What Dry Food To Feed ?

[Bullmastiffmum]

Thankyou in advance.

Was just after some opinions on dry food options to feed my boy.

He is a 6 1/2 yr old bullmastiff, for the past 18 monthes i have been feeding him (on the advice of my vet) royal canin skin support. Which he loves and seems to be doing well on, we put him on it due to skin issues which we were controlling ok, but after some recent flar ups, we opted to take him to a dermatoligist, which has given us a new plan of attack for maintaining his skin, and she mentioned that for his issues, he doesnt really need to be on skin support, as the benefits from it were minimal.

We do feed him a varied diet, but core food will be his dry food.

I have looked/printed off many dry food options and there ingredients, but i am doing my head in.

I wanted to have an idea on what was out there, so i could contact vet and/or dermatoligist next week and see what there opinions are, but i would love other large breed dog owners to tell me what they feed and what there dogs are chowing down on.

[Danois]

I feed ProPlan Sensitive Skin and Stomach to my Dane. It is fish based.

[denali]

I don't own a large breed dog, but used to frequently dogsit Hank, a large boxer x mastiff, and he was on proplan :)

Not the same one as Danois, just general large breed, but he looked like he did really well on it!

ETA: I feed raw now, and am loving it, but before that my dogs were on Royal Canin and seemed quite good. They're littlies though. 11kg max :)

Edited April 17, 2014 by denali

[Yonjuro]

I don't know much about very large breeds specific nutritional requirements so please take these options as just ideas on foods that appear to have quality ingredients.

Wellness make some very good foods by all reports and the ingredients look better than most. I have linked their large breed formula which is not grain free. Their "core" range looks even better but don't know if the kibble size, and high protein levels are suitable. Either way there are a few different formulas to consider.

http://wellnesspetfood.com.au/product-details.aspx?pet=dog&pid=61#ingredients

Canidae is also a very good food, but the above considerations also apply

http://www.canidae.com.au/dog-food/canidae-grain-free-pure-sea-new-formula

also

http://www.pawsforlife.com.au/product/earthborn-holistic-ocean-fusion/mw72011

Others have mentioned raw feeding which could be great for your dog, but You have asked for ideas on dry. Has the vet given any suggestions on food other than what they stock or given a reason not to try raw?

[Lhok]

My Akita who has skin issues has been going great guns on the Earthborn Holistic the grain free ones, I haven't tried coastal catch but he seems to love the primitive and the meadow feast.

Not sure about it for a bullmastiff though the kibble size for the primitive is kinda on the smallish size whereas the meadow feast is in the middle.

http://www.earthbornholisticpetfood.com/international/dog_formulas/

--Lhok

[aussielover]

If's he is doing well on skin support why change? He may not need it, but if he's doing well on it then there may be no point in switching.

I assume he is not specifically food allergic and has done a food trial?

Are you after something to help his skin or just a change of dry food?

You could look into a raw diet. Earthborn holistic has a grain free range which I have tried for my allergic dog but it is really fattening. Which in a way is good because you don't need to give them much, but not so great for an always starving labrador! It didn't make a difference with her skin.

I'm considering a raw diet, the only difficulty is she can't have any bones as she doesn't chew them and tends to get them stuck

[bridgie_cat]

It depends on what is causing his skin issues a bit. But by the same token, even if it is not specifically food intolerance there is some evidence that low allergy diets will still help 30% of itchy skin dogs.

In saying this - the skin support food is not hypoallergenic (allergy free/very low allergen) it is just lowER than normal ones and has the correct ballance of omega fatty acids which may help somewhat with skin issues....

Recently imported from WA (all aus owned and ingredients I believe) is a new brand called Natural Balance, which I think is quite nice as it is cheaper than the RC sensitive skin, and their Delicate range is both hypoallergenic AND has the correct balance of omega fatty acids - the 2 big things you are looking for in a skin diet.

Skin is a combination effort and if your dermatologist says this is not important than it is up to you - but often doing multiple "supportive" type things will help skin even if they are not going to cure it on their own.

Re taste - must say I have not found much that beats royal canin for palatability (according to my sample size of 2 shelties ) except perhaps black hawke ... but this is their normal range (lamb and rice) we have tried which I do not think has any of the "low allergen" or fatty acid things I look for in a skin diet.......

Best of luck with it all!

[Bullmastiffmum]

Thankyou for the replies.

His skin issues as the dermatoligist told us, appears to be a mild case, more environment etc, his skin is yeasty gets red, but he doesnt lick at it or appear itchy. (we did suggest maybe he is just too lazy to bother :) ).

so she thought it unneccessary to do allergy testing (at this stage) more of a barrier assistance, oil supplement, spray, ointment cream, alternate shampoo/ conditioner.So until a 3 week follow up, i wouldnt be changing his diet, we just want to atleast have a more consistant plan, and manageable, something that can be reduced and increased depending on whats happening skin wise, so hopefully barrier plan works.

But....just didnt get into the food discussion, my fault as i was trying to take it all in.

I have just always gone with whats suggested, never checked out options and after feeding him on royal canin for that long, i have noticed the market has boomed in options, and after reading previous topics on dogs on line, i am now aware there is a huge difference in products.

So yes, probably over thinking it, and he does love and look good on skin support, just have noticed discussions on black hawk, raw diet, any grain free options, and just wanted to see what dogs are enjoying, and whats keeping them healthy inside and out :)

trying to work out what ingredients are necessary for a large, sensitive skin, slightly older boy has overwhelmed me.

Thanks for suggestions

Googling and printing, ready to read up on.

[VizslaMomma]

Thankyou for the replies.

So yes, probably over thinking it, and he does love and look good on skin support, just have noticed discussions on black hawk, raw diet, any grain free options, and just wanted to see what dogs are enjoying, and whats keeping them healthy inside and out :)

trying to work out what ingredients are necessary for a large, sensitive skin, slightly older boy has overwhelmed me.

Thanks for suggestions

Googling and printing, ready to read up on.

Unless the issue of the cause of the skin problems is addressed, the dry food is like a band aid.

what makes him tick ( or misfire) needs to be considered as well.

Could I usggest you look at posts by these two users Erny & Steve ( in alphabetical order).

Their emphasis is the whole well being of the dog not just a meal. There is likely more doable after careful reasearch.

[Yonjuro]

Thankyou for the replies.

So yes, probably over thinking it, and he does love and look good on skin support, just have noticed discussions on black hawk, raw diet, any grain free options, and just wanted to see what dogs are enjoying, and whats keeping them healthy inside and out :)

trying to work out what ingredients are necessary for a large, sensitive skin, slightly older boy has overwhelmed me.

Thanks for suggestions

Googling and printing, ready to read up on.

Unless the issue of the cause of the skin problems is addressed, the dry food is like a band aid.

what makes him tick ( or misfire) needs to be considered as well.

Could I usggest you look at posts by these two users Erny & Steve ( in alphabetical order).

Their emphasis is the whole well being of the dog not just a meal. There is likely more doable after careful reasearch.

Good comment and suggestions VizslaMomma!

One thing that I have been adding to my dogs food for a couple of months after some itchiness is Augustines Approved Super Boost. I am not sure if it is this, the change to a fish based food or the Calendula tea, or a combination of all three but my boy doesn't have and further itchiness and he is glowing with health.

More to print out and ponder I suppose :D

http://www.augustineapproved.com.au

[VizslaMomma]

Good comment and suggestions VizslaMomma!

One thing that I have been adding to my dogs food for a couple of months after some itchiness is Augustines Approved Super Boost. I am not sure if it is this, the change to a fish based food or the Calendula tea, or a combination of all three but my boy doesn't have and further itchiness and he is glowing with health.

More to print out and ponder I suppose :D

http://www.augustineapproved.com.au

Thank you.

I follow Augusinte Approved on Facebook.

Threads like this are such a benefit for looking after our dogs.

Must be a thrill for you to have your boy glowing in health.

[Yonjuro]

Good comment and suggestions VizslaMomma!

One thing that I have been adding to my dogs food for a couple of months after some itchiness is Augustines Approved Super Boost. I am not sure if it is this, the change to a fish based food or the Calendula tea, or a combination of all three but my boy doesn't have and further itchiness and he is glowing with health.

More to print out and ponder I suppose :D

http://www.augustineapproved.com.au

Thank you.

I follow Augusinte Approved on Facebook.

Threads like this are such a benefit for looking after our dogs.

Must be a thrill for you to have your boy glowing in health.

Apologies to go off-topic.

Yeah Ronin is the picture of health, but teenage husky plus great energy = much hard work on the training front :laugh:

[Salukifan]

BM if you are interested in doing some reading on holistic dog health, I would recommend The Handbook of Natural Dog Therapies; Healthy Dogs by Dr Barbara Fougere. There are chapters on the canine digestive system, diet, supplements and medicinal herbs along with recommendations for most common ailments.

Dr Fougere is arguably Australia's leading holistic vet. If you were after a second opinion on treating your dog's allergies, its who I would recommend. She does phone consults and told me that allergies are among her most common referrals.

[VizslaMomma]

BM if you are interested in doing some reading on holistic dog health, I would recommend The Handbook of Natural Dog Therapies; Healthy Dogs by Dr Barbara Fougere. There are chapters on the canine digestive system, diet, supplements and medicinal herbs along with recommendations for most common ailments.

Dr Fougere is arguably Australia's leading holistic vet. If you were after a second opinion on treating your dog's allergies, its who I would recommend. She does phone consults and told me that allergies are among her most common referrals.

Totally agree with this.

A great Vet with so much knowledge.

I have a worn copy of this very book.

[alpha bet]

none !

[denali]

none !

Raw?

yes, i would suggest this also. But it seemed like the OP was interested in kibble only.

But raw would be mu pick :)

[Yonjuro]

BM if you are interested in doing some reading on holistic dog health, I would recommend The Handbook of Natural Dog Therapies; Healthy Dogs by Dr Barbara Fougere. There are chapters on the canine digestive system, diet, supplements and medicinal herbs along with recommendations for most common ailments.

Dr Fougere is arguably Australia's leading holistic vet. If you were after a second opinion on treating your dog's allergies, its who I would recommend. She does phone consults and told me that allergies are among her most common referrals.

This sounds like one I would like to pick up. Thanks for the heads-up.

Does anyone know where this is available from before I go a googling?

[aussielover]

Is this dermatologist actually a specialist?

One of the first steps toward investigating ongoing skin problems is a food trial to rule out food allergy.

This involves feeding a novel protein and carb only for a minimum of 8 weeks (kangaroo and pumpkin is the most common). You can also use commercial hypoallergenic diets but the are not quite as good at picking up an allergy.

Personally I'd do a proper food trial and if he turns out not to be food allergic then transition to a raw diet