PinkInTheBlue Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I found this place online and remembered that a number of you have experience with this. Our 4th son/dachshund is about to need some more food and I've long been interested in improving his diet as well. However, when I saw some of these prices, I about hit the floor! LOL After I got up I remembered that's not a deciding factor. I was just caught off guard. :) Anyway, our dachshund is about 12lbs and extraordinarily long and low. That means it's very important he not gain weight really. He's 7 years old and we are working hard to help him avoid back trouble. The vet says that due to his unique size (even for a dachshund) that it will be difficult. So, with choosing his next food, I need to be aware. I want extra healthy and not likely to pack on the pounds. This is the website: wholesomehound . com They carry several and I'm completely ignorant on what's good and what's not worth it. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I've personally used Orijen with some fosters. I have a friend who is very happy with Azmira & several who use Timberwolf Organics. I recommend any of those 3. Do be careful with the amount you feed as the premium foods tend to be quite nutrient rich & you may end up feeding a very small volume to feed the correct amt of calories. Frequent weigh in's are the key to keeping animals slim IMO. best wishes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth Conley Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 We feed Evo to our dog. http://www.naturapet.com/brands/evo.asp She's gorgeous. Seriously, she's ever so slightly on the lean side, very energetic, glossy coated, bright-eyed, with good digestion and minimal waste. It's a good food that's readily available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 We feed Guidry ORIJEN -- we began feeding him that as it was one of the foods that Hornblower suggested -- when we adopted him, he would NOT eat dry food and we mixed EVO canned with the ORIJEN kibble. Now he eats the ORIJEN kibble with a couple of squirts of Wild Salmon Oil (again a suggestion from Hornblower) and his coat is gorgeous, and he is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I'd ask your vet what they recommend. . . Good marketing and websites/ads/bags does not a good food make, lol. My dh, vet, generally recommends the Premium brands -- Science Diet, Eukanuba, Royal Canin. I understand that Purina ProPlan is also good. All those big brands have lots of research/nutritionists/etc to make sure their foods are good quality. If your dog starts carrying extra weight, then ask the vet for an RX diet such as Hill's r/d, Royal Canine CC HP or HF, Purina OM. . . The obesity diets from the vet are much more calorie restricted (while still being nutritionally balanced) than those available at PetsMart, etc. To avoid extra weight or to take off just a bit, start MEASURING the food at every meal, avoid snacks, and you can substitute a cup or so of frozen green beans for some of his food (up to half). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Taste of the Wild is what I like, if you're feeding dry. Anything with little to no grain:-) And, might I add, seems about the same $$$ if you look at what you'll feed... Carrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 We use and love Flint River Ranch. www.flintriver.com (free shipping/no tax and delivered to your door. Can't beat that!) I have ordered from this site for about 3 years now and always had a wonderful experience. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose in BC Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 We feed Orijen. Our dogs love it and their coats are lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Our golden retriever seems to best on a mix of Royal Canin Golden Retriever blend and Taste of the Wild. She gets one cup of RC in the morning and one cup of TotW at night. We have tried several different foods on their own and in combination: Flint River Ranch, Royal Canin, and Taste of the Wild. She does best with the combination I listed above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 recommends the Premium brands -- Science Diet, Eukanuba, Royal Canin. I understand that Purina ProPlan is also good. Lol. I really don't consider these premium brands at all. ah well. Chacun a son gout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam101 Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Here is a great website, 3rd party analysis of dog food. We almost had a family divide over dog food here! My mil is more concerned about what I feed my dogs then my son! :lol: Ok, that really wasn't a joke! Anyway, I used this site to make my choice and dh told her we didn't want to hear anymore about it. Way more info then you asked for! Here is the link. http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 (edited) I'm using Orijen here. Blondie actually likes it (she eats all other foods only when starving). She poops less but has plenty of energy. She's a small dog, so we can afford expensive food because she doesn't eat much. ETA: she likes and gets Acana too. Laura Edited November 17, 2009 by Laura Corin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 If your dog starts carrying extra weight, then ask the vet for an RX diet such as Hill's r/d, Royal Canine CC HP or HF, Purina OM. . . The obesity diets from the vet are much more calorie restricted (while still being nutritionally balanced) than those available at PetsMart, etc. To avoid extra weight or to take off just a bit, start MEASURING the food at every meal, avoid snacks, and you can substitute a cup or so of frozen green beans for some of his food (up to half). My cat was overweight and before going the prescription route my vet gave me a list of high protein/low carb foods to try. He wasn't eating junk before, but it was higher in carbs. There were some inexpensive brands on the list but I jumped to Evo as it was mostly chicken and turkey and my cat with the very sensitive tummy tolerates those both well. Combined with some extra exercise, he's lost 3 pounds in 5 months--vet just saw him and she was really pleased. It's not cheap but cheaper and more convenient and healthier than treating diabetes and urine crystals, which is where he was headed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth Conley Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 We used Taste of the Wild and a few other premium brands before choosing Evo. Evo is excellent, and universally available. There's nothing wrong with any of the other premium low carb no grain foods, we just found that we could generally get Evo, even when we traveled. Vets seem to get excited over brands that are mid-range, rather than actually premium. I think the mid-range foods actively court veterinarians with free samples and targeted advertising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle T Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Some of the brands generally most recommended and relatively easy to find are: Orijen Wellness all of the Natura brands which include: Innova California Naturals Evo Taste of the Wild There are more, but those are generally easy to find. My dog eats California Natural, our three cats are eating Wellness. Wellness is pretty rich, and my dog had some tummy trouble on it, but after switching to CA Natural, he's great. Michelle T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 (edited) Lol. I really don't consider these premium brands at all. ah well. Chacun a son gout. :iagree: Guess who writes veterinary nutrition textbooks, and generously funds vet programs??? astrid ETA: we feed a rotation of Orijen, Nature's Variety Prairie Beef and Flint River Ranch. Edited November 17, 2009 by astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 We use and love Flint River Ranch. www.flintriver.com (free shipping/no tax and delivered to your door. Can't beat that!) I have ordered from this site for about 3 years now and always had a wonderful experience. :) :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraGB Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 We've used the Timberwolf in the past and we/she really liked it. Now we use the Nature's Variety Instinct and that has been wonderful as well. There is a feeding guide link on the page, too. Our newest little dog weighs about 35 lbs, and she only gets 2 cups of this a day, so I would expect a 12lb dog would need less. One 33 lb bag of this food lasts us about 6 weeks (I'm guessing, though, because we sometimes also use it as training treats for her, too). They also have a store finder link, so maybe you would be able to find it locally instead of paying for shipping. Another food that has come highly recommended to us (but we haven't tried) is Wellness Core, and I think they carry it at Petsmart or Petco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Another food that has come highly recommended to us (but we haven't tried) is Wellness Core, and I think they carry it at Petsmart or Petco. This is what I use for my cat. When I was at the petstore, since we're kinda broke right now... I thought... I don't need to be stuck up and get my cat the best.... so I compared price/size etc... and ended up getting it anyway.... It was less $$$ :-) (Of course, this cat is the one who goes over and sneaks the cat food that the neighbor lady lays out for all the neighborhood cats.... URGH!!) Carrie:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTwinsMom1 Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 We use Fromm's for our dogs, both ours and our rescue dogs. We love that their food is made with the good stuff and it's made right here in our state. Our dogs love the Fromm's Four Star, Pork and Applesauce flavor in the dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saille Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Y'all got me using Taste of the Wild, and Juno seems to love it. She looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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