Oh mom....

In August, I moved 8 hours away from home to go to college. Leaving my mom with 3 large dogs, a rabbit (who has since passed, from old age), and my MalI Uromastyx (who just about all of you know LOL).

She was having trouble paying the bills, and feeding the dogs, (Rex's diet is easy for her, she eats just like him lol), so she had to get a 2nd job, and finally she changed the dogs food to Publix brand dog food. Seriously? As if Purina Dog Chow wasn't bad enough!

*For those who don't know, Publix is a southern grocery store. They have good store brand people food, but I wouldn't feed my dogs their store brand dog food. Just sayin'...*

She even got them Publix canned food (which, what ever, canned food is fed in a small amount over dry food for something different to eat), and Publix dog treats. (I'm so glad I brought them home 3 bags of Pedigree treats and 10 cans of Pedigree canned food....).

How can I tell her that just because their human food is good to eat, doesn't mean their dog food is good for the dogs to eat?

 

at least she is taking care of all your pets.


even if it is a lower quality food at least they get something to eat.

 

Very true, but, IMO, she has the money to keep them on the Dog Chow. She goes out to eat several times a week, is taking a weekend get away to a theme park this weekend, and so on. She's not using priority.

 

Yes, times are tough for EVERYONE.

 

Jaysee, I ninja'd you lol

I pretty much think its just saving her a trip to WalMart. Theres only like a $2 price difference, for the same sized bags.

 

If you think it is an issue of convenience, more than anything else, that is what you'll have to figure out how to solve. How can you minimize the inconvenience of going to the additional store for her? If she claims it is just cost, can you contribute towards the cost of the food? Could you help her stock up while you are on break so she doesn't have to go back to the store until you're next trip home?

If you really wanted to educate her about food, dogfoodanalysis.com has some good information to start with (link goes to the brand index), but it might make you feel even worse about what you're able to afford. I don't see the Publix food there, but you may find it on similar sites, or if you can figure out the manufacturer. At our house, we made some concessions on dog food and try to make up the difference by giving our dogs eggs, vegetable scraps from the garden and other high quality treats periodically. That site helped us find a food that didn't break the bank that was only slightly lower quality than the one we had been feeding that had doubled in price.

 

To be honest both grocery store brand and dog chow are complete junk. They are on the same level. So let her save $2. Rather than trying to make her buy dog chow why not inform her that the more quality foods at pet stores are actually cheaper. If she was feeding even a remotely good food you realize the dogs eat less correct?

For example.

My two dogs (1 Cocker spaniel and 1 Carine Terrier) are both smaller dogs.

I use to feed them Iams. They would go through a 44lb bag in about a month. I switched them to Blue buffalo and they go through a 15lb bag in about a month and a half. The reasoning is better ingredients and more nutirtious ingredients means your dog will need to eat less to get what their bodies need. Dog chow is almost straight grain with maybe a tiny bit of meat in it, usually lower foods generally have maybe bones or something in it as their "meat"



Although personally if they are YOUR dogs then I think you should be paying for their food. Not your mom.

 

If you think it is an issue of convenience, more than anything else, that is what you'll have to figure out how to solve. How can you minimize the inconvenience of going to the additional store for her? If she claims it is just cost, can you contribute towards the cost of the food? Could you help her stock up while you are on break so she doesn't have to go back to the store until you're next trip home?

If you really wanted to educate her about food, dogfoodanalysis.com has some good information to start with (link goes to the brand index), but it might make you feel even worse about what you're able to afford. I don't see the Publix food there, but you may find it on similar sites, or if you can figure out the manufacturer. At our house, we made some concessions on dog food and try to make up the difference by giving our dogs eggs, vegetable scraps from the garden and other high quality treats periodically. That site helped us find a food that didn't break the bank that was only slightly lower quality than the one we had been feeding that had doubled in price.

She hates WalMart (we both do LOL), but its right across the street from Publix. I would totally help out with the cost, but I doubt she'll go for it. I'll try though.

Oh, cool. I'll check it out! They do get table scraps, and left overs and all kinds of stuff when the fridge gets cleaned out. And just about every day, they get a spoon full of canned food mixed in their dry food. And what ever treats mom gives them. I bought them the Breath Buster Pedigree treats, and some PupperonI jerky treats, as well as various flavors or Pedigree canned food, including joint and heart health ones (I gots old puppies).

To be honest both grocery store brand and dog chow are complete junk. They are on the same level. So let her save $2. Rather than trying to make her buy dog chow why not inform her that the more quality foods at pet stores are actually cheaper. If she was feeding even a remotely good food you realize the dogs eat less correct?

For example.

My two dogs (1 Cocker spaniel and 1 Carine Terrier) are both smaller dogs.

I use to feed them Iams. They would go through a 44lb bag in about a month. I switched them to Blue buffalo and they go through a 15lb bag in about a month and a half. The reasoning is better ingredients and more nutirtious ingredients means your dog will need to eat less to get what their bodies need. Dog chow is almost straight grain with maybe a tiny bit of meat in it, usually lower foods generally have maybe bones or something in it as their "meat"



Although personally if they are YOUR dogs then I think you should be paying for their food. Not your mom.

Don't get me wrong, I *hate*, with a burning passion, Purina Dog Chow. I know that feeding a better food means feeding less food, and I have eased her into it with the fish (she's caring for my fish for two weeks, which will be up in a few days. I have the fish in NLS).

We used to Iams, way back when, before the recall. Then we switched to something else (maybe Science Diet?), and then to Dog Chow. I read an article once, a few years ago, and the meat they put in low quality dogs foods is basically like up stopping on the side of the road to pick up week old road kill, and eating it. Yummy.

I've address that issue, just before you posted

 

Although personally if they are YOUR dogs then I think you should be paying for their food. Not your mom.

I was hoping someone would say it

 

I was hoping someone would say it

Hey, now. If she'll let me, I will. I don't care. I hope that after this semester, I can get an apartment. Then two of them will be in my care.

 

...If she was feeding even a remotely good food you realize the dogs eat less correct?

For example.

My two dogs (1 Cocker spaniel and 1 Carine Terrier) are both smaller dogs.

I use to feed them Iams. They would go through a 44lb bag in about a month. I switched them to Blue buffalo and they go through a 15lb bag in about a month and a half. ...

This is really specific and interesting information. From the dogfoodanalysis site, it looks like this would be a jump from a 1 star to a 4 star quality on their scale.

FWIW, we went from a 4 star (California Natural) to a 3 star (Kirkland/Costco), and I didn't see a big change in our usage. A 40 lb bag lasts us 2 weeks for 3 large dogs (2x65-70 lb high metabolism, and 1x80 lb low metabolism).

 

I have heard they use cats and dogs put down at shelters to make the food. all they have to write on the bag is animal by-products. they use dead cows also.

 

I have heard they use cats and dogs put down at shelters to make the food. all they have to write on the bag is animal by-products. they use dead cows also.

._.'

 

I have heard they use cats and dogs put down at shelters to make the food. all they have to write on the bag is animal by-products. they use dead cows also.

wow, that's really...... terrible. i'm no longer in the mood to put up christmas lights. thanks.

 

I don't think dog chow is one of the ones that uses road kill but I could be wrong. I'm pretty sure when I looked into that one it was just bones as the meat which was quite bad for dogs. Tell your mom to read the ingredients and if its not something she would want to eat why make the dogs eat it. Iams IMO is a step up from dog chow. I really don't like science diet either.

 

I don't think dog chow is one of the ones that uses road kill but I could be wrong. I'm pretty sure when I looked into that one it was just bones as the meat which was quite bad for dogs. Tell your mom to read the ingredients and if its not something she would want to eat why make the dogs eat it. Iams IMO is a step up from dog chow. I really don't like science diet either.

No, Dog Chow has Chicken By-Product in it.

While that sounds good in theory, we're talking about a person who thinks "Its just a fish" and "They're dogs." Little more complicated then that. I'll try to find that article though, and make her read it. Perhaps it'll help. I'll post it here, too, if I find it. Its pretty interesting. Even my 13 year old self was like OMG THATS GROSS!

Iams is expensive here, for what you get. Science Diet isn't much better than Dog Chow it seems.

 

wow, that's really...... terrible. i'm no longer in the mood to put up christmas lights. thanks.

sorry. it is only what I have heard from the Librarian. she used to take her dog to the library on Saturday and was talking about that. I don't know if it is true.

 

... I eat dead cows... it's called beef.

want to hear a REALLY bad dog diet? My friend's old room mates had a dog who was super malnurished. I always wondered why until I realized that their "No meat in the house, EVER" rule was also extended to the dog. They had her on a vegan diet, because the owner felt it was wrong for animals to eat animals and animal products. I'm guessing she has no idea what "obligate carnivore" means.

idk if it's wrong or not, I still sneak over there to feed her dog chicken and turkey and ham, and sometimes cheese. poor pup.

And my dog eats some kind of fancy dog food made from salmon, because he gets a rash from regular dog food (idk why, the vet said it was his food, and recommended we switch, so we did), and also whatever I'm eating (within reason). I have no idea what's in it, but he doesn't seem to mind it. He likes potatoes, even though they make him puke, and bread, and ice cubes, and carrots. He doesn't like starfruit, but he does like strawberries. He likes cheese, but not blue cheese, and he likes mayo (on sandwiches and stuff). He likes scrambled eggs on his "dog food", and some bacon grease. He always gets the first piece or two of bacon, because I always burn it. Maybe that's a little fatty for a dog, but he runs a few miles every day, plus play time, and he's not chunky or anything. Some days, he's really hungry and he eats like 4 bowls of food, other days, he won't really hardly eat at all. He lives with my parents, so when I'm going hungry, he doesn't have to. ::shrug:: He seems ok so far. At least he's got a home (he was abandoned, twice, as a puppy). Even if he does lick my cupcakes.

 

... I eat dead cows... it's called beef.

want to hear a REALLY bad dog diet? My friend's old room mates had a dog who was super malnurished. I always wondered why until I realized that their "No meat in the house, EVER" rule was also extended to the dog. They had her on a vegan diet, because the owner felt it was wrong for animals to eat animals and animal products. I'm guessing she has no idea what "obligate carnivore" means.

idk if it's wrong or not, for a while after my friend moved out, i'd still sneak over there to feed the dog chicken and turkey and ham, and sometimes cheese. poor pup.

And my dog eats some kind of fancy dog food made from salmon, because he gets a rash from regular dog food (idk why, the vet said it was his food, and recommended we switch, so we did), and also whatever I'm eating (within reason). I have no idea what else is in the dog food, but he doesn't seem to mind it. He likes potatoes, even though they make him puke, and bread, and ice cubes, and carrots. He doesn't like starfruit, but he does like strawberries. He likes cheese, but not blue cheese, and he likes mayo (on sandwiches and stuff). He likes scrambled eggs on his "dog food", and some bacon grease. He always gets the first piece or two of bacon, because I always burn it. Maybe that's a little fatty for a dog, but he runs a few miles every day, plus play time, and he's not chunky or anything. Some days, he's really hungry and he eats like 4 bowls of food, other days, he won't really hardly eat at all. He lives with my parents, so when I'm going hungry, he doesn't have to. ::shrug:: He seems ok so far. At least he's got a home (he was abandoned, twice, as a puppy). Even if he does lick my cupcakes.

 

sorry. it is only what I have heard from the Librarian. she used to take her dog to the library on Saturday and was talking about that. I don't know if it is true.

It's okay, I put the lights up anyway

 

Have you checked the Ingredients of the Publix Dog Food. you may find out that it is Purina dog chow and Purina probably makes it.
for instance, if you buy Publix's brand of Bread it doesn't mean that Publix makes it. most Private Label ( which is what the Publix brand is) whether its Publix, or great Value for Walmart or others is actually made by a local or regional bread company, for instance, Wonder or Bimbo or the likes. all that bread comes off the same baking line and one loaf gets put into a Wonder Bag, another gets put into a Publix bag. it is the same loaf of bread. I know that is a fact, and I would bet it is that way for most Private Labels. it is really the fact that, to you, she seems to have went with a cheaper brand, but I would check the bag, you may find out it is the same thing she was buying. if Purina is making Publixs brand, it is probably in small print somewhere on the package.

 

wisecrackerz, I eat dead cows also. I meant they pick up cows from farmers that have died.

 

I can't find anything about Publix dog food anywhere. Just some really unknowledgeable people saying how their dogs liked it better than Kibbles and Bits. -_- I'll be home this weekend for a month, and I'll be able to look at the bag, then.

The Publix food looks different. The pieces are larger, and darker in color.

 

Just wanted to pop in and say this thread was really informative. I have NO idea what my dad gets for our Chihuahua. Chester the Chihuahua doesn't really care so long as there's some canned food in there with it. The cat gets the purple bag that now has Puss N Boots in it (I guess cause that movie just came out) LOL I'd go look but we keep the food in sealed bins as toss the big bag :/
I think he eats the food that's like Kibbles N Bits but the name is a bit off. Like Bites N Kibbles or something like that LOL. He was on puppy chow for years since he has bad teeth and can't chew well


_______________
Makena: My name
'95GT: My 1995 convertible Mustang GT

 

awww, love the pics makena; your dog looks really cuddly. I guess I should have mentioned that my dog is a mut; he's got some pit bull and some shepherd and some husky and probably other things too, those're just the ones we know about. My point is he's a little on the medium/large end for a dog, probably about 100lbs, and when we both stand up his shoulder is about at my thigh, or when he hunches down his shoulder fits right into the back of my knee for perfect tackling.

 

Thanks

Aawhhhhh LOL. Chester is a mutt too but we call him Chihuahua cause we got him from Mexico and that's what the border hopping man told us he was LOL. He's too big to be a purebred that's for sure. He's about a foot tall at the shoulder and REALLY buff. Weighs about 10 pounds and he's not fat at all! Just big. It was funny when we took him to the vet they weighed a "real" chihuahua right before he got on the scale. It weighed in at 3 pounds. Chester got on. 10 POUNDS! LOL
I just checked and found the bags for the food. He eats Puppy Chow. Still. At 13 years old. LOL. The cat has Friskies dry food. And some wet food. Chester also gets Mighty Dog canned food. And steals the cat food. He's a freak


_______________
Makena: My name
'95GT: My 1995 convertible Mustang GT

 

I'm glad this helped you out, Makena Chester could very well be a Pit or Lab mix. Both of those are quite common with Chi's. Just looking at the pic you posted of him, I knew he was a mutt. His nose is too fat XD

 

lmbo! Fat nose. teehee That would be AWESOME if he was a Pit mix. I love Pits ;D Amazing dogs. Maybe one day when I'm rich I'll get his DNA tested >.>

 

Instead of a DNA test, you could just adopt a Pit *wink*wink*nudge*nudge*

 

LOL! When I get my own place I plan to have MANY pits I love my aunts. Phoenix.

(LOL being on here from my phone means I have access to all my pics)


_______________
Makena: My name
'95GT: My 1995 convertible Mustang GT

 

... Chester is a mutt too but we call him Chihuahua cause we got him from Mexico and that's what the border hopping man told us he was LOL. He's too big to be a purebred that's for sure. He's about a foot tall at the shoulder and REALLY buff. Weighs about 10 pounds and he's not fat at all! Just big. ...

FWIW, I was talking to someone with a similar dog a few years ago in MN, and I asked if it was a corgI mix. They said no, its a standard chihuahua from Mexico. They claimed that they're all like that down there (essentially like a standard poodle vs a toy poodle). It was the first time I had heard of a chihuahua that big.

 

FWIW, I was talking to someone with a similar dog a few years ago in MN, and I asked if it was a corgI mix. They said no, its a standard chihuahua from Mexico. They claimed that they're all like that down there (essentially like a standard poodle vs a toy poodle). It was the first time I had heard of a chihuahua that big.

LOL that's awesome. Viva Mexico?


_______________
Makena: My name
'95GT: My 1995 convertible Mustang GT

 

Instead of a DNA test, you could just adopt a Pit *wink*wink*nudge*nudge*

I'm just waiting to get into grad school before I make an adult pit rescue my new best friend and foot warmer... of course when I do this, I'll have to give up ever winning at doggy football again no way I would have a chance against Buddy and another pit lol. I'll just tell my landlord it's a terrier.

 

I'm just waiting to get into grad school before I make an adult pit rescue my new best friend and foot warmer... of course when I do this, I'll have to give up ever winning at doggy football again no way I would have a chance against Buddy and another pit lol. I'll just tell my landlord it's a terrier.

"Lab mix" LOL