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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want some genuine proof that Bakers Complete dog foods are the work of the devil?

89 replies

Jolleigh · 08/10/2013 19:59

We've recently admitted defeat and acknowledged that we have an extremely picky dog who has, for the year we've had him, lost about a kilo since we rescued him.

He'll eat wet food without issue, but that's the expensive option and not good for his teeth. He also digests it far too quickly and ends up over eating if we keep him on that exclusively.

Most dry complete dog foods he won't touch unless he's really extremely hungry...he doesn't like anything that's too dry.

We tried him on quite a few different dry foods on the vet's advice, but a year later he's no better.

We've tried adding mixers and doggy gravies...he licks the bits he likes and leaves the rest.

We were in a tight spot as far as dog food is concerned recently and ended up having no choice but buying a Bakers Meaty Chunks complete food.

He loves it. He's eating better and is much brighter. Lovely coat.

But I've heard so many bad things about Bakers, I'm nervous to keep him on it. I can't find any actual evidence behind the word of mouth though Confused

OP posts:
UtterflyButterfly · 09/10/2013 09:40

We used to feed our Jack Russell on expensive dry food but when we were going through a tough time financially I started mixing it with Bakers and eventually she just had the Bakers. She always had a bit of whatever we'd had for dinner as well, including fresh veg every day. We finally had to have her put down last year at 18 years old, and she'd never had digestive problems or tumours. It was really just old age and her heart (and dementia - she was bonkers!) that finished her off.

She definitely liked the meaty chunks best, she'd pick them out and eat them first, then the bone shaped ones, and she'd leave the green ones 'til last. So I'd say, give the dog Bakers if that's what he likes, but supplement it with other stuff and, obviously, keep an eye on his health, but you'd do that anyway.

Chattymummyhere · 09/10/2013 10:10

My two go bat shit Crazy I fed bakers... Even as a last resort I would not feed it, if I run out of brought food I make my own dog safe biscuits and treats... Meaty ones and veggie ones..

Sounds like your dog would love some liver bread but that stinks an should only be a treat...

At the end if day your always going to get the "it did mine no harm" just like people who weaned baby's at weeks old an smoked in their children's faces...

The ingredients list says it all... If you want to feed him crap rather than persisting and finding a good food he will like go ahead but personally I wouldn't feed anything or anyone bakers/pedigree all crap

Original poster
Jolleigh · 09/10/2013 10:18

Chatty - he loves liver bread Grin

I get that there are some undesirable ingredients in Bakers, but surely it's better than him not eating? 1 kilo is a lot for a dog to lose in a year, especially when you consider he's a cocker spaniel, not a larger pup.

It's not a cost issue for me...he just isn't inclined to eat any other dry food I've put in front of him and he over eats on wet because he digests it too quickly and gets hungry.

OP posts:
nurseneedshelp · 09/10/2013 10:24

Bakers soft meaty chunks is the only food my dalmatian and shitzu will eat . I've never heard anything negative?
I had a staffie for 16 years before he sadly passed awayand he had bakers too.

I'll be watching this thread with interest. .....

Birdsgottafly · 09/10/2013 10:46

My dog was starving herself to death, she would of eaten Bakers but went hypo, like feeding a child blue sweets and red bull.

I now have found a raw diet stockist and have swapped to that, is raw diet a possibility?

Chattymummyhere · 09/10/2013 10:53

Haha good old liver bread!!

The reason he loves bakers is because of the addictive parts in it..

I would try the raw and give it a month or two, it will take time to adust to the new way of food, also make sure you are getting your percentages right on the offal/meat/bones etc

When my dogs first went raw it was a bit messy but then it settled down, they where pooping less because most of what went into them was being used by their bodies but what they was pooping was healthy not sloppy funny coloured or anything like that.

What's he like with eggs? When mine get a bit funny (on holiday so cannot do raw) we smash eggs over their food

Manchesterhistorygirl · 09/10/2013 10:53

We've just switched our dogs to Oscar and they're both much better on it, better coats and both maintaining weight.

Original poster
Jolleigh · 09/10/2013 11:02

RE raw feeding...it just doesn't agree with him. He loves it but it goes in one end and out of the other with record speed (quite literally well within an hour...it comes out looking very similar to how it goes in). He loses weight quite drastically on it and when we saw how weak he was getting, we put him back onto wet food to build up his strength.

OP posts:
ballinacup · 09/10/2013 11:03

BallDog is the fussiest dog in the world. I once gave her a lovely piece of prime fillet steak and she sniffed at it suspicously before backing away.

I was absolutely despairing because the weight was dropping off her and she's a slender build to begin with so out of sheer desperation I bought a small box of Bakers and she wolfed it down. She's gone from eating a bowl of food every 3-4 days to a bowl a day, her coat is lovely, she seems happy.

Personally, I'm not going to lie awake at night fretting over it. She's eating, and that's all that matters to me.

handcream · 09/10/2013 11:07

Have used Bakers for years but literally floating in water when served. I know it sounds a bit strange but our dog is looking very well on it. Big dog so a cheaper option than wet dog food. I did try James Wellbeloved but £40+ for a sack....Arden is I hear great but very expensive.

Birdsgottafly · 09/10/2013 11:11

I agree that if a dog appears happy and is maintaining weight then that is important.

Raw feeding has mixed opinions, but my dog was drastically underweight and unhappy, the difference is amazing.

It is like when a child has been ill and off their food and then wakes up one morning, fit and well and wanting to go to the park (for anyone who isn't a dog person).

OP I do think that you have to go with feeding what a dog will eat, as not eating enough has an effect on so many other areas of their body.

iseenodust · 09/10/2013 11:15

Dustydog will soon be 14 and is in fine health except arthritic hips. He has had Bakers since we moved him off Arden over 12 years ago which was expensive and it became clear was giving him poor eyesight (all other causes excluded leaving only diet). Eyes reverted to fab after a couple of months.

MrsBramleyApple · 09/10/2013 11:21

The Co-op chicken dried food didn't affect my dog. The beef on the other hand made him go loopy!!!

Beccadugs · 09/10/2013 11:25

We had a similar problem with our dog in that she wouldn't eat anything. We now feed her one big meal a day and she gobbles it down (we've had to buy a gobble bowl!). You could try that with a different food if you are really worried about the bakers!

Original poster
Jolleigh · 09/10/2013 12:27

I think he'd be truly upset by that Becca. I'd definitely be getting the 'mean mummy' look Wink

OP posts:
Beccadugs · 09/10/2013 12:44

I thought the same would be true, but she doesn't seem bother until about 6pm when she start bogging me on the face with her paw!!

Beccadugs · 09/10/2013 12:44

Bogging = boffing!!

Theodorakiss · 09/10/2013 13:00

Nodding off, good sense. Also agree with the angst about sugar for your dog. I use Royal Canin, also the MN enemy. I don't care, they poo at least 50 % less.
Only one thing, don't give human food. My darling boy died after stealing a takeaway from liver failure. Not worth it.
Listen to the actual vet above!

Original poster
Jolleigh · 09/10/2013 13:11

Theo - one brilliant quality we were lucky enough to get in our rescue pup is he won't touch human food...he doesn't go near anything that hasn't been specifically given to him or put in his bowl. It's a god send, and I certainly won't be undoing it by feeding him our leftovers...if he starts thinking of our food as his then as you've experienced, he could very well manage to get hold of something horrendously bad for him.

OP posts:
toboldlygo · 09/10/2013 13:28

I work in a veterinary practice and have been gradually canvassing the opinions of vets regarding Bakers. A small number - say less than 20% - are firmly in the cancer-causing hellfood camp. About half the remainder vaguely caution against it and would consider it in cases of otherwise non-resolving diarrhoea, itchy skin conditions, hyperactivity etc. The other half feed it to their own dogs and see no problem with it.

Not exactly a sound clinical trial but you get the idea. Grin

Personally I think it's criminal they're allowed to market it as a complete nutritious dog food and think it unnatural to feed a dog wholly on something mainly composed of cereals, processed vegetable proteins, sugar, salt and additives. Ditto Pedigree, Wagg, Beta etc.

The more expensive foods are not necessarily better either, they can be just as full of shite. www.whichdogfood.co.uk is a good place to start.

tabulahrasa · 09/10/2013 14:52

The angst over sugar isn't as silly as it sounds when you take into consideration that dental treatments have to be done under anesthetic and aren't covered by insurance.

My issue with Bakers is that they add things like artificial colourings purely to appeal to the human feeding it, they're not doing any good to the dog and they're not even bothered what colour food is.

It's also not that cheap, the recommended amount for my dog costs about the same as Arden Grange, some Royal Canin, Burns, Simpsons...all massively better than Bakers even without all the additives and only about 30p a day less than the most expensive dry foods you can buy.

rox01 · 15/11/2013 01:28

maybe give Gentle a try. I've given it to my pup who is tricky tummy wise and she did well on it. Also if you wet it it turns really mushy as it's cold pressed not extruded. I have no connection with the company just joined as I came across the thread looking for something else and thought Gentle might help.

mortuusUrsus · 15/11/2013 01:50

Keep him on Bakers if it's working for him. If you're worried about him having it long-term, try offering small portions of other dried stuff (before his meal, as treats/rewards, whatever) or weaning him off Bakers by mixing foods.

K9listener · 07/06/2014 14:10

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Calonwyn · 07/06/2014 14:28

My dogs are thriving on CSJ - with the occasional tin of sardines/egg/yoghurt - which is even cheaper than Bakers, I think. Firm poo, shiny coats, lots of energy, wolf it down. It's a working dog food, so no VAT and no advertising/marketing.