OK, it's me again...Fred's mom (lab jumping problem). Now I have a question about puppy food. We currently have him on Purina One for large breed puppies. I purchase it at Food Lion. When I was in Petsmart recently, I was looking at the other dog foods, and was approached by a company rep for a dog food (don't recall which dog food maker). They suggested I use their brand because it has less fillers, and therefore doesn't produce as much 'waste product' for the dog when he does his business on the lawn. Could this be true? Can you actually buy a dog food and the dog won't produce as much poop? Is that good for the dog? (I'm aware that if I switch his food it has to be gradually). Just curious. Fred's mom
Yes, it's true with the higher quality dog foods ... they eat less of it, because it's higher in nutritional value - their body gets more of what it NEEDS ... and because there's less fillers and things they dont need ('waste'), less passes out of their system. I know it's true with some (not sure if it's true for all), that it even smells less! I've used a few high quality dog food brands, and honestly .. their poop DOESNT smell up the yard!
Don't have any personal experience, but my sis (with 2 Bordeaux's @ 150 lbs a piece :shock: ) swears by it. Can't remember the name of the food she's using, but she says they eat less, and leave fewer land mines in the yard. I'm sure I can find out if you like.
The philosophy I tell possible adopters is that a real meat should be the first ingredient. If financially not possible then in the first 3. Think about if you ate lots of corn with every meal... you have to go potty more because you cant digest it. Check the labels and find an affordable food with meat as the first ingredient. We have learned in all the recall mess that most pet foods are made in the same place. :lol: Good luck in choosing. (But when you do, stick with it. Changing diets can cause an upset stomach)
Yes, there are a few HIGH quality dog foods out there that really do produce less waste. Waste, is just that - what the body didn't need to begin with - just junk to fill them up and get them fat in many instances. My mutts eat a natural diet - all human grade food, in fact, the best human grade food I can find. Not much 'junk' goes into their bodies - The result is three of the four are very trim, the little guy is the only one who occasionally needs to diet, it's our fault *cough* well, it's his dad's fault. . .he gives the 10 lb dog the same size treats as the 60 lb dogs get :evil: So, Frankie sometimes peaks up to 12 lbs, which is bad in a long-backed dog with a history of back injuries. Otherwise, everyone is is good shape, blood tests done annually show everyone is right where they should be, white teeth and none have ever had them cleaned (ages 9, 8, 5, and 4) no doggie breath, and best of all, a very small amount of poop to scoop. 8)
After the latest dog food scares, we did major research and switched brands. Our babies had always eaten Purina Pro Plan...beautiful coats and healthy babies! But...I wanted something all natural, holistic...etc...etc We have always cooked a couple of pots of chicken and rice to add to their food (I know, I know....rice isn't the best thing for them but they like it). The Vet also told us that chicken and rice is not considered what they call "table food". Anyway, after speaking with our trainer and reading up, we switched to something called Blue Buffalo. It was created for a dog who had been diagnosed with cancer and given 3 months to live. Her pet-parent created the food for her and she lived for 7 good years. We found and began using this food right before my Elvis was diagnosed with cancer. Now, don't get me wrong....it has lasted a while because Elvis pretty much gets what he wants and he says his tummy really likes chicken and rice! I also have a lab that requires a sprinkle of shredded cheese on her food before she will even consider touching it. We also just added fish oil twice a day to their diet at teh Vet's recommendation.
Our dogs get nothing else but Blue. Their coats are a lot more healthy, soft and shiny. They are small at about 8lbs each. But they just dont require much food to keep them healthy with this food. Their 'waste' looks like tootsie rolls and pretty much just fade away by the next day, we dont even have any 'waste' to even scoop! We have 2 mini doxies who are very food motivated, so they get lots of 'cookies', which is Pupcorn, low in fat and calories. For their health and backs it is very important they are not overweight, but with these treats we can treat them often. You can only find Pupcorn at Petsmart or Walmart, and Blue I have only ever seen at Petsmart.
Lilme, Just be careful how much Pupcorn they get. It contains Yellow Dye #5 - in a large dog, it may not make a big difference, but in small dogs, well, their system is only so big. . .there's a decent amount of info about it online, here is some I have filed : YELLOW FD&C Yellow No. 5 - Tartrazine # Immumological aspects of the common food colorants, amaranth and tartrazine. Koutsogeorgopoulou L, et al, Vet Hum Toxicol 1998 Feb;40(1):1-4 "We described . . . the cytotoxic and immunosuppressive effects of food colorants such as amaranth and tartrazine. . . The results showed clear immunosuppressive effects from the 2 substances tested, although the concentrations chosen for this study provide to be non-cytotoxic." My other issue with Pupcorn is they state Peanut Butter - as the variety. If one isn't a label reader, they might imagine that this would be safe for a dog with meat allergies, but NO, it contains chicken and whatever 'chicken flavor' is. The "peanut butter" isn't the real thing, but rather peanut butter "flavor" - whatever the heck that is - it's artificial. . .The product also contains wheat flour, which a fair number of dogs are allergic to. Less expensive and natural - Try popcorn - human grade - air popped w/ no butter. Low in calories and practically no fat. There's no food coloring, no wheat, no meat - it's a healthy treat for dogs. Mine love to catch it.
My babies LOVE popcorn...they stand under the microwave and wait patiently! BUT they are picky...no butter and they won't eat it! Spoiled much?
LOL! My cat comes running whenever she hears the plastic wrapper coming off a package of popcorn. They are rotten! :lol:
would never give my dogs popcorn! it is a very bad choking hazard, worse for smaller dogs. not very healthy for them either!
Zoo, I do not give the peanut butter pup corn. and they only get 1-3 treats per day. if you read the label there is no #5 yellow dye in the cheese flavor.
On the contrary, there are dozens of sites regarding animal nutrition and treats which talk about feeding popcorn to dogs. Below are just a few: Tip # 4 - Paragraph 3 http://www.pamperedpuppy.com/features/200409_feedingpt2.php About Woofy Pop - Popcorn with Bacon flavoring for dogs (real popcorn you pop) http://www.drugstore.com/qxp151811_333181_sespider/woofy_pop/popcorn_for_dogs_bacon_flavor.htm What About Treats? http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cach...feeding+dogs+popcorn&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us Paragraph 2 under Snacks http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cach...eeding+dogs+popcorn&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=36&gl=us
On the contrary, there are dozens of sites regarding animal nutrition and treats which talk about feeding popcorn to dogs. Below are just a few: Tip # 4 - Paragraph 3 http://www.pamperedpuppy.com/features/200409_feedingpt2.php About Woofy Pop - Popcorn with Bacon flavoring for dogs (real popcorn you pop) http://www.drugstore.com/qxp151811_333181_sespider/woofy_pop/popcorn_for_dogs_bacon_flavor.htm What About Treats? http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cach...feeding+dogs+popcorn&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us Paragraph 2 under Snacks http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cach...eeding+dogs+popcorn&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=36&gl=us My little guy is a 10 lb. Miniature Dauschund/Papillon X and he's eaten popcorn for 5 years, never once choked and I don't bite off the kernel - the boys can eat a half bag between them.
I checked the ingredients of several puppy foods, looking for meat. The one I chose was Purina One, the food mentioned by the starter of this thread. Most other foods had meat by-products (whatever that is) as the main ingredient, including the more expensive food I had been feeding him, which was recommended by my vet. Less money, more meat. Made sense to me. Didn't niotice any change in quantity or odor of the poop (the output is greater now but he's 3 times bigger than he was when I switched food.)
What I need to know is what is a good dog food to pack on the weight. My one male boxer gobbles up all the food b/f his sister can eat any. So I have been feeding her separate yet she is still a good 10lbs lighter than him. People see her and think I ain't feeding her b/c... no lie her butt bones stick out. And I am constantly trying to feed her. Negative for worms, too. I already had that checked. What to do, what to do??? :?
