New Food

mkilcz · Post by **mkilcz** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:03 pm

Rocket and Jack went to the vet today for their well-dog exams. Everything was fine, but both dogs have some slight tartar on their teeth, and the vet recommended that we supplement their food with Hills Prescription T/D dog food. This food somehow aids with reducing tartar and palque build-up by getting below the gumline, and should make up 25% of their total food intake. Anybody have any info/experience with it? Thanks?

Post by **Lisa** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:36 pm

I find it rather suspicious that any food can make a claim that it can reduce tartar build up. Dogs do not typically chew their food, and in fact their mouths are designed for ripping and tearing, not chewing. The pieces of kibble would have to be almost milkbone sized to promote any kind of chewing action which could help with tartar build up. Personally, I wouldn't feed Hills to my dogs, as I'm not impressed with the nutritional quality of the food...and I'd never feed a food that promotes that it helps to keep teeth clean.

I've found that the best ways to promote healthy teeth in dogs are to provide lots of things to chew on, especially raw, meaty bones, and crunchy fruits/veggies like apples and carrots.

kat · Post by **kat** » Sat May 09, 2009 8:19 am

I've had to feed Hill's to two of my dogs, lastly George when he needed low salt food because of all the Lasix he was taking for his heart. It killed me to feed him such nutritionally poor food, I mixed it with stew I made for him myself to help. I would only feed it if I had no other choice. What Lisa said is true about the way they eat, I think a good, quality food would be just as good for their teeth. And, btw, your vet does make a profit on the Hill's. There's an excellent web site on dog food, www.dogfoodanalysis.com, it rates foods and explains why the rating. It's a very helpful source of info.

mkilcz · Post by **mkilcz** » Sat May 09, 2009 11:11 am

Thanks so much for the input! Honestly, I was surprised that their teeth were even an issue at the exam because I really try to stay on top of their oral hygiene. Our previous britt had some serious dental issues when she got older and I will do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening again. Anyway, I think their regular food plus more natural treats sounds like a better (and less costly) way to go. Interesting website too, thanks for the link!

Jessica · Post by **Jessica** » Sun May 10, 2009 12:58 pm

Isn't it funny how vet's offices always carry Hill's Prescription Diet when it's not a very nutritious food? JMO...They recommended it for Eli when he had his teeth pulled so I bought 2 cans and didn't read the nutrition info until I got home. I'll never make that mistake again.

adleblanc · Post by **adleblanc** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:20 pm

Have you tried PetZLife?

I bought mine at www.kvvet.com It comes in a gel or spray. I got
the
spray....2.2 oz for 17.99. (If you spend $50 you get free shipping)
You do 4 sprays once or twice a day...I only did once. Once the
tarter
is gone you only need to use every third day. PJ didn't have a lot
of
tarter...but he did have some on his canine teeth. I started last
Tuesday and today all of the tarter is gone

Ingredients: 100% all natural distilled water, grain alcohol,
grapefruite seed extract, proprietary blend of herbs and natural
oils.

Andrea

Helen E. · Post by **Helen E.** » Sun May 10, 2009 11:48 pm

Has anyone's vet ever recommended a food other than Hill's?

MaggieRocks · Post by **MaggieRocks** » Mon May 11, 2009 11:44 am

Helen E. wrote:Has anyone's vet ever recommended a food other than Hill's?

Actually, although my vet sells Hills...he said he doesn't care what I feed my girls as long as I can't buy it at WalMart!!!

headtrip_honey · Post by **headtrip_honey** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:07 pm

Helen E. wrote:Has anyone's vet ever recommended a food other than Hill's?

Mine recommended Nutro Ultra when he heard about our Brittany's chronic ear infections. And whaddaya know, it worked! Granted, our vet used to have Brittanys as well, so he's really fond of the breed (only reason he doesn't still have them is because he lives on a busy road, and his last Brittany cleared his fence and got hit by a car.

)

Jessica · Post by **Jessica** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:15 pm

Helen E. wrote:Has anyone's vet ever recommended a food other than Hill's?

Every one I've ever been to recommended it and they carry it too. I wonder why that is? Could Hill's be somehow paying every single vet to carry their product? Has anyone ever seen it anywhere besides a vet's office? Weird...

holisticmom · Post by **holisticmom** » Mon May 11, 2009 1:59 pm

Hill's is one of the major providers of vet school scholarships, I heard someplace

. So maybe that's part of the agreement? I hope not.

janet909 · Post by **janet909** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:28 pm

I feed my dogs Blackwood 1000 which I buy over the Internet. I had read that dogs with Irritable Bowel / Chronic Diarrhea do well with it and so I started purchasing it after Moby suffered a 4 week bout with Giarrdia & C-diff overgrowth. He likes it but if anybody has any opinions on it, I'd be interested.

www.blackwoodpetfood.com

Post by **Lisa** » Mon May 11, 2009 5:09 pm

Helen E. wrote:Has anyone's vet ever recommended a food other than Hill's?

Actually, my vet has only recommended Hills to me once - I think she had a brain fart. When I first took my dogs to her, we had a long discussion about nutrition, and she agreed that I feed much better quality foods than Hills can provide. The one time she tried to sell me a prescription food, all my dogs had upset tummies, and she wanted to send me home with a bag of the Low Residue food. I told her thanks but no thanks, I'd just cook meat and rice for them for a few days (ground beef for Buster, and chicken for the others)

kat · Post by **kat** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:19 pm

Yep, a vet recommended the grain free Eukanuba they were selling. Not much better food than the Hill's! I'm trying to remember how big of a discount they offered my dd on the food when she worked for a vet, I do know we got free heartworm meds for all our dogs when she worked there, I gave them away.

Allison · Post by **Allison** » Tue May 12, 2009 5:10 am

What is the name of the tarter control stuff? Zeus has very bad build up and if I can avoid putting him under to have his teeth cleaned that would be great.

Thanks so much

adlfelix wrote:Have you tried PetZLife?

I bought mine at http://www.kvvet.com It comes in a gel or spray. I got
the
spray....2.2 oz for 17.99. (If you spend $50 you get free shipping)
You do 4 sprays once or twice a day...I only did once. Once the
tarter
is gone you only need to use every third day. PJ didn't have a lot
of
tarter...but he did have some on his canine teeth. I started last
Tuesday and today all of the tarter is gone

Ingredients: 100% all natural distilled water, grain alcohol,
grapefruite seed extract, proprietary blend of herbs and natural
oils.

Andrea

American Brittany Rescue

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