Dog Food Recommendation

[mzelinger]

Hello all. My BTS is now 1.5 years old. I've been using dog food and boiled chicken as the primary protein to his diet since I got him as a baby. The dog food brand I've been using is "Health Extension Holistic Chicken". On the can it says for puppies and dogs. Wondering if anyone can recommend a better brand of dog food or if I should just stick with the same one. Any thoughts? Appreciate any info given. Thank you, Mike

[Dood]

I cannot recommend a "better" brand as I don't feed canned dog food but do recommend you offer a variety of meats and not just chicken protein all the time to ensure there are no accidental deficiencies

Try giving lamb, beef, duck, turkey, rabbit canned dog foods but stay away from fish based ones

If I did feed canned food it would likely be a grain free brand and I would add extra fruit and veg as needed

[mzelinger]

Hello Dood. When you say "lamb, beef, duck, turkey, rabbit canned dog" are you referring to the actual meat, or those meats in dog food form? Obviously the rabbit is canned. Thanks, Mike

[artgecko]

I'm getting my first BTS next week, so take that for what you will, but I ordered a couple kinds of dog food to try... One that I really like the looks of is natural balance wild pursuit lamb, chicken, and guinea fowl: http://www.chewy.com/dog/natural-balance-wild-pursuit-lamb/dp/113901 It has multiple protein sources and veggies in it. They have a couple other versions all with 3 protein sources each.

I also ordered some of the EVO 95% line, these have a single (or two) protein sources but no additional veggies. Here's the one I ordered. I plan on using it in a smaller portion to go with the other food above. http://www.chewy.com/dog/evo-95-beef-canned-dog-food/dp/29073

[mzelinger]

They look great. Thanks artgecko!!

[lucasrusinak]

Hello Dood. When you say "lamb, beef, duck, turkey, rabbit canned dog" are you referring to the actual meat, or those meats in dog food form? Obviously the rabbit is canned. Thanks, Mike

I think the different types of meat referred to meant different meats in the dog food. I use mainly blue buffalo because its higher quality, but as long as you get something grain free that should be good. I usually just keep an eye out for anything thats natural and grain free if blue buffalo isn't in stock. I try to switch up the flavors so my guys get a little bit more of a variety.

[mzelinger]

Ok, that's what I thought too. lucasrusinak, which particular Blue Buffalo do you get for your Skink? There are are number of different choices. Thanks!!

[TPceebee]

Is it important to get grain free? I read a thread recently and it seemed largely debated.

[Susann]

Right. It is debated. But. It is widely known that grains are often added to pet foods as a cheap "filler", meaning, an ingredient that costs the food-maker much less than using more of the highly nutritious foods, usually meaning protein. So the higher up they are on the list of ingredients, the less there is going to be of the good, nutritious stuff.
I personally feel the same way about potato and rice; there's nothing bad about some, but if either is listed as the first 4 or 5 ingredients, back on the shelf it goes. (Sweet potato or yams is slightly better as, the darker the plant, the more nutritious it is.)

[Susann]

And the reason why using chicken as a staple is not advisable (unless you are feeding it, or the protein includes, the whole bird, bones and organs and all) is because chicken has a very poor calcium to phosphorus ratio, and has been shown to cause MBD in animals fed predominantly chicken as the protein portion.

[mzelinger]

Wow, thank you all!!! So I should probably NOT get another batch of the Health Extension Holistic Chicken. What about this Mazuri Insectivore Pelleted or Powdered food? Also, which Blue Buffalo (Grain Free) is the best canned choice? Sorry for all of the questions...

[Susann]

If all you've been feeding him is chicken then I would go for a different protein for a while; try beef or lamb, or one of the other non-poultry options.
Mazuri Insectivore is good. I don't know of anybody who has used it exclusively or even predominantly, but definitely as an additive, or something to switch off with, or feed between meals.

As far as which foods are best, familiarize yourself with the items on the food chart that are listed as good to feed frequently (or carry a printout of the chart with you in your car or purse) and just check the list of ingredients on whatever can you're considering buying. The more "frequent" ingredients, the better to use as a staple food --the more "in moderation" or "occasional" ingredients, just use it as something you feed from time to time to vary your staples.

[jesswebb93]

I feed mine 100% grain free blue buffalo dog food. I usually feed the red meat, duck and chicken, and beef and turkey flavours.

[mzelinger]

Yes, I've been feeding a mix of boiled chicken breast which I cook and then freeze along with the Health Extension Holistic Chicken Dog Food and I mix it all with fresh leafy greens and other vegetables that are on the preferred list from this site. I grind them all together because he won't eat the veggies or occasional fruit when they are separate. I do keep the chart handy for when I go shopping and I'm getting only the items that are labeled "Frequently". I guess I should switch meats/proteins then. Is there a particular canned dog food you would recommend? I like the sound of what jesswebb93 said about the Buffalo Dog Food (thanks for that). Should I cook fresh lean meats instead or use as a combination with dog food? I just want to feed my BTS the best possible way. Susann, appreciate the help!!

[TPceebee]

I printed the chart out and made it into a poster! Might be a little OTT, but whatever.

[mzelinger]

[NickBrahz]

I personally use Pedigree 5 meats dog food, it has a nice variety of meats so they get all the different types of goodness from all the meats(Chicken, Park, Beef, Lamb & Liver) it also has a small amount of Vegetable fibers but i add my own to it so there is a big variety of meats and veggies they eat as a main staple (i do add variety and make little meals for them that i feed over the course of a week that have no dog food in them).

[mzelinger]

Sounds good, but I think I like the Blue Buffalo recommendation from Susann. Thanks for the reply!!

[artgecko]

Isn't there currently a lawsuit against blue buffalo claiming that they are using by-poducts but not putting it on the label? Here's the link. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/purina-a-year-to-the-day-after-being-sued-blue-buffalo-finally-admits-by-product-meal-in-a-substantial-and-material-portion-of-their-pet-food-300079805.html I wonder if that was in all their foods, or just some, and if they have stopped the practice. I'd hate to pay for non-by-product food and actually be getting by-products. :/

[mzelinger]

Oh wow. I won't take the chance. Thaaks for that artgecko !! Any other great dog food recommendations from anyone???