Since I started clinical practice, some of the most repetitive encounters are the result of predatory pet food marketing— people going broke paying for poorly researched diets marketed as premium and high quality, people feeling guilt for feeding what they can afford (which is usually just fine!), raw coated (aka E. coli coated), fresh & preservative free (mold included), it’s exhausting but doesn’t seem likely to change any time soon either. #dogsofcoso #vetmed
@AllTradesDVM
Finally someone to ask!!!
So leftovers and adding broth to dry good enough? Also serve up cottage cheese on a regular schedule.
Asking for 5 good bois n goils
@damselfly59 As long as the dogs aren’t getting diarrhea or other GI signs, leftovers are unlikely to be harmful, but adds to the dry has the potential to upset the nutrient balance, so should be roughly 10% or less of daily calories, and if any of the doggos are getting overweight, cutting out extras is often the first step to fix it. For people that want to add fresh, I usually recommend small amounts of fruits and veggies like carrots, apples, etc. and bland meat (boiled chicken, egg).
@damselfly59 As long as there’s free access to water, dried food isn’t a problem! Esp from a reputable brand, kibble is digestible, shelf-stable, palatable (tasty), contains all the nutrients the pet needs (complete and balanced), and is accessible and affordable for most people. I look for a few things in a brand: history of engaging/funding research (contributing to nutrition as a field), full-time employment of experts, feeding trials, and good quality control. I feed Purina Pro Plan. (1/2)
@damselfly59 But Science Diet, Royal Canin, are also leading the industry in those areas, and Iams and Eukanuba have previously done a pretty good job too.
@AllTradesDVM
Thanks! You just saved me a bundle!. I have loved how purina has improved their coats but moved to a diff brand when they had some contaminants a few yrs ago.
5 doodle$...
@damselfly59 Happy to help! I’m not sure what contaminants happened, there hasn’t been a recall on the Pro Plan line other than a few canned cat foods in 2021. 5 doodles is a lot, I bet they keep you busy! The main thing I tell people to avoid in pet foods right now, if they go outside of the brands I prefer, is lots of peas, lentils, chickpeas, and beans in the first 5-10 ingredients or split by color lower on the list.
@AllTradesDVM
Thank you for the help!
The overdried dogfood had me concerned but sounds like it isn't an issue? Do you have brands you like?