What food to feed

[beth101509]

Natural Balance grain free Salmon is not appropriate for a growing puppy.

What age is appropriate for feeding Salmon and grain free?

[JenC]

After the puppy is done growing.

[beth101509]

After the puppy is done growing.

Not trying to be difficult, just trying to learn BUT why? Is there something in grain free food that hinders growth? Or is it the Salmon?

[lovemylabby]

Not trying to be difficult, just trying to learn BUT why? Is there something in grain free food that hinders growth? Or is it the Salmon?

I would be very skeptical of any food made by Walmart...I would want to know who is manufacturing the food, recalls, etc.

I personally would not feed a food made by Walmart to my dog.

(Pardon me, I thought you first said "Natural Balance" and then I realized you said "Pure Balance")

There are so many healthier choices available to your dogs.

Stay with Pro Plan Focus Puppy....a much better choice all the way around for a growing puppy. I would also stay away from anything "Large Breed".

[beth101509]

I would be very skeptical of any food made by Walmart...I would want to know who is manufacturing the food, recalls, etc.

I personally would not feed a food made by Walmart to my dog.

(Pardon me, I thought you first said "Natural Balance" and then I realized you said "Pure Balance")

There are so many healthier choices available to your dogs.

Stay with Pro Plan Focus Puppy....a much better choice all the way around for a growing puppy. I would also stay away from anything "Large Breed".

I wouldn't feed a Wal-Mart brand food either, personally. I was just curious why you would have to wait for a dog to be done growing before feeding them a Salmon based food since the OP already feeds a Salmon based food to her other dog.

[Jagersmom]

Well in defense of the Pure Balance made by WM, my pit bull was on Purina puppy chow from the day I got her at 7 weeks until about 4 months. She always had runny eyes, dull coat, missing hair. The vet done a skin scrape that was negative. I was in WM one day and I was buying her some shampoo and puppy chow and I came across this food and decided to try it. Within 6 weeks time her eyes weren't running and her hair was growing back. She has more muscle mass without any extra fat on her. So for the money I have saved at the vet and how beautiful her coat is, she will stay on it. This is the main reason I wanted this puppy off of puppy chow because that caused me to research it and I found it was an inferior food. After researching, I have found that Pro Plan is made by the same company that makes puppy chow and it is only a 2.5 star food. I went to the pet store today and I bought some Nutro Ultra puppy food. I researched it and it is giving 4 stars and seems to be a very good food with a lot of good reviews. I will start transitioning the little guy next Monday very slowly. I will let you all know how he is doing.

[xracer4844]

Just a question, where are you seeing this food rated with stars? Can you post the link? I am curious to see where pro plan was rated only 2.5 stars.

Nutro unfortunately has had horrible recalls over the past ten years. A lot of people have had problems with the food and have unfortunately moved on to bigger and better things. Here is some info - NUTRO Pet Food Recalls 2015 - Pet Food RecallPet Food Recall

I suggest reading this thread that I created. There are 70 posts full of information in regards to dog food and how to choose food. My journey on finding the correct food for my working dog. Dog Food Help - Fromm

[JenC]

I've fed a few bags of the Pure Balance to my dogs, it's not totally bad, reads pretty good on the bag. I wouldn't turn it down if my options were few.

As a breeder and someone who shows their dogs, puppy food is important. You want a puppy food where you know that the dogs will grow at a nice slow rate and develop right. Lab puppies grow very fast and need proper nutrition to support that growth. I am sure other puppy foods work (or a good solid All Life Stages brand) but there are so many new "fad" brands available, I wouldn't trust them on a puppy. Something like Pro Plan, Royal Canine, Iams, or Eukanuba, they have years of history of breeders feeding their pups with these foods. They know how they grow and how they don't develop joint issues. I like having that history of good health behind my dogs. You also have to be conscious of calcium/phosphorus ratios, and that would require you to read bags or make phone calls to food manufacturers. Easier to stick with a brand that folks know works. Change up later on.

[JenC]

And don't get overly concerned with Dog Advisor and their "rated" food. The author is a dentist, human one, and developed the rating scale on the ingredients alone. I don't pay attention to it at all.

[xracer4844]

And don't get overly concerned with Dog Advisor and their "rated" food. The author is a dentist, human one, and developed the rating scale on the ingredients alone. I don't pay attention to it at all.

I didn't actually know this JenC. Thanks for posting. I have used his rating system to benchmark foods, however I did my own research. I don't care for the way his reviews are written...and I don't really know how honest they are etc.