A little help on what to feed now

[BarbV]

Thanks everybody, this is a fantastic discussion with great options.

The only thing I am concerned about with Fromm's Salmon option is it has Chicken liver and Chicken fat in the ingredients and Frankie's naturopath indicated that chicken can cause inflammation in the joints and in the body in general and this can irritate injuries, arthritis, limping, etc. Has anyone else heard this? I am wondering if the fat and liver from the chicken in the Fromm's would be a problem.

My gut does tell me a lower protein would be better as the only thing I can pinpoint that drove his liver values up was the switch to the higher protein food and then all of a sudden Frankie was not doing well. Unless he has an infection or something else hope not - I will know more after the ultra sound tomorrow but this food thing is tough business. Part of me would like to go back to TOTW but another part is hesitant - you all have good reasons pro and con!

I will keep reading here and keep you updated. Thank you for your help. Any information I can add I will do my part too!

I know alot of people will avoid chicken fat in the diet if the dog is prone to allergies, but I also hear that its not an issue if its not the main protein, even for dogs with allergies.

I can't speak to anything regarding chicken fat causing inflammation, etc. per your naturpath. I've never heard that before. You might want to check other sources.

 

[BarbV]

If you're concerned about chicken and you want grain-free, I'd consider the Now! line of foods. The adult formula is turkey, duck and salmon and 26 percent protein plus grain-free. My dogs eat Now and Go and do wonderfully well on it. It's made by Petcurean out of Canada and produced in their own plant. I'm very comfortable feeding it. Here's a link to the Now product.
http://www.petcurean.com/for-dogs/now-fresh/grain-free-adult

The Go line is slightly lower protein and there are a variety of proteins other than chicken, but they do include some grains. Two of mine eat the duck formula and do well on it. Go does make a grain-free formula but it's higher protein so I wouldn't feed it to a liver-compromised dog.
http://www.petcurean.com/for-dogs/go/

Like I said in my previous post, I feed Now! to my dogs, but because of Bacca's liver issues, I feed him the Seniors/weight management formula which has lower protein. The regular forumlas for Now! are as high in protein as most grain-free diets.

Be very careful as you read the labels.

If you are interested in Go! or Now! your best bet is to go to their website, because their recent transition in packaging and forumlations has been somewhat confusing.

But its still good food! They just didn't manage the transition so well

 

[BarbV]

I suspect I am being naive, I realize that dogs don't benefit from grains, but, if a dog does not have a problem with grains, and the protein content is lower in foods with grain, why avoid grains?

You are not naive in your question at all. It's extremely valid.

There is nothing wrong with a dog food that has grain in it. It really is a matter of personal choice and how your dog is doing.

I tend to categorize food into 3 categories (you can argue about my classifications but I think they are close):

- Commercial - Pro plan, Eukanueba, IAMS, Techni-Cal, Royal Canin, Science Diet, Nutro
- Premium - Natural Balance, Chicken Soup, Nutro, Blue, Merricks
- Holistic - Now! Go! Orijen! Horizen, Acana, Merricks Before Grain

Most of the so-called "holistic" tend to be grain free. But there are many premium brands out there which provide the same nutricicals, etc. as the holistic products but with grain added.

My personal opinion is to stay away from the commercial brands. They advertise well, and that is why they are so popular....they are recognized brands.

With premium and holistic brands, you think you are paying more, but in reality you should be feeding your dog less, therefore the cost per feeding should be comparable to a commercial brand. These foods are simply more efficient and effective in their digestive tracks, plus they have the added goodness of nutricials, anti-oxidants, etc.

Look for glucosamine, chroditian (sp?), blueberries, flax seed, salmon oil, to name a few...

 

[Justicemom]

I know alot of people will avoid chicken fat in the diet if the dog is prone to allergies, but I also hear that its not an issue if its not the main protein, even for dogs with allergies.

I can't speak to anything regarding chicken fat causing inflammation, etc. per your naturpath. I've never heard that before. You might want to check other sources.

Not always the case with food allergies. My dog Jazz was allergric to beef. Real diagnosed(with a dermatologist) and food trial tested allergies that involved not only GI signs, but ears and skin infections and itching. It took me over 2 yrs to sort though what she could and could not eat. This was back in the mid 90's when choices of novel proteins were not great. As long as it didn't come from a cow we were cool. If it did, the effects could be immediate in vomiting or diarrhea or show up 2-3 weeks down the line in the form of skin/ear infections.

Once I had the allergies worked out and avoided all beef products. She never had another ear infection or skin infection again from age (3 to 15 yrs) and a cast iron gut.

 

[BarbV]

Not always the case with food allergies. My dog Jazz was allergric to beef. Real diagnosed(with a dermatologist) and food trial tested allergies that involved not only GI signs, but ears and skin infections and itching. It took me over 2 yrs to sort though what she could and could not eat. This was back in the mid 90's when choices of novel proteins were not great. As long as it didn't come from a cow we were cool. If it did, the effects could be immediate in vomiting or diarrhea or show up 2-3 weeks down the line in the form of skin/ear infections.

Once I had the allergies worked out and avoided all beef products. She never had another ear infection or skin infection again from age (3 to 15 yrs) and a cast iron gut.

I'm not sure what you are saying in relation to my post. I was commenting on chicken fat per the thread, not beef.

If you want to talk about allergies in general, then I think thats a whole other post.

 

[Justicemom]

I know alot of people will avoid chicken fat in the diet if the dog is prone to allergies, but I also hear that its not an issue if its not the main protein, even for dogs with allergies.

I was responsing to this part of your post.

I'm not sure what you are saying in relation to my post. I was commenting on chicken fat per the thread, not beef.

If you want to talk about allergies in general, then I think thats a whole other post.

I think it was a vaild response. I was not talking about allergies in general but responsing to what you posted about hearing that chicken fat will not cause a reaction if it is not the main protein. It can and does.

OK my dog in my example was beef, same difference.

 

[BarbV]

I was responsing to this part of your post.



I think it was a vaild response. I was not talking about allergies in general but responsing to what you posted about hearing that chicken fat will not cause a reaction if it is not the main protein. It can and does.

OK my dog in my example was beef, same difference.

Ok, just to be clear. You used a beef allergy when the topic was chicken.

I accept that there is controversy over chicken fat as an allergen, even if its not the main protein. I've questioned this myself, and its still unresolved in my mind.

Maybe its a good topic for the forum....food allergies?

 

[marymrumfelt]

Not always the case with food allergies. My dog Jazz was allergric to beef. Real diagnosed(with a dermatologist) and food trial tested allergies that involved not only GI signs, but ears and skin infections and itching. It took me over 2 yrs to sort though what she could and could not eat. This was back in the mid 90's when choices of novel proteins were not great. As long as it didn't come from a cow we were cool. If it did, the effects could be immediate in vomiting or diarrhea or show up 2-3 weeks down the line in the form of skin/ear infections.

Once I had the allergies worked out and avoided all beef products. She never had another ear infection or skin infection again from age (3 to 15 yrs) and a cast iron gut.

If you don't mind me asking, was this a beef allergy in kibble or a beef allergy in general? I'm trying to determine if animals that have allergies to a protein in kibble, have the same allergy in the raw form.

 

[mellie]

I feed Evo Red Meat kibble in the am, and By Nature Organics canned in the pm OR whatever we are having for dinner - just depends. Sally eats fruits ,and veggies and some grains in small amounts, cheese of course and turkey jerky treats made in the good ole US of A .Gets to lick out DH's yogurt container and loves sweet potatoes . Her poops are great, no vom.,diarrhea, no skin issues or ear issues, all values are great except for hypothyroidism which is not related to her diet. I have made sure to introduce her to small amounts of foods on a regular basis so she isn't bothered by diet changes. Personally, I don't believe any living creature was designed to eat out of a bag exclusively...just MHO . Nothin is "broken" with Sally , so I ain't fixin it !I only feed the commercial foods b/c I'm too lazy to cook for her and the cat all the time, but I am headed that way...:sadsmile:

 

[marymrumfelt]

I feed Evo Red Meat kibble in the am, and By Nature Organics canned in the pm OR whatever we are having for dinner - just depends. Sally eats fruits ,and veggies and some grains in small amounts, cheese of course and turkey jerky treats made in the good ole US of A .Gets to lick out DH's yogurt container and loves sweet potatoes . Her poops are great, no vom.,diarrhea, no skin issues or ear issues, all values are great except for hypothyroidism which is not related to her diet. I have made sure to introduce her to small amounts of foods on a regular basis so she isn't bothered by diet changes. Personally, I don't believe any living creature was designed to eat out of a bag exclusively...just MHO . Nothin is "broken" with Sally , so I ain't fixin it !I only feed the commercial foods b/c I'm too lazy to cook for her and the cat all the time, but I am headed that way...:sadsmile:

You must eat some bland food to be able to feed them what you're eating for dinner! I wouldn't dare give my dogs something we cook... but we love spices.... and salt... both of which I wouldn't dream of giving to a dog lol