Ideal Balance?

BarbV

BarbV

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Science Diet has introduced this line recently....Their version of "holistic". They are heavily promoting it. I'm debating whether or not replace my limited SD skus at the store, entirely with IB.

I'm not a fan of SD - I sell some SKU's, but I don't promote it, I also I take the Ideal Balance line with a grain of salt. What are your thoughts?
 
Well, if someone was holding a gun to my head and making me sell Science Diet, I'd pick the Ideal Balance line over any of the others, but there are better foods for the price and I am *highly* suspicious of the *quality* of the ingredients that go into it.

Just looking at the Chicken and Rice, it still looks like it's mostly a bunch of grains and starchy fillers, esp considering the plant-based protein boosters, that tells me there is little meat in it. At least there are no by-products or corn, but that's the best I can say about it.

Would rather sell and feed foods like NutriSource or Fromm, for the $40/bag range.
 
Our rescue group was at the local pet store for an adoption event about a month ago, when a rep from Hill's Science Diet, came over to talk to me about their new Ideal Balance line.

Like others on this forum, I am skeptical of the quality of food being produced by Hill's.

We talked for a bit, I read the ingredient list, then asked him where their raw material is sourced from? He didn't know the answer, but came back a short while later to tell me that he had called his office, and was told all material is sourced from the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. At least they aren't using anything from China :ick
 
Unlike others I'm not going to bag out Science Diet. Here it's probably the most popular brand outside the supermarkets, and I know a lot of dogs that have been on it their entire lives and thrived. Importantly, no other company offers the specialist range they do and most pet owners need help managing the diet of their special needs dogs. I think it's hilarious that on a lot of raw sites they say Australian dogs are the longest lived because they are fed raw - that's a crock, they're fed SD, Supercoat and table scraps! Fillers or not I am yet to see evidence that dogs on SD don't live long and healthy lives.

So if they are bringing out a holistic brand, good on them. I imagine most of the client base will be current customers who have the bit extra in the pocket to buy a more expensive one.
 
Eukanuba also has a line out now that imitates the holistic foods: Eukanuba Pure. They make an adult and puppy line. No byproducts, wheat, corn, etc. The ingredient list is actually pretty good. It seems some of these companies are beginning to recognize that owners are reading the labels and understand what's in their dogs' food.
 
I think we're going to see more foods eliminating the corn and going for better ingredients. Barb, as long as you can tell folks what's in it, I'd go ahead and stock it.
 
We all want to feed the best we can to our dogs. Unfortunately, not everyone takes the time we do to research and read. People will go with the "popular" brands, ones that are really promoted. If you can stock something that is less expensive for those who can't afford some of the higher end foods but it is still good quality, I would say do so. Limited budgets are tough if you are trying to feed yourself and also your dog. Options are good.
 
Thanks for the input!

It's a difficult line sometimes to deal with.

It's hard to debunk the myth sometimes that Science Diet, Royal Canin, Eukanueba, Pro Plan etc. are good food. They do SO much promotion that its hard to not carry it in my store, and hard to get them off it. And to tell a pet parent they've been feeding crap never goes over well. :no:

I recognize that there is special needs out there that SD provides to some extent, but I've never been convinced that personally. Having a special need dog, I've fighting against this food.

I do carry a limited supply for the die hards but my staff and I work towards getting them off. :yes: It does take time.

And then I get the customers who give me **** for carrying these brands at all! Sigh! Can't please everyone! :sadsmile:
Its not even a price issue. These brands are as expensive as the more holistic brands.

I guess I think Ideal Balance is a reasonable in between point
 
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