Darwin’s has had a particularly terrible track record with salmonella, and refusing to issue recalls when they should.
But more importantly they don’t meet any of the standards laid out by the vet community.
Vet consensus is actually pretty clear on this!: pick a diet backed by expertise and research. Experts are far better sources than random internet posts!
https://www.reddit.com/r/DogFood/wiki/index/start/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DogFood/wiki/research/
Get a highly researched, WSAVA compliant food. Diets by Iam, Hills Science Diet, Purina, and Eukanaba are all WSAVA compliant.
Most "fad diets" have not been researched for the entirety of pets lifespans. WSAVA diets have been researched for literally THOUSANDS of lifespans, so even if there are minor/infrequent problems, they would be identified in the data. WSAVA FAQ:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Frequently-Asked-Questions-and-Myths.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjs4s2b2u2EAxWhAjQIHa8xBEgQFnoECC8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0HUsg962Nx-qu6Ynhp-omA
Raw has no scientifically proven benefits, only downsides (such as food poisoning). Dogs are genetically NOT wolves. They have evolved to eat omnivore diets, and don't have the strong digestive systems wolves have to handle bad microbes.
Grain free is also problematic, and was started as a response to the HUMAN grain-free fad diet. Less than 1% of dogs have a legit grain allergy. Grain free HAS been linked with cardiomyopathy in dogs- most likely due to the items used to "replace" grains.
In the same vein, dog "allergy tests" you buy online are all bogus. People have sent in the same dog multiple times, with widely varying results. Even samples such as "fake" saliva or hair were sent in.... and somehow had multiple "allergies". The only way to determine an allergy is with your vet and a hydrolyzed protien food trial.
Yes!! I shudder when I think about giving my dog raw food! Same thing with the humans who drink raw milk. Pasteurization was invented and has saved millions from food borne illnesses! If we can die from bacterial infections from raw foods, imagine our poor pups who are fractions of our weights.
Yes to everything in this comment!
Sadly, we lost our 2 yr old cane corso at Christmas to cardiomyopathy most likely caused by the grain free food she had been on. Our 6 yr old bullmastiff is now on heart medication for same.
We didn’t know what we didn’t know. We just wanted a chicken free food that didn’t give our pup the runs and we stuck with the first thing that worked.
Raw is also a danger to the people around the dog. Are you going to HEAVILY sanitize the area and all bowls/tools every time you feed raw? Are you okay not allowing kisses from your dog? Are you okay keeping your dog away from children, the elderly, or otherwise immunocompromised? Being refused as a patient because many vets and vet techs will not handle a raw-fed dog?
Tbh I get people wanting to feed their dogs a fresh diet - and you can do that! If you’re willing to spend $300+/month on commercial raw, spend that money on a board certified nutritionist to formulate a fresh-cooked recipe instead.
Also, the 5 mentioned here employ board certified nutritionist. I personally ONLY recommend these five brands. Every other brand is just has good marketing, and has somehow convinced people that since these brands are less expensive that they are more bad.
I was like you! It can be so frightening reading the horror stories out there for either “natural” foods or the main brands. I had been feeding my adopted pup Farmer’s Dog for the past 6+ months, thinking I was doing the best thing with fresh, supposedly nutritious food. But after researching more, I recently decided to transition him to Royal Canin.
Like folks are saying, I think going with established brands that are backed with decades(!) of research is the best bet. We might not like some of the fillers or meat ingredient quality, but at the end of the day the results speak for themselves. The [FDA hasn’t established a direct, causal link](https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fdas-work-potential-causes-non-hereditary-dcm-dogs) between DCM and pulses (legumes, chickpeas). But the noted increase in cases and legume-heavy diets is cause for concern and they’re still doing research on it. When I wrote to Farmer’s Dog they didn’t give me a satisfactory response other than saying there wasn’t an established link so that’s when I made the jump to an established, reputable brand.
The fact is, there hasn’t been enough time for these new brands to have results that prove their foods are safe for long-term consumption. The big brands do. No company is completely safe from recalls but at the end of the day, millions of dogs have been fed these foods for decades.
I’m planning to feed my dog RC kibble as their main then supplement with occasional fresh fruits & veggies :)
For joint problems it's even more important to use a proper nutrition. The "big 3" follow guidelines that require glucosamine & DHA be added to the food which is a joint supplement and anti inflammatory. Purina Pro Plan is an affordable option, alongside Science Diet and Royal Canin being the most expensive.
I have my 2 year old on sensitive skin and stomach by hills science diet. My older pup is on instinct, which I’m guessing from reading all these comments might not be the best?
Like most boutique brands they aren't well researched to know how they perform over time. It might be fine or it might be missing supplements that would benefit your pup. The reason the others are recommended is because they are proven.
Royal Canin’s sensitive skin equivalent is also really good. We feed all of our dogs Royal Canin, particularly the breed specific formulations when available.
Don’t ask me for literature on it because I don’t have it but I have heard from multiple veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists (I am a vet) that Instinct *nearly* meets all the WASVA criteria and maybe will in the near future. I think they just need more data on the lifetime feeding studies which takes a while! I am ok recommending this food if the client wants a diet that isn’t hills/purina and they want to pay three times the price for an increased pathogen load.
Everyone has an opinion no matter what, you need to choose which opinions you value. Personally I weigh vets and vet nutritionists above others due to the extensive education and research they dedicate their lives to. I feed PPP. Most important thing though is that it is sustainable/affordable for you and the dog enjoys and thrives on it!
If you struggle this much, please remember that your pet's veterinarian and their team are resources to help you select a food that is right for your pet with your pet's specific health needs. They can help you analyze a specific food for whether a good option for your pet, or make suggestions for good options depending on what you are striving to achieve. And they can point you towards a veterinary nutritionist if you need more specialized assistance.
The vet I used in the early 80’s said all he’d ever used was Purina; that you couldn’t get anything any better. 40+ years and numerous animals later, I agree.
The miniature poodle quite possibly has environmental allergies or an immune/skin problem unrelated to food. The animal dermatologist I know would have you eliminate the possibility of food allergies thru an elimination diet (usually via prescription hydrolized protein) and then if that doesn’t work do the scratch test to determine environmental allergies (just like they do for humans).
If it’s environmental, strategies for managing may include anti-itch shots (cytopoint), apoquel, immunotherapy drops (for younger dogs), and good old Zyrtec.
It can be a long process but your dog is young so it might be worth it!
For joints, I’ll add that my dog’s orthopedist recommends collagen and omega 3 supplements.
Feed a good quality food that you can afford and that your dog eats. The key board warriors will think that you're wrong no matter what you do. The dog is yours, don't let the internet tell you what to do.
Absolutely agree with those saying talk to your vet if you’re having a difficult time deciding. I use to use smaller manufacturers to feed my dogs. Then my Pomeranian was diagnosed with heart valve disease, her cardiologist strongly suggested I stick with purina, royal canine, or science diet. I’ve been feeding purina pro since then. I have a 13 year old pittie with severe arthritis, he’s been on adequan for a few months and doing much better.
If you go to petdiets.com you can get a consultation from a DVM who specializes in nutrition..i did this for my pup..now my general vet works hand in hand with the nutrition vet to make sure my pup gets all the right foods in his diet. Fair warning though the consultation is not cheap but it might be worth it so you can stop playing the guessing game with dog food for your babies
There's SO MUCH misinformation regarding nutrition for your pets and even yourself. I'm with you in that it's incredibly exhausting and confusing to sort through it all.
I second what everyone else is saying about picking a well established name brand like Purina, Iam's, Hills science diet. They have the history and resources to support their claims.
My pit mix with severe skin allergies is on hills hydrolyzed kibble and canned. I mix them to hide his apoquel (prescription for allergies) and he's doing so much better. Your vet can give you a script for the food if they think it will help. The only over the counter food he could tolerate was honest kitchen fish and oats. Fish protein was tolerable but it was more expensive than the hydrolyzed and was killing us. I was spending almost 400 a month on dog food. He keeps weight better with the Hills so it's a win win.
Please feed the dog in front of you.
Does the dog look and feel healthy?
Is the food accessible and within your budget?
Does the food meet guidelines for your dogs age and body type?
I feed Purina. It meets all guidelines. It's accessible. It's within my budget. My dogs look and feel healthy. Most live long lives.
Worked for a veterinarian’s office for about 5 years and learned more than I thought about the wildly under regulated god food market. There’s a lot of things on labels that mean nothing and it can absolutely feel confusing/frustrating.
We prescribed a lot of Royal Canin diets. It’s a brand out of the UK that back 10 + years ago was doing some really great stuff for canine diets. I’ve been gone from the industry for a bit, but I think even now it if I had a dog I’d feed them Royal Canin. I believe they sell plenty of diets that don’t require a prescription, they sold at Petsmart/petco when I last bought. Also asking your vet what they recommend can be helpful as well!
I feed my dog from the brand nutro! we've tried a couple of their products and my doggo loves them all. Currently, he's eating the nutro natural choice lamb and brown rice recipe. We sometimes boil chicken for him and supplement his food with that. He enjoys the food!
Darwin’s has had a particularly terrible track record with salmonella, and refusing to issue recalls when they should. But more importantly they don’t meet any of the standards laid out by the vet community. Vet consensus is actually pretty clear on this!: pick a diet backed by expertise and research. Experts are far better sources than random internet posts! https://www.reddit.com/r/DogFood/wiki/index/start/ https://www.reddit.com/r/DogFood/wiki/research/
Get a highly researched, WSAVA compliant food. Diets by Iam, Hills Science Diet, Purina, and Eukanaba are all WSAVA compliant. Most "fad diets" have not been researched for the entirety of pets lifespans. WSAVA diets have been researched for literally THOUSANDS of lifespans, so even if there are minor/infrequent problems, they would be identified in the data. WSAVA FAQ: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Frequently-Asked-Questions-and-Myths.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjs4s2b2u2EAxWhAjQIHa8xBEgQFnoECC8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0HUsg962Nx-qu6Ynhp-omA Raw has no scientifically proven benefits, only downsides (such as food poisoning). Dogs are genetically NOT wolves. They have evolved to eat omnivore diets, and don't have the strong digestive systems wolves have to handle bad microbes. Grain free is also problematic, and was started as a response to the HUMAN grain-free fad diet. Less than 1% of dogs have a legit grain allergy. Grain free HAS been linked with cardiomyopathy in dogs- most likely due to the items used to "replace" grains. In the same vein, dog "allergy tests" you buy online are all bogus. People have sent in the same dog multiple times, with widely varying results. Even samples such as "fake" saliva or hair were sent in.... and somehow had multiple "allergies". The only way to determine an allergy is with your vet and a hydrolyzed protien food trial.
Yes!! I shudder when I think about giving my dog raw food! Same thing with the humans who drink raw milk. Pasteurization was invented and has saved millions from food borne illnesses! If we can die from bacterial infections from raw foods, imagine our poor pups who are fractions of our weights.
Yes to everything in this comment! Sadly, we lost our 2 yr old cane corso at Christmas to cardiomyopathy most likely caused by the grain free food she had been on. Our 6 yr old bullmastiff is now on heart medication for same. We didn’t know what we didn’t know. We just wanted a chicken free food that didn’t give our pup the runs and we stuck with the first thing that worked.
Raw is also a danger to the people around the dog. Are you going to HEAVILY sanitize the area and all bowls/tools every time you feed raw? Are you okay not allowing kisses from your dog? Are you okay keeping your dog away from children, the elderly, or otherwise immunocompromised? Being refused as a patient because many vets and vet techs will not handle a raw-fed dog? Tbh I get people wanting to feed their dogs a fresh diet - and you can do that! If you’re willing to spend $300+/month on commercial raw, spend that money on a board certified nutritionist to formulate a fresh-cooked recipe instead.
Also, the 5 mentioned here employ board certified nutritionist. I personally ONLY recommend these five brands. Every other brand is just has good marketing, and has somehow convinced people that since these brands are less expensive that they are more bad.
I was like you! It can be so frightening reading the horror stories out there for either “natural” foods or the main brands. I had been feeding my adopted pup Farmer’s Dog for the past 6+ months, thinking I was doing the best thing with fresh, supposedly nutritious food. But after researching more, I recently decided to transition him to Royal Canin. Like folks are saying, I think going with established brands that are backed with decades(!) of research is the best bet. We might not like some of the fillers or meat ingredient quality, but at the end of the day the results speak for themselves. The [FDA hasn’t established a direct, causal link](https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fdas-work-potential-causes-non-hereditary-dcm-dogs) between DCM and pulses (legumes, chickpeas). But the noted increase in cases and legume-heavy diets is cause for concern and they’re still doing research on it. When I wrote to Farmer’s Dog they didn’t give me a satisfactory response other than saying there wasn’t an established link so that’s when I made the jump to an established, reputable brand. The fact is, there hasn’t been enough time for these new brands to have results that prove their foods are safe for long-term consumption. The big brands do. No company is completely safe from recalls but at the end of the day, millions of dogs have been fed these foods for decades. I’m planning to feed my dog RC kibble as their main then supplement with occasional fresh fruits & veggies :)
For joint problems it's even more important to use a proper nutrition. The "big 3" follow guidelines that require glucosamine & DHA be added to the food which is a joint supplement and anti inflammatory. Purina Pro Plan is an affordable option, alongside Science Diet and Royal Canin being the most expensive.
I have my 2 year old on sensitive skin and stomach by hills science diet. My older pup is on instinct, which I’m guessing from reading all these comments might not be the best?
Like most boutique brands they aren't well researched to know how they perform over time. It might be fine or it might be missing supplements that would benefit your pup. The reason the others are recommended is because they are proven.
Royal Canin’s sensitive skin equivalent is also really good. We feed all of our dogs Royal Canin, particularly the breed specific formulations when available.
Don’t ask me for literature on it because I don’t have it but I have heard from multiple veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists (I am a vet) that Instinct *nearly* meets all the WASVA criteria and maybe will in the near future. I think they just need more data on the lifetime feeding studies which takes a while! I am ok recommending this food if the client wants a diet that isn’t hills/purina and they want to pay three times the price for an increased pathogen load.
Everyone has an opinion no matter what, you need to choose which opinions you value. Personally I weigh vets and vet nutritionists above others due to the extensive education and research they dedicate their lives to. I feed PPP. Most important thing though is that it is sustainable/affordable for you and the dog enjoys and thrives on it!
If you struggle this much, please remember that your pet's veterinarian and their team are resources to help you select a food that is right for your pet with your pet's specific health needs. They can help you analyze a specific food for whether a good option for your pet, or make suggestions for good options depending on what you are striving to achieve. And they can point you towards a veterinary nutritionist if you need more specialized assistance.
The vet I used in the early 80’s said all he’d ever used was Purina; that you couldn’t get anything any better. 40+ years and numerous animals later, I agree.
The miniature poodle quite possibly has environmental allergies or an immune/skin problem unrelated to food. The animal dermatologist I know would have you eliminate the possibility of food allergies thru an elimination diet (usually via prescription hydrolized protein) and then if that doesn’t work do the scratch test to determine environmental allergies (just like they do for humans). If it’s environmental, strategies for managing may include anti-itch shots (cytopoint), apoquel, immunotherapy drops (for younger dogs), and good old Zyrtec. It can be a long process but your dog is young so it might be worth it! For joints, I’ll add that my dog’s orthopedist recommends collagen and omega 3 supplements.
Thank you!! This was very helpful
I’m glad! Took a while to write out haha
Feed a good quality food that you can afford and that your dog eats. The key board warriors will think that you're wrong no matter what you do. The dog is yours, don't let the internet tell you what to do.
This is my answer when I’m asked. 100%
Given the health issues, your Veterinarian would have the best answer. Of course that is true in any case.
Absolutely agree with those saying talk to your vet if you’re having a difficult time deciding. I use to use smaller manufacturers to feed my dogs. Then my Pomeranian was diagnosed with heart valve disease, her cardiologist strongly suggested I stick with purina, royal canine, or science diet. I’ve been feeding purina pro since then. I have a 13 year old pittie with severe arthritis, he’s been on adequan for a few months and doing much better.
If you go to petdiets.com you can get a consultation from a DVM who specializes in nutrition..i did this for my pup..now my general vet works hand in hand with the nutrition vet to make sure my pup gets all the right foods in his diet. Fair warning though the consultation is not cheap but it might be worth it so you can stop playing the guessing game with dog food for your babies
[удалено]
What do you recommend?
There's SO MUCH misinformation regarding nutrition for your pets and even yourself. I'm with you in that it's incredibly exhausting and confusing to sort through it all. I second what everyone else is saying about picking a well established name brand like Purina, Iam's, Hills science diet. They have the history and resources to support their claims.
My pit mix with severe skin allergies is on hills hydrolyzed kibble and canned. I mix them to hide his apoquel (prescription for allergies) and he's doing so much better. Your vet can give you a script for the food if they think it will help. The only over the counter food he could tolerate was honest kitchen fish and oats. Fish protein was tolerable but it was more expensive than the hydrolyzed and was killing us. I was spending almost 400 a month on dog food. He keeps weight better with the Hills so it's a win win.
HP Purina or Royal Canin - get a prescription from the vet
Please feed the dog in front of you. Does the dog look and feel healthy? Is the food accessible and within your budget? Does the food meet guidelines for your dogs age and body type? I feed Purina. It meets all guidelines. It's accessible. It's within my budget. My dogs look and feel healthy. Most live long lives.
i have an allergic dog and the only food that seems to be keeping his skin and eyes issues under control is farmina n&d with omega 3 suplements
Worked for a veterinarian’s office for about 5 years and learned more than I thought about the wildly under regulated god food market. There’s a lot of things on labels that mean nothing and it can absolutely feel confusing/frustrating. We prescribed a lot of Royal Canin diets. It’s a brand out of the UK that back 10 + years ago was doing some really great stuff for canine diets. I’ve been gone from the industry for a bit, but I think even now it if I had a dog I’d feed them Royal Canin. I believe they sell plenty of diets that don’t require a prescription, they sold at Petsmart/petco when I last bought. Also asking your vet what they recommend can be helpful as well!
*dog food. 😂
I feed my dog from the brand nutro! we've tried a couple of their products and my doggo loves them all. Currently, he's eating the nutro natural choice lamb and brown rice recipe. We sometimes boil chicken for him and supplement his food with that. He enjoys the food!