, she has soft stools.

 

We do give this supplement (containing pumpkin, a probiotic, pectin, etc.) and is helps quite a bit but hasn't eliminated the problem. It *has* drastically reduced scooting, though, so if anyone else has a problem with that, I do recommend it!

 

Have you tried simply feeding canned (non-spiced) pumpkin with every meal instead of using this supplement?

 

Pumpkin has a lot of soluble fiber and tends to work against both diarrhea and constipation issues.

 

This is a bit of a band-aid (vs finding the underlying cause) but it is a reasonable (and cost effective) first step.

 

Bill

[Pawz4me]

Bill, Katie, Pawz4me, and anyone else who wants to answer: what is the best type of commercially produced food for a dog with consistently loose stools? I have home-cooked dog food before, and I would rather not do that again or feed raw. 

 

My dog has tested positive for and been treated for giardia twice. I am discouraged that she keeps picking it up, as she is never outside without a leash, except occasionally in a fenced yard or dog park. However, even when her fecal tests are normal, she has soft stools.

 

We do give this supplement (containing pumpkin, a probiotic, pectin, etc.) and is helps quite a bit but hasn't eliminated the problem. It *has* drastically reduced scooting, though, so if anyone else has a problem with that, I do recommend it!

 

IME once some dogs get giardia they can tend to have sensitive tummies from then on.

 

Canned pumpkin certainly won't hurt and it might help. I'm not as big a fan of it as a lot of people are because mostly the only result I've seen from it is orange poop. But it's definitely worth a try.

 

If she were my dog I'd look for a limited ingredient food (canned if that's in your budget--it really is easier to digest than kibble) with a novel protein/carb source.

 

ETA: I've had much better luck treating tummy issues with slippery elm bark powder than with pumpkin. It's naturally sweet tasting, so it's easy to sprinkle over canned food.

Edited May 23, 2017 by Pawz4me

[Suzanne115]

I don't use Wellness dog food right now, but I have in the past.  I had a Standard Poodle with severe IBS.  We almost lost him before he turned 1.  Wellness fish formula combined with drugs allowed him to live to be 12.  I will always be thankful. 

 

That said, I wouldn't recommend them right now.  They have had too many changes recently.  I give my current baby Fromm food and I have been very pleased with it.  We tried adding raw to her kibble as a puppy, but she just didn't tolerate it.

 

Suzanne

[MercyA]

Have you tried simply feeding canned (non-spiced) pumpkin with every meal instead of using this supplement?

 

Yes, but she doesn't care for it.  :rolleyes: (What's not to like about pumpkin?) I will probably give it another try, though.

 

Thanks for the good advice, all! I am convinced that just about any question can be answered here on the forum.  :)

 

OP, I hope you don't mind the rabbit trail. 

[jg_puppy]

 

We do give this supplement (containing pumpkin, a probiotic, pectin, etc.) and is helps quite a bit but hasn't eliminated the problem. It *has* drastically reduced scooting, though, so if anyone else has a problem with that, I do recommend it!

Thank you for mentioning this supplement. My cavalier/cocker mix has trouble with scooting. We have tried adding pumpkin to her food and it doesn't seem to help. 

[Pawz4me]

I don't use Wellness dog food right now, but I have in the past.  I had a Standard Poodle with severe IBS.  We almost lost him before he turned 1.  Wellness fish formula combined with drugs allowed him to live to be 12.  I will always be thankful. 

 

Yes, for pets with medical issues you do what works. 

 

We have a 14 yo cat who was diagnosed with IBD about twelve years go. Purina One sensitive system dry food is the one food we found that she not only tolerated but did well on (and that includes raw). I credit it for keeping her alive, and it's one thing that helped me overcome pet food snobbery. ;)

[MercyA]

Thank you for mentioning this supplement. My cavalier/cocker mix has trouble with scooting. We have tried adding pumpkin to her food and it doesn't seem to help. 

 

It worked almost like a miracle for us, although the reviews on Amazon are mixed. Definitely give it a few weeks if you try it. Supposedly they have a money-back guarantee if it doesn't do the trick.

 

Our last dog actually had his anal glands out because he had so much trouble with them. I was pleasantly surprised by how well this worked for our new dog. 

 

ETA: Food allergies can also cause scooting--another option to consider if you're not positive it's the anal glands.

Edited May 23, 2017 by MercyA

[Pawz4me]

The Honest Kitchen Perfect Form gets pretty good reviews.

 

I have some on hand but have only used it a time or two so can't really give a thorough review.

Edited May 23, 2017 by Pawz4me

[MercyA]

The Honest Kitchen Perfect Form gets pretty good reviews.

 

I have some on hand but have only used it a time or two so can't really give a thorough review.

 

Looks good, I might try this! Thanks! 

[Journey]

My dog wouldn't even touch it.  Thankfully I was able to return it.  We use Earthborne Holistic and have had great results

[6packofun]

This is to 1GirlTwinBoys, the OP, in case she still wants opinions on dog food brands.  lol  We like Acana a LOT. This is the only food our super picky dog will eat dry.  I have to doctor everything else with some chicken and broth.  LOL  Merrick was also a recommended brand and he liked the sample we tried.  I'm a fan of going to a small, local pet food shop if you have one and get information and hopefully samples there!