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BDP · Jan 7th, 2009, 01:55 PM

As a Certified Canine Nutritionist I have to say that while DFA has some good tips and some decent reviews on foods, not everything there is 100% accurate, and that just because a food makes the 6 star list does not mean it's right for every dog. JMHO.

bakeacookie · Jan 11th, 2009, 04:35 PM

Can anyone recommend a good food for weight/diet control? My dogs need to lose at least 10lbs, according to the vet.

Also, I've looked through the 6 and 5 star list but I don't recognize any of those brands found at Target and stores like that. Are all those higher star dog foods only found at pet stores? I don't like spending a lot of money on dog food there because my dogs are picky with their kibble.

harleyNemma · Jan 11th, 2009, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by BDP

As a Certified Canine Nutritionist I have to say that while DFA has some good tips and some decent reviews on foods, not everything there is 100% accurate, and that just because a food makes the 6 star list does not mean it's right for every dog. JMHO.

I think this is good advice.

And, Irishlass, don't feel bad. My Harley has been eating Nutra Nuggets since he was a puppy. He is now 12 and in very good health (the vet that has seen him since he was a pup still doesn't believe he is 12 even though it is apparent from his very thick file!)

I'm not planning on rushing out to change Hs food, although the information provided is interesting - particularly all of the items that are harmful to doggies.

csre · Jan 11th, 2009, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by bakeacookie

Can anyone recommend a good food for weight/diet control? My dogs need to lose at least 10lbs, according to the vet.

Also, I've looked through the 6 and 5 star list but I don't recognize any of those brands found at Target and stores like that. Are all those higher star dog foods only found at pet stores? I don't like spending a lot of money on dog food there because my dogs are picky with their kibble.

You can buy online in stores such as petfooddirect, naturalpetmarket, Nationalpetpharmacy (also sold at amazon)...

My dogs eat orijen and they do great. It is very worth to invest in their food IMO

In my experience dogs will probably rather eat pedigree or other 1 star food over a 5/6 star brand, but ,IMO, it is justr because those crappy foods use a lot or artificial stuff that makes it more appetizing, like junk fund for dogs.

If your dog is overweight i would think he is not as picky as you think

bakeacookie · Jan 11th, 2009, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by csre

You can buy online in stores such as petfooddirect, naturalpetmarket, Nationalpetpharmacy (also sold at amazon)...

My dogs eat orijen and they do great. It is very worth to invest in their food IMO

In my experience dogs will probably rather eat pedigree or other 1 star food over a 5/6 star brand, but ,IMO, it is justr because those crappy foods use a lot or artificial stuff that makes it more appetizing, like junk fund for dogs.

If your dog is overweight i would think he is not as picky as you think

One is not picky, but the other is. I basically buy food to suit her while my boy just eats anything. Seems like I'll have to find places that sell the healthier food. I'd rather not buy online because it's hard for me to actually get my packages safely. They throw it onto my lawn, and with other dogs in the neighborhood, a box full of dogfood on the lawn won't be safe.

aklein · Jan 12th, 2009, 09:18 AM

As I said earlier, I completely agree with BDP. There isn't any basis to this star rating (at least not that I can find on that webpage). For all we know, the star rating could be based on something completley unrelated to the quality of the food.
Please do not change your pets food willy-nilly and discuss your nutritional needs with your veterinarian, who knows your pet and his/her history.

csre · Jan 13th, 2009, 12:09 AM

ITA on not changing food without consulting, but i think, and you can see it when reading the reviews, that the star rating is based on the ingredients of the food, which is related to its quality imo

India · Jan 13th, 2009, 04:29 PM

I've never posted on this forum before, but I must jump in here. The web site that was sited for food ratings gives absolutely NO information as to how they do this and who they are. NOTHING scientific - just their opinion.

I have owned cats and dogs for over 55 years and have owned Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for almost 25 now. Over the past 40 years, I've fed Purina products; my dogs have eaten PurinaOne Lamb & Rice for about 16 years - since it first came out. The average life expectancy of a Cavalier is 8-12 years. I've only had one (out of 7) who didn't live to over 13 years - have had one that made it to over 14 and one who died 2 weeks before he was 15. My dogs are now 14 yrs 5 months, 12 years and 6 years. Their weights are great, their coats are beautiful and soft and silky, their eyes are clear, they have no skin problems, they have small poops, and they are happy, lively dogs.

I have great faith in Purina. They own a research facility on which they spend enormous sums of money in order to produce the best foods possible. They don't have to do this if they're just another big, money-grubbing company (which is what the small "boutique" brands will tell you). Are you aware that most of the small "healthy" brands do NOT have their own manufacturing plants? They contract them out to other plants! When one does this, one loses control over the product. Purina is the ONLY brand that makes prescription foods that were also tested by vets before they went on the market. I have used other prescription foods over the years, and they were so unpalatable to my animals that they would not eat them. That's pretty useless!

There are MANY high-quality foods found in chain grocery stores and at Target. I would avoid those found at Wal-Mart - many are not made in the US. One need not spend more on food for the dog than for ones own table. One need not have to have these heavy bags delivered by UPS, causing the cost to be prohibitive. READ THE LABELS! And look for companies who have been in this business a LONG time and have a very strong commitment to manufacturing the best foods possible. By the way, none of Purina's dog foods were involved in the big China debacle last year.

csre · Jan 13th, 2009, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by India

I've never posted on this forum before, but I must jump in here. The web site that was sited for food ratings gives absolutely NO information as to how they do this and who they are. NOTHING scientific - just their opinion.

They do it by reading the labels. They do explain what they are looking for, and on what the base their opinion
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/how-d...the-foods.html

I didn't know about that web a year ago, but after many research and joining a pet forum i do believe their reviews are accurate

(of course that is just my personal opinion)

Odette · Feb 14th, 2009, 09:04 PM

I noticed on the DFA website that their review was based on the ingredients for the European version of the dog food that we use for our bichon frise. In the European version, the first ingredient was corn. In the North American version, the first ingredient was a meat product. The low-star rating for the food was based on the review of the European version, due to the first ingredient being corn.

I think you need to find the food that works best for your dog. I chose the food for my bichon based on the low amount of "fillers" and the fact that it truly helped her coat, reduced her itching and hot spots, and boosted her energy level.

LuvMySheltie · Mar 31st, 2009, 12:46 PM

Hello Everybody....new here... :) I switched back and forth between DFA and what Susan Peters DFA had to say about dog food....have a look.....http://hubpages.com/hub/Dog_Food_Review <--am I aloud to do that?

Domshokay · May 21st, 2009, 10:01 PM

Another good place to see reviews is Whole Dog Journal. I have subscribed to this for years, they have really educated me on a lot of things not just food. You can also see the articles from 2006 to 2008 on www.accessmylibrary.com

They also explain their criteria for picking the foods they do.

PitterCat · Jun 15th, 2009, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by csre

They do it by reading the labels. They do explain what they are looking for, and on what the base their opinion
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/how-d...the-foods.html
)

I learned, thanks to Dogfoodanalysis.com that the "prescription" fraud the vet pushed on us contained SAWDUST as the second ingredient (Powdered Cellulose.)

When a family member vehemently argued that "they wouldn't be allowed to get away with putting SAWDUST in pet foods", he went so far as to bet me $100.00 I could not prove this so, again, I turned to the ever-trusty Internet to find:

There are various forms of powdered cellulose available from trees like pine and beech to bamboo and cotton. By and large, the cellulose used in petfood applications is derived from pine trees. The ingredient starts its journey in the pulping mills, the same mills used to produce paper. The pulp is made into long continuous sheets and rolled just like paper stock going to the local newspaper. However, cellulose intended for food and feed is ground through specially-designed hammer mills, then sized to certain particle lengths in giant "ball-mills."
http://www.petfoodindustry.com/ViewA....aspx?id=12666

WOW! Just when you thought proven allergens corn, soy and the other garbage wasn't preposterous enough -- along comes CHRISTMAS TREE! YUM!! (More Predisone-Steroids, please, say doggie & kitty!!!)

And to think that we thought only termites and woodpeckers ate such a thing!!

I would really like for one of those vets to explain just why they think our carnivorous companion animals should be eating peanut hulls, corn, soy, soy MILL RUN (whatever the heck that is), and pine tree?!!

fluffly · Jul 18th, 2009, 05:04 PM

Thanks for posting this. I tried so many different types of dog food and aparently all of them are 1 Star. Even the ones my vet highly recommended. I have tried Iams, hills, pedigree and was going to try bakers not now.

axcelle · Jul 30th, 2009, 05:55 PM

Another option for those concerned about 1- picking the right food for their pet and 2- cost is to make your own food at home. It is so much easier (and cheaper) than you might think! I have been preparing food for my six pets (3 dogs and 3 cats) for two and a half years now, and the diet change has made some amazing changes in their health.

1 - One of my dogs started suddently having seizures (at age 3). He had six seizures in eight hours. We didn't know if he would make it through the night, let alone how to treat it. Once our vet alerted us to quality issues in commercial dog food, we researched the current brand we were feeding (Beneful) and found out many, many dogs were having seizures on this food. Once we started feeding homemade, we were able to pull him off all medication. He has been seizure free for two years.

2 - This same dog has had hip dysplasia since 4 months of age. After play or in cold/damp weather, his limp was so bad we frequently had to give baby aspirin and help him get on and off the couch, bed etc. After 3 months on the new diet, his limp disappeared. He has gone through two winters in the midwest without any severe gait problems at all. At hiis most recent vet visit, the doctor was so amazed by the improvement in his joints she is considering writing an article on the benefits of natural diet for treatment of moderate to severe dysplasia in adult canines.

3 - All of the pets have improved energy, vitality, coat quality, and appetite. Their teeth and gums are in better shape, with less tartar and plaque build up. Their immune systems are able to fight off pretty much anything that comes their way, and have not been plagued by worms, fleas, etc.

4 - They love the food! They are excited to eat, as the food is different everyday. How bored would you be with a bowl of Total twice a day your entire life?

I highly recommend Dr Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard Pitcairn, DVM and Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats by Kymythy Schultze, RD. Both books explain how to create a base, which fresh foods to add to the base and what supplements to add to create a balanced diet which provides all the nutrition your furkids need.

If anyone has any questions about this, feel free to PM me, I have experimented with a lot of different feedings for my cats and dogs over the past 2.5 years and would be glad to help!

Jan 7th, 2009, 01:55 PM	#46
BDP Dog Food Guru Joined: Jun 2007 Location: España Posts: 397	As a Certified Canine Nutritionist I have to say that while DFA has some good tips and some decent reviews on foods, not everything there is 100% accurate, and that just because a food makes the 6 star list does not mean it's right for every dog. JMHO.
	__________________ Dana, RVT, Dip. ACNS Canine Nutrition Consultant Wishlist: Coach Penelope Daffodil Charm - ON ITS WAY to my Orchid Zoe!

Jan 11th, 2009, 04:35 PM	#47
bakeacookie Member Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 383	Can anyone recommend a good food for weight/diet control? My dogs need to lose at least 10lbs, according to the vet. Also, I've looked through the 6 and 5 star list but I don't recognize any of those brands found at Target and stores like that. Are all those higher star dog foods only found at pet stores? I don't like spending a lot of money on dog food there because my dogs are picky with their kibble.
	__________________ Ever-changing Wishlist: Gucci: Princy or Charlotte hobo Louis Vuitton: Ebony Damier Speedy 30 Mulberry: East West Bayswater Launer: Traviata Handbag Chanel: Medium Classic Flap Searching for: Kick-arse graduation shoes!! My small collection: Coach: Black Leather Sabrina, Amanda Black Satin Mini Satchel, OP art Grey Wristlet Dooney: Signature Flap Wristlet

Jan 13th, 2009, 04:29 PM	#53
India Member Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Upper South, USA Posts: 2,093	I've never posted on this forum before, but I must jump in here. The web site that was sited for food ratings gives absolutely NO information as to how they do this and who they are. NOTHING scientific - just their opinion. I have owned cats and dogs for over 55 years and have owned Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for almost 25 now. Over the past 40 years, I've fed Purina products; my dogs have eaten PurinaOne Lamb & Rice for about 16 years - since it first came out. The average life expectancy of a Cavalier is 8-12 years. I've only had one (out of 7) who didn't live to over 13 years - have had one that made it to over 14 and one who died 2 weeks before he was 15. My dogs are now 14 yrs 5 months, 12 years and 6 years. Their weights are great, their coats are beautiful and soft and silky, their eyes are clear, they have no skin problems, they have small poops, and they are happy, lively dogs. I have great faith in Purina. They own a research facility on which they spend enormous sums of money in order to produce the best foods possible. They don't have to do this if they're just another big, money-grubbing company (which is what the small "boutique" brands will tell you). Are you aware that most of the small "healthy" brands do NOT have their own manufacturing plants? They contract them out to other plants! When one does this, one loses control over the product. Purina is the ONLY brand that makes prescription foods that were also tested by vets before they went on the market. I have used other prescription foods over the years, and they were so unpalatable to my animals that they would not eat them. That's pretty useless! There are MANY high-quality foods found in chain grocery stores and at Target. I would avoid those found at Wal-Mart - many are not made in the US. One need not spend more on food for the dog than for ones own table. One need not have to have these heavy bags delivered by UPS, causing the cost to be prohibitive. READ THE LABELS! And look for companies who have been in this business a LONG time and have a very strong commitment to manufacturing the best foods possible. By the way, none of Purina's dog foods were involved in the big China debacle last year.
	Last edited by India; Jan 13th, 2009 at 04:31 PM. Reason: can't spell!

Feb 14th, 2009, 09:04 PM	#55
Odette Member Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,996	I noticed on the DFA website that their review was based on the ingredients for the European version of the dog food that we use for our bichon frise. In the European version, the first ingredient was corn. In the North American version, the first ingredient was a meat product. The low-star rating for the food was based on the review of the European version, due to the first ingredient being corn. I think you need to find the food that works best for your dog. I chose the food for my bichon based on the low amount of "fillers" and the fact that it truly helped her coat, reduced her itching and hot spots, and boosted her energy level.
Odette Member Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,996	__________________

Mar 31st, 2009, 12:46 PM	#56
LuvMySheltie Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 1	Hello Everybody....new here... :) I switched back and forth between DFA and what Susan Peters DFA had to say about dog food....have a look.....http://hubpages.com/hub/Dog_Food_Review <--am I aloud to do that?
LuvMySheltie Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 1

Jan 12th, 2009, 09:18 AM	#51
aklein Member Joined: Dec 2007 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,476	As I said earlier, I completely agree with BDP. There isn't any basis to this star rating (at least not that I can find on that webpage). For all we know, the star rating could be based on something completley unrelated to the quality of the food. Please do not change your pets food willy-nilly and discuss your nutritional needs with your veterinarian, who knows your pet and his/her history.

Jan 13th, 2009, 12:09 AM	#52
csre ♥ Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Margarita's Island Posts: 1,147	ITA on not changing food without consulting, but i think, and you can see it when reading the reviews, that the star rating is based on the ingredients of the food, which is related to its quality imo

May 21st, 2009, 10:01 PM	#57
Domshokay Member Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 43	Another good place to see reviews is Whole Dog Journal. I have subscribed to this for years, they have really educated me on a lot of things not just food. You can also see the articles from 2006 to 2008 on www.accessmylibrary.com They also explain their criteria for picking the foods they do.

Jul 18th, 2009, 05:04 PM	#59
fluffly Member Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 400	Thanks for posting this. I tried so many different types of dog food and aparently all of them are 1 Star. Even the ones my vet highly recommended. I have tried Iams, hills, pedigree and was going to try bakers not now.
fluffly Member Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 400

Jul 30th, 2009, 05:55 PM	#60
axcelle ღ Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Queen City USA Posts: 2,318	Another option for those concerned about 1- picking the right food for their pet and 2- cost is to make your own food at home. It is so much easier (and cheaper) than you might think! I have been preparing food for my six pets (3 dogs and 3 cats) for two and a half years now, and the diet change has made some amazing changes in their health. 1 - One of my dogs started suddently having seizures (at age 3). He had six seizures in eight hours. We didn't know if he would make it through the night, let alone how to treat it. Once our vet alerted us to quality issues in commercial dog food, we researched the current brand we were feeding (Beneful) and found out many, many dogs were having seizures on this food. Once we started feeding homemade, we were able to pull him off all medication. He has been seizure free for two years. 2 - This same dog has had hip dysplasia since 4 months of age. After play or in cold/damp weather, his limp was so bad we frequently had to give baby aspirin and help him get on and off the couch, bed etc. After 3 months on the new diet, his limp disappeared. He has gone through two winters in the midwest without any severe gait problems at all. At hiis most recent vet visit, the doctor was so amazed by the improvement in his joints she is considering writing an article on the benefits of natural diet for treatment of moderate to severe dysplasia in adult canines. 3 - All of the pets have improved energy, vitality, coat quality, and appetite. Their teeth and gums are in better shape, with less tartar and plaque build up. Their immune systems are able to fight off pretty much anything that comes their way, and have not been plagued by worms, fleas, etc. 4 - They love the food! They are excited to eat, as the food is different everyday. How bored would you be with a bowl of Total twice a day your entire life? I highly recommend Dr Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard Pitcairn, DVM and Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats by Kymythy Schultze, RD. Both books explain how to create a base, which fresh foods to add to the base and what supplements to add to create a balanced diet which provides all the nutrition your furkids need. If anyone has any questions about this, feel free to PM me, I have experimented with a lot of different feedings for my cats and dogs over the past 2.5 years and would be glad to help!
	__________________ ¸.•*´¨)¸.••.¸♥ Loving what I have!

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