Do Premium Pet Foods Really Make A Difference?

[grinningghost]

Just started feeding my cats a new vet's prescription food, because the younger cat had a UTI. I've noticed a LOT less #2 in the cat boxes since.

So what do you think? Do premium foods really make a difference, or is this just a coincidence?

 

[alliecats]

Check out this link for one vet's take on premium and other cat foods:
You might be surprised.

http://www.catinfo.org/

 

[Christine]

Yes, I believe that do. The stuff your vet sells is probably a prescription pet food made by the usual Science Diet or Purina Brands. They have less filler and, depending on the ailment, are formulated for specific health conditions.

I buy a premium dog food (Innova) that uses only ingredients that would be acceptable for humans to eat (or human grade). Most pet foods bought at the grocery store, or even Petsmart, do not contain human grade products. They use sick/rendered animals. They suspect that this can cause higher incidences of cancers in animals.

 

[Bob Slydell]

They all taste the same to me

Oh, you meant for your pet???

 

[grinningghost]

They all taste the same to me

Oh, you meant for your pet???

I thought they tasted the same too, but the premium food is decidedly crunchier, which makes for better snacking.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am using Ultra Holistic Nutro and I do not think it is a good food. Obviously I use no food with corn as a the first ingredient.

The thing about the fillers is that it makes the animal poo and pee more which stresses their organs over time. Also they get overweight and it stresses the joints.

I am having trouble with the food they are on. They are pooing to much. The protein is 30%. My trainer said to find something that is 23%. Higher protein should only be for working dogs.

And yes, most people say if you knew what was in dog food you would feed them from your table.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I thought they tasted the same too, but the premium food is decidedly crunchier, which makes for better snacking.

Dogs have hardly ANY taste. They rely on smell.

 

[alliecats]

Yes, I believe that do. The stuff your vet sells is probably a prescription pet food made by the usual Science Diet or Purina Brands. They have less filler and, depending on the ailment, are formulated for specific health conditions.

I buy a premium dog food (Innova) that uses only ingredients that would be acceptable for humans to eat (or human grade). Most pet foods bought at the grocery store, or even Petsmart, do not contain human grade products. They use sick/rendered animals. They suspect that this can cause higher incidences of cancers in animals.

This about Innova is true--it's a great food!
Most stuff your vets sell do not use human grade ingredients either, including science diet and purina brands. They are full of corn--something a cat would not eat in the wild. Not to mention loaded with meat by-products instead of muscle meats (check the label). Innova, Wellness, Nature's Variety--all are superior to the grains & meat by-products you'll find in Science Diet.

Check out the link I posted--it takes awhile to go through & is for cats, but it is a big eye-opener. There should be some info on kitties with kidney/bladder issues as well.

 

[grinningghost]

Great replies. The link is very good allie.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I buy a premium dog food (Innova) that uses only ingredients that would be acceptable for humans to eat (or human grade).

So thanks for the link. The Innova is 26% protein. I am looking for something else. Considering BRAVO but not sure yet.

 

[ducklite]

With a high quality food, the animal needs to ingest a lot less to get the same amount of nutrition, so yes, you will see less feces in teh pan.

Most vets will agree that the BARF diet truly is the best for our pets, but many owners don't want to go through the hassle of the preperation and other parts of that process. (I know I don't want to)

Anne

 

[Chicago526]

It does in my dog, I've switched from Purina to a more expensive brand (can't remember what it's called) that's 2x the price, but I also get half the poop! Worth it to me!

 

[wdwmom2]

I use Blue Spa Select. My cats have been doing great on it. One thing that I like is that the food I used to feed them was round in shape. They chewed it very little, mostly just swallowing whole. This food has "points" to it. This makes them chew, which helps to clean their teeth.
http://www.bluebuff.com/products/cats-spa-select.shtml

 

[alliecats]

Great replies. The link is very good allie.

You're quite welcome! As the mama to a kitty afflicted with IBD, diabetes, and chronic pancreatitis, probably all either caused or aggravated by the ingredients in some of the Rx foods I gave her for her whole life, I wish I had known all this. But I didn't--and a lot of it is new still and won't catch on for years and years with the general public and other vets. I thought that because I was spending a fortune on food, that I was doing the right thing. I know better now, but it is too late to fix these things.
Now she stays on insulin & prednisone.

 

[Rajah]

I use Nutro most of the time and have been very happy with the quality of their foods.

 

[SleepyMom]

We have our new puppy in classes and each week they do a 10 minute informational type talk... last week was food. I was shocked because I thought we were feeding him what he should have, Science Diet. Both the people we bought him from and our vet said that is what he should have.

After learning about the ingredients in what we were feeding him we switched foods pronto. It is a slow process, but it is almost done now. I just went and bought him a full size bag last night (we got a sample bag the first night) and although the price is higher I am so much happier knowing he is eating healthy. He loves the new food so much better (when I mix them he leaves the old food until that is all there is to eat) and I have also noticed that we aren't picking up as much poo. Gotta love that!

 

[Marseeya]

With a high quality food, the animal needs to ingest a lot less to get the same amount of nutrition, so yes, you will see less feces in teh pan.

Most vets will agree that the BARF diet truly is the best for our pets, but many owners don't want to go through the hassle of the preperation and other parts of that process. (I know I don't want to)

Anne

Is there a preparation for the BARF diet? I thought you just gave it to them the way it was. I don't know much about it, but what I did read, I thought it was a bit too much work.

Anyway, I give my dog Nutro and it seems to go over well with her. Her poo is solid and a good color, plus her skin and coat are good and shiny. When I give her Dog Chow or something cheaper from the grocery store as a temporary thing, her hair starts to fall out and her poop's runny.

 

[Crankyshank]

the reduction of poop quantity is worth the extra $$ for me

 

[CheshireVal]

After my last cat (whose greatest love was Kit n' Kaboodle and Cat Chow) developed diabetes, I made a vow to only feed my new kitties food with real meat as the #1 ingredient.

You'd be surprised at how many really expensive brands of cat food use corn gluten meal or yucky "by products" as the #1 ingredient. I don't know how they get away with calling themselves "premium."

I mostly use Eukanuba lamb and rice or Purina ONE chicken and rice, both of which use real meat first.

 

[chrissyk]

We feed our cats an organic brand with no fillers, no preservatives, no additives, etc. Yes, it makes a HUGE difference. The way I see it, garbage in=garbage out. We nearly killed our oldest cat by feeding him supermarket petfood. Never again! The sad part is that, ounce for ounce, the organic stuff costs LESS than the junk that we were buying at the supermarket.