Thread: Dry food and other diets....

Down here in Tassie, we're quite limited in range of foods...although it's slowly improving. Best results coat and poop wise that I've had was Eukanubra premium back in the 90's...but I've heard the formula has changed and the quality is no where near as good now. ...BARF also produced great results, but it's time consuming, messy and problematic/expensive when you have really limited freezer space...also if you do a lot of travelling with your dog, it's practically unworkable. Taste of the wild has just become available down here...so I'll be trying that out (along with BARF) when the new pup comes along.

For many many years I used Natural Balance premium (locally made in Melbourne & home delivered!) and can honestly recommend it....although it's worth supplementing with chicken frames and fish oil to get the coat to a gloss that requires wearing shades to look at it. at around $25 per 9kg it was good quality at a very reasonable price.

When my last boy was diagnosed with CAH....I began the merry go round of finding foods he could tolerate, would eat and wouldn't stress his liver too much. Most of the time I had him on a homecooked chicken mince, oatmeal, fish and tofu (with fruit, herbs & veg) concoction that I cooked up twice a day...but at varying times I had success with Advance sensitive and pro plan sensitive (mostly advance). (couldn't keep his protein levels up enough on Hill's LD).

From what I hear about the traps...many have really good results on pro plan...and it was the kibble I liked best ingredients wise before TOTW became available....but even the sensitive was a bit too high in protein for a liver compromised dog...so I only used it to supplement and 'balance' the advance. (Trying to balance between ascites and HE is a juggling act).

Price wise amongst the premium foods TOTW is the cheapest as our feed store direct imports....so I'm hoping it will give as good results as people rave about it in the states.

Originally Posted by Di Anderson

Down here in Tassie, we're quite limited in range of foods...although it's slowly improving. Best results coat and poop wise that I've had was Eukanubra premium back in the 90's...but I've heard the formula has changed and the quality is no where near as good now. ...BARF also produced great results, but it's time consuming, messy and problematic/expensive when you have really limited freezer space...also if you do a lot of travelling with your dog, it's practically unworkable. Taste of the wild has just become available down here...so I'll be trying that out (along with BARF) when the new pup comes along.

For many many years I used Natural Balance premium (locally made in Melbourne & home delivered!) and can honestly recommend it....although it's worth supplementing with chicken frames and fish oil to get the coat to a gloss that requires wearing shades to look at it. at around $25 per 9kg it was good quality at a very reasonable price.

When my last boy was diagnosed with CAH....I began the merry go round of finding foods he could tolerate, would eat and wouldn't stress his liver too much. Most of the time I had him on a homecooked chicken mince, oatmeal, fish and tofu (with fruit, herbs & veg) concoction that I cooked up twice a day...but at varying times I had success with Advance sensitive and pro plan sensitive (mostly advance). (couldn't keep his protein levels up enough on Hill's LD).

From what I hear about the traps...many have really good results on pro plan...and it was the kibble I liked best ingredients wise before TOTW became available....but even the sensitive was a bit too high in protein for a liver compromised dog...so I only used it to supplement and 'balance' the advance. (Trying to balance between ascites and HE is a juggling act).

Price wise amongst the premium foods TOTW is the cheapest as our feed store direct imports....so I'm hoping it will give as good results as people rave about it in the states.

Interesting what you say about Eukanuba as I have used it a bit years ago and never really rated it that highly for the price but considering what you say that maybe why.Same with other brands that have been onsold and other cheaper ingredients get substituted ie. supacoat,bonnie etcc are just rubbish now.
I use Natural Balance it is made down the road from me.Maybe they make it over there for the eastern states market instead of shipping.It is made here for local and export market.I get seconds of it at a reduced price.
I like pro plan performance and got the best results using it.Problems are avaliability and price and also the size of the biscuits are puppy size and for large dogs it is hard for them to chew and they end up choking on it.I am going to buy a bag of Black Hawk tomorrow to give it a try but I may go back to pro plan performance as I can get it for about the same price pound for pound and I know its good.

Never seen taste of the wild but I will go have a look.

Originally Posted by Shane Johnson

Interesting what you say about Eukanuba as I have used it a bit years ago and never really rated it that highly for the price but considering what you say that maybe why.Same with other brands that have been onsold and other cheaper ingredients get substituted ie. supacoat,bonnie etcc are just rubbish now.
I use Natural Balance it is made down the road from me.Maybe they make it over there for the eastern states market instead of shipping.It is made here for local and export market.I get seconds of it at a reduced price.
I like pro plan performance and got the best results using it.Problems are avaliability and price and also the size of the biscuits are puppy size and for large dogs it is hard for them to chew and they end up choking on it.I am going to buy a bag of Black Hawk tomorrow to give it a try but I may go back to pro plan performance as I can get it for about the same price pound for pound and I know its good.

Never seen taste of the wild but I will go have a look.

The Eukanuba Premium was the best ,I used it for nearly twenty years but now, Iams in all their wisdom, do not import it anymore. The other Euks are not quite as good. The Adult one isn't bad but no where near as good as the Premium. Since then I have found another excellent food I am really happy with using. It smells nice and has heaps of natural ingredients in it and I can recommend it. Its called XP 30/20 which stands for Xtra Premium 30 % protien 20% fat (same as Euk Premium). There is a website so look up XP 30/20. I also feed Vets All Natural and raw meaty bones, plus offal , sardines and extra vegies. The dry food only makes up about 1/3 of their total diet.

I'm testing out TOTW (taste of the wild) wetlands on the heeler x JRT foster I have here at the moment...2 weeks on it and he has gone from starved all ribs uncovered to putting on a nice coverage up to the last 2 ribs and developing some good muscles in his back legs....front legs were bending in odd was when he arrived and appear to straightning up and looking more normal. poops are small and solid...not too soft, not too hard. (actually they're tiny compared to a dobes! ) So far I'm impressed....he seems to love it too...and turns his nose up at other kibbles in preference for it. Hope my dobe pup goes as well on it when he arrives.

Originally Posted by Di Anderson

I'm testing out TOTW (taste of the wild) wetlands on the heeler x JRT foster I have here at the moment...2 weeks on it and he has gone from starved all ribs uncovered to putting on a nice coverage up to the last 2 ribs and developing some good muscles in his back legs....front legs were bending in odd was when he arrived and appear to straightning up and looking more normal. poops are small and solid...not too soft, not too hard. (actually they're tiny compared to a dobes! ) So far I'm impressed....he seems to love it too...and turns his nose up at other kibbles in preference for it. Hope my dobe pup goes as well on it when he arrives.

Di, is that what it is called, "Taste of the Wild" ? Who makes it and is it easily obtained?

Honey 23, how did you find XP3020? as I'am thinking of changing from Black Hawk to XP3020.

A dog requires protein, fat, vitamins and minerals to thrive.

PROTEIN - Protein is not required for protein itself, rather for the amino acids which make up the protein. Amino acids are required to maintain muscle, skin, coat etc. as well as provide enzymes and hormones for the correct functioning of the body. Two of the best protein sources are Egg (considered the perfect protein) and Chicken.

XP3020 uses only high quality Egg and Chicken Meal as its source of quality protein.



FAT - Fat is extremely important for the dog, as dogs preferentially use fat for their energy source ie. it is the first ingredient the body uses to supply the energy needs of the dog.

XP3020 uses only high quality Chicken Fat.



VITAMINS - The main function of Vitamins is as a catalyst for the body enzyme systems. They also help to resist disease and infection. Most vitamins must be provided in the diet.

MINERALS - These are only required in small amounts and must also be supplied in the diet.

XP3020 uses only the best quality vitamins and minerals in suffcient quantities.



CALCIUM AND PHOSPHOROUS require special mention because of their importance. As much as 99% of the body’s calcium is found in the skeleton, and about 85% of phosphorous is found in combination with calcium in bones and teeth. The recommended ratio of calcium to phosphorous in dog foods is between 1.2:1 and 1.4:1. AAFCO nutrient profiles for dog food sets minimum calcium levels of 0.8% for growth and reproduction, and 0.5% for adult maintenance. The profiles also mandates a maximum level of 2.5% in all dog foods.

XP3020 analysis shows 1.5% calcium and 1.2% phosphorous which is a ratio of 1.25:1.



CARBOHYDRATES - These are NOT essential nutrients for dogs, but almost all dogs will eat some form of carbohydrates every day because it is fed in almost every diet. Carbohydrate is a good form of energy, and does provide some surplus glucose to be converted to glycogen and stored.

XP3020 uses only high quality ground corn together with oat groats as its source of carbohydrate.


GUARANTEED ANALYSIS


Crude Protein (min) 30%

Crude Fat (min) 20%

Crude Fibre (min) 3%

Moisture (max) 10%

Calcium (min) 1.5%

Phosphorous (min) 1.2%

Vitamin A (min) 16500 IU/kg

Vitamin D3 1100 IU/kg

Vitamin E (min) 110 IU/kg

Vitamin C 40 mg/kg