Switching foods...

I have my boy on Innova EVO Red Meat large bites right now- he was on the Innova EVO original formula (poultry). I haven't seen a huge difference between the two- he might be a little more muscled now, but I have also changed his exercise routine since switching food.

I would like to switch to something comparable but slightly less expensive, but am not willing to sacrifice results for savings. Has anyone fed the following, what were the results, would you recommend them? I have included a price comparision with where I shop.

These are all ranked 6/6 stars on www.dogfoodanalysis.com

EVO original 28.6# bag for 53.99= 1.88/#
EVO red meat 28.6# bag for 64.99= 2.27/#

Taste of the Wild Prarie, Stream or Poultry 30# bag for 41.99= 1.40/#

Wellness CORE 26# bag for 50.49= 1.94/#

Orijen Fish 29.7# bag for 66.99= 2.26/#
Orijen Chicken 29.7# bag for 53.99= 1.81/#

Thanks for feedback!

Genevieve

 

I've had REALLY good results with Orijen. It is priced a bit higher than some of the other foods I have looked at but I don't feed a lot and all of my guys have maintained/gained lean muscle. I like the fact that it is higher in protein then most other kibbles out there

My Lab is 70 lbs and gets a cup in the morning and and cup at night
Kayden my APBT weighs 50 lbs and gets about 3/4 of a cup in the morning and at night
Karma my 30lbs APBT gets about 1/2 cup morning and night

A bag will last us about 3.5 weeks

I fed raw for years but honestly have gotten lazy but have loved the results or Orijen

 

PS - Scrap the Orijen fish and go with the chicken unless your guys have allergies to poultry

 

I think Eukanuba naturally wild seems good I am giving this to my puppy and he is growing very well!! if some one out there thinks I should really only give him puppy food I’ll listen , but for this puppy I just did not bother about it he looks good on this Eukanuba, Before the Euk he went through a bag of maxim puppy from Wal-Mart a bag of holistic dog food then he finished off the maxim adult food I had left over from another dog in addition I had a bucket of mixed free sample foods all gone now I have settled on Euk the way he eats I‘m not sure what I am in for.

 

I specifically want a grain free diet that is a 6/6 on dog food analysis.

Thanks,

Genevieve

 

Last time I will open my mouth (I sound like an Orijen commercial)

Labs do NOT put on muscle easily but I have seen fantastic results with all of my dogs including my Lab Earl on that stuff. High protein food and a good exercise regimen and I promise you will get good results

 

i have seen pits look good on most foods but that lab does look extra good

 

ive actually fed my pup core before .. i got a bunch of the tiny bag samples for free from a local store. Compared to most food it seems to have the highest protein and other vitamins and minerals and he freakin loved it. I was on purina one chicken then worked him into the diamond puppy .. but his stomach hasnt taken to diamond at all even after a month or so .. still has bad gas and occasional loose stools. I havent fed strickly core though .. i mixed it in since they were sample bags .. but he did seem to eat all of it first .. pause look at me like damn thats all of it .. then continue eating.

Luke

 

holy crap your lab looks great are you sure he is full lab and not mix?lol all the labs i know have about 20 pounds on yours but its flab

 

Yeah he is a field Lab. Field labs (bred for working) tend to be taller, have a lighter build, shorter coat and are more athletic than the show labs (fat cows you are used to).

To the original poster, how many dogs are you feeding?

 

Only feeding two dogs, but on a budget crunch at the moment.

I have a friend with a lab that looks like yours- all ripped muscle- field lab as well.

Genevieve

 

I would imagine a 30lb bag of Orijen would last you about a month then as long as you aren't feeding a lot. That is just about $1.80 per day for two dogs which isn't bad at all.*30

 

I was going to suggest Blue Wilderness until you said grain free, even though it is a miniscule amount. That being said, Orijen (chicken) or Taste of the Wild seems a little better for your wallet

 

Orijen chicken ingredients


FRESH REGIONAL INGREDIENTS Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, russet potato, lake whitefish, chicken fat, sweet potato, whole eggs, turkey, salmon meal, salmon and anchovy oils, salmon, natural chicken flavour, sunflower oil, sun-cured alfalfa, dried brown kelp, carrots, spinach, peas, tomatoes, apples, psyllium, dulse, glucosamine Hcl, cranberries, black currants, rosemary extract, chondroitin sulfate, sea salt.

TONIC HERBS AND BOTANICALS
Chicory root, licorice root, tumeric root, funugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, zea mays, peppermint leaf, chamomile flowers, dandelion, summer savory, rosehips.

ORGANIC MINERALS
Iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate.

PROBIOTIC MICROORGANISMS
Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.


PREMIUM VITAMINS
Mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E), choline chloride, vitamin A, vitamin D3, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12, folic acid, biotin.

 

I'd stick with EVO unless you plan on switching to a raw diet.

When I was researching Orijen, they had a scare a while back with shards of fish bones in their food that customers described as "sharp as glass". The fact that such an obvious flaw passed their inspection is worrying. Taste of the Wild and the new grain-free Canidae formulas aren't terrible (and are at a good price) but I wouldn't support Diamond.

 

switch to raw, trust me its a lot cheaper and so much healthier than any dog food ever will be. Its not all that hard like people make it seam, i've been feeding raw for a few months now and the dogs look and act great on it.
YIS
B

 

I already gave my feedback elsewhere, but TOTW Pacific Stream. Very happy with it.

 

I agree to a point it can get expensive to have an entire 10 or more yard on raw.

 

I am not looking to fight but such worry about grain, I feel dogs are wolves in genetic base and wild dogs always eat stomach and contents, which have grains !!

 

I've heard that a number of times but wolves only eat the stomach content when food is scarce. Jackels and other scavengers eat the stomach contents (depending on who you read from or talk to). I made a mixture in my raw diet that included some grains and veggies but MY DOGS started reverting in the looks and energy department after only a 2 week period. it wasnt really hurting them just the coat wasn't as shiny and their energy level dropped a little. I went to my vet and he ran some test when i started on the raw to make sure they were getting everything they needed and then he ran one when i saw the change and told me to take them off so we can compare. I'm going back next friday and then i'll make my decision whether to keep them on the veggie mix or take them off of it.