Sagittarian

Hello. The 'Pheonix' website won't work for me and the statement Australian and New Zealand owned doesn't help. So many people are now making dog food. A lot is manufactured by Real Pet Food company (even some brands you wouldn't expect) but Pheonix isn't one we've come across. Some pet shop owners commission their own brands as well. From the ingredients I have some thoughts on who is behind it but will do some fact checking first. I really dislike the lack of transparency in a few parts of the industry!

Next Generation Petfoods in Qld make a very similar product. We just got a first delivery and little difference. Box 1 was bought by Real Petfood Co who closed the biscuit operation, and the information from them is conflicting. I'd be looking at Next Gen. https://nextgenerationpetfoods.com.au/evolution-4x2-baked-biscuits-info/

Taste of the Wild is not irradiated nor are any other imported dry dog or cat foods. Check with AQIS if you are in doubt about imported products - heresay can come from anywhere.

A quick look has me interested in speaking to them with view to stocking it. Not such a fan of their normal range (don't stock) but a lot to like about this.

We both use it and sell it in the shop. I always recommend first time users start at a tiny dose to get their pet used to it and avoid the runs. Build up for a week, then go to the loading dose. It can be mixed with water, gravy (homemade without additives), a bit of peanut butter, etc, what your dog likes. Some people freeze it in popsicles over summer. Others make a little meatball. But many, many of our customers simply sprinkle. My husband has used it for a couple of years after hip surgery and only notices how well it works when he's off it. I think that is a good indicator. RHV are very approachable if you email or call them and may have tips on using it for those super fussy ones. :-)

Won't feed it, won't stock it. Nothing against the ingredients. Having sold it in volume last time, we had staff and customers who lost their cats. It would be a breach of trust to our customers for us to sell it again, regardless of its current status. As an aside, am absolutely stunned at the price. Sags

Has he been diagnosed by x-rays from an experienced vet? Saints grow so fast that some may diagnose HD without proper clinical investigation. Whilst a score cannot be given so young, any x-rays should be sent to a qualified reader for evaluation before you decide on any path of treatment. If you have done this and received a qualified report, then do seek as much information as possible before surgery. My opinion is surgery should not be undertaken lightly. There are many factors to consider, including the effect on the dog's personality, which is still developing at this age. What advice has your breeder given? If it is HD then long term treatment will vary depending on the severity. Many dogs do very well with natural therapies, swimming, and staying light. Please let us know how you go. Sags

Most if not all premium brands have a palatability guarantee, so you can quite safely try a food for a few days to see how she goes, knowing you can return for a refund if it isn't to her liking or upsets her in some way. Some brands provide sample packs and whilst that won't tell you long term what suits, it does save on buying a product only to return it. What about raw feeding - you already offer raw bones and there is plenty of great info on a basic raw diet. I personally do not ever soak dry food and if she is really not enjoying it, do urge you to look further afield. If you prefer to dry or mix feed, then look for the lower priced foods without the fillers - as in wheat/corn/soy etc. Really not a good way to fill a dog up. Happy to send you some brand suggestions by message if you wish. :-)

Hi there, There are many grain based dry foods that are high protein, with plenty of 'energy/working' varieties across a number of brands. These include XP2030, and formulas by Advance, Euk, Royal Canin. I'm using 30% protein as being at the bottom of high for the purpose of this comment. :-) And, there are quite a number of grain free foods sitting in the 20s, rather than 30s. It isn't about how much grain/peas/lentils etc, but about the recipe of the individual food. With our useless packaging laws, it is a pain to get accurate information on where the protein comes from (meat v other source) as well as the actual meat content. A few companies are more transparent, whilst others have to be directly contacted for better quality information. What I do know is that over more than fifteen years, the anecdotal feedback from our customers is outstandingly in the favour of grain free products to improve a range of issues, if dry food is all that is being fed. Once we get them introducing raw or moving across completely, then of course this changes again. It is interesting the the series of articles by this vet comment that meat sources considered in the US as 'exotic' include lamb and kangaroo. Both are widely fed here and not at considered unusual. Studies backed by pet food companies concern me, particularly when they are companies based on what they proclaim to be science, regardless of the ingredients list. :-)

We recommend a slow transition onto Prime 100 dry food of any variety. It is heavily meat driven so if a dog is coming from one either grain based, or grain free with low meat, it is advisable to go in slowly. My boy not only transitioned well, but is less hungry on this. Hope Poppy is feeling well again. Sags

Prime 100 has quarantined their new Salmon dry food as they use the same salmon source. Although they've not had any reports of any issues, it is a precaution. We're currently feeding this and loving it so home it is resolved soon.

What's happening is some companies are not including the information on their packaging. Advance are the latest with their new formulas. Nowhere is the word preservative used, let alone BHT & BHA, but it is in them. Eukanbua recently changed to include BHA and propyl gallate. Royal Canin BHA and potassium sorbate. As we carry lots of other foods which do not contain these, but use natural preservatives, I am most interested in the viewpoint of others with an interest in petfood - even if only to feed the pet. :-)

LOL all good!

Hi all. Interested in points of view as well as any scientific knowledge on the ongoing use of these preservatives in petfood. In an age when more companies are using natural preservatives, why would anyone resort to these? The companies that do admit to it (sometimes after a long and difficult road to accurate information) say it is widespread and safe. Would love some discussion here, regardless of your level of nutrition knowledge. Sags :-)

It is incredibly frustrating that products like Royal Canin are so vague in their labelling. It took ages to get them to provide accurate information about the synthetic preservatives they use in their range - and have just introduced to Eukanuba since moving its manufacturing from the US to France.

Salina Chan with Snobul in Glengarry Tasmania. Beautiful typey dogs that are healthy - she does various dogsports with them and has titles along with show titles.

Have raised St Bernards on raw (Billinghurst and other versions), and various dry foods. Even big dog puppies need plenty of protein but keeping calories under control is important. Lean but neither under nor overweight is so important both for steady growth and joint health. Happy to answer specific questions, but if your breeder is experienced, then keep your conversation going with them.

Suggest medium. It is big enough for a cav so unless your lovely is miles bigger, that will be fine. The small is more cat size/chi/very tiny dogs. Snooza have a great guide on their website and you can check out the different colours and fabrics the cuddler comes in. Over winter, our customers adore the sherpa options.

Dr Bruce Syme from Vet's All Natural. Has a big clinic in Castlemaine - excellent vet.

Thank you both :)

Just wondering if there are any specialist places to list pieces? We have duplicates of statuettes, paintings etc and some are quite old and/or hard to find. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Sags :)

Can highly recommend Prime Roo & Potato or Roo & Pumpkin rolls - not usually a fan of rolls but these are not the average type and help keep the dog feeling full whilst addressing weight. Some dogs just will not lose weight on dry food unless fed next to nothing. Sags :)

Royal Canin is not irradiated. If in doubt, ask the companies behind a food - and look for any labelling saying "not suitable for cats" or "not to be fed to cats" as that is an AQIS requirement on irradiated products. There are still a lot of irradiated treats coming in but not aware of any food. We look for a named meat or fish ingredient - salmon meal, chicken meal etc. If it just says salmon, it won't have been weighed after cooking so belongs further down the list. Some foods have salmon, followed by salmon meal (or whatever meat). Personally, we avoid foods with wheat/corn/soy/beet pulp. Proplan has just changed their formula and seems to have added wheat to most varieties. So many great options around now so depends upon your own doggie's needs. Ivory Coat, Taste of the Wild, Biopet Grain Free, Vets All Natural, and lots of other higher meat content foods are more readily available now. Sags

Hi blinkblink :-) Many premium or above foods offer a palatability/satisfaction guarantee. It is part of being able to offer what is an expensive product with first time unknown results in a way that gives customer peace of mind. It surprises me how many people say they've been refused a refund/exchange from other stores (including some big box chains) in spite of manufacturers guarantees. Some foods do not offer this, such as Blackhawk, unless they have very recently changed their policy. Eukanuba get the customer to deal direct with their Australian office but give back a lot more to help find a solution. Companies do ask that people keep the bag and receipt and if you have those, it is always worth both checking the online (or on bag) policy and contacting the place of purchase. Most returns that we accept (and there are not a lot as we try very hard to match dogs and cats with the best option, but there are always individuals that still react to a food) are left with us to distribute which we do to various shelters etc. Only though if the food is fresh and did not cause undue upsets in case of a faulty batch. On a different note, we do get folk wanting to return a bed/igloo or kennel because the pet won't use it and that is a lot trickier to manage! Sags :D Thanks for explaining that. I don't buy or use kibble anyway but it's interesting to know. My boy has IBD & Skin Allergies & Food Sensitivities, I'm always returning new kibbles that we have tried & didn't agree with Patch, I've finally worked out what he can eat & can't eat, I hope... Pet Barn are very good & give refunds, some kibble companies like Black Hawk & Canidae you have to contact them & tell them what the problem was & then they refund but you must return the food to the shop or online where food was purchased.... I've never had any problems returning open bags, I have a few opened kibble bags in the cupboard at the moment, I couldn't be bothered returning them, I added then up the other day, $270 worth of kibble my boy cant eat & rescue groups wont take cause the bags are open.. kibble goes off after being open, they say must be used within 2-4 weeks, that's why I only buy small bags.... Ivory Coat write on their web page after opening kibble bag it must be used with in 1 month.. Ivory Coat & Applaws have had a mold problems with their kibbles so did Ziwipeak.... Canidae do refund foods via their retailers. We've had stores for more than 10 years and the only premium plus brands we carry that we aren't "authorised" to refund/exchange on are Blackhawk and Eukanuba - the latter ask the customer to contact them direct and help them without involving the retailer. We have carried Ziwipeak on and off for 10 years without mould problems and Ivory Coat since it was launched without mould so am interested to hear this - our customers tend to let us know pretty quickly if something isn't right :-) We give opened bags (or broken bags) to rescue orgs without any issues - maybe try some breed ones? Sags :)

Hi blinkblink :-) Many premium or above foods offer a palatability/satisfaction guarantee. It is part of being able to offer what is an expensive product with first time unknown results in a way that gives customer peace of mind. It surprises me how many people say they've been refused a refund/exchange from other stores (including some big box chains) in spite of manufacturers guarantees. Some foods do not offer this, such as Blackhawk, unless they have very recently changed their policy. Eukanuba get the customer to deal direct with their Australian office but give back a lot more to help find a solution. Companies do ask that people keep the bag and receipt and if you have those, it is always worth both checking the online (or on bag) policy and contacting the place of purchase. Most returns that we accept (and there are not a lot as we try very hard to match dogs and cats with the best option, but there are always individuals that still react to a food) are left with us to distribute which we do to various shelters etc. Only though if the food is fresh and did not cause undue upsets in case of a faulty batch. On a different note, we do get folk wanting to return a bed/igloo or kennel because the pet won't use it and that is a lot trickier to manage! Sags :D