High-Protein, Cheaper Foods?

[Guest cwholsin]

Hey folks,

 

Hermes is on Wellness Core right now and is doing well on that, but we may be looking to cut some bills and get more bang for our buck for his food. We're paying around $60 for about 25lbs. I saw a recommendation for Taste of the Wild and they have some high protein foods (30+%) that look good. The thing is, I seem to recall seeing some bad comments on Taste of the Wild. Is it any good? What are some other less expensive but really good quality foods? I've also heard some good things about Chicken Soup for the Soul's dog food.

 

Thanks guys!

[PrairieProf]

TOTW has been absolutely excellent for many, many people on this board and elsewhere.

[Guest bluefawn]

I was feeding Penny the Wellness Senior. Since I lost my job, I have also had to buy a less expensive food. On the WS, her coat had never looked better - very shiny, and soft as velvet. I don't notice any change in that yet, although I am on my second large bag of Nature's Recipe Senior. She doesn't really like it either. I just switched the little girls to Purina One (actually still in the process/mixing phase). I ordered some TOTW samples, and none of the girls like any of them (which surprised me!). I was not thinking (& was battling a 2-day migraine) when I bought the Purina One, and later checked the ingredients and it has..... ewww....... poultry by-products! But cannot take it back now, so will finish the bag. But when I go again to pick one, will just look for one with a higher protein and without the by-products. Meat meal (like chicken meal) is ok though.

[TheFullHouse]

We use TOTW for Gee, she needs a grain free food and does very well. For all the others it's a combination of Costco Lamb & Rice Supreme and Costco's Adult Chicken & Rice Supreme with vegetables. They all do very well on it.

[BootsyCollins]

Bootsy eats Taste of the Wile prairie. I think it's bison. He does very well on it. Shiny coat, good poops.

[Guest cwholsin]

Thanks! I definitely like that it's 5 lbs more for about $20 less and still has the high protein and good fats that he's doing really well on right now. We may switch him over to the TOTW Fowl variety. I appreciate the input! I couldn't remember specifics of what I heard that was bad about TOTW... maybe it was about the company and not the food.

[Hubcitypam]

Diamond did have a recall a couple of years ago, but not TOTW. Might that be it? I can't remember seeing anything bad about TOTW.

Chicken Soup is a good food, but at 24% is maybe a teeny bit shy of high protein in my book, but everyone has their guidelines.

 

What do you need high protein for? Agility/active/working dogs? Diabetic dogs?

[Guest cwholsin]

Diamond did have a recall a couple of years ago, but not TOTW. Might that be it? I can't remember seeing anything bad about TOTW.

Chicken Soup is a good food, but at 24% is maybe a teeny bit shy of high protein in my book, but everyone has their guidelines.

 

What do you need high protein for? Agility/active/working dogs? Diabetic dogs?

 

He's pretty active and has super poops on high protein

[Brindles]

Mine were on Chicken Soup for a while and I loved it. I only switched because the only supplier in my area can't keep it in stock.

[GeorgeofNE]

Diamond did have a recall a couple of years ago, but not TOTW. Might that be it? I can't remember seeing anything bad about TOTW.

Chicken Soup is a good food, but at 24% is maybe a teeny bit shy of high protein in my book, but everyone has their guidelines.

 

What do you need high protein for? Agility/active/working dogs? Diabetic dogs?

 

He's pretty active and has super poops on high protein

 

Many here disagree, but no pet needs that much protein, nor does protein level have anything to do with poop output. That's probably the grain free effect. The extra protein won't hurt him, but he likely would do just fine on anything in the 20% range.

[Guest greytloves]

Another one that is happy with TOTW!

 

I was wary of Diamond Products but found that the TOTW was in a different plant all together and never had a recall. Also they did not have the gluten as an ingredient that was part of the recall.

[2ndChance]

Thanks! I definitely like that it's 5 lbs more for about $20 less and still has the high protein and good fats that he's doing really well on right now.

 

 

I feed TOTW, but I had to stick with Pacific Stream. He gets runny on the other, richer varieties. I was hoping to vary it up. A few TOTW fans change the type of bag every time they get a new one and the pups do great. I wish I could do that, but nonetheless, Chance gobbles WHATEVER I put in front of him !

 

 

What I wanted to add was that if you're looking to same some major $$$, I'd listen to Jilly'sFullHouse: Check out Costco's food. I wish Chance did well on it b/c you're looking at getting around a 40lb bag for UNDER $30!!! It's rated over 100 on the 'food list' too.. So if you have one near by, I'd try it out. PLUS, if your pups don't do well on it, you can return it!

 

 

Good luck! I spent over a year finding the 'right' food for Chance.

[Guest Bean_Scotch]

I feed my 3 Greyhounds and 2 foster Greyhounds Authority from Petsmart. It's 29.99 for 34lbs of food.

[Laurenbiz]

What negative info have you heard about TOTW?

 

Bernie eats TOTW Sierra Mountain. His coat feels like cashmere, and he poops once in the morning and once at night. He has nice, firm poops.

 

The Sierra Mountain is all lamb protein because various chicken foods and treats seem to give him runny poops. I just bought a new bag of it last week. I paid $40 for, I believe, 30 lbs. It may have been a 35 lb. bag.

 

[Guest RedTigerJazz]

If you have a Tractor Supply Company near you try their own brand, 4 Health. My guys are all doing very well on it. I can't remember the protein content off the top of my head, though.

[tbhounds]

Diamond did have a recall a couple of years ago, but not TOTW. Might that be it? I can't remember seeing anything bad about TOTW.

Chicken Soup is a good food, but at 24% is maybe a teeny bit shy of high protein in my book, but everyone has their guidelines.

 

What do you need high protein for? Agility/active/working dogs? Diabetic dogs?

 

He's pretty active and has super poops on high protein

 

Many here disagree, but no pet needs that much protein, nor does protein level have anything to do with poop output. That's probably the grain free effect. The extra protein won't hurt him, but he likely would do just fine on anything in the 20% range.

I agree--why the high protein? Our couch potatoes don't require a high protein food to sleep on the couch most of the day--it's very taxing on the kidneys. I do understand the need for a grain free food (I have an allergy hound) but, I really don't think you need to feed that high a protein. JMHO

[AndysMom]

I second RedTigerJazz. Our pack's doing really well on the 4Health Large Breed from Tractor Supply. 40# for about $30.