I have 4 dogs. I feed Diamond Naturals. All 4 dogs do very well on it. It is a mid-price range feed, which makes hubby happy. The dogs have very little waste (small compact poop) which makes ME very happy.

My daughter feeds her Beagle Beneful. I could break my neck tripping over her dog's poop.

 

That occurs because Beneful is full of useless ingredients that go in and come right out. Your dogs are actually using the majority of ingredients in the food you feed.

 

Egads.
We get adopters who feed Beneful (I have them compare labels to our dog food) because those ads are so attractive

Did you show her the dog food labels? For the quality, Beneful's expensive!

 

Egads.
We get adopters who feed Beneful (I have them compare labels to our dog food) because those ads are so attractive

Did you show her the dog food labels? For the quality, Beneful's expensive!

Actually....her dog is 7 years old, looks and acts like an old man. He is also very over weight. She was on vacation for a week and we took our Lacy puppy and her Beagle out to the lease. As her dog is 'supposed' to be a hunting type dog, we ran blood trails and did some actual tracking with him for fun (we were working our Lacy). She was amazed at his inability to keep up with the work. His spirit was willing, but his body wasn't.

While he was at our house, we began switching him over to Diamond. Before she left she ran by feed store and bought a bag. It will be truly interesting to see the difference in her dog when she returns again.

He also has issues with yeast infections in his ears. I was suprised that her vet hasn't suggested she try a different food as well. I'll also be interested in seeing if the change of food makes any difference with his ear problems.

 

The outer shell is undigestible, yes.
If you can get it all ground down and broken down (plant fibers) then you could make use of it...but that's the key. Breaking it all down so one could make use of it.
The plant fiber is indigestible to us - which is why they use it in non-soluble fibers as a supplement.

Birds with gizzards use that for breaking the corn down to where it can be used.

Even our teeth don't do as good of job as you can see when you eat corn.

In cattle and goats, it's toxic in larger quantities since they are ruminants.
What About Grass-fed Beef? | John Robbins Official Site

We are not ruminants, nor are our dogs, but corn is still not a usable product for us or dogs either - https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf...-v1g-j2&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=a366a72422fd9740

Research links to digestibility of corn.

There are more digestible products out there and IMO (take it or leave it) corn belongs in chicken feed and that's about it.

 

The outer shell is undigestible, yes.
If you can get it all ground down and broken down (plant fibers) then you could make use of it...but that's the key. Breaking it all down so one could make use of it.
The plant fiber is indigestible to us - which is why they use it in non-soluble fibers as a supplement.

Birds with gizzards use that for breaking the corn down to where it can be used.

Even our teeth don't do as good of job as you can see when you eat corn.

In cattle and goats, it's toxic in larger quantities since they are ruminants.
What About Grass-fed Beef? | John Robbins Official Site

We are not ruminants, nor are our dogs, but corn is still not a usable product for us or dogs either - https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&gs_mss=corn%20digestib&tok=8cBWW2rP_ZzXnrBCZBVANA&pq=corn%20in%20dog%20food&cp=18&gs_id=2d&xhr=t&q=corn+digestibility&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=corn+digestibility&aq=0&aqi=g1g-v1g-j2&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=a366a72422fd9740

Research links to digestibility of corn.

There are more digestible products out there and IMO (take it or leave it) corn belongs in chicken feed and that's about it.

I did not see anything other than a google search for corn and digestibility and did not find anything that says we can't digest corn. If you will look at chicken feed they mill the corn for them to. Grains are the first processed foods of civilization and we forget that without them we may still be stalking wild animals. Certainly there is waste as with ANY plant food we eat. That would be the fiber that keeps things moving in our systems.

I agree that ruminants are not designed to eat grain and for us to extract any value from any grain we must cook it. But there is nothing about corn that is evil or unique and it IS digested. Dogs are less able to utilze grains than we are because they do not have the enzymes to break down starches, their stomach pH is lower than ours, and they do not chew their food - and they are added because they are needed for the extrusion process. But corn is not unique in terms of digestability or not - that is true for all grains. So they must be cooked and highly processed for them to utilize them.

Here is an article on ensuring complete proetin sources if you are a vegetarian. Are you aware how much of the undeveloped world eats various indigenous grains, corn being one of them?

Protein Combinations for Vegetarians

 

I've feed -

Pro Plan
Pro Pac
Science Diet
and
Nutro.

I tried the Kirkland's brand last time, and I'll never feed that again. Heidi got all of her allergies back

Those brands above, she doesn't have allergies with them.

Maybe they're crap food for some, but for her, they work very well.

 

Um, no I'm completely un-aware. Thank you for the "education".

But no, for dog and cat food I will never purchase anything with corn again.

Did you read about the deleterious effects of corn in cattle processing and the health benefits of eating grass fed beef only? The link in case you missed it -
In cattle and goats, it's toxic in larger quantities since they are ruminants.
http://www.johnrobbins.info/blog/grass-fed-beef/


For humans with IBS (and dogs too) I am fully aware of how "digestible" corn is, and I avoid it in my own diet when possible.

Oh, and I learned a lot about dog food and digestibility when working in the shelter. Those big bloated poops come from corn/soy based foods and you see corn lying in the fecal material. You see it break apart and see bits of corn when you're rinsing the poo away.
That alone told me all I needed to know about how a dog's body processes (hint - it doesn't) corn.

 

Nancy, corn (and a lot of vegetation) is something that has to be highly processed to be usable. Many cultures used corn after it was ground up or smashed or cooked to death. Eat corn on the cob or corn from the can, and (WARNING: GROSS) look in the toilet afterward. The corn doesn't look that much different coming out as going in. I am not sure how much humans digest from whole kernel corn but it isn't much.

Corn is an excellent source of energy, as are carbs in general. Many people who switch from kibble to raw notice their dogs still have their same level of energy but a more even-keeled energy; the hyper behavior tends to improve or disappear and the dog settles better.

 

http://www.ddgs.umn.edu/articles-proc-storage-quality/2005-Stein%20(MNC)%20Methods%20to%20determine.pdf

Processing does make a big difference in what is available. I didn't read the whole thing yet but the initial numbers are interesting.

 

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...ZuI_BQYdqeCpwyYHa6NonqwmvIiN27tbfg&sig=AHIEtbRbp88nC8aGL2NU9Wr00k8mI4PkXw&pli=1

"The corn bran was recovered in yields of 90% and greater and seemed little affected by it journey."

Pooptacular!

 

Look - I am no advocate of corn or grains in general in dog food any more than I advocate other starches. They are there because (a) they are part of the manufacturing process and (b) they are an inexpensive source of calories and certain amino acids which, when given in combination with amino acids from legumes can provide a complete protein source.

I simply felt it was misinformation to say that birds were the only creatures who could digest corn. Corn has been a historical staple of Native Cultures in North and South America as have other grains elswewhere.

Grain feeding livestock is an abhorrent use of grains. It takes over 20 lbs of grain to make 1lb of cattle - where it only takes between 2 and 3 to make 1lb of chicken or rabbit. And, of course, cattle generate massive amounts of methane, much more than they produce eating grass. And of course the fatty acid profile of grass fed beef is far better than that of grain fed beef.

Grain is a worldwide staple of civilization but there is a lot of info out there that says maybe WE are not really designed to eat grains or legumes eather. Certainly not in any type of unprocessed form ......All grains and legumes need to be processed in some way for us to digest them. Some are downright poisonous if not cooked.

So all I am saying is I can see no special reason to single out corn as opposed to other grains other than (1) if the dog does have a corn allergy, well that's a done deal and (2) Its excessive misuse in Agribusiness and the ubiquitous presence of corn in everything from virtually all processed foods to plastics to cattle feed.

 

But why feed a dog a bag of ground corn? Chickens, sure, but dogs? It just dosent make sense to me.

 

But why feed a dog a bag of ground corn? Chickens, sure, but dogs? It just dosent make sense to me.

VS

It's real easy to throw a list on here when you haven't walked in other peoples' shoes. I use to get sucked into the food snobbery thing and refused to try any of your so called "bad" foods and my poor dog continued to lose weight from his chronic diarrhea. I must have spent a good $3000 that first year in vet bills for testing and meds and no one could figure what was wrong with him. I tried many of the top of the line foods like Orijin, Wellness, etc... that come so highly recommended. A poster on here mentioned her dog suffered from IBD and recommended the Purina Pro Plan. I decided I had nothing to lose at that point and tried this "bad" food and guess what? My dog flourished. It's over 1.5 years later and he's a healthy weight and diarrhea is a thing of the past. So when I see a post like yours every now and again, I just gotta laugh and tell myself that you don't know jack.

I fed a dog with horrible food allergies Purine ONE Sensitive Systems. Had corn gluten meal in it. Guess what? It was the only food he could eat because in addition to his chicken allergy he could not tolerate flaxseed which is (sigh) added to a whole lot of "premium" foods. Had I not been open to consider a food with small amounts of corn because folks on the internet convinced me it was uniquely evil he may have itched and had diarreah until the day he died.

Is there anybody out there saying to feed your dogs a bag of corn? Like other decent foods containing a small amount of corn, Pro Plan still does not have it as its primary source of protein.

 

It's real easy to throw a list on here when you haven't walked in other peoples' shoes. I use to get sucked into the food snobbery thing and refused to try any of your so called "bad" foods and my poor dog continued to lose weight from his chronic diarrhea. I must have spent a good $3000 that first year in vet bills for testing and meds and no one could figure what was wrong with him. I tried many of the top of the line foods like Orijin, Wellness, etc... that come so highly recommended. A poster on here mentioned her dog suffered from IBD and recommended the Purina Pro Plan. I decided I had nothing to lose at that point and tried this "bad" food and guess what? My dog flourished. It's over 1.5 years later and he's a healthy weight and diarrhea is a thing of the past. So when I see a post like yours every now and again, I just gotta laugh and tell myself that you don't know jack.

 

It's real easy to throw a list on here when you haven't walked in other peoples' shoes. I use to get sucked into the food snobbery thing and refused to try any of your so called "bad" foods and my poor dog continued to lose weight from his chronic diarrhea. I must have spent a good $3000 that first year in vet bills for testing and meds and no one could figure what was wrong with him. I tried many of the top of the line foods like Orijin, Wellness, etc... that come so highly recommended. A poster on here mentioned her dog suffered from IBD and recommended the Purina Pro Plan. I decided I had nothing to lose at that point and tried this "bad" food and guess what? My dog flourished. It's over 1.5 years later and he's a healthy weight and diarrhea is a thing of the past.....

I got sucked in, too. Too many food changes, and none worked. Some dogs will thrive on "cheaper" food. If you find that food? Hallelujah!!!!! Don't mess with what ain't broken.!

I am NOT a Science Diet fan - it proved very bad for my oldest dog, but she has allergy issues.

Honestly, if my dogs thrived on Ol' Roy and the waste was minimal, I wouldn't really care what other people said. I'd feed what I felt best for my critters.

If I had a dog with digestive problems, and I had to pay $100 a 30lb bag of food to help him thrive..I'd do it.

Yup, me, too.

For the first two years of Gunner's life, I tried a TON of high quality foods ( Cal Natural, Wellness, TOTW, Evo, Innova, Acana & Orijen) and every one of those affected him in different ways. Either he had loose mushy stools, diarrhea, irritated intestines or baaaaaad gas (Evo did that). After the first 5 foods, I put him on Eukanuba. His stools firmed up and I didn't have a single problem.

But I was being told I was feeding a horrible food. Someone even went so far as to call it "puke-anuba". So I again tried the last two foods and again, problems. Back to the Eukanuba I went and he stayed on it for a bit.

Then I decided to try Precise Sensicare and he does fantastic on it. But had he not, he'd be a Eukanuba dog. I have nothing against the food and bowed to the pressure of people. I can't deny he did well on it.

Glad you found the right thing for yours! If someone came to me right now, and said, "I have the food that will cure your dog's digestive issues!" I'd switch in twelve seconds and I no longer care whose name is on the label. I just want him healthy.

The proof is in the poop.

 

I remember when I first got Puppy, I put her straight on Orijen. It was the best that was available without going raw. Yes, the $80 something price tag including taxes STINKS. But, I wanted to do her right. And without putting more effort into feeding, this was my idea of right. She had soft poop for a while from parasites that were later diagnosed and treated. But while she was on the soft poop, Robin said to me again and again, don't just feed her what you think is the best, feed her what she does the best on.

Puppy does great on Orijen right now. Coat is soft and lush, poops are small and hard (TMI but 3 sticks a poop, 2 poops a day).

If she continued to not do well after diagnosis I would try all the top grade foods, and then all the Pro Plans and Science Diets until something sat well with her.

I encourage my friends feeding foods with less than stellar ingredients to take a look at better brands. But if their dogs are doing well on it and they're happy, who am I to say otherwise?

The goal is to switch to raw SOMEDAY. But kibble is just so easy and versatile. Can be loaded into treat balls, can be used in training, can be scattered all over, etc.

 

Honestly, if my dogs thrived on Ol' Roy and the waste was minimal, I wouldn't really care what other people said. I'd feed what I felt best for my critters.

If I had a dog with digestive problems, and I had to pay $100 a 30lb bag of food to help him thrive..I'd do it.

I don't feed Senior horse feed until my older horses show they are having digestive problems. Because I have a mare who is 20 now, doesn't mean she would be better off on Senior feed. She is thriving on what I feed now.

The only thing I know about corn is what my doctor told me. How do they fatten up hogs and cows? They feed them corn. I tend to stay away from corn, I don't need any help fattening up.

 

he could not tolerate flaxseed which is (sigh) added to a whole lot of "premium" foods

I second your "sigh." It's in a lot of supplements, too (looking at you, Nupro).

 

Two alternatives for people who don't trust Diamond or Procter & Gamble and don't want to spend more than $50 for a 40lb bag are Victor and Precise. Those are what I feed. High quality foods from good companies at affordable prices.

 

I don't know if somebody already mentioned this, but I like the website www.dogfoodadvisor.com. When my dog was first diagnosed with diabetes I looked up all the food the vets at the hospital suggested, and most of them were poorly rated. I ended up putting him on Orijen Sr. and Freshpet select. I tried Nature's Variety frozen pasteurized raw food, but it often looks a bit freezer burned. For the money it costs I wouldn't expect it to look that way.

 

For the first two years of Gunner's life, I tried a TON of high quality foods ( Cal Natural, Wellness, TOTW, Evo, Innova, Acana & Orijen) and every one of those affected him in different ways. Either he had loose mushy stools, diarrhea, irritated intestines or baaaaaad gas (Evo did that).
After the first 5 foods, I put him on Eukanuba. His stools firmed up and I didn't have a single problem.

But I was being told I was feeding a horrible food. Someone even went so far as to call it "puke-anuba". So I again tried the last two foods and again, problems. Back to the Eukanuba I went and he stayed on it for a bit.

Then I decided to try Precise Sensicare and he does fantastic on it. But had he not, he'd be a Eukanuba dog.
I have nothing against the food and bowed to the pressure of people.
I can't deny he did well on it.

 

My English bulldog also had to eat Eukanuba. She had horrible skin allergies, and Eukanuba was the only food she could tolerate for a long time.

 

When bear had struvite crystals in his pee the vet "perscribed" royal canin. It's extremely expensive for something that has corn in it...but I trusted the vet to resolve the problem. Nothing changed so I called back and THEN she gave him some cheap antibiotics (after I had transitioned him to the food ....turns out she sells Royal Canin for profit!). He'd also had loose stools that firmed right up after switching to Innova. I don't really know that much about dog food but we're loving the Innova!

 

Why do we feed grains?

Well, I ran out of dog food last week, and couldn't get up to the feed store for a few days. If I feed my dogs chicken, they need a minimum of 2 chicken leg quarters per dog per day. So that means approximately 2# of chicken, and for my lot, that would be 20 pounds of chicken per day. But lets stick with chicken leg quarters. One chicken must die for each dog each day. (Leg quarters are the cheapest part of the chicken.

Well that is 365 chickens per year per dog. For me that would be 3,650 chickens. That is a LOT of chickens. Ok, if you feed the whole chicken, then you could probably get away with half that amount. But still, who of us is willing to raise 188 chickens per year so that our dog can eat?

And who can afford to feed beef. A human might eat 1/4 pound of beef three times a week, but a dog would need to eat 1/2 to 2 pounds of beef in a day. For those of you who can feed raw, that is awesome, but unless I am willing to scoop up road kill deer, or poach me some deer, there is no way my dogs can go without some grains in their diet.

I am currently feeding 4Health, and have had the exact experience of Jax08, only in reverse, meaning I had terrible results with Canidae and am doing ok with 4health. They are both made by Diamond. Probably the same garbage in different bags, packaged for different companies. Or perhaps one has a little more of this and less of that. But even though they are the same breed, what works for some dogs won't work for others.

As for coats, I think that if you brush your dog regularly your dog's coat will be a lot better. So its not always the food that is causing the coats to look less healthy.

 

Every responsible dog owner is going to feed their dog the best food possible, and every dog has different requirements

I totally disagree with the OP for posting a list of what THEY think are garbage brands for no reason outside of what seems to be rubbing their opinion in other's faces. Have your opinion, that's your right, but don't tell me I'm a horrible owner for feeding my animals one of the brands on your list. I'm not going to lose a moment of sleep over worrying about what other's think

 

Corn,,, I would never feed it to my dog because of the short digestive tracks that dogs have. But what everyone is over looking is that the corn in dog food is FEED grade. Their are at least 17 different types of corn grown in the USA and feed grade is one of the bottom feeders. Manufactures who include corn (other than Tuffy's) are using the entire corn, which includes the kernels, COB, TASSSLE, OUTER SHELL(some) AND SOME STALK. I have never taken the corn I eat and fed it to my dog, but I am sure it would not cause issues like those products with corn in it. Keep in mind most manufactures are in this for money, "not" for their love of dogs.

I just found this
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/2007-04-19-pet-food-usat_N.htm

 

At the rate inflation is climbing, I'm going to take Renji out to the wildnerness areas and turn him loose to do his own grocery shopping....

 

LOL That'll definetely make the dog more appreciative of his food At the very least he can't complain he doesn't like what you're feeding him

 

What would you consider "good" kibble op? of course, thats around 40-60 a bag?

 

Time to rock the boat and put up my all lousy food list.


4. Purnia (Purina?
7. Liams (Iams?)
10. Royal Canin
13. Eukanuba
14. Bil Jac
15. Pro Plan

19. Pro Pac

These are the brand of foods that are considered Premium down here. 99% of people competing at world level in shows or sports feed one of the foods of this list. If these are the premium brands, think of the lower brands! There would be no living dogs in Chile if those were as that bad.

Until I get my car back I can't buy the usual brand I feed my dogs, so they are eating whatever is sold on the small store down the hill... You would be shocked!! but the can survive a week or two on that one, I'm not sure if I'll survive the gases at night, though LOL.