Dog Food Debates and Dilemmas

Anyone who knows me (or reads this blog!), knows how much I love my animals.  All of the animals at Sadie Acres...all 13 of them, are fed, loved on, given fresh water, and had a treat before I even think about having breakfast or even brushing my hair for that matter!  I've always believed that if you can't take proper care of your animals and give them a happy and healthy home then you shouldn't have them!   

I was very young and had no money when I got Mauzzy.  

She was such a cute pup!

Despite my lack of resources I still feel I was a very responsible pet owner, she got tons of exercise, lots of playtime, I made sure she always had all of her vaccinations.  She moved with me multiple times in Colorado and Arizona, there were many times when most people would have given her up due to lifestyle changes, apartment deposits etc., but there was no way I would give up my dog, she was part of the family.  Regardless of what was going on in my life I made sure it was a suitable environment for her as well.

One way that I did save on money was dog food.  After all, when I was a kid we always had dogs and it was unheard of to spend a ton of money on dog food!  

That being said, I have always been adamant that my dogs do not get fed people food, if it's something like plain chicken or rice then I will make an exception but overall my dogs never stray from their dry dog food diet.  I do this for both health and behavioral reasons.  

Once I got Schumi I was more established financially and there was more and more info. and opinions about various dog food brands.  Pet recalls were also becoming more frequent.  Since Purebreds tend to have more health issues I decided to make the change and upgrade the dog food I was feeding Schumi and Mauzzy.  I did my homework and found the best possible food I could feed them.  

Ironically, EVERYTHING made Schumi sick.  It was awful, pet food after pet food he would get sick.  I talked to my vet and found that allergies in puppies are not uncommon and the best thing to do was just keep trying different foods. One day at my wits end I finally bought my standby inexpensive dog/puppy food, after all Mauzzy had been healthy for years. Sure enough, it was the first food that did not make him sick!  

 I have always received compliments on how healthy Schumi looks

As he got older Schumi was able to digest more and more foods and I made the decision to feed them mid-range dog food.  I have always watched to avoid the red flags as one of the main ingredient like meat meal and bone meal which rules out a lot of generic brands.  While many vets do push for the all-natural top of the line dog foods and to only feed the best of the best, I have also had vets tell me that many mid-range dog foods are absolutely sufficient for keeping your pet healthy.  I've also read cases where many "top brands" are tested and found to be virtually no different than more reasonable priced foods.  Reading the label and doing just a little research can go a very long way!

Another area I have always been adamant about when it comes to my animals is not over-feeding.  Many breeds have obesity issues which can lead to so many health issues.  Beagles are definitely one of those breeds, so I'm careful to keep Schumi at a healthy weight.  This isn't always easy now that he's surrounded by loving Grandparents, he's actually on a diet right now :)  I was the same way with Mauzzy, she got a bit overweight a couple of times and I could see such a difference with her energy level and behavior.  Getting her back to a healthy weight made all the difference!   

My dogs have always been incredibly healthy, in 17 years as an adult dog the ONLY thing Mauzzy was ever treated for was an ear infection.  This happened while she was being boarded when I was on vacation.  That combined with the obvious stress upon their return convinced me that I would never do traditional boarding for my dogs again.  On a side note, Mauzzy started cleaning Schumi's ears at least once a week from that day forward.  I think she was trying to prevent him from suffering what she did.  So amazing.

Schumi is going on his 9th birthday and I have never taken him to the vet for any health issues.  His little face is turning white, but watching him play with Denali you would never guess his age!

I know this is a VERY hot topic, and each dog is different depending on special needs, but it's something I felt I should write about with the last round of pet food recalls.  I think you can absolutely keep your pet healthy without breaking the bank from dog food.  I see a lot of very judgmental posts and articles that make you feel like Michael Vick if you don't feed your dog the absolute best and most expensive food out there!  I have a feeling I'm not the only one feeling judged out there so I wanted to share.  I think most of us want what is best for our pet and should stay up on the latest health news just like we do for ourselves, however, like humans I think there is a lot you can do to keep pets healthy in addition to a balanced diet.

I credit the following for my healthy pups:

- Proper vaccinations as needed

- Avoid high stress situations.   I know there are great boarding facilities, but once I started doing independent care, my dogs were so much happier and most importantly, this reduced a ton of stress

- Regular exercise

- Consistent diet, avoiding unhealthy people food that even we shouldn't be eating!

- Evaluating the needs of your individual dog (including nutrition), I am in the process of doing this with Denali

- Keeping your dog at a healthy weight

- I am always extremely picky about the dog parks I take my dogs to.  I always evaluate the cleanliness prior to taking them anywhere

- Dental health - this is another topic that is often argued, I have never had my dogs teeth cleaned but I do make sure I give them treats and bones that naturally clean teeth

- Tons of TLC

I am by no means an expert and know I have also been very lucky, there is so much we can't control with our furry friends.  I was so blessed to have Mauzzy for over 17 years and hope Schumi and Denali live long happy lives just as she did!

The last picture of Mauzzy, I'm so thankful she lived a healthy life up until the end.