Best dry kibble???

[Ak3179]

I was wondering what everyone's opinions were on what they thought was the best dry kibble out on the market? I was thinking of usingSolid Gold Wolf Cub large breed and then switch to Solid Gold Wolf King large breed after she is a year old. Just wondering what everyone uses for dry kibble.

 

[Smart_Family]

Many mastiffs have issues with grains and/or chicken in kibble. There's also calcium levels and ratio of calcium to phosphorus to consider as well. There are many threads about the different kinds of kibbles appropriate for mastiffs under 2.

 

[Yamizuma]

We've been told to skip puppy food and start ours on adult food because she's a giant breed. Thoughts on that Smart_Family?

 

[Smart_Family]

Yep no puppy food, either an adult food with the right levels or an all life stages food with the right levels

 

[mimismom730]

I am in the process of switching my pup to Taste of the Wild and at my pups vet visit today she said it was a really good food. As I was in the waiting room a elderly couple came in and were asking questions because their dog was eating bark of all things and the first thing the vet tech asked was what kind of food was the dog eating andthen she explained that the cheap food could be a big part of the problem

 

[voidecho]

Well since your thread is specifically asking for the "best", I've never heard anyone say anything is better than Orijen. The only two issues I know of with Orijen are that it's really expensive, and it may be too rich for some dogs and their stools never really firm up.

There may be a "better" kibble out there, but I haven't heard of it yet.

 

[voidecho]

Here's a list of four and five star grain free kibbles per dogfoodadvisor.

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-...free-dog-foods/best-grain-free-dog-foods-dry/

 

[Gregory5]

We started with Earthborn after reading all the threads on here and so far our pup is doing great!

 

[Ak3179]

I did more research and kind of narrowed it down to Innova,merrick wilderness blend,canidae or solid gold wolfking. Anyone have any pros and cons on these foods?

 

[voidecho]

You can check out each of those brands at the site I linked above. They'll rank them and discuss the ingredients, both good and bad. From everything I've heard, one of the most important things is to make sure you pick a food for your puppy that isn't too high in calcium. Generally 1.6% is the highest you'd want to go.

 

[voidecho]

Out of the ones you listed, there are several Innovas and Canidaes on the "best dog food" lists, both with and without grains. I would go with one of those two over Merrick Wilderness Blend or Solid Gold Wolfking, assuming the calcium levels are in line.

 

[Ak3179]

Out of the ones you listed, there are several Innovas and Canidaes on the "best dog food" lists, both with and without grains. I would go with one of those two over Merrick Wilderness Blend or Solid Gold Wolfking, assuming the calcium levels are in line.

Thaks a lot for the info and help! I did do more some more checking and i have it down to Innova Large Breed, Canidae all life stages, Canidae Beef and Fish or Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream.

 

[Smart_Family]

The only all life stages formula of TOTW that is appropriate for mastiffs under 2 is Sierra Mountain.

 

[first english]

I have done a lot of reading about best food for a mastiff pup I asked my vet about feeding a pup adult food he didn't recommend a product that he was selling he just said that large breed pup food has come a long way and he recommended feeding him a quality large breed pup food till the age of 4 months and then switching to a adult food. He says there is important additives in the large breed pup food that will help in bone development. Costco Kirkland large breed pup kibble has been recommended by a few people, pup seems to like it and the burgundy bag Kirkland adult kibble has been recommended for him when he is after 4 months of age.

 

[Ak3179]

The only all life stages formula of TOTW that is appropriate for mastiffs under 2 is Sierra Mountain.

Thanks!! Good to know.

 

[Ak3179]

I have done a lot of reading about best food for a mastiff pup I asked my vet about feeding a pup adult food he didn't recommend a product that he was selling he just said that large breed pup food has come a long way and he recommended feeding him a quality large breed pup food till the age of 4 months and then switching to a adult food. He says there is important additives in the large breed pup food that will help in bone development. Costco Kirkland large breed pup kibble has been recommended by a few people, pup seems to like it and the burgundy bag Kirkland adult kibble has been recommended for him when he is after 4 months of age.

I have heard some good things about Kirkland!

 

[voidecho]

I'd be interested to know what these "special additives" are in the Puppy foods. When I've compared ingredients and analysis of puppy foods vs adult foods, I haven't noticed anything different. Nothing special added.

Also, as many people around here will tell you, Mastiffs are not "Large Breeds", they're considered "Giant Breeds" with different nutritional needs.

 

[first english]

I agree with what you are saying about comparing the food bags but I figure if I am only feeding him a large breed pup food till the age of 4 months it is not going to hurt them and if there is something beneficial to be gained by the pup food great. I know the vet is not always going to give the best advice but I do feel that our vet who does have experience with large breeds is not just talking to hear himself speak.

 

[voidecho]

I don't think there's anything wrong with feeding a puppy food as long as the calcium and phosphorus levels are OK. For example, Orijen's a very good food, but their Large Breed Puppy food potentially has too much calcium, whereas some of their Adult formulas do not.

 

[first english]

I have read calcium should be under 1.8% and protein should be under 28% do those numbers make sense and is that just for pups or adults too?