Testing dog food on animals?

[Princess]

Hi,
I've been looking into the best dog foods to buy and whilst doing this i've found out that some dog food companies test on animals.
One of the main and worst companies being Iams. I didn't even know and certainly wont be feeding my dogs Iams! I just thought everyone else should know as well. Its so cruel
According to a website (if i get an ok from admin i'll post the link on here) over 100 vets, shelters etc have boycotted Iams.
x

[nick_j007]

Dog food is a bit of a night mare Princess you're right.

Well worth researching the subject and being sure you're not killing your dog in the process!

Nick

[Princess]

Yeah.
I would still like to post the link, admin, if thats okay?
x

[nick_j007]

Go ahead and post. Forums are here for that.

As long as it's not offensive etc.

Nick

[Princess]

Its IamsCruelty.com

x

[admin]

As long as you're posting links that are of value to people visiting the thread then go ahead and post links.

[Princess]

Originally Posted by admin

As long as you're posting links that are of value to people visiting the thread then go ahead and post links.

Okay, thank you, i wasn't to sure if its ok to post links, i know some forums which are funny about it.
x

[mac.]

I found out today that for a dog to get the correct nutrients it needs you have to feed it 3-4 tins a day cause alot of them are only 4% meat and rest of it is derogeratives what ever this is, my dog is going onto james wellbeloved but to be honest i may change him still as first class seems even better and it is slightly cheaper.

[nick_j007]

Originally Posted by mac.

I found out today that for a dog to get the correct nutrients it needs you have to feed it 3-4 tins a day cause a lot of them are only 4% meat and rest of it is derogeratives what ever this is, my dog is going onto james wellbeloved but to be honest i may change him still as first class seems even better and it is slightly cheaper.

It's derivatives Food that is derived from a source rather than simply being it. Reclaimed meat meal that may include beak, bone, tendon, claw, sinew so on and so forth...not nice.

Don't skimp on the cost of food unless you have a huge dog (or lots of em) and have no choice. Even then I'd say politely you'd be better off with a smaller dog that is affordable to feed

You get what you pay for with dog food just like anything in life (well most things anyway!)

Here's a snippet from my client notes on diet:

Nutrition

There are many brands of food on the market that are far from desirable for your dog. Many types at the grocery end of the market have an alarming amount of artificial ingredients to entice you the owner to buy it based on looks, texture and smell. These additives can play a big part in your dog’s behaviour, and so it is as well to address this important issue in the early stages of your work with your dog.
Become a label reader and look out for colourings, flavourings, sugars and artificial preservatives. Be wary of descriptions such as ‘derivatives’ of animals and vegetables for protein and energy sources. Avoid the 4 main dietary allergens wheat, beef, soy and dairy products.
Thankfully there are now a good number of brands that have your dog’s health in mind, and are free from such ingredients and use human grade ingredients as a base. They do tend to cost more than the supermarket equivalents, but you can be sure of a ‘clean’ diet for your dog free of unhealthy additives.

Recommended brands are:
Burns, James Wellbeloved, Arden Grange, Nutro, Nature Diet and Nature’s Menu. All of these are of a good standard, and should give your dog scope for taste and availability. Each brand has a web site and will allow you to find a local stockist. Most of them also have free nutritional help lines that I have found to be very good on a number of occasions.

For most people this type of commercial diet provides a quick and easy method to feed the dog knowing that it is well balanced. I do recommend however adding in fresh vegetables where possible to add extra vitamins and minerals along with added interest. Try adding water from boiling your vegetables too; my dogs find this a real treat! The occasional bit of fruit can also add interest and good nutrition. Grating these in raw is best followed by lightly cooking.
There are a number of alternative ways to feed your dog, as you would soon discover with a little research. Feel free to talk to me should you wish to discuss this further.

When making a change of diet it is advisable to do this over four or five days to prevent stomach upset or a down turn in appetite. Your dog’s stools should be firm, and he or she should not be giving off foul smells in the house. This can indicate that your chosen brand is not suiting the dog, and another brand may be better suited. Whilst one brand may be perfect for one dog, it may not be for the next, so remain flexible in your approach until you find a brand that works for your dog.

[nick_j007]

Originally Posted by mac.

I found out today that for a dog to get the correct nutrients it needs you have to feed it 3-4 tins a day cause alot of them are only 4% meat and rest of it is derogeratives what ever this is, my dog is going onto james wellbeloved but to be honest i may change him still as first class seems even better and it is slightly cheaper.

I would stick with J.W. I don't think the ingredients list is better than J.W.
Cheaper because it uses Maize which is I believe an allergen. Maize seems to be creeping into brands now...watch out for it.

Cheers.

Nick