Dry dog food?

[poohpeggy]

Yes ...this helps a lot ! I also mix in cooked ground turkey breast and chicken breast since my kids eat these meats. I am worried about high protein because Mary Sue my 1 year old dachshund got her first urinary tract infection and she's been eating the Chicken Soup Puppy dry kibbles that I had left out for the new puppy. The protein is 28%. I am wondering if this high protein caused it. I am on the side of starting off on a lower protein base and adding fresh proteins as needed. I am also wondering if a Senior Food would be ok for the 1 yr old because it has lower fat and protein and added supplements for the joints. I thought maybe adding some puppy food with it would balance it out. I am glad your pooch is doing better. Its a good feeling huh! Peggy

 

[hottiescientist]

28% doesn't seem that bad to me actually -- the dry Evo stuff was like 47%! But each dog is different too. My dog is a mix of greyhound, pitbull, and lab so she may need more protein than a daschund. I mixed in things in lower proportions so my dog never felt a huge protein drop since she was used to the higher stuff. I think you may have to play around and see -- I honestly felt I got really lucky in finding a brand that was more affordable and that she took too so well so early. Best of luck

 

[hiitdogs]

It's not so much the total amount of protein, it is more important what the protein source. Some protein sources are much easier digested and biological value is better. For example, some dog foods have hooves, horns, blood, digestive waste (sorry for being so graphic) as their protein source when calculating the protein percentage. Personally I don't think that has much to do with good nutrition. Urinary tract problems usually are not cause due to protein in general but because of low quality protein and ingredients as well as too high ratio of carbohydrates/corn/sugar

The percentage of protein in many dog foods may be deceiving, it is calculated by dry weight and depending on the amount of moisture it may be totally different.

If you need to feed kibble/dry food, I would suggest to find a brand with human grade ingredients and really do your research on what they put in their food. The Whole Dog Journal is a good resource for information, they publish a list of recommended dog foods every year.

I have fed Nature's Variety for many years but I rotate kibble with raw food, BARF, homemade food, raw bones and the occassional canned food.

Great books about dog / cat food are Dr. Pitcairn's The Complete Guide to Natural Care for Cats and Dogs and Ann Martin's Foods Pets Die For (although it is not for the faint at heart).

 

[poohpeggy]

I can't get the Whole Dog Journal because I do not subscribe. I was seeking the top brands so I can research further. I read that about the meat sources and then I also read they use road kill etc.. I was shocked although I shouldn't be by now. Anyway, will it say on the package if it is human grade? TIA Peggy

 

[hiitdogs]

I can't get the Whole Dog Journal because I do not subscribe. I was seeking the top brands so I can research further. I read that about the meat sources and then I also read they use road kill etc.. I was shocked although I shouldn't be by now. Anyway, will it say on the package if it is human grade? TIA Peggy

Yeah, the roadkill and other stuff they put in makes my stomach turn every single time and then we are being told that it's unhealthy for dogs to eat "human food". Ummmh, yeah! It gets me every single time when someone tells me that dogs need to eat specially formulated food to meet their needs, I guess we can feed ourselves and our kids but feeding a dog is rocket science

I am sure it will be on the bag. I know Nature's Variety uses human grade and I believe it says that on the bag.

I have the WDJ food article in a pdf format but it's not the newest one, it's from 2006 or 2007, I can email it to you if you want, just pm me the email address that you want me to send it to.

HTH

 

[poohpeggy]

Thank You for sending me the info...Peggy