What's the best stuff I can feed my dog? This is a question that is daily asked, but not sure if it's answered properly? I say this, simply because so many have different trains of thought on this subject. Some will say feed a RAW diet and nothing else, these folks are usually either really educated in animal nutrition or drank all the kool aid and think they know everything. Then you have those that say feed raw with bones and vegetables, these too are well educated, but not usually open to suggestion. Then you have the kibble lovers, yeah you know who you are. These are the people that may now something about nutrition, but not enough to offer the benefits to feeding a raw diet. Then you have the people that think your everyday supermarket foods are the best. I'd say stay far away from these types of people, as they don't know didilysquat about animal nutrition.
Now granted even though many of us refuse to say that money is a factor, when feeding our pet. Guess what folks, it usually is the biggest factor that many of us refuse to be honest about. I don't know that many people that can just drop $200 a week on dog food, do you? That's a lot of poop and expensive poop at that. Sure feeding a raw diet is not cheap, but it is far less expensive than feeding an air dried or freeze dried food. One of the main reasons why the dried foods are so pricey, is the cost to manufacture it. Those machines are very costly and expensive to maintain and run constantly. This is what brings the cost up so much. Granted the air dried and freeze dried varieties are amazing and contain some of the best ingredients available, but they come with a price that many of us feel is too much for our pockets.
If you choose to go with a kibble diet, there is a plethora to choose from. The costs depend upon a number of factors, amount of protein, protein source. Is it grain free or grain inclusive? Is it baked, extruded, or low heat cooked with a protein mixture sprayed onto the kibble prior to being bagged? Is the kibble mixed with a freeze dried product (s)? As I said, too many variables and costs to choose from when trying to decide a kibble food for your four legged fur kid.
My thought is this, you choose what you feel most comfortable with. I know you want what's best for your fur kid, but we all have our limits financially. Granted there are benefits to feeding a raw or frozen raw diet, but it's really not for everyone. I feel that the best bang for your hard earned dollars is any of the Dr. Harvey's Healthy Formulations. We carry all the varieties of their premixes along with their protein inclusive foods. Best part about Dr. Harvey's, is that you get to play God as they say. You choose the fats (oils), the protein sources (beef, chicken, fish, lamb, goat, venison or even buffalo or rabbit) if you can afford them. Their premixes and Veg 2 Bowl mixes are the perfect compliment to any of the frozen raw diets. Or if that's too steep on the budget, perhaps take a look at Grandma Mae's Country Natural's variety of kibble formula's? This is a house brand that is actually available nationally. They too have a variety of protein rich diets, both grain inclusive or grain free. Depends what you want to feed your fur kid. Please keep in mind that these are only suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to read this.