All Natural Dog Foods. HELP PLEASE !!!?

Question

Need to switch my Chihuahua to an All Natural Dog Food,that is low in protein (due to kidneys) Vet has her on EN Vetrinary diet but i wish to go natural. Anyone know of any trusted brands (low in protein) ? I heard Natural balance is good but this is all new to me and i need some help. I would really appreciate it. Thank you...

Answer 1

I wouldn't feed any of the recalled brands until the whole melamine and whatever else thing is cleared up. Nature's Recipe has a Venison and Rice blend that is low in protein by comparison to others as is their fish blend. None of their product has been recalled and their company e-mailed me back when I asked if they got rice protein, veggie proteins from China or anywhere besides the USA. They said they don't use any rice protein concentrate, wheat or wheat products in their foods. Period. The problem you may have is in the size of the kibble. It isn't huge but may be a challenge to a chihuahua unless you feed canned. Then it won't matter.
My dogs have handled the Venison and Rice blend without problems. You can add a bit of canned pumpkin pie filling to the food at first as you switch over to it because switching food can cause digestive problems while switching and pumpkin pie filling EASES those problems. It's also good if you dog get diarrhea.
That's the best I know of, considering protein problems, and you could run the ingredients incl. protein amt by your Vet for comparison first. Any food that someone recommends you should run ingredients by your Vet first to make sure it is within limits your Vet set for your dogs special needs. Some of the higher quality foods, or foods touted to be higher quality are much higher in protein.
The very safest and most natural would be to ask your Vet which meats and meat portions would be good for your dog and proportions to feed with other ingredients.
Like, would chicken be good (then you need to go to a whole foods store and get chicken that hasn't been fed melamine product) and what amount compared to veggies and carbs.
I have fed my dogs a meat source (mostly chicken)
and they are 55 lb dogs.
example: 1 cup cooked de-boned chicken (skin and fat too)
1/4 cup mixed veggies (green beans and carrots)
1/4 cup cranberries (slightly steamed, mashed)
1/4 cup sweet potato or white potato

supplements: Brewer's yeast, cod liver oil, Ester C

treats: frozen banana slices, fresh apple slices, yogurt with live acidophilis, Nature's Recipe treats for hip and joint, skin and coat, teeth and breath, Mother Hubbard bones

If you are considering a raw diet, here is an excellent site:
http://www.rawdogranch.com

Answer 2

Solid Gold Holistic Blendz has 18% protein, California Natural Herring & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food has 21% protein, Wellness Simple Duck has 21% and Wellness Weight Management Dry Dog Food has 17% protein Natural Balance Reduced Calorie Formula for Dogs 16.5% protein(this formula from Natural Balance is lowest in protein) and Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula For Dogs18.0% protein.
The one that has the lowest is Preference with only 12% protein, it is a product made by Honest Kitchen. This is dehydrated raw dog food. Check them out.
http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/products/preference.shtml

Also, ask your vet. There are prescription diets low in protein and diets made especially for certain disorders.

Answer 3

You are going to have to go and compare at a pet food supply store. Check the weight loss & senior formula's for less protein. Natural Balance is very good but you would still need to check the protein content.

Answer 4

raw food is the most natural, what dogs evolved to eat and what their digestive systems and jaws/teeth are designed for. Ever seen a dog eat a bone that has been buried for a few weeks or a rotting carcass? It's what they do in the wild. # Ever seen a wolf with a cooking pot around it's neck? lol You might find some more help on raw feeding that makes mountains of common sense from the links below.

Answer 5

Some one asked this same question not to long ago and the best all natural low protein food was Dick VanPattens. You will have to check to see which one it was. But before you do switch please check with your vet to see if it is low enough in protein to help your pup out. OK

Answer 6

Most won't be low enough if your dog is in late stage kidney disease, learn what you can because there is a huge difference in nutrtionally treating dog with reduced kidney function(early and moderate stage) compared to chronic stage and a lot of new research has been done in the last 12 years on nutrition for dogs with kidney disease, some vets schooled prior to the new research still push for very low protein diets which are proving to be more harmful than good, the more you understand the more questions you can ask and push for the most uptodate treatments and care

If your vet is not up on the new research, you may want to ask for a referral to a veterinary universities nutritionalist or kidney specialist


For late stage
You might be better off with the homemade diets listed here
scroll halfway down the page
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Falls/9065/


I believe this is an article you will find very worthwhile reading

as it does discuss proteins needs for dogs in early stage/limited function and end stage renal failure and why they should not be treated the same with diet as lowering the protein too low in early stage can do more harm than good

http://b-naturals.com/May2004.php

A copy of the IAMs Nutritional Symposium mentioned in the link above is available here
http://www.orangefrazer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1882203631&Category_Code=BUSINESS

More here
http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html

http://www.dogaware.com/HillsResponse.html

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9KidneyDiet/


Phosphorus is also important when in come to management of kidney disease as it needs to be kept lower
this article does give phosphorus levels of some kibbles

http://www.raingoddess.com/dogfood/phos.html

Other option is to ask you vet to order in a holistic prescription food by Wysong which has been created based on the new veterinary research or you can phone the company to see if there is a vet that sells which local to you, but it is sold by prescription but because it follows new research it is not low protein infact it is very high protein but of meat not grains and has fish oils and follows Dr Bovee's and Dr Kronfeld's kidney research http://b-naturals.com/Nov2005.php you should be able to find more info on their work by googling their names along with a key word kidney or renal
http://www.wysong.net/page/WOTTPWS/CTGY/RXDIET

Answer 7

if i were you i would listen to your dogs vet. your dogs vet has her on a special food for a reason. my bichon is on special food from the vet and don't want to fool around with that stuff. you can do the research your self by going to google.com and type in natural dog foods and go from there. and if you want to change your dogs food once you find a brand check with the vet first other wise you can be doing more harm then done and making it worse for your dog. if you really care and love your dog listen to the vets advice.

Answer 8

Most communities have natural pet health stores. I live in a VERY small community and even we have a pet health alternatives store. My suggestion would be to find the store and talk to the people who work there. They will be able to help you and will have all the information you need.

Answer 9

California naturals and it is hollistic . I love this food also have a chihuahua that developed food allergies. good luck.

Answer 10

for pure, all natural, top quality, healthy dog food i suggest one of the Natura pet foods here's their website:

http://www.naturapet.com/

one of their dog foods should be low-protein