What is the best type of food for a dog?

Question

He's currently eating kibbles and bits but i prefer science diet just don't have the money for it right now.. what do you think?

Answer 1

kibbles and bits is horrible. dogs dont need corn syrup in their diet~! and science diet isn't what its cracked up to be either. i would put him on a holistic food like innova, wellness....i prefer eagle pack. its actually cheaper than wal mart and the bags are always BOGO!! its has no by-products, no fillers, no artificial colors, or preservatives, the meat is usda organic meaning it has no anitbiotics or hormones. it doesnt use corn or wheat which are uselss and allergenic and it doesnt use soy...which soy over time hardens dogs arteries! anything walmart sells has little pits of "bad" in it. and also purina is now adding a chemical that makes dogs and cats think they are hungry! theres an amazing thing about dogs and cats---they know when they get enough amount of the nutrtion they need and will stop when they get it. feeding purina or kibbles or anything sold at grocery stores has such a HIGH serving amount that youre waising your money...my cats when through 2 bags of purina a week. my dog went through 1 huge one. then i switched to eagle pack and,...they are so much better

Answer 2

There are many really good dog foods out there. I didn't know what to feed my dog either, so I had asked about it a few months back on Yahoo! Answers and someone recommended to me a publication called Whole Dog Journal that spends a lot of time researching the best dog foods that are healthy and that do not contain fillers. (www.whole-dog-journal.com). I did purchase a subscription and also these two articles on dog foods: 2007 Reviews of Dry and Canned Dog Foods. (http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/10_2/features/Dog_Food_Review_15897-1.html and http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/10_3/features/Dog_Food_Review_15909-1.html) I wound up buying a dog food from a small company that was recommended on the list, it's called Blue Buffalo.


The Whole Dog Journal issues really do have the best information and advice on choosing dog foods and other dog related questions.

This past week, I even received an email alert regarding the dog food scare - with advice and additional resources to make sure my dog was safe. I was very grateful as I hadn't seen the news that day. They seemed to know about it before most of the other news stations did.

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

Take this challenge: give your dogs a raw meat and bones diet for 60 days. Try to find a meat and bones source that is close to a 50/50 meat-bone ratio (chicken breast cages from a processing plant are great, but you can also try pork necks or beef ribs from any grocery store). If you go the pork or beef route, give your pet plenty of time to wear down the raw bones. Chicken bones are soft and easily chewed up, but pork and beef bones take much longer. If you don't see any noticeable improvements - healthier coat, more energy, better teeth, excellent blood work-ups - go back to his former diet.

If you do take the challenge, I'm betting you'll be fairly amazed and continue. About 90% of those I know who've tried it stick with it. Give it 60 days. Isn't a healthier, happier dog who lives longer worth it?

See website for more info.

Answer 4

I feed my dogs pedigree, and as I have stated previously in other answers my dog is 11 and eaten pedigree his whole life, with the exception of when he was a puppy and ate Purina Puppy Chow! I say Purina and Pedigree are both good choices!

P.S. I fed my other dog Science Diet for 3 months and finally realized it was no better than any other food. I also have a friend who fed her dog Kibbles and Bits and he lived to be over 12! I say feed him what he likes!

Answer 5

Every food on the market contains different ingredients, and each one has the potential to cause symptoms of allergy or intolerance in some dogs. Every food contains a different ratio of macronutrients protein, fat, and carbohydrates and you have to learn by trial and error which ratio works best for your dog.
Please view this article at Whole Dog Journal that will help you answer this question in a way that meets your dogs individual needs.
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/sample/food.html

Answer 6

From what I have heard and read, Science Diet is not considered a very good brand of food. My veterinarian recommended, Royal Canin. My five dogs love it, and it's very healthy for them.

Answer 7

I had this same question. After doing the research, I found out that feeding a more expensive, high-quality food is actually cheaper. I feed my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Royal Canin.

When you closely examine the ingredients, you will find that it is healthier and will be better for your dog. They will not eat as much food because it is richer and more nutritionally dense. They will also have firmer stools and not pass them as often. When you compare foods, you will see that in the long run, better food is more economical and much better for the health of your dog.

Answer 8

It really depends on your dog too - not just your budget.
Is he a puppy or an adult? Puppies need the extra nutrition provided by "puppy" food until they have completed growing. Small breeds are usually at their full size by 12 months while larger breed dogs keep growing until they are 18-24 months old (Mastiffs, Great Danes, etc.).
Is he a mixed breed or a pure breed? Sounds silly -but it's important. Many pure bred dogs have skin problems, bone & joint problems, etc. and they can benefit from a specialized diet that caters to that particular kind of problem. Mixed breeds are usually hardy little guys that can handle mostly anything.
Example:
If your dog has skin problems or digestive problems OR allergies, he can benefit from a lamb & rice diet. It's highly digestible and has few additives, preservatives, & dyes that would aggravate those problems.
You can also benefit from trying a high-dollar, high-quality diet VS. a national brand (such as Kibbles & Bits) and keeping track of it for the period of one bag. Be sure to follow the measuring directions on the bag.
Higher-quality dog food - such as Science Diet, Eukanuba, Iams - are made with better quality ingrediants and in different porportions than less expensive brand names. That makes them a better, more digestible, easily utilized diet. As a rule, your dog will eat a smaller amount of the better dog food than the cheaper stuff because it fills him up sooner. Since it's easily digested, he will also have fewer problems (such as gas & diarrhea), and will poop a lower stool volume and it won't have as much odor.
My dogs eat almost a third less food when they are on a premium diet than when I feed them cheaper food. There's also about a third less poop in my back yard.
You may be saving some money buying a cheaper brand, but is he needing to eat more to be full and satisfied, and does he poop a lot? If you try a little "comparison feeding" you may find out that it comes out about the same.
One more thing... avoid the cheap treats. They're so chock-full of preservatives that they can cause bloating, gas, and skin problems. Most dogs won't care if you give them single bits of their food as a treat instead of something different - it's how you give it to them that's important to them. YOU get excited and YOU say it's a treat - therefore it is!
Love your dog and don't be afraid to ask your vet (or me, LOL) if you have a question!
T

Answer 9

remember that anything you can get from a grocery or department store is filled with wheat and other garbage. its a little more expensive, but if you go to a pet supply store and get a higher quality of food you can save money later because your dog will be a little less likely to develop health issues that will require vet care. instead of paying 18.00 for a 20 lb bag of Beneful (my shephard developed diabetes because of the wheat) i pay 21.00 for Canidae. my little aussie that we inherited 2 years ago is permanently deaf in his left ear because of a yeast infection brought on by the wheat in ol'roy.

Answer 10

Purina Pro Plan is a really good food. It has all the nutrients that a dog needs and is way less expensive than Science Diet.