Dog Food???

Question

What is the best kind of dog food for a senior large dog that's affortable? Not too much $ for a 50lb. bag....

Answer 1

Hi,
I am reading several answers on here. It's amazing how many different opinions that there are. In reading Dixie's answer in reference to the ingredient Kelp. I too have heard that this ingredient can cause Thyroid malfunction resulting in medication. I also see where the answer above is in reference to Canadai. Listed in Canadai's ingredients it has both Kelp and the ever so harmful Sodium Selenite as ingredients. I think I read where it's the mercury levels in Kelp that disturb the thyroid glands. Sodium Selenite is not listed here but I just looked at a bag of Canadai last week on the shelve and it does contain Sodium Selenite. (Actually Sodium Selenite is listed on the ingredients on the post)
I like the idea that feeding our pets should be a personal decision. But I think all of us need to educate ourselves on pet food.
I feed a holistic brand of pet food as well. My brand does not have the Kelp or Sodium Selenite, so personally I feel my brand is a wiser choice. But that is just my opinion as is the rest of the opinions here!

Answer 2

Hi, trust me, many premium food are totally rubbish if there is ingredients like by-products, grains and corn which is very difficult for dog to digest. Look for the ingredient that have pure stated meat in the first (and if possible second as well). Don't buy it if it just say meat, it can be any meat like road-kill, cows that have cancer . . . .! Best quality is just all you need (Maybe a little extra cost, yes)! But you'll need to feed less for your doggy to feel completely satisfied and with equal amount of nutrition. Such as, it cost only $0.80 to feed super premium a day while it cost $1.13 to feed budget biscuit a day to make the nutrition amount equal! Sad but true! (Got this info. on the web somewhere) Good luck! PS no flavor, color, preservation, by-products, grains and corn is the best quality. Potato is good for dog. It is just a guide, it's your personal choice. Not too sure which brand is available in USA as I live all the way in New Zealand.

Answer 3

Affordable dog food in my opinion is more money up front for a better quality dog food but feeding less of that quality dog food because the nutrition is better and your dog doesn't need to eat gobs of it to feel satisfied. Also feeding a dog a good quality dog food will help keep them healthier by giving their immune system a boost to keep them healthier naturally. Keeping a dog/animal/person healthier from the inside out is what really keeps us going strong with more energy.
A healthier pet means less shedding, shinier coat, eyes, teeth, bone, organs. Less fleas or no fleas, same for mosquito's and other parasites.
Feeding Corn, wheat, soy, (all causes of allergens and hard to digest) BHA, BHT, artificial flavors, (causes cancer and other severe health risks) by-products, (dead and diseased animals) ethoxiquin, (severe health risks) sodium selenite (causes second generation defects and can result in organ failure and decreases water consumption) Kelp or sea type vegetation (causes physiological changes in the thyroid and can result in needing medication.)
All or most of these ingredients are found in almost every pet food on the shelves today, even the "Healthier Brands"
Research your food, talk to a dog nutritionist. As good as some conventional vets are this is not their area of expertise and most will talk you into the food that they sell to get their kick backs, most just don't know enough about it!
I would do the research yourself. Then you decide what you want to feed your pet.
PS do you know that dogs have the potential to live well into thier late twenties. They can't possibly do this by eating the commerical food that is sold at the stores or vets offices.
I have over 10 rescue dogs and 25 rescue cats. I spend over $1.30 per lb of pet food. Do you know that it costs me less to feed my animals the good stuff than it does to feed them the average to premium brand from the store.
My 85lb lab eats only 3 cups of food per day and he is actually getting too heavy, I need to cut him back.
Good luck in your research!

Answer 4

Higher quality food may seem more expensive at first, but it evens out. The higher quality the food, the less fillers eaten (and therefore the less poop comes out the other end). Your dog eats more to try to get the nutrition it needs, and most of the food just passes right on through. Also, it will make your animals healthier, so you save money on vet bills in the long run.

If you're on a budget, I would recommend Chicken Soup brand. It's a quality food and it's relatively cheap in price.
http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/

I think Canidae is priced pretty decently too.
http://www.canidae.com/

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On choosing a good dog food:

Read the ingredients on the food you buy. Go with a high quality dog food. A grain should not be in the first couple ingredients ingredient (corn and such are mainly fillers, dogs don't digest it well). Avoid foods that have a lot of "by products" listed.

Here is an article about byproducts:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=ingrd

And an article on what ingredients to avoid:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients

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Some GOOD foods are :
* Merrick - http://www.merrickpetcare.com/
* Solid Gold - http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/
* Canidae - http://www.canidae.com/
* Timberwolf - http://timberwolforganics.com/
* Orijen - http://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/orijen/
* Wellness - http://www.omhpet.com/wellness/
* Chicken Soup brand - http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/
* Blue Buffalo - http://www.bluebuff.com/
* Innova - http://www.naturapet.com/brands/innova.asp
* Innova EVO - http://www.naturapet.com/brands/evo.asp

Or check this website for good foods: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
(I recommend only feeding foods rated 4, 5, or 6 stars. Anything 3 stars or less, I would stay away from.)

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Stay away from grocery stores brands. They are low-quality foods chalk full of fillers, preservatives, dyes, etc.. (Grocery store foods are those like Beneful, Old Roy, Alpo, Pedigree, Purina, etc.)

Beware "premium" foods. "Premium" does not mean good nutritionally, and is not a nutritionally high quality food. It has the same types of ingredients as grocery store foods, just a bit better quality of those not-so-good ingredients. (Premium foods are those like Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet, etc..)

Another thing to be wary of: A lot of vets will recommend what they sell in their office. They get profit from the brands they keep on their shelves, that's why they push it. Truth is, vet schools don't focus a lot on nutrition. It's not saying that a vet is a bad vet because he recommends those foods, a lot of vets just are told "this is good food", so they pass the message along without proper nutrition knowledge. Also, some dog food brands (like Hills) support vet schools, so vets have heard of it from the time they start college, which makes them think it's good as well.

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"Big box" petstores like Petco and Petsmart rarely have quality foods. Also, grocery stores and Walmart aren't good places to buy food either.

Your best bets for getting quality dog food are:
- small, locally owned petstores
- dog boutiques
- farm supply stores

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When switching foods, do it gradually. I do this over about a two week timespan:
25% food A, 75% food B
50% food A, 50% food B
75% food A, 25% food B
100% food A
.

Answer 5

There isn't just one "best" kind for senior dogs. It depends heavily on your dog's current weight, activity, health, and food allergies. I really like feeding my dogs Innova Evo. But that doesn't come cheap. You can check out Natural Balance, which is a litttle bit cheaper.

You would probably want something with good nutrition, and supplement it with glucosamine/chondrotin pills or vitamins....dogs are known to get arthritis as they age.

Answer 6

Innova, Wellness, Canidae, Solid Gold, California Natural...

You pay for what you get. Realize that feeding the dog better as well as keeping it lean and in shape will save you $$$$ in vet bills. You feed less of a premium brand of food.

Answer 7

Innova or Canidae. I don't know what you mean by not too much $ for a 50lb bag. I am not sure what you consider too much. Go to www.dogfoodanalysis.com you can put in different names of dog foods and they rate them. There you can decide the best that you can get for the money your able to spend.

Answer 8

There is no perfect made dog food. if you read and compare the lables you will find out this. The difference is in the fillers they use for byproducts. Go to any web site that has animal information and check on the nutritional values. you may be surprised that the best claimed product is not the best.
either way stay away from Beneful.. and depending on the activity of your dog and the coat leangth you have to watch the protein levels too.
My recommendation is mix any dry food, made for the older dog, with whole meat from Alpo or Skippy. And never give the recommended feeding --it will make your dog fat. feed as much as the dog will eat in one feeding and no more. Once a day. Treats are OK in moderation. stay away from spagetti sauce and chocolate and other bad foods that can shorten the life of your dog.

Answer 9

if u want a high quality dog food but u dont want to pay a lot of money for it ur pretty much SOL. canidae is really good and it isnt too spendy. so i reccomend that. stay away from anything u can find at walmart. all that food is pure crap

Answer 10

Go to a good pet store and spend a little more, they are worth it, if you get them something too cheap, they don't get the nutrients they need and the food is worthless.