Food question - is Science Diet the best?

[XCOIL]

First time in your newsgroup, so I don't know if this topic has been covered
before. I hope someone has some info..

My puppy is a Lab (couldn't find a newsgroup for this breed - at least on aol),
he's 10 weeks old and is in pretty good shape. While at the pet store tonight
buying his second bag of Science Diet food, the clerk informed me that this
brand isn't necessarily the best. She went on to explain that many vets are
sponsored by Hills (maker of this food) throughout their education, and this is
the reason that so many vets recommend this brand.

Also, the pup seems to have developed a dandruff condition. It hasn't become a
real problem yet, but the clerk recommended that I switch his food to a brand
called "Nutro's Puppy Lamb Meal and Rice Formula" - has anyone used this brand?

So i'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what other brands are
similar in quality, but less in cost. Are there any special benefits in using
Science Diet food or will a good quality Purina, or other brand, be just as
beneficial to a dogs health?

A 40lb. bag of Science Diet goes for about 35 US dollars, while some other
brands have the same health claims but are 10-15 dollars cheaper. The pup is
big already, and when he's grown he will be putting a pinch on my pocket! I
want him to be healthy, but don't want to pay extra for a brand name.

Thanks for any advice to come,
_DC_

[BLan102044]

>My puppy is a Lab (couldn't find a newsgroup for this breed - at least on
>aol),

i found the lab message board on aol....im going to send it to you since i
cant link it here, you brought up alot of good ones!! i feed mine pedigree but
i cook for mine..........chicken and rice i will send you the link
:ปคซง::Beckyงปคซง::งปคซ

[Blugr...@webtv.net]

There are many good brands of dog foods out there, and just because one
costs more than another, doesn't mean it's any better for your dog.
Myself, I'm not crazy about the Science Diet. I know others who are.
My opinion on this is: If you are feedig a high quality dog food,
with no soy in it, and your dog is doing well on it, then why change
them? Find what works best for YOUR dog, and YOUR pocketbook. If you
dog does well on Brand A, then stick with it, and don't worry about what
Brand B says as to their's being the best. If it ain't broke, don't fix
it. Some dogs do well on, let's say, Pedigree, and others don't. Find
what works best and stick with it.

Judi

[mcbee]

DC,

I feed my Shar-Pei Nutro Lamb and Rice. I think you will find that if you
buy a quality dog food you will feed less to your dog because there is less
filler in the feed and therefore more nutrition per cup. I also add about 1
tsp. of oil to the food. This seems to help their skin and coat (less
itching from dry skin). And of course with less filler, you have smaller
piles in the yard to clean up.

Carolyn

XCOIL <xc...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990918214101...@ng-cf1.aol.com...

> First time in your newsgroup, so I don't know if this topic has been
covered
> before. I hope someone has some info..
>

> My puppy is a Lab (couldn't find a newsgroup for this breed - at least on
aol),

[BLan102044]

.

i have have used all the high end dog foods and found out that that is not
always true. i use pedigree and then i mix it with chicken and rice that i
cook myself, and mine are not complaining LOL

>buy a quality dog food you will feed less to your dog because there is less

>filler in the feed.

:ปคซง::Beckyงปคซง::งปคซ

[sn...@webtv.net]

I do a lot of cooking for the dogs, boiled hamburger, chicken and rice,
with green beans, sweet potatoes etc. In reality, thoug it takes time,
it costs far less than quality dog foods. But, for dry food, I am
happier with DIAMOND green bag food than any other. It is a food that
is based on fish and dry skin is never a problem. The biggest two
problems with the food are finding it and the smell. If the dogs go
more than 10 days without a bath when Im just to busy, they smell like
fish! But it is a good food and one that I reccommend to my puppy
buyers.

[Blugr...@webtv.net]

I also feed Diamond green bag (start pups on black bag...Professional)
and my dogs don't smell like fish at all! In fact, people always
comment on how good my dogs smell, even tho they are seldom bathed.
I DO agree that Diamond is a great food, and dry skin is NEVER a
problem with my dogs.
I've gotten MANY people to switch to the Diamond.

Judi

[sn...@webtv.net]

when I say smell fishy, you have to understand that all of my females,
one male, and the rottweiler stay inside, I have this problem with
odors, Im so afrais that the house will smell like "dog" that I think
that I look for it! We recently built new home, all wood and ceramic
floors, vinyl blinds and leather furniture, and I never notice any odor
now! Plus, all the runs and areas that the dogs use ar crushed shell,
with weed mat under it. No fleas (for south florida thats bragging
rights) and if odor is a prblem we spray with bleach then rinse well.
Unfortunateley I am just a fanatic when any odor is detected. But, back
to the Diamond, anyone Ive ever reccommended it to with skin problems
has thanked me.

[SportsFan]

SNANA - where in s florida are you? we are in cape coral.

can you tell me more about diamond, I have not came across that one in my
travels.

sn...@webtv.net wrote in message
<18905-37...@newsd-623.iap.bryant.webtv.net>...

[Kasupei]

Being in Illinois, the crushed shells might be hard for me to come by....and
I'm curious at to what "weed mat" is. Getting ready to do a kennel and trying
to determine my best options. And you're right....no fleas in Florida IS
bragging rights!!

Karen
kasupei

[Nancy Thomann]

crushed shell should b available from any landscape supply in your area.
The best part beside flea control and odor control is that the dogs stay
on their toes . Weed mat can be purchased at home depot or a landscape
supply also( get the hint...we also own a landscape business) it is
black "plastic" mat that is put down before the ground cover mulch etc,
and prvents weeds from growing through, or is used under decoratve rock
areas to prevent the rock from "sinking" into the soil. We did about
1000 square foot area with weed mat and 4 inches of shell for under
$300!.It always looks and smells clean and I am planning on repeating
the setup for my males own runs when if hubby finishes

[MirmBecker]

>can you tell me more about diamond

Here is there site. I wrote to them to ask for a distributor in my area, and
the General Manager wrote me back within the hour. He gave me a list of stores
in my area.

http://www.diamondpet.com/

Miriam
http://members.aol.com/MirmBecker/index.html

[Blugr...@webtv.net]

Yes, the Diamond sure IS great for dogs with skin problems. Clears them
right up.
I also keep my dogs ALL in the house. I have to admit, I am
constantly cleaning with bleach. As soon as I can afford it, I'm
tearing out my carpeting, and putting in linoleum! Can't wait!!

Judi

[sn...@webtv.net]

Judi nooooo, I had linoleum in the last house we built, the dogs
scratched it easily, and once scratched, dirt got "stuck" in the
scratch. Go with ceramic, some places sell for as little as 89cent sq
foot, and will last forever. Also, just a tip fom someone who did
it...go with dark grout.I put beige in this house only a year ago, and
just had to stain every bit of grout in here as it was impossible to
keep clean looking. Now have hunter green grout, looks clean all the
time.PS this is the third home that I have built around pei...any
questions about cleaning made easier through building just ask!!!

[BLan102044]

>Go with ceramic, some places sell for as little as 89cent sq
>foot, and will last forever. Also, just a tip fom someone who did
>it...go with dark grout.

may husband is a runs a construction company, and when he told me that he
wanted to put dark grut, i was not all that happy about it, but when i seen it
done it looks really good! but i think we paid 2.59 for out tile, put i have
seen some tile really cheap,
:ปคซง::Beckyงปคซง::งปคซ

[Blugr...@webtv.net]

Ceramic tile is too heavy for a house with a basement. That's why I
decided on linoleum. I have linoleum in the kitchen dining room, and
have had no problems with it. It's the top of the line Congoleum, that
looks like red brick. It's held up extremely well thru 18 years of
dogs! I think if I stick with a quality brand, I'll be OK. Would love
ceramic tiles, but just don't dare with the basement.

Judi

[Sharon Eagle]

I know ceramic tile is heavy, but if you think about it, a refrigerator
and a 35 inch TV, not leaving out the waterbed are very heavy. That
would be quite a trip if the bed went to the basement with us in it.

[Nancy Thomann]

This is kinda scaring me...I put all ceramic in...I built a stilt home!
But the contractor knew what we wee putting in, and he said it would be
ok. There are, though really good linoleums out there, probably what I
had in last house was not up to the nmber of dogs thatI had running
around on it.

[duff]

I HAVE A BLACK HORSE COAT SHARPEI WHO IS TWO YEARS OLD AND IS HAVEING A LOT
OF EAR TROUBLE BY SCRATCHING AND SHAKEING HER HEAD AND MOST OF ONE SIDE IS
NOW BAULD,
I WONDER IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT I CAN DO FOR I DONT THINK THE VETS KNOW MUCH,I
HAVE
CHANGED VETS ABOUT FOUR TIMES NOW AND RUNNING OUT OF VETS AND IDEAS.
I HAVE HAD EAR DROPS,ANTIBIOTICS AND NOW TELL ME SHE NEEDS A OPERATION SO
THE AIR
CAN GET IN AND KEEP THEM VENTILATED I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR THE BEST.

[Richard]

Probably a bad, bad ear infection. Please get your dog to a vet asap.

On Tue, 16 Nov 1999 18:06:36 -0000, "duff" <du...@tinyonline.co.uk>
wrote:

[Nancy Thomann]

First, find a vet that you have confidence in, Find a breeder who
trusts the abilities of his/her vet and make an appointment. Sometimes,
surgery is the only alternative, other times antibiotic treatment will
work, but it must be long enough. Also, there a last ditch try
antibiotics (clavamox for example) that other vets may not have tried.
By going from vet to vet, there just is not enough continuity in
treatment.
If you can not find a breeder post back with your area, and someone in
the group will be able to help. Our club made a shar-pei veterinary
referral listing a few years ago that was so nice to give to new owners,
they could find one close by, or a new one if they were having
personality clashes with their vet (hey, we are human and it happens).
Good luck nancy

http://community.webtv.net/RhapsodySharPei/RhapsodySharPei

[Kathy Richardson]

Luckily, my pei has not had ear problems. However she has had skin trouble.
I changed her dog food to an all natural chicken and rice food. Her skin
problems have completely cleared up. I'd check the food first and go from
there...
Good luck.

duff wrote in message <38319...@news2.vip.uk.com>...

[TampaFan]

our one year old female is also currently having ear problems. please see my
post on 11/14/99, Ablation of the Vertical Canal.

but do consider changing foods as many shar-peis are sensitive / reactive to
cheaper dog foods, especially the ones with SOY based fillers.