[Adding grain?]

1 hour ago, Bizeebee said:

I know Purina and Royal Canin have more in terms of protein varieties to choose from, especially if you need fish or something particularly novel for your tummy-troubled hound. Purina also has a whole line of (veterinary) GI foods that might work better depending on what kinds of GI issues you're dealing with, I think RC does too, but I'm less familiar with their offerings. The vet foods are not cheap, but I'm guessing neither is Orijen.

No matter what you switch to, it will likely take some adjusting as dogs who've been on grain-free for a long time lack the gut bacteria they need to help with digestion, and it takes a while to build that back up. You'll definitely want to load them up with probiotics (consult your vet for their recommendations) during the transition, because if you judge by the immediate changes you see, you'll feel like everything fails. It takes time.

Yes Orijen is EXPENSIVE so looking at the vet foods is about on par with what I'm paying now. Don't worry I know all about changing foods lol. I usually give it a bag maybe two before I call quits on a food. My vet recommended Nupro that has lots of digestive enzymes and probiotics that I currently use with the one so I'll likely start giving it to them all to help them adjust. My girl has a vet appointment next week so I'll get some advise from the vet. (She's a huge greyhound lover and has three of her own)

[royal canin]

31 minutes ago, beledi said:

Kibble does seem large but  have always put water on my Greyhounds food. My Saluki handles it dry with no problem. Of course there are add on toppings to moisten some....Maybe yoghurt, o;ewo beets, etc.

I've always done water too or  yogurt.

 

1 hour ago, Bizeebee said:

Obviously you should go with whichever DCM-fre brand works best for you, but for what it's worth, after reading everything I have about DCM I wish I could feed my dog all corn and chicken by-product [those two ingredients are the two richest sources of the building blocks needed to make the heart-saving amino acids]. I have found even Purina, with what seems like a million options, has shied away from corn in a lot of their formulas (by market demand), so you may well be able to find something from their line that meets your needs.

I agree thank you. Corn just never seemed to work for my greys or poultry. Fish has always worked best.  I hope we get more brands going grain-inclusive.

[royal canin]

 

On 7/8/2019 at 4:43 PM, beledi said:

Any thoughts about Royal Canin Adult. My vet feeds it to his dogs. I have been feeding Zignature. I am freaked about the DCM.

I'm very upset that Zignature was on the list. I did a lot of research before putting my one grey on it and I liked that had vets and dog nutritionist working with them plus it is made here in the U.S. They made a statement and sort of shrugged the whole thing off instead of saying "hey to address you're concerns we will start working on new formulas that have grains" they basically said going to keep on keeping on.

 

On 7/8/2019 at 7:41 PM, oldrunners said:

The World Small Animal Veterinary Assoc. recommends Merrick, Eukanuba, Royal Canin, Hill's, and Purina.  These are recommended because they have a vet nutritionist on staff, they test before, during and after manufacture, and they know from whom they source their ingredients, among other things.  My budget says Proplan is the one for us.  I'm feeding the senior one.

I guess I'm going to have to go with Eukanuba. Purina hasn't worked in the past I believe because of corn (talk about gas!) in a lot of the formulas though they have added some new products so I might give it a try. I'm not too impressed with Royal Canin personally since rice and chicken by-product is usually the first two ingredients. Hill's looks better but I've been warned off it by a vet, food store owners, and a few others because of a noted correlation of cancers (maybe true maybe not).

[Adding grain?]

13 minutes ago, cleptogrey said:

just bring the food back to where you purchased it. with what is going on they will most likely give you a credit. if it was ordered on chewy- most definitely. a mid range food- purina and the rest mentioned above are easily digestible, easy to get a hold of.   sorry about all the taxing health concerns that you are dealing with in your family life.

Thanks I will try. Zignature is the only brand I use that has realized a statement about DCM. The reason I'm seriously looking right now is because I just about ready to open new bags and I know with the greys I need to mix to get them switched. Purina unless they have seriously changed their formula since about 5 years ago when I was trying to mix things up it is off the plate for the greys at least. Talk about deadly gas. They offended themselves and poor Hawkeye smelly runny BMs luckily petsmart has a good return policy about food.

Also thanks for the concern about my family not easy and now I'm worried want to do with two picky greys and a dog that already has health problems from poor care.

[Adding grain?]

So as most people have heard about this DCM issue and grain-free diet I came here looking for suggestions on how to put grain-back in my dogs' diets. I have three dogs two greys and a mix beagle/ACD/misc. All of them are on grain-free but it was all sort of a thing I stumbled on. My first grey, Hawkeye, had horrible GI problems and skin issues. It took me nearly 2 years trying every brand/formula/flavor and supplements I could get until I finally got him on Orjien Six-fishes and a digestive supplement. He has been on it nearly 8 years now and his coat and skin are perfect and he has normal BMs. My second grey, Daisy, was never a good eater according to the rescue and they actually had to sit with her and hand feed kibble. When I got her I again tried lots of food until I found a Zignature formula she loved and she's been on that since then. My third dog, Zee, was suppose to be a temporary thing but has become permanent. He was on Blue buffalo chicken and rice for years but once he stole some Orjien out of Hawkeye's bowl he refused to eat the BB.

Long story short I now have three dogs on grain-free and now I'm very concerned about the research however inconclusive the FDA says it is about heart issues. Zee already has a heart problem due to his former owner's wife "accidentally" poisoning him with psychiatric drugs. Zee shouldn't be a problem to change I believe as long as it is high quality and fish based but Daisy is supper picky and I worry about Hawkeye's GI issues especially now that he is almost 11.

So suggestions? My head is spinning looking through dog brands. I'm thinking maybe doing a 40/60 mix of the current foods or maybe just making a rice/oat/barely porridge for them (though I have no idea how to even go about making or feeding portions for that). Many posts talk about home cooked or raw diets but financially that is not an option since I have my mother-in-law with Lupus living with me and my husband was diagnosed with it just a year after we were married so medical bills take up most our three incomes. Still I want to do the best I can for these dogs they were here before life got complex and promised to give them a happy healthy life.