Shelley86 Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 This question has been bugging me for the past while, and I decided I'd ask to see if I can get an idea of food choices available. Nova is 13 weeks old right now, and I'm trying to find a good dry kibble to feed her. Right now she is on Performatrin Ultra, Chicken +Brown Rice Puppy formula. I don't know how that particular food stacks up against others, but in general I've never had any issues with Performatrin. Nova's fur is a bit dry, which the vet thinks is due to the food and suggested I change her diet. I have about another week left of food in the bag, so I'm hoping to see what other options are out there that I could try her on. Thanks for any information, looking into all the food choices has left me a bit lost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTrain Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Shelly I see you are in Ontario. You have access through Vet clinics to food products from a Canadian company called Medi Cal. Check out their website. They make foods in different formulas and have an excellent puppy formula. We have done the research and have choosen this product for its excellent quality. We have raised several dogs on Medi Cal and still use it. We have never had any problems with coat and we do not treat or add anything else to their diet. The dogs do fine. Also, no Medi Cal products have ever been involved in a recall. I am sure there is any number of products out there that are good but this one has a very good success rate with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.DaisyDuke Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 FWIW, I fed Daisy Nutro Large breed puppy (Lamb & Rice I think). A few reasons for this were 1) We weren't sure what she was, mom was definately BC, father was rumored to be a Malamute 2) Her brothers were HUGE 3) She was very, very skinny and we had a hard time getting weight on her so the LB puppy food helped. I do not have any experience with Medi Cal, but ACANA and Orijen (Champion Pet Foods, made in canada also) both have excellent quality puppy kibbles that you should be able to get in Ontario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remy Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 I feed Remy "Purena Puppy Food", we have a "blue heeler" and when we changed her over to the adult "benefel" her coat got real soft. Once shes off the puppy food she will be eating the "beneful" adult food. My BC is finicky about eating so we give her a teaspoon of fat free chicken broth which solves her problem. Good luck, now tell me when i can expect my 3-1/2 month to have a solid come? ha ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 I'm not sure what's available in your area. I feed my dogs either Natura products (Innova or Evo) or Nature's Variety (Prairie). You don't need to feed her puppy food, as long as you feed an "all life stages" food. (Except for Evo, either of the two brands I mentioned. Evo is not recommended for puppies.) Here's an informative website: http://www.dogfoodproject.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley86 Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 I have access to pretty much any food brands around here, Global Pet Food carries most of them I believe. I haven't been in there in a while, so I'll probably make a trip there on the weekend and see what the price/ingredients/etc. are for various brands. The veterinarian did give me a sample package of MediCal, so I will probably look into that as well. I have heard good things about Innova too, so I think I'll check it out as well. Thankyou, gave me some good starting places to look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaisingRiver Posted June 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 I like Merrick & EVO - both are all life stages. Merrick is cheaper and that's what I've been feeding my current 4mo since I got him at 2mos and his coat is shiny and soft - he's a smoothie. I get either the Granny's Pot Pie or the Turkey one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexie Posted June 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 I feed Molly a mix of Orijen and Acana and I'm happy with it. But definitely check out the web site Paula listed so you can learn to evaluate labels. Your dog's health is really the best sign of a food's appropriateness for your dog. Some dogs will thrive on a food and another dog will do poorly on it. Good luck finding something right for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted June 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 Your pup is old enough to be eating adult food or an all life stages food like Canidae. Read the label on foods that are available and also refer to numerous topics on these boards concerning foods (use the search function at the top of this page) as they will often also contain links to information that you will find helpful. Many if not most dog foods are deficient in fat compared to protein. For a dry or flaky coat, try adding a teaspoon of fat for each cup of food (add this gradually over several days to avoid upsets). Use an animal-based fat if you can as it may be digested more readily (this has been discussed recently in another topic) - I use the cooked-out grease from bacon and burger for this, and it may make the food even more appealing to your pup as well. Best wishes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley86 Posted June 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 Thanks =) I'm actually really looking into Canidae All Life Stages - I've heard good things about it on some other forums. I'll keep searching around and will be heading off to the store later to hopefully get a new food. I've been browsing the website Paula listed, and it really has some good information on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley86 Posted June 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 I decided to try out the Canidae All Life Stages food, started mixing in a small amount with the Performatrin tonight. I'll gradually switch her over and see if there is an improvement in her coat and stools. I like the fact that the kibble pieces are smaller, and she seems to like the food so far. I saw some other brands at my local store like Merrick, Wellness, Innova, Nature's Variety... so finding them isn't a problem. I just need to find one that works for my little girl and isn't too straining on my budget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanillalove Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Shelly I see you are in Ontario. You have access through Vet clinics to food products from a Canadian company called Medi Cal. Check out their website. They make foods in different formulas and have an excellent puppy formula. We have done the research and have choosen this product for its excellent quality. We have raised several dogs on Medi Cal and still use it. We have never had any problems with coat and we do not treat or add anything else to their diet. The dogs do fine. Also, no Medi Cal products have ever been involved in a recall. I am sure there is any number of products out there that are good but this one has a very good success rate with us. Actually Medi Cal was added to the recall list. Global Pet Foods carries a wide range of kibble! Canidae, Innova, Evo, or Nature's Variety are all good food that you could feed your dog in a "all-stages" variety. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cool Dave Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Well not inexpensive but I feed both my dogs Kumpi. Sassy has been on it for about 5 years and my puppy Jonah has been eating the puppy variety since I got him at 10 weeks. They both LOVE it! Sassy so much from day one (after eating it once) the following day she changed her schedule to eat FIRST, THEN go out and go potty. And I mean she wouldn't go out until I fed her, whereas before, first thing she had to do was go outside in the morning. And that was when I had been feeding her IAMS and Eukanuba. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTrain Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Actually Medi Cal was added to the recall list. Global Pet Foods carries a wide range of kibble! Canidae, Innova, Evo, or Nature's Variety are all good food that you could feed your dog in a "all-stages" variety. Good luck! That bugs me, where is it listed. Our Vet has a database of recalls and it does not show up. I may need to have a word with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silhouettestable Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 I know not everybody thinks highly of Nutro, but my dogs do great on it and one of the things that Nutro guarantees is that it will improve the skin and coat. My dogs are on the Nutro Natural Choice large breed formula (chicken and rice) and they have gorgeous coats. My 7 month old pup Flurry eats the same, but the large breed puppy formula. I don't know if Global carries Nutro, but Paulmac's and Pet Valu do, as well as other farm and feed stores. I used to get mine at my local Paulmac's but I started buying from the store where I get my livestock feeds, as they get it in direct from the company instead of it being warehoused, so they can sell it cheaper. A neighbour of mine uses Medi-Cal preventative for her dogs, and my mom has her dog on Medi-Cal gastro formula. She pays the same for an 8kg bag of the Medi-Cal gastro as I pay for a 17kg (or 18.7kg when it's a bonus bag with an extra 10% free) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 ...my dogs do great on it... That's what counts, isn't it? I would still like to be aware of any issues folks have had with a particular brand or formulation, and then make up my own mind as to whether or not I'd like to try that. One thing I like about this forum is the opportunity to hear about others' experiences with products or techniques, so I don't have to muddle through trying everything out on my own, maybe to my own regret. Brands that are complimented consistently interest me much more than brands that have significant recalls or posts about issues with their quality, palatability, or feeding results. I have to balance that with what I am willing (financially or otherwise) to feed to my dogs to keep them healthy and active. Edited to add: A dog food bag "guaranteeing improves the skin and coat" is pretty meaningless to me. A lot of dog food bags make brags that aren't worth the paper they are printed on (like the super-junky foods labelled "complete nutrition for all dogs"). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silhouettestable Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 That's what counts, isn't it? Exactly. I would still like to be aware of any issues folks have had with a particular brand or formulation, and then make up my own mind as to whether or not I'd like to try that. Me too. I like to be aware of potential problems, however as long as I'm seeing great results I'm not going to muck about trying to fix what's not broke. Edited to add: A dog food bag "guaranteeing improves the skin and coat" is pretty meaningless to me. A lot of dog food bags make brags that aren't worth the paper they are printed on (like the super-junky foods labelled "complete nutrition for all dogs"). I mentioned that because the OP said that her pup has a dry coat. In the case of Nutro, not only is it on their bag and their website, they also offer a money-back guarantee if you don't find it improves the coat. Of course everyone should make up their own mind about what best suits their dog(s) needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanillalove Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 That bugs me, where is it listed. Our Vet has a database of recalls and it does not show up. I may need to have a word with him. If you do a search on "MediCal recall list", you'll find a bunch of articles on it. However, I read fast and it was only the Feline canned food that was affected between a certain date! Sorry for all the worry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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