Hi all,

I've posted before regarding my dog Charlotte and her food allergies. I've been going through various dog food brands and flavours for the last few months to try and figure out what she can and can't eat. I've checked on-line about which brands are suppose to be better. I came up with some recurring brands that were often listed within the top 10: Wellness, Canidae, Nutro, Orijen and Merrick just to name some that I know are available where I live. The problem I'm having is that for every outstanding review of how great a certain food is there is also a horror story of how the same food almost killed someone else's pet. I know it's the joy of the internet, so I was wondering if people here would tell me some foods that they use and would recommend. Also, foods that may not be so good and why.
I know all pets are different and some foods may work for one pet but not another, but I think it would be helpful to hear people's views on today's dog food brands. There's also a new one out called Before Grains by Merrick. Any info on that one yet?
Thanks
Michelle and Charlotte

Try going to this website. Dog Food Analysis - Reviews of kibble

Its not based on opinion. Maybe it'll help you.

Thanks, I checked it out and it seems like a good site.
I was hoping that people would post here to say what they use at home and like. There's just so much info on line.
Right now I'm switching her from Canidae to Nutro and I'm finding tons of good and bad for both.
I assume most people agree that the supermarket brands are the least desirable. That's what I always used and then after searcing the web and talking with my vet I'm afraid to use them anymore although friends of mine use them and have no problems.
Just looking for some feedback.

I had always used the supermarket brand (but not the least expensive) and my dogs were fine, but then I got a dog that seems to be itchy.

I am now on the 'van patten' thing, I think it might be 'Wellness' and is grain free. I also feed them sardines per Shaz once or twice a week.

If it is spring or windy, I give them Benedryle, but only because my vet said it was OK and told me the right dosage.

But still... in the middle of the night when I am sound asleep one of them has to have a scratching fit.:eek::D
Never in the day:rolleyes:

One of my daughters used to work for Halo, a company that produces natural pet products. They have a recipe (for Spot's Stew) so that you can make the foods yourself... all things you could eat yourself, or purchase them either directly from them online or in some pet supply stores. They often had customers with pets that had allergies and various other conditions that felt the change in foods made a tremendous difference. I can vouch for the Dream Coat (you just pour a small amount on their food)... really saw a difference with all of my pets... dogs and cats alike. No allergies to contend with, but a great difference in shedding and general appearance of their skin and coats.

It was a smallish company, although they shipped around the country, but was partially purchased by Ellen DeGeneres awhile back and have far greater marketing.

Might be worth a try and see if it makes a difference for Charlotte.

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Originally Posted by Just Dahlia

I also feed them sardines per Shaz once or twice a week.

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You should try cod liver oil, it's much richer in fatty acids. You want to look for those deep sea fish.


I am using a brand called Canine Plus lifetime. It's a fish and oatmeal blend. It's made here in the town I live, and I trust the product.

I'm kind of like you Michelle, I read wonderful things about a specific brand, and than find a horror story about it. I like the brand I am feeding and Lady seems to be doing okay on it. It smells REALLY fishy, and like yours it was a salmon, white fish blend. The only thing I wish is, that the white fish was more specific, like Cod or haddock or what. At least than you know exactly what fish they are using. I saw kibbles n bits and they have some new type of "wellness" food now, and one of the flavors was poultry. So was it chicken, turkey ostrich or what?

Not a brand I would ever buy anyway, but thought it was kind of funny.

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I saw kibbles and bits and they have some new type of "wellness" food now, and one of the flavors was poultry. So was it chicken, turkey ostrich or what?

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I'm sure its not any of the edible parts of the bird :p

I'm a huge fan of Innova and Wellness. My young pup didn't do very good on the Wellness puppy food, which is why I stuck with Innova. Innova also is the creater of EVO. Evo is a very good food that has been proven to help dogs out with allergies. Wellness just came out with line specifically for allergy problem dogs. The ingredients are very high quality and I'm sure you yourself could eat the food.. not that I'd recommend it ;)

EVO Premium Dog Food, Natural Cat Food, Healthy Dog Treats – Natura Pet Products

Wellness Dog Simple® Recipes

I'll be surprised if your dog's body accepts Nutro. From what I hear, dogs with allergies don't get along with Nutro due to the grains in it.

I've heard many horror stories of what dog foods do to dogs. I heard from one lady who fed Bil-Jac that the food was so easy to digest, that the dogs kidneys and/or liver started to shut down. Apparently it was a result from the easy to digest food. Different types of foods do different things to dogs.. kind of like people. Some people can eat healthy food, other get sick from it. Some people can eat whole pizzas and never gain a pound, whereas some people will gain 5lbs just looking at a pizza.

From what I have learned, there is no way to tell if a food is actually going to help your dog out for the first couple of weeks. It takes a full two months for the dogs body to either accept the ingredients or continue to have a reaction. Of course if your dog gets sick to its stomach from the food, that's one thing.. but as far as the allergies... It may take awhile before you see a difference with any of the foods you try.

The dog food analysis webpage is a good tool for you to judge on whether you want to feed the food or not without a opinion or a horror story vs a success story.

Good luck.

I also feed my dogs Canine Plus Lifetime. One of my dogs had a very bad allergy that came up suddenly. For two years I tried various high end foods (Wellness Core Oceans, Eagle Pack Salmon, etc) with no luck. I happened to be in a farm feed store and saw the Lifetime bag that said corn free, wheat free and byproduct free, tried the fish flavour and her allergy symptoms cleared. The vet had thought she would be allergic to chicken, but none of the other fish products cleared her allergy. So I'm assuming it is either corn or wheat that she is allergic to. The only thing I noticed with Lifetime is that both dogs have a lot more excretement than with the other foods - they go 3-4 times a day now compared to once a day on the other foods. But since it's cleared her allergy I am going to stick with it. I switched them over to lamb cause they seemed to slow down on eating the fish. Now I'm in the midst of switching over to chicken (we cross border quite often and they do not allow dog food made of lamb into the US!! ) and hopefully the allergies don't come back.

Great to hear! I assume you are Canadian since Shur gain is the only place that makes that brand! I love it, and also agree about the more frequent potty breaks out side. Lots to keep me busy. I have had my oldest on the brand for about 2 years now, and her pooping seems to have slowed down and has become more regular with twice a day. My young pup is still adjusting to it and goes a little more often.