# Dog Food -- are there any secrets? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 5, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195 "2012-06-05T20:41:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/1 "2012-06-05T20:41:58Z")
I’m planning on transitioning my dog to a new food (price and availability of our current brand is a hassle). There’s too…damn…many options. I can’t taste 'em to see what’s yummy, and they mostly all say, “hey, full of good stuff for your dog, yay.” It’s gotta be dry food, since, well, it’s easy, clean, and he likes it. I’ve generally heard that a sticking point is looking for meat as the top ingredient. That limits me to…like, fifteen different brands. He’s a young (18 months), healthy corgi. Senior food and weight loss food is obviously not needed. So now there’s, say, four or five easily available “premium” brands. Most now have a “grain free, high protein” variant. There’s beef, lamb, chicken, and salmon. Does any of this matter? Are there any tips or tricks here? Does anybody know any secret low-cost, healthy premium brands? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/2 "2012-06-05T20:49:19Z")
I like the Costco/Kirkland brand. After hanging around with vet tech types for a while, I learned that there’s a huge difference between premium brand and cheap-o food, but the difference between premium foods was more a matter of preference. Edit for secondhand anecdote: My brother asked the vet he worked for his opinion of brands like ‘Ol’ Roy.’ Crusty old farm vet said ‘You might as well feed ‘em the fuckin’ bag!’ ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/3 "2012-06-05T20:55:11Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I like the Costco/Kirkland brand. After hanging around with vet tech types for a while, I learned that there’s a huge difference between premium brand and cheap-o food, but the difference between premium foods was more a matter of preference. I was _certain_ in my heart that first response would be recommending Kirkland. Yet another drop in the “reasons to get a Costco membership” bucket. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/4 "2012-06-05T20:59:06Z")
Except that Diamond manufactures Costco/Kirkland (and Taste of the Wild) and has been having serious quality control issues, with a recall that’s been going on for months now. These are the Diamond brands that are part of the recall: Brands included in the recall include: Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Country Value Diamond Diamond Naturals Premium Edge Professional 4Health Taste of the Wild Kirkland Signatures I’m no longer feeding Diamond products because they can’t get their act together. StG ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/5 "2012-06-05T21:01:55Z")
Well sumbitch…I [am not affected,](http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/kirkland-dog-food-recall/) but that is cause for concern. My back-up is Iams… ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/6 "2012-06-05T21:40:27Z")
We use Kirkland too. Best ingredients and other then the recent recall (ours wasn’t part of it), we’ve never had any issues. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/7 "2012-06-05T21:44:44Z")
I actually had heard about the Diamond / Kirkland recall, but was thinking it was a single batch QC issue. If it’s ongoing, that’s much less enticing. The brand I used for a while is an exclusive-to-PetSmart premium brand (but not explicitly a “store brand”) that seemed very high quality, but we’ve been struggling to get our dog to eat it since we switched to adult from puppy formula. We transitioned to Wellness Core Ocean Mix, which he devours, but it’s essentially as much as you can possibly pay for dry food, even ordering through online discount shops. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/8 "2012-06-05T21:49:27Z")
We feed Nutro. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it, and if you keep an eye on the sales, you can get deals sometimes. There’s some different mixes/flavours including grain-free options, if your pup reacts badly to grain. (Of course, the grain-free food just replaces the grain with potatos, another not-very-doggy carb.) Protein level does matter. If your pup is super high energy, and you don’t want him to be, switch to a lower protein food. If he’s dragging along behind you, and you want to perk him up, maybe a higher protein food would help. You may need to mix regular and weight loss food to get the proportion you want. I’m not an animal nutritionist, nor do I play one on TV, so take my advice with a grain of salt, and ask your vet for advice. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/9 "2012-06-05T22:07:07Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > …Protein level does matter. If your pup is super high energy, and you don’t want him to be, switch to a lower protein food. If he’s dragging along behind you, and you want to perk him up, maybe a higher protein food would help. You may need to mix regular and weight loss food to get the proportion you want.. . Dafuq … ? :dubious: Are you advocating that people malnourish their dog into better behavior? ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/10 "2012-06-05T22:12:36Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Dafuq … ? :dubious: Are you advocating that people malnourish their dog into better behavior? :rolleyes: No, just pointing out the link between dietary protein and energy/activity level. Again, ask your vet if you have questions. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/11 "2012-06-05T22:26:35Z")
You may know this, but whatever you choose it is best to slowly transition Towser to his new diet. Buy the new stuff before the old runs out, and start by mixing just a little of the new in with mostly old. Up the percentage at each meal over a few days to a week. Problems I’ve seen when circumstance ruled out this process have been stomach distress (once to the point of the dog being unable to get to his feet) diarrhea, and choking on the new stuff because it was just so dawgone yummy and you must eat it really fast and not bother chewing donchaknow. Of course it could not be an issue at all for a given dog and given old/new choices. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/12 "2012-06-06T01:31:03Z")
Moistening the food with something like chicken broth as you gradually switch over, eases the transition. ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/13 "2012-06-06T02:24:34Z")
I feed Solid Gold, and my dogs are healthy, energetic for old dogs, and their poo is fabulous! (Smaller, drier, less smelly.) I originally fed Iams, changed to Nutro when Iams changed their recipe, changed to Solid Gold when Nutro changed their recipe, and have been feeding Solid Gold for several years. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/14 "2012-06-06T14:02:11Z")
I use [Wellness](http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog-wellness.aspx) and have been very happy with it. I like that all the ingredients are human food-grade - the pet food scare of a few year’s ago was not at all an issue for us, and I doubt any future ones will be. My dogs free-feed, and they’re both energetic, fit, and have nice coats. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/15 "2012-06-06T14:38:12Z")
I used [dogfoodadvisor.com](http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/) to pick out my dog’s food. Seriously (I know it sounds like a joke). ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/16 "2012-06-07T01:27:58Z")
IAMARVT (Registered Veterinary Technician). Basically, the first five ingredients listed make up the bulk of the food. There’s nothing wrong with meat meal as an ingredient - just don’t go with byproducts and make sure it’s a specific meat meal (not just generic “meat meal”). Watch for “ingredient splitting” - listing “brown rice, white rice, rice bran, rice gluten meal” instead of just “rice”. Fruits and vegetables added to dog food really don’t do much good after they’ve been dried and extruded. Much better to just add a sprinkle of it to the top of the food. “Holistic” has no definition when it comes to pet food. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/17 "2012-06-07T01:56:26Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > IAMARVT (Registered Veterinary Technician). Basically, the first five ingredients listed make up the bulk of the food. There’s nothing wrong with meat meal as an ingredient - just don’t go with byproducts and make sure it’s a specific meat meal (not just generic “meat meal”). Watch for “ingredient splitting” - listing “brown rice, white rice, rice bran, rice gluten meal” instead of just “rice”. Fruits and vegetables added to dog food really don’t do much good after they’ve been dried and extruded. Much better to just add a sprinkle of it to the top of the food. “Holistic” has no definition when it comes to pet food. Right. And avoid corn. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/18 "2012-06-07T02:01:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Right. And avoid corn. Holy cow! Or, corn. I bought a bag of cheap-o food for my Emma once because I ran out and thought I thought I had a bag of the good stuff in reserve (wrong). I didn’t witness any ill effects, so I figured I’d just go ahead and use the bag up. I went to bed one night and could not get over the smell of FRITOS on the bed! So weird…I don’t buy Fritos. Could not figure it out. A little bit later, Emma came to snuggle, and there the smell was again! I checked the label of the dog food, and corn was right up at the top. I called her Corn Chip for quite a while after that. After, that is, I quit using that awful food. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/19 "2012-06-07T02:14:39Z")
I alternate our dogs between Wellness, Innova, Blue Buffalo, and Evo dry. I split a can of high end meat between the three mixed into their morning meal. Twice a week they each get a cooked turkey liver as a treat. ETA: also, I skip a random meal here and there at the suggestion of a behaviorist. And they get weighed monthly. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195/20 "2012-06-07T02:17:02Z")
We use [Born Free](http://www.bornfreepetfood.com/faq.shtml) and buy two forty pound bags at a time. (Two greyhounds and an old man whippet.) An advantage of the higher protein brands is smaller serving sizes. I might try Costco’s though … [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-food-are-there-any-secrets/624195.md?page=2)