Updates via Email
I got a lot of help off the lists with suggestions for
foods. And the email updates pretty much tell the story.
7/29/01 - Feeding Trials
I've started TODAY on a feeding trail with the 29 dogs at my house (mine,
boarders, & rescues). I prefer the Diamond brands, boarders who prefer
other brands, and we'll see. I plan on 3 months of documentation on coat
condition and poop -- my main concerns. We're moving into the big shed in
the next two months so the new coats should be indicative of the food they are
getting. And then I'll compare results to costs.
No coat supplements. No extra fish oils. Nothing not medically
required.
Each dog will have the same number of dog biscuits. (My 2 obedience dogs
are out of this trail because of excess hot dogs and cheese for training.)
Let you know how it goes <G>
--Sidney Helen Sachs
11/1/01 - Feeding Trials Update
Again -- UNscientific feeding trials. Each food is fed to 2-3 dogs of good
health for 2-3 months before I "rate" them for physical (coat)
condition, stool consistency/volume, & cost.
I've added some foods and started the Great No Corn Search (next email) -- you'd
be surprised how many entire lines MUST HAVE corn in them... These foods
are all available LOCALLY (to me).
Current 30/20 (%protein/%fat) foods:
Diamond Professional, Exceed High Energy, Kasco High Energy, Eukanuba
Premium Performance -- like them ALL, but the Euk is still the best coat &
stool at TWICE the money. Exceed & Kasco stools soften up A LITTLE
under working stress. Diamond Professional gives a nice correct coat,
energy, small, firm stools all the time and is HALF the cost of the Eukanuba.
I'll be finishing up the Exceed and Kasco, keeping the Eukanuba & Diamond
Professional and adding...
New 30/20 (all suggested by listmembers):
Maximum Nutrition High Performance 30/20 Wal-Mart $20.50/40#
Pro Pac Dog High Performance 30/20 PetSmart $22.99/36#
Pro Plan Performance Chicken 30/20 PetSmart $32.99/37.5#
Current Household pet foods:
Diamond Lamb & Rice (D-L&R), Diamond Performance, Premium Edge Chicken.
There is no clear winner here. Before I've rated many household pet foods,
these are the best of those SO FAR. Diamond Lamb & Rice gives a coat
AS GOOD AS THE EUKANUBA but without the fat content - for a working dog that's a
problem, for a lazy household pet, that's not a bad deal.
Diamond Performance (Green) gives a very good (not great) coat, good stools, and
a VERY good price ($18/50# at co-op prices). Premium Edge Chicken (made by
the manufacturers of Diamond is what I'm feeding the seniors and my problem
child with the digestive problems. It's a bit more pricey ($25/35#) but no
corn, no wheat, no barley, chicken is the first two ingredients, Omega 3 &
6, Chondroitin/Glucosamine added -- and here's the best part -- the seniors are
THRIVING on it. We're gonna leave them on it for now.
New Household Pet Foods (suggested by listmembers):
Maxximum Nutrition Lamb & Rice (Wal-Mart) $17/40#
Black Gold (donated, don't have pricing)
No Corn foods on the next email.
-SHS
11/1/01 - The Great No Corn Search
OK, Feeding Trials going along just great, finally found something my boy Nu
with the temperamental digestive track can eat..... guess again... We know
he's allergic to corn, and because of other issues we have to switch him from
food to food every 3-6 weeks. So I went to Wal-Mart, SuperPetz &
PetSmart tonight an spent a few HOURS reading bags. You'd be surprised
which brands have corn in their entire LINE.
- Corn in EVERY bag of their line, even the "specialty" or Lamb &
Rice bags:
Eukanuba
Bil Jac
IAMS
Maxximum Nutrician
Purina Dog Chows
Purina One
Pedigree
Pro Plan
Science Diet
Nutro Max
- No Corn bags:
Diamond
- Lamb & Rice $20/40#
- Beef & Rice $16/40#
Nutro Natural Choice
- Lamb & Rice $34.99/40# 21/12 (% protien/fat)
- Dental $28.99/30#
- Lamb & Rice Adult $28.99/40#
Pro Pac
- Lamb & Rice $22.99/40#
Nature's Recipie
- Allergy Venison & Rice $38.99/40#
Premium Edge
- Chicken $25/35#
IAMS bagged food all has corn. NONE of their canned foods do. Their Lamb
& Rice biscuits do NOT.
Suggestions welcome!
-SHS
www.wayeh.com
presents...
