Organic dog food at stores?

[MARINE7]

I have four dogs and feed them top of the line (Eukanuba) dry dog food for many years. Based on the ingredients of this food I now find it to be unhealthy for my dogs. I don't want to go through the process of trying to feed them raw foods. I would like to know if their is an organic healthy dry dog food out there that would be good for my dogs? Some products claim to be organic, but based on the ingredients they are far from it. Not to mention they put the " Organic " label on the front and charge outrageous prices, but it is a lie. In the long run I would like to change their food intake slowly to a whole raw diet, but this would take much time and research. So for now I would just like to slowly improve their diet to a whole organic dry food with lots of minerals and vitamins. Based on what I am learning about what is right to eat, it would be unfair to my dogs to feed them the processed garbage similar to what I have been putting into my body for so many years. Any thoughts?

[streetsurfer]

I don't know much about it, but you might see if Blue Buffalo pet foods fit your needs.

[lynnc72]

How big are your dogs?

It'll take less time and money to go directly to prey model raw than trying to find an alternative dry, processed crap. Plus, it's better for your dogs' health.

1. Feed 2-3% of the dog's adult ideal weight.
2. Feed one type of meaty bones for the first few weeks. Chicken is the most popular choice.
3. Do your research during the first month.

First month, we fed our 65 lb dog chicken quarters about 1.3 - 1.9 lbs per day, splitting the portion out twice a day. She was 7 months old, so we'll feed her twice daily until she turns 1-year-old. Then we'll switch to once daily.

We spent the first month researching on what to add next to her diet. Join this group:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/

It won't take long to figure out the rest.

4. Introduce a new meat slowly over a week's time. Pork is a nice cheap red meat to add next.
5. Very slowly add 5% organ and 5% liver.


After 2 months raw, we noticed her bad breath and doggy odor are completely gone. Her teeth are sparkling white and we never had to brush them.

[MARINE7]

I have three small dogs and one big Husky Shepard. I just found out they sell Blue Buffalo at the Petco near me.

Lynnc thank you very much for the response. I will do my research and join that group. Basically I am going to have to calculate how much this is going to cost me per month. Right now I think I will go with Blue Buffalo and then in January slowly start feeding them raw. Also, I thought raw chicken bones were bad for dogs because they splinter. Thanks again.

[lynnc72]

Cooked bones will splinter so I never, ever feed those. Raw bones are perfectly safe and it's what they're meant to eat in the wild.

I avoid weight bearing bones in cattle as they are too dense and will break teeth. These raw meaty bones are fed freely: pork/goat/lamb/poultry/fish.

I'm so glad you'll start raw soon. It's the best thing for you dogs and cheaper too. We calculated that it costs less to feed our dog this way than the high-end crapple the breeder was feeding her. We look for weekly sales at our local supermarkets.

When you switch to raw, they recommend you do it cold turkey. It's less chance for digestive upsets that way.

[MARINE7]

Ok, thanks lynnc. I didn't know about fish bones. Many of my friends fish throughout the year and raw fish is very easy for me to get.

[kjduf]

I feed mine Blue Buffalo and I feel its a really good dog food. My 3 mini dachshunds are very healthy, coat looks great and have tons of energy! lol

[MARINE7]

I am going to PetCo in the morning for a 30lb bag of Blue Buffalo. Going to feed my four dogs it for a few weeks and I will post the results. Then they are going 100% raw. I did the math and if I get raw chicken, pork, lamb and fish from the local butcher shop in the city then it will cost me the same to feed them per month based on a 1-1 1/2 meals per day. But I will be getting some free local fish from my friends which will vary from month to . If I fed them all Blue Buffalo dry food it would cost me over $40.00 per month more. Blue Buffalo is very expensive to feed 4 dogs a month, but due to my lack of time right now it will be the easiest thing to do for their health. Thank you all for your insight. It has helped me a lot. Merry Christmas.