what kind of dog food

i was just wondering what kind of dog food everyone uses on this forum? i use iiams weight control......

sorry for so many questions i just havent had the opportunity to talkto others about their pugs b/c i dont really know anyone with pugs

I'll put my prejudices up front--I don't feed kibble often and when I do, I feed a no grain, high protein kibble. I mostly feed raw food. And I never, ever feed a weight control food. I adjust portions and the amount of exercise. I'd be really careful about feeding a weight control formula to a dog as young as Honey. She needs a fair bit of high quality nourishment at her age that she won't get from a weight control formula.

I'm a total fanatic about canine nutrition so my opinions are generally pretty strong about it.

feeding your dog raw food is very bad for your dog i just received a web site from one of the members on this forum that tell you all the foods that you should try and keep away from...

i would send it to you but my comp just died and im on my boyfriends comp now and i dont have it on his comp

^ Yeah those are foods toxic to dogs on that site that MaryJo referred you to , but that site didn't have anything about the raw diet. It was just telling you about foods that can be harmful to dogs. There is plenty of "human" foods that are absolutely beneficial and better for dogs to eat than commercial foods.

I've been doing my research and have been gaining lots of knowledge through people like northernwitch/Blanche that teaches me a better way to feed- back to the way nature intended.

Think about it in the most base of ways- before animals became pets what did they eat?

Raw meats and fruits and berries and veggies they found themselves!

Many commercial foods are labeled of "vet recommended" "good for dogs- now with joint health support" BUT dont trust it to not look at the ingredients.

There is MANY fillers put in there, that do no benefit any dog, but cuts costs for dog food suppliers and many can be causing health problems. Many dogs have allergies to these ingredients, or are hungry because it's not filling them up, its filled with too much fat that it makes a dog gain weight when they eat normal.

If you're going to do commercial, try for more high quality foods. Definitely look around the different threads here and ask people here specific questions you have.

Okay back to topic....I feed LuLu some kibble, Science Diet but I DO NOT want her on it but its been very hard to find kibble she likes, very picky with dry. It's what the shelter fed her. I love for her to go on Orijen but have not gone to a specialty store to try some on her.

She is slowly transitioning to a part raw and part cooked homemade food diet as opposed to canned food (Wellness). I dont think I want to do full homemade raw some meals I'm going to be using dehydrated raw food such as Honest Kitchen. I think maybe after LuLu's dental she'll be up to trying to eat more raw meaty bones but right now it seems like it's too much for her bad teeth to handle.

Feeding a dog raw food when you don't know what the hell you're doing is very dangerous. And not every dog does well on raw. There are medical conditions and immune issues that make raw feeding dangerous for some dogs.
For what it's worth, I've been feeding my dogs raw food for 15 years and not only have I not injured or killed my dogs through my feeding program, I've managed to save several of them from lives of misery from allergies. My father, who was a breeder of dalmatians and great danes, fed his dogs raw food for 40 years.
There are LOTS of websites on raw feeding. I would never tell anyone that they HAVE to feed their dogs raw food. It is what works best for three of my four dogs. Many, many breeders feed raw and more and more vets are learning about the benefits of raw feeding.
What I will say is that what you feed your dog is an individual decision, but do your research. Read about what's in commercial dog foods. Read about how different foods are ranked for quality. Don't assume that a vet has all the answers. I love my vet, but even she will admit that she isn't as knowledgeable about canine nutrition as she could be and acknowledges that the courses offered in vet schools on canine nutrition are funded by Science Diet and other pet food companies.
I appreciate that you are learning and sharing your new found knowledge, but please recognize that I'm not new at this. I've had dogs all my life. I've done tons of research on food and allergies and canine nutrition. I actually do know what I'm doing and what I'm talking about.
Raw food isn't for everyone or every dog, but it has it's place and if done correctly does not pose a hazard to most dogs.

This is a good website to look at. http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com

This is the review for Iams Weight Control Food

Iams Weight Control Food Analysis

Compared to a High Quality 6 star food, Orijen Adult which is what I plan to give my LuLu

Orijen Adult Food Analysis

There are ingredients there that you would actually eat as a person. Also think about the order of the foods...high in proteins. Dogs need that, not carbs....us humans need less protein and can live with carbs but wouldnt you say a majority of our meals have the meat as the biggest part? I dunno about you, but I'd be very sad and bloated if all I ate was corn meal mixed with a tiny bit of meat.


I support raw and homemade meals but I know it is NOT for every dog nor every owner as it takes much research and time to get it to be the proper balance. Even I'm not doing full raw on LuLu as she tolerates mildy cooked food better and commerical dehydrated raw prepped foods. I've been reading on this and taking advice from books and experienced people on here and other sources, but I am no expert and to be a better owner feel even if I find her ideal food, I will never stop learning about nutrition as there is so much to learn and can only improve my relationship with my dog as a responsible owner that prolongs her life by keeping her healthy as best as I can. They can't read labels or tell what's bad for them, they are like children and need conscious learned choices to be made for them.

If you go commercial kibble, get the best you can for her and look around that site and see the difference. Specially a puppy shouldnt be put on weight control foods. Just like a baby they are growing and hungry and needing plenty of healthy nutrients to grow. You don't put a baby on a diet right? It restricts so much of what is needed to grow into a healthy adult. You just have to manage the portions to make sure its enough high quality food, but not enough to make her over eat and get fat.

honey612 wrote:

sorry for so many questions i just havent had the opportunity to talkto others about their pugs b/c i dont really know anyone with pugs

Thats what a forum is for though!

People here are for asking questions. And we take time to give thorough answers because we care as a community for everyones dogs.

Even people like me who have had dogs all my life and have even had show dogs have A LOT to learn and ask as there are many kinds of dog owners here, with much experience to share.

I definitely am a better off owner from being on here and also its not just about getting dog information, I got friends here. I got people who understand silly stuff about my dog that some people just don't get because they don't have that deep love and passion of being "pugged" by our silly smoosh face creatures.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, feel free to ask a lot of questions and be prepared for lots of answers! Haha you can see I'm very passionate about writing back to people, but because I care. You're not going to get that at many forums.

And welcome!

the only reason why i put her on weight control is b/c i DONT want her to get FAT.....i didnt know that there were no pros for iiams weight control....but then again my vet said that she is the HEALTHIEST pug that he has ever seen.....honey is 18lbs......

this vet that im using had been takin care of my families animals before i was born and they lived long lives...a black lab being a mut and being 17 and being deaf half blind and other conditions that i dont remember b/c i was to young to even remeber....

and several cats that my mother has had and one having kidney stones and she lived til she was 17 and we had to put her to sleep for some other reason that i cant remeber......

soo you listen to your vet and ill listen to my vet and thats that..

im not talkin bout you lulu

One thing you'll (hopefully) learn here is that everyone is very knowledgeable about pugs. Many of us are involved in rescue and Blanche really knows her stuff. However, you may get answers that you don't like. It doesn't mean that you have to agree with them, but you should at least respect the person answering your question. If you're not willing to accept answers that don't necessarily agree with your own opinions, it's best you just not ask.

Weight control is NOT healthy for younger dogs. If it is what your vet recommended, I would suggest getting another vet. There are a lot of websites out there that rate dog food based on facts and there are a lot better foods that you could feed Honey than Iams Weight Control.

what are you feeding you black pug? and how am i suppose to know if im not going to like what the other person has to say or not thats why im taking a chance.....

I would agree that vets aren't usually the best source of information on what to feed your animals - beyond "a good quality food" or a prescription diet.

I had read somewhere (isn't that a great source?!! LOL) about how much time is spent on nutrition in veterinary school and it wasn't much at all.

honey612 wrote:what are you feeding you black pug? and how am i suppose to know if im not going to like what the other person has to say or not thats why im taking a chance.....

What I meant was that I felt your response to Blanche was a little rude. You're not always going to like the answers and if you can't be open minded and respect other's opinions without being rude or snarky, it's best to not ask. Everyone has an opinion on what is best for their dog. I felt your response to Blanche belittled her knowledge.

My pugs are fed Natural Planet Organics. Here is a thread I started about their food: http://www.pugauthority.com/general-medical-nutrition-f1/natural-planet-organics-t2259.htm

akc0104 wrote:I would agree that vets aren't usually the best source of information on what to feed your animals - beyond "a good quality food" or a prescription diet.

I had read somewhere (isn't that a great source?!! LOL) about how much time is spent on nutrition in veterinary school and it wasn't much at all.

Up here in Canada, vets are only required to take one course on canine nutrition. And I'm not even sure it's required. And it is funded ENTIRELY by Science Diet/Hill's company--who, in my opinion, make terrible food except in rare cases where a dog has a specific medical need and MUST eat a prescription diet.

Jill, I lost my temper with you, and I apologize for the tone of my response. I run a pug rescue and I foster for an all breed rescue. I've had hundreds of dogs under my care in my 53 years. Food is a big issue with me because I see so much damage done by people feeding the wrong food or a food that is inappropriate for the dog. Literally half the dogs (at least) that come into rescue with health issues have those health issues because of diet. I know that most owners don't feed their dogs badly out of malice, but because they don't know any better and neither does their vet.
Honey won't get fat if you exercise her sufficiently and feed her a portion of a high quality food that is appropriate to her age and activity level. And don't pay attention to the portions on the dog food bag--they are always too high.
By all means, listen to your vet, but do your own research, too. You are the only advocate Honey has and you need to be as well informed as you can be. Vets don't give bad advice to be mean or rotten. They give bad advice because they base their advice on what they learned in vet school and it isn't always the best advice when it comes to food--and I would also add vaccinations. But that is another whole debate for another time.

well i didnt mean to belittle her knowledge, just like i didnt agree with her, she didnt agree with me, so its a lose lose situation.....and just b/c she supposly knows so much about dogs that doesnt mean that shes right, that doesnt mean that im right, and that doesnt mean that your right.

Look here, we were trying to give you resources because giving diet food to a puppy isnt good. She wont get fat if you just feed her correctly food made for puppies. Diets are made for already overweight dogs and people but no one is on a permanent diet if they want to keep healthy. Just like babies go on baby food not adult Atkins food or South Beach Diet. Puppies need all the nutrients to grow.

Any vet can be asked about this and if you trust your vet word only then ask your vet to recommend the best possible for your puppy. You said you put your dog on that food, not your vet so if you trust them 100% with everything to do with your animals, shouldn't it be good to just ask what they think?

I was just simply showing you how different food choices can make a difference in health. I was not telling you to follow us who do raw, but I was just saying to do your research about kibble. It's just another resource to know so that you know what is best for your dog. I'm not telling you to go against your vet, but to simply KNOW as there are many side effects to different deemed "safe" foods since many dogs have allergies. I know I trust my physician very well, but I wont say yay okay put me on that drug you recommend for my condition without getting to know whats going in my body and its the same for ANY family member of mine including my dog who can't know herself. It's just smart in case the dog has allergies or tummy problems on a food, you know what signs to look for, what ingredients might be bothering them and can go back to your vet that recommended it and say hey, I think he's having problems with the food.

Also an important FYI,

You did not have to be rude about it as none of us giving information was rude to you. We welcome you here and I have stated that we are a very passionate group here because we like to share information and views. Only when we try to share, do we truly educate ourselves about the different ways of doing things.

If you do not feel like you agree with someone you dont have to as we even said RAW IS NOT FOR EVERY BODY OR EVERY DOG and have CAUTIONED people to not start it without tons of researching (I spend 3 hours everyday reading on this topic alone!) but Blanche knows what the hell she is talking about and as a long time valued member should as least have the courtesy of a proper and simple "I disagree, I will just follow my vets recommendation on this and dont think thats right for honey". than you go to your vet and i go to mine.

See?

It just comes off wrong and we don't like stirring up drama here so one of our unspoken rules is that we are vocal and thats absolutely fine to have a debate and strong opposite opinions, BUT we are polite about agreeing to disagree.She did not mean anything by it but she knows a lot since she isnt just
an owner, she is a rescuer and sees tons of dogs showing the samepattern- food caused allergies and illness. But yes, she doesnt have all the absolute answers, no one does thats why we were saying not to base things on just what you think or were told by one person, just research and know for yourself.

All we ask if you ask questions, keep an open mind. And dont hesitate to ask them if you want to learn about the world of dogs outside of what you've been exposed to. I thought I knew everything and my shit dont stink then I tried to listen and realized I don't know everything and that a broad opinion is better than basing myself on one opinion given to me only thats just going on faith when to really do whats right we listen, do research and find whats right for us in an informed manner.

Sorry that was long winded, but I felt like there's a lot to say on why we are telling you all this and we arent just some arses telling you whats what but advising to think for yourself and know what youre giving the dog by being informed of all the different possibilities.

honey612 wrote:well i didnt mean to belittle her knowledge, just like i didnt agree with her, she didnt agree with me, so its a lose lose situation.....and just b/c she supposly knows so much about dogs that doesnt mean that shes right, that doesnt mean that im right, and that doesnt mean that your right.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me. But I do expect that if you are going to disagree with me, you're going to disagree with me because YOU have facts on your side to back up your position. I may not agree with lots of people on their feeding decisions, but if they've done their research, have made an INFORMED decision about how and what to feed their dog based on that research, then great.

So far, I can't see any evidence that you've done any research at all on canine nutrition. I realize this is new to you and yes, some human foods ARE dangerous to dogs. It's part of doing your research. I've done mine and made the decisions that, in my opinion, based on my research and knowledge about the health issues my dogs deal with, is the best decision for my dogs.

Feed raw, don't feed raw--I don't care, but make an informed decision. Not a decision based solely on the word of one or even two people--whether they are vets or not. Doesn't mean I won't argue my case, but most of us on this board have been long time pug owners and most of us have learned through trial and error about some of the problems with prescription diets and grocery store brands of food. I dearly wish that a board like this had existed 20 years ago--I'd have saved my border collies (which I had then) alot of misery if I'd known more about canine feeding back then.

northernwitch wrote:

akc0104 wrote:I would agree that vets aren't usually the best source of information on what to feed your animals - beyond "a good quality food" or a prescription diet.

I had read somewhere (isn't that a great source?!! LOL) about how much time is spent on nutrition in veterinary school and it wasn't much at all.

Up here in Canada, vets are only required to take one course on canine nutrition. And I'm not even sure it's required. And it is funded ENTIRELY by Science Diet/Hill's company--who, in my opinion, make terrible food except in rare cases where a dog has a specific medical need and MUST eat a prescription diet.

I did my own research when it came to choosing a nutrition plan for my pugs and cats. There are lots of good web site out there with great factual information. Based on research AND on experience as a pet sitter, I chose to feed a raw diet.

Thurston has thrived on Nature's Variety, Primal or Stella and Chewey's. My rescue, Kimchi, was a mess when I got her and the turn around I have seen in her health with good, raw nutrition is amazing. She is a different pug all together. I'm blessed with healthy, infection-free pets and by vet doesn't get to see me as much. Of my many, many clients who fed raw, theyir pets were by far the healthiest. Those who fed Science Diet, Iams, Royal Canin or Eukanuba were by far the ones always going to the vet. It was a really easy choice and one that has paid off.

Recently I have been attending canine nutrition classes taught by a canine nutritionist. Sadly, even the brief formal education I have had is more than most vets get in school. For most vets, the answer to a problem is to order your pet to eat a prescription diet. They have quite a few benefits for having you buy this product - mainly, it's a fantastic source of income for them. They have mark-ups that are about 2-3 times what normal food mark-up is, they get paid by the companies who make the food, and they get other nice perks for being a high volume vet.

Medical doctors don't know everything about preventative care and vets know even less. I just decided I was the one responsible for feeding what was best for my pets since I was the one responsible to pay their medical bills. I did my research and chose accordingly.

But, I will support what Blanch has said and take it one step further.... feeding Science Diet, Iams, Royal Canin, Purina, Walmart, and many other "popular" brands of pet food would be like feeding yourself Taco Bell Tacos morning, noon and night. Would you do that to yourself? Why would you do it to your pet?

One of the better dog food research sites is The Dog Food Project.

when i got honey i DID ask my vet if iiams weight control was good for honey and my vet said that i made a good choice theres my back up.....and i will consider changing her food but my brother also has a rottie mix with german sheppard and my brother feeds her iiams weight control so even if i do decide tochange her food it wont be easy.... i came on this forum to communicate not argue. period end of story i dont wanna hear any more about it if i make my decision when i do its up to me....lets just put this behind us and move on

Not Afraid wrote:One of the better dog food research sites is The Dog Food Project.

Yep--a good site.