THE Large Dog Thread.. (I hope)

This got my attention. We recently switched from Pedigree to Purina and our dog seems to be eating 2x as much, and shedding like crazy. :eek:

Purina is horrible! You're basically feeding your dog grease-soaked cornmeal. Read the ingredients and look for a food with chicken, lamb, or beef as the first ingredient - not a by-product. You'll be amazed at the difference quality food will make in your dogs!
 
I have a slightly embarrassing question. We just adopted a flat coated retriever (she is only 9 months old) who is having major gas problems. She went to our personal vet this weekend and was given a clean bill of health. What can we do to relieve some of her horrible room clearing stench. She seems to let loose mostly when she is chewing on her toys or raw hide. She also likes to lay under my desk which is right next to a heater vent. I don't think I need to explain how awful that is when she is tootiful as she is.

Help!?!?!?!

Change her food. What are you currently feeding her?

Like others said Iam, Science Diet, Purina, Pedigree are all unhealthy foods full of filler.

Good luck :)
 
Purina is horrible! You're basically feeding your dog grease-soaked cornmeal. Read the ingredients and look for a food with chicken, lamb, or beef as the first ingredient - not a by-product. You'll be amazed at the difference quality food will make in your dogs!

Absolutely agree with this statement! My husband & I have both been unemployed off & on since last fall..we have 8 rescued kids here. To save $$ I switched from IAMS (what they have eaten all their lives..the oldest is 11 yrs old) to Purina, 3 out of 8 dropped a significant amount of weight. Now I KNOW not everyone likes IAMS either but it keeps our kids healthy & I will never use anything else again.
Ruthie
 
I know I'm breaking a cardinal rule here...I have not read the thread and I apologize if I'm posting information that is already here.

It is important that each person choose a food they are comfortable with and can afford. After all, it doesn't do any good if you can't afford to feed your pet!

It is important to get what is good for your dog (certain fillers/protein sources, etc can be allergens). While I'm loyal to the brand(s) I use I tell a lot of folks to use the best they can afford and if their dog is happy and healthy on "Ol'Roy" then that's okay!

A source I found years ago grades certain brands and also offers tips to grade the brands yourself:


DOG FOOD GRADES

Dog Food scores:

Alpo Prime Cuts - Score 81 C
Artemis Large/Medium Breed Puppy - Score 114 A+
Authority Harvest Baked - Score 116 A+
Authority Harvest Baked Less Active - Score 93 B
Beowulf Back to Basics - Score 101 A+
Bil-Jac Select - Score 68 F
Blackwood 3000 Lamb and Rice - Score 83 C
Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice - Score 106 A+
Burns Chicken and Brown Rice - Score 107 A+
Canidae - Score 112A+
Chicken Soup Senior - Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance - Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice - Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula - Score 99 A
Diamond Performance - Score 85 C
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium - Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice - Score 106 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato - Score 106 A+
EaglePack Holistic - Score 102 A+
Eukanuba Adult - Score 81 C
Eukanuba Puppy - Score 79 C
Flint River Senior - Score 101 A+
Foundations - Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold - Score 93 B
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium - Score 73 D
Innova Dog - Score 114 A+
Innova Evo - Score 114 A+
Innova Large Breed Puppy - Score 122 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, & Vegetables - Score 110 A+
Member's Mark Chicken and Rice - Score 84 C
Merrick Wilderness Blend - Score 127 A+
Nature's Recipe - Score 100 A
Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Venison & Rice - Score 116 A+
Nature's Variety Raw Instinct - Score 122 A+
Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal and Rice - Score 81C
Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy - Score 101 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice - Score 87 B
Nutro Max Adult - Score 93 B
Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice - Score 98 A
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy - Score 87B
Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free - Score 86 B
Nutro Natural Choice Senior - Score 95 A
Nutro Ultra Adult - Score 104 A+
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice - Score 23 F
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult dry - Score 109 A+
Pro Nature Puppy - Score 80 C
Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach - Score 94 A
Purina Beniful - Score 17 F
Purina Dog - Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It - Score 16 F
Purina One Large Breed Puppy - Score 62 F
Royal Canin Boxer - Score 103 A+
Royal Canin Bulldog - Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult - Score 106 A+
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ - Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies - Score 69 F
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice - Score 97 A
Solid Gold - Score 99 A
Summit - Score 99 A
Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural Dry - Score 120 A+
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken - Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold - Score 97 A

This is how the grades were determined:

Start with a grade of 100

1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points

2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or poultry", meat,
meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points

3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points

4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific rain source, subtract 5 points

5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five
ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", brewer's rice", "rice flour" are all
the
same grain), subtract 5 points

6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2
meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points

7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points

8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points

9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points

10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract
2 points

11) If lamb is the only animal protein source unless your dog is allergic to
other protein sources), subtract 2 points

12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points

13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to
wheat), subtract 2 points

14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to
beef), subtract 1 point

15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point

Extra Credit:

1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points

2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed goup or nutritionist, add 5
points

3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points

4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points

5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points

6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains) add
3 points

7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free add
2 points

8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points

9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds) add 2 points

10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point

11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point

12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first
one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but
"chicken" and "" as 2 different sources) add 1 point

13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point

14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide
free, add 1 point
 

:hug:Awwwwww....congrats on your new doggie!!!! I have a black lab mix (thinks he is a little lap dog) and a chihuahua (thinks she's a great dane!!)...they love each other.:lmao:

Have him vet checked...they will give you a flea product.

I would definately make it a Lamb & Rice formula for food (like pp said...less poop). If he is a puppy, get the puppy formula and as he is part lab, keep his weight in check (hip displaysia is common for labs).

Agree (again) with pp about not babying him. I never carried mine and he is not allowed on the furniture/beds...just too big!!! He has a doggie bed in the bedroom and is crate trained. My boy loves his crate aka "house" and will go in there whenever I leave the house.

Labs in particular have a tremendous chew instinct...mine ate my sofa!!!! :headache: Definately keep lots of chew toys...like a Kong with frozen Peanut Butter inside...and watch him like a hawk.

Housetraining...hang a bell or the leash by the door you will use. When you call him to the door, shake the bell or leash. My lab now hits the leash hanging by the door so I know when he wants to go out (friends of ours used a bell on the doorknob).:woohoo: He will also pull the water dish across the floor if he needs water (limit water at night to avoid accidents:rolleyes1).

Take your big guy for lots of walks...it will give him great exercise and tire him out (less chewing when asleep!).

Enjoy!!!!! He sounds like a great dog!!!:love:
 


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