Best quality pet food?

Question

I'm looking for the best quality pet food (dogs and cats). I'm willing to pay more, as long as I knew that it was good. Iams used to be considered high quality, but I've heard in recent years it isn't anymore. Suggestions?

My cats are 11 and 4, my dog is 7. All are currently healthy - and I want them to stay that way.
My dog does seem to shed excessively even with frequent brushing and I'm thinking a better food would help her coat.

Answer 1

Iams went down hill when bought out by proctor and gamble as did Eukanuba the other food they bought

in Canada - get NUTRAM, or Acana (or the below but NUTRAM really is the best because they export world wide they have to meet tougher standards than any other North American food)

in USA get Innova, Wellness, Canidae, Chicken Soup


look for 100% NATURAL
look for HUMAN GRADE INGREDIENTS
never buy a food with any of the following ingredients: by-products, meatmeal (non-specific to meat source so can be any dead critter), BHT, BHA,
Never buy one with corn listed first
dog food should not contain wheat, soy, beef, or pork

** ADDITIONAL INFO**
Science Diet was mentioned but this is NOT a good product - vets (who receive little training on food brands and nutrition) were paid to endorse this food and if you look at the ingredients most contain 1 or more problem causing ingredients - over inflated price for its quailty becuase of how they pay vets to promote this food.

rules of thumb:
if its in grocery store or Wal Mart - it is crap
if you see alot of commercials for it - it is crap they are paying for commercials not quality ingredients

Answer 2

Iams is only marketed as the best because it is recommended by veterinarians who own a profit share of Iams stock. It has way too much corn which isn't a good thing. Nutro Max is by far the best choice. It costs a bit more (about 45 bucks for a 50 pound bag) but it is well worth it. I have a Great Dane and have been feeding him this since he was a baby. You can see how energetic he is and his coat and teeth are way shiny. Give it shot and you'll see a difference in no time. =)

Answer 3

My two favorite grain free foods are ZiwiPeak and Orijen. I use both of these brands and they're the best I know. Other good grain free brands include Acana Grain Free, Nature's Variety Instinct, Before Grain, Wellness CORE, EarthBorn Holistic Grain Free, and EVO. Purina won't kill your dog but I personally would never feed it. I also don't feed foods with grain in them because it's a waste. Dogs don't need them and I end up having to feed my dogs a lot more of the food if it has grains.

Answer 4

I feed Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul It is a very high quality food.
No corn by products and fresh meat and veggies.
You can look it up at www.chickensoupfor the petloverssoul.com
They have both cat and dog foods. I have used them for a few years and they are really a very very good food.

Answer 5

Yes, Iams used to be good but when the went in with wal-mart they ceepened there forumal.

I feed Pedigree to my dogs. It is the best food that I can get around here.

I here that Canidee is very good. I like to feed my dog National dog food (do a search on Yahoo for it) but that is very hard to get.

Flint River Ranch I here is very good that is some thing you have to order in though. Again do a yahoo search.

Just a note never ever feed your dog Royal Canine (my speling has never been good). That can kill your dog

Answer 6

www.naturesvariety.com

no wheat, corn, soy, or other crap.

PLUS they have raw diets, the most bio-available food to give to your pet

PLUS they take their freeze-dried diet, and spray it back onto the kibble, so all the nutrients that are lost in the cooking process are put back on the food.

it is BY FAR the best food i have tried. I have fed Nutro (crap), Iams (junk) and Science Diet (best of the worst), and Nature's Variety has the best:

Ingredients (BIG improvements in my dog's skin & coat... I feed Venison and Brown Rice)

Customer Service

Variety of foods to choose from (kibble, cans, raw, treats, etc.)

Give it a try. Go to the website, and ask them to mail you a sample, or point you in the direction of the closest pet store in your area.

Answer 7

City LiveStock is provide best quality and healthy food for all pets,

Answer 8

BEAN had a good point about no fillers and what to look for but please DO NOT buy diamond brand!!!. There was a huge lawsuit last year, dogs were being poisoned by their products. Not just getting sick or having tummy aches but actually dying. So just steer clear of Diamond brand but I'd say Bean makes great points on whats best for your pup.

Answer 9

Science Diet


www.foreverandforalways.net

Answer 10

no matter what brand you buy, make sure that it doesnt have any fillers (i.e. corn, wheat) your dog doesnt need carbs in his diet, they just go right through him and come out in your yard!! also look out for any type of by-products, these are animal parts that cant be used for humans such as chicken feet, eyes, and beaks, and cow hooves. i have noticed that if you purchase a lamb and rice formula, they have less of these bad things!! try diamond brand lamb and rice formula for dogs.. it works fantastic and it was recommended to us. dont go for any other diamond formulas though, they have fillers. (weat, corn)