Best dry food for pet border collie

Charmtheali · Post by **Charmtheali** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:48 pm

I have a six year old border collie. She is currently on Vitalin and loves it but I was recently wondering if the energy content is too high for her.

Tried Googling for better food idea and hitting a brick wall. Don't really think that making my own food is an option but I think Vitalin is for higher calorie burners and probably not suitable for a pet.

Any ideas gratefully received!!

Brecon and I thank you in advance.

springermomx3 · Post by **springermomx3** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:25 pm

The Vitalin Super Premium Adult food looks like a good food. 26% protein is kind of low really, but the best food they have, so I'd stick with it if thats what you're feeding.

Leigha · Post by **Leigha** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:29 am

Is your dog gaining weight? Is that why you think it's not an appropriate dog food for your dog?

Nettle · Post by **Nettle** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:17 am

My dogs would be off the wall on 26% protein.

I don't know what country you are in, so can't advise brand names, but if you don't want to make your own diet, try the frozen meat blocks with a plain biscuit meal. Collies are designed to make the maximum use of the minimum food, and high protein is not for them (or, frankly, any dog).

Mattie · Post by **Mattie** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:33 am

26% protein is far too high for an adult pet dog, I go for 20 to 22% protien, any higher I won't touch. 26% protien is more for puppies to help them grow, I prefer 26 to 28% protien for pups. Older dogs will do well on about 20% protein.

Dog food isn't just about protien, too many have far too many additives in so I always go for a dog food that has very few ingredients, the more ingredients the more additives.

Charmtheali · Post by **Charmtheali** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:53 am

Thank you for your advice everyone.

I had decided to change the food I give my dog simply because I realised that it may not be the best one for her. She is very slender and always full of energy (but then, few collies aren't!).

I just felt there were probably more suitable ones out there and that the one she was on was geared more towards the working dog.

Reading the protein content though, the Vitalin one is actually 18% according to the packaging and I have found no other product with less than 20 on the shelves of the supplier I was looking at.

Anyway, I have found one with more crunch and few other values which are different to the one she was one. I guess time will tell now!!

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

Mattie · Post by **Mattie** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:24 am

It used to be fashionable to feed dogs very low protein, ie 18% but it has been found that it is too low for most dogs, a minimum should be 20%. Dogs, like us need a certain amount of protien to keep our bodies in good condition, they are classed as the building blocks.

I have a dog in the early stages of kidney failure, the special food for this is 18.7%, he won't put Merlin on this yet because the protein is too low for the average dog. When he has to go to this I will be homecooking for him.

josie1918 · Post by **josie1918** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:11 pm

Just an aside, the low protien diets are known to cause Urinary Tract crystals in normal healthy dogs . However, too high protien especially with a senior dog, and we get kidney damage. 20-22% is about right for the average, healthy dog with no medical conditions.

mum24dog · Post by **mum24dog** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:35 am

josie1918 wrote:However, too high protien especially with a senior dog, and we get kidney damage.

That used to be thought to be the case but apparently there is no evidence for it.

http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/prote ... -surprised

Pam

Mattie · Post by **Mattie** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:00 am

Thanks Pam,

In the 6 years since Tommy had kidney failure and now Merlin, there has been a lot of changes, at one time the protein was kept low, now it has been proven that low protein in dogs with kidney failure may be doing more harm than good http://www.2ndchance.info/kidney.htm Scroll down to What Treatment Options Do I have For My Pet? it is under A Special Diet.

mum24dog · Post by **mum24dog** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:01 am

Another link here about protein levels -

http://www.thepetcenter.com/article.aspx?id=3408#

Pam

josie1918 · Post by **josie1918** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:07 pm

All I can say is what I was taught and what I have seen. There were a number of high protien diets taken off the market here in the states, due to renal impariment in older dogs. Yes, in a normal healthy dog, a little higher protien is good, but I am speaking of the 35% and up you can find in some of the diets.
Kidneys in animals are like human kidneys after so many years they start to wear out. Large amounts of protien can be harmful.

mum24dog · Post by **mum24dog** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:22 am

josie1918 wrote:All I can say is what I was taught and what I have seen.

How long ago were you taught that? Knowledge has moved on in the last few years.
If you Google the subject you'll find lots about it.

Pam

josie1918 · Post by **josie1918** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:47 pm

check your AVMA journals

mum24dog · Post by **mum24dog** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:44 am

josie1918 wrote:check your AVMA journals

I don't know what AVMA jourals are but can make a guess. (I'm in the UK.)
Can you come up with any links to recent studies that support your belief?

Pam

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