Dog Food Recommendations

SullDog

Hi all!

I've been feeding my lad (Lab x Staffy) Hill's Science Plan since day one, he's now 7 and in the middle of transitioning onto the senior food AND I've also recently adopted another little menace (Beagle 4 months) and have started her on the Science Plan puppy food, seemed like the obvious course of action. NOW, they both eat their food happily, no complaints, good stools albeit a bit on the smelly side of things BUT even though the vet highly recommends it, also sells it 😉, I don't feel nutritionally it's the best for the pair of them? I'm looking at changing things up and have narrowed it down to Markus Muhle Black Angus Senior/Puppy and Wolf of Wilderness as the two possible alternatives to the current feeding. Has anyone had any positive/negative experience with either?

keno-daytrader

Acana, Wolf of Wilderness, Taste of the wild, Purizon, all grain free that we have fed, no runny poos!

I would never consider buying Hills, as the food isnt great, costs and arm a leg and the Vets are paid big to sell it(push it)

muddypaws

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118135620#Comment_118135620

Vets aren't paid big to sell it, they sell it the same way every business sells anything, they buy it at wholesale cost and sell at retail.

Joey.

If the dogs are doing well I’d not change from the science-backed food you are feeding. It’s one of the best.

keno-daytrader

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118139169#Comment_118139169

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Good one Joey!

Ave Sodalis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118141980#Comment_118141980

It is. Alternatively, the grain free foods you've listed have a possible link to diet related DCM due to their high content of lentils and/or potato. The reason vets recommend Hills, Royal Canin etc,. is the same reason I recommend them. They're open about the scientific research that goes into the food they produce.

I'll also back muddypaws in saying that vets are not paid to sell specific brands of dog food.

DBB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118142972#Comment_118142972

That is not peer-reviewed research. That whole grain-free food/DCM link was made by a vet who works for one of the major food companies, and was essentially an opinion piece, not published for peer-review. As such, and until (a) the findings can be replicated and (b) the results are put forward for review in a scientific journal, the article which claimed this link should be discounted.

I have never seen an unfounded article gain so much traction so quickly in the veterinary community as this one.

Ave Sodalis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118143069#Comment_118143069

https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/253/11/javma.253.11.1390.xml

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-provides-update-investigation-potential-connection-between-certain-diets-and-cases-canine-heart

https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-investigates-link-between-dog-diets-and-deadly-heart-disease

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30797439/

The possible link hasn't been ruled out quite yet, and whilst further studies are certainly needed (and are in progress), there is certainly enough of a trend to warrant veterinarians advising to avoid certain types of diets.

DBB

I'll await to be convinced when I see decent, peer-reviewed evidence, and I'd rather see studies with more than 48 subjects (the final one of your links there). That has been an issue throughout... small sample sizes, and/or selective listing of what foods have been linked with DCM. What seems certain is that causes of DCM are multifactorial, and teasing out the involvement of grain-free foods as has been done so far remains less than convincing.

The following article, saves me posting multiple links, as it covers a lot of the information that casts doubt on the links posted above and the claims made by the FDA, bearing in mind that the FDA gave control of the regulation of the pet food industry to AAFCO, the board of which is made up of majority of pet food reps (including Purina and Hills)... kinda makes the whole thing stink to high heaven!

https://www.petfoodindustry.com/blogs/10-debunking-pet-food-myths-and-misconceptions/post/9729-dcm-and-grain-free-pet-food-september-2020-fda-update

Autosport

I give my lad Wolf of wilderness and he loves it and no complaints from me or him 👍

SullDog

Head like a sieve! Sorry and thanks for the replies guys, I'll take them onboard and have a look round.