My 12 week old Beagle is eating hills (natures best) dry puppy food as recomended by my vet. I am really undecided whether to keep her on this as she seems to be thriving (even though its expensive) or change to a different brand. there is so much choice out there i really would'nt know where to start, (the price of the food isn't really an issue). I need to buy more food, so if i change her now is the time!! Thanks again for any advice!!

Hi Peacebabe, whatever you decide to change to, you should do the change over at least a week. Suddenly swapping to a new food will cause the puppy to have diarrhoea for a while, so mix a little of each of the foods together gradually increasing the new one as you reduce the old one.

My advice would be to change to Naturediet, a complete wet food. A puppy variety is available. Normally no mixer required, but would mix well with Hills while you change over.

No doubt others will recommend different foods but the choice is ultimately yours.:)

Dawn R.

Most vets push hills as they get huge kickbacks for doing so.The only thing premium about hills is the price tag,it looks more like rabbit food than dog food.
As nursey said the choice is yours,i would start with one of the foods listed on the buav website,these dont test on animals,make sure the first 3 ingredients are meat proteins and not grains,sometimes i think pet food manufactures forget that dogs are carnivores,some people may say omnivors but they definately are not herbivours!!

I feed eaglepack holistic chicken,you can check it out at www.postalpets.co.uk

If your puppy is thriving on Hills and the cost isn't an issue, why would you want to change?  Have I missed something?

Harry i think peacebabe has an inkling that this food is not  a good one.

If the dog seems to be thriving on a food like hills,imagine how terrific he would do on a more appropriate food.

Peacebabe, I think you need to do a bit of research and searching through this subject on Champdog's is a good start as to is the buav website.  I am in agreement with Harry25 to some extent, do you have a genuine reason for wanting to change pup's food if she is doing well on it?  Some dog's 'thrive' on cheap foods like Chappie (that some would consider inappropriate,) for instance and going 'premium' or more appropriate wont guarantee desireable results!  Consider the circumstances...Does your dog currently enjoy her food?  How are her stools?  How is her behaviour?  How does she look?  Would you prefer to feed complete and dry?  Wet?  Natural?  Etc, etc...It takes a lot of consideration and you may have to get yourself another bag of the 'old' stuff before making any change.  With regards to complete I believe 'Burns' is a very good choice however others may say that their dog does not do well on this, it is really down to the individual - I make that statement based on my own knowledge (check out their website) that said your pup may not thrive on burn's?!?  As already mentioned 'naturediet' is a great wet food  and I know many dog's fed on it, love it and look great on it!  Then there are raw minces/diets such as nature's menu (found in the freezers at the pet store's) the right one's have no cereal content and you just defrost and feed - again I know of dogs doing very well on this....These products are not even the tip of the iceburg!!!  So good luck! :)
Sarah.

Hi,

Hills is an excellent choice of complete food to feed pups or dogs if it suits yours.
Having had excellent results with this food im prepared to back it.

However yes vets push it,yes its good food so why shouldn't they.

However they do make huge amount on this food DO YOUR RESEARCH and don't buy Hills from VETS,PETS AT HOME AND THE LIKE and you can get hold of this food much cheaper.
I have to admit its down to personal choice for you and your dog what you feed but dont slate food just because it cost alot,look around and see where you source it cheaper :-)

Briony :-)

Hi,

Also forgot to mention perhaps vets should also back some of the other good feeds around and not just Hills my own vet also recommends a few others and sell them as well as Hills.
Bottom line don't buy from vets and do your homework and even think twice from buying from large pet superstores they also rip off.

Briony :-)