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  1. #11
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Black Labbies View Post
    Even we RAW/homemade feeders feed grains, etc. Years ago it was a big no-no to feed grains with raw, but we stuck with our vet's advice and fed grains/wheat/carb, and all in moderation.
    With Opal at almost 14 years old, we've reduce the meat protein and increased the grains/wheat. She's holding her weight well (she was losing too much). Ursa, does better with boiled yams as her carb.
    I say, feed what works best for your dog.
    I feed 0 grains, it's been years now. I used to add rice when my dog was younger because he was so active, he was very thin.
    No issues whatsoever, but I don't feed legumes either. I think the issue with the grain-free are the legumes, and not the lack of grains.
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

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    Beth C (03-22-2019)

  3. #12
    Senior Dog voodoo's Avatar
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    chili been doing well on farmina last few months...I just buy it direct from them as it is hard to find in stock sometimes....Farmina Pet Foods - Dog food
    chili likes it, but he likes anything except duck.
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    Chili born 7/21/2013

  4. #13
    Real Retriever Beth C's Avatar
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    I've fed my maltese/westie mix grain free, due to her sensitivity to nearly EVERYTHING! Potatoes are a biggie, as well as any grains, and anything with feathers; she also has a grass allergy. The only kibble she does okay on is Orijen 6 Fish. Thank God she's a small dog - that stuff is insanely expensive! My other little dog is prone to colitis, but isn't sensitive to grains, so I just feed him grain inclusive diet dog food (low fat) even though he's not at all fat. High fat and high protein set his colitis off, combined with his nervous nature (yorkie/chi mix - need I say more?!? - lol).

    Lido, my lab puppy, didn't do well on grain inclusive kibbles that include corn, wheat, or soy (pudding poo, despite probiotics), but he is doing okay on Annamaet Encore, which is grain inclusive. His tummy skin has darkened, which is an indication of a sensitivity, but as long as that's all, I won't switch him to grain free. He's a little itchy/scratchy, but not severe.

  5. #14
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    My breeder fed Hills Science Diet and I kept my Lucy on that for 3 years but the shedding was insane. She had soft stool often. Switched to TOTW Prairie, shedding decreased by half and coat is soft and shiny, normal stool. Based on new data from FDA, I am going to switch back to a food that doesn't include legumes/potato but not sure what to try next. If you've switched from grain free back to grain containing food, what foods did you try and did you notice any difference in their coat? Has anyone tried the Farmina Ancient Grain?

  6. #15
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Lark came from the breeder on Purina Pro Plan and after she was a year old I tried different grain free foods for a few years. Once I read about the DCM issue I went back to PPP cold turkey. Personally, I would not use any food that does not meet WSAVA guidelines until they determine what about the food is the problem. The only foods that meet those guidelines are Purina, Royal Canin, Hills, and Eukanuba. Farmina does not.


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    Sue

    Chase 9/29/2006- 6/30/2017 Always in our hearts
    Lark 12/25/2012- 2/2/22
    Henry 7/14/18
    Joey 5/14/2022

    “Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

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    Doreen Davis (07-29-2019)

  8. #16
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Ps WSAVA stands for World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Here are their recommendations for evaluating commercial foods.

    https://www.wsava.org/WSAVA/media/Ar...e-Internet.pdf


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    Sue

    Chase 9/29/2006- 6/30/2017 Always in our hearts
    Lark 12/25/2012- 2/2/22
    Henry 7/14/18
    Joey 5/14/2022

    “Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

    Mary Oliver, Hidden Content

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    JShee (03-24-2019), mgrisaffi (03-26-2019)

  10. #17
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    Moving from grain-free, looking for suggestions

    Quote Originally Posted by mgrisaffi View Post
    I have been away from this board since the before all the account data was lost. So, needless to say I am behind on the current topics but thought to come here after seeing that Grain Free has come under fire. Is it the lack of grains? The starches? Or that they typically have higher protein? Thanks!!...
    Ha! I also just came back after a pause to find my old account gone. Recreated one with the same name but all my history seems lost...

    I have similar issues and am looking for a new food.
    Our 9 year old was sensitive to chicken and brown rice formulas, so we switched her to Fish and Sweet Potato and she was doing great, BUT it was Blue Buffalo and we were advised to move from it, wisely. So, we are now on Canidae Pure Real Salmon and she is doing great, but that is also a Grain Free food. I didn't choose it because it was grain free, I just heard great things about the brand and that was the only Salmon one they had.

    We recently got a new lab puppy. So, in six months when we move her to adult food I'd like to have both dogs on the same formula. I want to move away from Grain free but am not sure where to go. As you know, the choices are kind of overwhelming out there!

    We did find that the fish recipes seem to help Zoey's coat. Less dry skin, shinier, looks great. But, we also heard that fish specific foods may not be good either because if you feed dogs exclusively fish they could be picking up mercury over time.

    One of the ones I looked at was another Canidae. They make a handful of grain foods as part of their "All Life Stages" line. We were looking at the Chicken/Turkey/Lamb/Fish formula, but the protein/fat ratio is quite a bit different than where we are now with the salmon one.

    I'm dizzy. The food choices make me dizzy.

  11. #18
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smartrock View Post
    Ps WSAVA stands for World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Here are their recommendations for evaluating commercial foods.

    https://www.wsava.org/WSAVA/media/Ar...e-Internet.pdf


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    Thank you for posting this Sue, you beat me to it. :-)

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    smartrock (04-01-2019)

  13. #19
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KiterTodd View Post
    I have similar issues and am looking for a new food.
    Our 9 year old was sensitive to chicken and brown rice formulas, so we switched her to Fish and Sweet Potato and she was doing great, BUT it was Blue Buffalo and we were advised to move from it, wisely. So, we are now on Canidae Pure Real Salmon and she is doing great, but that is also a Grain Free food. I didn't choose it because it was grain free, I just heard great things about the brand and that was the only Salmon one they had.
    For your older pup, have you looked at the Purina ProPlan Sensitive Skin and Stomach? It's salmon based without any chicken. It does have rice in it. Do you know that she really cannot eat rice? If so, they also make a lamb and oatmeal formula for sensitive skin and stomach pups so you could consider that as an alternative or to rotate with the salmon formula. I'm more familiar with Purina formulas than the other recommended brands but you could look through their formulas and see if any meet your criteria. On that Facebook page for Taurine-related Dilated Cardiomyopathy, it seems like a fair number of folks thought their dogs were sensitive to various ingredients and after switching, they are said to be doing very well even with grains they thought their dogs didn't tolerate.

    The vets on there also suggest that legumes and potatoes are digested differently than grains and some dogs may need a slower transition in order for their guts to adjust to the new ingredients but that they gradually do adjust as their gut microbiome makes the necessary changes. My dog tolerated a cold turkey switch- breakfast was grain-free and dinner the same day was grain inclusive. No diarrhea or loose poops. She's got a pretty cast iron gut, I guess!

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    KiterTodd (04-02-2019)

  15. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by smartrock View Post
    For your older pup, have you looked at the Purina ProPlan Sensitive Skin and Stomach? It's salmon based without any chicken. It does have rice in it. Do you know that she really cannot eat rice? If so, they also make a lamb and oatmeal formula for sensitive skin and stomach pups so you could consider that as an alternative or to rotate with the salmon formula. I'm more familiar with Purina formulas than the other recommended brands but you could look through their formulas and see if any meet your criteria. On that Facebook page for Taurine-related Dilated Cardiomyopathy, it seems like a fair number of folks thought their dogs were sensitive to various ingredients and after switching, they are said to be doing very well even with grains they thought their dogs didn't tolerate...
    Thanks, I'll give those a look.

    She does have a somewhat sensitive stomach, but I'm not sure to what. We had her on chicken and brown rice when she was small and that didn't agree, but who knows... could have been the food brand. Fish based seems to agree with her and her coat looks great.

 



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