I've been searching for online supplies of top quality dry food and came across the paws for life site - http://www.pawsforlife.com.au which seems to have a good coverage of the top brands.
Normally I 've made stews for the dogs from kangaroo meat etc supplemented with ordinary dry food and the odd chicken wing. On the road however, for practical and flatulance reasons, their diet will need to consist mainly of the top quality dry stuff.
It does seem to be really expensive but worth it I guess. Does anyone have a brand or type they recommend or any better places to source the food?
Eukanuba, Royal Canin, Science Diet seem to be the better brands from what research I did some time ago. They also have breed specific, age, and weight control formulations.
We feed our Pug a small portion of Eukanuba Weight Control dry food in the morning then a small portion of canned Hills Science Diet Adult (Lite preferably) at night when on the road. At home he has a portion of pet store fresh lean beef and veggie mix at night. We only went with Eukanuba as at the time we got a bin to store the food, plus after 10 purchases you get one free at our local Pet store.
The prices of the dry food on that website are on a par with our local Pet Stores (4 near us). We have often noticed Eukanuba signs on country feed stock places, but dont know whether they have the variety of the city stores.
Our Daughter also has Pugs and when swapped from the PAL dry and canned food to Eukanuba Dry food only she soon noticed the difference in the health of her dogs, particularly less poop in the yard and reduced flatulence.
When we travel, our boys get chicken wings/ drumsticks if we are near town and can get them fresh. I also try to pick up fresh liver or heart which I either BBQ or cook in the microwave.
While the boys love lamb shanks, I don''t like finding then in my bed when they decide they are too big, so that only happens whe we are at home with more space.
Otherwise they have dry food, never canned muck, and they love bits of cooked chicken (without the bones) as a treat.
I have never fed them cooked stews etc. and (as I hate washing up) don't want to go there.
Brodie (the roadie) is now 12yo, and never had tinned food (with exception of 2 incidents) Always have managed over past 8 months on the road to buy PAWS kangaroo meat (available from most WW, Coles or IGA), which we cook up with various veggies and pasta or rice.
The rare occasion he has had tinned food his flatulance has been 'over the top', so will always try to purchase PAWS or similar.
-- Edited by Dunmowin on Wednesday 14th of March 2012 10:42:08 PM
-- Edited by Dunmowin on Wednesday 14th of March 2012 10:42:52 PM
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DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
Forgot about chicken wings - they are currently a standard part of the diet because they are so good for their teeth and I will continue to use them them whenever possible. Took Pedro and Stella in the other day for their 3 yr vaccinations and annual heartworm injections. Stella had a scale and clean as well, $300 plus. Worth it I guess for not having to wake up to foul doggy breath every morning. They now have new collars, dog tags, leads, harnesses, seatbelts and a supply of eye drops and ear stuff plus worm, flea and tick meds, plus tethers, dog fence, toys, chewies.....So they are all set to travel. Now it's just a matter of packing up the van. wonder if there's any room left for my stuff?
How are you managing with him when you go into the Flinders National Park Dunmowin?
As we are working at the hotel in parachilna, we don't have to worry about the national park issue, but I belive that the caravan park in Hawker will board pets for you if you go into the national park.
__________________
Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
I saw about 2 weeks worth of "dogfood on the road" this morning. A freshly clipped wallaby from lastnight. If I wasn't in such a hurry on my way to work I would have picked it up. Looked a bit nasty by the time I saw it on the way home.