What is the best dried food for my puppy?

Question

I have a black labrador puppy and my vet recommended Hill's Science Plan Complete Puppy Food for Large Breeds. My pup does love this food but it is very expensive and i wondered if it is necessary to spend so much money or if anyone know's of a good cheaper alternative? Or does anyone know the cheapest place to buy Hill's Science Plan? (Its about £44 for a15kg bag from Pet Smart) I live in Staffordshire, England

My pup is 3 months old

Answer 1

Is this a trick question? Are you looking for the best food or the cheapest?

After all of the recalls - I have spent a considerable amount of time researching pet food. I found only a handful which use human-grade food products, and have not been recalled. In the US, some of these include Canidae, Wellness and Innova.

Most other foods contain "fillers", like corn, wheat and soy. These should always be avoided. These products can cause allergic and digestive problems for many dogs. And they're definitely cheap. I doubt you'd feed you dog corn chips and wonder bread - but that's really all it is.

You should also consider the meat source. Meat by-products used in most pet food is not human-grade. And if it doesn't specify the source (chicken, beef, fish, etc.), it could be anything, including horse, dog, cat, or other meat. YES, this is real, it's not a joke.

When healthy animals are slaughtered, most of the meat and organs are butchered for human consumption. Other things are also used, like bone and hide. What's left is considered meat by-products. These are rendered into pet food.

Another popular source for pet food, is dead, dying, downed and diseased farm animals. This meat is always questionable. Mad cow disease was spread. by feeding cattle food made from dead/diseased cows.
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I would recommend that you try something better than Science Diet.

In the UK, I've heard other posters recommend James Wellbeloved. http://www.wellbeloved.co.uk/ They have a link to all of their authorized distributors.

Often, it's much less expensive to order on-line, than going to a retailer like Petsmart. I found a few on-line UK retailers. ValuPets sells James Wellbeloved 15kg bags for 35.95 (not including shipping).

http://www.valupets.com/pages/html/dog_james_wellbeloved_food.html

Another is PetsDirect.
http://www.petsdirect.com/epages/Store2.sf/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Store2.Shop1016/Products/DF0175/SubProducts/DF0175-0001

Like anything else, you get what you pay for - if you want the best for your dog, feed him the best food. It may prevent future illness and give him a longer life.

Good luck to you and your new pup!

Answer 2

Take dry puppy food and soften it a little bit with some warm water. Not a lot though, don't make it soup. As he gets used to the harder food you can reduce the water and just have him on the dry. If he won't touch the dry alone try putting some wet into the mix and then reduce the amount of wet. When switching from wet to dry i like to keep it from the same brand. It seems to upset them less. After he's fully on dry, you could switch it for a better brand if you wish.

Answer 3

ONE THAT SHE EATS AND LIKES AND ISN'T BASICALLY TOO DRY AS IT CAN CAUSE EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS IN THE THROAT.

Answer 4

Yeah, the Science Plan stuff is really expensive!! How old is the pup? We started our German Pointer pup on Pedigree Proffessional dried food, but again, that was nearly £50.00 for a 15kg bag, but at three months old, we slowly began to introduce Bakers complete, starting with the puppy variety, and he loved it! He's been on the Bakers stuff for over six months now and he's fine! He's growing well, and his teeth and coat are great! We just ring the changes occasionally by adding a little natural yoghurt ( good for their tummies!!) and occasionally add a mashed up hard boiled egg, or a little boiled rice! Try it out....but do remember to change his diet very gradually to avoid an upset tum!! Good luck!

Answer 5

Vets would sell you this its expensive and isnt any different to any other puppy food. I buy my 5 month old Lab chudleys complete which is £11 for the same size bag and can be brought in most pet shops.

Answer 6

I started my Bichon Frise on a cheap dry food... Baker complete puppy food. It gave her smelly poo! I ended up swapping to Eukanuba puppy food. ALL the top bran higher quality dry food is about £35 for a 15kg sack... BUT you will use a lot less of it... it richer and there for they need LESS of it. So it doesn't work out that much more expensive. Don't try to cut corners with the food!! You need a high quality one, it helps with their behaviour and development.

Buy the food at one of the on line supermarkets (for pets!!) it will be cheaper than pet smart! If you spend over a minimum amount P&P is free.

Pasted in some links for you!!

Answer 7

Personally I don't recommend feeding anything other than home cooked food or BARF.
All manufacturers are out to make money from making dog food. The cheaper the food the worse the quality of the ingredients. Would you like to eat a dried mush of bulking agents, feathers, beaks, feet and intestines?
Most veterinary colleges are funded by petfood manufacturers and vaccine manufacturers which is why the vets are trained to recommend the diets.
Have you ever heard a vet recommend a natural diet? I haven't.
Go to either of these sites to find out how to feed your dog properly:
http://www.ukbarfclub.co.uk/

http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/home.html

Answer 8

Nutro choice is supposed to be the best for large breed puppies, it costs around 38quid for a 15kg bag (not that much cheaper. We was on hills, but i now alternate between Hills, nutro and royal canin (as pup gets bored). I don't know much about the cheaper versions but i heard barkers is rubbish (but i also heard that hills is rubbish). I think as long as the first mentioned ingredient is meat or chicken then it's ok.

Answer 9

I have a German Shepard who i have raised on Purina dog chow. when he was a pup I fed him Purina puppy chow .I think that they also have it in England. It is also reasonable. my Shepard weighs 110 and is 2 years old vet says he is in great health

Answer 10

trust the old adage about you get what you pay for.I don't know whats in England but here in America I have a hyper dachshund and I have fed him Purina One from day one,I also have had a yellow lab who was the personification of the term wild I fed her Purina one,science diet is over priced and over rated.they have been involved most recently in the pet food poison scandal here where lots of pets have died from poisons in the food brought in from china

Answer 11

being a breeder of bullmastiffs i have always fed my dogs the cheap working dogs complete dog food.you will get this from your local pet shop. as for puppies i use beta puppy complete.both good quality and everything they need. one pup left and she is 16 weeks and i am just changing over.gradually. people say you get what you pay for. not always! doesnt make any difference only your pocket! hope this helps!!