Originally Posted by PM_Mama00 (Post 1425040)

Hmmm OMG the world is ending.

There are alot of high priced and low priced foods that are made in the same plants. Who cares? It matters what's in the food, not where it's made.

I'm trying to find a revised list that includes dry foods. I feed my dog Nutro Max food and treats. He also gets a Greenie once a week. Anyone know anything?

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga (Post 1425103)

Did you not read the part where I mentioned that in addition to the same plants they apparently use the same materials.

If you are going to make smarty pants comments like "OMG the world is ending," maybe you should carefully read what you are commenting on.

Just saying.

Originally Posted by Tippiechick (Post 1425028)

True, high-quality foods are not involved in this recall.

Why?

1) The really good brands use human-grade ingredients.

2) They do not use large amounts of fillers, like wheat gluten. Most of the petsmart/walmart/etc. brands have fillers as their main ingredients. Dogs only process a percentage (usually from 40-60%) of their food when fillers are used. When high-quality foods are used, the dogs' bodies can use around 90%. The more their bodies can use, the LESS THEY POOP OUT. Your good foods all have meat or protein as their main ingredient.

While you do pay more for high-quality foods, you aren't spending more money in the long run. Since they use so much more of the food for nutrition, they require less. I feed my dogs a fraction of what most people feed their dogs. But, they are healthy and happy.

Some really good brands are Solid Gold, Merrick, Primal, Flint River Ranch and Canidae.

If you absolutely cannot afford these brands, Purina One is the best store-brand. It's better than any petsmart brands.


ANOTHER OPTION:
Buy a bag of chicken thighs. Put them in a crockpot overnight with some brown rice and veg-all. Remove the bones before feeding. This is just as cheap as buying pet food. You just store the excess in the fridge and feed over the next week.

Originally Posted by 33girl (Post 1425272)

Just because they're made in the same plant doesn't mean they all have the same ingredients.

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00 (Post 1425281)

I don't get why people keep talking about high quality dog food. If it's healthy for my dog I don't care what the quality is. I don't eat filet mignon or caviar everyday... it's a treat (not that I have ever had or will ever try caviar). And I feel the same way about my dog.

Originally Posted by EtaPhiZTA (Post 1425257)

I have been seriously considering changing my dog's food since all of this has been developing. I have a bichon who is 13 1/2 years old, and he has always been on a combination of Iams minichunks and Eukaneuba dry food. In addition to the dry kibble, I give him 1-2 Tbsp. of moist Iams mixed in. He likes his food, but I have to say I was very shocked to see that Iams dogfoods were made in the same plant as other brands. I always thought Iams was a high-quality food.

The local privately-owned pet store stocks Solid Gold dog food, and the owner could not sing its praises enough. (I was glad to see that this is considered to be a true high-quality dog food in Tippiechick's post.) I don't mind switching my dog's food, but I have always heard that dogs often have problems when being switched from one brand to another.

Does anyone have any advice for how to make the switch without getting my dog sick? I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Drolefille (Post 1425502)

The easiest way to switch a dog's food is to gradually add in the new food while decreasing the old food. Mix it all in together. Each time you feed the dog change the proportion. Depending on how often you feed your dog the wet food (every meal or once a day or whatever) you can do it in less than a week as long as s/he is eating and their poop is normal.

Originally Posted by Tippiechick (Post 1425028)

True, high-quality foods are not involved in this recall.


ANOTHER OPTION:
Buy a bag of chicken thighs. Put them in a crockpot overnight with some brown rice and veg-all. Remove the bones before feeding. This is just as cheap as buying pet food. You just store the excess in the fridge and feed over the next week.

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga (Post 1425322)

It's kind of like when you realize that your expensive handbag with a designer name is probably produced in the same factor with similar materials as the Target handbag. You know all along on some level that you're merely paying for branding, but can be surprising never-the-less.

Originally Posted by Tippiechick (Post 1425405)

Low quality food is often coated with old restaraunt grease to give it that "dog food" smell. It can be composed of euthanized dogs and cats, cancerous parts of animals, roadkill, etc. High end companies do not do this. Thus, the cost of manufacturing is a lot more. In turn, the consumer pays a higher price when buying it.

It's not a matter of filet mignon and caviar, Phyl. It's a matter of providing a healthy diet for your baby. If you don't care that much about your baby's diet, then fine. I want my dogs to live a long, HEALTHY life. I want to know what I am feeding my dogs. And, I don't see any reason why I should not be giving out information to those who feel the same way.

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00 (Post 1429114)

PS. I'm going to PM you a question.