Best Dog Foods?

[Shauna22]

Hi! I am new to the site. My very first post! I have been trying to find out what would be the best foods for an English Mastiff that is no longer a puppy. He is not even two yet but I don't believe he is even close to being full grown. Anyway, right now he is eating Precise Holistic for large breeds. I have used other Precise food too just because when I go to buy the food they don't always have the kind for large breeds. I also have a Leonberger so they share the food and I would like to keep them eating the same. The only problem is that Hooch constantly has runny poop!!! I have tried pumpkin. I am going to fast him today if he makes it through the day. He LOVES his food and if he doesn't get food and water when he wants it he starts flinging his bowl around or knocking things down in our pantry, lol. He will also whine. I have never had a dog quite like him before, hahahaha. But so far so good this morning. He hasn't bugged me for food yet. I am wondering if the food just isn't a good match for him if he has the runs and my Leonberger doesn't. Any suggestions on what might help him? I feel so bad for him. The other night he wanted out three times!!! Other than that he doesn't seem sick at all. Loves to eat and play still. He has an awesome coat and he doesn't scratch. Thank you!!!!!

 

[thelady_v2010]

Does it have chicken? Chicken in foods gives my pup the softies.

 

[Shauna22]

Yes! That is the first ingredient! So you think just giving him anything without chicken will work? I hope so! What kind do you use?

 

[thelady_v2010]

Many mastiffs are sensitive to the chicken in foods. I see that that line has chicken free foods.

I use Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch and have good results from it.

 

[Shauna22]

Thanks!!! I had no idea! So then it doesn't matter if they eat one that is for Large or Giant Breeds or not?

 

[thelady_v2010]

There are tons of post here about what a food needs. I am not the food expert here, but everything I have learned I have learned from her. Smart_Family. She is a whiz.

My dog has never been on a large breed or giant breed food. You need to look at the calcium and phosphorous levels and the ratio. If you do a forum search on phosphorous, something should come up. I think she made a list of foods good for large breed and i just picked from that list and I luckily got one that worked for him. The food he came with had chicken in it and he had soft poops, so I knew to avoid it.

 

[Shauna22]

Thank you! I will try to look for the list now. Since I just joined I am trying to figure out how to do things on here, hahahahaha. Right off the bat I couldn't even get my photo to work. It will take some getting used to.

 

[hahajjhaha]

Poor buddy with the poops! We feed our dog Orijen large puppy food, mostly because of the low calcium and glucosamine since I worry about hip dysplacia in our Neapolitan mastiff. She came to us with hook worm, round worm and giardia so finding a good food that firmed things up was essential. Be careful with the pumpkin, too much can actually make the runny poo worse. Oatmeal worked best for her to add to her food. In our research we also found some dogs react better to a plant based food vs a protein based food. You may have some trial and error. And go very slow in transitioning food. The food transition itself can cause loose stool. I feel our big girl is very food sensitive and takes a loooooong time to heal and adjust to anything. I suspect giant breeds take longer to do everything!
Also check out: Dog Food Reviews and Ratings | Dog Food Advisor It tells you everything that's in all the foods out there. Your dog might prefer a plant based food with a lower protein/fat content.
Good luck!!

 

[DennasMom]

You might also consider giving a probiotic to help with any food transitions.
We used onlynaturalpet.com's "GI Support" during a number of our transitions. It seemed to help. We never had any luck using pumpkin, either.

 

[Shauna22]

I have never had any luck with pumpkin. He still always has the runs. I just went to the pet store and found a food that didn't get the highest reviews but they weren't bad either. It is Nutro Natural Choice Lamb for Large Breeds. I mixed some with their Precise and they LOVED it! I just don't know if I want to stay with it because it has brown rice and I read that rice can have arsenic. I was going to buy Blue Buffalo but I keep reading about how dogs die or get sick on it. I know that it could just be people writing bad reviews on purpose for other companies but I really don't know! I asked if the store had a probiotic and they don't carry that. Maybe I can find some at another pet store? Or can you only find it online or at the vet's?

 

[ZEBO75]

A raw diet destroys any kibble in nutrional value. It's more expensive but well worth it in the long run.

 

[dheepakh]

Fromm family is very good and lots of variety to choose from. Go for the salmon and veg, whitefish and potato,duck and sweet potato,Pork and applesauce. Also they do 5 variety of grainfree food.

 

[Diesel's Mom]

I feed my EM -Taste of the Wild - High Prairie Formula- made with bison and venison. His bowels are great; nice and firm. I sometimes mix a little canned tuna in his food when I give it to him. I have had no problems . Background- My EM, Diesel is 27months and about 175 lbs he lives inside the house and I feed him 2 times a day 7am and 6pm. He is very fit and lean. Hope it helps your puppy.

 

[Diesel's Mom]

I feed my EM -Taste of the Wild - High Prairie Formula- made with bison and venison.  His bowels are great; nice and firm.  I sometimes mix a little canned tuna in his food when I give it to him. I have had no problems . Background- My EM, Diesel is 27months and about 175 lbs he lives inside the house and I feed him 2 times a day 7am and 6pm. He is very fit and lean. Hope it helps your puppy.