Comments on: Consumer Reports Discusses Dog Food and Cat Food http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:25:38 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Benji http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/comment-page-1/#comment-5682 Benji Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:00:22 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/#comment-5682 "Most experts said they hadn’t seen a pet get sick from inexpensive food; however, half said they had seen pets become ill from eating homemade pet food" That statement is VERY silly... I have known a lot of dogs to get sick from a commercial diet. And all of them did see a vet. Guess they don't interview the little guys? “Most experts said they hadn’t seen a pet get sick from inexpensive food; however, half said they had seen pets become ill from eating homemade pet food”

That statement is VERY silly…

I have known a lot of dogs to get sick from a commercial diet. And all of them did see a vet. Guess they don’t interview the little guys?

]]> By: Benji http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/comment-page-1/#comment-5681 Benji Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:54:34 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/#comment-5681 Actually... I think it would be MORE correct to say a dog would need a digestive aid to digest kibble. Kibble sits in a dogs system A LOT longer than raw meat. Raw meat just goes right though. (probably why salmonella isn't as likely to affect a rawfed dog as it is his owner) However, kibble goes through their system slowly. Which is why salmonella outbreaks in kibble can be deadly. Heck, they even digest wet better. Now, if you feed a homecooked diet and don't puree, your dog would need a digestive aid. Since it is hard for dogs to digest unmashed vegetables and fruits and grains (yet, people claim they're omnivores, funny, really) Their system; even after 15,000 years; still digests raw meat better than it digests everything else. The BIGGEST problem with the raw diet is that after the 2007 recalls so many people thought that it and the homecooked diet were the answer. These people knew NOTHING about the diets they were toying around with. The "raw feeders" would feed the same meat every week. Maybe it was chicken, maybe it was ground beef. They would feed the SAME. Causing not enough variety (which is needed in a raw diet; obviously). The homecookers would throw some chicken and rice in a pot and think that's enough When, really, a homecooked diet should include vegetables, supplements, and be pureed... These people made the homecookers and raw feeders who DO know what they're doing look bad. These people, in a panicked state, found something they ~thought~ was easy... used it and learned that it's not as easy as they thought. Of course. They were probably opening a can or putting a cup in a bag for their dogs lifespan- and probably the dog before him. What's easier than that? Honestly, no matter what happened, I would NEVER feed my dog Dog Chow or Ol'Roy. Heck no. Melody, they get chronic diarreah because of the switch from low protein to high protein. That should be common knowledge. Not trying to be rude... but it should. Usually, that problem goes away after a month or so. Change doesn't happen over night and I HATE that people expect it to. That's just silly. Actually… I think it would be MORE correct to say a dog would need a digestive aid to digest kibble. Kibble sits in a dogs system A LOT longer than raw meat. Raw meat just goes right though. (probably why salmonella isn’t as likely to affect a rawfed dog as it is his owner) However, kibble goes through their system slowly. Which is why salmonella outbreaks in kibble can be deadly. Heck, they even digest wet better. Now, if you feed a homecooked diet and don’t puree, your dog would need a digestive aid. Since it is hard for dogs to digest unmashed vegetables and fruits and grains (yet, people claim they’re omnivores, funny, really) Their system; even after 15,000 years; still digests raw meat better than it digests everything else. The BIGGEST problem with the raw diet is that after the 2007 recalls so many people thought that it and the homecooked diet were the answer. These people knew NOTHING about the diets they were toying around with. The “raw feeders” would feed the same meat every week. Maybe it was chicken, maybe it was ground beef. They would feed the SAME. Causing not enough variety (which is needed in a raw diet; obviously). The homecookers would throw some chicken and rice in a pot and think that’s enough When, really, a homecooked diet should include vegetables, supplements, and be pureed… These people made the homecookers and raw feeders who DO know what they’re doing look bad. These people, in a panicked state, found something they ~thought~ was easy… used it and learned that it’s not as easy as they thought. Of course. They were probably opening a can or putting a cup in a bag for their dogs lifespan- and probably the dog before him. What’s easier than that? Honestly, no matter what happened, I would NEVER feed my dog Dog Chow or Ol’Roy. Heck no.

Melody, they get chronic diarreah because of the switch from low protein to high protein. That should be common knowledge. Not trying to be rude… but it should. Usually, that problem goes away after a month or so. Change doesn’t happen over night and I HATE that people expect it to. That’s just silly.

]]> By: Jordan S. http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/comment-page-1/#comment-5679 Jordan S. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:26:44 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/#comment-5679 Wow, I'm just speechless. Do vets even care about the dogs any more? or the profit? I can't even describe how upset I am with these vets who claim to care about the wellbeing of companion animals. My dog did ok on pedigree. But ever since I've switched him to holistic, I've been getting tons of comments on how good he looks for his age. His energy levels shot up and his problems with excessive year-round shedding and dandruff nearly disappeared. The fact that vets won't even listen to what concerned pet owners have to say is upsetting. Vets are people too yet they expect us regular pet owners to have zero sense when it comes to caring for our animals. ugghh Wow, I’m just speechless. Do vets even care about the dogs any more? or the profit? I can’t even describe how upset I am with these vets who claim to care about the wellbeing of companion animals. My dog did ok on pedigree. But ever since I’ve switched him to holistic, I’ve been getting tons of comments on how good he looks for his age. His energy levels shot up and his problems with excessive year-round shedding and dandruff nearly disappeared.

The fact that vets won’t even listen to what concerned pet owners have to say is upsetting. Vets are people too yet they expect us regular pet owners to have zero sense when it comes to caring for our animals. ugghh

]]> By: Melody, CO http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/comment-page-1/#comment-5113 Melody, CO Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:15:55 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/#comment-5113 My childhood pet, a springer spaniel, was fed supermarket Gravy Train unless we ran out of food and money, and then we fed him white bread and raw eggs. He was put to sleep when he was nearly 19. As an adult with two dogs (both rescue mutts) I've seen expensive food cause them chronic diahhrea. Now they get Pedigree and the leftovers of my dinners (I'm a vegetarian). Both dogs run 5 miles with me a few times a week and the vet guessed both ages to be two years' younger than they are. One of the dogs even helps me finish a beer once in a while. What else can I say? My childhood pet, a springer spaniel, was fed supermarket Gravy Train unless we ran out of food and money, and then we fed him white bread and raw eggs. He was put to sleep when he was nearly 19. As an adult with two dogs (both rescue mutts) I’ve seen expensive food cause them chronic diahhrea. Now they get Pedigree and the leftovers of my dinners (I’m a vegetarian). Both dogs run 5 miles with me a few times a week and the vet guessed both ages to be two years’ younger than they are. One of the dogs even helps me finish a beer once in a while. What else can I say?

]]> By: Cookie TN http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/comment-page-1/#comment-4360 Cookie TN Sat, 14 Feb 2009 04:57:41 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/#comment-4360 Prey model raw consists of 80% meat, 10% bone, and 10% organs (5% liver and 5% other secreting organ). And you don't have to feed all this in one day, but over a period of time, such as a month. I still personally believe that this is enough to keep a dog healthy, so long as you feed a variety of meat and more red meat than white meat. I feed pork, beef, chicken, and turkey. Mostly pork and and beef. I would not recommend any less variety than that. Again, the only time I would use suppliments, is if I could not give the minimum amount of variety. Prey model raw consists of 80% meat, 10% bone, and 10% organs (5% liver and 5% other secreting organ). And you don’t have to feed all this in one day, but over a period of time, such as a month.

I still personally believe that this is enough to keep a dog healthy, so long as you feed a variety of meat and more red meat than white meat. I feed pork, beef, chicken, and turkey. Mostly pork and and beef.
I would not recommend any less variety than that.

Again, the only time I would use suppliments, is if I could not give the minimum amount of variety.

]]> By: Marianna http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/comment-page-1/#comment-4354 Marianna Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:18:11 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/#comment-4354 Yes I agree about the supplementing a raw diet. We can't provide everything needed by feeding just meat. More veggies than fruit (fruits are high in sugar) eggs (Creatinine, L- Cartinine) Be careful on what kind of supplement you purchase. One has to remember that if they give the raw meat with the bone (chicken wings, legs, necks, marrow bones to chew) there is calcium in bone, phosphorus in muscle meat) When you are not cooking the meat you aren't damaging the nutrients. Egg shells are high in calcium as well. You don't need a supplement that is high in calcium when you feed bone BUT all dogs are different. I consult a VERY educated homeopathic veterinarian when I'm just not comfortable. I tend to lean toward Missing Link, Nupro, Vim and Vigor. There are others but read the labels. Many contain wheat and other fillers, AND artificial preservatives and colors, and flavors. Puppies are difficult when supplementing depending on size and breed. To much calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, and protein can cause growth problems and deformities, and hurt joint development. If vitamin amounts are to high or to low that an cause problems too. do your home work. Find an experienced nutritional consultant that has dogs and cats (one doesn't count) find an experienced homeopathic veterinarian. Check out http://www.drmarty.com/ he is GREAT! Also http://www.petcarenaturally.com/dr_shawn.php These doctors are really up on things. There is also Gloria Dodd. Yes I agree about the supplementing a raw diet. We can’t provide everything needed by feeding just meat. More veggies than fruit (fruits are high in sugar) eggs (Creatinine, L- Cartinine) Be careful on what kind of supplement you purchase. One has to remember that if they give the raw meat with the bone (chicken wings, legs, necks, marrow bones to chew) there is calcium in bone, phosphorus in muscle meat) When you are not cooking the meat you aren’t damaging the nutrients. Egg shells are high in calcium as well. You don’t need a supplement that is high in calcium when you feed bone BUT all dogs are different. I consult a VERY educated homeopathic veterinarian when I’m just not comfortable. I tend to lean toward Missing Link, Nupro, Vim and Vigor. There are others but read the labels. Many contain wheat and other fillers, AND artificial preservatives and colors, and flavors. Puppies are difficult when supplementing depending on size and breed. To much calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, and protein can cause growth problems and deformities, and hurt joint development. If vitamin amounts are to high or to low that an cause problems too. do your home work. Find an experienced nutritional consultant that has dogs and cats (one doesn’t count) find an experienced homeopathic veterinarian. Check out http://www.drmarty.com/ he is GREAT! Also http://www.petcarenaturally.com/dr_shawn.php These doctors are really up on things. There is also Gloria Dodd.

]]> By: Sophie http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/comment-page-1/#comment-4353 Sophie Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:56:25 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/#comment-4353 http://www.fda.gov/cvm/FOI/dfchart.htm I find this chart from the FDA very interesting. It tested the presence of phenobarbital in pet foods. This chemical is what is used to euthanize pets. Guess what? Nutro tested possitive. Most kibbles n bits and purina did not. My dad said back in the 70's he used to feed his dogs kenL ration kibble. That label is no longer in production anymore so I was unable to find the ingredients of the food. However on that chart it meantions of gravy train as being listed under kenL ration. Possibly the new name of the product? Apparently this food was extremely popular back then. He said his dogs always did well on it and there wasn't all the high priced crap that there is now. If the new label is gravy train then the food was fairly low quality yet everyone fed their dogs that stuff and never gave a second thought to it. I also believe the rename of their canned product may be skippy after a bit of research. I'm not saying the food was great or anything but the dogs survived on it just fine back then. I currently do not have the extra money to afford too much fancy foods with all the bells and whistles. If I have a coupon for $5 off I'm more likely to use it as feeding that food for a short time will not harm my dogs, the girls eat their own poop for dog's sake even when fed the high priced stuff. I don't know about you but I cannot afford to pay $100 every month to feed a GSD with a high metabolism. This is with the expensive grain-free stuff and raw. So I have found a good middle ground. I received a coupon book with lots of coupons for $5 off Euk. Nat. Wild and feed that at night and raw in the morning. Her metabolism is much too high to make feeding raw cost effective. I don't think I'd want to know how much raw she would need to maintain her weight. Does anyone know how much raw equals 5 cups of kibble? Kibble is cooked down and in most cases more condensed than raw which contains a lot of water. My poodle on the other hand is on a lesser quality food. I wasn't going to turn down a coupon for a free 33lbs bag of food even if it is goodlife just because the quality isn't that great. Eating that food until the bag in gone will not kill her contrary what people on dogster will lead you to believe. I also mix it with puppy food as she is still young though I don't have to since it is for all ages. In this current economy sometime we can't be too picky especially where free pet food is concerned. Yes I do generally avoid products with non-specific protein sources and ones with only low cost by-products (science diet). Frankly if I have a coupon for $8-10 off IAMS I'm going to use it. Generally the high cost pet food companies don't give out coupons and rarely have sales making it difficult for low income pet owners. I'd rather put the extra money aside for when it is needed than splurge on "high quality, grain-free" pet foods when there is no proof they are any better than other lesser quality food. http://www.fda.gov/cvm/FOI/dfchart.htm
I find this chart from the FDA very interesting. It tested the presence of phenobarbital in pet foods. This chemical is what is used to euthanize pets. Guess what? Nutro tested possitive. Most kibbles n bits and purina did not.

My dad said back in the 70’s he used to feed his dogs kenL ration kibble. That label is no longer in production anymore so I was unable to find the ingredients of the food. However on that chart it meantions of gravy train as being listed under kenL ration. Possibly the new name of the product? Apparently this food was extremely popular back then. He said his dogs always did well on it and there wasn’t all the high priced crap that there is now. If the new label is gravy train then the food was fairly low quality yet everyone fed their dogs that stuff and never gave a second thought to it. I also believe the rename of their canned product may be skippy after a bit of research. I’m not saying the food was great or anything but the dogs survived on it just fine back then.

I currently do not have the extra money to afford too much fancy foods with all the bells and whistles. If I have a coupon for $5 off I’m more likely to use it as feeding that food for a short time will not harm my dogs, the girls eat their own poop for dog’s sake even when fed the high priced stuff. I don’t know about you but I cannot afford to pay $100 every month to feed a GSD with a high metabolism. This is with the expensive grain-free stuff and raw. So I have found a good middle ground. I received a coupon book with lots of coupons for $5 off Euk. Nat. Wild and feed that at night and raw in the morning. Her metabolism is much too high to make feeding raw cost effective. I don’t think I’d want to know how much raw she would need to maintain her weight. Does anyone know how much raw equals 5 cups of kibble? Kibble is cooked down and in most cases more condensed than raw which contains a lot of water.

My poodle on the other hand is on a lesser quality food. I wasn’t going to turn down a coupon for a free 33lbs bag of food even if it is goodlife just because the quality isn’t that great. Eating that food until the bag in gone will not kill her contrary what people on dogster will lead you to believe. I also mix it with puppy food as she is still young though I don’t have to since it is for all ages. In this current economy sometime we can’t be too picky especially where free pet food is concerned. Yes I do generally avoid products with non-specific protein sources and ones with only low cost by-products (science diet). Frankly if I have a coupon for $8-10 off IAMS I’m going to use it. Generally the high cost pet food companies don’t give out coupons and rarely have sales making it difficult for low income pet owners. I’d rather put the extra money aside for when it is needed than splurge on “high quality, grain-free” pet foods when there is no proof they are any better than other lesser quality food.

]]> By: Nena http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/comment-page-1/#comment-4349 Nena Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:35:03 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/#comment-4349 Wow, quite the debate! I find it interesting that ingredients don't matter. I suppose I'll just have 3 servings of bacon every day for my meat - that's got to be just as good for me nutritionally as a variety of meats. And I guess three servings of veggies - ketchup counts according to Reagan. And for dairy, I may as well eat ice cream! Fruits, hmm... maybe I'll just eat raspberries. I like them best. And I'll have Frosted Flakes for grains. It's a balanced diet! Common sense says that ingredients matter, human or dog. Garbage in, garbage out. Definitely get the best quality of ingredients you can. <a href="http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/" rel="nofollow">Awesome website for research.</a> And homemade diets? Please! How can any of us eat without nutrition experts? It takes some work, but most people on Dogster who are feeding homemade diets have put in the work to make sure they're balanced. They're also mostly quite happy to help those with questions. If any readers want help with what they are feeding, I highly recommend the Dogster forums! :) Thanks, Dogster, for helping folks like me know a little better than to live on bacon and ketchup alone! Wow, quite the debate!

I find it interesting that ingredients don’t matter. I suppose I’ll just have 3 servings of bacon every day for my meat – that’s got to be just as good for me nutritionally as a variety of meats. And I guess three servings of veggies – ketchup counts according to Reagan. And for dairy, I may as well eat ice cream! Fruits, hmm… maybe I’ll just eat raspberries. I like them best. And I’ll have Frosted Flakes for grains. It’s a balanced diet!

Common sense says that ingredients matter, human or dog. Garbage in, garbage out. Definitely get the best quality of ingredients you can.

Awesome website for research.

And homemade diets? Please! How can any of us eat without nutrition experts? It takes some work, but most people on Dogster who are feeding homemade diets have put in the work to make sure they’re balanced. They’re also mostly quite happy to help those with questions. If any readers want help with what they are feeding, I highly recommend the Dogster forums! :) Thanks, Dogster, for helping folks like me know a little better than to live on bacon and ketchup alone!

]]> By: Cookie TN http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/comment-page-1/#comment-4342 Cookie TN Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:42:18 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/#comment-4342 P.S. And a digestive aid? Seriously, give me a break. Dogs have the perfect digestive system for raw meat. Research. P.S.
And a digestive aid? Seriously, give me a break. Dogs have the perfect digestive system for raw meat. Research.

]]> By: Cookie TN http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/comment-page-1/#comment-4341 Cookie TN Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:39:54 +0000 http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/consumer-reports-discusses-dog-food-and-cat-food/#comment-4341 "If you’re feeding a raw diet, or home made diet, you need to also say that dogs also need fruits and vegies. They also may need to have supplements to insure that they’re getting all the essentials. A digestive aid may be necessary too, to insure that they are fully utilizing the food they’re taking in." Actually, many--myself included--do NOT believe that dogs are omnivores, but rather carnivores. Just because dogs will eat veggies does not mean they need them. Lions, carnivores, at a zoo in Israel were fed nothing but grain for 3 years and they were just fine. You can see debates on this in Dogster's raw diet forums. And as for suppliments, raw is supposed to be all the dog needs. So long as you are feeding a variety of meat, you don't need suppliments. You can however use suppliments if variety in meat is not available in your area. “If you’re feeding a raw diet, or home made diet, you need to also say that dogs also need fruits and vegies. They also may need to have supplements to insure that they’re getting all the essentials. A digestive aid may be necessary too, to insure that they are fully utilizing the food they’re taking in.”

Actually, many–myself included–do NOT believe that dogs are omnivores, but rather carnivores. Just because dogs will eat veggies does not mean they need them. Lions, carnivores, at a zoo in Israel were fed nothing but grain for 3 years and they were just fine.
You can see debates on this in Dogster’s raw diet forums.

And as for suppliments, raw is supposed to be all the dog needs. So long as you are feeding a variety of meat, you don’t need suppliments. You can however use suppliments if variety in meat is not available in your area.

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