posted 09-09-2003 07:51 AM         

What's supposed to be wrong with Science Diet?

posted 09-09-2003 01:00 PM         

Corn meal, chicken by-product meal (including white meat, dark meat, liver and other internal organs), soybean meal, animal fat (preserved with BHA, propyl gallate and citric acid), natural flavor, vegetable oil, dried egg product, flaxseed, preserved with BHT and BHA, minerals (iodized salt, calcium carbonate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, thiamine, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement).

posted 09-10-2003 07:08 AM         

Dogs in the wild eat raw meat. I would not like to eat raw meat. I am not a dog.

I get so frustrated trying to do what is right for my pets. I feed them Science Diet because I was always told it is the best, and now it is not. But none of my pets have ever had a problem with it and they are all extremely healthy.

The majority of the dog toys in the stores have some sort of problem with them, according to all the things I have read....squeakers come out and can be choked on, the fibers from rope bones cause intestinal problems (I assume plush toys would have the same problem), marrow bones can break their teeth....the list just goes on. Wire crates are good because they can see out.....but they are bad because they can get hurt on them. Every product has some dangerous aspect to it and it frustrates the heck out of me! My husband thinks I am crazy. He grew up with dogs and they gave them all sorts of things and none of them ever had any problems.

I went through all of this with my mice as well. Don't give them this, that is bad, this cage is bad, they need such-and-such. There is nowhere to turn. It seems to me that you need to manufacture your own products if you want things to be safe for your pets.

I just want to enjoy my animals. I want them to be healthy and happy. I don't want to stress every day that everything they touch is going to hurt them, or I should be feeding them something different, or....whatever. It just doesn't seem right that a pet should inspire more doubt and uncertainty than a child.

posted 09-10-2003 02:59 PM         

INGREDIENTS: GROUND YELLOW CORN, MEAT AND BONE MEAL, CORN GLUTEN MEAL, CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT MEAL, ANIMAL FAT (PRESERVED WITH BHA/BHT), WHEAT MILL RUN, NATURAL POULTRY FLAVOR, RICE, SALT, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, CARAMEL COLOR, WHEAT FLOUR, WHEAT GLUTEN, VEGETABLE OIL, VITAMINS (CHOLINE CHLORIDE, dl-ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE [SOURCE OF VITAMIN E], L-ASCORBYL-2-POLYPHOSPHATE [SOURCE OF VITAMIN C*], VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], BIOTIN, d-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, RIBOFLAVIN SUPPLEMENT [VITAMIN B2], VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT), TRACE MINERALS (ZINC SULFATE, COPPER SULFATE, POTASSIUM IODIDE).

Everything that comes before the fat/preservative is primarily what the food is made of.

To Jamiya...I understand your frustration because how can you know what's in a little brown kibble that looks the same as every other little brown kibble? You just have to do the research yourself and I work for a company that checks out all the food and cleanliness of the company before they decide to carry the product. Canidae, Wellness, Natural Balance, Precise, Royal Canin/ Sensible Choice, AvoDerm/ Pinnacle. All of these are great brands that have a really good reputation. I feed my cats a raw diet and they free feed off of a portioned amount of dry during the day. You should do some research on raw and make your own decision as to whether or not it's right for you. Most people can't afford to go all raw for dogs and use it as their wet food so that they still get some of the benefits. I am only able to do it because I currently have cats. But, I work in the pet industry and have had dogs all my life. Also there is a book out that EVERY PET OWNER SHOULD READ. It's titled Food Pets Die For. It's written by a concerned consumer, just like us and she really did her research. This should help you too.

posted 09-10-2003 06:25 PM         

Our dogs eat better than we do anyways!

posted 09-10-2003 06:54 PM         

I do listen to what people say here. I am getting frustrated because I try to do everything right for my pets, but it seems like every time you think you are giving them the best, something turns out to be wrong with it.

I never want to have to experience a pet's injury or illness that was brought on by something I did or failed to do. If I know something is bad, I can't in good conscience give it to my animals. But I also can't be running around the state finding hard-to-find products every day and throwing out the product that was "best" yesterday.

I am not criticizing any of you. Keep the good information coming! Just realize that what "they" say is best now may be something "they" say is harmful 5 years from now. Even doing your "own" research - this is really impossible. All you can do is read about other people's research and decide for yourself if they conducted the research in a valid way and if their results were a logical conclusion from the data. I've done scientific research and trust me, you can make the data say whatever you want.

So yes, I do treat my animals as well as my children. And I worry about them just as much. But there comes a time when you have to let go and just say "I am doing the best I can" and if something bad happens later, not blame yourself.

Heh, I had this same talk with my son when he decided to get his male mouse neutered and the little guy died under the anaesthetic. He made the best choice he could with the mouse's best interests at heart and evaluated the risks. Unfortunately, in this case it worked out badly, but hindsight is 20/20 and if we knew everything that was going to happen in advance we would never make mistakes!

posted 09-10-2003 07:02 PM         

Cheers

posted 09-11-2003 12:30 AM         

I personally have several dogs thriving on a Real Food, aka Raw meat and bones, aka BARF diet. They love it - it works for them and me. I would never push this on anyone. In fact unless people have researched it somewhat - I hesitate recommending it, its not hard but does need to be balanced in the long run. I find more info and research is being done on this diet and it is becoming increasingly favorable. I do not give my dogs any processed food -- I simply like knowing *exactly* what my pooches are eating. That is what works for us and may not be right for another.

No sense in getting frustrated, there will always be someone in disagreement with the food we (as in any one of us) feed. You can't listen to everyone. Do some research, ask for opinions, talk to your vet and pet supply workers, do more research and make an informed decision based on what YOU feel is right! If dog doesn't do well, look into diet further, change food and go from there. Many of us here are always open to helping or answering food related questions whether they are asking about BARF, home cooked or kibble and YES, there are always risks in feeding any form of food.

posted 09-11-2003 08:39 AM         

Seb, they sell solid gold out here in California. Looks to be very good. My dogs are small. I think the bag of Innova that I by generally lasts us about 4 months(could be wrong. But with the higher quality ingrediants you feed less. I think if I bought a 40 pound bag of dog chow and gave what the bag said I would be thru it much faster than the four months. So even though the stuff they do eat costs more it lasts longer.

If at all one of the best things one can do is to make sure their dogs food is not preserved with chemicals, Like BHA/BHT, Ethynoxyquin, and Naturox. A natural preservative is much better for them.

[This message has been edited by puttin510 (edited 09-11-2003).]

Also, here is some more food for thought. This is very informative and eay to understand. Tells what really is in our dogs foods. http://api4animals.org/petfood.htm

posted 09-11-2003 11:12 AM         

Okay, so to boil it down to the bottom line. If my dog eats Science Diet and is not having any problems, should I switch foods? If I wait for a problem to develop (assuming one ever does), is it then too late to correct by switching foods? Is there something I could look for to indicate that perhaps the dog is not getting what she needs from the food?

My cats eat prescription diet for urinary tract infections. They have been eating it for over 10 years. They are 12 years old and as healthy and active as kittens. I am afraid to switch their food and chance more urinary tract infections in the male.

posted 09-11-2003 11:29 AM         

Some people disagree, some agree, it's just hard to figure out. I usually try to avoid weird preservatives in food.
I read the labels, make a choice and stick to it if all goes well.
Solid Gold works perfectly for me...I wont change even if someone tells me it's crap (unless my dog gets sick or somethin)..I chose to the best of my knowledge.
If you feel confident with Science Diet, stick to it.

it's just my opinion...
It's impossible that everyone will agree.
It works for some dog, it does not for others...if to the best of your knowledge Science Diet suits your dog, I say stick to it.

posted 09-11-2003 12:07 PM         

Hehe, just kidding!

I will look into Innova. I searched online and found one place that sells it here, although it is a bit of a drive - I'm surprised there aren't others. I can usually find just about anything I need around here.