pet food

[heather6773]

What pets do you have and what kind of food do they eat? I have 2 cats and one little pug (who thinks he is a cat) They either eat meow mix(original) or Kit and kaboodle. Anything else and they will turn their noses up......dog included. Do you feed dry food only or combine canned food and dry? I'm just curious if I have picky animals or if all pets are like this.

[IUgrad02]

Heather, we have only fed our animals dry food (we have a cat and a jack russell)... we've fed our dog Beneful for a long while, but she had been getting sick a lot lately and not wanting it, which concerned me. While visiting my mother, she became in love w/ mom's dog's food-- it is Iams for small/toy dogs.. it's in a bright green bag. She LOOOOOVES it. She freaks when I give it to her... gobbles it all up! I'm glad to find something she likes that is a brand I can trust. Our cat will eat pretty much whatever, but she is really overweight, and we try to keep her on weight management stuff, although it seems to do no good. :rolleyes: I've never started a habit of soft food, but when Abbey (dog) does visit my mom, she freaks out b/c mom mixes some soft food in w/ their Iam's food... she thinks my mom is some sort of food God.

[rdy2rac with]

My bulldogs eat Royal Canin bulldog formula. It truely does reduce gas output (a BIG problem w/bullies). With my first bully I spent months trying to find a food that wouldn't cause a lot of gas (long before Royal Canin).

Occassionally our pups will get some moist food as a treat (not very often).

[Turtleheadfred]

My cat gets IAMS hairball formula.

The doggies all get Neutro brand - weight control for the girls - regular large breed for the boy. It reduces shedding, keeps their skin and coats super healthy and shiny, and makes their stool smaller!

However I'm considering switching all of them to either a total or half raw diet... it really is better for them and prolongs their life.

[heather6773]

My cat gets IAMS hairball formula.

The doggies all get Neutro brand - weight control for the girls - regular large breed for the boy. It reduces shedding, keeps their skin and coats super healthy and shiny, and makes their stool smaller!

However I'm considering switching all of them to either a total or half raw diet... it really is better for them and prolongs their life.

THF what is the raw diet? I am leaning towards Iams. He really is too fat for a pug and the vet doesn't want him eating cat food anymore.

[Turtleheadfred]

Don't gag - but a raw diet is exactly what it sounds like... RAW MEAT!

You can do it several ways (and I'm not entirely versed in it so bare with me) but you can go to a butcher and get chicken, beef, whatever meat meat, tripe, brains, bones, etc. and you mix it all together and feed it to your pet.

Or there are pet food companies, one is pet food (http://www.animalfoods.com) that specifically sell kibble, food, freezedried, etc. with all the "stuff" in it already for your pets.

The proportions are different - and you also feed them just like a whole chicken thigh - the bones aren't bad for them - AS LONG AS THEY'RE RAW!!!

The actual lifespan of a canine is something like 40-60 years in the wild, but because of the processed food we feed them (grain and crap) it is shortened to 10-15. By switching or only feeding a RAW diet, lifespan is lengthened, health is improved, etc. The diet is recommended by holistic vets, and by vets treating animals for cancer and other life threatening diseases.

It is somewhat expensive, so you can also do a half/half diet to cut the costs. Hope that helps... believe me for a semi-vegetarian like me - even CONSIDERING this is a big deal! I HATE the look and smell of raw meat! :blah:

[heather6773]

Thanks THF...it does sound gross and like you I hate the look and smell of raw meat but my dog is so fat on cat food that I'm willing to try anything.

[yonksgirl]

My puppy gets natural balance. It has no fillers, and is organic.

[heather6773]

I finally found one my fat pug will eat. It was at the pet store. Its Nutro Max. He loves it. Started eating it as soon as I put it in the bowl. He doesn't even go near the cat dish any more. Plus the cats have tasted it too.