best food for my dog?

[sanguine_speed]

We just became owners of a 6-year-old Boston Terrier, sort of unexpectedly, but with open and committed hearts.

My instinct tells me bagged dog food isn't ideal dog food, probably because I know that processed, packages human food isn't ideal for people.

In the same way that an allopathic MD might encourage artificial food for babies unnecessarily and without adequate knowledge or concern, I worry that a veterinarian might similarly push the commercial, processed dog food that I wonder about.

So, what is ideal dog food for a 6-year-old Boston Terrier?

[Catubodua]

congrats!

imho - there is no such thing as the perfect dog food. there are many sites that will rate food, and many of them are funded by the food they rate # 1 (shocking! lol)

my personal opinion - do some reading on ingredients (favorite link listed below) and pick one that works best and is within your budget.

now, some advice - the dog's been through a bunch of changes. don't change his food for a while. even if they were feeding him absolute crap, if his digestive system is ok, leave it alone for a short while.

when/if you do decide to switch it, do it gradually, not all at once

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index....e=labelinfo101

[Ola_]

Yup, I completely agree that most vets will push commercial food. After all, many of them sell it in their own waiting rooms - tell me that isn't a conflict of interest!

Lots of good commercial foods out there if you want to go that route. In the end what matters is that you can afford it, are happy with the ingredients in it, and your dog does well on it. That last point can take some troubleshooting for some dogs. Another option is a raw diet, which is what I feed, and there's a few of us here who can give you more info if you'd like to pursue that route.

[Mirzam]

Species appropriate, raw prey model diet. Easier than it sounds!

http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.rawmeatybones.com/
http://www.rawfeddogs.net/
http://rawfed.com/
http://%20rawfeeding101.weebly.com/

My English Mastiff puppy has been fed raw since I got him, and he is thriving, growing beautifully, wonderful coat, no doggy smell and no giant, stinky poops!

[lonegirl]

Originally Posted by Ola_

Yup, I completely agree that most vets will push commercial food. After all, many of them sell it in their own waiting rooms - tell me that isn't a conflict of interest!
Lots of good commercial foods out there if you want to go that route. In the end what matters is that you can afford it, are happy with the ingredients in it, and your dog does well on it. That last point can take some troubleshooting for some dogs. Another option is a raw diet, which is what I feed, and there's a few of us here who can give you more info if you'd like to pursue that route.

Ok....I know that my voice often seems discredited here....but with 14+ years in the field under my belt I like to think I have a bit of knowledge. Sure...some vets do push food just to sell. Not all do though. There is a lot of research that goes into making pet food. Just because it is sold in a vet hospital doesn;t immediately mean that it should be discredited as just the vet wanting to make a buck.

OP do some reading, talk to your vet/technician....(good ones will not just point you toward what's on their shelves). Seriously they do know a thing or two and most do their research and keep up to date on nutrition so can help point you in the right direction.

[Ola_]

But doesn't a lot of the nutrition education in vet school come from pet food companies? And don't they give out bags of food to the students as well? Kind of sounds like the pharma industry to me, sorry.

I don't think anyone should take my word for it though, make up your own mind. The ingredient list speaks for itself IMO.

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by Ola_

make up your own mind. The ingredient list speaks for itself IMO.

This.

What's Really in Pet Food

[Oubliette8]

Originally Posted by Ola_

But doesn't a lot of the nutrition education in vet school come from pet food companies? And don't they give out bags of food to the students as well? Kind of sounds like the pharma industry to me, sorry.

I don't think anyone should take my word for it though, make up your own mind. The ingredient list speaks for itself IMO.

Yes. I have a good relationship with my vet, and a good friend who just completed vet school. Both said the same thing. The big name commercial foods sponsor all of the nutrition classes, as well as quite a bit of other stuff around the vet schools. And my friend told me the pet food companies have sign up lists for vet students- they put their name down, and they give them free food for their personal pets as well.

That said, not all vets sell the low quality food. My old vet carried a nice natural brand. And there are one or two vets in town now who carry natural brands in their offices. I wouldn't discount a food solely because its sold by a vet (I would discount a food solely because its sold at a certain big box super store though, for instance). Learning about ingredients is really the way to go. Particularly since even among high end, natural foods, there are some widely varying opinions.

[Arduinna]

IMO a raw meat and bone diet is what is most natural for dogs. Not some processed packaged product.

[ToadJode]

We use Nutro dog food. It doesn't have all those byproducts and other crap in it. Our dogs love it, and get sick if we run out and have to give them store brand for a night.