Best dog food for around $30

[wyoDreamer]

My problem with the supermarket/big name foods is that they change their formulas so often. I find something that the dog likes and does good on and I feed for a while, then the dogs start to go down hill - dull, dry coats, soft poos, gassy. We used to laugh at our irish setter when he would stand-up and turn and look at his and then we would smell it.

I would check labels and do my best, but DH won't let me buy the high priced dog food.

 

[naturalfeddogs]

My problem with the supermarket/big name foods is that they change their formulas so often. I find something that the dog likes and does good on and I feed for a while, then the dogs start to go down hill - dull, dry coats, soft poos, gassy. We used to laugh at our irish setter when he would stand-up and turn and look at his and then we would smell it.

I would check labels and do my best, but DH won't let me buy the high priced dog food.

They do change them a lot. Fish formulas are probably the worst about it. They may use a named fish like salmon or herring, then after the formula changes, the named fish on the ingredient list will be "ocean fish", or "fish meal". That is just a general term and could be any sort of fish. The companies are going to use whatever is available to them, lower quality or not. And they don't have to give notice of formula changes either. None of the brands like Purina, Eukanuba etc... have fixed formulas. They will get the cheapest possible ingredients, regardless of what their marketing says, depending on what is available to them.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Nutrition education in Vet school can definitely use improvement, but I feel the same way about end of life care. We get exposed to it, but not nearly enough.

I can't speak for other schools, but cornell does offer some very good exposure to nutrition. We get very little interaction wih the big food companies and the feeding programs (discounted food for students) offers a very broad range of options, from food that is considered "higher end" to the more common brands like Hills, Iams, and Purina. The nutritionist that teaches our nutrition courses is pretty awesome and very non-biased. He gives a good overview of all brands.

What I've learned this far is that C rated foods are not the terrible enemies people seem to make them out to be. They are comprehensive foods at reasonable prices that are perfectly fine for a pet. The C rating just means average. The grains in the food are here more for fiber than anything else, and help bulk up the stool and make it form for easy clean up. The dried meat by-product can actually be a better alternative to whole chicken or whole meat options because whenever "whole" is used, it means wet weight. In short, that means you are getting less meat in the food due to water weight, but it is a trick used by companies to allow them to put meat as the first ingredient. Meat by-product includes lots of organ meat which is desirable for dogs (though sounds icky to humans).

The higher rated dog foods (with A and B ratings) are not always the best for every dog. Many dogs have loose stools and develop stomach issues. These foods also often advertise extra veggies and a lot of vitamins and oils. Again, the vegetables are whole weight which means there is less actual veggies in the food. Additionally, not all vitamins are useful for dogs and not every omega 3 source is created equal. This doesn't make them bad foods, but hey may not be the right choice for every dog or every owner.

We do see issues with raw diets as well. Some dogs cannot handle a raw diet and not every person that starts it is capable of feeding correctly. Additionally, we do see some dogs and cats that have issues with food-borne illnesses, which can also be an issue for some owners as well. Again, this doesn't make raw a bad option. It is just not the best option for everyone, and does require lots of research.

My advice for the OP is to research foods in your price range and compare the ingredients. Ideally, you want to find a food wih a high amount of dried meat product. See how the dog responds after slowly switching to the new food.

One last point, food allergies are actually a lot more rare in dogs and cats then people normally think. I was surprised to find this out as I had also been led to believe food allergies were fairly common in dogs.

 

[MrsBachbach]

I'm sure a vet would suggest Purina, Iams or Eukanuba. They are the only way the majority of vets get any nutritional education. A lot of vets get tons of their profits off selling those foods. I wouldn't feed any of them.  They are all some of the lowest quality foods available.

Dogs are designed by nature to eat meat in raw form, so cooked meat can cause issues. All the corn, fillers, artificial ingredients and chemicals used to make kibble are also HUGE allergy and health problem triggers. Therefore, dogs have to go back to the vet, give the vet more money and get another food, (likely prescription) which then causes something else and back to the vet again....The cycle continues. 

If I were to feed kibble, it would certainly be a more "natural" brand, with the fewest ingredients possible, and the highest meat content possible.

This!!!! I used to be a big Iam, Science Diet consumer. I had nothing but problems with my felines on these diets. Renal failure, urinary problems, etc. I learned I was feeding my cats fillers and chemicals. Science Diet, especially the Vet diets, were preserved with BHT, BHA and other nasties. It was very concerning to learn what I had been feeding them, especially at the price I was having to pay!

I'm currently dealing with a very allergic cat. After a year, I still have been unable to solve his problems even with the Vet approved science diets. So, I read most cats are allergic to chicken, fish, beef, dairy etc. So why do the vet diets that are specifically made for allergies contain chicken? And starches? And eggs? And soy? The cheapest ingredients on the market produce the highest priced pet foods on the market. Think about that.

I don't know what I'm going to do about my feline friend. Shots didn't work, different protein sources didn't work, limited ingredients didn't work. Vet diets didn't work. I am down to just digging old meat out of my freezer and removing all carb sources and I still see him biting and scratching daily. Three quarters of his hair is gone (just what he can't reach is left) and he has sore bumps all over his body. I've tried just about everything available on the market with no improvement and am now, like I said, trying to just feed a slightly cooked meat diet, which I really can't afford anyway. Too bad he can't tolerated chicken or eggs. Figures.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

This!!!! I used to be a big Iam, Science Diet consumer. I had nothing but problems with my felines on these diets. Renal failure, urinary problems, etc. I learned I was feeding my cats fillers and chemicals. Science Diet, especially the Vet diets, were preserved with BHT, BHA and other nasties. It was very concerning to learn what I had been feeding them, especially at the price I was having to pay!

I'm currently dealing with a very allergic cat. After a year, I still have been unable to solve his problems even with the Vet approved science diets. So, I read most cats are allergic to chicken, fish, beef, dairy etc. So why do the vet diets that are specifically made for allergies contain chicken? And starches? And eggs? And soy? The cheapest ingredients on the market produce the highest priced pet foods on the market. Think about that.

I don't know what I'm going to do about my feline friend. Shots didn't work, different protein sources didn't work, limited ingredients didn't work. Vet diets didn't work. I am down to just digging old meat out of my freezer and removing all carb sources and I still see him biting and scratching daily. Three quarters of his hair is gone (just what he can't reach is left) and he has sore bumps all over his body. I've tried just about everything available on the market with no improvement and am now, like I said, trying to just feed a slightly cooked meat diet, which I really can't afford anyway. Too bad he can't tolerated chicken or eggs. Figures.

Cats present allergies is very unique ways. Are you sure it's definitely a food allergy? If you have tried the restricted protein diets and that didn't improve his symptoms, it may be you are dealing with something else. If you have ruled out everything else, it may be worth it to check out the IDEXX allergy panels or go to a facility that can do local allergy testing. I especially like the idea of the intradermal skin testing because the vet can pick and choose which allergens he or she wants to test for. The problem is that not every clinic has the materials to perform these tests. The IDEXX panel can test for most insect, dust, and pollen allergies. Immunotherapy is gaining more popularity now and has been shown to be effective, though this is a long term option. It is possible your cat is suffering from atopy, which is a genetic disposition towards developing allergies. Generally, in these types of animals, one allergy can start a cascade of reactions to many things.

Allergies are tricky to diagnose and pinpoint, but there some options out there. As a last resort, people may opt for long term steroid therapy if nothing else has worked, but steroids come with their own set of problems so I prefer to work through other options first.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Cats present allergies is very unique ways. Are you sure it's definitely a food allergy? If you have tried the restricted protein diets and that didn't improve his symptoms, it may be you are dealing with something else. If you have ruled out everything else, it may be worth it to check out the IDEXX allergy panels or go to a facility that can do local allergy testing. I especially like the idea of the intradermal skin testing because the vet can pick and choose which allergens he or she wants to test for. The problem is that not every clinic has the materials to perform these tests. The IDEXX panel can test for most insect, dust, and pollen allergies. Immunotherapy is gaining more popularity now and has been shown to be effective, though this is a long term option. It is possible your cat is suffering from atopy, which is a genetic disposition towards developing allergies. Generally, in these types of animals, one allergy can start a cascade of reactions to many things.

Allergies are tricky to diagnose and pinpoint, but there some options out there. As a last resort, people may opt for long term steroid therapy if nothing else has worked, but steroids come with their own set of problems so I prefer to work through other options first.

I obtained this cat as a kitten from a local shelter. He presented symptoms early on in his life but I didn't recognize them for what they were. Soft, pasty, smelly stools was the first symptom. I changed his diet early on and it helped. Next at about a year old, hair loss around the ears that made me think of ringworm. However, the vet felt it was food related. So, I changed his diet once again to a limited ingrediant diet. That worked for about six months then the vomiting started. After two weeks of that with it getting violent and significantly worse I took him in and tests were performed which determined a severe food allergy. He was given a steroid shot and I was told to put him back on the diet he did well on (I had just added a different food for a little variety in his diet) even though I had already done that and he didn't improve. Well, the shot didn't work. After four days he was puking his food again. I knew he had developed an allergy to that food that he had done so well on. So after a few more feedings just to be sure I started him on different foods again. I have been trying different protein sources with very limited ingredients since then and nothing has worked. Well, he did stop vomiting once I took him off dry foods, but, now I have the severe skin reactions and that has been the problem for months now. I also think it causes wheezing which I hear when I pick him up sometimes. It's like he squeaks when I lift him. I don't have the funds to run tests and have him on medication all his life. I have several other animals that I care for (several inside) and keeping all the food separate and locking animals up at feeding time,etc., has been a real trial. I really hate to give up on an animal that needs help, but I have spent well over a thousand on different foods and vet bills and I can't do it any longer. It really saddens me. If it truly is something in his enviroment, I can't change that either (already have air cleaners in two rooms for hubby). If he would ever grow some hair back, I would put him outside (I'm rural) and see if mice and fresh air does him any good.

 

[matt44644]

Is the vomit right after he eats?Can you clearly see undigested food?

 

[laceykins]

 First I want to say this is my sister's dog not mine, I had the dog for about two years while my sister was moving. When she was in my care I feed her Taste of the Wild and she thrived. Now my sister took her back and is feeding her Alpo. Now the dog is having health problems that I know are a result of the dog food. The thing is my sister is only willing to spend around $30 a bag at the most. I've tried to convince her to let me keep the dog at my house, but she is being stubborn. I just feel bad for the dog being locked in the house 12 hours a day and having that horrible dog food so if someone can suggest a better dog food that would really help me out.

Chicken Soup adult dog food, you. Can get it with free shipping on wag.com, Pet Club, and any other store besides pets mart. Check out he ingredients, they are really good. I'm always surprised it's not more well known.

 

[laceykins]

I obtained this cat as a kitten from a local shelter. He presented symptoms early on in his life but I didn't recognize them for what they were. Soft, pasty, smelly stools was the first symptom. I changed his diet early on and it helped. Next at about a year old, hair loss around the ears that made me think of ringworm. However, the vet felt it was food related. So, I changed his diet once again to a limited ingrediant diet. That worked for about six months then the vomiting started. After two weeks of that with it getting violent and significantly worse I took him in and tests were performed which determined a severe food allergy. He was given a steroid shot and I was told to put him back on the diet he did well on (I had just added a different food for a little variety in his diet) even though I had already done that and he didn't improve. Well, the shot didn't work. After four days he was puking his food again. I knew he had developed an allergy to that food that he had done so well on. So after a few more feedings just to be sure I started him on different foods again. I have been trying different protein sources with very limited ingredients since then and nothing has worked. Well, he did stop vomiting once I took him off dry foods, but, now I have the severe skin reactions and that has been the problem for months now. I also think it causes wheezing which I hear when I pick him up sometimes. It's like he squeaks when I lift him. I don't have the funds to run tests and have him on medication all his life. I have several other animals that I care for (several inside) and keeping all the food separate and locking animals up at feeding time,etc., has been a real trial. I really hate to give up on an animal that needs help, but I have spent well over a thousand on different foods and vet bills and I can't do it any longer. It really saddens me. If it truly is something in his enviroment, I can't change that either (already have air cleaners in two rooms for hubby). If he would ever grow some hair back, I would put him outside (I'm rural) and see if mice and fresh air does him any good.

Have you tried just putting him on Benadryl for a week or so and see if that helps? Benadryl is great for allergies in dogs because it doesn't build up in their system, so you can give it regularly over a good period of time and it won't hurt them. Just a thought.

 

[matt44644]

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