Which complete dog food for firm poo and healthy dog!?

[eggontoast]

Please explain what dog food you use, especially if you have a Labrador.

I am looking to firm up my dogs slushy poos - slushy because I am feeding him cheap dog food I believe.

I also want to give my dog the best health benefits but do not want a brand that tests on animals (ie. cruelty).

I have looked up reviews on doggy websites, but I am convinced they are mainly written and added by manufactures to promote their food!!

My dog is 6 and has recently had anal gland problem. Now sorted, but I want to prevent another occurrence. I also want his skin to be given the oils it needs not to flake with the central heating.

Thanks in advance.

My pup has proplan and is doing firm poos - very easy to pick up from the hall floor

Barf - bones and raw food. We buy it prepackaged and frozen.

I've just switched our dog to Orijen from the Royal Canin she came to us on and it works out a little cheaper and she definitely needs less than on the packet. She won't eat dry on it's own though so mix in a little meat from one of the packs in pet shop freezer. Poo picking is a relatively civilized affair considering it is poo picking.

Rainbow, who do you buy from and would you mind running through BARF please if you have a minute ? Many thanks.

No problems. SOme companies will deliver on a monthly basis otherwise we buy from a farm type place. THere are loads of ways of doing it. We tried doing it ourselves to begin with but it was a pain. We buy it prepackaged, portioned and frozen like a large rectangle lump of raw meat and take it out of the freezer every morning.
One of our dogs is a dane so it is much better for him due to them being sensitive dogs and prone to ill health.
It means they drink less water as not on dry so less wees and poo size is very much reduced.
We have got fed up on occasion e.g in the summer when it's very hot and you've got meat defrosting every day or in winter like now when we cant defrost it outside as its freezing. Each time we've gone to dried food and seen the poos and the state of their coats we've changed back to raw.

I cant remember who delivers it but will post later the details when dh gets home.

It is also much cheaper.

We supplement with veg sometimes (bunging them a carrot or the like) and also with value chicken wings etc.

If you plan to do it not via a company where it's all prepared then you have to research to make sure they are getting all the supplements they need.

Never give cooked bones, always raw.

If you google barf you'll find loads of information especially helpful if you also search with your dog breed. There are yahoo groups, chat rooms etc devoted to the subject.

Thank you Rainbow, that's very helpful. I can't face doing it myself so would have to order it in. Do you use mixer with it ? I'll get my head round it all after Christmas I think but I'm sure she'll much prefer it, goes off into raptures if she finds a dead mouse and it's gone in seconds. Whereas a bowl of dry makes her turn her nose up and she won't touch it.

Depends on which food we are using. Some made up barf needs a mixer, some doesnt.

NOT FROLIC! It produces HUGE bright orange soft poos.

My 19 month old lab has Royal Canin. Works well for us if a bit pricey!

We have two labradors - one is 13, one is 4. Both fed on Burns and both very healthy, good weights and very active. I see it as an investment and rarely have to visit the vet. You can pick it up online much cheaper than in the shops.

As for the poos - small and perfectly formed .

Also with the Chappie, my vet recommended it more than science plan

we use pedigree chum. medium price. sold in the supermarket. firm poos and glossy coat. afaik it's not tested on rabbits. but it is made of rabbits.

After trying a few different options, including Science Plan, I found wet food the best for firm poo. The dry food was making my dog go several times a day and they were getting wetter.

With the wet food, its 2 or 3 times a day and nice and firm.

Just noticed this post, socute. If your dog is on wet, you don't need to worry about bloat really.

However, wet food has a very high water and very lo wmeat content and isn't that nutritous, and that may be why your dog is eating his poo. It may also mean over-feeding was the reason for runny poo when on dried, or that your dog has an intolerance to someting in the dried food. (wheat, maize and other cereals woul dmost likely cause that, and are present in science plan)