Best choice for food for 6 month old puppy between Royal Canine Mini Puppy or Natural Life Puppy food?

Question

I have a six month old pekekingnese / shi tzu mix. I have already asked a quesion here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ag_Rvn3EeWWVuZMomkLxBO7sy6IX?qid=20061220205352AAV1Est which includes the ingredients. I am going to get him something like Innova for his food. But at this point I only have Royal Canin and Natural life (again I have listed the ingredients on the other question) I need to know which one would be better of the two. I cannot get a new food until next week and he is on a special food right now for a medical reason that I need to start weening him off of.

As much as I hate to keep switching his foods around, I don't really see any other option. But, I plan to get the better one soon.

So which would be the best for him until I can get the new food?


Also, even though I want to give him a good food, if I give him some treats once and a while and for training, will that defeat the purpose? I assume the aren't a great quality either.

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Our pets need quality pet food. Read the ingredients list and learn what the stuff on there is and what it does (or does not do) to/for our pets. A quick pet food 101. If the pet food contains corn/corn products or by products it is a poor quality food. Do not pay attention to advertising, they all say there food is great. Corn is a filler that can trigger skin problems. (allergies, skin problems, itching and excessive shedding) By products is anything from an animal not fit for human consumption, including cancerous tissue. Quality foods have meat as the first ingredient. California Natural, Solid Gold, Innova and Merrick are a few of the best brands available. If you want to learn more check out: http://www.sagekeep.com/petfood.htm www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359& more=1 http://animalark.eapps.com/animal/PetFoods.nsf/$$PetFoodsByRating?OpenForm

Answer 2

There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of the Purina brand kibbles as long as your dog does not have any food allergies. Purina is an excellent company and spends major bucks researching canine nutrition. It is not fair for people that have no real knowledge of canine nutrition to keep bashing a company that does so much good for our "best friends". According to several reps from different dog food companies, the recommended switch is at a year, however I've done it sooner with my dogs and haven't noticed that it's hurt anything. When you get your new pup, get some of the current food so you can switch to something you would prefer feeding over a 5 to 7 day period without causing any diarrhea. Switching too quickly causes loose stools in some dogs.

Answer 3

The better of the two is Natural Life. Royal Canin has corn gluten (or something like that) as the third ingredient.

I feed my dogs Natural Balance Premium Ultra Dry. It's for all stages of life.

Giving treats won't defeat the purpose as long as it stays reasonable. If you're feeding the same amount in treats as you are food then you have a problem.

Ingredients for Natural Balance:

Chicken, Brown Rice, Lamb Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Duck Meal, Potatoes, Carrots, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Canola Oil, Brewers Yeast, Fish Meal, Salmon Oil, Lecithin, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Inulin, Taurine, Spinach, Parsley Flakes, Cranberry, Lysine, L-Carnitine, Yucca, Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein 23.0% minimum
Crude Fat 13.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 3.0% maximum
Moisture 10.0% maximum
Omega 3 Fatty Acids 0.5% minimum
Omega 6 Fatty Acids 3.0% minimum

Answer 4

Go for the Natural Life food. I have a pekingese and a shih-tzu and they do get sensitive to food ingredients. The higher quality food, the better your pup will be and feel.

Be warned however, that these pups will be prone to food allergies, so you may have to weed out the treats.

Oftentimes, you can find a pet food company that makes treats that correspond with the food. I feed Natural Choice Lamb and Rice and treat with Natural Choice training bits.

Answer 5

Both food are fine also these are good as well

Nutro
Nature Receipt
Avodrerm

Corn Gluten is fine in food. It is the small white part the you see when you look at a kernel of corn. It is the only digest able part of corn!! Just make sure there is no beef as well! I think it is great that you want to feed you dog the best most people do not care and it is to the grocery store for a 10 dollar bag of kibble!!

Answer 6

There are good quality treats, as well. You just have to look for them.
Royal Canin is a great quality food, and I'd recommend that. I haven't heard much about Natural Life.

Answer 7

I have had my dogs on every food on the market including the pure Holistic foods, but my dogs do the best on and like Royal Canin the best. It has solved my one dogs allergies as well as stomach problems.

Answer 8

Natural Life Puppy food would be ok but ask your vet and she will tell u whats good for your pup

Answer 9

Between those 2 I'd pick Royal Canine, though I feed my dogs Science Diet and they love it, and it is great for them.

Answer 10

I heard Natural Life is good, almost all my friends use it........