Commercial dog food

Wednesday May 27th, 2009

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Question:

Are grocery-store brand dog foods as nutritious as they claim to be?

Answer:

All wet and dry commercial foods ought to promote good health, as all are supposed to meet the same AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutrition standards. The big commercial companies test the products to make sure they have all the nutrients they need to support growth, reproduction, and good health, but as we learned from the recent pet food recall, mistakes do happen. If you're concerned about your dog getting the right nutrients, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.

Marion Nestle is the Paulette Goddard professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health, and professor of sociology at New York University, while Malden Nesheim is a professor of nutritional sciences and provost emeritus at Cornell University. They are the food editors of Bark magazine and are currently writing a book entitled What Pets Eat.

Read more about Marion Nestle and Malden Nesheim in the DogTime expert center...
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Anonymous User

I have been feeding my dog the generic brand (Wal Mart Old Roy) of kKibbles and Bits for 15 years now. He recently had a little surgery on his eye and the vet said his blood work was that of a 5 year old dog. He's as frisky as can be. If you ask yor vet they will want you to buy what ever brand they sell. And that will be extremely expensive. I guess if you have a sick dog maybe you shoul feed more expensive but sometimes I don't think expensive is necessarally better. Terri from Ky

about 2 years ago by Anonymous

Anonymous User

I have been feeding my dog Snickers a mixed breed from the pound the generic (walmart Old Roy) Brand of Kibbles and Bits for 15 years. He had to have a little eye surgery last year and the vet said his blood work was like that of a 5 year old dog. Spunky Spunky If you ask your vet they are going to try to sell you what they sell which you can bet will be expensive. I also have a 14 year old Shihtzu and a 2 year old Shitzu who eat the same food. The older one has several fatty benign tumors and is losing her site a little. She is getting a little grumpy in her old age but other wise is doing fine. I guess if I had a sickly dog I might go with one of the more expensive brands but I still wouldn't know that they would help anymore. Blessins' from Ky Terri

about 2 years ago by Anonymous

Anonymous User

I'm supposed to ask my Science Diet or Purina trained vet for nutrition advice for my dog? No thanks. If I had done that instead of switching to raw my dog wouldn't be alive right now.

about 2 years ago by Anonymous

Anonymous User

What are 'grocery store brands'? Most stores have Eukanuba for instance; and it's advertised on this web page. They have Purina and Iams too, for instance. I don't know of any store brands. Help!

over 2 years ago by Anonymous

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