Raw food or commercial diet for dogs, which is best?

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  dh0589772 years, 7 months ago #1Show comment toolsReply

  Its meant to be better so they dont get allergies etc but i would stick to the better quality dog foods. At least then they have the chance to build up an immunity themselves! And do you really want to be messing around with a raw diet when dog food is so easy. There is no real benefit to the dog and it will cost you more money in the long run!
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  dh0589772 years, 7 months ago #2Show comment toolsReply

  FYI, god parents are cocker spaniel breeders, had dogs all our lives and my mother runs a pet care company in the south (thats who i asked!)
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  aircanman2 years, 7 months ago #3Show comment toolsReply

  When we bought our labrador the breeder suggested raw food. You can buy it very cheaply in pets at home (in a freezer) - However, we decided against it.
  
  Dont worry about the dog being ill, they can deal with raw meat where we cant.
  
  All I can say is if the dog doesnt like the food you put out, dont change it, labs especially get awfully picky when it comes to food.
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  dh0589772 years, 7 months ago #4Show comment toolsReply

  aircanman

  When we bought our labrador the breeder suggested raw food. You can buy it very cheaply in pets at home (in a freezer) - However, we decided against it. Dont worry about the dog being ill, they can deal with raw meat where we cant. All I can say is if the dog doesnt like the food you put out, dont change it, labs especially get awfully picky when it comes to food.

  
  
  Yeah weve had a few labs over the years. Both our own and those weve looked after and they can be very picky! They like routine!
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  minxx2 years, 7 months ago #5Show comment toolsReply

  dh058977

  Its meant to be better so they dont get allergies etc but i would stick to the better quality dog foods. At least then they have the chance to build up an immunity themselves!

  
  Are there any better quality dog foods you could recommend since your god parents are dog breeders?
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  DAMNOME2 years, 7 months ago #6Show comment toolsReply

  Arden Grange
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  dh0589772 years, 7 months ago #7Show comment toolsReply

  minxx

  dh058977

  Its meant to be better so they dont get allergies etc but i would stick to the better quality dog foods. At least then they have the chance to build up an immunity themselves!

  Are there any better quality dog foods you could recommend since your god parents are dog breeders?

  
  
  I can ask them what they feed the cocker spaniels on if you want?
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  minxx2 years, 7 months ago #8Show comment toolsReply

  dh058977

  minxx

  dh058977

  Its meant to be better so they dont get allergies etc but i would stick to the better quality dog foods. At least then they have the chance to build up an immunity themselves!

  Are there any better quality dog foods you could recommend since your god parents are dog breeders?

  I can ask them what they feed the cocker spaniels on if you want?

  
  Yes please, that would be great :)
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  DAMNOME2 years, 7 months ago #9Show comment toolsReply

  http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
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  dungavel2 years, 7 months ago #10Show comment toolsReply

  Surely if it's healthier for us to eat fresh, unprocessed food then it's healthier for the dog. We feed our cats raw food as the stuff you get in tins and pouches is essential the microwave meals for pets. Obviously there is higher quality fresh cuts food, but it works out cheaper buying an feeding them food that we eat.
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  minxx2 years, 7 months ago #11Show comment toolsReply

  dungavel

  Surely if it's healthier for us to eat fresh, unprocessed food then it's healthier for the dog. We feed our cats raw food as the stuff you get in tins and pouches is essential the microwave meals for pets. Obviously there is higher quality fresh cuts food, but it works out cheaper buying an feeding them food that we eat.

  
  I have wondered about that as my partners cat is quite old and he feeds him whiskas, we've tried him with other better brands and even foods we eat (chicken,fish,prawns etc) and he turns his nose up at them oO
  Makes me wonder what exactly they're putting in the Whiskas:(
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  minxx2 years, 7 months ago #12Show comment toolsReply

  DAMNOME

  http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

  
  Thank you, that's very handy :)
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  callaneva2 years, 7 months ago #13Show comment toolsReply

  We fed our Lab cross James Wellbeloved and he loved it, but he has Severe hip and elbow dysplasia at only 1 year old, so he is now on a prescription diet which has helped him loads
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  nessynoo012 years, 7 months ago #14Show comment toolsReply

  When we got our dog from rescue centre he had a few probs with eating tinned food, was recommended Burns dry food, it did wonders for him, helped with his skin and fur and doesnt get upset tummy now either.
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  Susannah2 years, 7 months ago #15Show comment toolsReply

  I buy Whites dry food online. My dogs aren't good with wheat products so this is perfect for them. I have two very healthy dogs, good coat etc etc on this.
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  paddy.stone2 years, 7 months ago #16Show comment toolsReply

  We have a lab, and apart from the occassional small helping of dinner scraps in with it he has a diet of dry dog food (chappie to be exact) that our vets recommended to us as almost as good as a prescription dog food as he has been a little overweight ever since we got him at 8 weeks old... and he has carrots as snacks and in with food too. He's now nearly 3 years old (next week) and has only ever had an upset stomach twice, but think that was due to eating something he shouldn't have while on a walk.
  He is gradually losing weight and is now about 3Kg overweight at 42Kg... he is a big muscular lab though... and the reason he's losing weight is that he has only half of the recommended dry food for the weight he should be, and a dentastick and maybe a few scraps, but then we take out a bit more of the dry food... just to give him some variety.
  Anyway, the chappie food is roughly around £14 for 15Kg of dry food.. and that lasts him roughly 2-3 months... he has a great coat (people always ask me how I got it like that), but he's just a healthy dog... you could almost set your watch by his bowel movements, LOL
  
  Anyway, if I can think of any tips that I've picked up I'll let you know... labs make great pets :)

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