Alphawolf

Thanks for this chart, it'll give us an idea of what to buy when we get to Canada, only ones on this chart you can get in UK are either hard to get hold of or 0 scoops like the Beta Purina we feed ours, furtunately we're moving in 9 months

ExKiwilass

Purina and Iams suck (imo) Most of the big international brands make crap food.

Look for local or US brands like Orijen, Solid Gold, Go or Now (my dog is on Go), Canadian naturals etc. Much better quality, high protein content, and less use of crap fillers like corn, wheat etc.

Or go raw, like Bells suggested.

pinkmcfarquhar

The two brands that work best with our two over here are Taste of the Wild and Natural Choice - both of which are easily available. They particularly like the herring natural choice one which absolutely stinks!

They used to have Chappie back home as it was recommended by both a vet and a kennels as one of ours has a sensitive stomach and it took us ages to put weight on to him when we got him from the dogs home as everything went right through him.

lins and Stef McLachlan

Hi

A HUGE THANKS to everyone for your contributions, it has turned into a debate, which is great. Certainly given us all FOOD FOR THOUGHT .... Sorry I couldn't resist that one.

lol
Stef

mcdavis

We found that the composition of the dog food in Canada was different to the UK despite the brand, packaging, etc. being the same.
We're currently using Natures Best because it had the closest % protein to the food we used in the UK.

dbd33

My dog prefers cat food.

fledermaus

Which is better than preferring cats.

About 6 months after we arrived out cat started to lose weight so we took her to the vets. Various tests later the vet said that her blood work showed she had a serious illness probably lymphoma and that the cat was dying.

We were pretty shocked as a middle-aged-no-kids-with-cats-instead couple. We paid for some antivirals, some antibiotics, and some steroidy things and hoped they might work. We were not going to pay for further tests and chemo for the poor thing. We decided to take her off the Hills Prescription Diet and put her back on the Iams chicken food that she liked. 4 weeks later the blood work was repeated and she's on the mend. The vet was amazed.
She's fine now, has a slightly dodgy liver but as long as she keeps off the gin she's ok.

Now she has Iams chicken, some dental food and in the summer she has wet food so she doesn't get dehydrated.

It turns out that the Hills food was one of the ones contaminated with melamine or whatever. So, sometimes the fancier foods aren't best.

NatsnSid

If your dog is currently on a dry food and you are worried about how it will cope on a different brand - I would do the following.

Start introducing home made foods for a while - until their current pack runs out. (half and half say)

I fed my dogs small amount of Rice, some meat (beef or whatever your dog can eat), some vegetables (those they can eat - mine had green and yellow beans with no problems). Plus snacks during the day.

I did this because our new pup had an allergy and we had to try and figure out what was doing it...it was the dried/wet food Beneful and some sorts of treats (she had a huge load given to her at Christmas).

Anyway..So if you feed your dog your own food - you can feed your dog your own food (potato is potato right hahah) when you get here and introduce another brand of dried food slowly. Hopefully not upsetting their stomach too much in one go.

Yes it will be a pain but if you make enough of it at one time and then freeze it in portions - its not a massive problem. (Unless you have a great dane).

Make sure you look up what they can't eat (theres lists on google) and just ensure they are getting enough.

It shouldn't take long for a dog to transition from home food to a new brand.

Just my tuppence worth

lins and Stef McLachlan

Hi
Thank you for your advice
lol
Stef

LinsyPinsy

Apologies for resurrecting this thread, but I spoke with my pet food store and explained that our westie is on Burns which is not available in Canada. He mentioned that there was a new line coming to his store which was made in Canada called Orijen. Seems to have no rice, wheat and fillers etc, high protein and low carbs and seems the 'healthy' choice. Another pet store mentioned that if I switch my dog to this brand she will end up having a healthier diet than me.
http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/orijen/
Anyone tried it?
lns

blue monday

My vet recommends some Purina (and no he doesn't sell it), he says the worst food you can buy is supermarket own brands.

My retriever is fussy and seems to like Bakers Complete which you can't get in CA and dosn't like Beta. Im thinking of trying her on doggie chow, ut looking at the comparison chart I may try something else.

Novocastrian

I have it for breakfast most days. It goes well with a cup of Orange Pekoe and an acetaminophen.

fledermaus

That would account for the wet nose and slobbering.

Novocastrian

For the wet nose, I miss proper British hankies. The slobbering would have happened in any country.

fledermaus

With a monogram in the corner and a faint blue line around the border? I bet you know how to make a little hat from them too.