Commercial food

[elyseulino-attorney]

hello. i am new to this site and was so excited to find it. i am a new newfi mom, as otis is my first newfi. while he is going to be three years old in a few wks, i still feel like an inexperienced, fumbling mom. i was curious as to which commercial dog food many of you feed your beloved newfs which are around otis' age. i have been feeding him hills science diet, adult formula beef and rice since he was six months old. the first listed ingredient is beef, rice, corn meal, etc. the reading i have done indicates that the better brands have beef,etc listed as the first ingredient and to stear clear of by products and meal. i compared all the adult and large breed dog foods at petco recently and hills was the only one w/ beef listed first. the others all have meal or by products listed. hill ratio is protein 20% and fat 12%. even hills large breed had beef meal listed as a first product instead of beef. i would like to know what others think abt continuing to feed otis hills adult food or if you believe there to be a better food available? otis is 180 pds, is a picky eater and generally eats 6 cups of kibble daily w/ some blue cheese dressing or melted peanut butter mixed in to entice him to eat. (i know this is not great, but otherwise he will go days w/o eating, if his only option is kibble) he also eats several apple a wk and 2-3 dog biscuts a day. while i tried feeding him reduced cal food, it was a nightmare as even the good quality ones went through him so quickly, if i wasnt able to take him out at least once an hour, he went in the house (which he hadnt done since he was a puppy, nor has he done since). additionally, i am so very fearful of him getting hip dysplasia. please know my heart goes out to those of you who have or are experiencing that with your dogs. i know how such news would break my heart. otis' hips were last checked 6 months ago by physical exam, which was good. however, i would like to take a preventative approach. please advise which supplements you have choosen for such preventative measures and how much of each you give your newfi and if yours is close in weight as otis. finally, as an end to this long winded posting, please let me know if any of you reside in new york on long island in suffolk county. i would love to find a playmate for otis. he loves other dogs and i would love for him to find a playmate his size. he is like the big kid on the playground that wants to play w/ all the others. yet, all the other kids run away from him b/c he is so big and doofy.thanks for all your help and i look forward to chatting with all of you. have a great night. elyse (otis' mommy)

 

[Kodiak]

Welcome Long Islander

Our Newf Kodi was on Eukanuba large breed puppy and adult when he was younger and ran into problems with pano. He's since been on Martin's K9 Formula which is made locally in Glen Cove. Protein is 22% and Fat 19%. Bovine is the first ingredient listed on the bag. He gets a total of 3 cups a day divided between breakfast and dinner. Kodi is 18 months old and 145 lbs and not fat.

Brenda and Kodi

 

[Kodiak]

Forgot to mention that Lynn, Patty and I have gotten together at local dog parks for our Newfs Rory, Akira and Kodi to play. If you'd love to join us, we'd love to have you. Where on L.I. are you from?

Brenda

 

[Summer]

Welcome!

I would suggest you read back (100 days or more) there is alot written on exactly what your requesting. The people on this board are very helpful and have listed in detail exactly what they feed and why. It will give you a really good base to start from.

I know I've made changes from my original way of feeding due to what I've learned and read on earlier postings.

Good luck, it can make your head spin trying to figure out the best approach, but I believe you will be pleasantly suprised on how informed the prior posting are.

 

[louienewf]

Hi Elyse, I have just recently found this site and I just love it. I have to check it everyday to see what people are talking about and I love to look the pictures of all the new puppys. Anyway...My newfy (Louie) will be 2yrs Oct.28th and I feel like I know nothing but I feed him a dog food called Wellness. I give him 2 cups in the morning and a 1 cup at night. He weighs 146lbs and I can still fill his ribs so I don't beleive I am over feeding him. As with humans each dog is an individual and you have to find what works for Otis. I also give him a supplement called Dream Coat. I read some of the earlier posts and it seemd like Wellness pretty popular ?? Hope this helps

Judy

 

[ellesmom]

Hello,
Welcome to the list! Just to clarify things a bit, you actually want a "meat" meal as the first ingredient. "Meal" listed first means the actual weight of the meat is weighed AFTER it has been cooked and STILL is the ingredient that is most present in the food. If "Beef," "chicken," "pork," "lamb" are listed and not the meat with "meal" next to it, it means that the WEIGHT of the meat BEFORE it has been cooked is heavier than all the other ingredients. As you can guess after a meat has been cooked a lot of moisture is extracted leaving the meat to be lighter than the other ingredients present. So, in essence the grains usually are more present after cooking as a main ingredient.
I work at a Natural Pet Supply store. We get periodical training from not only the manufacturers, but independant veteraniarans to keep us up to date on stuff. As far as food brands go, just as everyone else has said, each dog, even within the same breed, is different. Right now my Elle can only handle fish and sweet potatoes, oy! Everything else has been making her break-out and itch. Your guy might be fine with beef or lamb and another newf may be allergic.
It is good that you are trying to stay away from the by-products as many include the non-useful, non-bioavaiable parts of the animals (beaks etc..). Good luck!
Elle uses Old MOther Hubbard's Wellness Fish and Sweet POtatoe for now. (knock on wood it keeps working for her! *L*)
Hugs,
Ellesmom

 

[IrishMist428]

Ellesmom
Great Info, on the dog food. Akira is eating what I believe is junk food.. I don't know the right supliments to give her. I can feel her ribs.and she is 120lb Not fat, Nine mths gonna be a big gal I guess... when do they stop growing
Patty & Akira

 

[elyseulino-attorney]

thank you all so very much for your suggestions and for making me and otis feel so welcome. i certainly feel right at home here. i did as some of you suggested and looked back through the past postings and yes, my head is spinning. i had to take notes as i read through all the postings. however, i feel as though i have a new wealth of knowledge. i thank you all for that. i will be looking into purchasing various supplements for otis. particularly, the gluc/chon through vitaminshoppe.com. the chewable flavored tabs sound wonderful. otis is difficult abt taking pills. i also will be looking into some of the foods suggested such as wellness and k9. i have also come to the sad realization that no mother wants to face, that her child may be a little bit "chubby". as such, i will be gradually cutting back on otis' food and treats. its terrible i want to keep him healthy and with me for as long as possible. yet, i love to spoil him and boy does he love his food. thankfully, he loves his apples too. i think we will have to go apple picking this weekend. again, i thank you all so very much. hopefully, one day i will become better w/ the computer and will be able to attach otis' photo to my profile. as they say, one day at a time. speak with all of you soon and give your beautiful pups hugs from me and slobber kisses from otis. elyse and otis

 

[elyseulino-attorney]

hello again
one last question w/ respects to the type of dog food to feed... which food is better for an adult male, old mother hubbard's "wellness" or is it "wellness" by neura super 5 mix. i was uncertain which "wellness" was continually being recommended throughout the prior postings. just when i thought i had a handle on this. i am still considering bill jac select, back to basics or wysong synorgen. however, the availability may be the determining factor. ok, i fibbed. if i was to consider giving otis shark cartilage, what would you suggest as a good amt to give him. i did not see any amts for the shark cartilage in the prior postings. otis os 3yrs, male, not overly active, healthy, 180pds. thanks. elyse and otis

 

[elyseulino-attorney]

once again, i wanted to say thank you for all of your help. the past postings were very helpful. i have since ordered otis several supplements which many of you discussed and i am currently looking for places to purchase his new food. finally, i read the past articles re the picky eaters and i noted a suggestion abt moving the dogs bowl. while otis is not starving, he can be a real pain when it comes to eating, which always makes me worried and fustrated. currently, we live in a house w/ only a working kitchen and while otis fits, i now suspect he didnt like the size of the space. yesterday i moved his bowl to another more "spacious" location. wow!!!! i had no problem getting him to get up and go to his bowl. it is remarkable. he now gets up immediately and finishes all his food. thank you, you have all made meal time very pleasant and now worry free for me. see what all your experience has taught us. i never would have considered, where he was eating to have been a problem. ps my husband at first found it very very humorous to see me carrying otis' riser w/ his bowl outside the kitchen, as if i was serving him. elyse and otis

 

[dogger]

Welcome to both you and Otis.. it is old mother hubbard. We feed Boagie the lamb and sweet potato (green bag) we have tried the fish (blue bag) but be ware of fish breath
For treats we like the old mohter hubbard peanut butter biscuits and fresh apple slices. My husband has even tasted the biscuits and says they are not awful.. yes he is wierd he also taste tests new treats for my horse.
i know what you mean about wanting to spoile but in the place of treats give extra lovies and walks. it makes for a healthier happier dogger.

 

[ellesmom]

I have to agree with the fish breath in Wellness' fish and sweet potato! ICK!! Thank heavens we give her greenies to chew on, seems to help, except we also add a bit of fish oil to her kibble. If she happens to get any on her coat, heavens help us?!

Ellesmom

 

[elyseulino-attorney]

hi ladies, thanks i p/u a bag of wellness lamb. otis appears to like it, which is a surprise b/c he is so picky. i also tried the wellness peanut butter biscuts he loved them too. i think we have found our new food and we owe it all to all of you at newf.net. i had to do a little shopping around to find wellness brand. for anyone who is interested and lives on long island, suffolk. i found it at feasts for beast in selden on middle country rd. they also carry bil jack, california ?. thanks again. otis is getting extra hugs and apple slices for now. elyse and otis

 

[sarnewfie]

Pesonally i dont care for lamb based diets, lamb is lacking in taurine.
i prefer the chicken based for my dogs or beef for others.
i feed the Wysong brand dog food the Synorgen formula with canned meat and the archetype.
fantastic diet for my guys.