puppy food

[shais_mom]

What brand of puppy food should I feed my new puppy?
I am going shopping this weekend, for supplies and would like a vote!!
I got this from my Emazing Dog tip of the day.
Puppies And Dog Food

We all see television ads for specially formulated
puppy
food designed to give your puppy everything he needs
to
grow healthy and strong. Puppy food is indeed quite
different from adult dog food. For starters, the
food has
to be small enough to fit in the puppy's mouth.
Regular dog
food is often just too big for a young dog.
Nutritionally,
puppy food takes into account the size of the puppy,
and
more importantly, what level of nutrients its
growing
bodies need. Adult dogs don't need the higher level
of
nutrition in puppy food, so make sure you buy it
only for
growing youngsters.

Dog Food Supplements can inform you on a wide range
of canine nutritional needs. http://www.dog-food-supplements.com/
Thanks!

[mugsy]

I can tell you what NOT to use. I read a report about IAMS and was appalled. Since they were bought out by Proctor and Gamble, they hav gone even farther down. It showed pictures of dogs tied up, they talked about them injuring the dog's kidney to see how much they can take of renal failure and still live. It totally disgusted me.

We feed our dogs "Exclusive" made by Purina Mills (Not Purina Ralston which is just as bad if not worse than IAMS). I have talked with 2 people in PMI's administration (one of whom is a nutritionist) and they were very helpful. They do have a puppy food, but I don't know anything about it. You can only get it at a PMI distributor (usually a feed store). Let me know if you're interested and I'll get you the "800" number for you to call and talk to someone so you can ask questions.

Another good one (so I've heard) is Flint River Ranch. You have to buy that from an independent dealer. You can go on the net and search it and one or another site will give you a number to call to find the dealer nearest you.

Since Daisy was diagnosed with HOD, I've done a lot of research on dog food and most of it disgusted me. You need to find some articles about what is actually put in pet food. Stuff like feathers, road kill, euthanized cats and dogs, etc get put in most brands that are not premium or super premium.

Ok, I've rambled enough, if you have any other questions feel free to ask on here or email me. Oh yes, Exclusive is made with chicken products (except their lamb and rice formula).

Good luck

Molly

[kobieeli]

Mugsy wisely uttered:

You need to find some articles about what is actually put in pet food. Stuff like feathers, road kill, euthanized cats and dogs, etc get put in most brands that are not premium or super premium.

It's true--not to mention the stories truckers tell about dropping off slaughterhouse rejects (diseased, dead, and/or injured livestock) at pet food rendering plants. *shudder* That's what made us switch from what we thought was a pretty decent food (Purina ProPlan lamb & rice) to Innova. Unfortunately, both Kobie and Eli grew up on the ProPlan puppy foods, and I don't know if the Innova company makes puppy formulas. I do know that you can tour the Innova plant here in California and see all the fresh, human-grade foods getting unloaded and cooked up. It's pretty comparable to Flint River Ranch, Canidae, and other super-premiums, I think. I heard or read recently that people call it "hippy dogfood" because it's so unprocessed and healthy!

See the Innova website (very informative, especially their comparison feature against other foods) at www.naturapet.com

[ November 08, 2001: Message edited by: kobieeli ]

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Actually, Drake was on IAMS for Large Breed Puppies until he was a year old. Our vet told us that it was fine and provided all the nutrients he needed. Since June, Drake has been on Eukanuba for Large Breed Adults.

We have been satisfied with both.

[SimbaTWonderDog]

I didn't have Simba really while he was a puppy....but my grandma used Eukanuba puppy chow with her malteses!

[3-greys-and-a-mutt]

Check out this webpage to read up on almost every available dog food:Dog Food Comparison Charts

When we first found Pup, she was about six months old, and we put her on Iams Puppy. That was before we realized all the testing that Iams does!
We switched her to ProPlan Puppy, since at that time, the greys were eating ProPlan Lamb and Rice. We didn't have Pup on Puppy food for long though - she was on adult food by the time she was about 9 months, since she was packing on too many pounds!

[Dixieland Dancer]

I am with Molly on the INNOVA score. I think it is the most wonderful dog food in the world. They do make a puppy formula and that is what my pups were fed from the time they were weaned until now. Because the food is so healthy there really isn't that much difference between puppy and regular Innova food. If you go to their website you can compare it to other foods side by side. It is www.naturapet.com and they can also tell you the nearest place to your zip code to buy it. It is a super premium food and can't be bought every where. Only select special pet stores and independant dealers.

One last note about good quality foods.... My Goldens do not have major shedding problems like some do and I attribute it to the quality intake they get with the INNOVA food. Of course they still go through the normal twice a year shedding in spring and fall.

[ November 08, 2001: Message edited by: Dixieland Dancer ]

[mugsy]

WOW !!!!! That stuff is expensive!! Sheesh 42 dollars for 33 pounds!!! I'm not sure we can afford that with 13 dogs. But the comparison is great. If I had my way and it weren't so expensive, we would switch. It's interesting that it compares MUCH better than the stuff that the Dane expert that I talked to recommended. I think, though, for the time being we'll have to settle for Exclusive. The dogs seem healthy and happy and their coats are all shiny and healthy, Sox is even losing the weight that the vet told us she needed to lose; so is Dudley.

[pepper636]

Well, I found this new (to me) dog food that looks really great. It's called Burns and was developed by a vet who recommended people feed a natural diet to their dogs, but probably wouldn't. My vet says he feeds it to his dogs (and I brought it up). The shipping is included and you can buy it in Canada, the UK, and Europe too. I don't think the price is too bad since shipping is included.

Just wanted to know your thoughts. They sent a sample and both Bourbon and Payton just loved it.
http://www.bpn4u.com/

Puppies are fed mini bites until they are about 8 months old, then can go to the Burns Maintenance. That is what I will be feeding my new puppy when I find him.

[ November 08, 2001: Message edited by: pepper ]