Dog food quality ratings

[rtimgray]

I've got to say that I'm impressed with what so many folks feed their dogs. I see that mine get fed a one star (maybe not even that, it's the private label version of kibbles and bits) and a dog food that I couldn't find on the list (called Turbo 21 that I get from the feed store - at $10 per 50 lb. bag, I'm guessing it's on the low end of the scale).

One of ours is a 12 year old mongrel of indiscriminate breeding, and she is by far the most active of the three, and probably the most overweight. The other two are older than that, one a malamute mix and one a german shepherd. The malamute was hit by a car as a puppy, long before we got her, and the German Shepherd is suffering from hip problems as the breed is prone to. They seem to enjoy their diet, and get fed scraps and all of the rabbits/possums/moles/etc. that they can catch. The malamute and shepherd are pound rescues, while the other was a side of the road find.

Heck, I thought I was giving them a treat by giving them kibbles-n-bits, only to find out that is paramount to animal abuse.

It's a good thing my dogs can't get on the internet! For them and me both, I think ignorance was bliss!

Still good reading. Good luck and take care.

 

[Egon]

Our Standard Poodle gets fed a home made mix of meat, rice, and assorted vegetables. She also has bowl of dry food available. She rarely eats any of this. She is lean and does get a lot of running beach time.

 

[Bird]

Your vet may not know what is in the food. Or he/she may make some money by selling that food. Could be any one of a number of reasons. If you have an ATV and your dog isn't frightened of it try taking your pooch for a daily ATV ride (for you) jog (for the dog). That WILL take the weight off. I've yet to have a weight problem with any of my dogs while they were eating a grain free food.

I failed to mention before that one of the people I visited with at our veterinary clinic yesterday said that she worked for Hill's for 9 years, so she should know what's in it. A lack of exercise is undoubtedly the major problem with our little mutt's weight.

Such as Blue Buffalo, they have had many "recalls" and some claim animal deaths because of it.

Same lady who said she worked for Hill's for 9 years also mentioned that Blue Buffalo has had 50 quality control problems.

I guess you'll find both complaints and endorsements of nearly any product on the market.

 

[sixdogs]

It does see that a rating system is a guideline but the owner's comments the final word.

 

[Soundguy]

as someone else already pointed out. individual animal health and body type make a huge difference.

For instance. I raise horses.. many varieties. i feed all of them 1 brand of food ( 2 types, dry pellets and some semi sweet texturized ). 1 of the equines simply cannot maintain weight eating that diet and he has to be fed pelletized rice bran for fat, and calf mana for extra prot. Conversly.. one of the other animals needs to eat a 3/4 ration of the 'plain' feed otherwise he gets fat.

all have the same hay and pasture access.... all are active. so it really does boil down to quite a bit mattering on the individual animal