Everything you ever wanted to know about dog food....

... but were afraid to ask!

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner

Do you ever notice that when you're focused on something, it's all you want to talk about? As though nothing else in the world exists for ANYONE except that thing?

That's me and dog food. So be prepared... I'm talking about it again, and hopefully I'll have it out of my system now.

I've been researching it for so many days, and reading books (two I can recommend: Food Pets Die For and Protect Your Pet -- check them out from your library and prepare to have your eyes opened), surfing the 'net. I even joined a Yahoo group on raw feeding, as I was considering that as an option for Dakota.

Yesterday, I decided to give it one more chance. I went to the food store, list in hand (I want: all these things ... I do NOT want: all these things) and started attacking the bags of food. I'd already narrowed my choices down to a few brands based on http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ , but wanted to really read more.

The thing is: I'm VERY tempted by a raw food diet for Dakota. I think both humans and pets can benefit from one .... but I have to admit to being squeamish about feeding her raw chicken and meat. Fact is, if I could afford organic, I'd be all over it. But conventionally raised animals are unbelievably unhealthy and bad to eat, even cooked, so the thought of giving her an antibiotic laden, salmonella (or ecoli) carrying, growth hormone bringing RAW piece of meat was a deal breaker.

(As an aside... the reason I seldom eat meat isn't because I'm a card-carrying vegetarian. I LOVE meat. I do... but between the unbelievable cruelty of the conventional farming business and the chemicals they pump into the critters, I just prefer not to eat it unless it's organic. Now... moving on...)

So, I finally opted to buy a bag of EVO Brand beef. They consider themselves an alternative to a raw food diet -- the food is "gently cooked" at lower temps (which attracted me), they use human grade ingredients (so... no rendered companion pets or road kill... yes, really), and they are grain free (which was top of my list of "wants"). Additionally, the beef flavor contains no chicken fat, which can contribute to "bloat" in dogs -- and Dakota's breed is particularly susceptible to bloat.

Because it IS grain free, I feed her significantly less (almost HALF what she's eating now), so although on the face of it, the food seems expensive ($2.45/lb), usagewise, it's actually cheaper than what I currently use.

Also, I have every intention of supplementing her diet with healthy table scraps (all the evidence I've read indicates that feeding your dog only one thing -- their kibble, for instance -- isn't healthy) or mix her up a bit of homemade dog food now and then.

Assuming her tummy likes Evo.

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You Are a Bay

You are a blissful, peaceful person. Some might call you spiritual. You are easy-going and tranquil. You take solace in life's sweet moments. You are sentimental and open-hearted. You love many people, places, and things. You try to live an enlightened life. You are benevolent, noble, and intuitive.

What Body of Water Are You?

Wait... wait... ME blissful and peaceful? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.........

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