HuntinHound

I have found that changing between the formulas offered by my chosen Super Premium has not adversely afffected my dogs - but in fact they do much better on some formulas' than others and at times I have mixed a couple together. They love their food and regardless of the formula I feed they all do really, really well. My own personal view however is that you shouldn't chop and change the BRAND you are feeding as this can have some dire effects on your little ones digestive system and you are not giving that particular brand a chance to proove itself or not as the case may be. Just My Thoughts

For myself Sugar & Felobe I agree with Nobul and only feed Super Premium foods BUT I do offer treats such as Chicken necks & carcasses occassionaly. This is NOT to say that what/how you feed your dog is wrong - it's just different to Nobul, Myself and no doubt many others. If however you check the current votes on the Poll I started http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?showtopic=44139 you will find that of those who have generously voted that MOST feed BARF with the current 2nd runner being those of you who choose to Mix Both BARF & Kibble. I see the validity in this comment and have to agree in principle. As many have offered in this thread and past posts - IF your dog is doing well on what you are feeding it than ;) , if not then it's time to look for something different.

Aly - I can see/understand what Nobul is saying and to an extent I agree. Chopping and changing foods will not help your dogs digestive system any and as Nobul stated results from some foods won't be instantaneous (sp?) ... they need time to take effect - similar to if you personally were to start a healthier diet - you wouldn't see instant results Having said that IMO giving your dog chicken necks/carcasses as a treat every couple of days etc. won't hurt them. But remember, as Nobul said the Super Premium (no matter which brand) is a COMPLETE & BALANCED diet so you don't need to go 'supplementing' with vitamins etc. etc. and always make sure Fresh, Clean Water is available - Super Premiums have a tendancy to make your poochy want to drink more (well, in my experience anyways) Morgan - I haven't seen the kitten samples for about 12mths but I hope they haven't increased their size that much my 10wk old Hamiltons are on the Puppy Large Breed Lamb & Rice - will have to go open a bag of normal Puppy Large Breed now and compare. VERY Interesting observation you've made That's certainly something that needs to be brought to their attention. ETA: what breed do you own Morgan?? (if that's not a rude question)

My Siberians & My Hamiltonstövare are all inside dogs and like Ellz they have access to any and all the beds so I just prefer they at least have a weekly bath for the sake of my linen BUT if and when they roll in 'smelly' stuff they get an extra bath .... Hydrobaths definately make the job easier ... actually washed my neighbours dog yesterday - it was Brooks first bath in 2yrs!!

Hey Boxagirl If you don't already have it the WA rep is Narelle Wright you can email her on [email protected] Alternatively Kitkat or myself would be happy to get a sample for you and send over (the Qld Rep lives 5mins from me) Cheers

The above statement seems to apply to our place to!! Our guys generally get done weekly but left them for about a month once and whoaaaaa did the fleas come out of nowhere !! (well I think they actually came from next door but I can't be certain - that poor fella is always covered in em) Needless to say they are back to weekly baths and no sign of fleas Skyes Dalimit - how did you find the Pine Oil?? A friend suggested this to me once but I've not tried it out as yet ....

We also use the Fidos' free-itch rinse along with an Oatmeal Shampoo (think it's from Conmurra) ... for what it's worth we've not experienced any problems with either product causing skin problems.

FTR : Panda has indeed made some VERY good points resulting from his/her research What I was saying is that IN MY OPINION there is absolutely no need for comments such as “But since I did a lot of research about some of the premium brands like SD and RC, I threw both bags in the bin” or “Don't touch Science Diet”. That’s biased and whether or not either company really cares what Panda thinks it’s uncalled for IMO. What about Freedom of Speech?? Certainly YES, I agree you should be able to voice your opinions but how about saying, like so many other people here on DOL, “IN MY OPINION I prefer to use …………. For this reason …………….” I also don’t work for or personally feed my dogs either of these foods although I have used both in past with varying results. From the Ingredient list of EP Holistic Chicken below and from YEARS of researching Canine Nutrition IMO it would appear to be an extremely good, high quality diet for your dog. I have however heard from friend using EP that they have seen an increase in ‘stool’ production? My only concern here would be how much of the food is actually being absorbed & utilised by the body and how much is being expelled as waste? As I have not personally fed my dogs EP that is something I am unable to pass judgement on. All in All from the available information EP has my Another good food for those who have difficulties sourcing EP is Nutro, mentioned previously in this thread – relatively new to Australia and sometimes hard to source but definitely ‘up there’ as far as quality goes in comparison with other Super Premiums Available in Australia. My dogs are all exclusively fed Nutro and have never been healthier or happier. The best advice anyone can give you is to RESEARCH your food labels and Ingredients!! Compare products and make informed, responsible choices about what you feed your dog. ETA: Regardless what you feed your dog there will always be 'better' out there and there will always be more to learn. You can check out a basic explanation of Label Ingredients here http://www.doberdogs.com/foodcht2.html Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Anchovy & Sardine Meal, Pork Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Whole Ground Barley, Tomato Pomace, Dried Egg Product, Flaxseed, Canola Oil, Dried Apples, Cheese Meal, Dried Carrots, Air Dried Peas, Sun-cured Alfalfa, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Quinoa (Organic), Inulin, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Beta-Carotene, Dandelion (Organic), Garlic, DL-Methionine, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Choline Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Rosemary Extract, Inositol, Dehydrated Kelp, Polysaccharide Complexes (sequestered) of Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Copper and Cobalt, Potassium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium, B. Subtillus, Bacillus lichenformis, Bacillus coagulins, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger. Nutro Natural Choice Chicken & Rice Chicken Meal, Rice Flour, Ground Rice, Rice Bran, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of natural Vitamin E), Oatmeal, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of natural Vitamin E), Natural Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Potassium Chloride, Dried Egg Product, Dried Kelp (source of Iodine), Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Biotin, Niacin, Garlic Flavor, Manganese Oxide, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Vitamin A Supplement, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Chondroitin Sulfate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.

I tried using Photoshop originally too - crap for getting the file that small .. ended up using my "Arles Image Web Page Creator" you can download a trial version - It's a pretty handly little program for pictures & websites. http://www.digitaldutch.com/arles/download.htm

In your personal settings where you loaded the original picture of Panda there is an area to load an AVATAR (sp?) .... this is what that little picture over the left is called - sorry couldn't explain it better. My Controls Over the left side under Personal Profile go to "Edit Avatar Settings" and follow the yellow brick road Hope that Helps .... Panda is very cute btw

Hi .. generally it's not advisable to keep 'switching' your puppy/dogs' diet around, it's asking for an upset tummy. Find something that is good, works and stick to it. Seems you're doing your reseach so good on you !! Great to see people so interested in what they feed their dogs. Another good Super Premium is Nutro but it's not readily available in NSW (as yet) Other people swear by BARF ... all in all provided your puppy/dog is getting a sound balanced diet and they are happy then there isn't much more you can do. What breed do you have Panda? ETA: Sorry don't know where you can by the food you're after ...

This cracked me up because I started to write the exact same thing and thought .. oh my - someone might take this the wrong way !! hahaha Anyways .......... my dogs sleep on our bed (much to my other halves disgust) and they are 25kg+ IMO so long as they are clean and you're both happy what does hurt???

I'm abit slow this morning - took me awhile to work out what you were saying !! Thought you had lost your mind !!!

Meat or Meat Based (Turkey & Chicken = Poultry and definition is the same but relates to chicken parts) Meat is the clean flesh of slaughtered cattle, swine, sheep or goats. The flesh can include striated skeletal muscle, tongue, diaphragm, heskeletal muscle, tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus, overlying fat, and the portions of skin, sinew, nerves, and blood vessels normally found with that flesh. This is what some people would call on the hoof or "wet - state". This applies equal to all livestock whether it be Beef, Chicken, Lamb, etc.. After processing these meats can loose up to 80% of their weight. Thus when looking at the ingredients list you might find it as number one but in true reality after processing it will fall between 4, 5 or even 6 on a true ingredients list Meat Meal (Turkey & Chicken Meal = Poultry Meal and definitin is the same but relates to chicken parts) Rendered meal made from animal tissue. It cannot contain hair, hoof, blood, horn, hide trimmings, stomach or rumen (the first stomach) contents, or manure except for amounts that may not be avoided during processing. It cannot contain any added foreign matter and may not contain more than 14% indigestible materials. Indigestible crude protein in the meal cannot be more than 11%. Meals are also use after processing and give a more ture actual weight on the list of ingredients for placement over whole meats or "wet - state" meats. Couldn't agree more - ideally what you want is your MEAL or MEATS listed within your first few ingredients ... BY PRODUCTS are to be avoided Poultry By-Product Clean parts of slaughtered poultry, such as heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, feet, abdomen, intestines, and heads and must not contain feces or foreign matter except that which is unavoidable and then only in trace amounts. Poultry By-Product Meal Made up of ground, rendered, and clean parts of slaughtered poultry, such as undeveloped eggs, necks, feet, and intestines. It does not contain feathers except those which are unavoidable during processing. Haven't tried it myself but from the ingredients listing Innova appears to be quiet a good, balanced dry food Good Luck !!

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/fea...s/sulphites.htm Makes for interesting reading - also click on the 'yellow' tab when viewing this page for additional information ....

Not a personal recommendation BUT Natural Balance from WA can be purchased from : http://www.pricelesspets.com.au/natural_balance.php3 $69 for a 15kg Bag - Priceless Pets is owned by a VET and is in Brisbane, he is right up there with Canine Nutrition and rates it 10/10 he also Rates some Nutro products 10/10 .... worth talking to him about

Nutro or Royal Canin If you live in Queensland I can give the number of the Qld RC Rep (and she is happy to give out direct contact details for Reps in other states) as she is a friend of ours so you can discuss which range is best for you OR please feel free to PM as my better half (Jody) has worked for Royal Canin & until recently was the Nutro Rep for Australia. Honestly?? Jody has done miles of reseach on Canin Food Nutrition and we have yet to find a better Super Premium available in Australia than these two BUT gather the recommendations of everyone and do your OWN RESEARCH - you'll be surprised at what you find. Having said that - I am sure there are dogs out there doing really well on the lower quailty/higher costing foods. You'll find posts from Jody (HoundDog) and I everywhere in relation to this subject PS: Have heard Eagle Pack is also quite good and from our research it does look good but have not been able to source it for our dogs to try.

I'm with greatdanegirl .. can't help as my guys all have them whole, they run off down the yard and chomp away ......... never even thought of cutting them up.

Chin Up Sweety, you are not the one at fault here and like jdavis said, if you hadn't been caring enough to stop and try to retrieve them than maybe they'd both have been hit by a car .. My condolances to you but rest in the knowledge you are NOT to blame :D

Alot of Vets recommend Hills Science Diet because Hills throw an awful lot of money at the Uni's etc etc... I've had several Vets & Vet Nurses confirm that they are encouraged to recommend/support Hills .... Please don't think I am tying to tell you WHAT to feed your dog - that is certainly not my intention, I am just tying to point out that you need to do your OWN research about what YOU want to feed and be happy with your choices and comfortable they work for you

http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/article...il.jsp?id=85782 Another good site which explains antioxidants/vitamins etc. .... VERY informative site - was quite impressed last night when I had a look, definately worth looking at !!!!!! If it says Poutry Meal than that is good ... Poultry Meal has the same restrictions as the Meat Meal mentioned on my original post but it's Poutry not Meat that is used. "By-Products" of any description are not good !! Buy Fresh Mince for your Family or Pet???? then check out this site which we originally came across when having problems with one of our children and "additive" problems in human grade food..... http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/fea...s/sulphites.htm once opened click on YELLOW button for some alarming results

I believe you would be right .. Sorry, I should have clarified that both labels came from Dry Food for Medium sized dogs and I've only used them as an example. KitKat - Thanks for adding to this thread in a positive Manner and yes you are quite correct Kaywoman68 - Excellent reference site, will add that to the miles of paperwork we have on this subject ... Cheers !!

My apologises for the length of this post ... having read many threads & comments on this forum on what people should and shouldn't be feeding their dogs I just wanted to say that whilst we personally feed a certain brand of Super Premium Food (and have a back up 2nd choice) I am shocked by the number of people who think just because they pay through the nose for the food that it is good .... Regardless of your chosen feeding method (Dry Food Vs BARF) it is YOUR decision to you make and can at times be very confusing :D I have not touched on BARF diets here because that would be a whole other mile long post but I do have articles and the like if you are intersted. Now I randomly picked 2 Commercial Foods mentioned a few times on this forum which I have never used and have copied the ingredients (from their labels) below..... I think they speak for themselves. NATURES GIFT Ingredients: Fresh Beef, Australian Beef & Poultry Meat Meals, Whole Grain Wheat, Sugar, Rice, Food Acid (338), Raw Hide Fibre, Glycerine, Sea Salt, Canola Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Natural Colours, Natural Antioxidants (307). Added Vitamins & Minerals incl. Copper 10mg/kg, Vitamin A 10300iu/kg, Vitamin D 441iu/kg, Vitamin E 114iu/kg. Guaranteed Analysis Energy 1400kJ per 100g Protein 21.0% Fat 7.5% Fibre 3.5% Salt 3.2% Calcium 1.9% Phosphorus 1.3% Ash 12.0% Moisture 20.0% EUKANUBA Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Fish Meal (source of fish oil), Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a source of vitamin E, and Citric Acid), Ground Whole Grain Barley, Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Flax Meal, Marigold Extract (source of Lutein), Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, DL-Methionine, Dicalcium Phosphate, Beta-Carotene, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Rosemary Extract, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2, Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Cobalt Carbonate Caloric Distribution Protein 27%...Fat 42%...Carbohydrate 31% Guaranteed Analysis Nutrient (percent) Crude Protein not less than 29.0% Crude Fat not less than 18.0% Crude Fiber not more than 4.0% Moisture not more than 10.0% Vitamin E not less than 140 IU/kg Omega-6 Fatty Acids not less than 3.35%* Omega-3 Fatty Acids not less than 0.45%* When researching to find the 'Right' food for OUR dogs (and I am certainly not saying what we feed is the ONLY thing to feed your dogs) we found many, many articles & documented facts with relation to the ingredients in not only our dogs food but in our food as well .... I have a 3 page document which explains the "ingredients" as listed on labels which I can send you (way too long for here) if you are interested ... I would like you to take just a minute to read these 2 labels above - which do you think is the better food??? In the interests of your dogs health, please - research these things & READ THE LABELS !!!!!! If your choice is to feed BARF then again, RESEARCH the ingredients - you will be surprised. Listed below are just a couple of the ingredients mentioned on these labels ... Have a read & Compare ..... Meat Meal - Rendered meal made from animal tissue. It cannot contain hair, hoof, blood, horn, hide trimmings, stomach or rumen (the first stomach) contents, or manure except for amounts that may not be avoided during processing. It cannot contain any added foreign matterials that may not be avoided during processing. It cannot contain any added foreign matter and may not contain more than 14% indigestible materials. Indigestible crude protein in the meal cannot be more than 11%. Meals are also use after processing and give a more ture actual weight on the list of ingredients for placement over whole meats or "wet - state" meats. Poultry By-Product Meal - Made up of ground, rendered, and clean parts of slaughtered poultry, such as undeveloped eggs, necks, feet, and intestines. It does not contain feathers except those which are unavoidable during processing. Food For Thought ???????????????????????

Didn't mean to imply you shouldn't go on your tour ... Personally I think it would be very interesting -- so make sure you guys let us all know how it went IF you go ... Daegon is a CHAMPION !!! Very proud of ya matie

Sorry, missed this last time. ..... With all due respect my husband just pointed out that these foods USED to contain these preservatives ... I think you'll find if you do your research that they now use 'mixed tocopherols'