20% Protein Food

[momto6tails]

Let me say first that not everyone can afford to feed their pets high quality food. So if you are going to judge me on that please do not respond.

So my question is, Is it bad to feed the dogs food with 20% protein? We recently purchased some food and that is the first thing I noticed on the bag. Our dogs are eating it like it's the best food they have ever eaten. Which makes me wonder if it's not good for them.

[That_girl]

What is the brand, if I may ask? Most dry dog food is between 18-22%. And anyway, it's not the amount of protein that should concern you, it's the by-products and fillers used in the food.

[momto6tails]

The brand is high point

[That_girl]

Wow, I can't even google an ingredient list. Where did you get it from?

[alcoth]

This...

Hi-Point (http://www.shawneemilling.com/feed/pet.html#HI-POINT%20MINI%20CHUNKS)?

[That_girl]

If that is indeed the brand, then that is possibly the worst food I've ever seen. I'm not trying to be a food snob or anything, I'm being serious.

It looks similar to a brand around here called Sprout. I asked one of the vets I worked with how they recommend food. She said they tell every client any food other than Sprout and Ol'Roy is fine.

Please, please get your dogs off this food. It's not good for them. Just because it's cheap and it's dog food doesn't make it okay. You should be able to at least afford Purina (not Beneful) or Iams.

Please do your research regarding pet foods. There is tons of information on the internet. Feeding a higher quality food may "cost more" BUT you feed less of it and the dogs poop less - they digest more. In this hi-point, almost none of the ingredients are digestable, meaning it fills the belly, but all of it comes out the back end without anything being digested and actually benefiting your dog.

[momto6tails]

Well I'm not one for starting drama so I'm just going to say thank you for your response.

[diogy]

Where the heck on the internet would someone go to find out about good quality foods?
I have tried searching and there is to much junk to go through out there.

[MandyPug]

Where the heck on the internet would someone go to find out about good quality foods?
I have tried searching and there is to much junk to go through out there.

Look at Dog Food Analysis (http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/) 6 star being the best, 1 star being the worse; try to feed in the 4-6 star range. Also look at the Nasty Substances List (http://www.tailblazerspets.com/tailblazers_nastysubstances.html) or the more lengthy Dog Food Project Ingredients to Avoid List (http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients) and if 2 or more of the ingredients on those lists are in your pet's food, then you should try to find a better product.

[diogy]

Thank you for the information. I am going to do that now.
Thanx again.

[That_girl]

Well I'm not one for starting drama so I'm just going to say thank you for your response.

You're welcome. I'm not sure why food has become such a drama topic. Most of us regulars here have done our research on food and spend a lot of time educating newer members.

I feed 4 animals right now. I know having multiple animals that they go through food quickly. But, my cats eat less than 1 cup of food a day, and the dogs are getting right around 4 cups each a day. One dog weighs 30 lbs at 6 months, the other 40 lbs. It costs me less than $1 a day for the cats, and I'm not sure about the dogs because I haven't been able to track a full bag yet.

I also live in an apt, meaning I have to pick up EVERY poop of my dog. Feeding them a food that has quality ingredients that are highly digestable means I have less waste to pick up.

I know it's hard to walk into the store and suck it up and buy at $55 bag of dog food, when I could get it for $30 at WalMart. But I know that I am doing right by my girls. They are all healthy, and I was just to the vet today for shots for my cats. Other than spays, shots and a cat that ran into a chair leg, my animals have never had a health issue.

It's really like people. They tell us to eat our veggies and fruits, not Doritos, ramen, Mac & Cheese, all the highly processed food.

I know you love your animals and I know money is tight. You asked our opinion about the food, but really what you should do is put a call into your vet and ask their opinion. I have a hunch as to what he/she will say.

I hope you will check out the sites MandyPug posted. They are very informative and will help show you how terrible the food you feed is. I hope you can find a few extra bucks to get your dogs on something better.

[diogy]

I often wondered about the food I buy for the boys. Science Diet.
Prior to Lupi passing he had one of the most sensitive stomachs for a Husky and I often wondered if the food he was on contributed to his seizures. My moms dog too.
I knew of no one that could tell me about good quality foods and that is why I am here.
I have already checked out and bookmarked MandyPugs sites and what awesome resources.
Thanx everyone for the heads up and expertise you gave.

[alcoth]

Thank you Krystal
Thank you Mandy
Great to hear, Diogy :)

Everyone have a fantastic day. All my love.

[CKelly976]

what the heck are Wheat Middlings?

[Kkye]

I was going to ask the same thing!

[WoofBarkAroo]

Hmmm, I've never heard of that food. But it looks like it's probably sold in farm and feed supply stores. There's a brand sold here in farm supply stores called Comet that looks very similar. It's... cheaper than cheap. It's like... half the price of 'Ol Roy, and that's saying something. It's about $7 for a 50lb bag.

I do feed my guys a cheaper brand of food, though they are happy and healthy on it, so we're sticking with it right now. I have a large crew, and what they're on works for us.

We used to be on Innova EVO, and then regular Innova. I hope to get back to that at some point in the future. Mom feeds her dogs Innova, and pays $40 for a 17lb bag. It lasts her 2 weeks... that's $80 a month. *facepalm* The price of dog food has gotten ridiculous.

Anyways, I agree with others, that food looks horrific from the ingredients. It truly looks like a farm and feed store type of food, something I'd seriously steer clear of. To answer the protein question though, 20% protein should be just fine. That's the typical standard in a lot of maintenance foods, as another poster pointed out.

[micgrajon76]

Look at Dog Food Analysis (http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/) 6 star being the best, 1 star being the worse; try to feed in the 4-6 star range. Also look at the Nasty Substances List (http://www.tailblazerspets.com/tailblazers_nastysubstances.html) or the more lengthy Dog Food Project Ingredients to Avoid List (http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients) and if 2 or more of the ingredients on those lists are in your pet's food, then you should try to find a better product.


After reviewing these links, I found out I've been feeding my dog garbage! :yikes:

Thanks for the VERY USEFUL info!

[DoggieVogue]

I would just like to say thank you to everyone on this site who gives knowledgeable advice about food. I have gained an immense amount of knowledge about food since I've been here. I changed my cat and dog both over to Orijen after being given advie and they are both doing great on it and their coats look incredible. :D

[Macawpower58]

*facepalm*


:confused: A little education please? :rolleyes: