Maxximum nutrition dog food

[.sarah]

I just wanted to post this. In the long run more expensive foods will acually be cheaper. This was a study done for a magazine:

When we began to look at cost per feeding last year, we discovered an interesting fact: It costs less to feed a Super-Premium dog food than an Economy dog food. The secret is in the nutritional power of the food. A Super-Premium dog food contains much more energy and protein in every kibble than an economy brand. In one test we ran, we had to feed five times as much of the Economy brand dog food to get the same nutritional benefits of the Super-Premium. Despite the lower cost per bag of the Econo brand, it costs you more to feed than a Super-Premium, because you use more bags. How does cost fit in to the dog food picture? We measured the cost of 40 pound bags of various maintenance/adult dog foods and took the manufacturers' suggested feeding instructions. We then calculated the cost of feeding a 40 lb house dog for a day.

The Premium foods studied had an average of 22% crude protein and 10% crude fat. The Super-Premium dog foods examined had an average of 27% crude protein and 15% crude fat. The Economy brands averaged 20% crude protein and 8% crude fat.

The Super-Premium foods suggested feeding an average of 1-3/4 cups of food per day for our 40 lb dog. Premium brands recommended 3-1/4 cups, while the Econo brands instructed feeding 6 cups a day.

It costs an average of 24 cents a day to feed a dog a Super-Premium brand, compared to 26 cents a day for a Premium brand, and 31 cents a day for an Econo brand. That's right - the Econo-brand actually costs you 7 cents more a day to feed your dog than a Super-Premium does. In order to give your dog the nutrition he needs, he has to eat 3-1/2 times more of the Econo brand than the Super-Premium food.

Thus, the big difference is in the poop! The seven cents more that you spend on an Economy brand buys you piles more in the yard cleanup department.

So, do your research, find a good dog food, and it will end up being cheaper. This is the main reason why people buy lower quality food. I have been pushing this study anywhere I can -- the humane society, vets offices, web sites. It needs to get out. People need to stop buying just any bag of dog food because it's cheaper, and get a premium dog food for their dog's sake. If the price is the problem, this article will help

Of course, if Roscoe does better on Bil Jac than a premium food, then continue feeding that. But I would at least try a better food.

[JenBKR]

Of course, if Roscoe does better on Bil Jac than a premium food, then continue feeding that. But I would at least try a better food.

Roscoe's problem is that he is very picky - he won't eat a lot of other kinds of food. LOL most dogs eat anything...not my Roscoe!

[Jessika]

When I was super low on money and ran out of dog food and couldn't make the 2 hour round trip to Petsmart to get my pups their normal food, I forced myself to go to Walmart. I stood there for nearly an hour comparing labels and I settled on that brand.

It is NOT the best out there by any means at all. It has LOTS of fillers, but no by-products (at least the formula I bought did not have any). My dogs did not do as good on it; they had horrible diarrhea for a week and their poo smelled ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. I mean you would walk outside and be slammed with a wall of stench. Not to mention they went from pooping once a day to pooping four times a day. Sooo yeah. Not the best by a long shot, but ingredient-wise the best Walmart had to offer.

Will I feed it again? NO WAY!

[.sarah]

Roscoe's problem is that he is very picky - he won't eat a lot of other kinds of food. LOL most dogs eat anything...not my Roscoe!

Nova and Mandy are also very picky. I was constantly changing food because they would get tired of it. They are now on Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish, and they have been on it for months with no problems They don't fuss, they don't turn up their noses, they always dig in as soon as I set the bowl down! Maybe with all of the corn the food is a bit tasteless and that's why he likes the Bil Jac (less corn)?

[JenBKR]

Nova and Mandy are also very picky. I was constantly changing food because they would get tired of it. They are now on Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish, and they have been on it for months with no problems They don't fuss, they don't turn up their noses, they always dig in as soon as I set the bowl down! Maybe with all of the corn the food is a bit tasteless and that's why he likes the Bil Jac (less corn)?

That could be. I looked around the internet and emailed a few companies (Nutro, Royal Canin, and a few others) and asked for free samples. I did that before, when we first got him (about 6 months ago) and that's how I found Bil-Jac. I knew at the time that it wasn't the best food, but he was really skinny and we were having trouble getting him to eat. I was so excited that he was actually eating I just bought it. Maybe now that he has settled into our home, he'll be more willing to try something else. I've been thinking about changing for a while (that's how the Maxximum Nutrition food came into play, but I'd rather not change to that). Thanks for the advice! Maybe I'll try the Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Fish on him

[.sarah]

That could be. I looked around the internet and emailed a few companies (Nutro, Royal Canin, and a few others) and asked for free samples. I did that before, when we first got him (about 6 months ago) and that's how I found Bil-Jac. I knew at the time that it wasn't the best food, but he was really skinny and we were having trouble getting him to eat. I was so excited that he was actually eating I just bought it. Maybe now that he has settled into our home, he'll be more willing to try something else. I've been thinking about changing for a while (that's how the Maxximum Nutrition food came into play, but I'd rather not change to that). Thanks for the advice! Maybe I'll try the Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Fish on him

I think it's the fishy smell that gets them. I can't smell it, really, but I have problems with my nose My mom says she can smell the fish and it smells bad, but it's not too strong. But my dogs looooove anything having to do with fish. They'd take fish over red meat any day!

[Jessika]

Nova and Mandy are also very picky. I was constantly changing food because they would get tired of it. They are now on Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish, and they have been on it for months with no problems They don't fuss, they don't turn up their noses, they always dig in as soon as I set the bowl down! Maybe with all of the corn the food is a bit tasteless and that's why he likes the Bil Jac (less corn)?

Be careful too though; most grocery store brands of foods will spray animal fat over their food to make it look and smell and taste appealing to the dogs lol

[.sarah]

Be careful too though; most grocery store brands of foods will spray animal fat over their food to make it look and smell and taste appealing to the dogs lol

Natural Balance isn't a grocery store food.

[Jessika]

no no no I wasn't referring to that food, just how you said about "taste" in general lol Most people THINK "well my dog seems to love it!" that it means its a good food but in reality the dog only thinks it smells good because of the fat they spray over the kibble

[.sarah]

no no no I wasn't referring to that food, just how you said about "taste" in general lol Most people THINK "well my dog seems to love it!" that it means its a good food but in reality the dog only thinks it smells good because of the fat they spray over the kibble

Aaahhh I see. Yeah, I know what you mean.

[JenBKR]

I don't know if Roscoe likes fish, but I do know that he loves meat - anytime I make a roast or anything like that he goes nuts! I'll try to give him a little fish and see if he likes it

[lv4dogs]

Roscoe's problem is that he is very picky - he won't eat a lot of other kinds of food. LOL most dogs eat anything...not my Roscoe!

Most pet stores offer free samples of premium foods, maybe pick up a few different samples & see what he likes?

[JenBKR]

Most pet stores offer free samples of premium foods, maybe pick up a few different samples & see what he likes?

Really? I never noticed that before...sometimes I see someone with a booth with certain foods at Petsmart, but that's not very often. That would be a great idea, thanks!

[lv4dogs]

Really? I never noticed that before...sometimes I see someone with a booth with certain foods at Petsmart, but that's not very often. That would be a great idea, thanks!

There are found in all different spots, sometimes at the end caps, sometimes in a display box in front of the foods, sometimes right on the shelves. So sometimes you might have to look but most pet stores have them. I don't shop that much at petsmart but they should have some, petco & all the other pet stores in my area have free samples so they should too.

[JenBKR]

There are found in all different spots, sometimes at the end caps, sometimes in a display box in front of the foods, sometimes right on the shelves. So sometimes you might have to look but most pet stores have them. I don't shop that much at petsmart but they should have some, petco & all the other pet stores in my area have free samples so they should too.

Maybe I'll try Petco - it's brand new so I have only been there once or twice. Usually I go to Petsmart, since that is what we have always had. There's a Pet Supplies Plus around here too, but it's further from the other two. Thank you so much for your help!