Pet food recall

[Twig]

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm216298.htm

[Dryadia2]

Thank you so much for posting this, Twig!
I hope stores take them off the shelves before any harm is done.

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[Twig]

I've never heard of this brand. Has anyone every used it?

[plaidcat]

Twig, I have never fed Natural Balance, but I have heard that it is a very good food, along the lines of Nutro, AvoDerm, etc. One or two organic formulas, but universally high-quality protein and grain ingredients, no fillers, no colors, etc. As far as I'm aware, in Texas, it is exclusive to PetCo. It is a Dick Van Patten line.
If you're looking for a good food, we feed Blue Buffalo, and between my pups and I, we have no real complaints. Its not cheap (~US$50 for 30lbs), but wow, if my dogs don't love it (even my finicky one), and it makes the... end result... more manageable by far compared to lower quality foods. Their former skin issues are also minimized by the single-protein source (we use their fish and sweet potato formula).

Pet food recalls are generally handled quite well by the retailers in my experience (having worked for one for 5 years). They should have the product off the shelves already, and they ought to, no questions asked, accept returns of the product and offer to assist in choosing another food for your pets.

[Twig]

Hi, plaidcat -- it's good to hear from you.

I've never heard of Blue Buffalo. I'll have to look into that one for sure. I can probably find it on-line, right?

I had been feeding my pooch half Nature's Variety (venison) & half Organix chicken kibbles. Plus, I topped it off with some baked chicken ("natural," not organic). He started having soft-to-gooey stools. My vet said that the first protein that pets become allergic to is chicken, which I found to be somewhat astounding. Nevertheless, I've since been feeding him all lamb stuff, and he's gifting me with a lot "sturdier" stools.

Have you ever heard of something like that? The allergy part, I mean...

[plaidcat]

It's good to be back, Twig. I wax and wane in my attendance somewhat fierce...

Yes, Blue Buffalo is available at the two major pet supplier chains in the area, PetCo and PetSmart (though PetSmart has a better variety, including the brand's biscuits, which my boys love), and is available through at least PetSmart's website.

Allergies are really a very common thing in pet dogs and cats, moreso than most people imagine. A lot of common symptoms that people chalk up to fleas or "sensitive skin" or a "sensitive tummy" tend to actually be allergies that can be mostly corrected by a diet change. (you may still have a Delicate Flower of a puppy who has a sensitive tummy though, but the food change will help)
Chicken and corn are the two things dogs tend to be the most sensitive to, followed by beef, wheat and soy. The best way to avoid the allergens is just like what you do in people; you either go all out, by beginning a completely allergen-free diet, typically hand-made (and a pain in the butt, may I add), or just pick a single-source protein/grain food and see how that goes. If it doesn't work, try another. Such as, starting with lamb and rice, then trying venison, then fish, or whatever. It's hard to get away from rice, if your dog is sensitive to all grains, but low-grain and grainless formulas do exist, typically advertised as "high protein" or "wilderness" type diets (such as Blue Buffalo Wilderness, or Innova EVO).
Also, though i think your two brands to measure up to this, make sure you are feeding a food with no by-products, and no corn. By products are all the extra ickies that don't count as "meat." And, despite what some companies say ("we use only chicken, never chicken meal!"), the -meal ending is actually the "chicken" that has been dried-- therefore, the water count is much less, and if the ingredient "chicken meal" is #1 on one food and "chicken" on another, the one with the "meal" has more chicken in it because the water has been removed! The semantics of dog food labeling are interesting, to say the least.

[Twig]

That's some really great information, plaidcat. Thanks so much for the tips. Were you a vet in your past life? You are very knowledgeable.

Being on a totally (well, OK -- almost totally) lamb & oatmeal diet -- including treats -- for almost a month now has not made any difference. I am now getting suspicious of the treats, which look like jerky, but contain nothing but dried meat. I am giving him turkey breast, alternating with the same brand's (Dogswell) lamb meat. I remember the vet saying, "If it looks like bacon, no matter what it is, it's going to make his stools soft." Have you found that to be true?

A lady who comes to walk Riley says that she also walks another Cavalier, and that his poop is the same as Riley's -- the first "deposit" is normal, the second is formed, but gooey, and the third is unformed and very soft. Maybe it's a breed issue?

I got Riley from a friend who raises Cavaliers for a rich (rich like three outrageously gaudy homes in the US and a personal jet) rancher lady. When Riley came along, he was not wanted because he wasn't sell-able. His markings aren't perfect. GASP! So, he was a gift -- in so many ways. However, I don't wish to discuss this issue with my friend -- it's a long story. That's why I am using the Druid board to discuss dog poop.