Mooore Dog Food Debating?

Question

Ok, looking into even more, and I think I've found that the best options for dog food are, in order:
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Blue Buffalo
Science Diet (tied with:)
Canidae
All of the Natura Products go right here, but I havent looked too much into what is healthiest, though Innova and Evo peeked my interest most. I could use some input on that.
Flint River.
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So, anyone here agree/disagree with me? Think they should be rearranged, or another kind should be added? All extra info would be helpful.

I'd also appreciate some stories/referances of the good/bad that happened when you used one of the dog food, and which you find the cheapest for the amount of goodness(health) in it.

Haha, ok, Science Diet is totally off. Reason it was up there is because I've heard alot of people say it was best, and grandmother used to be a dog breeder and vet always reccomended Science Diet

Answer 1

There are many high quality dog foods available these days..I used to feed Nutro Chicken/Rice and Lamb/rice...My pups grew great, and, as my breed is long-coated, they had gorgeous coats in no time...
However, their teeth were always stained..I never knew why, but they seemed to need constant cleaning, to be ready to show..

So, I switched to Eukenuba, and they had cleaner teeth, and nice coats..but bowels were always loose...

I fed Abady's for 2 litters, and liked what it did for the pups..but it stank..and was too un-handy...and super expensive..

I fed Purina Pro Plan when it came out..Pups did well..no complaints...

However, my supplier recommended Canidae 3 years ago..WOW! I never knew that my oldsters could be so rejuvenated! Suddenly they were putting on gorgeous coats, and acting as puppies..full of play..dancing as we walked...It just blew me away...
Then I took a 10 year old to have a cyst removed, and the vet came out amazed at her blood-work..he said that it was that expected in a 4-5 year old...He also said that he always cleans teeth while they are 'under', but that her teeth were absolutely clean..( she had her blood checked last month, now a year and a half later, and it is still the same! )

I took another in to be spayed, at 7 years old, and the vet was amazed at how white and clean her teeth were..and then when he took out stitches..commented that she healed so fast that the incision was already hard to see...

All my dogs have just thrived on Canidae, and I would sure recommend it..It is made from all human grade ingredients, and natural preservatives..
There are other foods that are likely as good..but, as Canidae is easy to find, and they are doing so well, I wouldn't want to switch..
Other great dog foods that you can find most places, are Wellness, Innova, Innova Evo, Solid Gold, Wysong, Natural Balance, California Natural..and, the all organic Karma.

When I was feeding Nutro, my dogs each ate one ( Lg)bag per month. Now, feeding Canidae, they eat only 1/2 bag per month apiece. So, I find it very cost efficient.

Answer 2

If your dog has a "nicer coat", I would take that as an indication that something has changed, healthwise, as a result of feeding a better food. I first noticed the difference from feeding better food more than 30 years ago. I had a shepherd mix who I gave Purina Dog Chow. They do all that testing, so it must be good, right? :o) For some reason I changed his food, and all of a sudden I had a different dog - much more energy, and a MUCH nicer coat. That was my first clue. 20+ years ago I had an overweight dog. So I bought Science Diet light, and fed it to him. He lost not an ounce, but he became lethargic, and his coat became very dry and unattractive. I changed him to Nutro light, and his coat came back, and he lost weight. Second clue. For many years I fed my dogs Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba....they were the better foods at that time. My dogs did okay. Then about ten years ago I met a gal who had boxers. Their coats were AMAZING - they were like satin. I asked her what she did, and she told me about Flint River Ranch dog food. I LOVE a beatiful coat - my horses always shone like glass - so I filed the information away for later use. A few years ago, during the melamine scare, I decided to change to Flint River, which has never had a recall. I was really impressed by how soft and shiny my dogs coats became, and how they seem to become more lean and muscular. When I bring a new foster dog home, I can usually see a change in the appearance after about two weeks. The coat becomes more sleek and shiny, and the belly tucks up more, and the dog appears leaner. The chihuahua I fostered who came to me with food allergies and skin problems got rid of them. Third clue :o) I got Innova Senior a couple of years ago for my old dog, and I was really impressed with how much better she did on it. That will probably be my next move - to Innova. I like the ingredients a little better than Flint River Ranch, and the cost now is about the same. I would consider raw if I had the stomach and the pocketbook for it, but I dont. Plus it would be a very tough transition for my foster dogs when they go to their new homes.

Answer 3

Science Diet is not a quality dog food. I wouldn't have it on the list. I used to feed a raw diet, but I have switched to Wellness. You could check out Wellness, it's right up there. Blue Buffalo has several ingredients that I don't personally agree with.
Any of those really are ok choices, but I would stay away from the Science Diet.

Answer 4

Take Science Diet off your list completely, its a really crappy food.

Innova Evo and Innova should be right up there with Canidae which I'd probably put before Blue Buffalo.

All of them I'd put below a raw diet.

Answer 5

Personally, I would take the Science Diet out of the list. On their dry Adult, 3 of the first 5 ingredients are junk, and the first 5 ingredients are generally close to half of the volume. Corn is indigestible by dogs as is wheat, and chicken by-products (ANY by-products have no place in a top shelf dog food) mean the bits they can't legally call 'chicken', meaning, not meat. The 7th is "Animal" fat. What animal? If they knew, they would list it.

Here's the link to the ingredients:

http://www.hillspet.com/hillspet/products/productDetails.hjsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441760616

Otherwise, I like this list. I also like Solid Gold organic.

Answer 6

Science Diet is one of the worst things to feed a dog.

Don't believe me?
Read "Foods Pets Die For" by Ann N Martin.

My picks in order:
Canidae
Wellness
Artemis
Innova EVO (best for allergic dogs, or "high energy" dogs)
Innova
California Natural

Answer 7

Science diet is nowhere near Canidae in quality. Science diet is crap in a bag!
In my opinion, the top brands are: Timberwolf, Canidae, Wellness, Solid Gold, Innova, Merrick and Orijen.

Answer 8

I spoke with a vet tonight in my restaurant that taught dog nutrition for years, I told him that I fed RAW (BARF)(Bones and Raw food), He said that a year ago he would have yelled at me but it came out that the dog food processors have been lying for years and it doesnt matter what kind you buy, he used to recommend the high quality food brands but found out that they are all made in in basically the same place as the low quality brands.
He said the low quailty brands have more grains or corn wahtever is cheaper at the time but good quaity stuff and the low quality stuff are made in the same bins so you get a mix and match.
Just like no name brands soups are made by comapnies like Campells soups, you get a price difference some flavor difference but basically its all the same.

Vets only know what the pet food companies tell them.. read the labels and look into feeding RAW, Dogs cannot process corns and grains that they put into kibble.

Answer 9

Canidae is the best.
I am not familiar with blue buffalo or Flint River.
All my dogs hate Natura. It must not be as tasty to them as other choices.
My vet is nice enough to order me food by the case, so I do get canned Hills puppy there. Not all the dogs like it. They do like the Hills Puppy small bites kibble.

Answer 10

pet supplies "plus"
petsmart carries blue buffalo and science diet

i dont really like scient diet though

the best is canidae =]

my dog was fed purina [yuck]
i switched to wellness and her stools became firmer also no more upset tummies and she liked it more

good luck

my top
canidae
wellness [i feed]
merrick
Solid Gold
Timberwolf
innova EVO
eagle pack
california natural

petsmart top [big box stores]
blue buffalo
authority harvest baked
nutro natural [i heard nutro kills some dogs so idk]