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Oh, I also should say, I think I've heard a horror story and success story for about every food out there including raw diets. I think that is why in the end it really comes down to researching yourself and doing what you feel best for your dog. I do honestly think your aunt could improve on Ol'Roy though in nutritional quality :)
In all honesty, I've never heard of a raw feeder going back to kibble. I know they're out there. However, the raw diet takes a lot of commitment in the beginning. Research and hygiene are of the utmost importance, and some people don't bother to do that.
I've heard that Costco carries a food made by Kirkland. It's supposed to be fairly good. I know they have a no corn formula:)
Giselle, I've heard mostly good about raw but was thinking of a lady in Tasha's obedience class when she was a pup who was saying their dog was having trouble digesting the bones and kept having digestive problems. Now they may not have been doing it right, but she claimed she had had other dogs on it and they did good, but that this particular dog did better on a bland kibble. That's the only specific "bad" story I can really think of right now other than the problems that arise if it isn't done correctly.
Ahh, see I haven't even met people who are dog-food-saavy. My neighbors feed SD and the like. True, I have heard of "horror" stories where the owner decided a dog's diet does not require research. *That's* another story though;)
We're about to switch the Peke to Innova EVO+raw. He is intolerant of grains and Wellness has been aggravating his skin and coat.
I feed kodie Pedigree kibble and canned food,he gets roughly about 3-4 cups every night with half-a-can.
He loves Pedigree and were not going to take him off it.Lots of people always comment on how soft his coat is.He's in perfect health,and he loves it so i dont see why i would take him off of it.I know i would never feed my dogs Beneful,or Kibbles n' Bits.
im sure lots of people here dislike Pedigree,i know that they have lots of fillers and all that stuff,but i dont see why i would take him off it if he's in perfect health and at a good healthy weight.:) and plus its a food that we can afford to buy often.
We've always given Star Science Diet, and the price has really come down in the last few years. While looking for another husky, both the husky rescue kennel and the breeder we bought from both said they feed Diamond because 1)they felt their coats looked really good on that food, and 2) it's about 1/2 the cost of many of the higher-quality foods at pet stores. When you'r efeeding 15 - 20 dogs, that adds up!
I did try a bag when Sherman came to love with us, but I felt it didn't look good coming out the other end - really grainy. So I'm back using Science diet. I think you can tell alot about a food by how it comes out after digestion.
My main thing is just feeding a food that lists meat as a first ingredient and has no bi-products or corn.
My parents fed cheap food to Reggie and Smokey...Smokey lived to be 18 years old. He was in good health until about the last year of his life. My mom is getting better food now for Reggie and Sydney and honestly I haven't noticed any change in Reggie's coat or anything.
When I first got Nebo I fed him Pedigree. I knew nothing of ingredients and it sounded like a good food. He had diahrea constantly, it didn't suit him well at all.
So some dogs can do fine on cheaper dog food while others do not. Nebo gets Natural Balance now and he has a gorgeous soft coat and is healthy. I would never feed him food that was any less quality unless I absolutely could not afford it.
I think as long as you at least try to educate yourself a bit about your dogs nutrition and feed them the best you can afford then you are fine.
I do have to add though that it bothers me that most vets (at least around here) promote Science Diet when the ingredients aren't that great in comparison to many other premium foods available. They should tell clients what ingredients are best, not just to buy Science Diet only (the vet I go to only sells SD and promotes it for everything)