So, I have recently become obsessed with making sure I am feeding the "right" food to Jenny and Tipper--in the sense that I have read way too much stuff, looked at too many ratings, and am now thoroughly confused!
I looked at the dog food analysis website ratings and discovered that Innova Large Breed formula is only a 4 star rating (out of 6), mainly, it seemed for not having a high enough meat content. A lot of the grain-free foods made a 6 star rating, but then add a caution about high protein/calcium content for big paw puppies, but which made me nervous about it for big paw adults, too.
Tipper has done amazingly well for the last 6 years on Innova Adult (5 stars) but when I read about rotating foods periodically to give another protein source I tried both Innova EVO red bites (6 stars)and Merrick Wilderness Blend (5 stars), and he loved them both. Jenny has tried the Wilderness Blend and loved it as well. I also give both of them some Merrick canned foods as a topper to their dry about 2 times a week. Jenny also gets salmon oil daily.
Luckily, neither of them seem to suffer from any particular allergies/sensitivities and seem to adjust well when I try new foods with them. I know that I am worrying about this way too much--how much difference could there really be between a 5 and 6 star food, right? But then again, I put a lot of thought into my own and my family's food and try to eat organic, etc., why shouldn't I try to give my dogs the very best, too? (I'm trying really hard to convince myself that I am not obsessed and crazy!
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I think also I worry because Jenny did not have a good nutritional start for her first two years, so I want to make sure that I am giving her what she needs and since she is my first big paw, I want to be especially aware.
It seems like the best thing is to go grain-free, but for some reason it makes me nervous. My vet has stressed to me that I need to keep Jenny at a healthy weight so as not to stress her joints, etc., and of course, for all the regular health reasons that dogs should not be overweight. What would I need to be aware of when giving a large breed a grain-free, high protein food? Supplements? Are there any "cons" to going grain-free with a big paw? I was considering EVO red bites, Wellness CORE, Solid Gold Barking at the Moon, and Nature's Variety Instinct. Wellness Core has the lowest fat content. I know that my local PSP carries most of those, but they don't carry Orijen.
I know this was long and rambling...tha
nks for reading!