Dog Kibble, Experience and Opinions

[Bicoastal]

To add another, lesser known brand of kibble to research: Beaverdam. Now available through major retailers like Amazon, Chewy, etc. It’s a bit more like horse feed. Comes in a plastic feed bag with the paper/string pull top.

http://www.beaverdampetfood.com/products/dog-and-cat-food/

FWIW, my dogs have an environmental allergy/irritation that has nothing to do with their food. I chased a LOT of food trials and diets with my first dog. That was The Thing to do. Grain free, no chicken, fish-based, limited-ingredient treats, etc. Turned out he was super allergic/sensitive to flea bites and his flea preventative was no longer effective.

I’m grateful to be off the limited-ingredient bandwagon and I have landed on something that works for my household throughout the year. Now I treat my dogs like garbage disposals and we are all happier for it.

Good luck! I understand the helpless feeling of watching your pets itch and be miserable. You will find something that works for your household.

[BrendaJane]

it as been years since I bougt actual dog kibble.
I used to give my late Dal Kibbles and Bits. She developed splotchy skin.
We switched to Purina Lamb and Rice, all good, ten, due to budget issues to Old Roy lamb formula. All went well.

my new crew, years later, weenies…all the kibble is so dang large, and the small kibble seems to be loaded with coloring. Passadena…

And since I also ave cats, and the beasts play musical bowls anyhow, I am just buying catfood now and fill up the feeder.
Purina Naturals
I would love to switch, being a Nestle company, but the cats ate it, even the dearly departed finicky eater.

[FjordBCRF]

My parents went from Old Roy to whatever the Aldi brand is for theirs. No issues whatsoever and those dogs all lived late into their teens and died of old age. My mom always laughs about it.

Both of my dogs are pretty finicky and have done well on the Rachel Ray Just 6 dry food. They were both on Blue and some other more natural brand that I can’t remember that ended up changing formulation or something prior to that.

[GoodTimes]

My dog has mild allergies. They seem to be food based. Most foods will cause her to get red eyes and itchy feet within a couple days, goes away if we switch back to a food that works. I’ve never been able to narrow down the exact ingredient.
Most fish based foods seem to be ok. She currently gets Purina Pro Plan and is doing well on it. She’s an 8yo mix and we skijored a few miles yesterday and then practiced our shed hunting.

Doesn’t seem to be environmental as it only happens with certain foods, always within a couple days. And has happened both summer and winter, Ontario and Alberta.

[IdahoRider]

@stb

Orijen and Acana are strongly implicated in Nutrionally based canine cardiomyopathy. Fromm is as well. At this point veterinary cardiologists are recommending non grain free foods from the major manufacturers that do actual feeding trials and have nutritionists on staff. These are Purina, Royal Canin, Iams/Eukanuba, and Hill’s.

I don’t feed grain free. Acana has a line of kibble that has grain in it.
Sheilah

[EventingMaff]

I’ve done several brands over the years free-feeding my picky, lean ‘village’ dog.

• Dog Lover’s Gold: She did great on it but didn’t wolf it down, but we moved so I had to find an alternative
• Instinct Be natural: was pretty meh about it and coat / energy levels seemed ‘duller’
• Taste of the Wild: same as above, but was easier to source and was the same as my parent’s dog so made mutual dog-sitting easier
• Petcurean Go!: Only started this recently and she LOVES it. I actually don’t free-feed anymore because she eats it as soon as I put it down. Coat is glorious, energy level is great, so far really really pleased!

She has a stomach of steel and no allergy issues so it’s more about her energy, coat, eye-goop (or lack of), that indicates how well she’s doing on a food.

[candyappy]

@IdahoRider

I don’t feed grain free. Acana has a line of kibble that has grain in it.

Considering the fact that all my dogs do their best to shove the goats away from their morning grain, I think that maybe a little grain in the kibble isn’t a bad thing? Mine obviously like it too.

[stb]

No, this has not been retracted at all. This is an ongoing issue.

My information comes from a personal friend who is also a veterinary cardiologist.

Also, not all implicated foods are grain free. UC Davis has a good bit of information available on this issue if anyone is interested.

[MsM]

I thought the heart issues were thought to be a low taurine issue? And that legumes might be problematic?

[Simkie]

@stb

No, this has not been retracted at all. This is an ongoing issue.

Yeah, it really has. The FDA has walked it way back, which is not at all surprising considering what little evidence there was with the release.

FDA walks back from update correlating DCM and certain pet diets

Review of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in the wake of diet-associated concerns

DCM and grain-free pet food: September 2020 FDA update

https://medium.com/@danielschulof_18279/bad-science-and-big-business-are-behind-the-biggest-pet-food-story-in-a-decade-5cdafae7be77

[stb]

You are, of course, welcome to believe internet research over the opinion of a board certified veterinary cardiologist.

[stb]

Current thinking is that legumes may block absorption of taurine, but it has not been proven. It is not as simple as just low taurine. Large amounts of legumes in a food are definitely a red flag.

[Simkie]

@stb

You are, of course, welcome to believe internet research over the opinion of a board certified veterinary cardiologist.

Shrug. I thought the research was weak at best when it was first released and was appalled at how the FDA handled it. Scores of vets, including cardiologists, have come to the same conclusion.

I included a peer reviewed publication in my links above. You’re welcome to forward it to your cardiologist friend.

[CindyB59]

Orijen original is not grain free. I specifically avoided grain free due to the controversy. My dogs ate my horses grain with no repercussions. I’d rather err on the safe side.Text

I did try limited ingredient food and grain fee for a bit. Just to eliminate if it was causing itches. Didn’t seem to make a difference.

Itchy little princess

[mommy_peanut]

@Minxitbabe

Depending on your location there is a co-op that does raw across the US if you don’t want to have the hassle of doing it yourself. I have not used it as I did my own blend at home mainly due to freezer space. It is Titan raw dog food that you can apparently get elsewhere but for me the co-op is the only option to get it nearby. My dogs never looked so good or pooped so little when they were on my homemade raw. It got to be too time consuming so we are back on kibble for the younger boys Costcos premium fish based and FreshPet for the old lady. She is winding down in life and no kibble or canned food had kept her interest but we tried FreshPet and she is loving it! Protein is way too low for me to want to feed it to my younger ones but is perfect for the old lady with issues that low protein is good for.

Titan is made near me.
They have quite a few different premade blends.
I pick up in bulk right from their processing plant.
I use their blends as a base for my feeding program.
Makes life so much easier.
Dogs look fantastic & love it.

[Minxitbabe]

I wish I lived so close! I have heard the price point is even better if you are able to do local pick up! I have chatted with some people who feed it and have been very happy if I ever get my act together and make space in my small chest freezer it is top of my list to make time to do a pickup from the co-op group!

[mommy_peanut]

Since I typically purchase about 400-500# at a time, it does add up to a nice savings.

[CindyB59]

Neeko had a vet checkup and another round of vaccines. Said Orijen is about the best kibble out there. So I’m going to stick with it for a while. Poop is already better, although still a mix of old and new.

But keep discussing, as I may revisit this info down the road

[dkcbr]

@CindyB59

Orijen original is not grain free. I specifically avoided grain free due to the controversy. My dogs ate my horses grain with no repercussions. I’d rather err on the safe side.Text

I did try limited ingredient food and grain fee for a bit. Just to eliminate if it was causing itches. Didn’t seem to make a difference.

(All of Orijen’s dry kibbles are grain-free.)

[CindyB59]

I guess there us no corn, etc. but there are beans etc