Black Gold dog food

[rebeccaferrell]

I've fed Black Gold to my dogs for about ten years now. And I've had very good results BUT this is what has happened. Now it may not be related to the dog food but it surely a strong connection.
Last January Amos (3 yrs at the time) had two episodes of stumbling, staggering, falling down, and seizing on just one side. they didn't last long. We rushed him to the vet and had extensive lab work done and everything was fine. Vet could not find anything out of the ordinary with him. He had another in Feb; another in June. during this time I took them off comfortis, frontline, and ivermectin. We believe that Otis had one during June as well. I researched and researched and their symptoms were not like those described as "epilepsy" so I decided to switch dog food and turned to Purina Exclusives. VEry expensive dog food. So since this time we've not had any other episodes.
BUT a couple of weeks ago, Baze who is turning 5 had something exactly the same. And get this, I had lauren switch him to Black Gold last January!!! She thinks this is the second one he's had.
So I don't know if they have some heriditary disease, which I highly doubt even though they are full brothers from separate litters. There have been no other litter mates or lacys with this problem reported, to my knowledge. So at this point I am assuming that something is bad wrong with Black Gold (black bag).
I can explain more over the phone.

[bkeepr]

I have heard others complain that while Black Gold has always been good in the past, something is wrong with it now plus they keep raising the price. I am looking at 2 other foods sold at my feed store, Diamond's Chicken Soup for the Puppy and Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage. Thanks for the info!

[Stan]

I feed Natures Recipe puppy and I have had good results out of it. No by-products which was something I looked for. It also scored an A+ on the dogfood test that was on the TLGDA site. Bella's coat is as shiny as a new gun barrell and it is available at Petsmart. I only have to feed 2.5 cups a day for her. While researching a lot of the foods were getting bad reviews due to changes in their formula and causing dogs problems.

[rebeccaferrell]

Stan, how big a bag and how much $$.. Exclusives is a 35# for $38

[Clifford]

I paid nearly $13 for a 35 pound bag of Purina last night... I am starting to think it might be cheaper to just set out cat food, and let the dogs eat the cats when they show up!

[bluedog]

that would be considered raw feeding would'nt it

[rebeccaferrell]

Bad, BAd, BAd, don't you know that eating raw cats can cause you to get hairballs?..

I think Cynthia said she fed Purina One and has good results.

[Stan]

Nature's Recipe is about the same price if not a little less for the 38 pound bag as Exclusives.

[podunkheaven]

You are correct Rebecca, Purina One is what I feed my Adult dogs. I used Iams Smart puppy probotics large breed puppy for on this last litter with success also. The reason I feed LARGE BREED puppy food is that the protein levels are from 24 to 26% and the fat level should be around 13 to 16%. I also supplement with Omega 3's in capsule form. And of course Vitamin C so the puppy has ample supplies for their joints when they are in rapid growth phase. Paying extra for Omega 3's isn't worth the money. After processing the Omega 3's are dead, and Vitamin C would be also. No matter what the dog food bag says those 2 supplements are a waste to pay extra for after the extruding process.

[Clifford]

I like to throw in a possum every so often too. It seems to help with their toenails!

[podunkheaven]

There you go thinking again. I told you it was an Armadillo not a possum. The shell has to be eaten to get the benefit to the toetail root.

[rebeccaferrell]

I learned something tday.. the Purina name/company was sold to Nestle. Purina now sells under PMI. I bought a 26/15 mix and hope that it will work out okay. $30 for 50lbs instead of $38 for 35. We have 5 dogs. 3 big eaters (the Lacys of course) and labs.
Cynthia..what brand and how do you feed the supplements?
And is it possible that Otis is gaining weight already from being neutered..it's only been a month. I think he's finishing up Lila's food myself. Ben and I both noticed he's chunky today.

[podunkheaven]

Here is a link to buy the Vitamin C. And the Omega 3's can be bought at Walmart no certain brand is required to get the same results
www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=VS-1056&sourceType=cs&source=FG&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engines-_-googleproduct-_-C-1000%20Powder%201000%20MG%20-%208%20Ounces%20Powder%20-%20Vitamin%20C-_-VS-1056&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=VS-1056

[podunkheaven]

Our local Walgreens also has powdered Vitamin c. John Wyble and I were talking about liquid Vitamin C and how it stops snake venom in its tracks. Last year when Rocci got bit within 10 minutes you could see the results. He said he read an article that said hunters in the field are using it for snake bite and wouldn't be without in in their First Aid kit. He should post that article if he can find again.

[bkeepr]

Thanks for all the good info. It seems rather dumb for the dog food companies to put things in the food that won't survive the extruding process. I guess it is all about the marketing.

about the snakes, 2009 was a terrible year for rattlesnakes in Georgia- maybe all the rain had something to do with it. One man died after being bitten on the calf by a small snake. He died so fast they think it got in a vein.