Best dog food for around $30

[MrsBachbach]

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

Yes, and no. Usually starts off digested (liquid and hairballs sometimes) and then after a few days its mostly undigested. When this first started it went on almost daily for two weeks. After the last episode of me cleaning up food from literally one end of the house to the other, I took him in. The tests said severe food allergy.

 

[MrsBachbach]

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.

If the steroid shot didn't work for him, why would the Benadryl? I was told the steroid shot was the "big gun". I wouldn't know the dosage or how to administer to him. I'm not good at all with pilling a cat. Never have been and somehow sticking it in food never seems to work. They have the uncanny ability to eat all food around the pill and spit it out.

 

[MrsBachbach]

 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.

You can get the Diamond Naturals for under a dollar a pound. A 40lb bag usually costs around $30 or so. Much, much better food than Alpo. Much better. I would recommend the Diamond Naturals if looking for quality at low cost.

 

[matt44644]

Quote: Do you ever use petromalt?

 

[dekel18042]

Rather than mention a food by brand, one of the things you can do is become a label reader and familiarize yourself with different ingredients. I try to avoid, corn, wheat, soy, dyes and certain preservatives. Although not necessary, I now have my dogs on a mostly grain free diet and prefer this for several reasons.
Another thing to consider in addition to the cost per pound is the cost per serving.
I had a friend feeding a cheaper brand and her large dog was eating 8 cups of food per day. When she switched to a better brand, her dog was well satisfied with only a bit over three cups so increase in what she was paying for dog food was almost negligible.

 

[enola]

I rescued a female Min Pin who had bald spots on her back. I took her to the vet for her vaccinations. He said he thought she was allergic to fleas. I took her home to treat her for fleas. Her skin condition did not improve after getting rid of the fleas. Then her ears started itching. The vet said she had a chronic yeast infection in her ears. He gave me drops for her ears. Two years later she was still partly bald and her ears were making her miserable. Then I discovered 4-Health dog food at Tractor Supply! After two weeks, I noticed her bald spots were growing hair. When her ear drops needed to be refilled, I took her to the vet for her check up. The vet was simply amazed at her healthy ears. I am a firm believer that her diet was causing her allergies.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Do you ever use petromalt?

Yes, I tried the hairball remedies also wondering if the vomiting was hairball related, but it was not. And he hates the stuff, I can't get him to take it willing. I have to watch the ingredients in that also.

 

[MrsBachbach]

    Rather than mention a food by brand, one of the things you can do is become a label reader and familiarize yourself with different ingredients.  I try to avoid, corn, wheat, soy, dyes and certain preservatives.  Although not necessary, I now have my dogs on a mostly grain free diet and prefer this for several reasons.
    Another thing to consider in addition to the cost per pound is the cost per serving.
I had a friend feeding a cheaper brand and her large dog was eating 8 cups of food per day. When she switched to a better brand, her dog was well satisfied with only a bit over three cups so increase in what she was paying for dog food was almost negligible.

That is a very important point that many people never stop to consider.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

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.

I feel awkward giving advice in a thread about how advice goes over poorly, but ... maybe try giving your sister the food you want her dog to eat. If she lives far away, order it for delivery off the Internet.

 

[naturalfeddogs]

That is a very important point that many people never stop to consider.

A lot of people don't know what are really good ingredients. All they know are brands to look for and have no idea anything about the nutrition part of it.