What’s the best food for labs (puppies)?

Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by MattyG, Apr 27, 2020.

  1. MattyG

    MattyG Registered Users

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2020
    Messages:
    8
    Location:
    South Wales, UK
    Ok so this can be contentious but I have fed my pup Purina Beta (puppy) food since we have got him purely because that’s what the breeder used. Having since read a bit online, it doesn’t seem like the best choice (not that my pup is having elimination issues). But not quite sure I have found the answer for what is the best brand.

    I think I like the convenience of the dry puppy food so would like to know what the best in the market is - from a nutritional POV regardless of cost.

    And just for further knowledge, what is the IDEAL diet to put a Labrador on regardless of convenience?
     
  2. Dandan111

    Dandan111 Registered Users

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2019
    Messages:
    12
    When we picked up our pup he was on purina. I did some reading and
    found different takes on food. In my opinion it came down to a grain or
    grain free diet. I live in farm country and honestly don't have a problem
    with grain. I transitioned our puppy to diamond puppy food. He did so
    well at a little over a year I switched him to diamond maintenance.
    The last visit at the vet she asked what I'm feeding because in her opinion
    he looks perfect. Just right on weight and has a strong build. He is still
    under 80 lbs but I'm guessing will top out a little over 80 full grown.
    The sky is the limit on dog food.
    If your staying with dry the big question will be grain or no grain?
     
    MattyG likes this.
  3. Christina2807

    Christina2807 Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2019
    Messages:
    389
    There is a great website where you can compare the cost and also nutritional rating. You input your pups details age, type etc and comes up with a list of results. I have copied the link below for you :)
    We started our puppy on Simpsons premium 80/20 but at 5 months she ended up with a funny tummy, vet said to put her onto the adult food as the puppy was too rich for her now. We thought that it was a bit young to be on adult food. We were toying with whether to switch to raw or not and this made the decision for us. Since 5 months she has been on Natural Instinct and everyone comments on how shiny her coat is and how healthy she looks.

    https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/the-dog-food-directory
     
    MattyG likes this.
  4. Edp

    Edp Registered Users

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2014
    Messages:
    1,350
    You will get a million opions to this question so you need to do what suits you and your dog. Many would argue a raw diet is the best, but I can't quite face that. Meg does get plenty of fresh rabbit from spring to autumn but thats delivered by the cats ! She is on James Wellbeloved which is a middle of the range good food. She is a fabulous weight, shiny coat and bundles of energy. It really suits her. The other brand she has had in the past is Miiles Wolfheart, that is a bit better quality I think, read their website and you can chat to them about your specific dog needs. They are pretty local to me and I only switched back to JWB because it was easier to collect. Millies now deliver for free so i will probably switch back. Good luck with your choice.
     
    MattyG likes this.
  5. mom2labs

    mom2labs Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 30, 2018
    Messages:
    187
    Our breeder had our puppy on Purinia Plan Focus for puppies but we will be switching him to all raw soon.
     
  6. Jo Laurens

    Jo Laurens Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2018
    Messages:
    1,603
    Location:
    Jersey, Channel Islands
    If you're really looking for the best nutritional diet, then - in my opinion - it's raw. Here is some reading and research:

    https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/04/27/dry-pet-food-extrusion.aspx

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16013542

    https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-017-0981-z

    https://healthypets.mercola.com/sit.../kibble-fed-dogs-metabolic-stress-levels.aspx

    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190906104102.htm

    https://asiakas.kotisivukone.com/fi...Poster_149-1371_FENS_Roine_Hielm-Bjorkman.pdf

    This is a deeper dive:


    I feed my dogs a pre-made raw mince, supplemented with blueberries, kefir, wild salmon oil and probiotics daily. When I have a pup and want to do a lot of training with my dog's meals, I feel Ziwipeak - which is air-dried raw that I can handle, unlike raw mince.
     
  7. MattyG

    MattyG Registered Users

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2020
    Messages:
    8
    Location:
    South Wales, UK
    @Jo Laurens - Wow, that must set you back a bit in food costs for your dogs.
     
  8. Bungie

    Bungie Registered Users

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2019
    Messages:
    22
    If you are going to feed dry food then check the first 5 ingredients, 3 of the first 5 should be meat or meat meal.

    And get one that is for large breeds

    Personally I prefer to avoid anything with corn/maize because they use it to bump up the protein levels, but that extra protein is not available for the dog. They can’t convert it.
     
  9. Jo Laurens

    Jo Laurens Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2018
    Messages:
    1,603
    Location:
    Jersey, Channel Islands
    No, it costs much less than when we fed kibble and works out incredibly economical.

    Not to mention that my Lab, who's been raw fed almost all her life, has never been to the vet (besides initial vaccinations) and is 6yo. So I see that we've saved a fortune, through feeding a species-appropriate diet. Obviously I can't prove that is due to what I'm feeding, but there's a correlation there for me, compared with previous dogs.
     
  10. MattyG

    MattyG Registered Users

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2020
    Messages:
    8
    Location:
    South Wales, UK
    @Jo Laurens - So what is a typical week's food that you use for a lab and at what cost. If it works out cheaper to give a better diet, i'm all for that. I am starting at the beginning here :D
     
  11. AlphaDog

    AlphaDog Registered Users

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2015
    Messages:
    316
    Been feeding my lab raw last 4 years since a young pup. We buy in bulk -- 8 lb logs of beef, 5 lb logs of turkey, bulk fish, gizzards, liver, and when available rabbit, duck and assorted other items to mix it up. I'd say we spend about $100 US per month and we prepare his monthly meals at once and freeze. Yes, it's time consuming and many people think it's horrid but IMO heat extruded kibble with most of its nutritional value lost is not a choice I want to make. I have a blood panel done every year and it has always come back tops. It also helps if your vet is on board with a raw diet. In fact if you do switch to raw and your vet opposes choose another or you'll get a condescending lecture when you visit.
     
  12. 5labs

    5labs Registered Users

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2019
    Messages:
    819
    Location:
    North Yorkshire
    I currently have 8 dogs (5 labs, a golden retriever, a springer and a collie cross). I have raw fed for over 10 years. I currently spend £200/month on their food, so £25/month per dog; less than £1/day. Cheaper than a good quality kibble.
     
    Christina2807 likes this.
  13. Christina2807

    Christina2807 Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2019
    Messages:
    389
    What do you typically feed them on?

    We are using Natural Instinct and it is costing around £110 for 5/6 weeks.
     
  14. 5labs

    5labs Registered Users

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2019
    Messages:
    819
    Location:
    North Yorkshire
    I use DAF (Durham Animal Feeds) and add fruit/veg.
     
  15. Jo Laurens

    Jo Laurens Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2018
    Messages:
    1,603
    Location:
    Jersey, Channel Islands
    We probably spend about £10-15 per dog per week. I feed Nutriment raw chubbs. I buy frozen blueberries from the store and add a tablespoon of those once a day, Grizzly Wild Salmon oil from Amazon - one bottle lasts a good couple of months, but keep it in the fridge to prevent oxidation - and a splash of kefir over the top...

    As with all foods, I feed according to each dog's size and appearance and not by whatever the packet says - even when feeding raw. This means I feed much less than what packets advise. And so it is much cheaper...

    I also use some training treats each day, which for my dogs are usually boiled liver, kidneys, hearts, (all of which I get frozen from the supermarket) or cheddar - sometimes roast meats if a joint was on sale.
     

Share This Page