Best Dry Dog Food

[BlackLab]

I have a 1 year old Black Lab and I have researched and researched Dry dog food to feed him. It is a tedious task, and have come the the conclusion that Instinct, Orijen, and Taste of the wild may be the top 3. After losing may last lab to cancer, I want to be a preventative as possible and feed him the best. Any thoughts to these 3 choices?
Thanks,
Troop

[whiteleo]

Orijen definitely is the top line but I didn't see that you had said anything about Acana which is also by Champion pet foods, this definitely in my opinion is better than TOTW anyday.

[luvMyBRT]

I would also add Acana to your list. A great kibble and little less expensive than the Orijen.

Another thing to think about is to rotate between them all. Variety is the key to a healthy diet.

Sorry to hear about your Lab. We lost our Rottie to cancer back in January. It's a horrible thing to go through.

[SamWu1]

ProPac or any heavily corn based extruded creation because dogs' can easily assimilate plant based proteins, per "Saltydogs" of course.

In reality, any grain-free product from a reputable manufacturer would be good. Champion, Great Life Grain and Potato Free as well as Nature's Variety to scratch the surface.

[saltydogs]

I have a 1 year old Black Lab and I have researched and researched Dry dog food to feed him. It is a tedious task, and have come the the conclusion that Instinct, Orijen, and Taste of the wild may be the top 3. After losing may last lab to cancer, I want to be a preventative as possible and feed him the best. Any thoughts to these 3 choices?
Thanks,
Troop

It is sad to lose a pet but cancer rates are highly correlated to breed and age, not diet. It doesn't make sense to lose a pet and then waste money on trendy and very expensive dogs foods recommended by people with no scientific backgroung but rather have joined a cult of some sort, the Orijen cult. Below I have pasted something from Petcurean's website, which makes some very expensive grain-free dog foods.

"Simple Corn Facts

The protein fraction is the most digestible of any grain.

Carbohydrates in pet foods have had a long history of getting “beaten up” in the pet food industry. Factually, corn is the very best carbohydrate commonly used in foods at a “price point” . There is none better!


•The carbohydrate fraction of corn is 99% digestible as are all grains in cat and dog food
•The protein fraction is the most digestible of any grain at 87% (source Journal of Animal Science 1999 Aug;77(8):2180-6
•Corn is 20 times LESS likely to be a source of ARF as wheat.
•Corn and rice together account for less than 3% of all ARF reactions to food.
•Corn contains 5 times more essential fatty acids as rice.
•Corn contains hugely higher levels of luceine, and lucopene – critical anti-oxidants"


I believe one of the posters said Orijen & Acana were better than TOTW, but I didn't see any scientific evidence to prove that.

Don't waste gas, time and money thinking one pet food is better than another. Buy a good one and spend more time training the dog rather obsessing how to feed it.

[RawFedDogs]

Below I have pasted something from Petcurean's website, which makes some very expensive grain-free dog foods.

The people on this board are too smart to get their education from the promotional material from dog food companies. The marketing departments can make some pretty convincing (but untrue) claims. We have had others here who based their entire knowledge on this "literature" and they don't last long. Dogs have no dietary need for carbs so you are wasting your breath trying to convince anyone here that corn is actually a desirable ingredient.

[Bam Bam]

Orijen is the top of the line for dry dog foods. I have tried to save a buck lately with TOTW, it is a good food for the money but it is a step down from Orijen. I will be switching back to Orijen/Acana, I need to feed more TOTW so its not really a savings.
I think saltydogs is a corn farmer instead of a doctor. Maybe he is a vet and makes money off unhealthy dogs fed poor quality food! Those saltydogs he owns probably smell like Fritos!

[saltydogs]

The people on this board are too smart to get their education from the promotional material from dog food companies. The marketing departments can make some pretty convincing (but untrue) claims. We have had others here who based their entire knowledge on this "literature" and they don't last long. Dogs have no dietary need for carbs so you are wasting your breath trying to convince anyone here that corn is actually a desirable ingredient.

Maybe you missed the point, bud, that is from Now's website. How ironic that a maker of very expensive grain-free dog food tells you right on the website that corn is a desirable ingredient. Far better than potato.

I will find the link to the huge Cornell study later today.

[chocolatelabguy]

For Saltydogs benefit, I found this quote from a well-respected source and thought I would share: According to Case, Carey and Hirakawa in Canine and Feline Nutrition, page 174,

"In general, high-quality animal source proteins provide superior amino acid balances for companion animals, compared with the amino acid balances that are supplied by grain proteins. The protein in grains is not as balanced or available as the protein in high-quality animal sources…"

[saltydogs]

For Saltydogs benefit, I found this quote from a well-respected source and thought I would share: According to Case, Carey and Hirakawa in Canine and Feline Nutrition, page 174,

"In general, high-quality animal source proteins provide superior amino acid balances for companion animals, compared with the amino acid balances that are supplied by grain proteins. The protein in grains is not as balanced or available as the protein in high-quality animal sources…"

We all know this, thats why chicken meal is first, corn is a carb source and shouldn't be used as a sole source of protein.