| Author | Messages | |
Berner4me
Champion
Posts:14
 | | 08/06/2008 11:36 PM |
| Just a quick update! For anyone who read my last post (s) a year ago. Slim chance, but ya never know. My big, goofy, hairy, oafy 100% PERFECT best friend Ace, a Bernese Mountain Dog is coming home NEXT WEEK! The BF and I talked things out, and he decided to keep both of us. ( good choice ) Meanwhile, Ace has been going through classes with my mom and dad to show him that not all men are bad. Also showing him that its ok to be left alone for a few hours. That, its ok...I WILL be right back. HOWEVER While staying in Michigan, Ace gained about 14 pounds...NOT GOOD MOM! Bad. So, on her own she changed his food from Purina to Science Diet. I have read some serriously bad reviews on this stuff. Just wanted to see if anyone here could tell me first had what you thought of the brand. Thanks! Ace and Ty | | | |
| Newfs
Best in Show
Posts:2762
| | 08/07/2008 5:50 AM |
| Posted By Berner4me on 08/06/2008 11:36 PM While staying in Michigan, Ace gained about 14 pounds...NOT GOOD MOM! Bad. So, on her own she changed his food from Purina to Science Diet. I have read some serriously bad reviews on this stuff. If I had to pick between the 2 dog foods, I would dump the Purina...... | | | |
| DPFrank
Best of Breed
Posts:369
| | 08/07/2008 6:13 AM |
| science diet
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=126&cat=7
purina
http://animalark.eapps.com/animal/PetFoods.nsf/149634ec7d8f978286256aed007891de/e2e574087cde4ddb86256aee001a4b8c!OpenDocument
here are the "top" foods
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showcat.php/cat/8
Here is some nice info on what to select in a dog food.
http://www.dogaware.com/dogfeeding.html#commercial
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| cacky
Best of Breed
Posts:264
| | 08/07/2008 6:15 AM |
| | Actually I don't think either one is very good. You'll have to do the research on the ingredient lists. But you will pay more for a decent food....or just cook it yourself. I have my dog on raw and cooked per my vet. She was 12 lbs over weight and has lost 7 in the past 2 months. | | | |
| Berner4me
Champion
Posts:14
| | 08/07/2008 7:01 PM |
| Thanks guys! The sites were really nice! Cacky: Raw / cooked? Like Chicken? What about veggies? I never knew they could eat 'people' food  Ace needs to drop pounds FAST. For such a big boy, such little weight is a bad thing. Im Calling the vet ASAP. Is it hard? Does your baby like it? | | | |
| cacky
Best of Breed
Posts:264
| | 08/08/2008 10:34 AM |
| | Berner4me... I have a holistic vet so I'm not sure what a 'regular' vet would prescribe. My Tessa eats commercial raw food by 'Nature's Variety', either chicken, beef or venison. She eats cooked chicken, hamburger, fish, canned sardines, cottage cheese, eggs (cooked or raw), raw veggies such as broccoli, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, yellow squash, cauliflower, and fruit like apples, cantaloupe, bananas...I give the fruit infrequently. She LOVES her food!! You have to start giving this stuff gradually....it will clean out their system. Do some research and talk to others who feed the same and you will learn that this is VERY healthy for our animals. I also supplement with apple cider vinegar and garlic (for fleas) and essential fatty acids per my vet. Good Luck! | | | |
| Bellamicuore
Champion
Posts:64
| | 08/08/2008 10:44 AM |
| Your vet may very likely recommend Science Diet. Most vets push this food because they are educated in nutrition from the Science Diet company and are given large commissions for selling their food. Not all vets do this, but many do. If you decide on kibble, some very good brands are: Canidae, Solid Gold, Fromm, Innova, California Natural, Wellness, Wysong. I also feed Bella a dehydrated raw food called Honest Kitchen. I feed her the Force, which is grain-free. | | | |
| garebear544
Champion
Posts:2
| | 08/24/2008 12:59 PM |
| | Not a big fan of Science Diet, too much corn and gluten. I would try switching to a better dry food first... maybe California Natural or Canidae chicken and rice. Once you get your dog settled there, add a little frozen raw food, it will really help with metabolism. With a dog that size, you'll go broke feeding him exclusively raw, you could mix some with the kibble, taking away some kibble, or just give a little of the raw as a treat, replacing any milk bones, etc. Whatever you give your dog of the raw is a good thing. | | | |
| Newfs
Best in Show
Posts:2762
| | 08/24/2008 1:48 PM |
| Posted By garebear544 on 08/24/2008 12:59 PM
With a dog that size, you'll go broke feeding him exclusively raw Thats not true........ | | | |
| Aquarius
Champion
Posts:13
| | 09/13/2008 10:02 PM |
| Science Diet and Purina are pretty much the same... not so great. I find as a general rule that once a pet food company is picked up by a large multinational company, the quality is greatly diminished. Science Diet is owned by Colgate-Palmolive, and Purina is owned by Nestle (along with the majority of grocery store brands, actually). These were probably both good foods to start out with, but the amount of by-products in them now is unacceptable. They receive all the "run-off" from the human food industry.
Iams was bought by Proctor and Gamble in... 98? I think... same thing happened. And Nutro just got purchased by Mars, so keep an eye on that one as well, as they have already started using plant byproducts.
Veterinarians will always recommend Science Diet... because the nutrition classes and textbooks for vetereinary colleges are almost exclusively sponsored by Hills (Science Diet) or Iams (Eukanuba). Kind of a conflict of interest, isn't it! Not to mention, when I worked in the veterinary industry (for 9 years), I can't tell you how much they "wine and dine" all of us.
I highly suggest Ann Martin's book , Food Pets Die For. She brings to light a lot of these issues!
Some good food companies are Naturapet (innova, evo, california natural); Wellness (Old Mother Hubbard); Merrick; and actually quite a few others these days. Look for little to no grain (especially corn), and no animal byproducts. I could write a whole entry on byproducts alone....
If you are concerned about a weight issue, I would go with a light Wellness formula, only because Natura's products are a little on the rich side. But you should be able to pick a diet of your choice, and have your veterinarian work up a weight loss calculation based on the calories in your chosen food. | | | |
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