Does Shrinking Budget Mean Changing Dog Food?
Due to the downturn in the economy people have been buying less expensive pet food, competition in the pet products sector is increasing, causing retailers like PetSmart concern.
“In recent weeks, we have become concerned with consumer trade down in pet food as the macro continues to deteriorate and steep inflationary price increases cut into consumers’ shrinking budgets,” Nemer, who is an analyst for Thomas Weisel Partners, wrote in a client note.
Nemer said pet food prices have risen 14 percent from a year ago, which is cutting into consumers’ “shrinking” budgets. Nemer also said major pet food manufacturers are reporting a shift in demand to grocery brands from specialty brands.
This article is from Forbes and focuses on the stock price of PetSmart, but I found it interesting and was curious what Dogsters thought.
Has anyone changed their dog’s food lately due to the economy? Or, have you kept the same food and made other cutbacks? Give me a bark.
I have not changed the dog food I use due to my Great Dane’s allergies. But, I have changed how/what I eat to compensate for the increased dog food price.
i personally won’t change any of my animals food quality, and my dog’s eat a pretty high end brand. What I have done, is cut back on the amount of treats i purchase (becuase im picky abou that too!), and compensated by using the free samples of excellent full meat brands as treats. The dogs don’t realize that the size of the treat is smaller, and the really good food is probably better for them anyway. May cat prefers change anyway, so i buy good quality when its on sale.
Being in the area where I live is a definite advantage . Here we have local brands of dog food available at feed stores. Yesterday I bought two forty pound bags of food which were running me 35-37 dollars (total) and the price had acually come DOWN…$30 for the two bags. before you think I’m shorting my dogs let me add the stats for the food:
NO SOY
27% protein
This product is manufactured by a Cargill facility, only about 300 miles away. The ingredients list:
meat and bone meal,cooked yellow corn, wheat middlings, rice bran, corn gluten meal, animal fat, salt, natural flavors, and then a long line of vitamin supplements.
This food appears to be more agreeable to my dogs’ digestion than any of the others I have tried. Big plus with three 70+ girls in the house all the time…NO GAS…
So those of you in or near rural areas check out what is available in the feed stores even if you don’t have cows or other livestock, they just may have a product that suits your dogs needs.
I haven’t changed their dog food. However, I have become more careful with the toys that I buy. I try to get ones that they more trouble destroying.
Chicken, Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Chicken By-Product Meal (natural source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), Fish Meal, Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Flax Meal, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid], Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Minerals [Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate], DL-Methionine, Dried Chicken Cartilage (natural source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), Rosemary Extract.
this is a list of ingredients from a “premium” dog food, I won’t mention the name, but I was feeding this brand to my dog Flash, who seemed suddenly to become a MESS. I finally decided to read all of the dog food bag to see if that could be the problem..the food… Well, guess what, it was being manufactured in CHILE as in South America. Of course this was about eight years ago. The food was being shipped direct from a pet supplier I also will not name, I wasn’t buying at some discount house. I of course changed his food immediately, BUT… Flash was never the same, I had him to the vet many times but we just didn’t ever suspect what I do now, that he had been exposed to toxins that despite all the love and attention, killed him several years later. We (the vet and I) just never suspected the news that came out after his death.
As I stated in the above post, I only buy food now after carefully looking into who manufactures it and where. Never again will I buy a “premium” product that is “premium” only in price. Stupidity cost me my best friend. Incidentally, this boy had numerous blood work-ups and saw the vet far more often than I saw the doc. I suspect now that the ingredients in THAT dog food (an American brand manufactured in Chile) were produced in China.
I haven’t changed my brand, its Pedigree in a Petsmart brand bag. I am buying more now though because i recently acquired 4 more dogs these past 4 months, I have 12 now. I make my own treats and sell to help with expenses. There are lots or good recipes on the internet for homemade dog treats, they are easy to make and dogs LOVE them!
I the pass at times I have fed my dogs the more expensive brands like Nutro, Blue Buffalo and might still at times when I see them on sale. But most of my dogs over the years grew up on and for most part Purina and Pedigree. But with the pet food recalls, I’ve drifted away from Pedigree. My dogs eats Purina better than any other pet food brand. They are health and their coats are shiney.
I LOVE my Chloe’s brand of dry dog food – PRECISE. I think she eats better than me! She thrives on this food and loves it. Never never ever passes up a meal of Precise. She’s small, so a bag goes a long, long way. And when it comes to treats, I prefer to give her a piece of cooked chicken breast, a few peas, or something like that. : ) So we don’t have to cut back on anything. I’d rather skip a grooming session (she’s a Bichon, so needs professional cutting) and learn to trim her myself (I do bathe her between grooming sessions) than cut back on her premium dog food.
I’m still feeding Solid Gold Just A Wee Bit. It’s about $18 with shipping for a 4 lb. bag. Wilson is a very picky eater and he is doing wonderful on it. I have made other cutbacks to be able to continue buying Solid Gold and will get a 2nd job if I have to so I can keep buying it!
I’m not changing my dogs foods due to price or econemy because then I end up paying at the vet.
Good food helps them stay healthy.
I on the other hand no longer eat some things due to costt but hey, my pets always come first!
mom’s not cutting back on my dog food, I am part of the family too……hehe She does however cut back on eating out. : )
I feed Pet Promise and love it. I will not degrade to a cheaper brand because I like the piece of mind I get from feeding organic. Your other readers are right, good food does help them stay healthy so you WILL be paying for it in the end with vet bills!!
http://www.petpromiseinc.com/products_dog.htm
My dogs get Pedigree…my cats get Science Diet. I will not change off SD unless they come out with a health scare about it. It works for them. Hairball formula has drastically reduced the vomiting of hair balls that was going on around here. So Mommy will eat rice and beans and the babies will still get the best I can buy.
I am still using the same brand, but found a store that sells it cheaper. It is a bit farther away from our home, but we have six pets to feed.
I recently wrote an article for examiner.com about bargains you can find for pet products during this economic slow down.
http://www.examiner.com/x-669-Pet-Rescue-Examiner~y2008m11d3-Economic-help-for-your-pets
I have changed dog food from a specialty brand to a store brand. The change was in part because the brand we’ve been serving has become so expensive but it was also because after eating the same thing for quite a while my babies were just tired of it. After spending an hour in the dog food aisle at my local Walmart checking ingredients lists, I’ve come up with a food that I’m comfortable serving (and no it’s not a store brand).
Nope. We feed a Raw diet…. so we don’t pay attention to changes in kibble prices anymore. I spend less on raw anyway and I know exactly what they are getting (I even know the exact farm where it’s coming from).
I have had to change my dogs food. I used to feed my golden boy nutro large breed. But at 30 dollars for a bag that only last a week and a half. I’ve had to switch to a cheeper grocery brand Pedigree. It’s not quite as good for him but the gas prices were soo high it’s all I could do, I was even eating store brands myself. However at the moment gas prices are down and things in SC are looking a little better so maybe in the near future he can go back to his nutro, which he loves, and it’s one of the best dog foods out there. The word corn should not be in the first 3 ingredients in fact the further away from the first the better. It makes him have a shiney coat, no gas, no runny poops, it actually makes him poop less cause he is using everything in the food.
My mom has not changed my food. I’m her baby! She, like another poster, has stopped eating out so much. So we’re both healthier!
My mom has not changed dog (!) food for me and Harry. Since I was sick, we have gone to a more expensive brand that she gets at the vet’s office—-I don’t really like the canned but the dry is pretty good. Harry and the boys we dog sit all get the same dry food we have been getting at Costco for years. We all get veggies sometimes, and eggs, rice and chicken most any time. They are our own eggs and chickens, so they are sure good, and good for us too! I don’t think mom and dad would buy us less expensive food, as they want us to be healthy and happy pups.
Apending zip on the toys…tied socks, rope and sticks work just fine. We are making the treats so we’re spending very little on those. We don’t eat out as much. I’m getting pretty good with a skillet these days.
My girls eat EVO, Merrick and some raw. They will continue to do so. It is I who could stand to eat a little less. I’ve lived on ramen noodles before, and I can do it again.
Spending. sorry…fat fingers today. lol
My kids (all furry) all get Pedigree, as it’s about the only dry food I trust. I considered switching to Purina Dog Chow last week, as I could get a bag nearly half bigger for 2/3 the price, but I just don’t trust it. I will stick with Pedigree for my commercial food until I hear of a major problem with them.
I got into a psudeo argument with the clerk at Wal-Mart the other day when I went to buy dog food. I picked up a 40lb bag of the Pedigree Adult, as well as some cans of Beefaroni and Spagetti for myself. She made the remark that the dogs were eating better than me, as a joke, and I responded that “their happiness is more important to me than mine.” She really disagreed with that, stating that if it ever came down to having to decide whether to get expensive food for her or the dogs, she would “haul the dogs to the pound and get a pizza.” I took mild offense to that remark, and asked her if she had any dogs. She responded that they have one that is “the kids’ dog.”
I knew at that point she was not a dog person, and I personally don’t think anyone who has a dog just “for the kids” has any business owning a dog.
Some of you guys are missing the point. The cost of the dog food or the brand name are not necessarily indicative of the quality of the food. As for corn, I have a Great Pyrenees mix that I have to keep an eye on around the shell corn. He will eat it. Not good, not allowed but he will steal it if he can…corn tastes sweet to animals. They do like it a LOT. As far as the order of ingredients listed, just because corn in second does not mean there is a tremendous amount in the dog food, just that is just the second most prevalent ingredient. SOMETHING has to be second.
The truest test of a food is measured by the health of your dogs, how palatable they find the food and value for your money. The E dog food and the I dog food both failed the tests with my dogs.
I also supplement ,when in season, spring thru summer, with goat milk…yes GOAT milk is fine, the universal food. The dogs love it. However the addition of this extra nutrition has no observable effect on my dogs.
My dogs’ coats are shiny, we have no dander, their weight is perfect and we now have NO intestinal upsets. This should be some of the criteria for picking a food food.
All dog foods are supposed to supply adequate nutrition. Some of the primo brands do just that, some of the lesser known brands are actually better food nutritionally and kinder to the digestion.
Actually yes we have. We went from feeding the grocery store junk such as Purina and Pedigree to Diamond Naturals and that was a good jumping point but Diamond just wasn’t working for us (the bag was mostly air) so we switched to California Naturals and a 20 pound bag should last us awhile….So 23 dollars every 2-3 months isn’t that bad.
On the grocery store foods we were spending 30 dollars a month….so this is more cost effective and its better for them
My dog almost died because of foods like Purina and Pedigree so we are done with that junk…that is all it is is pure junk….and really it was costing us money
We are so happy with our switch to California Naturals….you can’t get the good food at the grocery store you have to search for it but its so worth it
We are going to a more expensive diet – Raw. It will add years to his life, that is worth more than money can buy!
I just can’t believe how much money we are saving by buying the good stuff and vet bills will be less too. I wish I had seen the light sooner….I have just cut back on other things…Grooming for my poodle I will do myself and that saves 40 bucks every 6 weeks, we don’t eat out as much unless you count taco bell (you can feed 2 people for 5 dollars there)
I will change the way I eat before I change the diet of my Dane.
After all the research i’ve done i’ll never go back to a lesser quality food. My dogs will never ever see corn, wheat, artificial colorings or preservatives in their food ever, ever again!!
I truly believe that a healthier diet means less trips to the vet, and why argue with results?! Each time i’ve upgraded their food the improvement in their coats and energy levels was incredible!! First from grocery store brand-type foods, then to purina one, then to blue buffalo and now to a grain free rotation of canidae, evo, and wellness. I couldn’t be happier unless i was feeding raw (which i also hope to some day!!
Besides, as someone else already said, i’m ok with living on ramen and mac and cheese if i have to, i’ve done it before and i’ll do it again!!
Nope. I want my dogs to get the best food I can get them.
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/911699
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/911706
Look at these precious pups how can I feed them anything but the best….
I’m with you guys. I like ramen noodles and mac and cheese so I don’t mind giving up a few luxuries to let the dogs have good healthy food.
Just in the few days thev have been on CN i have noticed a difference in there energy level and over all attitude.
I’m hooked on the quality dog food.
I want the best for my dogs too, they do fine on the brand I give them. I go through a 50 pound bag every 5 days. They also get other stuff occasionally also like boiled chicken. I will starve myself before I will let them go hungry. I would prefer to have them on a home cooked diet, unfortunately we all also like having a roof over our heads, electricity and running water. So they get the less expensive stuff and since they ALL came off the streets they are very happy. They don’t need trips to vet except for vaccinations and spay/neuter. They are quite healthy.
I do the best I can with what I have.
People!! Do you not realize that feeding a higher quality dog food does not really cost that much more!!!
I feed Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo… both range from $22 – $25 for a 15 lbs bag…
Blue Buffalo
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Rye, Whole Potatoes, Tomato Pomace (natural source of Lycopene), Chicken Fat (preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Chicken Flavor, Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Cranberries, Flaxseed, Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Alfalfa Meal, Kelp Meal, Taurine, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Yucca Shidigera Extract, Green Tea Extract, Turmeric, Garlic, Sunflower Oil (natural source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Herring Oil (natural source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Fructooligosaccharides, Monooligosaccharides, Dried Chicory Root, Black Malted Barley, Oil of Rosemary, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin C, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Folic Acid, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Calcium Phosphate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Zinc), Iron Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Iron), Copper Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Copper), Manganese Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Manganese), Potassium Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Potassium), Cobalt Proteinate (source of Chelated Cobalt), Potassium Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Salt, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium.
Crude Protein 25.0% min
Crude Fat 14.0% min
Crude Fiber 4.0% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Calcium 1.0% min
Phosphorus 0.90% min
L-Carnitine* 100 mg/kg min
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 0.25% min
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* 3.50% min
Beta Carotene* 5.0 mg/kg min
Glucosamine* 400 mg/kg max
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
Ingredients for Taste of the Wild Wetland
Ingredients
Duck, duck meal, chicken meal, egg product, sweet potatoes, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, potatoes, roasted quail, roasted duck, smoked turkey, natural flavor, tomato pomace, ocean fish meal, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevesiae fermentation solubles, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.
Guaranteed Analysis
Omega-3 Fatty Acids * 0.4% Minimum
Crude Protein 32.0% Minimum
Crude Fat 18.0% Minimum
Crude Fiber 4.0% Maximum
Moisture 10.0% Maximum
Zinc 150 mg/kg Minimum
Selenium 0.4 mg/kg Minimum
Vitamin E 150 IU/kg Minimum
Omega-6 Fatty Acids * 2.4% Minimum
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile.
Calorie Content: 3,750 kcal/kg (375 kcal/cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy.
AAFCO Statement
Taste of the Wetlands Canine Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food
For both foods a 50 lb adult eats 2-2 3/4 cups per day
Pedigree costs about $19.69 for a 16 lb bag according to Petfooddirect.com
Here are Pedigree’s ingredients
Ground Whole Corn, Meat And Bone Meal, Ground Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Animal Fat (Preserved With Bha/Bht), Wheat Mill Run, Wheat Flour, Natural Flavor, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Caramel Color, Chicken By-Product Meal, Rice, Vegetable Oil (Source Of Linoleic Acid), 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), Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Potassium Iodide), Added FD&C And Lake Colors (Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 2, Red 40).
A 50 lb dog eats 4 cups per day.
Simply put with Pedigree you feed 2x as much food!! And it is only 5 dollars cheaper!! You actually lose money… :/
I will never buy Pedigree, Purina, IAMS, Science DIet or any Walmart or Grocery brand cheap garbage food or treats for my dogs, no matter what the economy. If I can’t feed them the best, then I shouldn’t have an animal. Even when I was almost broke, my dogs ate the best food I could find..I just didn’t go to Starbucks. I found ways to make it work. For those of you that are using grocery or discount store brands, your dog’s health will eventually suffer. Take a look at those ingredients, food coloring additives, BHA, BHT chemical preservatives, Ethoxyquin (used as a rubber stabilizer), these foods are garbage and no dog should eat them. Corn, byproducts, soy, wheat can cause major problems with food allergies, digestion and a host of other maladies. These foods produce an alkaline environment in the animal which exascerbates ear problems, skin and coat issues, food allergies, urinary tract issues and a host of other maladies. Do your research. Go to DogFoodAnalysis.com and look up what you are feeding your pet whether it be cat or dog and see where you can improve. Yes the super premium, holistic, and premium brands are more expensive, but they don’t eat as much, because it fills them up, you don’t have tons of poop in the back yard, their skin and coat looks healthy and their weight is healthy. IT SAVES YOU A FORTUNE DOWN THE ROAD IN VET BILLS. TRUST ME.
My dogs deserve to be fed a healthy super premium food. I also foster dogs and they eat what mine eat. I don’t give the foster dogs less premium food just because they are fosters. They get what mine eat and that is best money can buy. Yes the economy stinks but that doesn’t mean we should skimp on the health of our pets. I feel strongly about this.
Just as I am not going to feed junk to my kids, because of the “economy”, I won’t budge on food for my dogs. Health comes first, but it won’t be found in a P-brand or I-brand bag. The ingredient list reads like a horror story. Read the “dog food report” on Lucy-the-wonder-dog. There are lots of other brands available, that cost the same or even less, so reading the labels pays off. If necessary, I’d rather cut back on my personal expenses (I LOVE shoes and really good chocolate) and still maintain quality of life. And I use my car less, combine trips, or park in a central location and walk to the stores. Saves money and helps me keep my curvy figure.
I feed my dogs Taste of the Wild High Prairie formula. I pay about $44.00 for a 30 lb bag. It is a grain free food and will always feed them a grain free food. I have also given them some Raw but I am trying to learn more about it so I can give them the proper amount. I will never give them the crap that they sell in most grocery stores. If you want to research dog food go to:
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/
You will be very surprised to read what is in most food. It is VERY scary!!
I fought to keep WINston alive for 1 1/2 years after he was poisoned by Nutro/Menu Foods… Thousands of dollars later, I can honestly say I learned my lesson the HARD way about dog food, and will not compromise when it comes to feeding my dog and my cat.
I feed my dogs Science Diet. i heard it’s a really good dog food.
Ok… Pet Promise is NOT “organic”, nor is it a good food in the least bit. Neither is Science Diet, Pedigree, Eukanuba, etc…. you guys are all paying HIGH prices for low quality food.
My dogs eat a rotational diet with brands like Natures Variety, Fromm, Wellness, Innova, Orijen, Merrick, etc.
I just did a cup to cup cost comparison of Beneful and Canidae. Canidae is $1.23 per lb and Beneful is 84 cents per lb. BUT You feed more Beneful than Canidae…it works out to be 63 cents a day Canidae for a 50lb dog and 62 cents per day for Beneful.
Beneful is rated 1 star and Canidae is rated 4 or 5 stars on http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com. I can only get Canidae is special pet stores – not PetSmart or the like. I’ll keep feeding Canidae and won’t ever feed grocery store or Wal-Mart type foods. It’s just not worth it…financially for me or health-wise for my dog. And it’s nicer poops to pick-up, not messy, runny piles of stinky yuck!
HELEN is very correct , shes right onto those ingredients !! and ASHLEY also knows that the brands she mentioned are garbage , i have 5 furkids and i will never feed them a low quality garbage food ….walmart doesnt sell anything i would consider buying !! my babies are very important to me ….
Maddy thrives on Nature’s Logic dog food, and she loves the taste so I plan to stick with it. We have to order it online, and it’s around $10 for a 4 pound bag (she doesn’t eat as much as she did on Wellness or Chicken Soup so it lasts a lot longer too). Pet Food Direct will email their customers a 22% coupon code at least once a month so that’s when we do our orders! Check out the coupon thread in the food forum for more savings:
http://www.dogster.com/forums/Food_and_Nutrition/thread/509647/last
I have cut back on everything BUT my dogs food! innova ! if it can be purchased at wal mart or the grocery store..or most major pet stores…i don’t buy it. i have to get innova from a specialty pet shop that sells only all natural and holistic foods. it is well worth it. dogs eat less and are very healthy.
My budget for dog food has gone up up up and all my other spending (clothes, home stuff, entertainment) has gone down down down. These changes are NOT contingent on eachother at all but merely a reflection of current priorities.
Our dog food has remained the same. Cheaper food, eats more to be filled up. Quality food, smaller portion same money! Do the math and don’t let your dog suffer. Everything has gone up for everybody. Don’t order out, don’t rent that video, take care of your family first and that includes family with fur.
While we all may say and think that we won’t be changing our beloved furbabies diets, and may well resolve that we won’t with all the noblest intentions, we are all held at mercy by the current global financial crisis.
I work at the frontline, the coalface of the needy, the poor and the low income earners in the country where I live. I happen to know that despite my country being seen as a relatively safe haven from the global financial crisis at present I know that there are people going without food in the city I live in like never before so that their children and beloved pets can eat just to survive.
The government financial forecasters and advisers at the very top say they have absoluely no idea what is going to happen to the world economy, any predictions are laced with uncertaincy and most are just suppositions.
I personally never hope we see the poverty of the Great Depression where at its worst my grand parents who were realtively well off lived on boiled onions from their garden for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 6 months solid, while they saved their modest crop of potatoes for their beloved furbaby.
Well Im glad all of you can keep giving your dog the same thing but trust me when things get really hard and you’ve had to make decisions about buying groceries or paying the bills on time you have to go cheaper with things and unfortunatly dog food is one of them for the time being. I do not like feeding my dog pedigree but sometimes you have to do what you dont like. He doesnt mind he will eat anything and he gets lots of healty treats like fruits and veggies and chicken. I also feed my dog cheaper dog food because I buy dog food for our local shelter. I may have been bad off for awhile but things are stable for me now but so many people are having to turn their pets over to shelters because they cant afford to feed them so they have started a program where they will give people food (kinda food stamps for pets) but they cant do that unless they have donations. So where I work weve started a food drive where we collect anykind of pet food and money and take it to the shelter everyweek. Since they have started this program the turn over rate has dropped. So maybe your well off enough to keep your dogs eating the best but some people are struggling just to keep their dogs.
Dear Jack’s Mommy,
Thank you so much for your honesty, least we at dogster ever forget the food bowls that are empty tonight while we are online.
There are a lot out there who through no fault of their own are desperately struggling to even keep their beloved furbaby’s, and you are truly blessed under the current global financial crisis to be able to keep your furbaby well.
While it is definitely not a part of my job, I am continually asking the people I see in the course of my working day about how they are managing to feed their furbabies and offering the very bottomline basic healthy alternatives for feeding a furbaby.
I guess when I sit at my desk on a daily basis dealing with human hardship it would be very easy to become hardened to some of the cold realities of pet ownership.
However as I draw my interviews to a close I always discretely ask those who sit across my desk about their kitty or wufbaby and how they are managing to feed them.
There are very cost effective, healthy alternatives to those in financial hardship wanting to retain their beloved pets.
I consider it my duty as a responsible dog owner to pass on my knowledge and help other dog owners in hardship.
So, to all my fellow Dogsters, please don’t turn a blind eye to the fact that there really are foodbowls out there tonight that are either empty, or have meager rations in them.
I have fed Canidae Lamb and Rice since day one and will not feed anything else. My babies health is just as important to me as my daughters. If I could not afford it I would put it on a CC or take out a loan. Whatever it takes. My babies will not get anything but the best no matter what happens!
I acutally cook fr my 2 dals. One has kidney stones and the food prescribed was not only questionable but also really expensive for 2 dogs. I now cook brown rice with sweet potatoes, potatoes, zucchini, carrots and sometimes fish, sometimes, chicken, sometimes, turkey. I also add flax seed oil or flax meal to it. They love it, I give them doggie vitamins too. Their coats are shinier and they have not gone back to the vet with stones since. it’s much cheaper too..
I have always fed my pup Science Diet, and I will continue. Only the best for my Hunter.
I have always fed my Pup Science Diet, and will continue. The best for my Pup.
trixie will continue to get her rx food …we will just cut back some where ealse..i would not take the food from my children ,,,so why would i ever take or down grade from my fur baby….
unacceptable
This is abslutly NOT wher i chanj my budget. Mick gets th vry best my vet recmended. pup IAMS. he is my constnt joy, he depnds cmpleetly on me fr his nutritn…..how cod i evn thnk bowt shortchanjng him. also wt tth horibl ordeel not so long ago of th taintd food……tht horror stil haunts us all.
Yes, I switched to a cheaper dog food. Im watching my dogs change, too. I had to sacrifice good quality dog food, so the family could eat. People come first!
Yes I have been changing their food, to even higher quality diets, I just found out about a food called Nature’s Logic and am looking into that if I can find it locally or reasonably priced online. I’ve had to cut things out of the budget to make room for the new pet expenses though, like cutting my retirement fund in half until further notice.
I have not changed Jackson’s food, nor will I ever consider it. I can always cut back on certain things for myself that I don’t necessarily need. jackson depeneds on me for everything, and it is my job to provide only the best for him.
Jacks mommy…I don’t think you get it….We are currently on one income….I got laid off….we are at a very bad point….we don’t know if we are going to have enough to live from week to week…luckily savings hasn’t completely ran out…..we were doing so good before this crisis in the economy and then I lost my job and there just haven’t been many jobs available and I over qualify for even a part time retail job…so I’m either too qualified or under qualified…..
We were spending over 30 dollars a month on stuff like Beneful (which is purina), kibbles n bits, Iams, Pedigree those kinds of foods….because we would have to buy 2 bags a month.
We switched to Diamond Naturals and we were only buying a bag every other month….
And now on California Naturals (same size bag as we’ve always had) we only spend around 23 dollars on dog food roughly every 3 months
I have stopped taking my poodle to the groomers and I groom him myself….that saves money. I have gotten the cheap haircuts for myself…I’ve gone to great clips instead of my fancy salon. My husband and I eat mostly in and we get the wal mart brand instead of the name brand of stuff….We don’t go see a play every month….we rent movies instead of going to see them….we eat Taco bell twice a weel (5 dollars can feed two people easy)…..I can’t remember our last fancy meal….We are just looking forward to our anniversary where we will be going to Texas Roadhouse to eat (that is not a fancy restuarant but its sure better than eating in) It is my favorite restuarant by the way but nothing romantic about it… I haven’t bought new clothes in 6 months and believe me I need them….but right when I was going to get new clothes I realized Sasha needed a new sweater (she doesn’t handle the cold well at all and she shivers so hard outside) So I took 15 of the dollars I was going to spend on a new sweater for myself and got one for her and a coat for my little poodle (he doesn’t do cold well either)
All I’m saying is if we bring these animals into our homes we need to take care of them and my dogs are my kids so unfortunately mom is the last to get anything new….but that is how it is with real kids too…..Mom makes sure the rest of the family is taken care of and then if there is time and money she does something for her……
Well My poodle got sick and we had some pretty hefty vet bills but we still managed to do it.
Having a pet is a huge responsibilty and they cost money….you have to expect that…..How much you are willing to spend on your pet is up to each individual family but my dogs mean so much to mean that I would sacrifice my lifestyle to make sure they are taken care of.
Like I said though those sacrifices have been made for more than just the dogs….more for us….dogs are taken care of regardless….after all they can’t take care of themselves.
And switching to the suposedly more expensive higher quality of food has saved us from paying out over 30 dollars every month and will help us in the future to avoid the vets
That is just where we stand
By the way we’ve been living on one income for over a year and it hasn’t been easy….luckily things are really looking up with gas prices down and possible job possibilites in my area (though I’m very on edge about the gas being so low I know its just a matter of time before the price gets hiked up again…Right now its 2.31 a gallon where we are for the regular unleaded)
My dog is still eating the same food and will continue to eat it!! He eats Merricks and I won’t change!! He loves it and its the best food for him………I’m very lucky that he is not a big dog his food last at least 2 months.
My dogs cannot control the economy or their place within it. They cannot control the quality of the food they are fed (otherwise I’d have fewer chickens & rabbits!). I would never consider lowering the quality of their food. I have changed MY diet (less fluff) to make sure our grocery budget always has enough in it for their food.
I have learned over the years that I actually spend LESS by feeding my dogs healthier, more expensive foods, as they need less (quantitiy-wise) to nutriciously fuel their bodies.
We got lucky with a small dog that it doesnt take much to make him full. We bought Pruina at Wal-Mart. I have been checking several other stores to compare prices and their’s is by far the cheapest.
I find I am actually feeding Maddie BETTER food. I’d rather spend the bit extra every month making sure she eats well then possibly having a large vet bill to pay because she gets sick.
Amber,
Now honest to God, I’m not trying to be mean when I say this but:
Think now, how much better off all concerned would be had you lived so thriftily all along. I have lived a thrifty life for the past 30+ years. We have lived on one salary AND… built the house we live in now on 40A for CASH.
I’m going to give you the best advice I know, now that you know how to be thrifty, even when times are good, live thrifty and SAVE for that rainy day, there will be another, there always is.
And, you have learned that the old adage, “sometimes cheap is dear”, is very true. Thanks for sharing your story and telling us what you learned. Small and toy dogs have special nutritional needs, just as giant breeds do.
Dog food is regulated by the GVT and must deliver what it promises in terms of nutrition…but then again we all suffered through the taint scare. My best friend sickened and died. I finally put two and two together. Never again will I blindly trust ANY dog food. Should my girls become ill, THAT will be the FIRST thing I look into.
Yes we have made changes. Sophie is now eating nature’s variety prairie food instead of instinct and I switched her from Nature’s variety raw to Bravo raw diets.
Lily was switched from Avoderm light to Royal Canin Cocker for health reasons.
The new puppy is going to get whatever was on sale when she comes home. I’ll probably put her on Iams puppy for a while since they’ve changed their formula and I have tons of coupons for $8 off. Maybe after use authority and when she is ready for adult food looking into the new canidae grain-free formulas.
Amber….I do get it. I used to be a person who would never change my dog food. I was strickly nutro and nothing else. I know when you buy a more expensive brand it can last longer but not for all dogs, some dogs have a heftier appetite. Jack is still in his puppy stage and has so much energy to burn. Spending $26 for a 20lb brand that last about a week and a half to spending $20 for a 40lb brand that last twice as long is a better option for me. Like Fricknfarm said all dog food is regulated, it’s all going to give your dog what it needs, some is just better than others but we cant all afford it. And Im not just supporting my dog, I help support dogs at the shelter by buying a big bag of dog food (and cat and rabbit food) every month, So if that means my dog has to “suffer” so be it. At least he is eating and at least I know Im helping other animals stay with their owners who can feed them with my help.
I refuse to feed my dogs the equivalent of junk food or fast food like Pedigree, Purina, or grocery store brands. This will only hurt them in the long run and wind up with me paying extra in vet bills.
I only feed the highest quality foods to my pets and their health reflects the good quality I feed. I save money in vet bills and groomer bills (some of the cheaper foods cause them to smell, meaning more baths) and I have the peace of mind in knowing that I am contributing to their health by the foods I feed rather than hurting their health.
I feed grain free foods such as Orijen, Instinct, and Honest Kitchen.
Well it looks to me as if there are a variety of opinions out there about this topic. As for myself I agree with those who are encouraging people to research their food they feed their dogs. Yes grocery store and walmart dog food is junk (not to offend anyone who buys it) but I would never feed my dogs that. And quality of what you feed your dog does not mean it has to cost a lot of money. If you research what is healthy for dogs to eat, what companies use what in their food etc it is possible to feed dogs really healthy food but at a decent cost. I started reading the labels of dog food when I worked at Petco. I realized that some people who came in would always buy the same thing, others would go for whatever was on sale at the time (which is it always good to keep your dog on a steady diet for less stomach upset). I also started reading the books we had at work about what Bi-products are, and what fillers are. Think of it this way, cows, pigs whatever used for meat that is killed that we buy has to be of a certain grade to be called “edible for humans”. Those animals that are sick, injured etc cannot be used for human consumption. Therefore they want to make sure they get their dollar out of the animal. So they will sell a sick or injured animal’s meat to a pet food company. Therefore again transmitting whatever is wrong with the animal that couldn’t be eaten by ppl to the dogs or whomever eats that food. Fillers such as corn, and even in some companies rubber have been used. They have to pass an inspection (that the food has enough of this and that). SO if a food has to have 15% filler in it and it passes with 15% they might have put something else not healthy for animals in that food just to get it to pass inspection. As for corn, do WE digest corn when we eat it? Of course not, it comes back out the other end. So why would we think it would be healthy for our dogs. I only encourage people who say they have “heard” a brand is good or buy what they can afford to really READ the label and take a look into the company and how they produce their product. It will save you money at the vet later on. One way to save money on food is to get a smaller bag of kibble. Go to a store like SAMS or COSTCO and get a huge package of frozen chicken. Cook the chicken and then mince it up. Put the majority in the freezer. Then to make sure your dog is filled up when they eat put some of the minced chicken in with their food. You will know its good for them, you will see where it comes from, and it will allow you to buy the good kibble for them but not have to spend as much.
We have changed dog foods, but for the better. Our pup has switched from Nutro (yuck) to Fromm. Yay! From 2* to 5* on dog food analysis. It is actually costing us LESS to feed her a better food since she eats less of it.
So we are saving money, and our pup is eating healthier. What could be better?
Unfortunately, we have changed to cheaper foods. I’m sticking to the same diet Lucy is on, just not the pricey food she had been on.
I also feed a raw diet, and that means I just pay closer attention to meat sales!
The ONE thing I will not change is my family’s healthy diet – and that includes our dog!
What good is it to save on food and deprive yourself of both the joy and health benefit that comes from eating a lovingly prepared meal with GOOD ingredients if in the end all you get is doctor and vet bills (and an unhappy family?).
My approach is rather to try and grow even more vegetables and herbs in my own garden – it may be a lot of extra work and certainly won’t work for everyone. But for me it’s WELL worth it. Two kids and a dog happily munching on carrots that they have watched grow for months – PRICELESS
I refuse to change my dogs food. I will do without something in order to buy it.
Hi, I as buying the expensive brand – holistic – etc…But my dog was having runny poops -I tried the expensive brand for 2 months. I decidied to switch to pedigree, she loves it, her poops are better and it is half the price – so I think sometime the cheaper brand is the better brand.
Fricknfarm,
in response to your live thrifty all along thing….We have been married 10 months and got the dogs before that…we moved in together both of us working we got the dogs got married and then bye bye job we didn’t have time to live thrifty all along.
And we would still be fine but now we have school loans due and we’ve had to cut back….
When we found out that it was the dog food making our one dog sick we got on the ball and started searching….maybe some dogs have a heftier appetite as some said but my dogs eat the recommended feeding and sometimes not even all of that…..They are 1 years old and 10 months….
I’m just saying I find the higher quality really is cheaper in the long run….I love my dogs I’m not going to poison them with junk anymore…..
Obviously you feel that you have to cut back and feed the junk that is fine but I will cut back in other ways to make sure they are eating well….my poodle is allergic to corn so that cuts out all the grocery store brands so I have to find away to get him the good stuff without corn
I’m won’t try to convince you other wise atleast your dogs are eating
I was in that same mindset a few months ago but I’ve seen the light and my pocket book is doing so much better now
Mum does not change my dog food. I am fed Iams Active Maturity. It really helps me be active @ my 11+ years old. Yes, it costs more, but Mum says I am worth the extra cost. Plus I am more active when I get this food.
Amber, too bad you did a bad job of reading the post, I AGREED with you, reread the post.
Amber, my dogs are HEALTHY. The only one that died young (10 years old) was my Flash. At the time he got sick was eating what was a premium dog food. My other dogs all seem to expire at 16-17, not bad for German Shorthaired Pointers who generally live to be about 12.
I’m sorry you think I was attacking you.
My hounds food quality will be one of the last things I cut from our budget..the cable and internet would go before that.
I have decided that I will choose to pay for premium food rather than pay the vet for things that could;ve been prevented with good food.
One thing that I have quit doing is buying extra’s like treats or canned food for them.
We will not be changing food for our dog due to the economic crisis. We can make compromises elsewhere, but never in food for the dog as their health is just as important as ours.
The way I see it, my dogs food is less expensive than the vet bills would be if I switched her to dog chow. I feed my baby Blue Buffalo, small breed. She’s picky, and it’s the first food she’s eaten without me adding things to it. (Like wet food or chicken broth.) Her health is worth much more than the price of food, and I’m willing to cut back elsewhere to keep her eating Blue.
I will not change our food. My big boys eat Solid Gold Hund n’Flocken. It is the only food my very allergic bullmastiff can eat where he does not have a reaction. The prices for a 30 pound bag did increase nearly 12.00. Even the Wellness Vegetarian Cookies went up. Also, we have 7 cats, all are on Hills C/D formula as one of our cats is prone to crystals. This food also went up $10.00. I think this is very sad that these increases are so extreme.
People can keep their animals, they just need to eliminate some of their hobbies (ie: beer/wine, smoking, scratch tickets, etc.). We all love our animals, and we will never cheap them out.
I haven’t changed my dogfood. We feed expensive prescription food – not because we’re filthy rich or eccentric where Tucker-dog is concerned, but because he’s diabetic. This food is part of his overall program to stay alive. But I’ve certainly switched to cheaper brands of “people” food for my family. We’ve switched to cheaper anywhere we can… foregoing desserts, trying to make fewer automobile trips in to town, omitting special channels on our television service and using generic medications and plain label canned goods. The cost of basics is ridiculous. Good luck to the new administration in trying to fix it.
I have not changed the food I feed my dog. Elise has always eaten Bil-Jac and will continue to eat it until she doesn’t like it anymore. My breeder has told me how important the dog food is. What bothers us both is the people who chose to feed their dog(s) Bene-Ful or my favorite Ol Roy. If you can’t afford to feed your dog good food, you shouldn’t have one or make concessions on what you eat so your dog can have the best food. If it was your human child, you would make the concession, no questions asked!!
I have not changed my dogs food. They love their Innova Evo and I don’t think it would be fair to feed them a lower quality food, they are part of the family. I don’t buy lower quality food for my human family, I just make smarter choices. I recently got a cat and was feeding her Purina Kitten Chow for the first month but am switching her to Evo for kittens/cats. I love my animals and if I can make their lives healthier and longer then I will do what I have to in order to do that.
We continue to use Nature’s Logic for our large dogs and we cook for our little old guy we just adopted who is in kidney failure . It is a whopping $57 for a bag of Nature’s Logic which lasts three and a half weeks. A lot? Yep. But their health is so important, we decided to cut down on our other expenses. We are by no means rich folks, but the extra cost is absolutely worth it to keep them healthy. I’d rather not spend the money watch cable TV or to order pizza if it means I can share my life with the dogs for a longer time =o)
I forgot to put this on my previous post…
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com
It is not sponsored by any inparticular food company, check it out.
No way would I change to a lesser dog food. I don’t mind paying more for quality. All the cheap foods are filled with corn, wheat, soy and sugar to fill space. In some there are nasty chemicals to make it semi soft. I’ll cut back on raw bones, toys, and beds. I’ve even cut back my dog shows and classes.
My guys eat well on Merrick, Wellness and California Natural. Since being on Merrick my older Basset has had any more IBD flare ups and he’s keeping his weight up! The Lab’s allergies are greatly reduced being on the Wellness Core. I don’t want to mess with what’s working.
Pet food is one of the last things I would think to try and budget. My animals are a priority to me, and they get good food even if it means I have to make personal sacrifices. I can refrain from buying new clothes, more DVDs or video games, etc. to use that money to keep my pets healthy.
I feed Yoshi a food by Merrick called ‘B.G. Before Grain’. This is a newer food by Merrick, and before that I was feeding him the regular line of Merrick foods, and before I started on Merrick I fed Innova. The cats also get Merrick.
He’s 8 years old and has only needed a vet for his regular check-ups. He has always been healthy & active. I wouldn’t change my own diet to eat Burger King and Potato Chips every day to save money, and I won’t do it to my pets either. Even my reptiles and fish get high quality diets.
I haven’t changed my dog’s food, but I do make a greater effort to buy it when it is on sale. PetSmart had it on sale recently and instead of just buying the one bag I needed I bought three bags. I saved around $4 a bag…every little bit helps.
i will not buy ‘cheaper’ dog food due to my money issues. i acquired the dog for his lifetime, so i shall feed him the best that i can. i have actually started getting more expensive food, due to the better quality-he eats dehydrated raw now. instead of evo kibble
My dog has food allergies-so in no way will I change her diet. She relies on me to keep her healthy and that is what I intend to do despite the economy. I will cut back on other things, but not where it pertains to the health and well being of my animals.
We will not buy cheaper foods. We eat Flint River dry food and dog biscuits. Both have gone up in price. But is all natural baked, ships fresh. No bad stuff in it. We will cut back on other things before we will consider an unhealthy cheap diet.
I have changed to the brand that has more natural ingredients therefore I feed them less because they digest more of it. Yes it cost more out of pocket at the time but I have 6 large breed show/performance dogs, so I have researched the food I feed. It also helps to have friends that breed rabbits/chickens/cattle cuz then you get lots of free extras to add to the food!!
We have not and will not change the food our dogs eat. We use both grain free kibble and canned food.
No way. Duncan gets a solid diet of Canidae – and sometimes boiled free range chicken topper!
We are sticking to the same food we have always eaten (Wysong kibble and Merrick cans). It does cost a good chunk of change, but our mom just cuts back elsewhere.
<a href:”http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com” http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com
After reading some of these posts I think we’ve all missed the point, in most cases I don’t think there is much difference between Purina One (that I feed) or the more expensive ones you’ve mentioned here. I checked Purina One, Hills Science Diet and Nutro on the link above and they were all given a bad review. In fact this is a direct quote from Nutro Natural Choice-Poultry fat is a further low quality ingredient rarely found in anything but very low quality foods. Even Purina One doesn’t have that as an ingredient. I agree there are some amazing dog foods out there, but for the most part I think we think that because we spend more money or get it at a pet store instead of our local Kroger that it’s better. I don’t see it.
Nope, we are still on the same foods. Chauncey and Alabaster eat Science Diet, Shula has Iams Smart Puppy, and Muffin and Lucy eat Iams indoor cat formula. If it was necessary, we would cut back on something else – never our pets!
I’m just wondering what all of those who say they won’t economize on food will do if the unexpected happens and they no longer can afford the more expensive foods, especially those with big dogs. I currently have three dogs that were dropped off by my farm. Two of them go about 100lbs, maybe more. The Black and Tan was bony and not in great condition. The big Lab/Pyrennes wasn’t so bad off as he was dropped off here around deer season a couple of years ago and he and his compadre (Walker) were eating wild “stuff”.
I wonder if the folks who owned these dogs intended to abandon them when they could no longer afford their food?
Personally I believe it to be a GREAT mistake to pooh-pooh others food choices/options, for there go you $$$ minded folks if not for the jobs that pay for the dog food AND your food.
I have fed premium dog foods before there were “designer” dog foods my dogs did the same on them or WORSE than they do on the food from my local feed store.
At least this food does NOT give them gas, upset their digestion or cause copious amounts of feces. They enjoy it, it is not “cheap” in that the ingredients are bad. It is inexpensive, but more importantly it meets all of their needs and it is GOOD for them.
I cannot believe the snipes or superior attitudes some of you folks post. WHY??? are your lives so small this is the only way to feel superior???
At $2.00 or so a pound, why not feed your dogs fresh cooked chicken every night? Throw in some veggies and give them a supplement. If you REALLY cared only for the dogs health and not some weird “bragging rights”, that is what you would do.
To those out there that are struggling and feel bad about the lower priced foods, read the amount to feed, go with the food that you can AFFORD that has the least amount of food for your weight dog…that is probably food with more nutrition and less bulk.
Know what about poultry fat? You eat fried chicken?? You eat poultry fat. Quoting manufactures that want to tout their high priced food as so superior does not make you CORRECT, it only makes others feel BAD.
I will continue to feed the food that is best for my dogs and myself, based on all factors. If I waste my resources then maybe the day will come when I cannot afford to feed them AT ALL. Better to take a modest approach to life.
I truly feel for those out there that are struggling to pay the expenses associated with keeping their pets well cared for. There is no reason to put them down or be “snobbish” about what you feed. Continue to do so until you can’t, bad times come to EVERYONE sooner or later.
One more little thing for some of you to ponder…How about a lesser food for your dog/dogs (still adequate) and donating the difference to feed STARVING PEOPLE???
Christine,
Dog’s (canines) natural food IS “downers”, wild dogs, wolves, coyotes and wild canine observes it’s prey. Wild canines run the herd animals so they can pick out the sick, old, weak and injured. They DO NOT look for the healthiest animals to prey on. Dogs are NATURAL carrion eaters. If you lived in the country where your dogs could run, you’d know this. It may be less desirable to use these animals in dog food from the esoteric outlook, but nutritionally I’d venture to guess that they are fine for dog food. The treatment that it (animal products) goes through is not the same treatment that meat gets for human consumption. Parasites from one species do not IN GENERAL infect other species. Bacteria like e-coli and salmonella are present in human food too, so I guess our diets wouldn’t be 100% safe for dogs.
Anyway, here’s a hint for those financially strapped…
Get your basic whole chicken @ 0.79 a pound. Wash it of course, put it in a big pot with about 2 quarts of water. Add a couple of washed UNPEELED onions, washed unpeeled carrots, 3-4 ribs washed celery. Set the chicken on top of the veggies. Simmer this very slowly for about 1-11/2 hours.
Now, take the chicken out, take the white meat off the breast, and the meat off the thighs (we don’t eat the drumsticks). Strain the broth. Set these things aside for PEOPLE… put everything else all the bones skin etc, back in the pot, add about 2-3 quarts of water, simmer for about 4-5 hours until you can mash the largest bones and they don’t have any snap left. Now you have what even the best dog foods have for a base. I sometimes use a potato masher, sometimes use my food processor to puree this mixture. Add another 2 quarts of water, a box of barley or a pound of brown rice (add some salt, garlic, diced carrots, etc. simmer about 40 minutes. Turn off let cool, serve up the dog “soup”. They go nuts for it.
You human guys, take that breast and or thigh meat chunk it add it to the broth, simmer with diced carrots, onions and celery. Cook some noodles and you’ve got your dinner too. All from one $3.00 chicken.
Let me clarify: I miss spoke when I said that quote came from Nutro. The quote came from the website (the link was included in the post) that reviews dog food. My point was that just because it is expensive dog food doesn’t necessarily make it better food. I have read many an ingredient list (I don’t feed my babies anything without reading the label) and in most cases I believe that dog food is dog food. With a few exceptions there just isn’t much difference.
I have actually switched my dogs to a more expensive dog food only because we got a large breed dog and we needed a food that went for both large and medium breed dogs, running at about $40 a bag for a 35lb. bag when not on sale, its the price you pay when you want to own animals. I also pay $17 for a 5lb bag for my toy dog who has seziures and the food is said to help with that and since he has been on it he hasn’t had one. So i’m willing to pay more money to know that my animals are getting exactly what they need. Buying the cheaper brands, you just end up filling your dog up with fillers (corn) which isn’t good for your dog at all. They are part of my family and i treat them just like my kids.
Roxy is an 80 lb lab and Sasha is a 13 lb mini schnauzer. we feed Sasha Royal Canin and Roxy gets PurinaONE. We feed the best that we can for our budget. Even if the price raises though we will continue to feed them well and make cuts in other places to take care of our girls!!!
another pet food warning… this time it’s humans getting sick…Some 79 people in 21 states have been sickened with a bacterial infection linked to contaminated pet food — the first time human Salmonella enterica illness has been traced to a contaminated animal food plant.
None of the cases were fatal, and no pets became ill, according to this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The manufacturer of the dry dog and cat chow food linked to the outbreak, Mars Petcare US, recalled the 105 products in September and closed its Everson, Pa., factory where the tainted kibble was made, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientists say. But they warn that some of the food may still be on consumers’ shelves and shouldn’t be fed to pets. Among the tainted brands: Pedigree, Country Acres, ‘Ol Roy and Paws & Claws.
here is the link for the whole story:
http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=pet-food-making-people-sick-2008-11-06
We have kept Our grrrl on the same food,Taste of the Wild- Grain free. I am buying larger bag to save gas and money. It has helped her heath Immensely and hlps avoids vet visits. She can’t open a cupboard or feed herself so do We our best for her. We live very frugally and times are tough. My Moms adage”Don’t be pennywise and pound foolish’ works for Us in this area.
We ALL love our furry family members and I don’t think anyone here means to come off as a put down. Sadly Many Dosgters have Lost their beloved pets and incurred Huge Vet bills from the Food Nightmares this past year and don’t want tosee others suffer. Lets All Keep paws crossed for each other, furred and human, make it through these tough times.
Years ago when I was a pet supply store manager, I went to a seminar on dog food. Shocked to learn that the #1 selling dog food (and the cheapest) in America was Ol’ Roy!!!!!! But not surprised that 100 lbs of Ol’ Roy produced 84 lbs of feces. Garbage in, garbage out… nothing much retained so little or no nutritional value…
With dog food, at least, you get what you paid for.
I am a small feathery-coat dog.The Dry provenders are part of my ration.I seasonly change trademark. My master knows, that, if he will buy the unsavoury provender, I don’t shall eat it. But the price of 1 kgs provender more, than difference between trademarks.
changing to a cheap food will only cause health problems and then additional vet bills, we would cut back in other areas first like eating out, stop buying magazines, extras like that.
Absolutely not, it is very important to me to feed my cats and my dog Natural Balance. I believe it is important for any animal to eat good food, not the equivilant of us eatting chips all day. I do use some of the “cheaper” food for filler, but they get more than 50% of the good stuff!
The answer to the topic question is that it depends. Right now, no. Folks are still hitting the malls for Christmas sales, unemployment is below 10%, and when you drive through a neighborhood, things look okay.
Now, fast forward 12 to 18 months down the road and add a worldwide economic meltdown, the 2nd Great Depression in the US, 25-50% unemployment, soup lines, people fighting at the market for toilet paper, and your human kids telling you they’re hungry for the 25th week in a row and the next thing you know cable/satellite, internet, cell phones, ipods, dvds, dogs, cats are all going out the window. Hopefully, I’m wrong. The possibility of this scenario at the moment looks extremely remote.
The reality is if we get squeezed economically enough, you bet we’re going to change dog food because in the end every penny counts as we try to ride out the storm. You’re not going to do your dogs much good if you feed them well, neglect yourself, get sick, and perish.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my dogs. Besides being home defenders, door greeters, and great detectives (they once came to me with the “follow us” look to point out a leaking water heater), they are family. But in the end, when extreme hardship comes upon us all, every family member will have to sacrifice.
Ultimately, I am looking for something cheaper than the $40+ Natural Balance 33lb dog food to stock pile of which I’ll need 18 bags of for a year supply ($720 plus tax) along with canned foods and vegetables, water, flour, sugar, salt, and spices. Just in case.
Oh, don’t forget the toilet paper.
No change. I cut back on other unnecessary things. My furkids get a high quality gourmet food, treats and home made as well. They’ve been eating high qualty food for the past 4+ years.
I would NEVER change my dogs food, I am going to feed raw, which is a bit cheaper than pre-packeged dog food. I wouldn’t support giant “pet food” companies (Purina, Iams, Wal-Mart etc.) to save my life. All that food is just a sack of corn, roadkill and chemicals. I would NEVER use it.
Oh yeah, P.S. I would cut back on other stuff (iTunes, Cell phones, driving places ect.) rather than give my dog, excuse me, horrible TERRIBLE “dog food”, the very word “dog food” has become sort of an insult in holistic dog circles.
We fed our pets a raw diet for a long time but since switched them to Orijen (out of Canada) part time.
They do very well with this combination. I wouldn’t switch no mater the cost.
I will not change my dog’s food. They are healthy, and I intend to keep them that way. They get Wellness or Eagle Pack Holistic Select along with homemade food.
We use to eat Nutro Natural Choice and the eldest of our group was on Wellness Fish and Sweet Potato. But the prices kept going up and up and the formulas changed …so Mom switched us to Kumpi. It’s 35 pounds for $53 delivered to your door(s/h included in the 53 dollars). We are doing super on it. The rescue group that Mom volunteers for put their foster dogs on it. It seems the skin does better, the ear infections decrease, and allergies seem to go away after eating it. You can check it out at http://www.kumpi.com
Now we’re trying to find out if dried cranberries are good for dogs.
I have read alot of replies but I refuse to compromise verteranarian my dogs health because the economy has gone to hell. I used to feed my girl Lifes Abundance. The video had me sold and I was even able to convince my cousin and his wife to switch from a perscribed diet they were feeding their dogs. However I came across Blue Buffalo while I was in Canada and Spicy went crazy over the Chicken dinner in cans. We’ve been fans since last July. I havent been a fan of buying much of anything in stores unless I absolutely have to so I get her Dry Blue Buffalo Small Breed via Ebay and I get her canned food through http://www.waggintails.com I haven’t had to compromise quality and shes happy about that. Please consider shopping the websites I mentioned before switching to something that will only mean piles of crap in your front yard. My mom offered her Kibbles n Bits once while she was in between bags of food but as a result she had the worse gas and was crapping all over the place. Petsmart and Petco have become too expensive. My best advice is shop online. I have had a six pound bag of dog food for her since december. She still hasnt finished it. Dont let the economy determine what you feed your companion animal. Their our little buddies and they deserve love and the best we can give them!
I am a business owner. Due to the economic downturn, not only have I had to decrease the size of my office… but I have had to make personal budgetary changes. Due to the economic situation, I am behind with the IRS. Although I didn’t want to change my dog’s food, the IRS has told me they now control how much I can spend on everything each month… so in addition to cuts to my own monthly budget, my dogs are also on a budget. They went from eating the more expensive dry dog food to one which is about half the price. Unfortunately, the situation requires that I change their diet. I hope it doesn’t have long-term health consequences for them, but I figured it’s better to follow the IRS’ demands in order to keep a home for them to live in