Nature's Menu or NatureDiet dog food?

[MrsL123]

We've been feeding the dogs on Wainwrights trays for the past year or so (60% minimum meat content, hypoallergenic with no additives or fillers etc). But since her operation the puppy won't eat it, so we've been giving them both Nature's Menu pouches instead. They really seem to enjoy them and they have veggies in, which the Wainwrights trays don't. But I've heard good things about the NatureDiet trays as well, and they would work out about £20 cheaper each month (the cost isn't a main factor, but a £240 a year saving isn't to be sniffed at either!).

These are the Nature's Menu pouches, and this is the NatureDiet stuff.

Does anyone have an opinion on which one would be better?

Thanks

[morethanyoubargainfor]

i quite like the smell of the prawn one . my boys love ND and the farty one is no more!

They also rather like the rabbit and turkey one.

[ceres]

bella - it's vile, but he loves it!! when he is a bit off his food i have even been known to make him warm naturediet slop and, wait for it, hand feed him. yes, with a spoon. the shame - i can't believe i am admitting to that. in my defense, if he doesn't eat regularly his colitis is more likely to play up.

mrsl123 - glad the warm slop was a hit!

[heckythump]

Ceres... I may be about to embark on some kind of hero worship.

My dog is also a Staff.. about 2 years ago a vet suggested he was allergic to chicken so I stopped it and his poo, almost immediately, "improved" (I say improved.. you know what I mean ;-) My only problem with Nature Diet is that there is no way on earth that the fish one is ever coming in my house again. Even he would not go near it! That leaves him stuck with Lamb and Rice and Prawn and Salmon.

He is on loads of medication which until about a year ago included pain killers - he developed ulcers on these on top of his dicky tum - and now has antepsin and ranitidine twice a day to protect him.

My vet has only ever mentioned "chronic bowel disorder" but on googling colitis the symptoms seem to fit the majority of the problems he has these days. Tomorrow sees me buying some slippery elm bark. I'm also interested to see that your husband takes it. I have a friend who has developed quite severe IBS. Can I ask how effective it is for your husband?

Thanks

[ceres]

heckythump - i know what you mean about the fish one! banned from our house too, our boy didn't like it either.

sorry to hear about your dog's problems, poor thing. i think slippery elm is definitly worth a try - i found out about it when googling after ours was diagnosed with colitis. it works by soothing and coating the digestive tract, it is safe for both dogs and humans.

buy the powder, not the capsules. if you get the capsules they cost much more and you have to break them open anyway! i mix a teaspoon or so with a good splash of boiling water and mix it through his food, or sometimes through natural yogurt. i do this once a day but if his tummy is dodgy then i will give it twice.

i had a google to find out the dose - there are different doses out there but this works for our dog.

the only thing you need to be careful about is giving the meds, the advice i found is not to give it at the same time as slippery elm as it can affect the absorption of medicines.

hopefully you will find the slippery elm helps him. i would have a good old google and get as much info as you can, start him on the slippery elm and if it appears to help then maybe take the info to your vet and speak to him before reducing any meds. our vet knows we use slippery elm, it is on his notes, but had never heard of it himself.

as to dh - yes, he finds it good. he tends to take it if he knows he will be eating/drinking something that can set his ibs off. i know someone else who uses it more regularly for ibs and finds it really helps too.

hope this helps. let me know how you get on with the slippery elm!

[MrsL123]

Just wanted to update and say the ND is now going down very well indeed now, we don't even need to add water anymore. She even ate it mixed with some JWB biscuits this morning, which was a huge hit. They've tried all five flavours and really like them all - they had the fish tonight and oh my, what a stink! It must have tasted great though, and the cats circled round like sharks picking up all the bits dropped on the floor.

I believe their poos are also very firm - it's DH's turn to do poo patrol this week but he tells me they're looking great

Actually between the dogs and cats and rabbits and guinea pig, recently we seem to spend half our lives talking about and/or examining poo - what a wonderful thing animals are! And at the moment we're doing what we've affectionately named 'poonanny patrol', which involves periodically getting the puppy to roll over with legs akimbo so we can check her - ahem - special place for blood (which at the moment is not forthcoming, despite angelina jolie's lips still being in attendance). Oh what a life I lead!

[Bella32]

MrsL , you are one of a kind

[heckythump]

Much Karma to you Mrs L Your life sounds a little bit like mine!

Ceres - thank you! I bought the capsules as I had a look at the food and it is mixed with wheat flour - my dog appears to be sensitive to wheat (or at least when he snarfs bread he finds on walks he has diahorrea!). Found a mix for that for dogs and can store residual in the fridge for 3 days so will try it. I won't be able to give it all the time as, you are right, and thanks for alerting me to it - it will interfere with absorption of meds otherwise.

He's had his first dose tonight, mixed with a tablespoon of ND and the whole lot disappeared in no time, so cross fingers it will help him. Thank you

[MrsL123]

It is rather sad (and disgusting!) that I can tell which dog did which poo with a mere glance, and now know the puppy's poonanny better than the back of my hand. I wonder if these things will be etched into my brain forever!

[heckythump]

yes, they will...

[ceres]

hecky - it may be worth checking other health shops, the slippery elm powder i but isn't mixed with anything else and is a lot cheaper than the capsules.

i hope it helps with your dog's problems. keep us updated!

[heckythump]

Ahh, thanks ceres!

He has done ok so far on it (but developed terrible wind on stopping the other day )

(ps that's not the "confused" emoticon; more my expression when he passes wind )

[stoppard]

I have tried both but have now moved onto another food, called Naturo, which is also a natural petfood. My westies absolutely loves it. I think it is a new food. I got a free sample at one of the dog shows and just order it online at www.naturopetfoods.com One case of 12 cost £10.00. This could start a whole new debate!