[Z B]

Holistic Select Adult Health is dime-sized.

[Z B]

Pitluv
Do you know if commercial raw pet food companies like Hare Today and Darwins take any precautions above and beyond the raw meat that is sold in grocery stores?

Asking because I occasionally use hare today grinds as a topper but it’s not a regular feature in my dogs diet (too expensive).
I cook most of the grocery store meat I purchase for toppers. I feed a few raw chicken hearts a week.

[Z B]

My dogs haven’t refused any kibble. But I do add toppers to make it healthier:
Canned sardines (water packed, with no added salt) once a week
Chicken hearts once a week

And then a mix of the following that i use as a daily topper:
Scrambled eggs
Boiled chicken, pork, or turkey and the water that it was cooked in
Baked Sweet potato puréed with greens ( spinach, parsley or kale)

I make a batches of this mix once or twice a month to freeze, then defrost as needed. It’s a lot cheaper to do this than using 5 star canned.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by Z B.

[Z B]

Just orderered a bag of the sportdog elite beef on Amazon. Good price, free shipping.
Will report back here in a couple weeks after I transition my dog to it.
She has had not messy but not real firm poos either on most all of the kibble we’ve tried since I adopted her a year ago. Chicken based she seems to tolerate the least. Fish based better. I think we tried duck or lamb at some point to with not too good results. All have been rated 4-5 star here.
This will be the first beef based food we try.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by Z B.

[Z B]

My little dog eats canned food. I have 4 or 5 brands I rotate, opening a different brand as each can is finished, so every other day or so. This has made her very tolerant to quick changes in food without the resulting gas and diarrhea. I can even add sardines, egg, or other toppers here and there with no problems.
My big dog eats dry food with daily toppers that I try to switch up frequently (eggs, sardines, chicken hearts,sweet potatoes, puréed spinach or kale). I buy her kibble in 30 -40 lb bags because it’s cheaper that way, and change to a new brand of food as each bag is finished. When I’m down to the last 1/5 or so of the old bag I mix it 50-50 with the some of the new food. Seems to be working ok, no diarrhea or anything, however I still haven’t found a food that gives her real firm poops. She seems to do better with fish-based kibble, but the brand she did the best on , Holistic Blend Marine, jumped in price from $60 to $80 something, so I’m experimenting with other fish based kibbles but so far I haven’t had has as much success as I did with Holistic Blend.

[Z B]

I don’t know if it is ok to feed everyday , but my dogs, even my dogs that will eat anything, refused it.

[Z B]

Longest lived about 14 yrs – a foundling skin and bones pit bull/Lab mix street dog that i nourished back to health. I fed her purina dog chow her entire life with me (about 11 yrs) She had no health issues her entire life, aside from Cataracts and arthritis near the end. She was a very beautiful athletic healthy dog. Vaccinated her every 1-2 yrs and exercised her hard (swimming and fetch) regularly/almost daily
Heartworm prevention and frontline given about 5-8 times a year.

Shortest lived 5 yrs – pancreatitis, and another 9 yrs – liver failure, don’t know why.

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[Z B]

Great deal! I bought 5 cases for A little over $50. First order gets 15% off!
Thanks for posting the deal 🙂

[Z B]

Not really budget friendly but I sometimes feed Holistic Blend Marine grain free, ordered from chewy.com
It’s poultry free, fairly small kibbles.

[Z B]

Kathleen
Among other questionable ingredients –I wouldn’t eat hydrolized soy protein myself. I wouldn’t feed it to my dog.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 8 months ago by Z B.

[Z B]

I’ve had the same issue with my new dog. But We’re having luck with this:
/dog-food-reviews/go-sensitivity-shine-grain-free/
the duck formula.
It’s the first food we’ve tried that has firmed up her stool.

[Z B]

Acana Singles has several varieties that may work for you.
Also some varieties of Addiction, canine caviar, nutrisource, and petcurean.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by Z B.

[Z B]

Try this great online tool! Created by one of the members here.
/forums/topic/so-i-made-a-tool-for-dogs-with-allergies/

[Z B]

I like hound & gatos brand. I order from chewy.com and Petfooddirect.com.

[Z B]

There are a few 4 star rated kibbled that are widely available and budget friendly. off top of my head are pure balance grain free and Rachel Ray zero grain (both available at Walmart ) and 4health sold at Tractor Supply. You can look up the reviews on them here.
Have no idea if they are better than what you are feeding or how effective they (or any other food ) would be for your dogs’ issues, just suggesting some affordable 4 star options that I know of.
You can add some eggs, water packed-no salt added sardines, raw chicken hearts or gullets, baked sweet potato, and cooked puréed greens like kale or spinach to whatever you are feeding to increase nutrition. Small amounts of turmeric daily is a really good antiflammatory.

ETA: I just looked up River Run it is rated 1.5 stars 🙁
/dog-food-reviews/river-run-dog-food/
So there easily are many affordable brands that would a much better choice, research options that are rated 3 star, or higher here:
/dog-food-reviews/dry/

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[Z B]

I have no experience with life’s abundance but For a canned topper to mix with kibble I use hounds and gatos, natures variety, and pure balance, all rated 5 star here.
I also add a bit of water to each meal, a few raw chicken hearts here and there, an egg or two a week, and a tin of water packed-no salt added sardines once a week for my 46 lb dog. But even then she’s a good eater and is happy to eat her kibble plain with no additions.
I’ve had other dogs from pups who no matter the brand of kibble or number or type of toppers, were spare eaters, just not that food motivated, who didn’t eat much or just til full, maintained healthy weight and lived long healthy lives.
Are you feeding on a schedule, or leaving food out all day ? In a crate or in an open area? do you stay with him at meal time? My dogs are more likely to finish their meals promptly if feed on schedule, pick up any unfinished meal after 10-15 mins, and if I hang out nearby while they eat.
At same time there may be something about the kibble your dog just doesn’t like…Ingredients? Try a different protein or brand. is it fresh? check exp date.
are you storing it in an air tight container?
Too hard? Try adding water.
Hope any of this helps:)

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Jackie B what brand are you feeding ?

[Z B]

I had the same issue with my boxer. I finally got a large shallow metal pan, like one that you would use for chicken feed, at Walmart in the dog bowl section for a few bucks. Problem solved!
The cookie sheet should work.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by Z B.

[Z B]

Hounds and gatos is an excellent pate that I use regularly for my cat and dogs, it has 5 star rating here…. it’s not cheap but not super pricey either for a 5 star, so I feed it a lot.
They like natures variety pates but those cost more, so I don’t feed it is often.
I also use Walmart’s Pure Balance canned dog stews, very budget friendly, but sometimes my chihuahua won’t eat it unless i mash the chunks, you might try doing that if you haven’t already . PB also has a pate option but I haven’t tried it.
Regardless which form of canned food I feed, if it’s not a freshly opened can my chi likes it better at room temperature or with some room temp water added.

[Z B]

I just started on first bag of Acana heritage poultry USA last week. Looks and smells fine to me and the dogs like it and are tolerating it well.

[Z B]

Out of curiosity I ordered BDN for my 3 dogs. Only 1 of my 3 dogs would eat it, and even that one refused it after a few meals, and she is the one who will eat anything. They refused it even when mixed in small amounts with other foods they do like.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Z B.

[Z B]

Up until a few months ago HEB carried a grain free canned store brand called DaLeash, rated 5 star here on DFA:
/dog-food-reviews/daleash-dog-food/

DaLeash Chicken & Veggies CANNED:
Ingredients: Chicken, beef broth, chicken broth, liver, beef, dried egg whites, dried egg product, potatoes, potato starch, carrots, peas, natural flavor, flaxseed meal, dried beet pulp, salt, guar gum, sodium phosphate, potassium chloride, sodium carbonate, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide), choline chloride

When DaLeash was discontinued, Heritage Ranch showed up on the shelves at HEB. Seems pretty much the same recipe:

Heritage Ranch Chicken and Veggies CANNED
Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Beef Broth, Chicken Liver, Dried Egg Whites, Potato Starch, Dried Egg Product, Carrots, Peas, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Salt, Guar Gum, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, D‑Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), Choline Chloride.

I used DaLeash regularly in my rotation until it was discontinued, now using Heritage Ranch. Canned versions only, so I can’t comment on the dry. The price is good at $1 a can, less if you buy the 12 pack. No complaints here. I feed a combo of homemade and rotate affordable canned foods like this one, Pure Balance and 4Health.

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[Z B]

My cat was on Darwins for about a year and yes if I remember correctly shipping was included in the price of the food and I am in the southwest US. My cat loved the food, but the high bone content made her severely constipated (expensive visit to the after hours ER), so had to stop feeding it. She’s now on high quality canned and doing well. Hope your animals do well with it if you decide to try it. It’s definitely worth trying the trial, 14.95 is a deal…for 10 lbs I think?

[Z B]

Thank you. Yes, I’m definitely concerned about the pesticides and plan to ask my vet. Lots of mosquitoes now, so I don’t know what she’ll say about the heartworm medicine. I can probably manage without the frontline if I can find some natural things that actually work.

Thanks for the links!

[Z B]

I like Hounds and Gatos a lot, this is one of the foods I use in rotation for my cat. I had to take her off raw due to constipation issues and this is one of the few premium canned foods she will eat. At 13 yrs she is doing very well. I would feed it to my dogs, too, if I could afford to.

[Z B]

A while back someone posted a nice list of decent budget foods that are available at walmart. If you do a search of this site for Walmart you should find it, or maybe someone will come along and post a link to that thread. Just make sure whatever you use is indicated for puppies, or all life stages.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by Z B.

[Z B]

This is what I am using in my current rotation :

Canned:
Walmarts Pure Balance puppy food, $1, 5 star
Tractor Supply Store’s 4health beef and veggie stew $1, 5 star

Dry:
Rachael Ray Nutrish zero grain, available at walmart and and most supermarkets $22 for 14 lbs, 4 star
Dr Tims Kinesis grain free, order online for $65-$75 for 40 lbs, 5 star

I’ve also used Whole Earth Farms grain free, Petco has it ans maybe petsmart too.

Walmart’s Pure balance Canned has a dedicated puppy food, and the others I listed are approved for all life stages.
Pure Balance also has a dry grain free line, 4 star, budget friendly, but i wasn’t crazy about it
and prob won’t use it again.

I feed raw on the weekends with Sea Spot Live Longer premix. Cheapest boneless muscle meats I can find are chicken hearts ($1 per lb) and pork shoulder roast, has a small bone but easy to remove ($1.69 per lb). Raw pork products should be kept frozen for 2 weeks before serving (kills parasites apparently).

Canned water packed sardines once or twice a week (65’cents per can),
and a recreational pig foot or chicken foot once a week or so ($1 per lb)

I saw frozen pigs heads at walmart for $1’per lb, but decided I don’t want that thing staring at me every time I open the freezer.

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[Z B]

DaLeash grainfree canned dog food. 98 cents per can and it’s 5 star. Occasionally offered is a store coupon for 75 cents per can.

It’s a store brand available at HEB groceries in Texas.

[Z B]

Thanks for the input everyone ! Much appreciated!

USA dog treats – thanks for sharing the feedback from Steve. I had been doing the ABC day once or twice a week, that’s why I had the heart and liver on hand, and I thought Steve recommended that for the ABC day raw meals you could use all heart as the muscle meat ? But since I’m trying to feed raw more than once a week I’ll definitely reduce the Amount of heart and search out other muscle meats. If liver isn’t necessary with the premix I’ll prob forgo that, the dogs aren’t crazy about liver and it kinda grosses me out, too.

Also ordered his books and used some of his recipes for a few batches of Raw meals, but it was a little too much work keeping up with all the necessary ingredients and mixing it all up, etc, since I work full time. So I’ll see how the premix works out. So,far the dogs like it but I’ve been walking them before sunup and after sundown so I haven’t gotten a good inspection of how their poops are reacting.

The cats constipation emergency required a thousand dollar overnite stay at the pet ER, so I’m hesitant to put her back on the raw. I’ve found some good Canned foods that’s she’s doing well on, so will stick to that for now, but thanks for the suggestion to add fiber.

[Z B]

Thanks crazy4cats! So,I won’t add any bone. Good to know. hopefully someone can answer my question about the liver, otherwise I will call the company, thanks for suggesting that.

[Z B]

That is good to hear, cindy q. I’m not questioning the palatability or nutritional Value. My concern is based on their feeding calculator, which seems to be way off.

How much do your dogs weigh, how active are they, and how much are you feeding of,the dry (before hydration ) daily?

[Z B]

George d, thank you for posting. Just today I was considering Buying BDN, because it seemed like a reasonably priced dehydrated food based on their claims for feeding portions, but I hadn’t used their calculator til just now. Now I see it would cost twice as much as I originally thought, to get the appropriate and adequate calories.

Too bad. 🙁

George d,have you used the feeding calculator here on DFA?
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-feeding-tips/dog-food-calculator/

• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Z B.

[Z B]

I just put my 8 yr old 45 lb dogs specs in the BDN calculator and it tells me she needs just over 500kcals a day to maintain her weight. No way. She needs twice that much. At her age she’s not real active but we do take 20 to 80 min walks everyday. She’s slim and trim in very good condition.
She’d lose serious weight if I fed her half what she requires! No wonder your dog is hungry! :(. Their calculator is wrong 🙁

ETA: BDN calculator says my 7 pound chi needs just 81 kcal a day ! 🙁 wrong.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Z B.

[Z B]

P.s. You have to sign into your Groupon account to get the deal. Signing up is free.

[Z B]

I’ve gotten good deals there on other things, too. Restaurant coupons for half off, etc.
signing up is free 🙂

[Z B]

Yes that’s the one. But I just now signed into my groupon account and it is still available on my end. Did you try signing in?

[Z B]

Groupon coupon for Petbrosia dog or cat food: 20 lb bag for $23.99. (Regularly $60)

[Z B]

Last month there was a great coupon on Groupon for petbrosia. I got a large bag at 50% off I think. So something like a $ 60 20 lb bag of food for $24. My dogs like it. I mix it half and half with raw or 5’star Canned.
I’d use it in rotation, if there are more Groupon coupons with deals like this. I wouldn’t pay full price for it, too expensive.

ETA: just checked Groupon and the deal is still there :). There are options for 3 lb @ $5.99, 10lb @ $13.99, and 20 lb @ $23.99

Shipping wasn’t too much if I remember correctly.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Z B.

[Z B]

Thanks, Akari, I have gotten some good feedback!

I actually just ordered some SSLL mix for my dogs, and decided to research Raw pre-mixes for cats, and found this: http://www.thetotalcat.com
Didn’t order any, I’m going to poke around and see if can find any reviews or experiences here with it first.

[Z B]

Thanks, crazy4cats!

Bobby dog – do you notice much poop odor feeding primal, NV, and S&C? I ask because I really liked how my cat’s were odor free on Darwin’s. Feeding canned again, i noticed the smell right away.

[Z B]

Pugmom – I found one place not too far away where I can buy primal. Thx for the tip.

Bobbydog & Kristen – haven’t tried pumpkin but I will. But I have doubts my cat will go for that !

Crazy4cats- my cat doesn’t seem to have a preference. She’ll eat raw and canned food cold or room temp.

[Z B]

Pugmom-,I was feeding only raw for past 6 months because I find that when i try to rotate her foods she gets even more finicky and so much food gets wasted.
I’ll research the ash contents of the commercial raws, thanks for the suggestion.

Bobbydog- the vet didn’t have any recommendations about adding fiber, she only said to continue on a low dose of laxative a few times a week for now and then see how it goes decreasing it from there.

Thanks for the responses !

[Z B]

Edit: decided to start a new thread for my question, re: raw cat food.
/forums/topic/raw-cat-food-recommendations/

• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Z B.
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