Purina Dog Chow

[Woofie]

And that's fine too...but they should word it on their website as such; i..e you can extend your dogs healthy years by keeping them thin.

Shouldn't be worded as saying you will extend them by feeding Purina; cause, over anything, there are thousands of owners who would believe that; again, not saying Purina is bad, but Purina is implementing that they are the greatest diet to be fed at the same time.

Again, it all boils down to what your dog does best on; but likewise, an owner shouldn't be made to feel guilty if their dog can't eat Purina.

[labby]

Originally Posted by Woofie

an owner shouldn't be made to feel guilty if their dog can't eat Purina.

Neither should they be made to feel guilty if they do feed Purina. This board has a tendency to bash those who feed anything made by Purina.

I read this section and shake my head at all the lemmings who come in day after day, begging for help because their dogs have loose stools, is vomiting, have bad ears, etc.

"Feed Natura. Feed Natural Balance. Stay away from Purina. Feed this food that just came out even though we don't have a clue who makes it, if it's good. Feed whatever WDJ tells you is a good food."

In the meantime, my dogs continue to eat ProPlan and my vet calls me because he misses me.

"Nobody who cares about their dogs would feed Purina. It will make your dog unhealthy and it will die an early death." Yeah? I wonder how long my 16½ year old Lab would have lived if she hadn't been eating ProPlan her whole life.

[Doppler]

...the only thing that can be taken from that study is less food is better...keeping your dog lean with plenty exercise will add years to your dogs life...not feeding Purina ...

That's the point.

[MSDOGS1976]

Originally Posted by labby

Neither should they be made to feel guilty if they do feed Purina. This board has a tendency to bash those who feed anything made by Purina.

I read this section and shake my head at all the lemmings who come in day after day, begging for help because their dogs have loose stools, is vomiting, have bad ears, etc.

"Feed Natura. Feed Natural Balance. Stay away from Purina. Feed this food that just came out even though we don't have a clue who makes it, if it's good. Feed whatever WDJ tells you is a good food."

In the meantime, my dogs continue to eat ProPlan and my vet calls me because he misses me.

"Nobody who cares about their dogs would feed Purina. It will make your dog unhealthy and it will die an early death." Yeah? I wonder how long my 16½ year old Lab would have lived if she hadn't been eating ProPlan her whole life.

Those same people would simply brush it off as good genetics.

[Woofie]

Originally Posted by labby

"Nobody who cares about their dogs would feed Purina. It will make your dog unhealthy and it will die an early death." Yeah? I wonder how long my 16½ year old Lab would have lived if she hadn't been eating ProPlan her whole life.

Where have *I* ever stated this??

I've never not once said an owner didn't care for his dog if he/she is feeding them Purina. In fact, I'd like you to point out where I've actually stated that.

I, flat out have mentioned a 100 times, but it falls on deaf ears, that I ONLY recommend Cal natural because this is the ONE and ONLY food I can feed with superb results; I generally only recommend it to dogs with sensitive stomachs/allergies.

I'm not going to recommend foods that I haven't had good experiences with. Just like you're not going to recommend foods you haven't had good experiences with....it's the nature of the board.

Feed Purina till your hearts content; my statements on this thread had nothing to do with whether Purina was or wasn't a good food. My point was how can they outright guarantee a dogs healthy years....that's all.

In your opinion, I'm basically shortening my dogs' lifespans because I"m not feeding Purina; cause in your eyes Cal Natural hasn't been around long enough to have any good respect.

Well...I'm sorry, I happen to be one of those owners that appears to be limited to a food with lamb and rice ONLY; I have one dog that can not tolerate barley, wheat, yeast, corn, flaxseed.....

What am I supposed to do? Feed a Purina formula because it's magnificent and suits all other retrievers perfectly well, but makes my dog throw up.

Yet I'm supposed to force him to eat it cause your dog lived to be 16 while eating it? I'm glad for you, and sad at the same time, cause it's hard to lose a friend; I lost my 17yr old malamute 5yrs ago, still hurts like it was yesterday.

Thing is, I've never once said that Cal natural or Naturapet foods would increase the lifespan of a dog; nor that Purina would shorten the lifespan. You're suggesting someone has; but I have not; you're also suggesting that your dog would not have lived as long had she eatin something else....but how do YOU know that for sure?

FWIW....Purina is not the only food out there that has given a dog a good lifespan; my grandparents dogs lived forever well into their late teens eating Kibblesnbitts.

So were they wrong too, cause they didn't feed Purina?

Or how bout my friend that feeds Old Roy....is he wrong? His dog's doing great on it? His friend has had a dog live to be 14yrs eating Old Roy....yet we all say we hear of people feeding this food and would never dream of it...why not?

FWIW...I don't even have a vet....seriously. We moved 6 mnths ago, but haven't been to a vet in 3yrs....haven't even began to look for one either....I'm terrible, I know. But my dogs only get a rabies vaccine every 3yrs; Dakota is my problem child....but mainly cause he was found in a trashcan dumpster at 9mnths old.

For his first 3yrs we were always at the vets office cause he was so sick, no real reason as to why other then he'd been left in horrible condition by the time we found him.

Rivers last visit was at around 14mnths old or so for his last vaccines; he doesn't need to go in for another 1.5yrs for a rabies vaccine; Kuaui has a rabies vaccine exemption, so he hasn't been to the vet since he was 3-4yrs old, he's 9 now.

[Woofie]

Originally Posted by MSDOGS1976

Those same people would simply brush it off as good genetics.

No....cause I've seen other dogs live just as long or longer eating foods that even yourself or Labby wouldn't feed and be just fine; i.e. Old Roy, kibblesnbitts, science diet.

But yet, I've heard several members who feed or recommend Purina say that they'd never recommend or feed Old Roy, Kibblesnbitts, etc....but why not?

Are those people actually suggesting that those foods are bad? and why?...other dogs have done wonderful on them.

Truth in reality; it all boils down to what you're comfortable with and what you can afford.

My granddad is currently feeding his 18yr old dog kibblesnbitts; dog's doing great, no arthritis, not overweight, etc....does he have good genetics?? Heck NO....he has horrible buck teeth, deformed feet, came from a puppy mill, etc.

[Chippie Dog]

Originally Posted by Woofie

And that's fine too...but they should word it on their website as such; i..e you can extend your dogs healthy years by keeping them thin.

That's exactly what their website says..."The Purina Life Span Study shows how complete and balanced nutrition, fed in amounts to maintain a dog's ideal body condition throughout his life, can help extend your dog's healthy years." No where did they attribute the extended life to feeding Purina products over a competitors product.

If you're going to rip a website, at least read it first!

[Woofie]

Originally Posted by Chippie Dog

That's exactly what their website says..."The Purina Life Span Study shows how complete and balanced nutrition, fed in amounts to maintain a dog's ideal body condition throughout his life, can help extend your dog's healthy years." No where did they attribute the extended life to feeding Purina products over a competitors product.

If you're going to rip a website, at least read it first!

You're right; I'll admit to being a complete a$$....that's not the way it was worded within the first post, however.

I simply glanced over the site, didn't have time to read it between working 12+hrs today; don't know how you all keep up with the posts/responses so fast.

Now that I just made a complete idiot of myself, might as well admit that I don't know sh$t from a whole in the ground.

Bearsowner - if you're going to link something, please quote it correctly.

Still has nothing to do with the other comments that were brought up and completely unnecessary, as I wasn't bashing Purina's foods. And no where have I ever said one didn't care for his/her animal just cause they were feeding Purina, and I would like it quoted where-ever in my post history that someone believes I have.....

Chippie...thanks for pointing it out that I'm a screwball of an idiot. Now that I feel 2' tall, I leave the board up to the wiser members who keep quiet just cause they don't want to feel like I just made myself out to be.....a total dumbsh$t.

Hey though....I would've done the same thing if I thought Naturapet posted the same theory; so no-one can say I was being unfairly against Purina.

[MSDOGS1976]

Originally Posted by labby

Neither should they be made to feel guilty if they do feed Purina. This board has a tendency to bash those who feed anything made by Purina.

.

Originally Posted by Woofie

Where have *I* ever stated this??



FWIW...I don't even have a vet....seriously. We moved 6 mnths ago, but haven't been to a vet in 3yrs....haven't even began to look for one either....I'm terrible, I know. But my dogs only get a rabies vaccine every 3yrs; Dakota is my problem child....but mainly cause he was found in a trashcan dumpster at 9mnths old.

I think you read too much into Labby's post. He/she said that this board has a tendency to bash Purina feeders. I didn't read it as specially identifying you as a Purina basher.

Just curious, what do you use for heartworm prevention? Most common med's require a vet's prescription. Are there some good ones that do not? Not picking on you, I'm just curious if there are any good products that can be used without a prescription?

[Woofie]

Originally Posted by MSDOGS1976

I think you read too much into Labby's post. He/she said that this board has a tendency to bash Purina feeders. I didn't read it as specially identifying you as a Purina basher.

Just curious, what do you use for heartworm prevention? Most common med's require a vet's prescription. Are there some good ones that do not? Not picking on you, I'm just curious if there are any good products that can be used without a prescription?

Only reason I responded back to Labby is cause she used my qoute from a previous response; and she's done it more then once in other threads. That was the only reason I grabbed it and ran; she however has excellent points as I do too.

Purina is a good food for those dogs that can do good on it; but my point in the thread wasn't about Purina food in general, it was about what I thought I'd read on the link.

You're not picking on me about the heartworm prevention...it's a good question.

I use Interceptor, I keep my dogs on it year round. Around here they only require to be tested every 2yrs if they're kept on it year round.

However, a vet tech themselves can take the blood, you don't have to schedule an appt and you don't have to actually see the Dr. Vet him/herself unless there's other conditions that warrant it.

So for thorough definition, yes they go in every 2yrs for their bloodwork, that's something I won't mess around with; but it's been quite some time since any one of them has actually met with the Vet.

I have found a small animal vet about 25 miles or so from us; I went out to locate the utilities on his ranch 3wks ago or so, and discovered that he was the one that owns the vet clinic in the next town over. His prices are excellent with superb quality that I've heard other horse/dog/cattle owners comment him on, so he's probably the vet we'll move to.

In reality though yes, every one who gives heartworm preventative has to do periodic vet visits in order to get a prescription for heartworm preventative; there's not a vet out there that would prescribe it without bloodwork.

There have been people comment on natural herbs, etc and what have you that they say they've proven to be 100% effective for heartworm; but I'm not willing to take those chances.

When I get their heartworm prevention pills, I generally have them filled for a year at a time. Couple years ago however, when we just had the 2 small dogs, I use to buy a whole 2yrs at one time.

[Parapara]

LOL Purina is kind of wording it to be very biased. Their study kept dogs lean while feeding Purina made the dogs live longer, so they're skewing it to say "Purina makes your dog live longer".

And hey, people can feed Purina, just not my food of choice. I got stinky, loose stools and constant gas when I first fed PurinaOne, from both of my dogs.

And I do believe that lean, thin creatures live longer than fat, inactive ones. I know I felt my healthiest in my life when I was underweight by about ten pounds- I was healthy though, always ate my fruits + veggies balanced my meals and such. I had great energy, I felt great, not to mention confident and happy.

Now I am at a so called "healthy weight" for my height (130 lbs at 5'11'') and I don't feel as good as I used to. So in my personal experience, if someone is healthy and lean, it is a positive benefit. I use the same philosophy in my dogs- they are healthy, and lean. But my focus is nutrition anyhow, so I don't expect others to be as obsessed as I am.

Then again, I'm not going to sit here and go "RAH RAH PURINA!" either

[nanney1]

A retired former co-worker has owned Labs for at least 25 years. During those years he owned at least one, and at times two. He always fed Purina Dog Chow and nothing else. I've seen his dogs at random times and they always seemed healthy, with good coats, and plenty of energy. All lived 10+ years. I've never fed Purina Dog Chow but his dogs seemed to do very well on that food.

[jdog]

Woofie, I've read your comments on other diet & nutrition posts and you've proven yourself very knowledgable. I wouldn't worry about those that are just looking for something to pick at. There will always be those people.
And yes, the bottom line is people will feed what they can feed according to their budget and what their dog does best on. As far as Purina's website ( like others) they will always put in a good marketing pitch for their own brand.

[Chippie Dog]

Woofie...don't worry about it...it happens to the best of us! I owe you an apology too, since my comment was not specifically directed to you. You just happened to have a handy quote to grab. My comment was really intended to be a generic comment to all the folks who had jumped to conclusions without looking at the site.


I think Purina deserves some credit for actually doing the study! I'm not aware of any other dog food companies who have posted results from long duration nutrition studies. (I know someone will prove me wrong on this ).

My Rocky has been on PPP for most of his life, except for the last year, when I started trying some of the foods I saw recommended here. He's been on Origen 6 Fish, EVO and Taste of the Wild. He's going back onto PPP with the next bag. Why? Because I think he does best on PPP. Chip has been on PPP since he was a puppy. He's with a field trial pro now, and the Pro's whole truck is on PPP.

One thing that tends to go unsaid in these forums is the amount that Purina gives back to the retriever community. They sponsor a great number of dog events. I'm most familiar with their presence in the hunt test/field trial games where they are very active sponsors. You have no idea how many Field Champions (and Master Hunters) have eaten Purina Premium Performance (PPP) their whole lives.

[Bailey's Mommy]

Originally Posted by Chippie Dog

One thing that tends to go unsaid in these forums is the amount that Purina gives back to the retriever community. They sponsor a great number of dog events