We want to make sure our French Bulldog Tink had the best food possible. I’ve been doing some research on the popular dog food brand Science Diet because that’s what our breeders were feeding Tink as well as the brand our Vet recommended. Since we posted a blog regarding Science Diet we have gotten many negative feedback, so we decided to dig a little further. Besides finding out that Science Diet has by-products in it, I have also read that the only reason why vets recommend Iams and Science Diet is because the two companies help put them through veterinarian school and are the ones who publish the textbooks they use while in school. The company that provides the vets with these textbooks, research labs and information is The Hill’s Company, which coincidently happens to be the makers of Science Diet.
I also read it is not recommended to trust vets when it comes to nutrition because vets spend very little time on nutrition while in school (some vets don’t spend any time on it whatsoever) and just aren’t qualified to render a good judgment as to what’s good and what’s bad. This is why people need to go to sites like Mordanna’s Dog Food Project (http://www.dogfoodproject.com/) and research for yourself as to what’s good and what’s bad. Or check out Ashley’s Pets Dog Food Info (http://ashleyspets.com/DogFood.html) for juicy veterinarian diet info.
I spent hours surfing through the Dog Food Project and found some very interesting reads about different dog food brands and the veterinarian politics around them. I also discovered an ex-veterinarian journalist named Charles Danten. He pretty much exposes all of the unethical veterinarian nutrition practices and how vets make money off brands like Iams and Science Diet.
Here’s the twist. Tink’s Parents are some of the healthiest adult frenchies we’ve ever seen. They have a good bill of health and have never had any problems. And when we got Tink, she appeared and acted as healthy as a French bulldog pup can be. And they eat Science Diet. hmmm… maybe all this controversy is a myth. It seems the more and more we research anything in the puppy world the more we realize that everyone has a different opinion, the question is who do we believe? Perhaps different brands work better for different dogs, I guess in the end as long as your dog is healthy and happy thats all that matters.
7 Comments
The main thing is to stay away from grains in her food. Frenchie’s often have skin issues that are caused by grain allergies. I have been using a brand called Natural Balance in the sweet potato & fish formula, for some time now.
Also have you thought about feeding a raw diet? Many people believe it is the best diet for any dog, and I personaly know of several FB owners that feed this way. In fact I am just starting Kobey-Rose on raw food and so far she loves it! Also I’ve noticed there is less poop when she goes with less odor. The theory is that dogs are really carnivores that only eat meat. Read up on it on-line and see what you think…Much love to Tink!
Hello To Tink & To Ma & Pa Tink :o)-
I agree with the previous post 125%. I have found Frenchies do not do well when grains are involved and so I feed Orijen Fish to our five resident frog dogs.
Just a note on the Frenchies and raw. I had been a raw feeder until about 3 yrs ago. A life situation altered the way i fed my dogs (sick husband).
Everyone is doing very well on Orijen and a home cooked rabbit, duck, lamb meat meal.
Anyway, what I wanted to comment on is I am a foster home for rescued French Bulldogs.
I have noted that many of our foster frogs & one of my own suffer from IDB/IBS. Dogs with irritable bowel issues generally don’t do well on a raw diet, hence, another reason to feed the grain free Orijen fish dry food.
I want to say, I have been reading Tink’s blog since your first post. Glad to see you rose above some not-so-nice or helpful posters remarks. Good on ya!
Looking fwd. to Tink’s next installment.
Didee Wise
The French Bulldog Village
Rehabilitating/Rehoming French Bulldogs & Frenchie Mixes
Foster Intake Coordinator
Florida State Contact/Foster Ma
http://www.frenchbulldogvillage.org
Oh I forgot to mention, do not give Tink “Greenies”, some dogs have even died from impacted bowels after eating Greenies, or have a serious operation to remove the Greenie. My girl Kobey-Rose loved Greenies until she became constitpated and I noticed chunks of undigested Greenies in her stool (I didn’t know what it was until one came out still in the shape of a greenie). Frenchies have pretty big mouths and sometimes will gulp things down…such as Greenies. Not good.
Thanks David and Kobey-Rose for all your help we really appreciate it. Just a question what are greenies? Trust me we know all about a frenchies gulping down stuff, Tink gulps any treat down her mouth as fast as possible, its as if she thinks were going to take it from her if she doesn’t eat it fast enough. We had to stop giving her Chicken jerky because she refuses to chew it before she swallows :)
We are also going to research a raw diet and maybe try that for Tink.
Didee thanks for the advice just wanted to let you know we picked up a bag of Orijen the other day and Tink actually likes it. We started mixing the kibbles in with her wet food and for once she eats the kibbles instead of just licking off the wet food and spitting the kibbles out.
Thanks also for the positive reinforcements we really appreciate it :)
Greenies are a chew treat that have been very popular. Don’t know if they still are after all the bad reports.
Feeding raw really takes some nerve as a human…it’s raw meat after all. I feed ground chicken and bought some chicken necks too…but they really gross me out. Raw food people say stuff like that is good for them, so I’m working my way towards chicken feet.
I must say Kobey-Rose stays right over her bowl and eats it all up…it would take forever for her to eat the dry kibble, really all day.
First of all I am really happy to have found your helpful blog as I am about 5 weeks away from picking up my new Frenchie girl (so excited!!) and I’ve been doing so much research on food as I’ve heard they are prone to gastrointestinal and skin allergies as well as I know some of friends with bulldogs have to wipe their dogs bottoms after they go (eek!) due to stool issues. The breeder I’m getting my pup from has many champion english and french bulldogs and very healthy puppies for 10 years and she simply feeds all of her dogs Purino Pro Plan and said she has had hardly any skin or digestive problems in any of her pets! Just as your breeder was feeding healthy pets Science Diet without a problem. I’m really confused about what I should start an 8 week old puppy on! As a person who avoids additives, preservatives, and tries to eat organic myself, I can only imagine I would gravitate towards that for my pet, but I’m just not sure what to do.