BOL means what?

Purina has been a responsible leader in animal feeds for decades. Any kind of food can get contamination at various steps along the way. Ever bite into an apple and find a worm (or the old joke, half a worm?) Bugs in flour or other similar foodstuffs?

If you want to be really grossed out, read your local health department's inspection reports for restaurants. You may find that places you frequent have been cited for a wide variety of things, including rodent or insect infestations.

And in addition to what Elmer said, check out the late Marvin Zindler's "Rat and Roach Report". Anyone get water or soft drinks with ice from an ice machine? Or for that matter have an icemaker in their frig.

(BOL means "Bottom Of the Line", TOL is Top, MOL, is middle)

Purina like many food makers has varying levels of quality. Dog Chow is their garbage line. Very poor quality. ProPlan and PurinaONE are actually good quality food lines.

Since I don't play the facebook game I wasn't able to see the link but presumably someone found some worms in a bag of food? Do you know what goes into your sausage? :) Stuff happens. And it gets publicity. But if most people had their kitchens inspected and found out what's in their refrigerators and on their counters, many wouldn't eat there anymore. I don't get too worked up over it. I just figure I'm glad it didn't impact me this time and move on.

Which is why I said above **from what I understand** my Vet is the one that told me to steer clear of Purina.

Did your vet recommend instead the food s/he sells?

There's nothing wrong with Purina food, it's a responsible company. Animals will survive and thrive on any wholesome foods, so long as the food presented is tolerated (no digestive problems) and contains all the necessary nutrients required for good health.

I don't feed my dogs Pro plan but have in the past. I don't feed them Purina but have been feeding dogs and cats Purina ONE for decades. My ten-year-old dogs , both rescues, have never seen a vet except for their yearly well checks. Neither have ever been sick, had diarrhea in all the years I've had them. Cats get Purina ONE salmon and they too are all healthy and old.

Bingo, lindsey. Not me except for a limited number of exceptions.

I remember during that horrible pet food recall in 07, when many people lost pets to tainted foods, Purina was not affected if memory serves... IME, they have a history of being very responsible and clean with their foods. I can't imagine that they wouldn't respond and correct this in a big way. Yes, some brands are high quality than other, but that is a different argument.

My old dog ate Purina Pro Plan kibble for the last few years of her life, because they offered a sensitive stomach formula, which was about the only thing that didn't cause her problems. She was a big dog, and for dogs her size the age chart stopped at 12 years- she lived to be 14. I can't think Purina is too bad.

Cynic, the worms were alive.

My vet does recommend Purina - I've used Purina One for years for my dogs and my cat... then one dog got switched to grain free due to itchy skin and now it's just easier to have them all on grain free (but way more expensive!).

One time I was spiralizing a zucchini and I bit off the pointy end and right below where I bit was a worm. OMG. Gross. Didn't keep me from eating zucchini again but I double check for worm holes!

If you live in Santa Clara county and eat out, there's an app (SCCDineOut) that tells you the latest health inspection reports for most restaurants in the county. We use it.

OH NO, that's disgusting! I have gotten two different brands/and bags of dog foods, since we got our latest dog, that have had to go back because they made my dog sick with diarrhea. Any time your dog suddenly gets diarrhea, be sure and do not exclude that it could be a bag of food that's contaminated with something. Each time, I had just opened a new bag of food and she had eaten it for a couple days. Since my dog is on a very restricted diet, it's easy to figure out what's new and what the cause is. OH and I have also bought a bag of treats that were bad...the treat was one that I'd been buying for a couple years but then all of a sudden she became terribly ill and I remembered that the treats were a new bag.

Does it have to turn into dog food shaming when someone doesn’t buy the organic free range grain free (it’s grain free...doesn’t rice or barley count as grain?) raw or vegan (cats aren’t supposed to be vegetarian) and gets their dog food at the grocery store or Wal-Mart? Nobody wants their dog to die from tainted food or have health problems. But the options you can find on the Wal-Mart shelves aren’t entirely worthless, canned and dry, and some of the choices you are convinced by packaging and marketing are superior really aren’t. I would suggest careful reading of the treat package nutrition info, we and our pets get too much salt.

Have we taken the best care of our pets possible, kept them safe warm and fed, spent time with them and given our full attention when we are doing so? Are we trying to suggest that only those with ample money should get to enjoy the positives a pet brings to someone’s life? For better or worse we have domesticated and moved dogs and cats into our homes, how can we say it’s good for them to never have a home at all because not enough income qualified people are around to adopt?

Thanks sjerin. I didn't know about the app. I've been doing it the old fashioned way, going to the relevant county health websites for where I am that particular day, to check out the info when I have the time. The app seems to want to turn on the GPS function just to use it but that's okay, still very useful. I checked a couple of places I've been to lately, and repeatedly, and didn't like what I found. Just as I suggested above would happen to others.

I have never fed any of my pets premium foods and they have all been properly well-nourished and very healthy. Even my vet does not suggest changing diets or opting for the premium natural or organic brands unless there was some sort of reaction or food allergy developing with ther current diet. He is also not averse to supplementing with table scraps........depending on what those scraps are. Usually it is just some meat or fat trimmings, chicken skin, gravy or meat juices and leftover veggies.

I have been feeding my dog Purina One chicken and rice for more than 5 years, my dog loves it (picks out all the chicken chunks and eats them first) and he is in excellent health according to his last check up.

Those look like pantry moth grubs which can get into anything. The moths that lay the eggs can bore tiny holes in the packaging, lay their eggs and then of course when the eggs hatch, the grubs bore into the food to eat. This contamination can happen anywhere- at the factory, in the grocery store or at home. I would not be doing any hand wringing over this.

I put all of my store-bought pet food, dry goods, and herbs and spices Etc into the freezer until I use them. Sometimes I freeze things for quite a while but never for less than a week. My hope is that it kills off anything like bugs Etc that I might carry home from the grocery store.

My husky lab lived off Purina One until he was 17 with no problems. The dogs I have now are having a mix of wet and dry food. Usually Iams, sometimes NOW. They are in excellent health.

Call me what ever the heck you want, but I have never and would never feed my dog that Purina junk. Why? Because of the way it and all those other cheap foods are made, the ingredients that are used, where they’re sourced from, the serious recalls these foods have experienced and most importantly, the way dogs feel when that’s all they’re given.

Ever wonder why your dog is scratching endlessly, it’s fur isn’t soft or runny stools are the norm? Is your dog obese? How much and how often does it need to eat to be satisfied and not hungry? Do your dog’s eyes have a bright look to them or are they dull and tired looking? How about energy? Is your dog lethargic and seemingly not interested in playing? If you’re saying no to the questions regarding it’s overall energy, then I have to ask, how would you know if you’ve never seen it’s potential when fed nuturitionally? Sure you’ll be offended when I say this but I’ve done tons of research on this subject and anyone who says Purina is a good food, really doesn’t know what h*ll they’re talking about. It’s no different for dogs (or cats) than it is for people. When someone eats nothing but cr*ap, they look cr*ppy and feel cr*appy, but once that person starts to eat a balanced and healthy diet, there is a notable difference in how they look and feel in a relatively short period of time.

I admit, when it comes to my dog, I’m picky. I buy grain free food that has never experienced a recall. It’s made in the USA and all it’s ingredients are sourced here as well. Even so, it’s still not the most expensive food out there, not even close. You don’t have to go to the extremes I have to give your dog a healthy balanced diet either. There are several good and affordable foods out there, but why would anyone want to feed their dog a food that has ingredients sourced from China? And when you see how much less your dog will need to eat per meal, you’ll see it’s not as costly as it may appear to be. Actually, Taste of the Wild makes a 30lb bag that’s grain free, sourced in the US and made in the US and it’s only $8.21 more than ProPlan. (Chewy.com) Depending on the season, my 70 lb lab eats 1 cup to 1 1/3 cups of kibble twice a day. A 30 lb bag typically lasts about a month. Her weight is perfect, her coat is lush and soft. She’s super alert and has a healthy amount of energy. She’s 6 1/2 but still plays and acts like a puppy. If you think your dog is healthy on that Purina junk, than take a challenge and feed your dog a food like Taste of the Wild for 30 days and see what happens.

My dogs eat Purina One and have for the ten years I've had one and the 6 and 1/2 years I've had the other. Both are ten years old. The dachshund walks three miles every day of his life which means in the the 6 and 1/2 years I've had him he's walked over 6000 miles on those stubby legs. The other dog walks with my husband around two miles and runs and plays with frisbees like a puppy. Never has either one ever had diarrhea and only once did the dachshund throw up. Never have they seen a vet except for their annual well check. Their fur is glossy and their eyes are bright. My vet is fine with Purina One.

I also feed my three cats Purina One salmon and rice. They are all older cats, one 15, the other 11 and ? for the Maine Coon. My Russian Blue died in May at 17. My fifteen-year old's mother died two years ago at 20.

I've fed my dogs PurinOne Lamb &Rice since it first came out, at least 20 years ago. I have fed it to show dogs and a breeding bitch. My dogs have always had lovely coats, bright clear eyes, no skin allergies and have lived to be between 13-15 - a very long life for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Purina had only one recall when other brands were in trouble - it was the ONLY product they did not manufacture themselves. Unlike many, many brands, including some very pricey ones, the make their own food. They also have a very large research staff of veterinary nutritionists (all licensed vets), who work with them to develop healthy food.

I am so tired of people going on about only feeding human grade foods to their pets. The question is, "human grade in what part of the world"? Remember, many people eat organ meats, tripe, tongue, head cheese, even pigs feet, in many parts of the world. We may find them unappetizing but they are nutritious.

I fed my Labradors Taste of the Wild also and they lived long healthy lives. I was always suspicious of Purina products.

Hey....it's more protein. ;) I have literal tons of pet food donated to me over the year. I hardly ever buy dog or cat food. I pick out the best and feed my dogs and cats, and the rest goes to raccoons and pigs. I get everything from top of the line to lower quality. I get all kinds of canned food. Just recently got some from New Zealand that is brushtail meat....I have no idea what a brushtail is....and wild kangaroo. The brand is called Walk About. My dogs love it. I feed it with some kibble.
If worms in food bothers you.....and honestly, I admit, I wouldn't want to find them in any food I use....then don't read this book. It is shocking.

Food Pets Die For

I've said it before and I'll say it again; "dogs love cat poop" and "my dog loves poopcicles". Dogs are not people and do not require the same diet as people.

I have a huge long drawn out story about my dog and allergies...short version is: The more expensive and so called "healthy dog food" that I fed my dog, the worse her skin condition became! Started feeding her Purina Dog Chow on the advice of her rescue group and all her issues went away.

Feed yourself and your pets the healthiest food you can afford. Everyone wants a healthy pain free body to live in. That's what nature intended for us.

Marilyn, brushtails are >gulp< possums.

Yuck!! :))

marilyn_c-- more protein, that was my first thought!

I had a life science instructor back in the 1980s who, about once a year, would make and eat a meal worm sandwich in front of his students. You can imagine the reaction, but I think it taught us kids a lot about what won't kill you and might even have some nutritional benefits. DD claims that one of her elementary school teachers eats some kind of nutrient bar that contains bugs farmed for their high protein, but I cannot confirm or deny this. It's all too much for me though.

I can think of a lot better ways to get high protein. The worms looked like grubs to me. Reminded me of maggots. I have to deal with maggots more often than I like to think about, in caring for injured wildlife and it is one thing that turns my stomach. The smell of them makes me gag. I get donated pet food and one of the donors, Grocer's Supply...if they have one busted can or torn bag, donate the entire pallet of food. There isn't much that smells worse than rotten dog food. I picked up some food last evening at the local shelter and one bag had a can leak on it, and the smell was awful. At first I thought one of my dogs had rolled in a dead animal....which my dogs, being outside dogs, love to do, if they find something dead in the woods. Then I figured out the smell was coming from my own hands, and I saw the bag where the food had leaked on it. Oh, gross!

Yes, they ARE dogs! They adore cat poop, sometimes their OWN poop, dead worms on the sidewalk, grass, and any critter that ends up dead in the yard, the "riper" the better. They don't read Epicurious, or the food section of the NYTimes.

I don't feed my dogs what I call "cardboard-quality" dog foods. But I do trust Purina and have never had a problem. When a dog looks and acts as it should, what's not to like? And I AM talking about dogs that have been shown competitively. Yes, their structure is judged, but their coat and eyes get a lot of attention, and that structure would not be well filled-out with muscle if the food was garbage.

There is a quality difference between Purina products. I don't feed Purina, but Purina ONE and never Beneful.

So since you all are so sure that you know what you’re talking about why not try my challenge? A 30 lb bag of Taste of the Wild is literally in the same price range as the cheap stuff; plus they eat less of it so it lasts longer. See what happens for yourself, at least then you’ll be making an educated decision to feed junk to your dog.

What’s really humorous to me is how anyone can believe that a diet of corn can be healthy for any carnivore though it doesn’t surprise me at ALL with some of you. And just because a dog eats poop (which they don’t see as waste by the way)doesn’t mean it isn’t worthy of a healthy meal, quite the opposite actually. We have cats and our dog has never eaten their feces...hmm, I wonder if it’s because she has always had a balanced diet and isn’t searching for the protein and nutrients her body needs but ISN’T getting. And no one is saying they have to eat a diet of human grade food either, so don’t put words into my mouth Arkansas Girl. The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.

Lily, actually, there is a difference between Purina products and other products period. I know how much you care about your pets and you probably think you are making a wise choice, but all you have to do is read the lists of ingredients. It’s all corn, brewers rices, gluten and meat by products. Talk about gross.

Taste of the Wild or any of the other midgrade grain free foods are not human grade by any means, the pictures on the bag might suggest it, but they aren’t. They are just protein heavy which is what every dog, (again a carnivore) needs. And why is it you all get so bent out of shape when someone suggests HEALTHIER options at an equally affordable price? The things I’m trying to point out aren’t opinion, they are proven facts.

Here’s the ingredients as posted on Chewy.com for 2 Purina Pro kibbles, Adult Shredded Lamb “blend” (whatever the heck that is) and Focus Adult Large Breed Kibble, you can find the ingredients for your dogs specific food on Chewy.com. And if you’re so inclined to have a more educated understanding, this link will explain what each ingredient really is.

Ingredients explained in your dogs food.

The 3rd List of ingredients is for Taste of the Wild. Which do you think would be healthier for your dog?

Ingredients

Lamb, Brewer's Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Poultry By Product Meal (Natural Source of Glucosamine), Soybean Meal, Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols (Form of Vitamin E), Barley, Oatmeal, Fish Meal (Natural Source of Glucosamine), Dried Beet Pulp, Animal Digest, Dried Egg Product, Glycerin, Calcium Phosphate, Wheat Bran, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, L Lysine Monohydrochloride, Manganese Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Choline Chloride, L Ascorbyl 2 Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Sulfur, Niacin, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B 12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Garlic Oil, Fish Oil, Vitamin D 3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), and Sodium Selenite.

Ingredients

Chicken, Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Poultry By-Product Meal (Natural Source of Glucosamine), Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols (Form of Vitamin E), Barley, Corn Germ Meal, Fish Meal (Natural Source of Glucosamine), Animal Digest, Fish Oil, Wheat Bran, Dried Egg Product, Calcium Phosphate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Manganese Sulfate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Carbonate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Garlic Oil, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Biotin, Sodium Selenite.

Ingredients

Duck, Duck Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Ocean Fish Meal, Potato Protein, Roasted Quail, Roasted Duck, Smoked Turkey, Tomato Pomace, Salt, Choline Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Lactis, Lactobacillus Reuteri, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid.

"What’s really humorous to me is how anyone can believe that a diet of corn can be healthy for any carnivore "

What's really humorous to me is how and why anyone who is untrained in animal nutrition science would pretend to understand a whole body of knowledge that he or she has ZERO knowledge of.

These "holistic" products prey on the loving intent but otherwise uninformed minds of animal owners thinking they're doing something more for their pets than others.

And it is somewhat humorous to me why anyone would believe carnivores would be better nourished by a product that contains 'Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes, Potato Protein (??), Tomato Pomace, Dried Chicory Root, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberries, and Yucca Schidigera Extract'.

Why are these fruits/vegetables so much better than corn? Corn and various grains (wheat, rice, oats, soybeans) are all high protein starches.

fwiw, most dog foods you find on store shelves meet the AAFCO standards for "complete and balanced" nutrition. Most probably exceed the AAFCO model in one way or another that may or may not be significant. Beyond that, it is entirely a matter of personal choice, economy, the pet's preference and any veterinary recommendations.

I'm in a better financial state nowadays. Upon realizing I wanted a pet I wondered if I being poor had a right to have one but reasoned that even though it was an added expense i could afford it and vet bills if I didn't own a car or eat out ever. I had to buy the best cheap food and went with purina one. My dogs were never sick or lacked energy. They walked and ran until the end. I think that getting all the vitamins and minerals was what did the trick.

In addition to the Purina One Chicken and Rice , at their evening meal they get wet canned Purina One with Duck and venison mixed with their half cup of kibble. Then they get to lick plates which are all vegetables. They eat green beans, asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts.

Like Lily, my dog gets wet canned Purina one (twice a day, half the can each time) and dry food is available to her all day along with fresh water. This is a 14lb dog, 11 years old and will be 12 in May; does she eat all her dry kibble put out daily? No, and she isn’t overweight either according to the vet. Our vet back in SoCal told us that wet food for dogs and cats in the later senior years when their sense of smell isn’t as great as it once was (they age and experience declines just like people do) is a good way to ensure they are getting what they nutritionally need to make these years the best possible for them. He said find a canned variety with animal protein as the first couple ingredients and that the dog/cat likes, so that’s what we did. Her coat is shiny and soft (for a chihuahua mini pin mix, their short coats are always a little wiry feeling) eyes clear and poop firm but not rocklike (hey, I’m the one picking it up with a plastic bag for disposal, her poop’s consistency is something I am familiar with even though it’s a gross task). My last cat died in July 2014, and at age 16, the two that my brother left with our parents when he went into the Air Force were 20 and 17 when they died, both had been fed meow mix and friskies dry kibble their entire lives as indoor/outdoor cats.

If the vet’s opinion can’t be relied on (or they only push food they sell) then I guess another expert must be found and determined free of corporate/business influence biasing?

My vet gave me the best advice ever. He said: "Have you ever heard of or seen a dog attack a corn or wheat field for their dinner?"

Remember, many people eat organ meats, tripe, tongue, head cheese, even
pigs feet, in many parts of the world. We may find them unappetizing but
they are nutritious. Anglophilia, I eat all those things and thoroughly enjoy them. Lunch today was a toasted hard roll with head cheese. Yum..... I also have 2 beef tongues in the freezer gifted to me by a member of the cooking forum after she slaughtered her beef cows.

That's not thoughtful advice, pk, it's a soundbyte.

Domesticated dogs aren't carnivores, they're omnivores. They don't attack for food, it's a dumb and irrelevant illustration. Anything they can digest and obtain nutrients from can be considered as "food", and that includes grains and other plant matter.

Nothing makes a dog happier than to be given a small amount of peanut butter. Or an appropriately sized carrot piece to chew on.

Corn is a perfectly acceptable addition to a dog food or included as part of a dog's diet. From the American Kennel Club :

Is it Safe to Feed My Dog Corn?

It’s not unsafe or terrible if you feed your dog corn, a small amount won’t harm him; just make sure that you do so in moderation. Corn is one of the most popular cereal grains in the world and may contain a good amount of several vitamins and minerals, depending on the type of corn.

In fact, you’ll find corn in a variety of dog foods; manufacturers favor this grain because it is relatively inexpensive. Many veterinary nutritionists agree that corn for dogs is not a problem and in fact, can be part of a well-balanced diet. However, you should confirm that your dog is not allergic to corn prior to giving it to him.

Does Corn Have Any Nutritional Value for Dogs?

The answer is yes. It is not just a filler in dog foods, it also has nutritional benefits. It is a good source of protein, carbohydrates, linoleic acid, and antioxidants. Despite that fact that carbs get a bad rap, certain sources of carbs (like corn) also provide essential nutrients, such as protein, fat, fiber, and vitamins. Carbohydrates also can be a good source of fiber, which promotes gut health and motility.

Gardengal, there is a lot of information out there about it from reliable resources, but this article does a good job of explaining what I’ve read over and over again about dog foods and their nutritional quality. Keep in mind that the manufacturer has to list the ingredients by weight, heaviest item first and so on, so the first 4-6 items in the ingredients list are the foods primary ingredients. If corn is 2nd on the list, the food is very corn heavy. Even if its not second on the list, if it’s broken up into several types of corn, ie flour, meal and so on. While that puts the corn ingredients farther down on the list, the food can still be corn heavy. They do the same thing with beans. Some of the most expensive foods out there, Acana for example, are bean heavy in that they have lentils, garbanzo, peas and so on, but they are all listed farther down in the list and thus appear to be less.

The carbs in the Taste of the Wild, are less prone to allergies. I actually feed my dog Zignature because she’s allergic to yeast and it’s yeast free, it’s also free of potatoe and corn starches because they feed the yeast she may pick up from outside (This according to our Vet). (Go ahead Elmer your turn, trash on)

Corn in dog food

ETA: your article is similar to mine but it only tells half the story.

Also, Gardengal, note how your posted article says that yes it’s ok for dogs to eat it, farther down it explains further that corn should only be in small quantities. The amount of corn in the Purina foods is not small by any stretch of the word.

That's exactly what my Vet said....the higher on the list the more in the food. I was advised to stay away from food that the first three ingredients were corn and I can't remember the other two. I'll ask next trip to Vets.

Eta no the vet never tried to sell me food he carries. However I've only seen RX food in a glass case in his office.

This may be the pet equivalent of the RoundUp/glyphosate debate for gardeners - a lot of opinions both for and against :-) And plenty of evidence to support both arguments.

Based on what my vet has told me, what the AKC reports, the robust health and appearance of my dog and a number of similar reports from other pet owners, I see no need to make any changes in my pet's diet from the Purina One Chicken and Rice. He is not obese, has no allergies, no skin conditions and an excellent digestive system (and I can verify that by daily poop scooping). As the label indicates, chicken and rice are the primary ingredients....corn is down on the list. And as whole corn is heavier than rice, I doubt it is a hugely significant portion of the mix. It is also rated by AAFCO as "complete and balanced".

You of course are free to feed your pets whatever you like........I'll stick with what I'm doing.

Am I alone in finding irony in the comment above that says "there is a lot of information out there about it from reliable resources" and then later on in the same thread, there's a link purportedly justifying the poster's opinion that leads to a completely anonymous website. Who owns or sponsors the website, what are their qualifications, what is the source of its information, what individuals or companies are involved? Nada.

This is an example of how people are easily mislead to think unsubstantiated opinions of unqualified people, if found on the internet, are something more than what they clearly are. These are unsubstantiated and anonymous opinions, not facts. The sources, provenance, and individuals involved with real and authoritative information are always clearly presented on legitimate websites.

It's interesting to note that in many European countries, the ownership/sponsorship of websites is a required disclosure. Not in the US and perhaps easily avoided if hosted from a third world country with little or no regulation.

After dealing with a dog with severe allergies, what I learned from reading stuff on the internet and dog food advisor (don't even get me started on that site) is that every dog with allergies is different. For my dog, after much frustration of trying every food imaginable (just about), she is extremely allergic to rice. She has absolutely zero issue with corn. I could not find one grain free food that she could eat that didn't mess her stomach up.

You got it, arkansas girl. Dog food advisor is another of those bogus websites that masquerades as something they're not. That one is owned by a dentist and is full of unsubstantiated subjective opinions that many mistake as being something more than that. It's a for-profit business with links to a dog food website. If you use the links to buy products, dog food advisor receives a commission.

Like grardengal my two ten-year-old dogs just walked 4.2 miles on the AT, are totally muscular, both weigh 25 pounds, never have seen the vet except for well checks, have nice coats and good eyes, no allergies, no diarrhea and good poop all eating a divided cup a day of Purina ONE with Chicken and Rice. , as well as nightly canned Purina One duck and venison.

When I got my puppy, I wanted to feed him a good quality dog food. So I bought Blue Buffalo, which is supposed to be one of the better ones. But he got diarrhea and my vet told me it was too rich. So I switched to Iams. The quality probably isn't as good as Blue Buffalo, but my dog has been fine with it.

Dogs are notorious for having food allergies. Chicken, or fowl in general is a common food allergy.

Interesting discussion. I switched from Iams to Costco grain free food because my little mini-poo has asthma and was always itchy. $26.00 for 35#. It's got 24% crude protein, 327 cals/cup and lots of the same vitamins and minerals as bag #3 that Lukki posted. Since switching, I've been able to take him off of his steroids and he is much less itchy. So a very reasonable option for anyone who wants to feed grain free. I love Costco!