Dog food advice

Pin-seeker

Pin-seeker

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Ok so my Dog (French bulldog) is 2 years old and as always been fed on dry food.
I've been advised that raw food is better for them.
Just purchased a pack (Natural instincts).
Anyone switched from dry to raw & did you see a difference with your dog?

Thanks.
 
Don't rush there too quickly. I know it is fashionable to go raw at the moment but dry food has many advantages. I'll be interested to see the replies.
 
I had a rescued Staffy, who until his departure aged 14 was on James Welbeloved dry food.
It may have been more expensive than some others, but it was definately gentler on his stomach anddidn't have the same "effects" some other foods did;)
I would use the same food again, when I have another sometime in the future.
 
We have a cocker spaniel, 7, and has been fed dry food, James Welbeloved usually, from the start. Better for their teeth, very comfortable with the contents health wise, less smell in the house from both the food and definitely the dog.

Unless the vet told me otherwise I wouldn't change and having just had her annual jabs and check with a clean bill of health that won't be happening this year.

I know some people recommend giving them raw meat once a week so maybe try that approach first of all to see how that goes before going full in.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
We have a cocker spaniel, 7, and has been fed dry food, James Welbeloved usually, from the start. Better for their teeth, very comfortable with the contents health wise, less smell in the house from both the food and definitely the dog.

Unless the vet told me otherwise I wouldn't change and having just had her annual jabs and check with a clean bill of health that won't be happening this year.

I know some people recommend giving them raw meat once a week so maybe try that approach first of all to see how that goes before going full in.
Click to expand...
Read a few articles that says never mix raw & dried as they digest at different times.
Leave 12 hrs between switching.

James welbeloved is what he's been on.
Not had any problems with it,just keep hearing that raw is better for them.

If only I gave as much thought to what I eat.
 
I do remember reading that dogs dont neccessarily like changing food like we humans do. I know ours used to be quite off with any changes we might have made due to forgetting to get a new bag of his normal.
 
Pin-seeker said:
Read a few articles that says never mix raw & dried as they digest at different times.
Leave 12 hrs between switching.
Click to expand...

There is plenty of advice out there, sometimes conflicting, sometimes too much. That seems pretty straight up and logical.

The option is all or nothing then? There would be a lot of extra work for you certainly if you went raw.
 
Our two boys (a Jack russet and a Collie) are both on Burns dog food.
The jack is a very very fussy eater and sensitive to change. We've always struggled to get him to put weight on. THIS is the only thing he'll beg for when it comes meal time.
It's not by any means cheap, but I don't own a dog to save money so I don't mind 1 bit.
 
I used to feed our dog Chappie and she loved it and lived for 15 years. When I mentioned this to the vet he said he wished his dogs would eat it as it has such a wide variety of things in it.
Mind you, she would eat anything including, given half the chance, the contents of the cats litter tray! :mmm:
 
Gizzi our first Shih tzu was nearly 16 when he had to be put to sleep due to irreversible liver damage , IMO caused by his heart medication.
He was much better fed than me :(. Every day HID made him boiled chopped chicken breasts, rice, a mixer with various veg.
His replacement Millie is nearly 10 now and still looks like a pup. But she's very greedy and will eat anything that's available.
But sadly she's had a very sensitive stomach/ bowel from day one, with the odd bout of Pancreatitis , a true Shitzoo.
Took us years to get her settled on ProPlan sensitive skin dried food, if she eats anything different, oops its poops everywhere.20170514_153826.jpg She ran into a wall hence the skint nose, i think she needs new brake pads.:D
 
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The dry food is perfectly good for them. Consider also what is convenient for you and what suits your pocket. We used to have a crowd of working labs and fed them Skinner's dry food, with a higher protein content in the winter. Now we are left with one retiree and he's on Bakers. I can recommend that, it's a bit of a mix of dry kibble and tender chunks and you can get different types for puppy, senior, adult etc.
 
We were pointed in the direction of CSJ from a vet nurse years ago and their food has been great for our Labs. They have a nutritionist on hand to advise and are always really helpful and send samples of what they recommend. Ours are currently on Fit & Fast which has been great for Daisy's slightly sensitive tum. Otherwise we had them on "That'll Do" and when Max got older "Old Champ" :-)

https://www.csjk9.com/
 
lex! said:
The dry food is perfectly good for them. Consider also what is convenient for you and what suits your pocket. We used to have a crowd of working labs and fed them Skinner's dry food, with a higher protein content in the winter. Now we are left with one retiree and he's on Bakers. I can recommend that, it's a bit of a mix of dry kibble and tender chunks and you can get different types for puppy, senior, adult etc.
Click to expand...

Skinners is good - we have 2 very active and energetic springers and they thrive on it. The price is reasonable compared to the top end stuff (we pay £27 for 15kg) and the ingredients are good compared to most.

Bakers is awful stuff as any vet will tell you. Full of sugar and fat which is why dogs love it, but it is not good for them at all. Read this review https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-reviews/0012/bakers-complete-adult
 
rudebhoy said:
Skinners is good - we have 2 very active and energetic springers and they thrive on it. The price is reasonable compared to the top end stuff (we pay £27 for 15kg) and the ingredients are good compared to most.

Bakers is awful stuff as any vet will tell you. Full of sugar and fat which is why dogs love it, but it is not good for them at all. Read this review https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-reviews/0012/bakers-complete-adult
Click to expand...

Another vote for Skinners.
I have a 5yr old Patterdale/Cocker cross and she's been on Skinners for all her life.
She's on their Field & Trial Maintenance which, because it's for working dogs, is free of VAT apparently!
It costs around £18 for a 15kg bag.
We also give her a few veggies and a couple of cod liver oil tablets with her daily meal.
She's 5½ years old and still runs all day long at twice the speed of sound.
She'll be on Skinners for her whole life ....................... she loves it.

NZ1MGsB.jpg
 
Always fed my Springer on dry food and only certain types.

Arden Grange, james well beloved etc.

Just alternate between Fish content and Lamb. Cant do poultry as it gives him the squits.

Always bang cod liver oil and glucosamine in his morning feed as he is arthritic due to hip displasya. Still runs about like a lunatic on fire though. Hes bloody ace.

he gets wet as a treat every now and again (once a month probs). Just some junk food like Pedigree chum etc.
 
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