Need ideas on food....

[Winter's Cinder]

Alright.. I'll try to keep this short...
Due to some unforseen issues... im not sure we are going to financially be able to keep feeding cinder her raw diet...
The biggest issue is my cheap source of chicken has dried up... im pretty proud of my thrifty skills on finding bargins but im at a loss right now... the second issue being lack of income.... some recent changes to craigs income has put a strain on the pocketbook...
So im looking for some suggestions on switching cinder to kibble.... from everything I've read on this forum and throughout the internet is taste of the wild seems to be a good brand.. however it seems expensive, mostly because im not sure how much cinder is gonna eat!!! We got her at 7 weeks and have been feeding her raw since about 9 weeks... she is up to 3 lbs a day... so im not sure how that equates to kibble cups per day...
In the next couple weeks we have a new store opening up called tractor supply company... and they have an exclusive line of food called 4Health... I have researched the crap out of it and it seems to have pretty good rating as long as stick with the grain free... and its significantly cheaper than taste of the wild...
School starts in about 3 weeks and I'm currently in search of finding a job to help get things back on tract here...
Im hoping things turn around in a few months and we can go back to raw... she has done so well on it... I know I shouldn't switch her back and forth and maybe she will do well on the kibble and we stick with it...
Im just a bit out of sorts right now with all the stuff going on and don't really know what else to do to help cut the budget....
Any advice is welcome!!!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[JamieHalverson]

When I fed kibble I fed Acana. My Lillie's adult weight should be around 110 to 120 pounds, I think I fed her 3 cups per day. It was a more expensive food, but she ate so much less of it than she would have other brands of high quality kibble that it was cost effective.

 

[Boxergirl]

My dogs have done great on 4Health foods, both grain inclusive and grain free. The only concern is that the grain inclusive is manufactured by Diamond and they've had some recalls over the years. Never in my area though and I keep up with all current recalls. If you have a Costco close, Nature's Domain is a good food and very affordable. I find the $55 membership there pays for itself within a visit or two for my family. My dogs all eat food from Costco. I use the grain inclusive Kirkland brand for the boxer boys because they do best on it and Nature's Domain, grain free, for Ella.

 

[Winter's Cinder]

Boxergirl.... we do have a costo about an hr from us... but we actually have a membership to sams club...
My best friend feeds her dogs 4health.... I just have to wait for tsc to open up here.... I may grab a bag when I get to the city on Thursday...

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[Winter's Cinder]

When I fed kibble I fed Acana. My Lillie's adult weight should be around 110 to 120 pounds, I think I fed her 3 cups per day. It was a more expensive food, but she ate so much less of it than she would have other brands of high quality kibble that it was cost effective.

I've heard that name too... im gonna look it up!!!


Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[Iulicris88]

Acana's prices have gone way up in the last couple of months. I used to pay about 65 $ for a bag of it, now, it's about 80 $. Taste of the Wild is a bit cheaper, but my cc is allergic to something in it. This past month I've discovered a grain free food made by Zoofast, called Purizon, that has 70% fish and 30% veggies and herbs and he does great on it. It's about 60$ per 13 kilos and he actually likes it a lot better than Acana. I don't know if it's available in the US though.

 

[Winter's Cinder]

Oh... I forgot to mention that I took cinder in to the vet last week... at 9 months 1 week she weighed in at 100 lbs even!!! We have officially hit triple digits!!!!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[DennasMom]

Triple Digits, whooHoo!!

Acana is a good food, I've heard lots of people here have good success with the 4Health. Another one I like is "Now Fresh", made in Canada. I just bought a bag of their large breed grain free kibble to use as treats and the occasional meal for Denna (who is otherwise raw fed). I like the BIG kibble size (good as low-cal treats).

 

[MM1234]

I feed my dogs Victor Premium Dog Food. My dogs have done well on it & I get it at a great price at my local feed store. Check them out & see if that may be an option for you. You can also search for distributors in your area.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk

 

[scorning]

Finn was having a bunch of stomach problems and I changed him to Canidae pure, it was the cheapest on the short list of foods my holistic vet recommended for him. He used to eat 8-10 cups of food a day, on this he eats about 5.5 cups a day and is doing well. I order it on chewy.com, with no tax or shipping and the discount for autoship, its very reasonable.

Canidae Grain Free Pure Dog Food | Review | Rating | Recalls
Canidae Grain-Free PURE Sky with Duck Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag - Chewy.com

 

[Winter's Cinder]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!!! I had a friend pick me up an 18 lb bag of the large breed grain free 4health and will get it this evening...
We shall see how cinder does on it... my friend asked me why I wanted the grain free... and I explained a little bit about the grains used in dog food... I told her that didn't think I had a real legit reason I wanted it specifically... LOL
I know a lot of friends and family think we are a little on the crazy side for some of the things we have fed cinder... and for those that have known me all my life know that I've never been so obsessed with food for a dog...
I guess I've never had a 'pure bred' dog before ... and I certainly have never had a mastiff.... it shouldn't be such a factor what breed she is... and I guess I should have been caring more about what my dogs ate before this....
As for the grain free specification... Cinder has been on raw for the majority of her life... and I know as I read through the threads on this page I see so many health issues... and I know some.is food related and not all can be helped...
Im just so afraid as we make this switch, that something is gonna surface... Cinder hasn't had any health or allergy issues... and im so very thankful for that!! Her ears don't get yucky... she doesn't have pimples... she doesn't have bouts of ichtyness...
Again, I know not all of that can be helped in other dogs, and I'm certainly not saying it's a specific owners fault... every dog and their genetics are different... im just saying I'm a little paranoid and overprotective of my baby and I thank you all for helping me with your suggestions... (even if I get annoying with all my posts!!!)
I will keep everyone posted as we make it through this time!!!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[Jakesmum]

Jake's dermatologist wanted Jake on a kangaroo based kibble so I have been feeding him Zignature kangaroo the last few months. Kangaroo is not easy to find and this is the only one other than a prescription food that I have found. It's made in the US and from everything I've read is a good brand. He is doing very well on it and for the first time in 5 years he's finally on something that he has solid poops on!

 

[dpenning]

Jake's dermatologist wanted Jake on a kangaroo based kibble so I have been feeding him Zignature kangaroo the last few months. Kangaroo is not easy to find and this is the only one other than a prescription food that I have found. It's made in the US and from everything I've read is a good brand. He is doing very well on it and for the first time in 5 years he's finally on something that he has solid poops on!

Kangaroo and made in the US? Who would have guessed. LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Winter's Cinder]

Kangaroo and made in the US? Who would have guessed. LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was thinking the same thing!!!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk