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Post by amspits2007 on Apr 19, 2008 14:48:31 GMT -5
We buy kibbles and chunks by Purina from wal-mart and it has a suggested amount I should feed my dogs by how much they weigh… but is that necessarily how much I should actually feed them. Am I over/under feeding them per the suggestion that is given to me? (We feed them about 4cups a day 2cups in the AM and 2cups in the PM we have two books on pits and the only thing they say to do is to feed them twice a day but doesn't mention how many cups)
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Post by valliesong on Apr 19, 2008 17:31:01 GMT -5
With a food made mostly of fillers like that, you probably will need to feed them that much - probably somewhere between four and six cups. You should always be able to feel their ribs without pressing, but not really see their ribs.
Please also be aware that the food you are feeding contains sugar and can do dental damage to your dogs, in addition to causing diabetes. It's like feeding twinkies every day. I also know from working in kennels that this food will stain concrete and other surfaces - both before and after it has been in the dog.
Pit bulls and bulldogs also have a tendency towards skin issues when fed food such as this.
How much are you paying for this food? I feed Canidae, Nature's Variety, etc. from the feed store and only have to feed 2 cups a day - that's one cup in the am and one in the pm.
I really really urge you to check out some of the other threads on diet and think about switching your dogs! It will cost you less in the long run, especially in vet costs.
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Post by bullymommy25 on Apr 19, 2008 19:53:59 GMT -5
The cost of REAL dog food must be put in perspective! 10 bucks for a 7-10 lb bag of food or something really is nothing when we think what we'll spend EACH day on lattes and snacks! Cheap food is causing a health crisis in our pets!
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Post by amspits2007 on Apr 19, 2008 21:58:12 GMT -5
unfortunally I don't have access to a "Feed Store" in the orlando area. Thank you for you comments.
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Post by valliesong on Apr 20, 2008 2:09:18 GMT -5
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Post by amspits2007 on Apr 20, 2008 11:32:13 GMT -5
@bullymummy: I can't affford the $40+ a week for the bags of dog food that some are suggesting to buy.have two full grown dogs one pit and one bull dog that do eat a lot. And by the way are very healthy dogs per the vet visit we had last week. I don't even have money to spend on take out or whatever. I can barely afford gas to make it to work everyday I also have to be pay for a safe place for me and my two dogs. I also have to have enough money to make sure my dogs are healthy and if I have to sacrafice a little to make sure they are I will do so including not going back to college b/c it cost too much then I will. To think that one may think that I don't care about my dogs and rather spend money on lattes and crap is freaking ridiculious. you don't know what my finances are and you don't know me. I care about my dogs this is why I have posted the question to make sure I am not underfeeding them or over feeding them.
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Post by amspits2007 on Apr 20, 2008 14:24:58 GMT -5
valliesong: Thank you for the suggested websites to find better food. When I have time and the money I will definilty look into it.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 20, 2008 20:28:28 GMT -5
Candiae is expencive! I think so any way, its $40 for a 40 lb. bag where I buy it from! I am currently looking for a cheaper brand of dog food that is still good quality & with out corn!
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Post by valliesong on Apr 21, 2008 0:54:53 GMT -5
Candiae is expencive! I think so any way, its $40 for a 40 lb. bag where I buy it from! I am currently looking for a cheaper brand of dog food that is still good quality & with out corn! Wow, it doesn't cost nearly that much here. I can get a 40# bag on sale for $27 at Pet Supplies Plus quite frequently. Here is the store locator, but it looks like most of the stores are on the east coast. Might help some members, though. psp.know-where.com/petsuppliesplus/If I go to the store up the street, it is about $35, or the same as most of the other foods. amspits2007, have you checked into the Chicken Soup foods or Premium Edge? They are more affordable and still high quality foods approved by Whole Dog Journal. You should need to feed less than 2/3 of the quantity you are feeding now, so take that into account when you do the math. www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/dealer_locator/www.premiumedgepetfood.com/dealer_locator/Believe me, I know what it feels like for money to be tight. I am on disability. But even Dog Chow is a better food than Kibbles n' Chunks or Kibbles n' Bits, so if you can't afford it, I would say to at least switch brands that way. Another way you can increase the meat content in your dogs' food is to add meat (human food) or even canned dog food.
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Post by amspits2007 on Apr 21, 2008 9:00:23 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I will definilty check out the places I have found via the website posted here.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 21, 2008 10:45:59 GMT -5
Yea, the store I get it at is the closest unless I want to drive 50 miles then it would be even more expencive because of gas! It sucks!
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Post by mcgregor on Apr 26, 2008 8:19:21 GMT -5
Cheap pet foods are disastrous!....Peoples finances are pretty tight but proper attidude towards buying healthier foods at higher prices makes common sense a priority in feeding our pets.... good food without added fillers or negative ingredients insures better health detouring sickness and disease with pets ending up at the veterinary clinic culminating in huge fees like $2,000 or higher...... Eventually being on disability does not mean that one can not afford to feed their pets; improvisions can be made, mix dry food with rice and veggies for example.. watch for sales, coupons , buy in bulk......... Some animal shelters donate free pet foods to the public and that is one subject that should be taken advantage of......... I would rather pay for a 50 lb bag of healthy premium pet food than worry about where I would get $2000.00 dollars for a visit to the vet in case the need arises...... so the moral of my post is; "Keep our pets healthy and they will become affordable to own" .
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Post by bullymommy25 on Apr 26, 2008 17:39:18 GMT -5
amspits.... it is not 40/week to buy a good food. The LARGE bags are often about 25-30 bucks and those should last you a whole lot longer. What you need to understand is that you would not raise children on soda, candy, and poison, and this is exactly what you would be doing if you feed cheap food to your dogs. Your dogs are not going to be healthy, period. We're working people as well, but the few extra dollars for our dog (and our two cats) is a priority. I also shop at Whole Foods and try to give my children the best nutrition. It's just not a place to scrimp on! We save on health care in the long run anyway! Can you imagine having to give your dogs insulin shots twice daily for several years? MUCH more expensive! I bet you can find a food free of byproducts and corn fillers, with natural ingredients, that is within your range. The name is not important! PET PROMISE is one of the better priced brands. Also, at the library I bet you can find a few books on dog nutrition, and maybe depending on if a local butcher is available to you, you can create a homemade diet for the week on your day off. Don't discount the importance-and the financial BENEFIT-of good nutrition! Like I said, we are working people in NJ where the cost of living is almost painful, and I want you to know that it is totally possible to work this out!!! Good luck!
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Post by bullymommy25 on Apr 26, 2008 17:45:01 GMT -5
also the vet can say whatever he wants... Cheap food is a slow killer. It poisons our dogs over the years. Cheap food-fed dogs might not have enough toxins in their bodies yet, but sadly, they are building with each feeding. Los Angeles County was exposed for sending over 2,000 pnds of euthanized animals a month to a rendering plant.... this is where the meat is turned into "by-products" that are bought in bulk by the national pet food labels. And the euthanasia chemical, sodium phentobarbitol, does NOT cook off. It is in whatever food that "rendered" meat was cooked into, slowly poisoning our pets (who are also cannibalising themselves). You can certanly google any of this by typing in any key words... cheap pet food hazards, etc... Please, we should ALL FIGHT THE COMPANIES that think it is okay to take advantage of our pets and take advantage of working people like us who think we are doing the right thing for our dogs and saving money... I cannot watch an IAMS commercial without getting angry!!!
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 26, 2008 20:36:18 GMT -5
It depends on where you live the price of some foods. For valliesong the Candiae is cheaper, for me it is $40 for a 40pound bag!
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Post by bullymommy25 on Apr 30, 2008 20:16:51 GMT -5
I just bought 15 lb bag of Solid gold for 23 bucks, which is fair. The four lb bag is 10 so you figure you're saving about 10, and if you buy the largest bag you save more. But my dog doesn't eat through this very quickly it can honestly take a few weeks, so it only breaks down to maybe 5-7 a week! I bought the hunden flocken (sp?) which a lot of people seem to recommend, with lamb and ocean fish.
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Post by valliesong on May 1, 2008 13:24:54 GMT -5
Another thing I wanted to add! Ask your local pet food stores what they do with their damaged and out of date foods. I just got a good deal on a bag of Evangers because it was just past the date. Remember that you don't have to feed the same brand all the time, and many people think it is healthier to rotate.
I use whatever good food is cheapest at the time, which is usually Canidae for me locally. But I have also fed Nature's Variety, Solid Gold, Wellness, and other brands.
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