[sklippstein]

I had recently posted in the Cafe forum and responded to someone making comments about the dog food Beneful. I too use Beneful because my 8 year old wanted our Lola to have a good diet and of course based upon the commercials, Beneful fits the bill. After a discussion about Beneful, I find out that this really isn't what it is advertised. So I have been reading ingredient labels (which I never did before) and now am so much more aware of what is going into the dog food. I am sick to my stomach over this and feel so badly that I have been feeding this to her. I can not afford some of the more expensive brands (many that I have never heard of) which offer real meat, etc. So, here's my dilema......what do you suggest I feed Lola that is a commercial dog food, available through the grocery store or Target, Walmart and is affordable?
Has anyone used or checked out Rachel Ray's dog food?

 

[SunCzarina]

Check out Canidae. If you break it down by how much less you feed, you'll find it doesn't cost much more. Morgan's food costs me about $8 a month.

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Lola'sMommy-before the Internets, unless you had access or education in nutrition, there really was no anti-media information about pet foods, and probably not as many "good" quality pet foods to choose from.

I watch those Beneful ads and if I didn't know, from reading here, I would buy it. TOTALLY WOULD. Without a doubt because I want what is best for my dogs. Same with the cat food commercials where they show all the grains-cats don't really eat that-they are obligate carnivores. BUT, if I hadn't read up on it, I would think that food was the best.

When I got my oldest dog I got him Purina One lamb (which I still think is fairly decent food) because Spencer (Robert Urich) told me to.

Then I saw that Hill's was recommended by vets (on the bag it says so!) so I switched to that (and that was a huge mistake-that was the start of Kramer's allergies-not to the types of meat in it but to the chemicals and quality). To get rid of the allergies I had to switch to IVD Whitefish and Potato and that is when I started to look at the panels. So do not beat yourself up!

I need to finish some work stuff up and if a thousand other people don't post suggestions, will do so!

Also-do you have a Tractor Supply or feed store in your area? They often carry things like Chicken Soup, Nutro, Taste of the Wild and some other foods that are good. I will toss one thought out-Canidae.

And I have to look for Rachel Ray's food-I bet the dogs think it is Yummo

 

[sklippstein]

Sun, where do you find it? $8 a month is definatley affordable!!

 

[sklippstein]

Jean, thank you so much for your words. I never knew to read the ingredients, but certainly do know now. No, we do not have a feed store or Tractor Supply store nearby. I live in the city, so it would a good drive for me to get to one of those.

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

No problem! I hate when people feel badly about the food they have fed or are feeding when it's because they didn't know! (still not getting work done am I?)

Each website like http://www.canidae.com has store locators for you to use to find stores near you that have the food, if that helps.

I like to look on http://www.petfooddirect.com for food brand ideas.

Okay, gotta go!

 

[sklippstein]

Thank you so much!

 

[sprzybyl]

I feed Canidae, (breeder recommended) and I find it's very affordable.

 

[Emoore]

I saw Purina Pro Plan at Target for $18 for an 18lb bag.

I pay $40 for a 40lb bag of Canidae.

. . .sometimes the "cheap" stuff really isn't any cheaper. Not to mention that quality kibbles don't have a bunch of fillers so you don't have to feed as much.

 

[Emoore]

Originally Posted By: Lola'sMommyJean, thank you so much for your words. I never knew to read the ingredients, but certainly do know now. No, we do not have a feed store or Tractor Supply store nearby. I live in the city, so it would a good drive for me to get to one of those.

If you live in the city, you're probably close to either a Pet Supplies Plus or a boarding kennel or groomer that sells Canidae. I live out in the country and drive 20 miles one-way to buy dog food. . .lol. . . I just stock up when I go.

Also if you have a Petsmart nearby you can try Blue Buffalo or Avoderm and you can get Natural Balance and some other good stuff at Petco.

 

[StGeorgeK9]

Hi Lola's Mom, Dont feel bad, I have a dog with allergies so I had to find something that would work for her. It's a shame what the commercials would have us believe. For the money, I also think Canidae would be your best bet. I feed Taste of the Wild pacific stream, but that is because Ava couldnt tolerate something in Canidae. But it is a great food. Some of the smaller pet stores also carry Canidae. I live out a ways and have to drive a distance to get food. But I try to go only once a month to save on the gas.

 

[SunCzarina]

Originally Posted By: Lola'sMommySun, where do you find it? $8 a month is definatley affordable!!

I get it at a local pet store - one of those little mom and pop, 2 sons and a daughter type places. Morgan eats about an 8 lb bag every month and it costs 7.99.

She's almost 7 so she only needs a little more than a cup a day, usually mixed with leftover veggies my kids didn't eat.

 

[selzer]

Is Morgan a GSD? My girl is seven and I am feeding her a cup in the morning and a cup in the evening. I think she is about three pounds more than I want her at 75 -- she should be about 72 in my opinion. She was recently spayed (with C-section), and has not slimmed all the way down from the pregnancy yet.

I hate to give her less than that. I feed each of my young bitches 1 1/2 cups twice a day, and no one is overweight, most weigh about 67-68 pounds. My boys get 2 cups twice a day.

I worked it out on paper between Nutro and Canidae. Because I do feed less of the Candiae. It ends up cheaper at the end of the month. But no way eight bucks/dog.

 

[3K9Mom]

One of my tips for those on really tight budgets, and depending where you live, is Costco's Kirkland Brand dog food. The lamb and rice ingredients are lamb, lamb meal, brown rice, etc. The chicken ingredients are chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, etc.

It costs about $19 per 40 pound bag. Even with the $50 per year membership, it still averages out to be a really good deal. And it's likely you can use that membership to buy other staples for cheaper than at the grocery store (like bread, milk, eggs, produce).

If I had to choose between ANY of the foods sold at PetSmart, I'd drive across town and buy Costco's Kirkland brand. I'm super picky about what I feed my dogs, and I think that highly of it.

(Costco's canned food was included late in the recalls last year. The kibble, manufactured by Diamond, made of all US ingredients, never was.)

 

[big_dog7777]

Originally Posted By: Lola'sMommyI had recently posted in the Cafe forum and responded to someone making comments about the dog food Beneful. I too use Beneful because my 8 year old wanted our Lola to have a good diet and of course based upon the commercials, Beneful fits the bill. After a discussion about Beneful, I find out that this really isn't what it is advertised. So I have been reading ingredient labels (which I never did before) and now am so much more aware of what is going into the dog food. I am sick to my stomach over this and feel so badly that I have been feeding this to her. I can not afford some of the more expensive brands

I was on that thread and one of the people suggesting a different food. I also said not to beat yourself up, nobody is born with this knowledge. I fed Pro Plan and Pukanuba before I knew better. With that being said, make sure you compare the amount you will need to feed as well. Most of the kibbles you will switch to are fed in a smaller quantity and therefore last longer. Canidae is very affordable and in my opinion an excellent food provided your dog does well on it. Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul is another good one that is pretty inexpensive.

Either way, good luck. Now that you're looking at labels you are at least making informed decisions not based on marketing and that is what is important.

 

[SunCzarina]

Originally Posted By: selzerIs Morgan a GSD? My girl is seven and I am feeding her a cup in the morning and a cup in the evening. I think she is about three pounds more than I want her at 75 -- she should be about 72 in my opinion. She was recently spayed (with C-section), and has not slimmed all the way down from the pregnancy yet.

I hate to give her less than that. I feed each of my young bitches 1 1/2 cups twice a day, and no one is overweight, most weigh about 67-68 pounds. My boys get 2 cups twice a day.

I worked it out on paper between Nutro and Canidae. Because I do feed less of the Candiae. It ends up cheaper at the end of the month. But no way eight bucks/dog.

Way it costs me $8 a month. Like I said, she eats veggies with her dinner too which helps fill her up. She started gaining weight about the time my twins started tipping their dinner to her. I've been cutting her back by 1/4 cup every month until she was at the right weight.

You tell me if she's a full blood - she's a rescue but looks like a shepherd, walks like a shepherd, talks like a shepherd... this is her

 

[EastGSD]

I watch for the sales on Pro Plan, Petco has them regularly and I am always satisfied with the food and how my dogs do on it. There are a number of ways to feed more economically if you want to or have to (which we may be doing soon as well

) Sometimes you have to do what you have to do but I never feel guilty about feeding Pro Plan, gives good results and my dogs do well on it.

Cherri

 

[sklippstein]

Sun she is absolutely stunning and yuppers she looks like a full breed GSD to me. I have to also agree that I give Lola more than 1 cup each feeding. Generally in the am she gets 1 1/2 to 2 cups with plain yogurt and then 2 cups with plain yogurt and some table goodies, generally veggies and/or steak. She is pretty active and burns off calories quickly.

 

[Barb E]

Looks like you've gotten some good advice so I just wanted to reiterate what some others have said and what I live by

We feed our animals the best we can with the knowledge we have at any given moment. Research, find what works best for your pet and be open minded about change as more research is done and new information becomes available. Feeding our pets can be complicated; we can find compelling information for all sides of every diet. I feel more comfortable at this time feeding Dante a diet that doesn't contain corn or some of the other ingredients in some foods. If a year from now I find information that makes me feel comfortable feeding in a different manner - I may change my mind

 

[Lola1969]

No need to feel so bad! Those Beneful commercials really pull at the heart strings! I would totally feed Beneful if I didn't begin researching dog food!

I just noticed last night on a Beneful commercial that they have an ear of CORN on the bag, a no-no!