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AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 20, 2009 at 3:45pm

Reply by Leigh, Deuce, Chance, & Luke on November 21, 2008 at 4:48am

LOVE LOVE LOVE this Group!!!! Thanks sooooooooooo much for starting it. There is so much out there to feed our dogs but so little info about what we are buying and so much sales hype that it makes the concerned pet lover confused! Without the correct info, we could be literally "killing" our beloved 4 leggeds by trying to feed them the "best" foods!!! Always in the back of my mind is the food recall scare and all of the pets that "ate themselves to death" right in front of our eyes. Some commercial pet foods are still not safe to feed but are still being sold and we are not being informed by the media. Even through research, I'm still confused about what to feed. So here is my question.....
Is there any way someone who is in the know post a list of safe commercial pet foods that could be on the website here as a reference for all of us??? Also, as much as I want to cook for my 2, it's not feasible when trying to foster, especially in these poor economic times. And, would it be possibe to make it simple to understand? I think a comparison list of commercial, RAW, and Homecooked foods and left here on a regular basis would help those of us who are "out of the loop" when it comes to pet food. That way, we can all choose how we want to feed our pets. Maybe I missed a posting about what I'm asking about.... Just file this one in a "SUGGESTION BOX!" LOL
Thanks again for starting such a wonderful group!




Reply by Karen & Jack on November 21, 2008 at 7:28am

Hi Leigh, thanks for the nice words!
I think for the time being, your best bet would be to read through all the posts in the Commercial & Homecooking discussions...much of the info you are looking for is there, albeit not in such an organized form as we might like. (I think we will have to wait for Lynne's summer vacation for that, LOL!) The RAW section so far has more questions and concerns than information, and this is an area we also hope to explore further. I think a question and answer section here might be a good idea, although the format of the website makes it a little difficult to keep any particular topic "up top" where everyone can see it...but at least it will be here!




Reply by Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles on November 21, 2008 at 9:58am

I do not know that we could ever put together a 'list' of safe commercial pet foods in this ever changing market. SO much can change and I would never want someone to not realize they are viewing an out of date report ~ if it was safe today and 2 months from now their plant has an issue that is not widely publicized (it happens) it could be tragic. On commercial foods safety lies in the present, we always need to be aware - even about our current selection.




Reply by Karen & Jack on November 21, 2008 at 10:06am

You are so right, Dianne; just a few days before you posted the article about the "6-month-period" that the PFI is allowed before having to advise us of changes in formulas, I received an e-mail from a relative who works for one of the major companies, advising me that her company had significantly changed a very popular formula of kibble, but was still putting it in the old bags with the old ingredient labels...and that they had 6 mos. to "use up" the old bags before correcting the labels! (This was also posted in the "Commercial foods" section in this group)




Reply by Leigh, Deuce, Chance, & Luke on November 22, 2008 at 5:18am

Anyone know of reputable website that has listings of commercial foods that is kept up to date? Maybe it could be linked here.




Reply by Lynne NJ on November 22, 2008 at 6:07am

Leigh, check out other discussions in this group's main page. Commercial Foods-The G, the B and the U, give websites where you can do your research. dogfoodproject.com and dogfoodnalysis.com are good places to start. But go read the discussions first.




Reply by Leigh, Deuce, Chance, & Luke on November 22, 2008 at 1:45pm

Okey Dokey. Thanks Lynne. I must have missed something in the discussions earlier.




Reply by Teresa on December 6, 2008 at 6:31am

Just joined this group and will spend a lot of time reading through. Thank you for starting such an amazing group. I also want to share with you a website that I found several years ago when my Bouvier started having some very significant issues with allergies and immune system. www.monicasegal.com. This woman is an animal nutritionist - based on Guelph, Ontario - for those of you not from Canada, Guelph is our largest Vet college and has well known research facilities. Many specialists reside there and I am fortunate enough to live close enough that I have taken advantage of these specialists in the past. Anyway, Monica Segal's website and newsletters are extremely informative - she also does consulting. Thought I would share with you. I am extremely interested in the homemade foods and will spend some time reading through this part of the site.




Reply by Karen & Jack on December 6, 2008 at 7:10am

Hi Teresa, I am thrilled that you have joined our group and are enjoying it! There is indeed a lot to look through, and also a lot of questions that we hope to be able to answer by working together to share our knowledge and particular areas of experience & expertise. There is strength in numbers!
I did look through the website for which you provided the link above, and I did not see much information that was readily (and FREEly available). My problem with it is that the same person (however educated or knowledgable she may be) who is offering info & advice is also selling the products.In our discussion "Nutrition 101", which admittedly is not as interesting as some others here, lol, I said this:

When we want to buy a car or an appliance, we do some research to find out what brands and features will be our best option. We don't walk up to the car salesman and ask "Is this a good car?" (Find me one who will say 'no, the dealer across the street's cars are better.') We look to INDEPENDENT sources to find out if the dealer's claims are true. Why, then, when we see advertising for a diet book, a vitamin, a supplement, or even an entire method of feeding our beloved friends, do we believe what the person who stands to make a profit is telling us?

One of my tenets, and one which I know is shared by Lynne, is that we need to find fact-based, independent information on many of these issues in order to be effective advocates for our dogs, in every area of their lives.
As for homemade food, you will find a wealth of info right here from the Queen of Canine Cuisine (DK Division, anyway) Lynne NJ. Also check out the Tricks & Treats section where Leslie has posted lots of recipes for great healthy homemade treats! Enjoy yourself, and welcome to The Food Group!




Reply by Teresa on December 6, 2008 at 7:25am

You are completely correct on the independent view point! That's why I think this is an excellent forum. Of course everyone has their own perspective so it does take lots of "digesting" LOL - of information. I get a lot of information from Monica's newsletter that she sends out monthly and yes, I did buy her feeding book in which she offers many different options about raw, versus cooked and then of course, adds in what suppliments need to be added. That is where I get confused - the suppliments required to keep the food balanced. As you state, she is selling the suppliments, so what is needed and what isn't? That is what I need to really dig through and understand.




Reply by Teresa on December 6, 2008 at 8:14am

Example of detail from her newsletters: "Fact of the Month
Frozen fruits and vegetables are a healthy choice

There was a time when fresh produce was truly fresh because it was grown in the soil of our own family-owned farms. If you live in the city and/or in a climate that doesn’t allow for year round farming, chances are that the fruits and vegetables you and your dog eats have been grown several miles away. In fact, they may have traveled thousands of miles before reaching your local store. If they look ripe, it’s usually because they were picked before reaching their full potential. This impacts the quality because nutrient values can be less than hoped for.

Frozen produce is considered to be lesser-than by many people. I, for one, am not partial to the taste of most frozen vegetables. Fortunately, this type of bias is lost on dogs. The reason it’s a good thing is because frozen fruits and vegetables have, for the most part, been picked when they’re ripened. Their nutritional punch includes some vitamins and phytonutrients. They’re available year round and can cost much less than their “fresh” counterparts. This makes the addition of berries to a diet a possibility even during the winter months. And of all the fruits I like to give a dog, berries hold the number one spot. Their antioxidant properties and phytochemicals are known to fight cancer cells in people. Whether this holds true for dogs is unknown but my bet is that one day this will be proven too. If I’m wrong, nothing was lost. If I’m right, dogs being fed berries are ahead of the pack.

A 2005 study gleaned from owner questionnaires, suggests strongly that there is a preventive effect against transitional cell carcinoma in dogs consuming green, yellow or orange vegetables three or more times weekly. So don’t forget to add some veggies to your dog’s diet, and don’t be biased against the frozen varieties. They can help to stretch your dollars and can help your dogs in many ways."




Reply by Karen & Jack on December 6, 2008 at 8:19am

All of this is true, and it's very basic information on human nutrition...the kind you see in any ladie's, family, or health-oriented magazine. Is there a charge for the newsletter?

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 20, 2009 at 3:48pm

Reply by Teresa on December 6, 2008 at 11:28am

No - its completely free. She also includes some other notes that she shares on cases she is working on and of course gives some updates on products she is working on. Its interesting reading just as we have on doodlekisses. I guess I am very high on her because I did communicate with her one on one early on in my bouvier's illness - no fee - just some helpful discussion. I don't discount her simply because she is selling something - she is extremely knowledgeable and I guess it comes down to trust. After we do our research on a subject it really does come down to what we think makes sense each of us and what information we end up trusting. Anyway, its available if anyone should want to access it.




Reply by Karen & Jack on December 6, 2008 at 11:37am

Teresa, I absolutely agree that you should not discount her simply because she is selling something...after all, the Pitcairn & Nestle books aren't free, either! You are absolutely right that "After we do our research on a subject it really does come down to what we think makes sense each of us and what information we end up trusting."
You have had experience with her, and trust her. It IS the experiences and research into the person giving advice that make the difference. As someone unfamiliar with the website, I just automatically get nervous when I see "shopping cart", lol! Once I've researched someone, I have no problem with them earning a living by sharing their knowledge! Did not mean to give that impression, sorry!




Reply by Teresa on December 10, 2008 at 10:52am

Didn't take it that way at all - no issues! THanks Karen.




Reply by Lynne NJ on December 6, 2008 at 8:38am

I add frozen wild blueberries to my homecooked dogfood at every meal. I buy them in a big bag at Costo and have noticed the dogs love them. They are individually frozen, so I can add a small bunch right out of the bag. I also add crazins (cranberries) which I read are good to keep the urinary tract clean. But these are the kinds of things that you discover through YOUR research and reading. Did your vet tell you how good fruits and veggies are? Many of the vet studies are available online.




Reply by Teresa on December 10, 2008 at 10:51am

Yes, berries are definately high on the list. Most of the natural treats have blueberries, apples, bananas in them. All Yams or Sweet potatoes I know are good for them. My last dog ate every fruit and vegetable known to mankind...well known to me I guess :-). Hudson is not as crazy about them, although the wet food I mix in with his kibble has vegetables in it and he seems to love that. I'll keep working on it and maybe run it by the group once I have a recipe concocted. This is a great group and very interesting to read and get info on food. Thanks for starting it.




Reply by Karen & Jack on December 10, 2008 at 11:12am

Thanks, Teresa, for the vote of confidence. We really do want this to be a place where we can share information, tips & suggestions, and not a "debate club" for arguing over who is "right"...(although some of us, myself included, do have our own issues that push certain buttons, lol!)We are so glad that you are contributing & participating!