Please help me...I LOVE my dog food... but...

[Catty1]

Origen?

[Indigo Bully Connection]

I've looked into Orijen, and it is pretty high in the protien intake. It's like 70% which is waaaay too much for my dogs and their activity level.

It sounds like I need to look into Before Grain or Wellness Core.

I used the food that I have now for one of the dogs that I have that has severe allergies. She seems to be doing Okay with it, but it's still not as good of results as my Raw diet for her as far as allergies go. I wasn't able to provide her with an adequate diet with the raw because of her allergies, she was losing way too much weight, but she seems to be maintaining now that she's on the real dog food. The regular/healthy dogs did phenominal on Raw, but we've switched back to kibble to save time in the morning. I used to pre package it and keep it in the deep freezer, but I've also outgrown my deep freeze hahahaa

[Indigo Bully Connection]

You guys rock... I asked this on my breed specific forum and they only focused on the fat intake advising to add oils and lard. I just don't think they get it lmfao.

[Catty1]

Right - I forgot that dogs' nutrition requirements are different. My cats are on the Origen cause it keeps their urine pH at a good level to prevent crystals, and the higher protein keeps their weight down (in theory ).

Sooo...I don't know what to suggest, though Purina has come out with some surprisingly quality food, in the feline area at least.

[MonicanHonda]

Orijen has 40% protein. But still, it's super expensive. Lol Usually it's higher protein is too much for smaller dogs.

I agree, I would look into BG or Core. They are both good brands and I don't think they are TOO much more than TOTW, probably around the Blue Buffalo price range.

What kind of allergies does your girl have? It's been known, that allergies dogs have to processed kibble isn't always the same as raw. Like... dogs that are allergic to chicken aren't always allergic to raw chicken. Who knows. I understand the freezer thing. I was lucky enough to get a free one! I was so excited. Lol But now I'm going to pick up 75 lbs of vension tomorrow and 50 more pounds of meat on Saturday. I really don't think it's going to fit in my tiny freezer. I don't think my husband would let me buy another one. hahaha

What about doing half kibble half raw? That might cut down on costs if you can get cheap meat. Feed kibble in the am, wait 12 hours, then feed raw for dinner? As long as you feed the two a good time apart, there shouldn't be any problems.

EDIT: That is A LOT of money a month. Lol The low protein foods are also made for dalmatians. Or so I like to think. ;-D Dalmatians are missing an enzyme so they just build up the uric acid in their urinary tract. All dalmatians are predisposed to stones... but only some of them have them. Very interesting. So they say to keep them on a low purine (like chicken), diet. Which many people think is low protein. (your 21-23 percents) Since organs are immensely high in purines, Delta cannot have them, so I have substituted them with a fruit smoothie made of a few different things: Peanut butter, applesauce, and two bolthouse fruit smoothie drinks. Very interesting. Lol Just my diet restrictions I have to work with so you don't feel alone. LoL!

[Freedom]

If I remember right, you feed your dogs in kennels -- I mean, they are separated, right?

Could you do the raw for the 3 that were doing fine on that, and keep the others on the kibble? I mean, there is no rule that says all the dogs in one household have to be fed the same food, right? Many folks (me included) do that because the dogs have access to each other's bowls.

Sorry to read Taste of the Wild didn't work, as I've just bought a HUGE bag of their High Prairie formula to try on my flock. Used it for 3 days now an they are taking it fine.

[maquignon]

I suggest you give Blue Buffalo another try, but be sure to make the transition slowly. It is much more nutrient dense than the other two and your dogs need much less. I suspect that you overfed them on the BB. Calories per cup for fish and sweet potato are: 360 for Taste of the Wild, 394 for Natural Balance and 440 for Blue Buffalo. So a moderately active 100 lb dog would need about 1900 calories per day. That's 5 1/4 cups Taste of the Wild, 4 3/4 cup Natural Balance and and 4 1/4 cups Blue Buffalo. Gas and diarrhea are signs of over feeding.