[nwoodco1]

I have two year and a half of golden retrievers and try to settle on their permanent dog food. Reading the pro plan ingredient list I feel like there are so many fillers and for now am feeding the diamond naturals lamb large breed food. I will post the ingredients below. I have also heard a lot of issues with pro plan changing throughout the years. The dogs have great coats and stool on diamond naturals, but within reason budget wise want to feed them the best possible

Diamond Naturals ingredients
Lamb meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley, oatmeal, grain sorghum, dried yeast, rice bran, egg product, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dried beet pulp, natural flavor, flaxseed, potassium chloride, salt, DL-Methionine, choline chloride, taurine, glucosamine hydrochloride, dried chicory root, L-Carnitine, kale, chia seed, pumpkin, blueberries, oranges, quinoa, dried kelp, coconut, spinach, carrots, papaya, yucca schidigera extract, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, beta carotene, chondroitin sulfate, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid

Pro plan ingredients
Chicken, Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Poultry By-product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine), Whole Grain Wheat, Barley, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols, Corn Germ Meal, Fish Meal (Source Of Glucosamine), Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Fish Oil, Wheat Bran, Calcium Carbonate, Soybean Oil, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7)], Choline Chloride, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Glucosamine Hydrochloride, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (Vitamin C), Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Garlic Oil. L445119

 

[pawsnpaca]

In my opinion, the Diamond has the higher quality ingredients, so if your dog is doing well on it I would stick with that. That said, there are those who feel it’s a good idea to rotate through a variety of foods anyway.

Rotating Dog Food: Why Dogs Need Variety - Dogs Naturally

Variety is the spice of life ... and that's true for your dog too. Find out why rotating dog food is the best way to keep your dog safe and healthy ...

www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com

DogAware.com: Commercial Dog Foods

dogaware.com

 

[Hildae]

I wouldn't feed anything made by Diamond given the number of DCM cases they've had.

 

[DevWind]

Looking at the ingredients, they both look okay. The best one is the one your dog does the best on and is within your budget. When it comes to DCM, make sure you check the varieties that are causing the problem, not just the brand. Many brands have a grain-free variety that is the culprit.

 

[Hildae]

Looking at the ingredients, they both look okay. The best one is the one your dog does the best on and is within your budget. When it comes to DCM, make sure you check the varieties that are causing the problem, not just the brand. Many brands have a grain-free variety that is the culprit.

Does it matter? If a brand has some formulas that are sickening and killing dogs should you give them your trust and money?

 

[DevWind]

Does it matter? If a brand has some formulas that are sickening and killing dogs should you give them your trust and money?

Umm… Purina makes Beneful. Royal Canin and Pedigree are made by Mars. Few brands are innocent of making “junk” dog food. It absolutely matters.

To the OP:
Do some research on food mediated DCM. Learn the ingredients to watch for. Then armed with the education, find a food you’re comfortable feeding and your dog does well on. Stay within your budget. Pro Plan is not the only great food on the market.

 

[SRW]

Purina Pro Plan is a considerably higher grade of food than Diamond.

 

[Hildae]

Umm… Purina makes Beneful. Royal Canin and Pedigree are made by Mars. Few brands are innocent of making “junk” dog food. It absolutely matters.

To the OP:
Do some research on food mediated DCM. Learn the ingredients to watch for. Then armed with the education, find a food you’re comfortable feeding and your dog does well on. Stay within your budget. Pro Plan is not the only great food on the market.

While I don't think Beneful or pedigree are top tier foods, saying "oh these companies make those foods" doesn't excuse the companies who don't bother to hire board certified veterinary nutritionists to formulate their foods, and refuse to meet the guidelines the world small animal veterinary association has set forth. Those guidelines are not anything extravagant, they are actually common sense and safety minded, yet the boutique brands won't follow them. Several boutique brands have put out false statements that they do follow them to mislead consumers. That's not trustworthy behavior.
As far as nutritionally mediated DCM and researching ingredients to watch for, you can't really do that because we don't know for sure what exactly caused the issue. People have hypothesized that it's legumes such as peas, or it's potatoes, or just poor formulation by the companies who don't hire board certified veterinary nutritionists to create their foods, or taurine/taurine absorption issues (potentially because of legumes) etc. But we haven't sorted that for sure. I hope very much that someone comes up with a conclusive answer, and soon because what we all want is to just be able to feed our dogs safely.

 

[SRW]

Umm… Purina makes Beneful.

Purina is a company, in business to make a profit. They make foods for every price point, you can buy it or not.
I believe Purina even made Ol' Roy a long time ago.

 

[FurdogDad]

I always appreciate the entertainment value of a good dog food thread......

 

[SRW]

I always appreciate the entertainment value of a good dog food thread......

I find Harness threads equally entertaining.

 

[FurdogDad]

I find Harness threads equally entertaining.

True that....training collars as well....

 

[Delane]

Talk to your vet and see what they recommend.

 

[Emmdenn]

I choose pro plan over diamond. Mine have been on all varieties of pro plan 30/20. The one they did best on was the beef version. Now I have them on salmon & rice (the regular version not 30/20) because it doesn’t have corn and their coats seem better on it. I’m going to stick with it over the winter when they need less calories and see what I think.

Always choose a brand where certified veterinary nutritionists formulate the food. Sooo many do not. I go by AAFCO and WSAVA standards.

 

[Rion05]

The dietary DCM stories are pretty horrifying...you do have to consider what your dog does well on, but Purina Pro Plan has umpteen choices and varieties. Yes, this is a divisive topic, but I personally feel MUCH safer giving my golden a food designed to meet WSAVA's recommendations, such as Pro Plan. The veterinary cardiologist that I spoke with at our Club's health clinic absolutely agreed that this was the prudent course.

 

[DevWind]

While I don't think Beneful or pedigree are top tier foods, saying "oh these companies make those foods" doesn't excuse the companies who don't bother to hire board certified veterinary nutritionists to formulate their foods, and refuse to meet the guidelines the world small animal veterinary association has set forth. Those guidelines are not anything extravagant, they are actually common sense and safety minded, yet the boutique brands won't follow them. Several boutique brands have put out false statements that they do follow them to mislead consumers. That's not trustworthy behavior.
As far as nutritionally mediated DCM and researching ingredients to watch for, you can't really do that because we don't know for sure what exactly caused the issue. People have hypothesized that it's legumes such as peas, or it's potatoes, or just poor formulation by the companies who don't hire board certified veterinary nutritionists to create their foods, or taurine/taurine absorption issues (potentially because of legumes) etc. But we haven't sorted that for sure. I hope very much that someone comes up with a conclusive answer, and soon because what we all want is to just be able to feed our dogs safely.

I seem to remember Beneful playing a part in many dog deaths too.

 

[aesthetic]

I don’t particularly care much about WSAVA guidelines, but after working in a petstore, I would pick Purina over Diamond in a heartbeat.

 

[Hildae]

I seem to remember Beneful playing a part in many dog deaths too.

There were lawsuits, which were dismissed due to no evidence. I know there was an issue with many foods when the melamine issue cropped up, so it's possible that was an issue as it was with many foods when that occurred.

 

[DevWind]

Meh....I was going to reply in a more intellectual way, but I've been under the weather and just not feeling it. Do your research, learn the things to watch for and feed whatever is within your budget. Dogs have lived long, healthy lives on all sorts of foods. My 2 senior dogs are doing quite well on grocery store food. I can't even change the variety if the store is out. I have to go out chasing the exact food down. Their stomachs can't handle anything else at their ages. (11 and 13) Is it what I would like them to eat? Nope, not even close. It's all about what they do well on.

 

[three retirees]

Here is another food to consider life's abundance. Our first breeder was giving it to her dogs. A little pricey. 40lbs bag delivered to our address for $109 every three months. Two years ago the price was $92.00 delivered. Tax and shipping is included in the price. 3 cups of dog food a day for a 60 lb dog lasts 90 days. Google life's abundance for more info.