# Dry food switch I'm sure there have been other food discussions but i'm new to the forum, so I'm going to ask again... Dry food - which is best? I feed the shibas nutro lamb and rice because cost wise, its effective when we have foster dogs (especially bassets that eat 3x's the food the shibas eat together). So… ## Thread In Food · started by tsukitsune · 22 replies - **Category:** [Food](https://nihonken.org/community/c/food) - **Forum:** [Nihon Ken Forum](https://nihonken.org/community/) ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-10T11:55:07.000Z I'm sure there have been other food discussions but i'm new to the forum, so I'm going to ask again... Dry food - which is best? I feed the shibas nutro lamb and rice because cost wise, its effective when we have foster dogs (especially bassets that eat 3x's the food the shibas eat together). So to avoid food allergies etc. I've used Nutro Lamb & Rice all along. But I feel that the Shibas could be getting something better! Does anyone know anything (good or bad) about Eagle Pack Holistic Select Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meal? I don't do any raw additives except for beef shank bones once a week. I bought that food last night because a shiba breeder I know suggested it, but I wondered if anyone had any positives or negatives? Thanks! ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2008-04-10T12:08:03.000Z I was also wondering the same thing.  Jazz has been eating Eukanuba Sensitive Skin because when I picked her up as a rescue, they told me that was the only thing that she would eat.  I've come to believe that they didn't look into any options above a certain price point.  I've contacted the breeder multiple times to find out exactly what they decided the allergy was, but to no avail other than being told "Stick with the Eukanuba - it works".  I know there is better quality food that would work better.  Now that Jazz is completely acclimated to the schedule in our house, I'd like to do something on this front. ## brandon_w (admin) · 2008-04-10T12:09:11.000Z The Whole Dog Journal is your friend for dog food knowledge. http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/ They put out two issues this year with dry dog food reviews.  One month was kibbles with grain, the next month was grain free kibbles.  You can buy their back issues and get a subscription on their website.  They are available mailed to you or as PDF's so you can read them right away. Their issue on dry food from last year was really good too, great information on what to look for in food. Currently Nemo (and a lot of other dogs around here) is on Orijen.  After this bag I'll be switching him to Solid Gold's Barking at the Moon because I like to rotate foods. However there is NO BEST FOOD.  You have to find what works well for your dogs.  Romi's dogs were really gassey on Orijen,  Nemo can't eat EVO Red Meat without having sloppy poops (other dogs do well), and some dogs can't tolerate grain free at all. I feel like I just typed most of this out in another thread.  I have to just type something up and paste it when this comes up.  Glad to help though, I love talking dog food, because I'm a nerd. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-10T12:12:17.000Z yeah, LJ both my dogs were on Nutro lamb and rice in rescue so I just stuck to it. But now that we can afford to feed just the two dogs a better food, I'm shopping around! Someone told me that the fish based holistic foods are better for hot spots and Shiba's coat? ## _dlroberts · 2008-04-10T12:14:48.000Z Brandon: You should start an article about food. ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2008-04-10T12:15:16.000Z I appreciate the help - I'm signing up for the Whole Dog Journal now.  When I had my previous dog, Gorky (Siberian Husky) from 1989-2003, I was too young and then too stupid to do more than kibbles n bits.  I did a ton of research before I got Jazz, but I knew that I wasn't going to do a lot of changes for the first six months while I was getting her fully accustomed to her new family.  I've learned so much through this forum and my meetup group - I'm truly thankful! ## brandon_w (admin) · 2008-04-10T12:21:42.000Z Nemo is usually on a food that involves fish (or is all fish), and he gets fish oil capsules.  I never even put it together, but he doesn't get hot spots anymore really.  And it is good for their coats.  I'll have to pay attention this summer, as that is the time when he usually gets a hot spot or two.  Nemo can't do chicken, he doesn't process it well. Dave - Whole dog journal writes the articles, I just steal all of their information.  ;).  I'll think about writing one after my class finishes up in May and I have some more free time.  Write now I am ignoring my studying though.... ## _dlroberts · 2008-04-10T12:24:50.000Z No worries Brandon, we have to get our information from somewhere. ;-) ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-10T12:33:53.000Z yeah i've had NO luck with chicken based products (or beef) with shibas or other fosters in the past. thats why we've been sticking to lamb and rice, but for Shiba Inus specifically - I hope to give the fish formula a good review! according to their website, Eagle Pack Holistic Select Sardine/Salmon/Anchovy formula has fish oil in it. I've been giving Fish Oil capsules since we were hit BAD with kennel cough earlier this year, but since this food has it, i'm going to stop with the capsules! ## MommyofNiko · 2008-04-10T21:13:57.000Z Brandon-That just made a connection for me.  We got the fish orijen and Nik is blowing like no other.  I was just talking to my mom today that she has never blown like this before and I wonder if it because if the food.  Just a thought.  I have to say I LOVE orijen! ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-11T20:58:04.000Z well i started mixing the Eagle Pack holistic fish meal and the nutro lamb and rice and so far no upset or issues. i even bought Eagle Pack's treat version of the fish formula to go along with it and they LOVE them!! I even am teaching them 'leave it' because they are so fish motivated!! this formula along with the furminator is going to do wonders for their coats! ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-14T12:53:49.000Z http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ is this a credible source for dry dog food analysis? I did end up switching my shibas to the holistic eagle pack fish meal formula because we decided on Orijen fish formula but it is not sold within 50 miles of me!!! So we are trying Eagle Pack. But this website only gives it 4 stars! ## brandon_w (admin) · 2008-04-14T13:34:01.000Z If your dogs do well on it, then that is what matters the most.  I don't know how those people set up their criteria, and I don't really care.  Their ratings are ok, but rating Timberwolf (after formula changes) over Eaglepack and still calling it a 5 star product is a bit silly. Eaglepack is a Whole Dog Journal approved company, you are feeding them a good food. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-14T13:49:22.000Z thank you Brandon! it just got a bit tricky after the whole recall thing - but I've always thought dog food was like 'if it works, don't fix it.' I just know the Nutro wasn't cutting it and it was time for a breed-specific change! ## brandon_w (admin) · 2008-04-14T14:05:08.000Z Well I guess my phrase wouldn't be as simple as "if it works, don't fix it".  Mine would me more long winded like "if you have found three excellent high quality kibbles with different protiens to rotate on a consistent basis, and it works, don't fix it". ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-14T14:55:52.000Z what is the benefit of rotating food? wouldn't that upset their systems? ## brandon_w (admin) · 2008-04-14T15:08:26.000Z (taken from WDJ)  Why switching foods is a good idea We’ve always found it fascinating that many otherwise knowledgeable dog owners and industry professionals (including veterinarians and long-time breeders) are unaware of the fact that different “complete and balanced” dog foods may display widely divergent amounts of the nutrients that are essential for their pets’ health. Most foods have some nutrient levels that are relatively low and others that may be a bit high. Imagine that a dog is given a lifetime diet that is a bit low in some nutrients and a bit high in others. Over time, fed a diet solely comprised of that food, the dog’s body will become a figurative model of those nutrient levels, for better or worse. This is exactly why humans are told to eat a variety of healthy foods – to prevent this very scenario! Now, why would such a feeding plan make sense for canines, but not humans? It doesn’t! We consider all of the foods mentioned here to be of very high quality – but we wouldn’t want a dog to eat only one of any of these (or any other) food for the rest of his life! ## brandon_w (admin) · 2008-04-14T15:09:10.000Z I rotate foods every 3-4 months. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-14T15:43:14.000Z so how do you, personally, go about finding which foods differ in greatest or least amount of every nutrient your dog needs? ## _dlroberts · 2008-04-14T15:48:53.000Z Along those lines, I know of some people that don't rotate their food, but serve a mixture of three or four different foods all the time. I'm guessing that would serve the same purpose. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-14T15:51:45.000Z So essentially there is not a dog food out there that exemplifies all necessary nutrients for your dog? If not only for profit's sake, I find that hard to believe! then again, I've only done limited research for my dogs and the food best for our lifestyle, age and environment. ## brandon_w (admin) · 2008-04-14T16:02:46.000Z All dogs are individuals, and all breeds are different too.  Because of this they are all going to have slightly different nutritional needs.  One food can't address all of these things.  It's not that one food can't keep your do healthy enough, it's that different types of foods are going to make your dog healthier. WDJ had a comparative nutritional analysis sheet for a bunch of grain-free kibbles in their March issue.  Purchase the issue and look at it, there are pretty big differences in some nutrients/minerals/vitamins, depending on what the manufacturer deems is most important, or depending on what their ingredients supply. There are basic standards that foods have to meet for them to be able to be sold, and that is why they can call themselves "complete and balanced" foods. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-14T16:21:11.000Z thank you so much for the information! WDJ seems like a very authoritative study on all aspects of owning a dog. I look forward to future editions! --- **Navigate:** [Forum home](https://nihonken.org/community/?format=md) · [Sitemap](https://nihonken.org/community/sitemap.xml)