The following guide is provided by Dr. Michael Lemmon of Highlands Veterinary Hospital in Renton, Washington. Foods are rated from 10 (the most nutritious) to 0 (the lease nutritious)
10-9 For wild animals in nature: wild food Source: hunting, foraging. Characteristics: study wild animals to learn best diet for domesticated species.
8 The best you can do: balanced, fresh food made by you Source: Dogs -- 1/3 meat, eggs, dairy; 2/3 grains, vegetables. Cats -- 1/2 meat, eggs, dairy; 1/2 grains, vegetables. Characteristics: ecological, inexpensive, easy, healthy (includes healthy leftovers)
7-6 Not a bad compromise: "health food" brands Source: Precise, Wysong, Nature's Recipe, Dynamite, Flint River, ABADY, Avo-Derm, Sensible Choice, Solid Gold, Pinnacle. Characteristics: few or no preservatives, few or no by-products, dates on the bags, more nutrients retained, disease prevention design.
5-4 Getting the idea: "upscale" brands Source: Science Diet, ANF, Tamiami, Cornucopia, Lick Your Chops, Nutro, Waynes, Old Mother Hubbard. Characteristics: digestible, very concentrated, easily available, actually less costly, could be improved.
3 Just mucking along: all grocery store brands Source: IAMS, Ol' Roy, Purina (all), Gaines, Friskies, Alpo, Ken'l Ration, Kal-Kan, Tuffys, Tyrells, Attaboy, Pedigree. Characteristics: Not very digestible, additives, preservatives, chemicals, no date on bags, addictive flavorings added.
2 You get what you pay for: generic brands Source: Holiday, Super-America, Houles, Fromms. Characteristics: Ultra-cheap ingredients, irregular batch cooking, products are not tested, no reputation to lose.
1 Let them eat cake: soft-moist, gourmet cans, "treat" foods Source: Tender Vittles, Gaines Burgers, Kibbles and Chunks, Pounce, Crave, Snausages, Jerky Sticks, Happy Cat, Mighty Dog. Characteristics: Fake, plastic, junk food, addictive and deadly, rots teeth and intestines, expensive.
0 We warned you: poorly balanced, randomly-offered, people food Source: Excess meat, fat, ice cream, candy, sugar, white flour products, tuna, steak, bones, anything microwaved. Characteristics: Cause of obesity, picky-eaters, behavior problems, diabetes, allergies, shedding and dandruff.
PAWS: http://www.paws.org/
Another link of recommended foods: http://greatdanelady.com/articles/criteria_list_of_better_foods.htm
What is in pet food? http://www.api4animals.org/79.htm
FOODS RECOMMENDED BY MEMBERS
(not in any order)
Solid Gold, Wellness, Natural Balance, Royal Canin
Note: When switching to a new food, it is very important to go s-l-o-w-ly by mxing just a small amount of the new food with the old food. Gradually increase the new to old over time.
TREATS:
Be careful! NOT recommended include the nylonbone as well as all types of rawhide because either can break and the dog can choke on them. Just as with food, introduce a new treat slowly incase the dog cannot tolerate it. "Human treats" that can be given include: small amounts of apple, bananas...NEVER grapes.