So recently in the States there's been this big debate over what to feed your dog. The raw movement is gaining a lot of traction as home-cooking. Essentially more and more people are switching over to a raw diet and condemning kibble as 'junk food' and 'commercial garbage'; they qualify all kibble as trash from what I've gleaned. Which, how can that be? I realize that the high cooking temperature saps nutrients so it's not the best diet but at the same time I refuse to believe a dry food like Orijen can be looped in the same class as something like Kibbles n' Bits. It's hard to find an objective opinion on what has become a sensitive subject and a soapbox for many and I only want to do what's best for my dear boy. So, I was hoping I could get some honest advice here rather than a biased endorsement. Is kibble truly as terrible as they say? Am I harming my dog by feeding him kibble? I'm open to switching his diet to a healthier, more natural one but honestly have no clue where to start. I've done a fair amount of research on BARF, home-cooked, dehydrated/freeze-dried and still have questions. Teller is currently on Fromm Hasen Duckpheffer. He's only ever been on good quality kibble, ones with primarily meat ingredients - high protein/crude fat, grain-free, non-GMO - and has no skin or food allergies to speak of except an aversion to beef-products - he can clear a room if he eats beef, doesn't get diarrhea just gas. He has a healthy coat, teeth, muscle tone, and is of an ideal weight; overall he's in very good condition. I was thinking of switching him over to Orijen but the whole backlash against kibble has me concerned. He's a typical lab in that he's a garbage bin with legs and will literally eat every food on earth - seriously, I've not found a single veggie/fruit/meat/etc. that he will not eat. Ideally I'd go full raw but I don't have the freezer space nor the space for an additional freezer to go full-raw and if I'm being honest my housemates wouldn't be thrilled about animal organs and whatnot filling the freezer lol. Also I cannot possibly see how there's any support for the claim that a raw diet is less than or not significantly more expensive than kibble. From every source I've looked into (grocery stores, wholesale, local delivery companies) it is inconvenient and expensive to feed an active 80 lb dog exclusively raw. I've contacted local butchers but they do not sell offal or unused parts of the animal to the public, the only few that do are a good distance away. After doing calculations for each of these scenarios, it would cost at least $50/week for meat alone - which is more than my own weekly grocery bill. On the other hand a bag of Orijen would cost me about $95/month. I've heard it said time and time again that feeding kibble and raw together are like mixing bleach and ammonia, dangerous and absolutely taboo. Is this true or can you feed your dog a combination, say raw as one meal and kibble as the second if you feed twice a day (which I do)? I'm interested in dehydrated/freeze-dried foods like Sojos, Grandma Lucy's, Stella & Chewy's, Addiction Grain-Free, NRG Optimum, The Honest Kitchen, Spot Farms, etc. but these seem as uneconomical as raw for a dog Teller's size. For example, 8 lbs of dehydrated food might last him 16 days at $75-100/box. Does anyone use/have experience with these brands or any others like them? As for home-cooked, I wouldn't know where to begin lol. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hi @Teller's mom , the whole what to feed your dog is a total minefield isn't ? I've thought long and hard about raw feeding, I can really see the benefits of doing so, but like you decided the practical aspects of storage etc would not suit very well, although I think here in my part of the Uk it wouldn't be too costly. I'm sure there are other Forum members who feed both kibble and raw (indeed I dabble a bit) and I'm sure they'll be along. I don't have any experience of freeze dried or dehydrated foods. I have recently changed Cassie's food, after dwelling on it for a while, I think you need to decide why you want to change and what you want to include/exclude in the diet. Kibbles come in such a range that you can't lump them all together. For me it came down to the additives used, I get the occasional hyper behaviour, and the amount and odour of her poo as she has been an own poo eater. The latter being the biggest issue, early indications are that it's been a good move. Don't know if this helps at all.
I done raw with Rory it was good but the risks for me we're to great. I now use a good kibble and occasionally do raw for perhaps a meal a day
I just want him to be as healthy as possible. He doesn't have any food or skin allergies, like I said, just the sensitivity to beef that produces godawful farts. I occasionally give Teller a raw egg (shell on) or some bits of raw meat, if I'm being honest. He's a huge fan of eggs. I was thinking about supplementing his diet with turkey necks, fish, and chicken backs without going full raw. I've even contacted local farms but most just specialize in chicken or beef (which he can't have). Now that you mention it, his poo does smell rank, but it being you know, poo, I didn't think too much of it lol. Yeah, Teller likes to chow down on a pile of his poop every now and again, much to my chagrin. I've taught him to wash his mouth out afterwards. He comes over to me sulking and I just sort of hold up the hose and let him drink.
I certainly don't think that all kibble is rubbish , just that some is infinitely better than others ! I feed my two on a decent kibble, one that doesn't have additives or colourings , plus raw food, sometimes meat or sometimes raw fish, plus some steamed veggies . I guess they have 50/50 of kibble and raw most days and have perfect poos !
I agree with @kateincornwall, not all kibble is low quality. In fact, there are more and more high end, good quality kibbles available that are competing with "freeze dried" and pre-packaged raw. The best food is what works for you, your dog and your budget. Dog food trends seem to follow human trends...gluten free/grain free/organic etc. I think a lot is marketing, so doing your research and finding the right balance for your own dog is the most important. Go into 5 stores, and you will get 5 different recommendations on what is best. Many people are happy with raw, and we looked into that as well as freeze-dried. It's not for us - in terms of cost and convenience. I am happy with the kibble we selected for Quinn, her poops are small, firm and not smelly and her coat is shiny. Most evenings, she gets a mixture of high end wet food or soft cooked veggies with her kibble and each day she gets a kong that include meat, veggies, fruit and sometimes yogurt.
@QuinnM15 and @kateincornwall - Do you guys have any kibble recommendations? Obviously manufacturers will differ given that I'm in the States, but what do you look for in a kibble? What sorts of ingredients would make you pass on a food? What ingredients do you look for?
I consider the Fromm you are currently feeding a good food - we fed Fromm Large Breed Puppy. I seriously considered Fromm 4 Star when we were looking at adult food, but decided going with Canadian made/ingredients was important to me (we are in Canada). There are so many options, it is really hard to navigate. I'm currently feeding GO! Fit and Free by Petcurean. I was not specifically looking for a grain-free food, but was looking for high quality meat and fish ingredients, with a high protein content, no artificial preservatives. There is something about 'meal' containing more protein than just the meat in the ingredient list, but I got a variety of different answers when I was asking about that (some say meal is cheap, others say it is better as it is higher protein). I personally wanted a line of foods with options in recipes in case a food allergy presented (it did not) or if the store was out of our food and we needed something quickly without transitioning (I know, that seems crazy). I reviewed the food on a few dog food websites (take with a grain of salt) and spoke to several pet stores and asked their recommendation (which I then researched haha). We also got sample bags of different brands to see what food she liked (not recommended for labs - she liked all the options ). I was open to trying a few adult foods until I found one that she was a good weight at and liked, but this one has worked great so I'm sticking with it.
I use Millieswolf heart tracker mix. Rory has colitis and it's low in fat and has really helped. I've been very happy with the food it's the first one I've found that he keeps weight on with.
Having researched the subject I happily feed my dogs a good quality kibble. If you want to know more about dog food and the science around dog food tead Linda P Case 'All about dog food' for an unbiased view on canine nutrition
Hi Kate.I hope you don’t mind me butting in here but I’m interested to know if the extra food that you give your dogs in on top of the recommended amount of kibble? I’m just changing Alfie to Millie’s Wolfheart as he seemed to me to not be gaining enough weight on his previous food (he does expend a lot of energy on walks;he never stops running) When I look at the amount they say to give him it just doesn’t seem like much so Im giving him sardines and bits of meat on top as I’m concerned about him not getting enough food when he’s still growing ( he’s 19 months) I’d really appreciate your thoughts on this x
The recommended amount of kibble is just a guide. For many Labradors, it is way too high and the dogs would be overweight if they ate that much. For some, it's too little. It depends entirely on their metabolism and activity levels. Of course, the guides don't have any capacity to include this information, and it's nonsensical that a couch potato would need the same caloric intake as a dog that is constantly on the go. So don't base the amount you're feeding your dog on the arbitrary number on the back of a packet, but on your dog's condition. You should be able to feel the dog's ribs without applying any pressure, be able to see them easily when he sucks in, such as when sniffing deeply or eating, but not see all of them all the time. Some people do like to keep their dogs slim enough that the last two ribs can be seen at all times.
No, its not in addition to the kibble , I feed less kibble to allow for the extras ! I haven't ever given my dogs the recommended amount , they would be fatties if I did ! Sams metabolism must be really great ( lucky thing ! ) because he has always been lean , tall and muscular but lean , whereas Nelly would run to fat very easily if allowed . So yes , add the extras if you wish but reduce the kibble and no I don't mind you asking at all x
My dogs all get a mixed diet. They have one meal a day of raw, and "bonus" training treats which are often homemade, or things like small pieces of cubed ham and cheese. They get lots of kongs, stuffed with kibble plus one of tuna, sardines or mince. They actually get very little food in their bowls, as most is used in training. My puppy, for example, gets 15 pieces of kibble, twice a day
That’s really interesting. Thanks so much for the help.Very much appreciated. Sometimes I think that I worry more about the dog than my children!!
