The minefield of choosing dog food

[PupsterDude]

I have a happy lovely puppy whos 3 months old. She was being fed raw (natures menus frozen puppy nuggets, when she came to live at mine. Having done research, I’d already decided to switch her to dried because I’m immune compromised and I think it’s an unnecessary risk even with extra hygiene.
Trouble is that everyone has an opinion and now I’m feeling confused and deflated. :( I’ve started introducing a dry food but people said, oh you’ll never potty train her with that and that it’s not the right food. Someone said raw is best but if not, dried raw? It feels like I don’t know what I’m doing now.

Mine love fresh horse poo, but it makes them fart so

They also love fruit and veg, they pick black berries off the bush

I find that Mole stores are the best for kibble: you can buy Massive sacks of “working dog food” that has no VAT, good quality, and the dogs like it (mine like Skinner's and Dr John), cheaper and much better quality than supermarkets stuff IMO

@Takingabreakagain

Do you not prepare raw meat for yourself/family? I raw feed my dog and just follow the same hygiene measures as if I was feeding the family so you would just follow whatever measures you normally take to feed yourself. Would wearing gloves help so you aren't touching the meat? Dogs are carnivores so (raw) meat will always be good for them but if you can't do fresh raw then dried is probably next best.

It's not just about the food preparation By feeding raw you're essentially inoculating your dog's entire digestive system with pathogenic bacteria that they spread by sniffing/licking/grooming. So anyone coming into contact with your dog or your home is potentially exposed

@Wolfiefan

I feed raw. Dogs love it and are healthy. I’m immunosuppressed. You just need to observe basic hygiene. Hand washing and not let dog lick round your face.

@Wolfiefan

That’s actually good to know and very reassuring. Did you feed them raw as puppies too? Thanks

My eldest was switched over at about 1 following allergy issues. Youngest was weaned on it.
I do think there are issues with raw. Feeding complete and enough different proteins. But I don’t see a health risk if I wash up and wash my hands and don’t let them lick round my face.
But there are so many different food options. You have to do what suits you and your dog. Just make sure it’s decent quality and not full of rubbish!

If you're keen on raw feeding, but can't because of the risk to you, you could try something like Different Dog, which is cooked fresh meat and vegetables. So you get similar health benefits to the raw that you're looking for with the fresh meat, but it's cooked so you don't get the risk to yourself.

You could just ask your vet.i agree the raw food diet is a fad. The only time our border collie got sick,D&V,took her to the vet,transpired she'd eaten a bit of leftovers mouse.

Eating a mouse that may have died through being poisoned and sat there rotting isn’t the same as feeding the raw lamb complete my girls had this morning.

we love butternut box which is precooked.
the dogs go crazy for it.

you can make it cheaper by ordering bigger pouches than you need and sharing it out. I think it works put about £1.20 a day for me.

code below for 50% off your first box and I think 25% off the second if you wanted to try it.

they deliver in bulk and its easy to change / pause deliveries if needed. I know I sound like I sell it, but it's just been really good for us

butternutbox.com/Laura877

@Wolfiefan

Eating a mouse that may have died through being poisoned and sat there rotting isn’t the same as feeding the raw lamb complete my girls had this morning.

I think the pp meant more her dog was fine on what he normally ate, similar to my slurry anecdote.

Raw food obviously seems to suit many dogs, so does dried and other alternatives for others. If raw doesn't suit the human for whatever reason there doesn't seem to be any compelling reason to use it.

Which is why I said to do what suits you and your dog.
Just look carefully at the ingredients of what you are feeding. Good marketing doesn’t mean good food.

Exactly so.

@Wolfiefan

I feed raw. Dogs love it and are healthy. I’m immunosuppressed. You just need to observe basic hygiene. Hand washing and not let dog lick round your face.

That's not what the research or any responsible professionals say.

It's fine to take whatever risks you like with your own health.
It's a shame the OP has already latched into your misinformed opinion as 'reassuring'.

I couldn't in good conscience be advocating for someone with known health vulnerabilities to be taking unnecessary risks that are contradicted by the evidence.

I am wondering how to make kibble more appealing to my dog. He will happily take individual pieces as treats, but if I put kibble in a bowl he seems overfaced by it and won't touch it.

@GameofPhones use a wet food topper or gravy

@GameofPhones

I am wondering how to make kibble more appealing to my dog. He will happily take individual pieces as treats, but if I put kibble in a bowl he seems overfaced by it and won't touch it.

Try a kong wobbler or similar slow feeder ? Often dogs like to earn their food.

Care with adding 'human' gravy to food as it's high salt

@GameofPhones

I am wondering how to make kibble more appealing to my dog. He will happily take individual pieces as treats, but if I put kibble in a bowl he seems overfaced by it and won't touch it.

Scatter feed, use a kong or slow feeder, or try a puzzle game instead. Bowls can be really boring for some dogs.

@Veterinari what risk? I handle raw food and wash hands. I actually have a separate prep area and fridge/freezer. All bowls are washed and stored away. I don’t allow dogs to lick my face. I wash my hands after cuddling dogs and always before eating.
I honestly can’t see what the issue is. I’m on immunosuppressants. At no point has any medical professional expressed concern about my animals or how I feed them.

[quote Wolfiefan]@Veterinari what risk? I handle raw food and wash hands. I actually have a separate prep area and fridge/freezer. All bowls are washed and stored away. I don’t allow dogs to lick my face. I wash my hands after cuddling dogs and always before eating.
I honestly can’t see what the issue is. I’m on immunosuppressants. At no point has any medical professional expressed concern about my animals or how I feed them.[/quote]
I cannot possibly say what your particular risk factors are and wouldn't want to presume. But I doubt they're identical to the OP's

Maybe you're qualified to advise the OP specifically on her risk profile? But from the information given, I doubt it as it will depend specifically on her health problems and medical management.

Raw fed dogs are a risk for continuous environmental shedding of pathogens. Yes basic hygiene reduces this risk to some extent but it doesn't eliminate it. You maybe happy to risk your own health - up to you, but I think it's a bit irresponsible to encourage others to risk theirs, or presume that because you're unaffected (so far) that others will be too

https://www.facebook.com/100044439036180/posts/435018891322742/?d=n

https://weu-az-web-cdnep.azureedge.net/mediacontainer/medialibraries/cedarmountvets/documents/bsavanutritionnguiderawwdietsownerr_factsheet.pdf

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47448143.amp

@GameofPhones toppers! Yogurt, sardines, oats, tins of wet food in gravy, steamed veg. Lots of options to make it more appealing.
Maybe avoid sprouts though. My dog ate 2 last night and we know about it. Even DH who is still without smell after covid was aware of them 🤢😂

I feed raw and it suits my dog - he is healthy, he doesn't do awful farts, he has nice small hard poos.
However I understand that as most pet raw food doesn't come from the human food supply chain, it can be more at risk of pathogenic bacteria. So it is definitely a consideration.

I think the main thing for me around food is don't give them too much - obesity is a big risk to your dog's health and quality of life.

Errol the dragon,yes that was exactly what I was saying. The mouse wasn't poisoned. I don't poison them. She also eats other animals poo,but they are all veggie,so not the same gut flora as a meat eater. I had several dogs who were fed on a veggie diet, before I got them,so I continued
As long as it's balanced and sensible

My dog won't eat wet food. I've been giving him frozen and fresh meat, mainly chicken breast fillets and lamb and beef mince, boiled. He has the Bakers Meaty Meals as well a few times a week.

@Veterinari I didn’t say the OP should raw fed. I did say that I do. My specialists have no concern. The OP can of course get specialist advice if they are concerned.
I can’t see how the meat I feed is being “shed” in such a way as to put anyone at risk.
I choose to feed raw as my eldest dog has severe allergies. It’s taken us from daily vet visits to yearly check ups. Other people feed what suits them. As I already said.

OP please do not be guilted into feeding raw. Dogs have evolved into the dogs they are today from scavanging.

I feed some of my dogs raw and one even has the dreaded prescription diet. My puppies are always started off on kibble as I use it for training throughout the day.

Over all the years I have had dogs it goes through fads. Get a food your dog likes at a price you can afford. Look at the ingredients list. If it has "proper food" listed rather than derivatives, not too many additives or things your dont understand on the label and your dog likes it, is a good weight, healthy poos then relax ad enjoy your dog.

I would not feed my dogs raw if anyone in my family was immuno - suppressed.

[quote Wolfiefan]@Veterinari I didn’t say the OP should raw fed. I did say that I do. My specialists have no concern. The OP can of course get specialist advice if they are concerned.
I can’t see how the meat I feed is being “shed” in such a way as to put anyone at risk.
I choose to feed raw as my eldest dog has severe allergies. It’s taken us from daily vet visits to yearly check ups. Other people feed what suits them. As I already said.[/quote]
The meat isn't being shed. The bacteria it contains are. They are incorporated into your dog's microbiome and shed into the environment wherever they sit/lie/lick Including their own coats.