What do you feed your dog?

[sigp220.45]

Yeah, I know. Dog food.

My pal Randy is a 7 year old Rottweiler. He’s a big goofy 140 pound boy.

About a year ago he started doing a repetetive cough, like he was clearing his throat. After a bunch of anti-biotics, x-rays, and a CT scan they ruled out nasal cancer and settled on a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Basically it means he walks around the house sneezing and launching boogers to and fro, which is fine with me. I just don’t want him to be uncomfortable.

Who knows what he is allergic to. It seems better when there is snow on the ground so it may just be doggy hay fever. But it may also be related to his diet.

I’ve always just fed him grocery store kibble, Purina something-or-other. I want to switch it up with better food. But what is better?

I’ve started him on breed-specific Eukanuba Rottweiler food, and have added in some raw organ meats. The asian market we shop at has pig hearts, and he’s had a couple of those, which he likes. Chicken livers - not so much.

Do any of you go just raw food? Where do you get it? My little town just has regular grocery stores, not dedicated butcher shops. Do you feed Fido steaks?

 

[Chukar60]

My daughter has a Lab that was plagued by skin and other allergic type symptoms.
She got frustrated with vets and no progress, started doing some research and decided to try the raw diet. The Lab has improved quite a bit.
It is not cheap. From her experience if you cannot find a local supplier, sourcing it is a a major pain.

 

[MRB1]

Want to see how great Purina really is ? Place a cup of Purina dry dog food in a blender and turn it to powder. Mix milk (or water) to it to make it a thin liquid gruel, and let it sit for awhile. The stuff that ends up floating on the top will be hair - protein - not digestible, but still protein. Very little useful ingredients, but it's high protein, and that sells. What to feed ? Ask a vet or a breeder, they'll steer you in the right direction.

 

[StrawHat]

Facebook will have raw feeding groups that will be able to help you find raw mixes. There are quite a few co-ops that deliver throughout the US. It is not just raw protein that is needed, bone, skin, fur, scales, organs and feathers are all part of the diet. A little research will help you find what you need.

Kevin

 

[Rpg]

I’ve used Iam’s Lamb and rice for my dogs since the mid 1980’s.

The dogs all love it (6 dogs over the years: one Doberman, one Brittany and 4 Springers).

Back in the day, this was a very pricey choice. Nowadays there are more expensive kibbles available, but none so universally agree with my dogs.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Nothing. He died last November.

 

[6518John]

We are huge Science Diet fans (for both cats and dogs) from visiting with a number of veterinarians that work where we do animal rescue. I would try their large breed formulation.

 

[pantannojack]

Nick Nolte seemed to have some answers in "Down and Out In Beverly Hills". The part about some DF's being too salty. If you "Take This Dog to be Your Dog", you might try laying on the floor and sampling some of his food, to show him you are "partners" ( Mulholand Falls). Could be he has trouble with carpet fumes or house hold chemicals or the imported virus even.

 

[Peak53]

I feed my Border Collie a medium priced chicken and rice kibble. I've tried the higher priced brands, but if you compare the ingredients, there is no difference. The high priced stuff is for the owner, not the dog. I think the lowest priced has too much garbage in it. He gets NOTHING else! About 3 cups per day for this active 40 lb. dog. Table scraps encourage the dog to beg and tend to come out either end in an unpleasant way. If they only get their own food in their own bowl, they don't know that anything else is available. This two year old is thriving, at a good weight, has a good coat, and doesn't beg. What's not to like?

The internet wars on how to feed a dog are epic. I don't think it's that hard.

 

[BC38]

Kirkland Signature (Costco) brand. It is reasonably priced, easy to get, he seems to like it, and he's thriving. What more could one ask for?

 

[Captain Hornet]

Go to Cosco and buy some of their chicken. It is in the delly counter and they have a whole cooked chicken for $5.oo Sometimes they also have chicken quarters for the same price. There are 8 quarters in a box. That is good for five or six meal feedings. You can mot feed your dog for less and he well love the fresh cooked chicken.

 

[Rock Climber]

I think large breed breed specific food is the way to go. Eukanuba is a good brand. It's made by the Mars company. They also make Iams.


I would not feed Randy raw meat, especially raw pig hearts. Would you eat raw pork? Raw beef and cow parts can cause diarrhea. Beware of HGE, a gastrointestinal disease that causes rapid dehydration and can kill Randy if not treated immediately. Boneless skinless chicken breasts are cheap in the family pack. About $7 for 3-4 pounds. Grill or bake them. It's not much trouble. Cut one up and mix with the Eukanuba. Give it a try. Better than giving him junk meats.



Did your vet prescribe any meds or just suggest dietary therapy?

 

[6518John]

You can [n]ot feed your dog for less and he well love the fresh cooked chicken.

Heck I would love the fresh cooked chicken!

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I buy a dry dog food made with chicken product, grains and various unknown things. Also every afternoon they get 2-3 raw pork neck
bones. Dogs are 2 sisters 14 years old which are 1/2 Queensland
Blue Heelers, 1/4 German shepherd and 1/4 coyote. One Border
Collie 2 years old. These dogs have eaten this their entire lives with
no known ill effects. My wife's two Yorkies, 2 and 3 years old get some
kind of dry food made for Yorkies and raw pork meat that I cut from
the bones each evening. Again no ill effects.
I always thought Rotties just ate anything that got in their way.
Good luck.

 

[Robspeire]

Blue: Lamb & Brown Rice. (Adult)

 

[Eric300]

My 2 German Shepherds eat their own turds. So, I've come to the conclsion that;

A) They'll eat anything, or,

B) What I feed them now is so good that they eat it twice!

 

[Golddollar]

Heck I would love the fresh cooked chicken!

As long as I didn't have to eat them from a bowl on the floor.

 

[mikey52]

We give ours cooked chicken and rice every day, along with a couple of eggs a week. Their dry food is Taste of The Wild-Bison. 've been using this for years. Sometimes they get Taste of The
Wild-Salmon, but they prefer the Bison.
There is a dog food rating website. It breaks the brands down, to show what is good in them, and what is bad for your dogs. It is a good website with tons of info on all dogfoods. Also breaks the reports into dry brands and canned foods. Mikey

 

[27 Man]

Our pups eat Orijen. High quality grain free dog food. Pricey but top rated dog food at Southern Agriculture.

 

[Nevada Ed]

People food...........

but the Vet told us to stop it and just give them "Dog Food"
that will let them live longer.

However a carrot snack is ok.