Some of you may be feeding these brands to your dogs and they have recalled some canned products because of high concentrations of Vitamin D. Check out the link. Recall - ( New Window )
My dogs eat Hill's Perfect Weight dry food (along with unsalted chicken broth and baked chicken). On occasion, I have received coupons for the canned food. I tried it once and my dogs wouldn't touch the stuff.
So many better options out there today, even Blue Buffalo is available in most supermarkets now. And with online options like Chewy you can get much better quality food at an affordable price.
So many better options out there today, even Blue Buffalo is available in most supermarkets now. And with online options like Chewy you can get much better quality food at an affordable price.
I beg to differ, with the exception of this recall. At least with science diet
So many better options out there today, even Blue Buffalo is available in most supermarkets now. And with online options like Chewy you can get much better quality food at an affordable price.
Blue Buffalo being available in supermarkets tells you all you need to know about the quality...
So many better options out there today, even Blue Buffalo is available in most supermarkets now. And with online options like Chewy you can get much better quality food at an affordable price.
Blue Buffalo being available in supermarkets tells you all you need to know about the quality...
It actually doesn’t at all, read the ingredients and compare it to the trash next to it like 9 Lives and Purina.
But If you really want to talk good dog foods I can name at least 10 I’d feed my dog before Blue Buffalo. And then another 10 before Hill’s
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
They have to have some grain or they develop digestive issues
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
They have to have some grain or they develop digestive issues
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Dogs have to have some grain our they develop stomach issues
So many better options out there today, even Blue Buffalo is available in most supermarkets now. And with online options like Chewy you can get much better quality food at an affordable price.
Blue Buffalo being available in supermarkets tells you all you need to know about the quality...
It actually doesn’t at all, read the ingredients and compare it to the trash next to it like 9 Lives and Purina.
But If you really want to talk good dog foods I can name at least 10 I’d feed my dog before Blue Buffalo. And then another 10 before Hill’s
Ingredients tell you absolutely nothing about the quality of a food. There are plenty of trash foods that have good looking ingredient labels because it makes sense to do so from a marketing stand point. The nutrients are what matter, your dog needs protein, carbs, fat, vitamins, etc. not chicken, venison, rabbit, or whatever ingredient is the latest fad of the month.
You want a good food? Look for one that is backed by research and invests in that rather than the ones that spend all of their money putting commercials on TV trying to trick you into thinking that the "grain free" food (which is now being linked to BCM) is good for your pet.
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Check out Royal Canin. We have 2 Bulldogs and both are doing amazing on it (1 is on the Bulldog specific formula to address issues with gas, the other is on a prescription diet to help with her skin issues). Our vet has always spoken very highly of the brand, said that they are known for being the leader in the industry as far as the amount of research they put into their foods and have a great track record as far as quality/safety (no recalls in at least the last 10 years).
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical.
Those are some great dry kibbles, but it really depends on the breed you have, life stage, needs, health issues they may have, etc. And as mentioned grain free might want to be avoided (although the jury is still out on that).
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical. Link - ( New Window )
Dog food advisor is run by a dentist that has no credentials to evaluate pet foods. He is an ingredient label reader and nothing more.
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical. Link - ( New Window )
Dog food advisor is run by a dentist that has no credentials to evaluate pet foods. He is an ingredient label reader and nothing more.
He uses the proper criteria to evaluate smart choices. Much better than trash veterinarians recommend. Again, like I said it’s a great starting point but there are lots of factors.
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical. Link - ( New Window )
Dog food advisor is run by a dentist that has no credentials to evaluate pet foods. He is an ingredient label reader and nothing more.
He uses the proper criteria to evaluate smart choices. Much better than trash veterinarians recommend. Again, like I said it’s a great starting point but there are lots of factors.
lol yes, those "trash" experts that went to school specializing in animal health. Screw those idiots, let's listen to the tooth doctor instead.
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical. Link - ( New Window )
Dog food advisor is run by a dentist that has no credentials to evaluate pet foods. He is an ingredient label reader and nothing more.
He uses the proper criteria to evaluate smart choices. Much better than trash veterinarians recommend. Again, like I said it’s a great starting point but there are lots of factors.
lol yes, those "trash" experts that went to school specializing in animal health. Screw those idiots, let's listen to the tooth doctor instead.
You’re genuinely kidding right? You know they are paid to promote the shitty food they carry in their offices, right? Like Science Diet.
I’ll take the unbiased dentist over a vet any day.
RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: What is the best dog food ? Â
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical. Link - ( New Window )
Dog food advisor is run by a dentist that has no credentials to evaluate pet foods. He is an ingredient label reader and nothing more.
He uses the proper criteria to evaluate smart choices. Much better than trash veterinarians recommend. Again, like I said it’s a great starting point but there are lots of factors.
lol yes, those "trash" experts that went to school specializing in animal health. Screw those idiots, let's listen to the tooth doctor instead.
You’re genuinely kidding right? You know they are paid to promote the shitty food they carry in their offices, right? Like Science Diet.
I’ll take the unbiased dentist over a vet any day.
Find me a vet that is paid to promote a food. They have to pay for what they sell in their offices just like any other business does. You're clueless.
and they were pretty humble about their expertise re: nutrients.
montana - I also had to put my 4 year Boxer down due to kidney issues (underdevloped from birth). Wish I had known he had kidney issues earlier because I fed him raw for a while. They have to have less protein. Needed subcutaneus fluid treaments (750cc if memory serves) 2 x /day for the last year to keep him around.
I have fed raw (Kanine Kravings), Royal Canin, and Robert Abbadi (sp & used it a while ago). Far from an expert but think a mix is best - dogs eat wet food because that is what they eat in the wild (among other things). Kibble can ensure they get nutirents and helps keep their teeth cleaner. Also have had good results adding Salmon oil.
and they were pretty humble about their expertise re: nutrients.
montana - I also had to put my 4 year Boxer down due to kidney issues (underdevloped from birth). Wish I had known he had kidney issues earlier because I fed him raw for a while. They have to have less protein. Needed subcutaneus fluid treaments (750cc if memory serves) 2 x /day for the last year to keep him around.
I have fed raw (Kanine Kravings), Royal Canin, and Robert Abbadi (sp & used it a while ago). Far from an expert but think a mix is best - dogs eat wet food because that is what they eat in the wild (among other things). Kibble can ensure they get nutirents and helps keep their teeth cleaner. Also have had good results adding Salmon oil.
There are several good options out there.
Salmon Oil is a good idea
Everyone thinks they are an expert, but really no one is Â
growing up we were so poor, we fed our dogs dog food that came in a white box and said "dog food" on it in black letters.
It looked like raw ground beef, but a strange red color
It came from the "no frills" aisle where they also had "Oat O's" and "Fruit Rings" cereal in similar packaging (though for humans).
my dogs lived long healthy lives.
One of my best friends and hockey teammates is a vet, he acknowledges that dog food brand selection is not his specialty, and he suggested to check out dogfoodadvisor.com. But he knows more than probably anyone on here and 99.9% of the population. he's always giving me shit for giving my dog "people food", cautioning me about them getting pancreatitis.
Anyway, for a variety of reasons we use Fromm and dogfoodadvisor.com is a great site. They do a good analysis of practically every brand and flavor of dog food.
I have a Boerboel. They are South African Mastiffs.
I noted that the dogs in South Africa were living longer than the dogs in the States. So I questioned the breeder to see what he thought could contribute to the age disparity. The breeder was a farmer whose family raised dogs and livestock for generations. Including Arabian horses, so I trust his advice.
The breeder offered these three suggestions;
Quote:
Go with a BARF (bones and raw food) diet supplemented by an appropriate kibble. The kibble he uses is not sold in the States, so he had no specific recommendations. I am still struggling to find the best kibble. The raw diet is intended to simulate what the dog would eat in the wild. The dogs typically ate the stomach of their prey which was full of digested vegetables.
Proper exercise, which includes long daily walks. We take our dog into the woods for 1-2 hr jaunts, and he vigorously socializes with other dogs 3-4 times a week. Putting a dog out in a yard is not exercise.
The last item he recommended was the most controversial.
He recommends delaying the neutering of giant dogs until they have matured. Dogs bones do not fully set and harden until (2) years. The dogs in South Africa rarely get hip and elbow dysplasia. He believes that bone problems are exacerbated by premature fixing.
We followed his advice for our last boerboel and he lived 13 years, I hope that Bruce will outlive the 13 years.
I had my last Golden on Hills Kidney Care K/D for years. He actually lived for about 3-4 years symptom free on that food after being diagnosed with kidney disease. I also had him taking medication for it separately.
His passing had nothing to do with the Hills food - he just got up near 13 years old and his kidneys finally failed him. He was on the food for years with no problems and actually did incredibly well for quite some time. No one ever would have known he had any kidney issue - he had his zest right up until about 2 weeks before his passing.
I have a 9 month old now who I'm feeding Royal Canin puppy food. He's healthy as can be so far. I am probably going to keep him on Royal Canin when I switch him to adult food.
Thank you again!!!
I beg to differ, with the exception of this recall. At least with science diet
Blue Buffalo being available in supermarkets tells you all you need to know about the quality...
Quote:
So many better options out there today, even Blue Buffalo is available in most supermarkets now. And with online options like Chewy you can get much better quality food at an affordable price.
Blue Buffalo being available in supermarkets tells you all you need to know about the quality...
It actually doesn’t at all, read the ingredients and compare it to the trash next to it like 9 Lives and Purina.
But If you really want to talk good dog foods I can name at least 10 I’d feed my dog before Blue Buffalo. And then another 10 before Hill’s
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
None of the cans we have left are on the list but he ate this for at least 5 weeks before suffering a major seizure
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
They have to have some grain or they develop digestive issues
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Quote:
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
They have to have some grain or they develop digestive issues
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Dogs have to have some grain our they develop stomach issues
Quote:
In comment 14282950 Ssanders9816 said:
Quote:
So many better options out there today, even Blue Buffalo is available in most supermarkets now. And with online options like Chewy you can get much better quality food at an affordable price.
Blue Buffalo being available in supermarkets tells you all you need to know about the quality...
It actually doesn’t at all, read the ingredients and compare it to the trash next to it like 9 Lives and Purina.
But If you really want to talk good dog foods I can name at least 10 I’d feed my dog before Blue Buffalo. And then another 10 before Hill’s
Ingredients tell you absolutely nothing about the quality of a food. There are plenty of trash foods that have good looking ingredient labels because it makes sense to do so from a marketing stand point. The nutrients are what matter, your dog needs protein, carbs, fat, vitamins, etc. not chicken, venison, rabbit, or whatever ingredient is the latest fad of the month.
You want a good food? Look for one that is backed by research and invests in that rather than the ones that spend all of their money putting commercials on TV trying to trick you into thinking that the "grain free" food (which is now being linked to BCM) is good for your pet.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Check out Royal Canin. We have 2 Bulldogs and both are doing amazing on it (1 is on the Bulldog specific formula to address issues with gas, the other is on a prescription diet to help with her skin issues). Our vet has always spoken very highly of the brand, said that they are known for being the leader in the industry as far as the amount of research they put into their foods and have a great track record as far as quality/safety (no recalls in at least the last 10 years).
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical.
Link - ( New Window )
Quote:
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical. Link - ( New Window )
Dog food advisor is run by a dentist that has no credentials to evaluate pet foods. He is an ingredient label reader and nothing more.
Quote:
In comment 14283020 Archer said:
Quote:
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical. Link - ( New Window )
Dog food advisor is run by a dentist that has no credentials to evaluate pet foods. He is an ingredient label reader and nothing more.
He uses the proper criteria to evaluate smart choices. Much better than trash veterinarians recommend. Again, like I said it’s a great starting point but there are lots of factors.
Quote:
In comment 14283052 Ssanders9816 said:
Quote:
In comment 14283020 Archer said:
Quote:
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical. Link - ( New Window )
Dog food advisor is run by a dentist that has no credentials to evaluate pet foods. He is an ingredient label reader and nothing more.
He uses the proper criteria to evaluate smart choices. Much better than trash veterinarians recommend. Again, like I said it’s a great starting point but there are lots of factors.
lol yes, those "trash" experts that went to school specializing in animal health. Screw those idiots, let's listen to the tooth doctor instead.
Quote:
In comment 14283057 Mike in NJ said:
Quote:
In comment 14283052 Ssanders9816 said:
Quote:
In comment 14283020 Archer said:
Quote:
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical. Link - ( New Window )
Dog food advisor is run by a dentist that has no credentials to evaluate pet foods. He is an ingredient label reader and nothing more.
He uses the proper criteria to evaluate smart choices. Much better than trash veterinarians recommend. Again, like I said it’s a great starting point but there are lots of factors.
lol yes, those "trash" experts that went to school specializing in animal health. Screw those idiots, let's listen to the tooth doctor instead.
You’re genuinely kidding right? You know they are paid to promote the shitty food they carry in their offices, right? Like Science Diet.
I’ll take the unbiased dentist over a vet any day.
Quote:
In comment 14283060 Ssanders9816 said:
Quote:
In comment 14283057 Mike in NJ said:
Quote:
In comment 14283052 Ssanders9816 said:
Quote:
In comment 14283020 Archer said:
Quote:
We feed our dog raw protein and vegetables.
Mostly chopped meat, salmon, and yams.
We use this as a supplement to a dry kibble.
We fed our dog Taste of the Wild until recently.
Our Vet warned us about a grain free diet. There are new studies that show that a grain free diet is linked to canine heart issues .
So now we are feeding our dog the giant breed Blue Wilderness.
I thought that this was a good dog food but I would appreciate any other suggestions
Honestly, raw diets are probably the best so I’d continue with that. Unfortunately for most it’s not affordable or practical. Link - ( New Window )
Dog food advisor is run by a dentist that has no credentials to evaluate pet foods. He is an ingredient label reader and nothing more.
He uses the proper criteria to evaluate smart choices. Much better than trash veterinarians recommend. Again, like I said it’s a great starting point but there are lots of factors.
lol yes, those "trash" experts that went to school specializing in animal health. Screw those idiots, let's listen to the tooth doctor instead.
You’re genuinely kidding right? You know they are paid to promote the shitty food they carry in their offices, right? Like Science Diet.
I’ll take the unbiased dentist over a vet any day.
Find me a vet that is paid to promote a food. They have to pay for what they sell in their offices just like any other business does. You're clueless.
montana - I also had to put my 4 year Boxer down due to kidney issues (underdevloped from birth). Wish I had known he had kidney issues earlier because I fed him raw for a while. They have to have less protein. Needed subcutaneus fluid treaments (750cc if memory serves) 2 x /day for the last year to keep him around.
I have fed raw (Kanine Kravings), Royal Canin, and Robert Abbadi (sp & used it a while ago). Far from an expert but think a mix is best - dogs eat wet food because that is what they eat in the wild (among other things). Kibble can ensure they get nutirents and helps keep their teeth cleaner. Also have had good results adding Salmon oil.
There are several good options out there.
montana - I also had to put my 4 year Boxer down due to kidney issues (underdevloped from birth). Wish I had known he had kidney issues earlier because I fed him raw for a while. They have to have less protein. Needed subcutaneus fluid treaments (750cc if memory serves) 2 x /day for the last year to keep him around.
I have fed raw (Kanine Kravings), Royal Canin, and Robert Abbadi (sp & used it a while ago). Far from an expert but think a mix is best - dogs eat wet food because that is what they eat in the wild (among other things). Kibble can ensure they get nutirents and helps keep their teeth cleaner. Also have had good results adding Salmon oil.
There are several good options out there.
Salmon Oil is a good idea
It looked like raw ground beef, but a strange red color
It came from the "no frills" aisle where they also had "Oat O's" and "Fruit Rings" cereal in similar packaging (though for humans).
my dogs lived long healthy lives.
One of my best friends and hockey teammates is a vet, he acknowledges that dog food brand selection is not his specialty, and he suggested to check out dogfoodadvisor.com. But he knows more than probably anyone on here and 99.9% of the population. he's always giving me shit for giving my dog "people food", cautioning me about them getting pancreatitis.
Anyway, for a variety of reasons we use Fromm and dogfoodadvisor.com is a great site. They do a good analysis of practically every brand and flavor of dog food.
I noted that the dogs in South Africa were living longer than the dogs in the States. So I questioned the breeder to see what he thought could contribute to the age disparity. The breeder was a farmer whose family raised dogs and livestock for generations. Including Arabian horses, so I trust his advice.
The breeder offered these three suggestions;
Go with a BARF (bones and raw food) diet supplemented by an appropriate kibble. The kibble he uses is not sold in the States, so he had no specific recommendations. I am still struggling to find the best kibble. The raw diet is intended to simulate what the dog would eat in the wild. The dogs typically ate the stomach of their prey which was full of digested vegetables.
Proper exercise, which includes long daily walks. We take our dog into the woods for 1-2 hr jaunts, and he vigorously socializes with other dogs 3-4 times a week. Putting a dog out in a yard is not exercise.
The last item he recommended was the most controversial.
He recommends delaying the neutering of giant dogs until they have matured. Dogs bones do not fully set and harden until (2) years. The dogs in South Africa rarely get hip and elbow dysplasia. He believes that bone problems are exacerbated by premature fixing.
We followed his advice for our last boerboel and he lived 13 years, I hope that Bruce will outlive the 13 years.
His passing had nothing to do with the Hills food - he just got up near 13 years old and his kidneys finally failed him. He was on the food for years with no problems and actually did incredibly well for quite some time. No one ever would have known he had any kidney issue - he had his zest right up until about 2 weeks before his passing.
I have a 9 month old now who I'm feeding Royal Canin puppy food. He's healthy as can be so far. I am probably going to keep him on Royal Canin when I switch him to adult food.